PixlBit

Still the best in the series, imo. But I'm an Infinity Engine fan, which makes a difference. I don't think it's up to par with Baldur's Gate 2, but it was like an oasis in the desert when it came out.

I have harsh words concerning the rest of the series. Inquisition is one of the most mind boggling GotY selections I can remember. Not because it's poor, but because it's just so unremarkable in every way.  I guess size does matter to a lot of people.

I'm right there with you about "linear open world." Open world games with a radial map (for lack of a better term) almost always bore me. I bought Red Dead Redemption for cheap the other day with intent to finally make some serious progress (had only ever borrowed or rented it)  Terrific game, but when it came down to it, the enthusiasm to go on wasn't there anymore.

I see this tendency to re-shape words to serve peoples egos or agendas, especially among gamers. I oppose this. This is not legitimate to me.  Origin and intent are important for objective evaluation of anyting, including words and their meaning.

On the other hand, colloquialism. I understand that in casual conversation, using "video game" as an umbrella term is going to happen, even by people who also think that some titles don't qualify according to the strict definition.Magazines used to say things like "electronic entertainment" back in the 80s and 90s. This kind of stuck with me and I use it myself sometimes.

 Problem is too many egos are involved, and butthurt  ensues, like you've condemned someone on a personal level if you say such-and-such is not really a game. I think way too much value is put into whether something is a 'game' or 'art.'

 Btw, I disagree about JRPGs. I think mechanics are meant to be significant in at least half of them.  All these different battle systems they have suggests this. I never agreed with the "RPGs are about story meme" that came from the Squaresoft fans.

Dat grind. For some reason, depressing reading that at 11:23pm.  I ain't cut out for this fast city life, man. Hope you don't burn out.

"but it isn't fair to compare as they are very different."

You're way ahead of 95% of the shitheels who open their yaps about video games. You know how sick I am of clueless kids arguing about whether RE4 or REmake, two competely different approaches to game design, is better for the series?

Ahem. Metroid Prime was the standout game of its generation to me.  I am tempted to say the "best," but since I already proclaimed how foolish it is to rank games that have little in common with each other, I'll settle by saying it's the most finely crafted. It also hasn't been surpassed as a sci-fi game since then, imo.

I hold the traditional definition of 'game' sacred, no matter the visual form, so mechanics it is.  Theme, setting and style come next. 3 act narrative structure dead last on the list of things that comprise a video game.

You are looking around the internet, is the problem.  A majority on the internet is not a majority in the 'real world.' I have never seen evidence that forums are anything but echo chambers for loud minorities. The top sellers are rarely the games that the media and forum droogs circle jerk over. Mario Kart 8 blew the doors off of multiple GoTY winner Dragon Age: Inquistion. Minecraft pwns everything, and I see mostly hate in the gamer centric channels. Last generation, Nintendo had several 20 million dollar sellers between the Wii and DS, while the media and "real gamers" did their best to tear the former a new one.  Can you say "out of touch"?

Last generation, each major console sold at least 80 million units. You don't get to those numbers via the internet people. The masses are unaware or don't care about these little battles and agendas that go on in forums and in the media.

Mount and Blade: Warband is one of the best PC exclusives in 10 years, imo. And I don't think it looks that bad during the battles, when sun is glinting off armor and you have 100 bodies on the field. Interiors and towns look like but though.

Halo 4 is one of the few Xbox games I've wanted to play. Some designers from Metroid Prime worked on it, which is enough to pique my interest, plus it was a damn slick looking game.

Other developers just played copycat. They lacked understanding of why certain elements worked in Halo. They made mixtapes instead of carefully designed games.  They didn't even seem to recognize obvious things, like the fact that the regenerating health is not health at all, but a regenerating shield with a traditional health bar beneath it. Big difference.  And I hate mixtape game design. It's so lazy and obvious.