• 23Aug 08

  It's a mad, MadWorld

  This is what you get when the most influential persons in the video game industry are combined. MadWorld will be praised by critics and hardcore gamers alike when it is released. (Rightfully so I'd say.) Yet the sales will most likely be a disappointment. This statement is not taken out of thin air. Remember Clover Studio? They made three completely new franchises (Okami, God Hand & Viewtiful Joe). All of those games had a deviant, yet clear, concept and idea behind them that drove the development forward. A guiding light, a vision one could say. Just like MadWorld seems to have.

  They were all excellent games. Okami might be the most fun I've ever had playing a game, a profound reference to the Japanese culture, beating Zelda on its own turf. A huge achievement only in itself.

  And God Hand undeservedly went completely under the radar. A crazy, deranged and humoristic laughaton all through, unlike anything I'd ever played before. Even I didn't know what to expect from God Hand, which - partially because of the poor attention it got in media - made it the single, biggest, positive surprise last-gen.

  It's easily overlooked as a brawler with clunky controls when there is so much more to the game. The problem for those (few) who tried it was the insane difficulty right from the get go. It didn't allow for any mistakes to be made or time to explore the combat system, resulting in a frustrating situation for most. However, the rewards for us who took the time to learn them was exponentially that much more satisfying. And if you passed that threshold, the game grabbed you by the balls and wouldn't let go. Like a hot-tempered chihuahua with sharp teeth.

  Immersive and bizarre. A world of hyperactive midgets in rainbow colored clothes, aspiring to become the ultimate power ranger lookalikes. A man in a gorilla suit wearing a lucha libre wrestling outfit, getting the family jewels roughed up by our protagonist. Ass spanking ladies in skimpy dresses and then smacking them up into the sky with a baseball bat, superhuman style. All you'll see is a flash of light as they leave the orbit. Accompanied by the zany soundtrack, hysterical presentation and "story" progression. I knew early on, there was no turning back from this comical gem.

  Anyway back on track. My point being, the sales were not synonymous with the praise that Clover Studio received. And Capcom had to shut down their branching studio. I'd hate to see something like that happen again to PlatinumGames.

  Unfortunately people will always buy accessible, mainstream crap over something profound that they don't understand. The history is a testimony to that. People are just as afraid to walk and make their own path in life, do their own thing and stick out as video game developers are.

  One can debate whether or not it is the best idea from PlatinumGames side to release MadWorld for the Wii, and the Wii only (merely from an economical point of view). Especially considering that the majority of the Wii demographic are casual players and will probably never even consider buying this expected masterpiece. On the other hand, PlatinumGames/Clover Studio always do what their hearts and minds desire. They wont let anyone intrude on their creative rights. Their artistic freedom is the last thing they'll abandon. The ship might sink but the attitude. And that's why I have this great admiration for these - in many ways - role models.

  It's refreshing and invigorating to see in an industry that gets more and more copycatting and money-driven. Hail to the brave heirs and true kings of the video game throne! Succession should go to those who are strong at heart and will, and dare to brake old moldy policies. Not to those who get a heartburn from merely uttering the word 'innovation' at the risk of losing money. A leader without new creative ideas, direction, and plans, is like a car without wheels. In my world cash won't get you far. It's a dead end in the long run. EA figured that out. Now they have tons of interesting games in development. Dead Space, Mirror's Edge, Spore and Left 4 Dead just to mention a few. The expression 'cash is king' is true in some ways, but you'll still need to earn it.

  I wish PlatinumGames the best of luck. A bright future. Capcom is one of my favourite companies but I think they made a big blunder when they abolished Clover Studio. Sega will benefit from this error. Thankfully, the masterminds who worked there does not seem to have lost their magic touch from what I've seen and heard lately...

  • Posted Aug 23, 2008 10:27 am GMT
  • Category: Games
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