Simple question-- why are recent games screwing up simple things?

Three examples-- Heavy Rain, Deadly Premonition, and God of War 3.

Heavy Rain

People who come here often should know I despise quick time events but despite that, I gave Heavy Rain a go and I liked it!  It was good but it had some problems, the biggest ones the movement controls and camera.

I'll forgive the camera since not many games attempt the stationary camera anymore but the movement controls are just inexcusable.  If this were 1998 when we're still new to navigating 3D worlds I could understand, but this is 2010.  I appreciate trying something new but there comes a point when you just have to say this sucks.

I don't understand how they could release the game with controls that are that horrible.  You'd think that early on someone that had some amount of common sense would say hey, these controls are bad, why don't we do what every other game does since every other game does it that way for a reason?

It's that old saying, if it aint broke, don't fix it comes into play here.  We've gotten quite good at movement controls and while some games may try something different and end a bit off like Killzone 2, they're still fine.  Heavy Rain tried something different was more than just a little off, it was terrible.

How did they screw up something as simple as movement controls?

Deadly Premonition

For some odd reason this game decided to go with the Resident Evil 4 control scheme...why?

Resident Evil 4 was a great game but the movement and firing controls were...not good.  Again, games have gotten good at figuring out how to do 3rd person movement and controls.  Resident Evil 4 was a great game, but we've gotten good at these sort of controls.  It's fine not to be able to move while firing if that's what you're going for, but why fire with the A button?

So yeah, again, something that should be simple but they managed to fuck it up so horrible.

God of War 3

Now I bet you're all thinking twesterm you dumbshit fanboy, God of War 3 is brilliant you douche wibbler!

And, well, yeah, I assume it is.

I bring up God of War 3 because it's a perfect example of if it aint broke, don't fix it.

God of War set the standard for that type of game which is why God of War 3 is God of War 2 which is God of War.  They got combat down to an art and instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, they stuck with what was established and good.

So yeah, how are these games screwing up such simple things? 

I mean another example of something like this would be Fallout 3 and Oblivion?  I respect Bethesda and all, but how did they manage to make such a bad FPS game?  Gunplay in that game just feels so off and it's just weird because we're so good making FPS games and then somehow make them bad again.

Oh yeah moving in Heavy Rain is quite annoying. But it's kind of charming sometimes when it seems you're making out with a wall.

And what did you say about Oblivion? *shakes fist*

On these two I could not agree more.  With consoles as advanced as they are now, not allowing 100% customization of the controller is absolutely bullshit.  It is like those games that do not allow you to invert controls (or allow you to invert BOTH axes or none) why?  There is no need for this.

For movement controls, you would think that would be the very FIRST thing that your testers would bring up.  Hey boss man, this game does not move the way it should.  I thought HR movement was fine (but not fine tuned) and while annoying did not end up taking anything away from the game.  Its like Star Ocean in a way.  Loved the game but the movement just felt wrong.

GOW3 is an example of sony's strategy of pumping out games with fast turn around. This is the 4th GOW game since 2005 and the 3rd developed by Santa Monica. The development team is talented, but they dont get a chance to sit down and come up with new ideas and experimental mechanics. R&C has the same unfortunate problem...it's franchise abuse.

But thankfully, some studios out there will come up with genre improvements and fresh ideas. This is why Bayonetta will pwn GOW3 in every convievable way except overall sales.

I am shocked every time a new game comes out with online multiplayer and NO local multiplayer. There were 4 player games on the Atari 2600 and the NES. If you make a game with 4 or more players online but less than 4 local, I really need an explanation for why the Atari 2600 is more fun for when I have people over. "Oh sorry, this game isn't for 4 players, but you want to take turns playing with strangers over the internet?" (Only game I'll do that for is StarCraft.)

@Ghost,

That makes me upset too. Local MP should always take precedence over Online MP. I am completely sure that Publishers do that just to sell more games.

yea I know especialy with the massive widescreens people are using these days splitscreen is so much more viable than it was but almost none uses it anymore. 

I personally would love it if Nintendo relaunched the snes but with games that are like $5- $20 tops. I don't know about you but I would be first in line to get one. For some reason I have more fun with those games. If the console sold successfully and the games were that cheap, think of the attachment rate.

I'm confused, if your gripe was that Heavy Rain and Deadly Premonition didn't stick with the established control schemes, or the "if it ain't broke..." why is GoW III on your list? You yourself say that it's an perfect example, but I don't know where I misread you. Your main theme was clearly of games deviating from the traditional game mechanics, etc.

And as for that argument, I'll say: Man up, get used to it. Not every game has to control like CoD, not every game has to control like Gears of War, etc. You're just personally whining that the controls weren't custom made for you. The controls for Heavy Rain, even if it may be different and awkward, was very simple. Just point in the direction you want to go (no steering), and press R2. Get used to it.

As for Deadly Premonition, never played it, BUT, your problem was that games weren't sticking with the establishment. CoD at one point didn't stick with the establishment. Now it's the standard controls for FPSs. Why? Because the next game after copied the general scheme. So I don't see why you're complaining that Deadly Premonition is carrying on the control scheme RE4 established, and may continue onward.

it is called the VC with a classic controller. That is about a perfect replica of the SNES minus the special attachments like the Super Scope 6. Why produce actual carts (which are very expensive and the games would be well over $10 each, probably closer to $20) when they already have a great system in place. They just need to dump more games onto the system.