the exploratory gameplay of 'gone home'
challenges our definition of games
the mechanics behind
a game make up only
a fraction of the whole
experience in some
cases, it can make for
interesting and often
varied discussion on its
quality as a product.
Hangar 13’s recent
release of Mafia 3
suffered from an over
reliance on generic
open world combat
and mission structure.
It was praised for
its story and world
building, but fell down
on the competence of
its mechanics.
With an increase in
visual quality, story
and other elements
games have began
to bleed into other
mediums in terms of
how they define their
various genres.
Games such as the
Uncharted series blend
engaging gameplay
and a strong narrative
but often are defined
primarily through their
strong story moments
when
considering
which genre they
belong to.
"Strong story
moments often
define newer
games"
This comes from the
idea that each person
takes something unique
from the experience of
playing a video game,
and therefore what it
means to them and
how it is defined can
differ wildly depending
on who you ask.
Uncharted could be
described as a bland
third person shooter
by someone who was
dissatisfied with the
series, or lauded as
a leading light in the
move towards strong
cinematic stories in
video games.
That isn’t to say that
other genres aren’t still
defined by mechanics
exclusively. A good
example would be
driving
simulators,
which still focus heavily
on the handling of the
cars and their lifelike
representation.
'MAFIA 3' attracted criticism
for over-reliance on generic
open world combat
However,
even in a genre such as
this, there has still been
a gradual expansion
and broadening of
experiences on offer,
involving a change
in mechanics. Forza
Horizon expands upon
the open world-racing
simulator, which offers
both serious racing
gameplay and open
world exploration in a
geographically diverse
environment.
So it seems that
in a medium that is
ever expanding, to
EARLY TITLES LIKE
CASTLEVANIA RELIED HEAVILY
ON ORIGINAL MECHANICS
say that game genres
are primarily defined
by their mechanics
would be a reductive
argument. Indeed, it
would be more fitting
to state it is simply one
of many ways to define
a game that adds to
the overall impression
it gives.
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