The not-Edge thread of gaming thoroughbreads - The Bear and Badger

JonB

mistercrayon wrote:

I reckon anything new by blizzard. Although not the same brand (although sometimes same universe) every single new one is deffo worth a sit up and notice.

What do they make?

mistercrayon

There last games have been something like diablo 3, Starcraft 2, hearthstone and overwatch.

Diluted Dante

Starcraft every decade or so.

[Deleted User]

Blinx the Time Sweeper.

JonB

mistercrayon wrote:

There last games have been something like diablo 3, Starcraft 2, hearthstone and overwatch.

Oh right.

Tempy

They make a much bigger splash in PC land where a blizzard launch is considered a pretty big event. It's cooled somewhat since the releases of Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm and Overwatch all landed together, but they're basically the Nintendo of PC. Mechanics, style and aesthetic polish that are usually unparalleled.

mistercrayon

What bliz, Nintendo and rockstar have figured out is that great base games take ages to make (I think five years per game is not unreasonable) but that blizzard and rockstar have done is pad out the game with perpetual updates and things to do.

Tempy

I don't think Rockstar have as much in common beyond their release schedules. Blizzard and Nintendo (and i'd also say Bungie) were all primarily concerned with making every action, every button press, fun and rewarding. You can see it in the end results, and Bungie especially used to be very candid in how they would slash weapon numbers and enemy types for the service of a small core set of ideas that work. This is getting off topic tho'

optimark_prime

Metal Gear Solid games are usually well received and hyped to the max.

Diluted Dante

They are different in that regard, but Rockstar are the same in terms of it releases 'when it's ready', and if they feel it needs more polish, they will give it that polish. The key is quality, not filling out a spreadsheet for that quarter, because the quality for those companies will bring in the money eventually.

They might take a different approach to how to deliver that quality, but the reason their games are event releases is the same.

Tempy

I'd agree with that

JonB

optimark_prime wrote:

Metal Gear Solid games are usually well received and hyped to the max.

Yeah, that's another one.

Tempy

Resident Evil then too, and Final Fantasy, but I think most of these big japanese franchises have too much chaff - Zelda included

afgavinstan

Definitely think Forza has paid its dues.

JonB

The FFs and Resis haven't maintained the quality though and have at times released too much too quickly. There was relatively little hype about either of the recent games.

JonB

On the other hand, Brooks is right.

Dinostar77

Surely throughbred games are those that consistently score in the 90% range consistantly. Hence the Zelda, GTAs, Mario's, Metal Gear Solids, Dark Souls games. Sure there are other series which rarely dip below that 90% threshold. I can't think of them right now.

RedDave2

Dinostar77 wrote:

Surely throughbred games are those that consistently score in the 90% range consistantly. Hence the Zelda, GTAs, Mario's, Metal Gear Solids, Dark Souls games. Sure there are other series which rarely dip below that 90% threshold. I can't think of them right now.

I think sales should be taken into account as well though. Thats what pushes games into the public conscience to the point where they can become 'events'. Going back, you would not have had Sonic Twosday without both the critical and commercial success of Sonic 1. Obviously it doesnt mean it needs 10s across the board or be COD levels of sales but 8s or highers with sales in the multi millions should be the metric.

Dinostar77

In the context of Edge's statement in their latest edition and if you only go by their reviews only (after all they made the statement). Then Zelda and Mario are the only series never to score less than a 9 in any of their major releases. I think Metal Gear and Souls have never scored less than 9's either but i might be wrong. I think that's how they are defining an "event", a game where the quality is guaranteed, that always brings something new to the table. One that sucks you into its world and doesn't let go until you finish.

There are lots of great games that joe public ignore. Cause they want the latest release of COD or FIFA (good games in their own right, but not throughbreds). Therefore if we went by sales then joe public games would be considered events i agree. However as i said i dont think thats in the context of the Edge statement.

RedDave2

For the record, Metal Gear has no 10s, 2 9's and 3 8's. Mario by comparison has 3 10's (!!) and nothing lower than a 9 in the main series. Zelda equally has 3 10s and the rest 9s in the main series. GTA is 2 x 10, 1 x 9 and 3 x 8s for the main series and a 7 (assuming Vice City and San Andreas do count)

Halo deserves a shout I think - 2 x 10s, 1 x 9 and 2 8s.

If we just take the Modern Warfares, call of duty gets 3 9s. Bayonetta has 2 for 2 in regards ten on tens and Forza has 3 9s, 3 8s and 2 7s. And although its now dead, Rock Band pulled a ten, 2 nines and an eight which isn't bad. Half Life gets an 8,9 and 10 and if you add orange box you get another 10 but thats a little unfair as it contains 2 of the Half life games

Point being, by their own metric they are spot on

davyK

Even I can't be arsed with this list-me-do.

GurtTractor

WorKid wrote:

Can you get horse wellies?

WorKid

End thread

Dinostar77

RedDave2 wrote:

For the record, Metal Gear has no 10s, 2 9's and 3 8's. Mario by comparison has 3 10's (!!) and nothing lower than a 9 in the main series. Zelda equally has 3 10s and the rest 9s in the main series. GTA is 2 x 10, 1 x 9 and 3 x 8s for the main series and a 7 (assuming Vice City and San Andreas do count)

Halo deserves a shout I think - 2 x 10s, 1 x 9 and 2 8s.

If we just take the Modern Warfares, call of duty gets 3 9s. Bayonetta has 2 for 2 in regards ten on tens and Forza has 3 9s, 3 8s and 2 7s. And although its now dead, Rock Band pulled a ten, 2 nines and an eight which isn't bad. Half Life gets an 8,9 and 10 and if you add orange box you get another 10 but thats a little unfair as it contains 2 of the Half life games

Point being, by their own metric they are spot on

That some in depth fact finding dude.

retroking1981

RedDave2 wrote:

For the record, Metal Gear has no 10s, 2 9's and 3 8's. Mario by comparison has 3 10's (!!) and nothing lower than a 9 in the main series. Zelda equally has 3 10s and the rest 9s in the main series. GTA is 2 x 10, 1 x 9 and 3 x 8s for the main series and a 7 (assuming Vice City and San Andreas do count) Halo deserves a shout I think - 2 x 10s, 1 x 9 and 2 8s. If we just take the Modern Warfares, call of duty gets 3 9s. Bayonetta has 2 for 2 in regards ten on tens and Forza has 3 9s, 3 8s and 2 7s. And although its now dead, Rock Band pulled a ten, 2 nines and an eight which isn't bad. Half Life gets an 8,9 and 10 and if you add orange box you get another 10 but thats a little unfair as it contains 2 of the Half life games Point being, by their own metric they are spot on

What GTAs got what out of interest?

How many Half Lifes? There's only 2 plus Orange Box right?