How You'd Make Good Games Better

[ChrisMWaters 0]

OK...now it's very easy to say how you'd make a crappy game better (better graphics, better controls, etc.)

 

However, how would you make a game that is pretty good-great better?

 

I'll give you two examples of games I've played, and then let the topic run from here on:

 

1)Megaman Anniversary Collection:

Systems: Playstation 2, Game Cube, and (soon) X-Box

To Improve: First, just because I was spoiled by it happening in the Capcom logo screen, I'd like a museum feature showing all the classic Megaman characters in 3D like Gutsman was.

 

Next, some missing games to be added (most ones that haven't been seen in the US)

- The Wily Wars: You fight three robots inspired by the same story that inspired Dragonball/Z/GT, using weapons and items from the first three Megaman games. Was for the Sega Megadrive (AKA Genesis) and Sega Channel

- Megaman's Soccer: I know it wasn't the best game...but come on! It was the original Megaman's first foray into the SNES world...even before Megaman 7.

- Super Adventure Rockman: If you've never heard of it, click here to see. Now it does say it took up three disks...but this was back in the PS1/Saturn days, so I'm sure they could have easily fit it on today's systems.

- Megaman Battle and Chase: Yes, I know it's coming out for the upcoming X Collection...but seriously, does it make any sense to have it come for an X collection when X isn't in it (Unless they make X, Zero, and/or Axl secret extra characters in the game)

 

2)Super Smash Bros. Melee

System: Game Cube

To Improve: Well, less Pokemon would be a good start.

 

Other than that...online playability would have been cool. Maybe for the (if they do make one) next installment.

 

 

Anyway, take it away from here guys!

[chirs3 0]

To improve the pretty good but should have been better Halo 2...

 

1. Totally overhaul the vehicle sequences, because the driver AI sucks ass. I'd have them be closer to rail-shooting sequences, like the one featured in the E3 Demo. Where Master Chief was on the back of a Warthog tearing ass through the streets of New Mombosa. None of this "drive in really awkward circles because I missed one Grunt" crap.

 

Come to think of it, I'd add the whole Demo level to the game. That whole thing looked awesome.

 

2. I'd open the areas up, make 'em bigger, wider. One of the things I liked about the first Halo was the huge battlefields. Being able to stick a plasma grenade on an Elite from 200 yards away =, but all the environments in Halo 2 are smaller, more corridor-esque.

 

3. I'd redo the entire Scarab sequence, because that was just plain pathetic. You'd fight the sonuvabitch on the ground, with it looming over you - none of this "take potshots with a rocket launcher from above" shit, or "the Covenant apparently can't drive in reverse, so the Scarab stops right in front of a machine gun turret and weapons cache" garbage. And you'd actually get to destroy the thing, rather than just killing the crew and letting a cutscene do the rest.

 

Those were my three major complaints with the game. Only other thing I can think of would be to add a little more Cortana/Chief banter - too few good moments between her and the Chief.

 

EDIT: No, actually, I'd also reintroduce loading times. If I have to choose between pop-in or, god forbid, sixty seconds of waiting, I'll take the wait.

Edited February 17, 2005 by chirs3

[El Psycho Diablo 0]

I never had the pop-in texture problem..so that really didn't bother me.

 

That, and I despise loading..

[chirs3 0]

Not just textures (though I also hate that - Master Chief jumping between low-and-hi-res is so damn irritating).

 

I'm talking about Miranda Keyes floating in space, because the game hasn't yet loaded her ship.

 

I'm willing to wait 60 seconds to ensure crap like that doesn't happen.

Edited February 17, 2005 by chirs3

[razazteca 0]

online playability

Never going to happen, Nintendo has only 2 games that are online.

[Jingus 0]

How To Make Any Game Better: full motion video of full frontal nudity. (Preferably of cute fems.)

 

But yeah, the vehicle controls on Halo 2 suck ass.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

online playability

Never going to happen, Nintendo has only 2 games that are online.

I know...but what I don't know is why Nintendo is so against online play for their games.

 

Smash Bros. Melee, The Mario Party, Kart, Golf, and Tennis games...possibly the Four Swords game that came out a while back...Metroid Prime 2, Star Fox Armada...all easy candidates for Online Play.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

How To Make Any Game Better: full motion video of full frontal nudity. (Preferably of cute fems.)

That doesn't always work.

 

Depending on who you ask: See "The Guy Game" for an example

[Skywarp! 0]

I think the reason Nintendo hasn't fully embraced online play yet is that they can't completely ensure that the game will stay a Rated E experience. They can't completely censor what people say or do, unless they completely do not allow any sort of chat system at all. That means you can't find friends or discuss the game before playing, so there's really no point at all.

 

Anyway, that's my theory.

[The Metal Maniac 0]

Yes, I know it's coming out for the upcoming X Collection.

 

*head explodes*

 

I must have it. NOW.

 

Anyway, a feature I thought might be neat for the Smackdown series...I figure it'd be way too hard to have a create-a-move feature, because of all the stuff you'd have to do, BUT, I think it'd be neat if there was create-a-finisher.

 

What I mean is, you'd be able to take an existing move and personalize it as your finisher. So if you created a Lyger clone, it'd say his finisher was the Lygerbomb and not Powerbomb 14 or whatever.

 

Also, if you could personalize the move by adding a pose or something before it. Like, you know how Randy Orton will stand behind someone with his arm out, wait for them to turn and then hit the RKO? Basically, you'd be able to pick a move (Diamond Cutter), but set it so that it's done from behind, and then add in the pose, just like you would in the create-an-animation thing.

 

I just think it'd be a really neat way to personalize created wrestlers. You could do things like raising your hand for a chokeslam and waiting for the guy to get up off the ground before hitting it, kinda like Goldberg's spear in HCTP, or you could hit a powerbomb and then do a pose right afterwards, like how HBK does a little dance after hitting the Superkick. You know, stuff like that.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

know...but what I don't know is why Nintendo is so against online play for their games.

 

Because the majority of gamers don't give a crap about online play.

[tominator89 0]

Madden, despite its popularity, needs some fine tuning; especially in the franchise mode.

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

How To Make Any Game Better: full motion video of full frontal nudity.  (Preferably of cute fems.)

That doesn't always work.

 

Depending on who you ask: See "The Guy Game" for an example

Think about The Guy Game without the nudity.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

How To Make Any Game Better: full motion video of full frontal nudity.  (Preferably of cute fems.)

That doesn't always work.

 

Depending on who you ask: See "The Guy Game" for an example

Think about The Guy Game without the nudity.

You'd get "You Don't Know Jack"

 

Which, I thought, was a good game.

[JST 0]

What I mean is, you'd be able to take an existing move and personalize it as your finisher. So if you created a Lyger clone, it'd say his finisher was the Lygerbomb and not Powerbomb 14 or whatever.

Didn't the first ever Smackdown have that function where you could basically name any of your CAW's moves?

[AndrewTS 0]

What I mean is, you'd be able to take an existing move and personalize it as your finisher. So if you created a Lyger clone, it'd say his finisher was the Lygerbomb and not Powerbomb 14 or whatever.

Didn't the first ever Smackdown have that function where you could basically name any of your CAW's moves?

For the signature and finisher only, I believe. However, the CAW mode was so awful in it that there was no point to it.

 

A simple way to improve games: control configurating. Extensively so. Every single game should allow you a great deal of freedom on how to configurate your controls, no exception. From simple examples like the GC MMAC, to the Splinter Cells, to Rumble Roses. It seems a lot of times they're changed simply to screw with people. *shrug*

 

Even one-button specials for fighters seems kosher, since it shouldn't make any difference, and it's a nice option for beginners.

 

All RPGs should let you name your characters. Sure, this has its problems (I've found some used 16-pit RPGs with stuff like HUGEASS and MNSTRCOK used as names), but considering RPGs should let you personalize your characters as much as possible, it's the least that they can do.

 

Of course, the ability to personalize, in general, adds a lot towards any game--making your own hood designs in Rage Racer, CAWs in wrestling games, focusing stat-building in the way you play your characters, etc.

 

Mini-games: there's many kinds--the irritating, frustrating sort that unnecessarily blocks progress in your game and often demands you master such skills as "racing against cheap computer AI in non-racing games 50 times until the law of averages falls in your favor" or the brainless "buy a turbo controller since you can't mash buttons fast enough to pass this" type.

 

There's the less-annoying "minor puzzle that should be easily solved with a little thinking" type

 

However, the best kind is the "completely optional, damn entertaining extra games that are entertaining enough in and of themselves to keep you occupied for a while" type. A big reason why SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millenium is such a cool game.