Task 10
Characters are often one of those vital elements that help bring a game together and make it fun to play, mainly because they can be what creates the mental connection between player and game; you become the main character and actions of other characters around you become personal to you.
I think since I'm still very happy about the game having been playing it pretty much non-stop recently, I'm going to have a quick word about the characters in Gears of War. At first glance, they're your generic, ridiculously muscular, gung-ho gang of marines and... in a way that's all they ever seem to be. It's made clear that the main character, Marcus, has a troubled past and has been wrongly accused of crimes and other similar things, but I felt this was never truly explored and I was dissapointed as it could have really added to that feeling of war torn devastation if you had a personal vendetta against the apparently evil Locust hoard you're battling against.
Nevertheless, there are memorable moments between these dudes and it's always funny listening to their one liners as they gun down opponents along side you ("WOO! Ain't 'nuff freaks to stop this man!") and who can forget "'SUP BITCHES?!" as you get that headshot? I just think it's a missed oppurtunity as the game itself is so much fun, a brilliant story and better character development could have just elevated it to an absolute classic.
I guess that leads me onto the story elements of games now. To be honest, whilst playing through Gears' campaign mode, I hadn't got a clue what was going on and I was way too busy chainsawing through the nearest beasty with lotsa teeth to bother trying to figure it out. All I know is that the story didn't captivate me in the same way other games before it have done, and with such stunning visuals and a set of characters ready to be developed, a good story would have really been a benefit. Never mind... there'll no doubt be a sequel.
So in conclusion, I think a story helps the player get in touch with a game on a bit of a higher level as well as making it more fun and engrossing. I wouldn't say a story is vital to a brilliant game, I've had a blast playing lots of games with shoddy stories, but it can add to that immersion factor as well as improving the overall presentation. Good characters should go hand in hand with a good story as things aren't going to be as interesting if the characters you're meant to care about aren't involved in situations that provoke their emotions.
I think since I'm still very happy about the game having been playing it pretty much non-stop recently, I'm going to have a quick word about the characters in Gears of War. At first glance, they're your generic, ridiculously muscular, gung-ho gang of marines and... in a way that's all they ever seem to be. It's made clear that the main character, Marcus, has a troubled past and has been wrongly accused of crimes and other similar things, but I felt this was never truly explored and I was dissapointed as it could have really added to that feeling of war torn devastation if you had a personal vendetta against the apparently evil Locust hoard you're battling against.
Nevertheless, there are memorable moments between these dudes and it's always funny listening to their one liners as they gun down opponents along side you ("WOO! Ain't 'nuff freaks to stop this man!") and who can forget "'SUP BITCHES?!" as you get that headshot? I just think it's a missed oppurtunity as the game itself is so much fun, a brilliant story and better character development could have just elevated it to an absolute classic.
I guess that leads me onto the story elements of games now. To be honest, whilst playing through Gears' campaign mode, I hadn't got a clue what was going on and I was way too busy chainsawing through the nearest beasty with lotsa teeth to bother trying to figure it out. All I know is that the story didn't captivate me in the same way other games before it have done, and with such stunning visuals and a set of characters ready to be developed, a good story would have really been a benefit. Never mind... there'll no doubt be a sequel.
So in conclusion, I think a story helps the player get in touch with a game on a bit of a higher level as well as making it more fun and engrossing. I wouldn't say a story is vital to a brilliant game, I've had a blast playing lots of games with shoddy stories, but it can add to that immersion factor as well as improving the overall presentation. Good characters should go hand in hand with a good story as things aren't going to be as interesting if the characters you're meant to care about aren't involved in situations that provoke their emotions.
posted by James at
5:00 AM
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