6. Scripted Cinematic Moments
As the line between games and everything else becomes ever dimmer, we have seen especially in this generation more focus on spectacle in gameplay. In the beginning like most things having a scripted cinematic moment or Almost Death Scene midway through a story was great way to get the heart pumping, actually playing through was is basically a cut scene was a brilliant change from the norm. However, they are becoming more and more frequent and sticking to have very precise formula. There isnt any surprise anymore because we know what to expect; a bomb goes off and we know well be treated to a Saving Private Ryan style deafening as our protagonist slowly blinks as the surrounding sounds suddenly floods back in. The obvious reasons developers are creating these moment is the gaming industry as a whole, is trying to compete with television and film for the spotlight, and developers must create more exciting and visually stimulating moments that the gamer will remember in a on average eight hour campaign. So every nanosecond some preposterous calamity will befall you, and youll play through a set piece only to have another bajillion waiting restlessly in-line. The term: Too Much of a Good Thing springs to mind as I quite like these types of moments when theyre handle carefully like a baby lamb, but for the vast majority of titles, this isnt the case.