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Top 10 Problems with Modern Video Games

October 03, 2008 in Top List comments 22

This new list from Old-Wizard.com details the top ten problems with modern video games, from the lack of quality instruction manuals to the annoying nature of the fans.

#10. No Good Instruction Manuals

This may seem like a petty reason not to like modern games, but it meant a lot to us retro video gamers who wanted to experience the game beyond the screen. New instruction manuals to modern games offer no story lines like the old games that made us prepared for battle before we even entered the game. We would rip open the shrink wrap before we got home with the game and immerse ourselves in the creative storylines. New games don’t have this in their instruction manuals. Look at the old Mario instruction manuals. You had pictures of all the bad guys and even little descriptions of their powers and where they were from. A world was created for us before we even played the game. We sorely miss this in modern video game instruction manuals.
Zeromage via old-wizard.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Oct 6, 2008

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  • 4
    Slumpy monkey Oct 3, 08
    5. Loss of simplicity

    Sorry, I don't feel like playing a 2-d game like pac-man for the rest of my life.

    If you want simplicity go buy a wii, everybody wins.
    • 0
      Zeon I Oct 3, 08
      Except Hardcore Gamers who get left in the dust by the console's simplicity.
      • 0
        Storm Oct 3, 08
        Simplicity? It's more complex than the other two consoles. Unless of course you're talking about graphics and overall hardware. Yes, everything revolves around graphics these days, which sucks. As long as the gameplay is superb, and the graphics are decent, I'll play it. Must be the different generations we grew up on, I suppose. I grew up with the NES/SNES, games like Tetris I still play to this day.
        • 0
          Shadow of Death Oct 4, 08
          He (Zeon) is talking about the 'Casual gaming, pick up and play' aspect of course. If you can pick up a game, with no real previous gaming experience, and still jump in and enjoy yourself, it would probably mean that the game is pretty simple.

          And about character development. Well, a lot of old games don't have much if any character development (Pac man, for example), and some do (RPGs mostly). Same applies to modern games. Though one could argue that characters in modern RPGs are sometimes more '2 dimensional' than characters in some classic RPGs, but meh.

          Article points out a lot of stuff that has already been pointed out on previous articles.

          Still, it makes a point.
  • 1
    Seproth Oct 4, 08
    Shitty list. How can you list Ninja Gaiden 3 and FF3 as positive, and then bitch about too many sequels.

    Also I don't think of retro gaming as having good story lines or deep characters. The examples they used are good sure. What was the story of Pacman? Mario and Sonic weren't exactly Shakespeare either. Mass Effect and Metal Gear Solid were wonderful. At least in my opinion. I'd rate them up there with anything I've ever watched or read. Which is plenty both modern and classic.

    I can see how games are too easy. It's a legitimate complaint. How about punishing one's self for inadiquicy. That way everyone can have the experience they choose. However, using Super Metriod as an example of a challenging game is kind of stupid. It wasn't particularly hard. Hell I beat it when I was 7. I wasn't exactly patient back then.
    • 0
      Final Blade Oct 4, 08
      There isn't even a Ninja Gaiden 3 anyway. There's been 1, Black, Sigma and Ninja Gaiden 2 for 360.

      With that said, everyone covered up all that needs to be said here.
      • 0
        Zero and X Oct 4, 08
        ..... he's talking about the NES Ninja Gaiden games, there were 3 of them.
        • 0
          Shadow of Death Oct 4, 08
          Burn XD

          I may not have played them, but I knew of them And I do believe this article had a screen of Ninja Gaiden for the SNES (clearly not a X-Box/PS3 game).....
        • 0
          Zero and X Oct 4, 08
          Not only that, but the original xbox Ninja Gaiden had all 3 NES Ninja Gaiden games as unlockables. Well techincally they were the Ninja Gaiden Trilogy SNES versions, but essentially the same games.
        • 0
          Final Blade Oct 6, 08
          He never stated it as 3 he stated it as this:
          quote
          How can you list Ninja Gaiden 3 and FF3 as positive, and then bitch about too many sequels.
          Which makes it sound there was a third version. Its not that difficult to see how it was misinterpreted. I know there was three different ones on the snes, but thats not how he put it.
  • 0
    Bale Fire Oct 4, 08
    Seproth has voiced my opinion pretty much, I mean lack of simplicity? Too much of a focus on graphics? Most of those concepts aren't relevant to today's gaming world. Crumby 2D scrollers and pixilated worlds? No thank you.
    • 1
      Big A2* Oct 4, 08
      They're saying that the hole focus of games is on the graphics. Heaps of games with mediocre game play but pretty graphics have sold well.
  • 0
    Cruxis Mana Oct 4, 08
    Since you guys have covered pretty much everything else;

    LittleBigPlanet disagree's with #10.
  • 1
    Ameer Oct 4, 08
    I blame the average consumer for not having taste.
  • 0
    Alvaroduck Oct 4, 08
    quote
    #10
    You're right... it is petty. And this reason is wrong. Many modern games still give an introduction to the story, as well as info on the characters in the manual.

    Try again.

    quote
    #9
    Not a problem with the quality of the games, I assure you. I've had MGS4 since release day and I'm still playing it. I've had GTA: San Andreas since release day and I'm still playing it. I could give many more examples.

    quote
    #8
    I lol'd a little at this one.

    Seriously, go and play the Metal Gear Solid series (I know the story originated on the MSX, but it's still an example as the story wasn't at it's best 'til it was on PS1/2), Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, the Silent Hill series, Half-Life 2, Star Wars: KotoR and many many more.

    I also like how you say you could play Mario and Pac-Man for ages, yet they have virtually no storyline.

    quote
    #7
    Check out some of the characters from the games listed above and then say they don't have depth.

    quote
    #6
    Can only be applied to certain games. For example, Halo is far from being realistic.

    quote
    #4
    Agreed with Slumpy on this one. I don't want to be confined to one screen forever either. And I honestly think anyone who says they could live off only Pac-Man is talking out of their ass (not to bash it, it's a classic, but seriously?)

    Modern day simplistic games: Castle Crashers, LittleBigPlanet, Mario Galaxy, Braid + more.

    quote
    #4
    OBJECTION!

    quote
    Even Mario 64, there’s too many places in the 3D world for one to move and visit. We want to go ahead, not meander around a blocky 3d world not knowing what to do with no instruction from a towns person.
    Lol... if you find modern games are too easy, yet Mario 64 hard?

    Try and get the Big Boss emblem on MGS4, then say modern games are too easy.

    quote
    #3
    Agreed with this one partially. Though you say great graphics take away from other aspects, and I don't believe this is the case. Many games of this generation have brilliant graphics, and are some of the best games ever made.

    quote
    #2
    quote
    How many Grand Theft Autos are there? How man Metal Gear Solids are out there?
    Uhh 4... yet there are 9 Megaman games.



    quote
    #1
    What's the big deal with GTA? Well, maybe it's because it's one of the most fun series of games ever?

    And you clearly must be doing something wrong to not enjoy the cop chases on GTA, lol.

    • 0
      Storm Oct 4, 08
      Actually, there's more GTAs and MGS' if you include San Andreas, Port Ops, etc..
  • 0
    Dark Arcanine Oct 4, 08
    I am so glad someone agreed with me about today's manuals. It's why I posted that article about how they've changed, it really wasn't for the better. I don't even look at them anymore.
    • 0
      Big A2* Oct 5, 08
      I was kinda surprised at how thin the Wii's manuals are (With the exeption of Brawl).
  • 0
    Blackfalcon Oct 4, 08
    Some of those were rubbish, but I could actually relate to a few, for example mimicking reality; if I wanted realistic, I'd do it for real. Video games are supposed to be crazy! I want to do something different, that I couldn't manage/ get away with in real life!
  • 0
    Dark Arcanine Oct 4, 08
    Depends on what you're playing really. If I wanted to play say.... Counter Strike: Source, it'd be very disappointing if it was unrealistic. It is supposed to be about the conflict between terrorists and counter terrorists after all, not flying rabid bunnies with uzis and fairies with rocket launchers.
  • 1
    Miss Razz Oct 4, 08
    quote
    Even Mario 64, there’s too many places in the 3D world for one to move and visit. We want to go ahead, not meander around a blocky 3d world not knowing what to do with no instruction from a towns person.
    As soon as I read that, I realized the entire list was bullshit. I didn't enjoy Super Mario Galaxy as much as previous 3D Marios because Nintendo took away the exploration that was in SM64 and SMS in excahnge for a linear world(galaxy) with a one-way path and too-easy puzzles.

    I don't want to play a simplistic, linear game in this day and age. Consoles can do better in this generation. They can create vast and detailed worlds that I can spend hours exploring. More games should aim for that.
  • 1
    Zaek Oct 5, 08
    I feel the list is half wrong half right. Games aren't getting to complex, some developers are just getting lazy in my opinion. They forget the story aspect of the game in some instances. Like GG said, consoles today can create vast worlds, but everyone seems to be avoiding that and sticking within the lines.

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