I had written about half of a blog about a bunch of video games, but you know what – I’ve done that a lot. So, just to sum up ‘Hatton plays a lot of video games’. There, there you go.
So what will we discuss instead? How about how annoyed I am at video games…
More to the point, I am regularly annoyed at the genres companies put on their games, because they are almost always deeply flawed. My problem is one that has existed for almost as long as gaming has, and that is the definition of genres.
First, I should say, that it is really easy to fall into the ‘super snobby niche’ issues you used to see a lot in music. ‘We’re a doom thrash ice metal blendcore band, but we don’t get into any of the vapor house thunder pudding, that shit’s lame’ You see, when you get into that sort of nerdery, you are saying words that everyone hears as ‘..so you play metal?’
I’m talking about how every game is now every genre to assure when you search for that genre… every game appears. Want a puzzle game? Elden Ring has boxes on crates and hidden keys! PUZZLE! Rogue-like? Well, the new COD features 4 different kinds of bullets that appear randomly.. ROGUE-LIKE! Roleplaying game? In Gotham Knights, you are playing the role of Nightwing! ROLEPLAYING! Need a special skill to get one area? METROIDVANIA!
It’s infuriating and it makes trying to find something new and interesting impossible.
And sadly, there is no way to put this genie back in the bottle without getting into that super niche snobbery, “Yes, I too am a fan of open world voxel non-narrative survival craft games.” and “Single screen retro arcade platform action bubble bouncing dragon games.” But, it would be nice if gaming companies would just put the big definer up front instead of assuming all of their games are all things for all people.
So, until that gets fixed, I’ll be over here enjoying my Tunic a game that is not Souls-Like, and is a love letter to Zelda… so obviously, a Metroidvania game. (It’s also brilliant and you should play it)
