The Marvel of Computer Games by Arran Denieffe
The marvels of today’s world are technological. Technology is responsible for the state of the world, good or bad, present and future and that in itself is something to marvel at.
One of the things I truly love and consider a marvel are video games. They are, in my view, more than mere entertainment. Take the graphics for a start. As technology advances so do graphics and so games become increasingly realistic, testing the boundary between the virtual and the real.
“Uncharted 4 – A Thief’s End” looks incredibly, as long as you have an equally incredible TV. But realism isn’t the only thing a game needs to be deemed a classic. Old games like “Doom,” “Final Fantasy” and “The Legend of Zelda” are amongst a multitude of games still beloved by the gaming community despite their old pixel graphics. Even some of the infamous “RPG maker” like “Mad Father” and “Corpse Party” games have attained cult status. The fact that games with inferior graphics can still be fantastic is something to be admired.
Another aspect of video games that I love is artstyle and how much variety there can be. Games can be realistic looking but they can be cartoonish, hand-drawn, anime, pixelated and so on. One recent example of a game with a gorgeous artstyle would be “Cuphead.” Despite its funny name, I would say it is one of the most stand out games this year.It is done in the old, cartoonish style like the very first Mickey Mouse animations. The game is made with such love and respect for the artstyle it even has old-school sound effects as well. This game has quite the nostalgic factor to it though I may be too young to fully appreciate it!
“Obami” is another game distinguished by its artstyle. It’s one of my childhood favourites though I have only recently begun to appreciate it fully. The scenery, the characters, the enemies, everything in this game looks like it has been painted in the beautiful Japanese style. It is based around the paintbrush which is your tool for attacking and puzzle-solving. As you progress through the game you must acquire brush techniques; this marries the game itself with the artstyle, a real stroke of genius.
Another reason why I think games are marvellous is that they can cover a variety of topics from depression to humanity’s relationship with nature to whether or not AI can really “feel.” One game that covers a rather interesting concept is “Presentable Liberty.” In this game you are stuck in a bare prison cell. The only contact you ever have with the outside world is through letters you receive under the door; other than that all you have in your room is a pet bug. Some mini-games that get quite boring and frustrating after a while but there are no letters. The protagonist’s only correspondents are his wandering friend Salvadore, the baker Elizabeth, the mysterious Mr Money and your Super Happy Buddy TM.
The length of this game can make it quite real. The protagonist never speaks and you cannot reply to the letters so the more you play the game the more you feel isolated. You find out through the letters that humanity is being wiped out by a disease but you are still just stuck in that room. One of the only things you get to spruce up in your room is a poster from Mr Money with the phrase, “Money survives all hardship.” This game covers topics such as freedom, money and relationships and I love it.
Technology overall is quite interesting but I think video games are something to behold. I just hope that I retain my love for games as I get older but I’m not that worried that I will lose my fascination with them. I think I’ll love them forever.