Boy, we here at 61FPS sure are thinking with a hive mind today--and it's all due to a lovable, fast-talking British fellow who's already popped up a few times on our blog in the past 24 hours. Needless to say, the reactions of our own bloggers have been intriguing, so I thought I'd continue the old-school conversation with my own post.
First of all, retro is undoubtedly back in style--if that isn't contradictory enough for you. I was going to begin this post by going through a list of the most recent retro remakes/revivals, but there's just too damn many. Right now, I'm completely stuck in the past with Mega Man 9 and the DS remake of Dragon Quest IV, and I couldn't be happier. As much as I try to resist the crippling powers of nostalgia, it does get to me; and, in some ways, I realize the tragedy of buying my childhood back, one game at a time.
It's safe to say that I'm on the same page as John and Nadia when it comes to Bionic Commando: Rearmed--but there are certain retro quirks that irk me when they appear in a modern-day game. Take the concept of "lives," for instance; it's something that I've wanted to write an in-depth article about for a long time (and I just may do that!). I'm completely against punishing a player with tedium (i.e., replaying long stretches of a game) for screwing up; but if Mega Man 9 didn't have a lives system, it would feel very, very wrong. Despite it kicking my ass up and down the block for a week, there are certain old-school ideas that work best in certain contexts.
On the other hand, a game like the Wii's Zack and Wiki absolutely did not need a lives system--especially when the developers seemed so keen on murdering you for experimentation and exploring; not a good idea when finicky Wiimote controls can screw you at every turn. And look at Super Mario Galaxy--what exactly were the point of lives in that game? I've never had a game over in Galaxy, but I'm sure losing all of my lives would provide me with nothing but a brief period of inconvenience as I loaded up my old save. Is that supposed to encourage me to play better?
I guess what I'm saying is we should keep the old mechanics where they belong, and revamp the ones that would be inexcusable today. Bionic Commando: Rearmed did a great job at this; what do you guys think?
Related Links
Bionic Commando is Love: Bionic Commando Rearmed is Out. It Matters.
One Crazy Summer of Arcade
Yahtzee Rolls With the Big Dogs, Takes the Piss Out of GTA4