Console Generation VII - All the Good It's Done

Now, I disliked basically everything that Acefondu did about this current generation. In fact, I probably disliked it even more. However, I try to be a positive person, and so I can't help but want to find the good in this. I've been floundering on where exactly to start this for several days, and mostly what I've come up with is separable into two simple categories: Hardware and Software.

Hardware:

There are certain things about this generation of consoles that, simple though they may be, are truly excellent and often glossed over- wireless controllers. On this front, the clear winner is Sony. Not only wireless, but rechargeable! Everyone else still requires AA batteries.

Another good feature is that the hardware basically guarantees good graphics. Even the very worst games on the market look decent. Honestly, this is the best I could come up with. Based solely on hardware, this was a disappointing generation to say the least.

Software:

Here's where it truly shined. Some of the best games I've ever played have been released in this generation among the deep sludge of FPShooters and grizzled space marines. We're talking whole franchises I have come to love, like Bioshock, Dead Space, InFamous, Assassin's Creed, and let's not forget the cream of the crop- Batman: Arkham Asylum. These games are all truly excellent, and great starts to a whole new world of gaming. So much so that they deserve their own article, and I'll elaborate on them all later.

Instead, I choose now to post something of a rebuttal to a part of Ace's article: his complaint about sequels.

Firstly, I find his statement about game series rarely reaching so many sequels before now to be a bit silly. After all, our two favorite franchises of all time, Mario (his) and The Legend of Zelda (mine) have such high numbers of sequels that it's actually difficult to nail down just how many there are. (Mario has 115 titles to his name if you count side games and sports and whatnot, and Zelda has over twenty.) The reason that there haven't been so many sequels to series until this point is that they simply hadn't been around long enough. Of course the longer a game franchise is around, the higher its number of sequels go. That's just logical. Secondly, the more sequels quality companies make to quality games, the better. Every new sequel is an opportunity for a good game. Some of the many many Megaman sequels were excellent, as Ace himself pointed out in his most recent article. Thirdly, sequels aren't harming the new in the industry. All the new franchises I mentioned weren't hindered by the fact that there's now eight Silent Hills. In many cases, not only have the sequels NOT hit critical mass, but they've reached a finite ending. As of now, at four games, Snake's saga in Metal Gear Solid is over and done with. There may be more games on the horizon, but we've effectively wrapped up the character in style.

Another truly excellent addition is DLC, and online download networks, when utilized properly. I love replacing old PSX games with PSN titles, and I especially love the reasonably priced DLC you can get for many new games. Mission packs and new content are always welcome.

Basically, what it comes down to, in my thought process, is that as long as the games themselves don't suffer, the generation was a success. This generation has brought with it many, many evils. the FPS plague, the obsession with repeating successes of other companies instead of finding their own, the casual gaming market. However, buried amongst the filth are several new games and new standards that make it all worthwhile. At the end of the day, this generation has delivered a lot of fun, and isn't that what truly matters?