Can I just vent a little bit?

I just want to say that I think this graphical style and keyboard gameplay (or so I've heard) is a bad idea and on the wrong track for the franchise.

Why haven't adventure developers learned by now?

Dire Straits graphics don't look good (+1 for getting the reference), and mouse controls are clearly better than keyboard. It's like they try to force in change and technology even when sometimes it's really going backwards.

Seriously how do they think this looks good?
http://www.adventuregamers.com/images/db/10143.jpg
http://www.adventuregamers.com/images/db/10148.jpg

It has zero atmosphere, ambiance, artistic detail, space, the characters look ridiculous and plastic. The least they could do is add some post processing. It looks like a small diorama of toy props set up in front of a camera. That whole section of "town" looks like a model set about a foot across.

Compared to these?
http://ui12.gamespot.com/843/full20040105091607_2.gif
http://ui29.gamespot.com/380/full20040105093042_2.gif
http://ui07.gamespot.com/646/full20040105092133_2.gif

These are actual worlds you can get sucked into. Every new scene and landscape was memorable, and you wanted to first just sit back and take in all the brilliant little nuances. They actually had MORE detail and space, almost 20 years earlier. ARGH so frustrating. I bet the movement was snappier too.

I think most would agree that a really strongly artistic, immersive, perhaps hand drawn graphical scenery with 2D or 2.5D, but totally modern resolution and graphics and animation capabilities would be the most exciting, "nail on the head" format for a new MI. Even something like Vampyre Story would be more like it (though not ideal). It seems like new games that really go back to the roots always get such amazing buzz and reception, too. I'm not against branching out at all, but it should be based on improvement and evolution of what works and what's true to the series. It should always look BETTER and more impressive and feel MORE like Monkey Island, not less. And please sweet jeebus', please let me fly around on the mouse. They were invented to replace keyboard controls in the 80s for a reason.

I say all of this solely because i deeply care so much. MI is my favorite game series of all time. I like Telltale, and really appreciate them committing to the genre and trying to make it fresh and viable again. I will pre-order these and play every one the minute they drop. I am every bit as excited as you all no doubt are.

I just feel like this graphic and gameplay style never really hit the spot, and frankly it's just not very immersive or inspired. especially for such a legendary game that really demands a reverent treatment. The Sam & Max games were good, really great at times, and very funny and clever, but I never feel like replaying them. I appreciated that new style being tried, I think it worked fairly well for those games, but I don't want to see it being rested on for all the games.

I'm not trying to bring down the party. I just hope to be expressing a common concern that maybe has been held back, maybe spark a healthy discussion or plant a seed. :O

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Seriously, I can't wait to play it.

Comments

  • edited July 2009
    RockNRoll wrote: »
    I just want to say that I think this graphical style and keyboard gameplay (or so I've heard) is a bad idea and on the wrong track for the franchise.

    Why haven't adventure developers learned by now?

    Dire Straits graphics don't look good (+1 for getting the reference), and mouse controls are clearly better than keyboard. It's like they try to force in change and technology even when sometimes it's really going backwards.

    Seriously how do they think this looks good?
    http://www.adventuregamers.com/images/db/10143.jpg
    http://www.adventuregamers.com/images/db/10148.jpg

    It has zero atmosphere, ambiance, artistic detail, space, the characters look ridiculous and plastic. The least they could do is add some post processing. It looks like a small diorama of toy props set up in front of a camera. That whole section of "town" looks like a model set about a foot across.

    Compared to these?
    http://ui12.gamespot.com/843/full20040105091607_2.gif
    http://ui29.gamespot.com/380/full20040105093042_2.gif
    http://ui07.gamespot.com/646/full20040105092133_2.gif

    These are actual worlds you can get sucked into. Every new scene and landscape was memorable, and you wanted to first just sit back and take in all the brilliant little nuances. They actually had MORE detail and space, almost 20 years earlier. ARGH so frustrating. I bet the movement was snappier too.

    I think most would agree that a really strongly artistic, immersive, perhaps hand drawn graphical scenery with 2D or 2.5D, but totally modern resolution and graphics and animation capabilities would be the most exciting, "nail on the head" format for a new MI. Even something like Vampyre Story would be more like it (though not ideal). It seems like new games that really go back to the roots always get such amazing buzz and reception, too. I'm not against branching out at all, but it should be based on improvement and evolution of what works and what's true to the series. It should always look BETTER and more impressive and feel MORE like Monkey Island, not less. And please sweet jeebus', please let me fly around on the mouse. They were invented to replace keyboard controls in the 80s for a reason.

    I say all of this solely because i deeply care so much. MI is my favorite game series of all time. I like Telltale, and really appreciate them committing to the genre and trying to make it fresh and viable again. I will pre-order these and play every one the minute they drop. I am every bit as excited as you all no doubt are.

    I just feel like this graphic and gameplay style never really hit the spot, and frankly it's just not very immersive or inspired. especially for such a legendary game that really demands a reverent treatment. The Sam & Max games were good, really great at times, and very funny and clever, but I never feel like replaying them. I appreciated that new style being tried, I think it worked fairly well for those games, but I don't want to see it being rested on for all the games.

    I'm not trying to bring down the party. I just hope to be expressing a common concern that maybe has been held back, maybe spark a healthy discussion or plant a seed. :O

    Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Seriously, I can't wait to play it.

    I don't understand how you can compare Monkey 2 with the new game..

    It's a total different graphic motor. The old game has drawn pictures as backgrounds.. and not 3d.. I guess you need a SUPER computer if you want all that details to move in 3d..

    I LOVE the new game..
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