Less is more

So, for the past few days, I’ve been playing an astonishing amount of Minecraft. Despite its simplistic graphics, I believe it’s one of the best games I’ve picked up in awhile. In fact, I’m pretty sure that higher level graphics would take just away from the fun. Now, this got me thinking about one of my favorite games of all time, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. There’s no denying that this game is old, but it’s far from outdated. It was released for the PlayStation in 1997, which is actually pretty interesting considering that fully 3D games had already been around for a full year. So, it was risky for the creators to release a side scrolling, 2D platformer. Lucky for us gamers, they were brave souls, and we ended up with one of the best games out there for the PlayStation.

To be fair, I’ve never been one to buy into the idea that next generation games are better simply because they have better graphics. While I appreciate the beauty of a well rendered game, I think that a good game consists of far more than just its art style. To me, a great game is defined by its challenge, replay value, and sense of somewhat free exploration, while maintaining a solid end point to work for. All of these elements are present in SOTN, making a fantastic game even if its look is a bit basic. (Let's not forget its amazing soundtrack. They just don't make OSTs like that anymore...)

Now, the Castlevania franchise has made a few ill-advised forays into the three dimensional realm. Take, for instance, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. (What a cheesy name! Well, I suppose 'Symphony of the Night' was sort of cheesy for a title... but at least it backed it up with a great game. Anyway, I digress.) They tried very hard to make this game pretty, with it's sparkling attacks (that let off more lens flare than the latest Star Trek movie) and highly detailed surroundings. Sadly, they didn't put as much effort into the rest of the game, leaving most who played it deeply dissatisfied. Look, guys, if I wanted a game with vampires and glitter, I'd just wait for the Twilight franchise to start producing games (you know it's just a matter of time).The moral of the story: 

Good Graphics + Bad Gameplay = Bad Experience 

Dated Graphics  +  Good Gameplay = Sexy Times

Yes, I think that sums it up nicely, don't you? Well, that about does it for this Monday. What do you guys think? More cowbell? Just kidding! Some feedback would be awesome, though. See you next time!