gaming Games becoming too cinematic?

[Limeblossom 482]

Shigeru Miyamoto, the hero of the gaming industry, was interviewed about the future of gaming a year ago. He wasn't so happy with games becoming cinematic, and he has a point.

 

 

These younger game creators, they want to be recognized,” he sighs. “They want to tell stories that will touch people’s hearts. And while I understand that desire, the trend worries me. It should be the experience, that is touching. What I strive for is to make the person playing the game the director. All I do is help them feel that, by playing, they’re creating something that only they could create.”

 

Is it really worth downgrading the gameplay in favor of an expanded story? All I see is the return of CD-i quality....

 

[Chara 1,565]

I hated the Order 1886, the game was WAY too much cinematic for me to actually enjoy the game. Only time I prefer a game in a cinematic style if it is like Battlefield, The Last of Us, hell even Call of Duty at times.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Zach

[joanro 247]

I enjoyed both games I've played that had a more "cinematic" feel to them. In my opinion, I think they both had great stories and it was because the way the story was told. I don't know if The Walking Dead for example would have had the same emotional impact had they taken a different approach to it. I never thought that stories in video games could make me feel the way games like TWD did.

[Minos 40]

Well, this is bad for games, that depend on their gameplay. Like Fallout. And for the others - why not? This is rather good, than bad.

[Zhortac 1,474]

It depends on the game, to be honest. MGS4 did it amazingly great, but then there's ones that just make it drag too much.

[Makazi 317]

It depends on the game you're playing.

[Lisa 5,553]

I don't really have a problem with cinematic games such as The Order: 1886, if it's entertaining I'll play and enjoy it, whether that's through interactivity or cinematic means.   

[WindShear 532]

I would say that it just depends on the game. I recently started playing MGS V and it has a very cinematic feel to it, but it is done in a way that doesn't take away from the experience of actually playing the game IMO.

 

There have always been games that have had less gameplay in order to focus more on telling a story (such as visual novel type games). I don't really see a problem with having some games be more cinematic, as long every game isn't like that.

[Limeblossom 482]

I hated the Order 1886, the game was WAY too much cinematic for me to actually enjoy the game.

The developer never wanted to make a game. They should take their stuff and leave the gaming industry.

 

If you want both game with a good story, but not intrusive, you should play Bioshock. Why? Most of the stories are told with audio you can find and play whenever you want and it doesn't stop the gameplay. You only get a cutscene in the begin and end. And the gameplay rocks!

[Megas 27,612]

Personally I don't think that's his best quote, it makes it sound like he's against stories(which he's said a few times in the past) rather than cinermatics over gameplay(which I agree that it's a growing problem)

 

 

These younger game creators, they want to be recognized,” he sighs. “They want to tell stories that will touch people’s hearts. And while I understand that desire, the trend worries me. It should be the experience, that is touching. What I strive for is to make the person playing the game the director. All I do is help them feel that, by playing, they’re creating something that only they could create.”

I love Miyamoto. He's easily my most favorite game devs(even over Kojima and Kamiya), but this is just something I just can't agree on. While I agree with him that gameplay should always take priority, there's nothing wrong with telling a good story in the process. I remember an interview(don't remember who) about the original Mario Galaxy, stating he originally wanted to cut out the story(including the Rosalina story times). He eventually got his wish with MG2, and while level design and gameplay were as great as ever, the lack of any story made a much less memorable experience compared to the first. And the less said about Sticker Star the better.

 

That said I agree that there's a lot of games that focus too much on being a movie rather than a game. The Order and Beyond Two Souls were some of the worst offenders of this, if you want to tell a story that's fine, but there should be a good balance between gameplay and story/cinematics. And then there's also crap like with Assassin's Creed Unity, where they tried to use PR garbage like "Cinematic Experience" to justify making an underperforming game, and seeing that from a big developer and a big series makes it feel as though it may encourage other devs to make excuses like "It'll be like a movie!" as an excuse to make a game not technically perform as well as it could/should

 

 

 

It depends on the game, to be honest. MGS4 did it amazingly great, but then there's ones that just make it drag too much.

 

Even MGS4 faltered on that. While I understand that they pretty much fill in every single gap in the series, with it being the end and all, it ended up being way to cinematic-heavy, way more than any other installment in the series at that point. And while previous MGS games were noted for being a very cinematic heavy franchise, those other titles usually had a good balance between cinematics/story-telling and gameplay to make it not feel overwhelming, which wasn't the case with MGS4. Hell, MGS4 was the reason the series became the butt of the "it's a movie, not a real game" jokes and criticisms the industry was getting around that time

 

I love MGS4, but I'd say there's a reason why it isn't as fondly remembered as the other games in the series

[Solid 1,327]

I would say that it just depends on the game. I recently started playing MGS V and it has a very cinematic feel to it, but it is done in a way that doesn't take away from the experience of actually playing the game IMO.

 

There have always been games that have had less gameplay in order to focus more on telling a story (such as visual novel type games). I don't really see a problem with having some games be more cinematic, as long every game isn't like that.

This is pretty much what I have to say about this.

 

A note on MGSV, what made certain cinematic parts in the game extra edgy is how it allows the players themselves interactions.

 

 

In the Shining Lights mission, for example, you had to kill off a substantial portion of your staff. What makes it extra touchy is when you get to see their name tag and scan them, which in case some of them might seem familiar to you as they are the very same soldiers you have acquired throughout gameplay. Of course, you need to press the buttons yourself to execute them which makes the feels all the more intense. The interactive cinematic parts, such as given the option to shoot Quiet and Skullface, are also pretty neat.

 

[Discordian 6,015]

The main difference is that the Philips CD-i was not built as a gaming machine. The idea was thrown in there but that was never the purpose of the device. That compiled with the fact that new games typically keep a standard to how a game plays even in the most basic of games will make sure games never turn into the CD-i nightmare again.

 

And the fact of the matter is that things are getting cinematic because the people who make them want more interaction than what a movie or animation studio can offer so they turn to video games. Personally, I'm okay with games being more cinematic. There will always be other games that won't go too far in that direction and there will be other games that keep a happy balance. It's only really games like Heavy Rain and The Walking Dead that get so cinematic the player has barely any control. I'd even go so far as to say there are some games that could use more of it and Shigeru Miyamoto is one of the guys who needs to infuse more of it into his games.

 

I haven't played The Order but if it's anything like I think it is then it's problems are not in how cinematic it is but in how lazy the developer was about creating gameplay. The game could have just as easily had the best of both worlds.

[Justin_Case001 4,883]

I'm seeing a lot of "depends on the game" in here.  I concur.  Many cut-scenes are great, and there are many games that do it very well.  Some can be downright chill-inducing.  I got many chills from FFXIII, which, in my opinion, was more about the powerful story than freedom of gameplay, and I think they did it perfectly.  But I definitely agree with Miyamoto about the trend.  I have played many games where I didn't give a sh*t about the cut-scenes, and just wanted to get to the damn game already.  Some games made me feel like I was just watching a movie in which I need to hold a controller so I can press a button occasionally to kick the movie along.  That's crap.  There's definitely a balance, and a fine line sometimes.  And then there are times when you just want all game, no cut-scenes, no story, so it's important that we have those games, too.

[Discordian 6,015]

I hope people aren't confusing the meaning of the word in gaming. It's not meant to be the antithesis to good gameplay. You can have both but some developers put more work into one than the other and it shows.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,435]

For me, it depends on if the cinematic aspect is done well. Does the game have a good story to tell? Does the game let us experience that story in a good way? If so, then I am not against cinematic heavy games. To me, it is all about the experience and the gaming experience can go far beyond just the gameplay aspects. Back when gaming was in the Mario Bros. era, it was different. Back then, it was usually just the gameplay that kept a game going so strong, but now? Gaming rivals every other industry out there and cinematic gaming is just one of many approaches. The Metal Gear Solid series shows how to blend both worlds together but there is room for either of them.

[Nintenboy195 384]

Some are, and some are not. Games like Gta, and fallout 4 are examples of how games could be cinematic, without decreasing the quality of gameplay.

[Light Diamond 950]

Nope i disagree with him completely. It sounds like he's against storytelling in games, i've had fun with some games like The Walking Dead, Heavy Rain and Beyond which have more cutscenes than gameplay but they were critically acclaimed and i like them.

 

Something like the Batman Arkham games and The Last of Us have a good amount of both cutscenes and gameplay which compliment each other well.

 

I thought The Order 1886 was good actually, it had some problems but i'm amazed at how everyone's so harsh to the game and i'm a bit angry because we are never going to get a sequel for it.

[Limeblossom 482]

That said I agree that there's a lot of games that focus too much on being a movie rather than a game. The Order and Beyond Two Souls were some of the worst offenders of this, if you want to tell a story that's fine, but there should be a good balance between gameplay and story/cinematics. And then there's also crap like with Assassin's Creed Unity, where they tried to use PR garbage like "Cinematic Experience" to justify making an underperforming game, and seeing that from a big developer and a big series makes it feel as though it may encourage other devs to make excuses like "It'll be like a movie!" as an excuse to make a game not technically perform as well as it could/should

I agree with you. Most cinematic games I played have broken gameplay. And all those heavily intrusive cutscenes and QTE ruined the fun.

 

 

Some are, and some are not. Games like Gta, and fallout 4 are examples of how games could be cinematic, without decreasing the quality of gameplay.

Do you mean cinematic like realistic graphics? We call that photorealism.

[cider float 2,537]

The problem I have is too many story driven games getting way too cliche and just taking elements of other game stories or movies and putting it together. I prefer it if they come up with their own style and add in elements and twists with interesting characters that nobody would of thought of yet to be in it.

 

And games that have less story and more focus on gameplay is sort of dying out, I would prefer some being brought back in. Shigeru Miyamoto's works on Mario and Zelda is still holding strong at least. If you've noticed every new installment to those games have a completely different gameplay style and is worth it. I know many whine about how they're never staying true to the same story or playstyle but I say screw you, these games are good for a reason and it's not for it's story. Of course I can't say the same for Hyrule Heroes or whatever that's called which looks like a copy of some slash em up of every type. 

 

I do think when Shigeru passes away his heirs to the franchises are going to fuck it up big time and they're going to be the next Call of Duty or Assassin's Creed before their quality diminishes.

Edited December 20, 2015 by cider float

[Moony the Cat 3,702]

Well, i dont play newer games, so i should probably shut up and leave but...

I watched other people play some newer games, like Until Dawn for example and i found the game to be great.

As well as some newer Final Fantasy games, who have really nice looking cut scenes.

 

I have nothing against a more cinematic game. 

[EpicEnergy 23,218]

There is such a thing as having too many cutscenes, but some games implement numerous cutscenes quite well. It really depends on what type of game it is and how well the gameplay and cutscenes are implemented.

[Sparklefan1234 170,294]

I agree that there are too many cutscenes in games nowadays and if I see a cutscene in one of my WWE wrestling games I skip it no matter

what because I don't play those games to watch people talk or whatever. 

Edited March 28, 2023 by Sparklefan1234

[Steve Piranha 29,421]

Let’s see. Yes, I feel some games implement long and frequent cutscenes out of trend, rather because they need them. Another issue I see is that virtually every AAA game are the photorealistic and cutscene filled games. Yes, all those games have their place, but come on, every single one ? Oh well, Switch “Made Nintendo Great again” . All kinds of quality games like the pre-WII era  (there are even rumors of a remaster of a game for alpha male gamers )