I've been thinking about this gen a lot today (due to some other threads) and it's really got me down. The thing that bugs me the most is the lack of innovation in games. It feels more like a continuation of this past gen, rather than a brand new gen. This was something I've never felt in any previous gen (I've been gaming since gen 3).
Even highly praised exclusives (don't get me wrong, some of them are amazing all time greats) don't do a ton of new things- rather just better than it's been done before. Here are some examples:
While Bloodborne has great style, it's just more Souls.
Breath of the Wild did new things for the Zelda franchise, but not much to innovate the open world genre.
God of War is a spin on The Last of Us.
Ori and the Blind Forest is beautiful, but it's just another Metroidvania.
Cuphead is a shoot em up game with stylized graphics and a memorable cast of characters.
Sunset Overdrive is just a mash up of Spiderman, Jet Set Radio, Saints Row, etc.
See my point? I'm open to arguments otherwise on any of those points btw. I am not saying a lack of originality makes a game worse.
Before you call me negative nancy (I'm really not!), just flash back to last gen. Uncharted and The Last of Us were unique. Dead Rising was unique. Demon's Souls was unique. Gears of War was unique. Viva Pinata was unique. Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts was unique. Wii Sports was unique.
Why is it so easy to think of those games, but hard to think of ones from this gen?
Can you name 5 current-gen exclusives worthy of being called original; games that would be very hard for someone to argue are not original?
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