ostalgia can be a potent drug. Sometimes, it's a painkiller, deadening the ill effects of time and rendering the shadowy rough edges of our past soft and glistening. Sometimes it's hallucinogenic, completely blinding us to the reality that the things we loved growing up were, truly, terrible and vapid. Regardless, nostalgia always prepares us to embrace more than we would otherwise be willing to accept. Such, anyway, has been the marketing strategies of the makers of games like Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness.
And yet, as much as we love the top-heavy temple-tourist, gamers are only able to take so much. Hardcore devotees aside, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who legitimately thinks that, say, Simon Belmont is relevant in modern gaming. As indebted as I am to 16-bit Sonic the Hedgehog, I've learned not to get my hopes up when a new Sonic title is announced.
But perhaps, as 2010 draws to a close, nostalgia may finally be paying off.
EXHIBIT A: SONIC COLORS
I remember playing a demo of 2008's Sonic Unleashed and thinking to myself, "wow, this is really fun. They finally made a decent Sonic game!" But reviews of the final product were less forgiving. An awkward werewolfesque component alienated players and added a sluggish and unwanted gameplay component to an otherwise rapid and exhilarating experience.
When reports began to circulate that an old-school Sonic sequel was in the works, I couldn't help but be confused.When reports began to circulate that an old-school sequel was in the works, I couldn't help but be confused. 2D side-scrolling seemed both archaic and defeatist; fourteen years after the advent of 3D gaming, Sega had come so close to successfully translating the franchise to the third dimension.
Thankfully, Sega had more than Sonic 4 up its sleeve, and Sonic Colors has surprised just about everyone. Though, as one reviewer on Metacritic notes, it is "by no means . . . the 3D Sonic you've been waiting for," it's a long sprint in the right direction. Though some have complained that the mix of 2D detracts from the overall quality of the title, it strikes me as a savvy decision on Sega's part not to completely abandon what the company knows how to do well. Old habits die hard, but if Colors is a sign of things to come, Sega needn't fear breaking the habit.
EXHIBIT B: CASTLEVANIA: LORDS OF SHADOW
Speaking of being stuck in 2D, Castlevania is one of those series that has been stuck in niche territory ever since the late 90s, when it began to mirror the Metroid series. Metroid cleverly made the jump to 3D, but Belmont and co. never quite got the hint. As a result, the series has lived in relative obscurity ever since, with an aversion to mainstream success most aptly compared to a vampire's aversion to sunlight.
Castlevania's astounding success makes it difficult to imagine why a mainstream sequel hadn't been attempted sooner.This year, seemingly out of nowhere, Lords of Shadow fought back the cobwebs and thrust the series back into the spotlight with such astounding success that it's difficult to imagine why it hadn't been attempted sooner. Unlike Sonic's decade-long 3D birth pains, Lords of Shadow got it right on the first shot, garnering silvers and golds from a slew of reviewers and drawing immediate comparisons to industry giants (excuse the pun) like Shadow of the Colossus and God of War. Perhaps the biggest failure on Konami's part has been marketing. The company's general failure to publicize the game suggests that Konami was just as uncertain how it would be received as anyone, leaving PR teams to play catch-up with the critical acclaim.
EXHIBIT C: TOMB RAIDER
I still remember walking into a Walmart back in the early nineties and trying to play the demo of Tomb Raider. Aesthetically, it was immediately satisfying — a female protagonist, double pistols, acrobatics, and platforming. But I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to actually get both of those pistols out, and firing, at the same time. I distinctly recall being eaten by dogs repeatedly until, in frustration, I dropped the controller and walked away.
Time will tell if the new Tomb Raider is any more playable than previous titles.I never really came back. As the years have rolled by and more Lara Croft adventures have rolled out, I haven't paid them much notice. Neither, it seems, have too many others; though the games have received generally consistent B ratings over the last decade, they have failed to achieve much popular support. Whence comes this month's major Game Informer reveal, a brand-new "reboot" of the franchise with a young, naïve, realistic — that is, reduced-chest — lead and a focus on integrating the hallmark puzzles in a less, shall we say, obtuse way. Time will tell if the new Tomb Raider is any more playable than previous titles, but the focus and narrative of the reboot suggest that Crystal Dynamics is ready for some long-lost limelight.
FUTURE
Here are three franchises which are finally, after years of struggling, coming of age in a high-definition, 3D world. But there are plenty of time-honored franchises still struggling under their own weight, failing to hit the stride they need to recapture gamers' attention and redeem the affection of long-faithful fans. Hopefully developers will see the success of games like these and learn a thing or two about 21st century relevance.
Here's a hint: nostalgia won't cut it.
I'm glad that Sonic Colours turned out great but personally I'm not sure if I need a new Sonic in my life. I've gone so long without finding a really compelling entry since Sonic 3 & Knuckles that I'm perfectly content with these old 16-bit ones.
FYI, there have been several 3D Castlevanias before though the two N64 ones are notoriously bad. Castlevanias Lament of Innocent and Curse of Darkness were 3D character actions games on the PS2 which were well received but not that well-known.
Tomb Raider is at once a reasonable candidate for and incriminating example of the latest fad-cure for ailing IPs. What struck me most about reviewing Underworld was how extraneous Lara Croft was — the coldblooded rich girl stuck out of the exotic locations and ancient wonders. Even though I never played the series before, my mind preferred memories of retail boxes bearing the pixelated, mammiferous original.
Still, if everything is to be changed save the name, is leaning on brand equity really necessary? Is tossing around the word "reboot" wise, since the last game was only two years ago? I suppose Crystal could hire on Nolan North and Claudia Black and make the next game as charming as Uncharted; but then it wouldn't be Tomb Raider.