Resistance61513
Sidekick
- Joined
- May 18, 2011
- Messages
- 1,031
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I feel you guys are looking at the "choice system" in the wrong light. You guys are talking about a moral choice system. Or a karma system as it is referred to in inFAMOUS. That's not what I recommend a developer implements into a Spider-Man game.
As a few have stated, Web of Shadows is a prime example on why not to incorporate a choice system. I guess a better word to describe this theoretical game mechanic would be "consequence" system. Spider-Man is a complex hero. As many have stated, he ALWAYS tries to do the right thing. He pushes his body to limits in order to try and please everyone.
He faces difficult decisions every time he dons the mask. While not a good example, think Raimi's film Spider-Man 1. He had to choose between the Tram car full of children or Mary Jane. He didn't choose one or the other like a karma system. A karma system is always black and white. I want a system where the player is challenged to try and complete every objective thrown at them.
There are definitely consequences when Spider-Man goes out and crime fights. Stray bullets, debris falling on civilians... the list goes on and on. I just think it would be a nice dynamic to include in the encounters with various villains and thugs. It would add tension to the gameplay and be a nice change of pace.
I mean, I guess they could take this consequence system further and develop a story with various branches. To an extent, that would be nice. It would definitely add a nice coat of replay value to the experience.
For instance, if playing the story, say you're chasing the Lizard. He manages to get away. Instead of giving the player the "Game over. Try again screen", the story changes itself based on the players success. Kind of like Heavy Rain which, in my opinion, did the choice system/tree branch story line absolutely brilliantly.
I feel video games nowadays are too forgiving. They hand hold the player so much because they are catering to a casual market most of the time. Not saying that a Spider-Man game should be designed for a hardcore market but...I do feel they could definitely adapt some of the features seen in various hardcore games.
As I said before, Heavy Rain is an unforgiving game. You make a mistake, it changes the overall experience. You kill a character, they are gone for the rest of the playtime. It was a brilliant/ballsy mechanic to incorporate in the game. However, it added tension and emotion to the overall experience. Something I feel would be awesome to have in a Spider-Man game. Spidey often has tragic story lines. He doesn't do the right thing 100% of the time. Even though he is a super hero, he is still essentially human at his core.
That was one of the draws many people had to the character back when he debuted in 1962. No other hero had "problems". No other hero was ever forced to make difficult decisions. Essentially one of you guys posted "If we had to make choices, that would take away from the fact that we're a super hero." Being a super hero doesn't necessarily mean you're always going to do the "right" thing when tasked with difficult decisions. As I said before, that's something that has been apparent through out the Spider-Man's mythos.
Going back to the Lizard scenario, the game moves on essentially after you lose him. Taking a page from The Amazing Spider-Man video game, say the twitter feed in Peters room would get updated. Because The Lizard got away, several civilians were later killed that day. I just feel it would offer some gravity to the overall experience. And then, when you play the game again, you can push yourself to essentially do better.
And I'm hoping this post doesn't come off forceful. I'm simply just trying to elaborate on the mechanic I've proposed. I'm not saying it's the right or wrong thing. Essentially, I just feel it would add something to the overall experience. It's something we haven't seen before in a Spider-Man game.
In the past, all Spider-Man games have been a pretty linear experience. They have a binary mindset. A zero or one mentality. You either are successful or you fail. Spider-Man isn't successful every time he puts on the mask. Why not reflect that aspect in the games?
As a few have stated, Web of Shadows is a prime example on why not to incorporate a choice system. I guess a better word to describe this theoretical game mechanic would be "consequence" system. Spider-Man is a complex hero. As many have stated, he ALWAYS tries to do the right thing. He pushes his body to limits in order to try and please everyone.
He faces difficult decisions every time he dons the mask. While not a good example, think Raimi's film Spider-Man 1. He had to choose between the Tram car full of children or Mary Jane. He didn't choose one or the other like a karma system. A karma system is always black and white. I want a system where the player is challenged to try and complete every objective thrown at them.
There are definitely consequences when Spider-Man goes out and crime fights. Stray bullets, debris falling on civilians... the list goes on and on. I just think it would be a nice dynamic to include in the encounters with various villains and thugs. It would add tension to the gameplay and be a nice change of pace.
I mean, I guess they could take this consequence system further and develop a story with various branches. To an extent, that would be nice. It would definitely add a nice coat of replay value to the experience.
For instance, if playing the story, say you're chasing the Lizard. He manages to get away. Instead of giving the player the "Game over. Try again screen", the story changes itself based on the players success. Kind of like Heavy Rain which, in my opinion, did the choice system/tree branch story line absolutely brilliantly.
I feel video games nowadays are too forgiving. They hand hold the player so much because they are catering to a casual market most of the time. Not saying that a Spider-Man game should be designed for a hardcore market but...I do feel they could definitely adapt some of the features seen in various hardcore games.
As I said before, Heavy Rain is an unforgiving game. You make a mistake, it changes the overall experience. You kill a character, they are gone for the rest of the playtime. It was a brilliant/ballsy mechanic to incorporate in the game. However, it added tension and emotion to the overall experience. Something I feel would be awesome to have in a Spider-Man game. Spidey often has tragic story lines. He doesn't do the right thing 100% of the time. Even though he is a super hero, he is still essentially human at his core.
That was one of the draws many people had to the character back when he debuted in 1962. No other hero had "problems". No other hero was ever forced to make difficult decisions. Essentially one of you guys posted "If we had to make choices, that would take away from the fact that we're a super hero." Being a super hero doesn't necessarily mean you're always going to do the "right" thing when tasked with difficult decisions. As I said before, that's something that has been apparent through out the Spider-Man's mythos.
Going back to the Lizard scenario, the game moves on essentially after you lose him. Taking a page from The Amazing Spider-Man video game, say the twitter feed in Peters room would get updated. Because The Lizard got away, several civilians were later killed that day. I just feel it would offer some gravity to the overall experience. And then, when you play the game again, you can push yourself to essentially do better.
And I'm hoping this post doesn't come off forceful. I'm simply just trying to elaborate on the mechanic I've proposed. I'm not saying it's the right or wrong thing. Essentially, I just feel it would add something to the overall experience. It's something we haven't seen before in a Spider-Man game.
In the past, all Spider-Man games have been a pretty linear experience. They have a binary mindset. A zero or one mentality. You either are successful or you fail. Spider-Man isn't successful every time he puts on the mask. Why not reflect that aspect in the games?
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