Trends and Mechanics you wish came back.

[Bacon Eater64x]

Similar to that other thread, but in reverse. I'll start:

Handheld versions of Console Games: This has died mostly because handheld gaming as we know it is currently extinct, but i always had fond memories of handheld versions sometimes beign different games altogether and sometimes beign better than their mainline counterparts such as TMNT 2007 and Sonic Colors.

Wacky Magazine ads: Something older than me i admit, but those outrageous magazine ads from the 90s to late 2000s are a treat and were a fun way, much better than the dull marketing we get nowadays.

Collections of old games in one physical copy: This is something that is still happening, but due to the rise of digital downloads has been slowed down significantly. Sega loved doing this in the 2000s and other companies followed suit (except Nintendo) I know because of the website im in this is mostly a non-issue, but i wouldn't lie if said i would buy a physical copy of a collection of 6th Gen Classic in a neat package. I prefer that to modern remasters and remakes that are hit and miss.

 

[extermist]

Jewel cases, I dislike how disk games come in dvd/bluray rectangular cases, I think that the square were much better to look at.

- Demo / Attract modes
I feel that not enough games have gameplay previews if you leave the main screen idle for too long, hell older games used to have tutorials in those attract modes, before devs overly relied on tutorial levels.

- Leader Boards / Enter your Initials
I miss this, but I get that there's no use for it when people just login to their accounts.

 

[Tonberry]

Broken record at this time lol, but handheld games for handheld systems that were deliberately made to be "smaller" and cheaper than bigger PC/console games.

Jewel cases. Way better looking than shitty plastic cases, and takes up less space.

Invasions in From Software games à la Demon's Souls/DS1. Just one red guy invading the world of one normal guy. None of the handicaps that came after.

Strategy guides. Deprecated now that even single-player games get updates (and probably bad for the environment) but it was very fun having a huge ass tome to rifle through rather than looking up specific details.

 

[Zerohour2k12]

I've answered a few threads like this and my picks still remains as Significant Unlockables such as New Characters, Campaigns and Game Modes not behind a paywall like the old days.

 

[nyka]

tank controls & fixed camera angles :3

 

[nachito]

Pushing start and start playing right away instead of cutscenes and more cutscenes. I wanna play not watch a movie.

 

[χKai]

2 to 4-Player focused coop console gameplay

 

[nobitakun]

• No trophies or achievements.
• Consoles with simple OS, without multimedia features nor any fancy stuff.
• Memory cards. Have the saves in a physical removable device.
• Simple Series 2000.

 

[Abecero]

Does "games coming out mostly complete and bug-free on release, and you had all the game's content without any additional monetization bullshit" count? 'Cus that's what I miss most, yeah.

 

[Appiplyer]

I don't know if we have it now but i really love game that have difficulty lock. You know the one where the level won't be unlocked if we didn't play it on certain difficulty then you can't play the entirety of the game. Like this one

 

[χKai]

• No trophies or achievements.
• Consoles with simple OS, without multimedia features nor any fancy stuff.
• Memory cards. Have the saves in a physical removable device.
• Simple Series 2000.

This but with real cartridges like the old NES ones: Practically invincible.
Save them on that instead.

What's Simple Series 2000?

 

[BrawlMan]

my picks still remains as Significant Unlockables such as New Characters, Campaigns and Game Modes not behind a paywall like the old days.

AA, indie, and most Japanese games still do this. It's really the Western AAA side that does away with these a majority of the time.

What's Simple Series 2000?

Low budget games that mainly came out on PS2 in Japan and sometimes Europe/UK. Most of them don't either exist anymore, or branched off in their own franchises. Oneechanbara being the most notable and recognizable.

 

[χKai]

AA, indie, and most Japanese games still do this. It's really the Western AAA side that does away with these a majority of the time.


Low budget games that mainly came out on PS2 in Japan and sometimes Europe/UK. Most of them don't either exist anymore, or branched off in their own franchises. Oneechanbara being the most notable and recognizable.

Sounds like these

None of them are really bad, despite them being obviously low-budget

 

[BrawlMan]

Sounds like these
View attachment 173853
View attachment 173854
View attachment 173855

None of them are really bad, despite them being obviously low-budget

You are correct. The USA would get a lot of these, but mainly in the PS1 era only. Usually under a different completely different name, but was the style at the time.

 

[here4outbreak]

I don't know if we have it now but i really love game that have difficulty lock.

im down for this or doubling down on this approach to difficulty selection

 

[Bakuma1997]

I miss those "Cutesy platformer where you have a gimmick and need to clear the screen with said gimmick" games like Snow Bros or Bubble Bobble

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

Medkits that actually look like medkits (yeah, yeah, the Red Cross doesn't want that, but still).

I also want a lot of shit to come with my $100 game, please.

 

[VideoKojima1]

I never used them a ton, but cheat codes and stuff. Unlocked the millennium falcon in rogue squadron was cool. And I wasn't good enough to play doom well as a kid, but god mode and all keys/weapons/ammo let me see parts of the game I never would have been able to.

I miss how tongue and cheek games used to be, especially some of the serious ones. Cheats in AoE2 for example were fun.

 

[Princess Viola]

Online multiplayer on consoles not being locked behind a paid subscription. Biggest scam in the damn industry and the fact that all three companies eventually started doing it is so ass.

 

[χKai]

Medkits that actually look like medkits (yeah, yeah, the Red Cross doesn't want that, but still).

Tch
Like they ever helped anyone

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Handheld versions of Console Games: This has died mostly because handheld gaming as we know it is currently extinct

no it hasn’t. If anything, the Switch and Switch 2 revived it. PlayStation Portal was a direct response to it (it failed but the fact it even got Sony’s attention should say something). And of course there’s the many miniature PCs running around like the Steam Deck, allowing people to play Windows games on the go.

Handheld versions no longer exist because exclusivity is a dying breed (also because the Switch is half home console), but there are Switch versions of games with unique quirks (usually bad ones like the input delay of Danganronpa or the color washing of A Hat in Time)

Also because most games go multiplatform anyway, so there’s no need to make unique console versions anymore. The reason Mega Man & Bass existed for example was because some people didn’t have the current gen of PS1 and Saturn for 8 so they made a game for the old console. If this was in the current day, Mega Man & Bass would never exist, they’d make Mega Man 8 on every modern console.

Anyway this isn’t much of a “trend” or “mechanic” I just wish experimental genres and games would come back in the AAA space. Devs in the 2000s were trying anything and it led to some pretty interesting and unique games. Nowadays it’s practically “conform or die”

 

[BrawlMan]

Anyway this isn’t much of a “trend” or “mechanic” I just wish experimental genres and games would come back in the AAA space. Devs in the 2000s were trying anything and it led to some pretty interesting and unique games. Nowadays it’s practically “conform or die”

As do I, but it seems like the only major ones who try nowadays are Capcom, sometimes Square, and various 1st party studios under Sony. I would include Sega, but Streets of Rage 4 and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance are the exceptions and not the rule for the company.

It's why i'm glad we have AA, indie, and small or medium sized Japanese studios. How majority of them are either being experimental or making the games we actually want, and make sure they're fun. Or going to try to make it fun to the best of their abilities.

 

[NoMention]

I wish games would be released with the whole game on disc/cartridge, no day 0 patches, no internet required connectivity (unless for online only games), etc. Pretty much bring me back to the late 90's early 2000's. I don't mind games that use the internet for multiple-player functionality but I am no longer interested in today's games. I hope that companies can circle back around and release patches that allow for offline play if a game is coming to its end but I highly doubt companies will spend money to do that to a dying item. I would be willing to sacrifice DLC if I could have my game and be able to play it in 5 years from now. There are of course some exceptions, the PS4 being one of them where Sony often had the game on disc so you weren't forced to be online. That probably is the last consumer friendly system.

The 7th generation of gaming was the last one that I truly enjoyed for these reasons. The 7th was the perfect blend of gaming and online capabilities but didn't cripple my enjoyment. I fear my journey through gaming will taper off going into the future. I'm old and fear with each future generation gaming will get worse. The whole "you own nothing" is not appealing to me.

 

[moon200218]

I got one: (Not brain dead) Offline bots support for multiplayer games

And I got another very unrealistic one but man can dream: offline patches for always online games at the end of their life

 

[nobitakun]

Low budget games that mainly came out on PS2 in Japan and sometimes Europe/UK. Most of them don't either exist anymore, or branched off in their own franchises. Oneechanbara being the most notable and recognizable.

Oneechanbara and Earth Defense Force were born from it. But I also liked Oharuchan Go Go Go, it was an enjoyable game that nobody seems to notice.

Simple 2000 series were a model of releasing low budget games that had the fun as a priority, and many of them did it very well. Sadly, nowadays people prefer games that look highly detailed probably to justify the investment they do on modern hardware or consoles.

I wish new desktop consoles would focus on giving a neat and price friendly experience to the user, even not being very up to date. Like a Xbox Series S but with drive unit. There is nothing wrong on continuing gaming at 1080p for another decade.