I think it is the best allegory of what a good adventure game is why it is so hard to do.
It has 3 main gameplay cores, all of which remain on the character controller, essentially moves and navigation. Theses 3 gameplay cores are all solid (like snake). 3D platformer first, relies on a lot of verticality, 3 initials moves (a quick but not high jump, a crouch jump that goes way up and a glider) and some additions spread all along the adventure. Then, an action-combat game, that benefits a lot from the theme : both a clever way to design an health bar, a power up related to this health bar and a final blow system that adds a lot of dynamism by cleverly using the level design. Eventually, a very varied puzzle game relying on very different aspects, even the sound and music design.
On top of these 3 very cool gameplays, Soul Reaver adds :
- A metroid-vania structure based on power ups that open the map. That adds a lot to the level design
- A deep and well treated theme, which has a lot of different layers to its language
- A generous artistical direction, that hits the top in world building, music, dub, graphisms, colors, chara design at a point that it is still interessting nowadays.
That's the catch with adventure games. Beyond necessitating a lot of ideas, mastery and talent, all these elements necessitate a lot of money. Doing an adventure game is expensive, both artistically and monetary speaking, and that might explain why I don't like this genre.
Very few find my favors. On PS1, you can also play the first Spyro games, which are really cool. Medievil deserves to be cited too. More recently, Pumpkin Jack or A Plague Tale:Inocence are worth playing. Unfortunately, i never felt anything for Uncharted or Tomb Raider. I guess it's a matter of tastes.
For your information, french version of this game is... Pretty much above anything. 5 stars cast, 5 stars art direction, 5 star writting. I think it might have not been reached in videogames since.
"Tu te perds dans les méandres de ta morale relativiste, Kain !"
It has 3 main gameplay cores, all of which remain on the character controller, essentially moves and navigation. Theses 3 gameplay cores are all solid (like snake). 3D platformer first, relies on a lot of verticality, 3 initials moves (a quick but not high jump, a crouch jump that goes way up and a glider) and some additions spread all along the adventure. Then, an action-combat game, that benefits a lot from the theme : both a clever way to design an health bar, a power up related to this health bar and a final blow system that adds a lot of dynamism by cleverly using the level design. Eventually, a very varied puzzle game relying on very different aspects, even the sound and music design.
On top of these 3 very cool gameplays, Soul Reaver adds :
- A metroid-vania structure based on power ups that open the map. That adds a lot to the level design
- A deep and well treated theme, which has a lot of different layers to its language
- A generous artistical direction, that hits the top in world building, music, dub, graphisms, colors, chara design at a point that it is still interessting nowadays.
That's the catch with adventure games. Beyond necessitating a lot of ideas, mastery and talent, all these elements necessitate a lot of money. Doing an adventure game is expensive, both artistically and monetary speaking, and that might explain why I don't like this genre.
Very few find my favors. On PS1, you can also play the first Spyro games, which are really cool. Medievil deserves to be cited too. More recently, Pumpkin Jack or A Plague Tale:Inocence are worth playing. Unfortunately, i never felt anything for Uncharted or Tomb Raider. I guess it's a matter of tastes.
For your information, french version of this game is... Pretty much above anything. 5 stars cast, 5 stars art direction, 5 star writting. I think it might have not been reached in videogames since.
"Tu te perds dans les méandres de ta morale relativiste, Kain !"