What games this gen you can discribe as truely ' Next Gen' ?

Question in topic.

Also talk about game your disapointed with for not improving. What was your first next gen game?

Change is inevitable. Except from a vending machine.

Viva La Revolution! erm, I mean Viva La Wii!

I' ll say Forza 2, for the sheer number of physics calculations going on, and the limitless customizability of the livery editor.

However, generally speaking, I don' t feel like this generation is much of a leap over the previous one. Yeah, there' s better graphics... but it' s just not a mindblowing difference.

Unreal Tournament 3. I can' t vouch for PS3 since I don' t have it, but on PC this is truly a " next gen" game. The graphics are extremly detailed and the game runs very, very smooth for how detailed they are. What really sells the " next gen" in UT3 is the special effects in the graphics. The glowing and coloring of players depending on how they are in your view, the cool looking effects on your vision when you die, the lighting and shadows, there are just tons of little special effects all over the game that really set it apart from everything else.

"If you knew how good I am you would think I'm modest."

Crysis

Seriously, this game is in it' s own league. The graphics are incredible, and you' re not in some cramped room either. You' re outside where you can pretty much go anywhere you see. The quality is and draw distance are both unbeatable, two traits I thought I' d never see together.

The screenshots do not do this game justice.

I generally think that games having taken baby steps, the so called Next Gen leap hasnt happened, nor do i think it ever will.

If next gen had been kicked off with games like Gears of War or Uncharted it would have been different, but we were eased into next gen, by semi next gen titles like Perfect Dark, which more or les sonly improved resolution.

My first Next Gene expirience would have to be playing Ghost Recon: Advanced War fighter when i just got my HD' tv, the difference from SD to HD was awe inspirering.

for me shinier graphics do not make it next-gen. I am looking for more complex AI, more-interactive NPCs, a more believable and immersive experience. Mass Effect has pushed the boundaries but is still not there. Here' s hoping GTA4 pushes some of that further.

Games that have come out so far this gen have been all about looking pretty, so I wouldn' t say that any game so far has been really " next gen" . The only game I can think of that comes close is Uncharted, and that is just for the simple fact that when you are running through small bushes and tall grass, the bushes and grass actually move and react to you running through them. Not to mention the simple fact that Drake' s clothes are actually wet when he comes out of the water. Little improvements like that to me are next gen.

To me next gen means something that could not be done on the last gen of consoles (not talking graphics here because better looking games does not make a next gen experience). This is why IMHO I believe Star Wars Force Unleashed will be the first true next gen experience. NaturalMotion' s Euphoria engine combined with Pixelux' s Digital Molecular Matter are going to give us a realistic gaming experience with TFU. No more pre-canned death animations, NPC' s that will actually grab onto something to try and save themselves even each other, and finally the fact that when you use The Force on say a metal door it will bend like a real metal door should. Now to me that is truly next gen.

Most wanted games:

Mass Effect
Assasins Creed
Crysis
Little Big Planet
Drakes Fortune
UTIII
Kane and Lynch
Heavy Rain
Alan Wake

I thin you guys are too picky...

I' d definitely say Crysis is true next gen. I' m sick of hearing these consoles being called next gen though since they' ve all been out for more than a year...

XBL Gamertag: Rampage99

" Basically, pollute the air all you want, your just speeding up the inevitable. Our future generations are f*cked as it is and there' s really nothing we can do about it. Have a nice day "

I' d definitely say Crysis is true next gen

Why, because it looks nice? What story and gameplay elements does it have that separate it from every other FPS or TPS put out this gen or last? Besides looking pretty, what else does it offer that make it a true next gen game? You can' t just say Crysis and not give a valid reason.

Most wanted games:

Mass Effect
Assasins Creed
Crysis
Little Big Planet
Drakes Fortune
UTIII
Kane and Lynch
Heavy Rain
Alan Wake

Dead Rising.

It couldn' t have been accomplished on a last-gen console. No ifs, ands or buts.

Crysis

The quality of the game doesn' t assure next gen status. Better graphics, better physics, but what component of Crysis' gameplay could not have been achieved on a PC three years ago? I had doubts before I played the game, and while it' s fantastic, it ain' t revolutionary.

Edit: Before we really get going on this, we should probably establish what we define as " next gen" .

Do better graphics make a game next gen? Better physics? Is it the core gameplay mechanics (my personal beleif)?

Also talk about game your disapointed with for not improving. What was your first next gen game?

Far Cry Predator/Instincts - Talk about a downhill slope...

My first next gen game was Call of Duty 2.

Crackdown was pretty next gen in my opinion

I believe the sense of freedom offered by the game, coupled with the high drawing distance as well as the seamless Coop interaction makes this game truly next gen. Under some of those criteria Assassin' s Creed could also be called true next gen but Crackdown was first.

@Eddie

For me next-gen is definied by pushing the boundaries of what was possible before (i.e. last gen)...but not by a small push, but more like a major haul. (I.e. there were game physics before...but Half Life 2' s PE was simply way more ahead) That' s also the reason why I dont think Crysis can be considered next-gen because, while it' s graphics are damn good and it' s the best looking game so far, there are games that offer almost as good graphics and so Crysis hasn' t pushed the boundaries a lot, but only by a little bit. If Crysis, on the other hand, would' ve been released back in 2005/2006, when the next gen was still new, it would' ve been different.

Now there' s an interesting idea. If we' re going by technical achievements, Resistance: Fall of Man' s mulitplayer was unachievable last gen (excluding PCs).

I can say Crysis all I want thank you very much. Saying that there has to be a massive leap in gameplay and story for it to be next gen if foolish. ' Next gen' is basically about progression of technology and what your eyes see. Going by the logic in this thread we haven' t seen a true generational leap since the 2d consoles to the 3d consoles.

You want a step forward in gameplay and story? Pretty sure original PS1 games had stories just as good as any story today. Gameplay wise, shooters, rpgs, puzzle games, sports games, racing games... they are still all the same at the core as what we played back on the N64 and PS1.

Calling Uncharted next gen because the main characters shirt looking wet or grass or shrubs or whatever else you brush into was all done on the last generations of consoles as well. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory did it. The grass thing has been done hundreds of times over. Crysis also does the grass interaction and vegetation interaction but brings it to a whole new level. Having trees splintering and breaking apart EXACTLY where you inflict the damage still boggles my mind. That all used to only happen based on predetermined polygon cuts.

My definition of ' next gen' ... anything that couldn' t be done on the last generation of consoles. Whether that be pushing more poly counts, using more complex physics, adding a new gameplay element (Portal and even Prey for its portals). Game changes are evolutionary, not revolutionary. until we are able to touch, smell and taste games we aren' t going to see another huge leap like we did from 2d to 3d. Trying to pick apart games saying they aren' t next gen is dumb.

XBL Gamertag: Rampage99

" Basically, pollute the air all you want, your just speeding up the inevitable. Our future generations are f*cked as it is and there' s really nothing we can do about it. Have a nice day "

The word Next Gen is the fuel that drives hype.

Its just a word used to signify a big leap in tech when new consoles are launched, it just doesnt happen since things are more gradual..


I hate the word next gen

Portal was definitely a big step forward in the use of a physics based puzzle scenario. I don' t think it could have been done in a polished way a few years ago. At the same time, though, it' s so unique and fully realized that I don' t know that it can really have a whole lot further to go.

Trying to pick apart games saying they aren' t next gen is dumb.

I have to agree with you there Rampage.

That is exactly why I kept saying " IMHO" regarding Star Wars The Force Unleashed. What makes a next gen game truly next gen is all relative to each gamer. You think Crysis is next gen, I said SWTFU, Eddie said Dead Rising, and so forth. It is all a matter of opinion.

Most wanted games:

Mass Effect
Assasins Creed
Crysis
Little Big Planet
Drakes Fortune
UTIII
Kane and Lynch
Heavy Rain
Alan Wake

ORIGINAL: Zoy

Portal was definitely a big step forward in the use of a physics based puzzle scenario. I don' t think it could have been done in a polished way a few years ago. At the same time, though, it' s so unique and fully realized that I don' t know that it can really have a whole lot further to go.

They actually had everything laid out for Portal several years ago, they just didn' t get around to making it until recently. Technologically it is nothing special, they could have done it with the quake 1 engine.

"If you knew how good I am you would think I'm modest."

I thought the animations in Assassins creed was Next gen, the way he could climb and realisticly move was way ahead anything achiveable on ps2 era.

Graphics arent everything, sure they are a part but some games just havent evolved at all, take for example jrpg' s, blue dragon had great graphics but still easily capable to run on ps1. I think western devs really are putting much more effort and have a better understanding of how to make new games than jap devs.

Change is inevitable. Except from a vending machine.

Viva La Revolution! erm, I mean Viva La Wii!

I' m waiting for the first wave of games utilizing Natrual Motion' s engine, starting with GTA4. Thats a next gen engine.

ORIGINAL: Silentbomber

I thought the animations in Assassins creed was Next gen, the way he could climb and realisticly move was way ahead anything achiveable on ps2 era.

Graphics arent everything, sure they are a part but some games just havent evolved at all, take for example jrpg' s, blue dragon had great graphics but still easily capable to run on ps1. I think western devs really are putting much more effort and have a better understanding of how to make new games than jap devs.

Umm... no. The animations in Assassin' s Creed were awesome but they could have been done on the last generation of game consoles. Prince of Persia is the perfect example. Both games (made by pretty much he same team) were all hand done. They aren' t rag doll based or anything. If the same amount of time and disc space were used back on the PS2 for the animations it would be very possible.

Graphics aren' t everything no, but they are pretty much what defines each generation of games. You say Blue Dragon could have been done on a PS1... wrong. It couldn' t have, because of the graphics. You take the graphics away and make it look like a PS1 game it' s no longer the same game, it' s a PS1 version of the game. That' s the point you are missing. You have to compare the game as a whole (not individual parts) to the last generation. If a current gen game, as it is without toning down graphics, physics or gameplay elements, could run on a last generation system then yes, it' s really not ' next gen' . If not though then it' s next gen.

I don' t know what' s difficult about that to grasp. A generation is based on the console cycle and how the hardware takes the software to the next level. Simple as that.

XBL Gamertag: Rampage99

" Basically, pollute the air all you want, your just speeding up the inevitable. Our future generations are f*cked as it is and there' s really nothing we can do about it. Have a nice day "

Alrighty then...



I' m the only person who' s responded to the last half of the post thus far I believe. That' ll be more constructive than trying to make an argument for personal preference.

Also talk about game your disapointed with for not improving. What was your first next gen game?

Perfect Dark was a big let down, but only because the hype machine had been rolling forever. If the story had been more complete it would have been nice to.

The term Next Gen really only refers to which era a game belongs to, specifically the upcoming generation (duh). I get annoyed when it' s used as a benchmark term. The word should only be used to describe games that haven' t been released yet. We' re always in This Gen, even Crysis is This Gen.

People get boners when using the word " next gen" which is why it has lost it' s true meaning. Now we' re stuck in these awkward discussions trying to redefine the term.

At worst I would say it could be used to describe a game that pushes the technical boundaries not possible in this or last gen. For me I would look for everything. Graphics alone does not impress me. It' s rare that new gameplay elements are only possible due to new technical capabilities to be brought on by the next gen. We' re usually only see incremental steps in the area of gameplay.

I know I only talked about graphics but Crysis does so much more better than most. The game also has tons of:

animations,
atmosphere,
physics,
destructible environments,
scripted events,
relatively advanced A.I.,(once the bugs have been patched)...

Trust me when I say the game IS FUN. It' s one of these games you have to play yourself. Because I' ve never seen a game that has been critiqued so much by people who haven' t even played the game. They assume because the technical aspects are unbeatable that the developers slacked on the gameplay, they didn' t.

Running around in a near photorealistic jungle hunting Koreans and Aliens with a suit that makes you one badass mother fu.cker always brightens up my day. It feels a lot like Half-Life 2 with the physics and scripted events except Crysis has the added advantege of being much more open ended. You rarely feel like you' re being led by the hand, and you often have a choice on where to go and how to do things.

I thought character interactions in Mass Effect were done really well.

Agent, I agree 100% with you, especially on the term " Next Gen" . It' s not even the correct term anymore, just a marketing ploy. But if any game deserves to get the title of " Next Gen" it' s Crysis.

I' ll be blunt though. I hated Far Cry. After running around in the jungle and having to deal with mutant apes, you realize it' s just a technical demonstration. The gameplay was pretty crappy. So when I put Crysis in for the first time, I was expecting more of the same.

Much to my own surprise, I enjoyed it immensely. Thinking that maybe something was wrong with myself, I told my brother to play and finish the game. He did, and was absolutely blow away by it. Now comfortable that I wasn' t insane, I went ahead and finished it a second time on Delta. Now that I think back to it, I enjoyed Crysis more than any other FPS I have ever played - this includes Half Life which I have always thought was incredibly overrated. Not only that but it' s one of my most enjoyed games ever.

I think there are a few reasons why people are quick to judge Crysis as just a graphical shell:

1) They do not have the means to play it. A lot of people don' t have PC' s capable of running Crysis - or any games for that matter. Crank up those graphics and you' ll see why. Although, to CryEngine 2' s credit, it is a very scalable game. I can run it on my 3 year old PC (med-low settings) and it still looks better than 90% of the stuff out there.

2) The graphics are phenomenal. I' m sorry, but nothing currently beats it. Quite often, they' re all that' s talked about. People can often assume that if that' s all people are talking about, it mustn' t have much substance. Wrong.

3) At first glance, it looks similar to FarCry, which was generic and repetitive. Just like I did, people are quick to pass it over based on previous experiences. In fact, if my friend hadn' t been nagging me constantly about playing it, I probably wouldn' t have played it at all. This is a big mistake.

I urge everyone to play this game if you have the means to do so. If you enjoyed Halo 3, or any other FPS in the last few years, you' ll be blown away by Crysis. Crysis is like Halo for adults as Nitro put it. There are certain times in the game where you' ll just sit back and say " woah" . It' s quite hard to articulate why it' s such a great game to play.

When you set foot in the alien mothership, you' ll know why.
When you first hot drop into a warzone, youll know why.
When you see an alien the size of a 747 come rumbling through the jungle at you, you' ll know why.
When you take out an entire base with nothing but your fists and wits, you' ll know why.

I think quite a few games are next-gen. What where people expecting? I mean, they look and sound better, allow for a lot more stuff on screen and many offer innovative controls and even the whole movement thingies the PS3 and Wii have.

I am guessing people are onyl gonna call a game next gen when the game talks to you or gives you some sort of sexual pleasure

There seems to be an underlying trend in the answers here, which is that whilst ' Next Gen' was the buzz word for the 360 and the PS3. Nothing truly ' Next Gen' has arrived....yet!!!

Games that have made me sit up and take notice of the potential power the consoles have are:

Ace Combat 6 (Ok the graphics side of things.)
Mass Effect for pulling off interaction, gaming and the sheer size of the thing
BioShock
Oblivion (just for the sheer size).

Ok they are all 360 games, however I am sure that Oblivion on the PS3 looks as good and is of the same size.

Hoping that GTAIV and Halo Wars will do something that will push the boundaries further.

Natural Motion Natural Motion Natural Motion...

I just wanna know how natural motion will work in a multiplayer setting. GTA will show that I assume but how far who knows. AI knows to reach out and grab to save itself but would that work with a human controlled character? Then again the description of being drunk and Niko leaning on walls naturally might mean it will do so...

Either way <3 Natural Motion

Different people have different opinions of what the words " Next Gen" mean. I, for one, have always looked at it as being games that are being released onto future consoles.

Last > Current > Next

However, if I were to have to choose which game I think is " Next Gen" , I think that would be Mass Effect. I have yet to play it (although I do own it), but the character interaction doesn' t appear to have been done so well in the past.

Dead Rising is also unique in the number of AI that they managed to squeeze into it.

If you placed: Pro Evolution 2008 (Wii version), SMG, Crysis, Wii Sports, Mass Effect, GOW, GTA4, VF5 amung a few others, in pot together, we' re getting somewhere, Each has atleast one strong element of the forever seeking ' Next-Gen' Game.

Currently playing:
Korg DS 10 (ds) /  Metal Slug 7 (ds)
Rhythm Heaven (ds) /  Fire Emblem (ds)
Super Stardust HD (psn) /  Virtua Fighter 5 (360)
FSX (P

People who say this generation of games hasn' t been impressive haven' t played a PS2 game in a long time, LOL.

GT HD/prologue/5.

Every time i see the game my jaw just drops to the floor. The graphics, the physics , the number of cars/AI, etc are all staggering. Many people say that the physics seem weak but its not because its a real driving simulation (dont know about those guys but i dont see real cars jumping around in streets). If you really want to check the physics set the camera to driver view and youll see the car leaning and bumping as you drive through the track.

Sonic the Hedgehog it was a masterpiece full of no loading times.