@DASHONFIRE @Tychobrahi None that are as good as Halo 4 or Far Cry 3 currently. Both in rendered cut-scenes and in game. Journey's visuals are far too simplistic, which adds to its own charm. As far as the other games...MGS4 looked good for its time and that is certainly a factor. I know it's unfair to compare technology leaps but I was specifically referring to the games that have been out since the Samaritan Demo.
The ideas in this demo feel borrowed from the movie MI 4 with the holographic projection screen and in general, extreme sci-fi isms. The devkit looks good but other than games like Halo 4 and Far Cry 3, I haven't really seen eye popping visuals from current gen games. Still waiting to see games reflect the "Samaritan" demo.
So it's basically a sci-fi isometric indie heavenly sword game. I mean she's called RED with red hair instead of Nariko and the blade is called TRANSISTOR instead of "Heavenly Sword". sigh....*
They weren't able to keep up with the quality of the demo showed earlier. Somewhere somehow there was a communication gap and that cost the franchise a big price. Next time someone puts an aliens in the title, people are going to think twice. That said, it is sad to see when studios lose development talent. Good Luck to them all!
Had they released Black Flag as a stand alone AC game say before AC3 with all the added game mechanics, dynamic environment and more "engaging" AI, the gamer fatigue that this franchise is currently suffering may have been drastically reduced. We've seen tremendous improvement since the first game but to showcase developmental progression at the cost of releasing 5 games not to mention the handheld titles is A LOT! Their approach is more like "Look this assassin can climb trees+comes with more animations!" and after a year of development "Look this assassin can swim underwater!+even more animations!" Sigh*
Taking the extra time to give the player one game that has a more robust and fresh experience ultimately pays off than showing off every little improvement through multiple ones.
What's next a Mayan Assassin at the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores? If they ever do, I would like some kind of royalty fee for every copy sold!
Can't believe AC has become the Call Of Duty of Ubisoft. Give it a rest already. Work on some new IP's. Tired of the same archetype of an assassin showcased through every single period in history. Lot's of changes in the game industry, bring some new IP's and arc them through a trilogy.
Excellent analysis! I feel like the only redeeming chance for an Aliens game to work is to really approach exploration of the narrowed corridors and/or rooms in the environment in 3rd person. 1) Not only does it give you a chance to fully immerse yourself but also creates a sense of uneasiness when exploring. 2) The lack of a HUD adds to the tension in the game. For this to work, the animations on the characters need to be fully flushed out. i.e. giving the player full control of the character. firing primary/secondary weapons, working the shoulder lamp, motion sensor, personal data transmitters, able to physically use objects in the environment to create strongholds, cover etc.
I would be very happy if I got to explore every nook and cranny of say a ship like the USS Sulaco on my own with my AI squad mates sweeping every area till I reach my mission objectives. (a sandbox approach)
Pacing is key like tom pointed out. It's okay to explore the game for a long while until my inevitable encounter with the xenomorphs. It makes those moments really fun.
The most important however is to create a story that lives up to the caliber of the movies as the fans will always use that as a benchmark towards a new experience. Just throwing in nostalgic moments in a poorly executed game is only a small percentage of the overall exp.
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