the perfect game?

[reektan]

I think this may have been discussed here before but it's always an interesting one to rejuvinate now and then. I've been reading the interviews with the Mass Effect chaps on how they're bettering the side quest type missions for Mass Effect 2 and it got me thinking.

Do developers / publishers purposely ensure specific features are left out or not pushed to the final point to ensure sales of the sequels boasting 'better' systems than the opening title.

Also - if a game IS nigh on perfect where do they go from there? For example.. Mario Galaxy to me is seriously almost the perfect game. What could Nintendo do to better it ? Online Co op ? Proper 1080p Mario HD'ness ? These aren't really massive gameplay changes either, I think 'online play' and 'better looking ' are the easy way out sometimes, what can be bettered gameplay wise for titles that are simply perfect?

Same with Bioshock.. astounding game but what do they have planned to better a title that glistened with ' game of the year ' on many a message board / blog.

[112]

A perfect game would need a GREAT story line and a decent and accessable (not TOO stat heavy) Level up system.......... To show progression in a game is an imperative and fundamental element in any game. In its most simplest form you can see it in stuff like a high score table or unlockable extra.

112

[Sixty]

I think developers will always have a wish list of stuff they'd like to make it into their game but for whatever reason won't be able to include it all, so often some of it gets carried over to the sequel instead. Maybe some unscrupulous developers might deliberately hold stuff back, but it makes more sense to try to make the best game you can rather than purposely putting out something slightly flawed just so you can improve it later.

As for improving the perfect game, it's a tricky one. For me, Ocarina of Time is the perfect game. Improving the graphics or size of the world (like Twilight Princess does) is nice but it's in no way a surefire way of bettering the original. It's sometimes best if developers take a different approach with a sequel instead of trying to copy the previous game. This is, of course, exactly what Nintendo did with Majora's Mask, and it worked because it offered things its predecessor didn't.

It's often difficult to imagine how a certain game will be bettered until it happens, though. It's like the developers can see how to do it but us gamers can't. Galaxy is an example. Mario 64 was the perfect 3D platform game, and none of us would ever have thought of the gravity aspect as a way of bettering it. RE4's reinvention of the series is perhaps the ultimate example. It's a bit of a double-edged sword, though, because the better you make a game the tougher it's going to be coming up with a follow up that lives up to it. I imagine Capcom must be finding this out with RE5 right now.

[Dirty Sanchez]

I think the skill of the designer is in what is left out. Too many distracting elements can leave you feeling overwhelmed with options and fluff.

An example of this was GTA San Andreas, all that levelling up crap and getting fit etc was to me a step too far.

[merf]

with where software/hardware grunt is at present and input controllers the perfect game needs to be something quite simple for me as everything else has a boundary or wall you hit (but are quite happy to tolerate)

the most perfect game I can think of is Wii Sports Bowling.

have to agree that Mario Galaxy is pretty much nigh on perfect in everyway

[J0e Musashi]

The perfect game can only be released in Japan, and on the DS.

[ItsThere]

lol, no game is perfect or we'd never need another one. You can't shoot or Dragon Punch in SMG, how canit be perfect?

J0e, I expected you to say something more along the lines of:

"The perfect game can only be released in Japan, and on the DS."

[J0e Musashi]

That is what I said though.

[ItsThere]

You are a smooth operator Musashi...

[reektan]

The example of Mario Galaxy for me is quite perfect as i'm still plodding through it. I've 'finished' it but still only on 102 stars with Mario but I only play it now and then as I don't want it to be fully over, the fact that once it's over i'd just worry about what the next title will be and if it could ever better the current perfection. Headache

Saying that I forced myself through the issues/clumsy control in places in Assassins Creed just because I know it's a franchise and the next one will have these issues fixed so it will be a better experience and I can look back thinking " thats a lot better , they fixed the combat since the last one " etc .

[dlittley]

Assasins Creed is a good example of innovation in technology/engine terms but not necessarily an amazing game. I'd argue we need these games that push technology but are little more than a tech demo content wise.

What I'm trying to say is we need bad games for context and for amazing games to be recognised.

[Wools]

The perfect game can only be released in Japan, and on the DS.

[dlittley]

I think there are also times when 'more of the same' is a good thing too. For example if Nintendo ever did another 2d Mario on the DS, I dont think anybody would be anything but overjoyed at just more levels.

[reektan]

I think there are also times when 'more of the same' is a good thing too. For example if Nintendo ever did another 2d Mario on the DS, I dont think anybody would be anything but overjoyed at just more levels.

The 2D Mario point is one fair made. I think the dynamic of a 2D mario was perfected at the point of Super Mario World and really doesn't need any form of gameplay update to make it any more perfect. As you say .. more levels in the same vein please Nintendo.

Zelda, on the other hand, is constantly bashed by the gaming press for being ' just another Zelda, you collect hearts/rupees etc' but thats what makes it so great - as a Zelda fan I'm totally used to the gameplay of the series and how it works. All I personally need is a new visual style now and then and some new items Do casual Zelda players wan't to see it pushed more though.

[moonwhistle]

I thought Halo 1 was a perfect game when I first played it. Going back and playing it again after Halo 2 and 3 only cmented this notion, it really is sublime and the 2 sequels despite so much effort on behalf of Bungie aren't half the games that the original was. It just had something magical that no amount of graft can reccreate.

Same goes for SF3 3rd Strike. It is the perfect 2D fighting game, everything else pales in comparison. Unless it is bettetred or equaled someday I gonna have to keep playing it forever, a frightening thought.