ScuzzBlog: Diaries November 2019
Entry 12th November 2019: Post 01: Adventure Games - My story so far.
Adventure Games - My story so far.
This is a long post, but then I have been gaming a very long time.
I have been playing computer games since Dark Tower back in 1982.
Whilst I have played many types of computer game, just one type
holds my imagination. And that is the adventure story based games.
Interestingly there were such games even for the ZX81 , like
Planet of Death, which required an amazing amount of imagination
from the player to bring the words to life.
By the time I got to Oracle's Cave on the Spectrum I was already
pulling all nighters and still going to work the next day. For
me Oracle's Cave was one of those games that formed the basis of
all good adventure story based games. Featuring a dragon slaying
hero that advanced skills to both defeat the mobs, whilst adventuring,
exploring and uncovering treasures. The art of any good adventure
game is the exploration into the unknown as you unravel the game
story by your actions. The game still requires a good measure of
imagination, though the story tends to be a predetermined goal.
There really is nothing quite like the beginning of an adventure.
Sadly there is nothing more miserable than the end of one. I can
be miserable for days having completed a good game.
My Spectrum years were dotted with other adventure based story
games though none were as challenging and fun as Oracle's Cave.
I didn't return to gaming on computers until my Amiga era and one
of the main reasons for buying the Amiga was to play Ishar. I had
been reading about the game for a good six months and it was the
first game I bought. I was not disappointed. The real joy of the
game was the ability to level up by repeating paths through the
game and gaining more gold so that you can better your chances of
defeating the big bad boss. That base formula is what makes a good
adventure game re-playable. Ishar was just magic and it's kinda sad
they stopped making them.
My next stop on the adventurer trail was with Tomb Raider and the
original game on the PlayStation. It looks very dated now but in
the day I was lost to it all and just couldn't put the game down.
The size of the areas and the puzzle solving plus the beautiful
music just haunted my days. I rushed home each and every night and
couldn't wait to dip into Lara's world. One area that was truly
magical was the tall structure that began above a pool. The music
was so hypnotic and the challenge so daunting. But I succeeded,
as I always did eventually.
I played Resident Evil till my fingers bled and even more hours
fighting with dinosaurs in Dino Crisis. The story in each of these
games was incredibly strong and the main characters very powerful.
I recall the last moment of Dino Crisis when Regina and her side
kick finally thought they had escaped the big Rex just to have it
chase them through the water as they escaped on a boat. She explodes
a grenade in his mouth and the game finally ended and for the first
time all was calm. I have never been so miserable, man I loved
that game.
Nothing but nothing had ever prepared me for Final Fantasy. This
truly is a masterpiece of computer gaming story telling. When I
first played the game I thought it was crap. I couldn't get my
head round it. And then suddenly something clicked and I was
hooked. Life was never to be the same again. I have never played
a series of games so much, like ever. And even as I sit here at
ten past three in the morning I have my PS3 running in the back
ground having just completed another stint with one of their games,
Lightning Returns.
Final Fantasy was more than a game. It was a culture based around
the ideas of one man. The game has generated a cult following that
transcends any other computer series. For me I find the game pure
escapism. I just lose myself and free my mind from this world. I
truly can drop way down the rabbit hole and seriously play endless
hours without even blinking an eye. So addictive. A big thank you
to Hironobu Sakaguchi... you are truly a giant.
Story telling and adventure in games is so important and I am
lucky to have been blessed with so many great games in my time.
Games like BloodRayne. The whole series, which whilst dark and of
serious blood lust also carries a very interesting and exciting
story and one that succeeded cus of the strength of the main
character. Drakengard was basically just one part of a whole series
of games, which currently has Yorha 2B in Nier Automata on the PS4
as the latest hero of the day.
DevilMayCry and the Resident Evil Series have held my imagination
for more hours than I care to admit and I never tired of their
versions. I guess the final flurry of games on the PS2 with Time
Splitters, Half Life and God of War demonstrate better than any
other the strength of PS2 games that were heavily story based.
For me they mark the end of the true adventure story era before
it became swamped by shooters.
There have been other great titles that have eroded what bones
I still have left in my hands to punch those buttons, and I guess
Xenosaga, Heavenly Sword and Bayonetta have done more to give me
thumb ache than any other adventure based fight games. The key
though was the story and as long as I feel I am revealing purpose
to the progression in the game in a rewarding and interesting way
then I will keep playing.
My PlayStation era came to an abrupt halt in 2008 with me moving
over to World of Warcraft. I have played all the expansions and
currently have several Level 120s courtesy of Battle for Azeroth.
Whilst the later games did keep me interested none of the expansions
have even come close to Wrath of the Lich King for story and depth
of game challenge.
I include Tera in my favourite online games. There was a moment
in this game when it seriously fell off the tracks and became
something slightly questionable. However if you play the 1 to 60
content particularly the later zones it really has an amazing
story. Man I was bonkers about this game.
And so where do I go after Level 70 in Tera and Level 120 in BfA.
I have dabbled again in Classic which has been re-released from
what was known as Vanilla, but I have chosen not to sink any more
of my life into that game. I am a great fan of Sylvanas as I play
Blood Elf generally and I am more than a little unhappy at what
they have done to her in game.
I can never switch off my mind. I need to feed my imagination all
the time. May sound odd but the stimulus that story based adventure
games have could be traced all the way back to my hours lying on
my bed with stereo speakers propped against each of my ears listening
to Topographic Oceans by Yes. Other classics such as Tubular Bells
and Dark Side of the Moon did stimulate my heart, mind and soul,
but when you look at the artwork of Roger Dean on the covers of
Yes albums you can almost sense the beginning of fantasy adventure
on computers.
This may sound odd but I hate reading. I have never taken to reading
books. I like pictures and music. Simple as that.
So what am I playing today. Same as I have been playing this last
three weeks. Lightning Returns or Final Fantasy XIII-3. I am lost
to it all again and I am deeply in love with the main character
as ever. That kind of bond with your character is what makes the
gaming pleasurable. How could you ever let the hero of your game
and story fail. I cannot. At some point the character becomes self
sufficient and in control. You are merely an observer. Whilst it
is you fingers and thumbs that are driving the game you become
almost subservient as you become engrossed in the game play. It is
truly a magical and hypnotic experience when the game takes over
and you are transported to what ever world you are playing in. The
game takes on a new meaning.
There you have it. Well over thirty five years of computer gaming
and I still find it a powerful drug. I have been most lucky to have
been afforded the time to play. There are some that suggest that
you could fail in life if you gave up so much time to games. For
me as a successful architect that trained and became a senior
director in a practice, let me assure you that gaming is the escape
that makes life tolerable. The trick is never to grow up and more
importantly never go to bed. Only one life... enjoy every minute.
By the way it is now .. 3.43am in the morning. Even more Bonkers.
Adventure Games - My story so far.
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