The SHH Game of the Year awards 2008

[ChrisBaleBatman]

The cool thing about working hard labor is that it helps build your character to look like he's built like ****brick house, man. Which is awesome.

I haven't gotten Broken Steel yet, but I hear that it's horrible to the story and makes the ending worse. I haven't beaten the game just yet...but that's what I've heard spoiler-free.

I also think it's important to point out that MGS4 hasn't gotten, nor needed, a patch update.

Patch updates is something so common, so ****ing common to the point that a developer will ship a buggy game thinking "well, we'll just add a patch later". I know that MLB 2K9 shipped, and the moment you put your brand new copy into the system before even playing it once...it needed a patch update already.

So, there's something impressive for today's games atleast, that MGS4 shipped and has not needed a patch because it was in working order when sent. MGO has needed patches, but **** it...it's online.

 

[DACMAN]

I thought the graphics in Metal Gear Solid 4 were impressive.

Especially considering it was all in-game engine.

So are these, and they all look way better than MGS4.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Left4dead has nice models.

http://i40.tinypic.com/2hg4ara.jpg

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

So are these, and they all look way better than MGS4.

I agree, Mass Effect is a better looking game.

But that's a different style, as well, though. Mass Effect's character models are not idealized, but realistic.

We all know that it's more than a trend with Japanese media to shoot for idealized character models. They're just shooting for different styles.

And I love Mass Effect, but that game did suffer from horrible pop-up issues with textures and layers evertime you entered an area or loaded up a screen. Not to mention the combat left something to be desired.

I'm also a believer that gameplay is more important than graphics too.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

I thought the graphics in Metal Gear Solid 4 were impressive.

Especially considering it was all in-game engine.

It's what allowed players to having hundreds of different octocamo patterns, face camo masks, and different colored command vests.

The only things that never seemed to change were the Operator handgun and Custom M4.

There are some impressive details in Snake's octocamo suit, with textures and interweaving from his suit clearly visible.

Oddly enough, Hideo Kojima himself wasn't satisfied with it. But I was.

But, what makes MGS4 so great is the gameplay. It's a spot on gameplay wise.

I don't think so. The gameplay and controls don't seem that fluid and responsive to me.

And I prefer to actually play my games, not just watch them.

They should of made the cut scenes interactive, with different responses. At least then you would feel part of what is going on, instead of just watching. Look at games like Bioshock and Mass Effect, they had a lot of dialogue and cut scenes. But they still made you feel like you was part of that universe, that is was you involved in those convo's and what not.

I mean the first time you meet that Drebbin guy. ****ING HELL WILL YOU JUST **** SHUT THE **** UP!!!! Going on and on and on, it was so long winded for no reason what-so-ever. As were 99% of the cut scenes.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I think that's the most controversial apsect of MGS games, which I happen to enjoy. The cinematic aspect to it.

I think it's just another way of telling the story. I don't know how I would feel with an rpg element to the story added like that, either.

Different people tell stories in different ways.

And, I gotta say...what game have you been playing Ace? How are the controls not fluid and responsive? I think the controls are the best part of MGS4, they're very tight I think.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Well I haven't played it in a while to be fair, but I dunno, I felt they were a little clunky.

Don't get me wrong I do think it is a great game, and I love cinematic games. But seriously, when I stick a game on to play I want to be involved. Otherwise I'd just buy a movie.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Well I haven't played it in a while to be fair, but I dunno, I felt they were a little clunky.

Don't get me wrong I do think it is a great game, and I love cinematic games. But seriously, when I stick a game on to play I want to be involved. Otherwise I'd just buy a movie.

I mean, games like Bioshock and Mass Effect are just so much more innovative and immersive. It's like you are actually part of that world, not just watching, tagging along for the ride.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Oh, I understand man. I think it's a very valid argument to not want a cinematic game...and more of a gamers game.

I do, however, think it's a slippery slope for developers...because people seem to loathe QTE's...and that seems to be as interactive a way as any to involve gamers into the cutscenes.

I gotta defend the controls, though. I just think they're as tight as can be. Very responsive, and just all around tightly knit. There is a learning curve to it, even for MGS veterans though.

And of all things I cannot stand in a game, clunky controls are one. I think horrid controls can destroy a great game. It could be the prettiest, most well presented game ever...but bad controls can destroy that great game.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Fair enough man. Maybe I need to give it another go.

But yea the cut scene thing does come down to taste. Like I said I do like cinematic games, and cut scenes are great...as long as they don't go overboard. That Drebbin cut scene I mentioned, that could of been like 2 minutes long and we would of got the same info out of it. But they decided to make it 20 minutes long or something absolutely ridiculous like that. They made it long winded just for the sake of it, to try and appear more cerebral IMO. Comes off quite pretentious.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Fair enough man. Maybe I need to give it another go.

But yea the cut scene thing does come down to taste. Like I said I do like cinematic games, and cut scenes are great...as long as they don't go overboard. That Drebbin cut scene I mentioned, that could of been like 2 minutes long and we would of got the same info out of it. But they decided to make it 20 minutes long or something absolutely ridiculous like that. They made it long winded just for the sake of it, to try and appear more cerebral IMO. Comes off quite pretentious.

Utter and complete nonsense. A work of entertainment and/or art can not be pretentious.

Also, simple solution, skip the cutscenes

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I liked Drebin. We could have used more Drebin...and Little Gray. Little Gray was awesome.

Although, by far...the most unrealistic monkey that I've ever seen in animated form.

But, still...Little Gray was cool next to Drebin.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Yeah, I liked them both, too. They could have just made him a dull, standard merchant, but they went the RE4 route and give him some flair...and a monkey. It's one of the things I've always enjoyed about the MGS series, you may not like the bosses and side characters, but the last thing you can ever call any of them is dull and lifeless

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I thought it was pretty ballsy to go with an almost all female bosses for the game.

The only boss in the game that isn't a female is the final one. Prior to that, all of the boss battles were women.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Yeah, I really liked The Beauty And The Beast being the same being. Really neat idea