Too Much Negativity in Game Journalism
It isn't like me to poop over other game journalists and sites, but this time, I really couldn't resist the urge. Following the jump are my thoughts on the previews we've read this week for Metroid Prime 3 from IGN, Gamespot and 1UP respectively.
First up is IGN's piece on the game. Personally, I thought it was very well written and had just the right amount of criticism and hype.
Not only does Corruption run in both 480p and 16:9 widescreen (another first for the series), but it dishes out larger, more detailed environments, crisper textures, dramatically improved particle effects, depth of field blur, screen shakes, and what is easily the best utilization of bloom lighting in any Wii game to date. It may seem like a trivial inclusion to some -- games like Ico, for example, have developed visual styles that revolve around bloom lighting -- but developer Retro Studios has taken it to the next level. Environments, objects and particle effects alike are illuminated with a neon-like hue that fits exceptionally well within the game's science-fiction setting. Other visual additions are more pronounced. When bringing up Aran's scan-visor (activated by pressing the minus button on the Wii remote), you will now see the bounty hunter's face clearly reflected -- not just for a split second, as in previous titles, but permanently. That face may even show signs of change as you advance through the game.
The first thing I appreciate about that paragraph is the attention paid to the game's style, not just the graphical resolution. I think it's great that Matt took a second to point out the details about the visor, which is part of what made the first two Prime games feel so immersive.
Secondly, he also points out the improved visual presentation of the game, which is definitely something that deserves praise, seeing as how the "Gamecube 2.0" issue has been going around for a while now. He goes on:
Retro has also utilized the Wii remote and nunchuk for context-sensitive actions that create very immersive play scenarios. Samus oftentimes interacts with environmental pulleys and levers, all pushed, pulled and twisted with the Wii remote. You'll actually make the appropriate gestures with the peripheral to perform these functions. For instance, you might have to pull backward on the Wii remote to pull a lever down, then twist left with the controller to twist the on-screen device, and finally push forward to lock it back in place. In our experience, these maneuvers work very well and do not feel at all gimmicky.
Overall, an extremely positive hands-on preview of the game. In comparison, Gamespot's hands-on was neither critical, nor praising. The reason for this is that they are probably saving most of their words for their final review of the game. Still, overall impressions seemed to be positive.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption looks a lot like its predecessors, both in style and technology. However, everything is a little crisper and more detailed. For a Wii game, it also looks quite nice. The addition of voice acting--and lots of it--also seems fine, but we doubt we'll get a chance to hear Samus herself speak. But we'll find out for sure very soon. Look for our full review of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption next week.
Next up, we have 1UP's hands-on preview with the game:
The manner in which Corruption presents its narrative feels like a step forward for the franchise, expanding the previous game's underwhelming realtime cinemas with interactive voiceovers and scripted events delivered Half-Life style. The story itself -- a seemingly predictable follow-up to Echoes that has the villainous Dark Samus infecting good Samus and her bounty-hunting buddies with Phazon -- amounts to little more than a premise for some old-fashioned space spelunking. Honestly, the presentation and scripting seem amateurish compared to what's going on in megabudget productions such as Halo 3 and Heavenly Sword.
Similarly, it's tough to stack Corruption's graphics against what you'll see in first-person games on other consoles. As expected, the same sublime artistry and cohesive aesthetic sensibility from the previous Prime titles return here, but at the same time, this looks awfully close to its GameCube forerunners. A few new blur effects and a rock-solid frame rate give it a negligible "next gen" sheen and crispness, but one look at the hyperdetailed, evocative visuals in BioShock will make the most ardent Wii-faithful envious.
First off, I'd like to point out that that first paragraph is self-contradictory. Narrative step forward, yet the presentation is amateurish? That doesn't make any sense to me at all.
Second: Comparing the game's visuals to Bioshock? A game on the 360, which was clearly designed with high-definition visuals in mind? That's extremely amateurish in my opinion, and I think that the editor writing the piece would have done well to keep the differences between the two systems in mind. A comparison to Bioshock should not even be present in the preview, forget complaining that Prime 3 doesn't hold up graphically to other FPSes on "next-gen" systems. If 1UP's final review is better than their preview is, I will gladly take back my harsh words. However...
I'm going to say it: If Metroid Prime 3 scores less than a 9.0 without a damned good reason to support its score, I will be convinced that the concerned site's reviewing system is very, very broken. A game that is clearly superior to its prequel, pushes the limits of the system it was designed for, has the potential to bring about a change in trends for console FPS controls, and above all, is extremely polished deserves no less.
[ADVANCE]
