Seemingly, I am one of the few people on the planet that hasn't been raving about the release of Modern Warfare 2 earlier this week. I am in an even smaller minority of people that pretty much 'haven't given two **** about it.
Now, you may think I am a few sandwiches short of a picnic for saying this but it's not the first game that I haven't 'got'. By that I mean that I haven't understood why certain titles are so hyped by the press and games alike. Don't get me wrong, I love video games, have done since I was a kid, but there are some 'classics' that have come along that have been very similar to the genre of games I've been playing at the time and yet I have failed to see the appeal.
So, I have compiled a very small (but concise) list of all the games that I have come across in my gaming life that I simply haven't understood why pretty much everyone would give their Granny's right arm to have a glimpse at. These are the games that I have given the highest accolade of…'meh'.
Final Fantasy VII
Even though the first Final Fantasy game in the series was released since 1990, it wasn't until the 7th instalment that people really sat up and took notice. For one, it was the first Final Fantasy to feature 3-D graphics and in doing so, put it streets ahead of it's ancestors. It also helped sell loads of Playstations as initially it was only available on that console. The soundtrack - epic and the gameplay was groundbreaking. Not for me though, I never could get my head around the appeal of FF VII as the whole world went mental for one guy with a massive sword and beating enemies in turn based combat.
On the face of things, it all looked great. At the time of release, I wasn't really into RPG's, having only played around with a few early adventure titles which had RPG elements. But even now, with my experience with World of Warcraft and its competitors…I still couldn't understand why FFVII had sold over 10 million copies worldwide. It's not just the seventh one though, I've NEVER been able to get into it and when I told people of this plight they looked at me as if I had two heads. 'Maybe it would be better on the PSP with slightly better graphics?' I told myself. Why did I ever think having it on a tiny screen would make it BETTER?! Madness, I tell thee.
Legend Of Zelda
Another confession here, folks. I don't, and never will like anything to do with the Legend of Zelda. From it's cutesy, flute wielding pansy protagonist (which as a matter of note, I never wanted to aspire to) to the endless searching through bush after bush after sodding bush for that illusive heart when I know I'm just going to lose them all trying to cross that gap which is just…too…far…away.
Once again, the whole catalogue of Zelda games were in the same vein of similar games that I loved in the adventure category, but I just couldn't get my head around that once again…the world went mental from what is basically the Nintendo version of the Final Fantasy Series but without the turn-based jiggery pokery that made me so mad so very, very often.
Metal Gear Solid
This is a different choice than the last two titles that I have mentioned so far. In those, I liked the elements and other games in the surrounding genres. However, I cannot stand stealth games (which is probably why Gears of War appeals to me so much) and never have. The reason for this is that I think I'm just too damn lazy to wait and hide for that illusive guard to forget that I was ever there after I went into the first level with all guns blazing. Don't get my wrong though, after all the hype got too much for me…I gave it another shot with my sensible trousers on and still got frustrated with Metal Gear Solid. They don't call it Solid for no reason, y'know.
And finally...
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Ooooooh, either this is a complete surprise to you or has been blatantly obvious, but alas, probably one of the games that I am the most annoyed that I don't 'get'…is Modern Warfare 2. This is 'hype-not-getting' in it's purest form, folks.
Once again, I love First Person Shooters; if you look at my collection you will that it's clearly my favourite genre. Not only that, but I have loved a lot of the Call of Duty titles that have preceded MW2, but since they have split and formed Infinity Ward the Modern Warfare series has failed to spark my interest. Or maybe getting killed all the time over Xbox Live was the final nail in the coffin. I admit, I haven't played this game yet, but the advertising around it has failed to spark my interest to play it. The feel of the series since Call of Duty 2 has never appealed to me a much as the later games. In its first DAY of release it's manage to reign in over $910 million in the US and UK alone. Am I missing something here, or is there something wrong with me?
There we have it, I hope some of you understand why I haven't been able to get my head around what everyone else seems to be dribbling over around me and I wonder if you have felt the same at one point. Saying that, there are a load of there games and series' that have been brilliant. The Halo's, World of Warcraft and pretty much all the Street Fighter's I have loved, but as I have demonstrated, we all have different opinions and you can't hate on someone just because they haven't gone the same way as the general populace and followed the norm. Are they any games that I've missed out that you just simply haven't understood the mega-hype? Let the world know in the comment section below.
Maybe I haven't given these games enough time, should I sit down with all the above and really commit them to my subconscious and give into the mass peer-pressure. No. I have no inclination, as they failed to grab me at my first exposure to them, and therefore I am perfectly happy continuing to love the games that have.
*EDIT* I wish to make it known the readers of this particular blog is that my commentary is merely on games that I have played (or even owned) in the past that have, through various means, failed to grab my attention as much as other games in the series or genre. It is not a commentary on the subject of over-hyped games at all, it is merely trying to get some insight as to why I haven't 'got' the games that so many others have.
To commemorate the first year anniversary of the release of the frankly brilliant Gears Of War 2, Epic have got together with Xbox Live to host a 10 day event packed with loads of goodies and special modes...guaranteed to nail you those tough achievements that so far have been eluding the grasp of your clammy and blood-stained hands!
The event runs from Friday November 6th (last Friday) to a week on Monday (November 16th)...that is 10 days of chainsaw-duelling awesomeness and will have the following modifications:
> Triple experience (!!!) for all game types.
> All games will be in the new Tactical mode. Tactical scenarios feature increased weapon damage, decreased ammunition, and longer bleed-outs.
> A separate playlist with every game type listed, allowing you to choose a specific game types.
> Public horde will now be set to the Hardcore difficulty.
So now there's no excuse for teaming up with all your buddies and fragging the hell out of wave after wave of bad guys for those ever-illusive gamer points and push on to rank 100!
I only found out about this today, so will be nailing it for the remainder of the event. I could probably do with the help so please free to add me as friend on Xbox Live (Gamertag is Latrelus), spam with me invites, pop your headset on and we'll have a good ol' chinwag about carving up the opposition. Also, you can check out the Gaming Sessions on TrueAchievements to see who is boosting what and when.
Good luck, and I'll see you out there!
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