Random rant incoming. I'd be interested in your experience. I'm a 90s kid, grew up with the Gameboy, SNES and mainly N64. In my circle of friends I have often argued about how gaming has lost some of its "magic". It has become sone kind of meme with many people and I think last gen - meaning 360/ps3/wiiu is the reason for that. Yeah, there's UbiSoft and Activision releasing the same game in a different suit every year but all in all this generation is one of the best ever!
Let me put it this way:
N64 and PS1 were 3D-pioneers. (...Always count PC gaming to mentioned generations). It's kinda insane how much ground was broken from the 90s to the early 2000s. The next generation built upon this and there still was experimentation and bold moves in the AAA sector. Gamecube, Xbox and PS2 were a golden age for me when it comes to variety and quality for me.
The 360/PS3 generation was the first time I had the feeling that the industry lost its way a little bit. The struggle for graphics and set formulas for mainstream success really came to the forefront. Of course there were enough games trying something new, using new tech for new and different experiences. Also that gen saw the rise of indie games. I'll come back to that. The industry was breaking new ground again, trying things that didn't quite work yet. Do you agree? Nintendo became a company that shook things up from their own niche. Looking back it's interesting how things worked out, isn't it?!
All the different directions the main companys made somehow resultet in this generation that - think about it - made the best oft everything that came before it. The variety, quality and sheer mass of great games and ideas is through the roof today!!! Both in the indie and AAA sector the amount of games that excel in their own genres is simply amazing.
I haven't listed many games but everyone should be able to think of countless examples.
I just bought Subnautica, A Hat In Time and the roguelike shooter Monolith a few days ago. All of those would have been hits back then. Personally I'm fucking excited for Hollow Knight 2, Spelunky 2 and Elden Ring. It's a good time for videogames!
Let me put it this way:
N64 and PS1 were 3D-pioneers. (...Always count PC gaming to mentioned generations). It's kinda insane how much ground was broken from the 90s to the early 2000s. The next generation built upon this and there still was experimentation and bold moves in the AAA sector. Gamecube, Xbox and PS2 were a golden age for me when it comes to variety and quality for me.
The 360/PS3 generation was the first time I had the feeling that the industry lost its way a little bit. The struggle for graphics and set formulas for mainstream success really came to the forefront. Of course there were enough games trying something new, using new tech for new and different experiences. Also that gen saw the rise of indie games. I'll come back to that. The industry was breaking new ground again, trying things that didn't quite work yet. Do you agree? Nintendo became a company that shook things up from their own niche. Looking back it's interesting how things worked out, isn't it?!
All the different directions the main companys made somehow resultet in this generation that - think about it - made the best oft everything that came before it. The variety, quality and sheer mass of great games and ideas is through the roof today!!! Both in the indie and AAA sector the amount of games that excel in their own genres is simply amazing.
I haven't listed many games but everyone should be able to think of countless examples.
I just bought Subnautica, A Hat In Time and the roguelike shooter Monolith a few days ago. All of those would have been hits back then. Personally I'm fucking excited for Hollow Knight 2, Spelunky 2 and Elden Ring. It's a good time for videogames!