My older brother is a game fanatic.  He diligently studies the ins and outs of all the games he plays - especially when he knows that he is going to compete against other real-life players.  But here's a question:  Why is it that as much as he may practice and study a game and its facets, I can still pick up a controller at any time and still hold my own?  Granted this phenomena does not occur with all video games, but definitely the best and most essential ones like Dynasty Warriors, Tekken, and Streets of Rage.  They are just the beginning to an extremely long list of video games that feature the ability to play like a pro without actually having a clue as to what you are doing.  I have learned to rely on these games and this gaming strategy my whole life and quite frankly I see no other way to play.

I am eternally grateful for the creation of these simple games and can only hope their creation does not cease to exist.  Over the course of time, video-games have been getting more and more complicated.  I can only pray that at some point this trend will end.  I don't need games that stimulate all five of my senses or make me work up a sweat.  I certainly don't games that are virtually an art-form to be considered skillful.  What I do need? A game where I can pick up a controller and go absolutely crazy on the thing.  More than just that.  I need this tactic to work effectively.

People are no longer able to pick up a game and right out of the gate be moderately decent at it.  Is it lazy of me to desire instant success? Oh yea.  Big time.  But hey, I'm not spending my down time on a video game where I need to go through a half hour to an hour tutorial on how to utilize every single feature of a video game.  Take Assassin's Creed for example.  Don't get me wrong, the game is absolutely incredible.  But your gonna give a tutorial on how to walk through a crowd of people?? Lets not get out of hand here.

What is the perfect tutorial you ask?  Jet Li's Rise to Honor.  To me, this game hit the nail right on the head when it comes to the perfect harmony between both button mashing and skills needed to complete a game.  I would even venture to say it is one of, if not THE greatest game ever made.  Never have I died so many times and not had a problem with it.  How do you attack people from every direction with combinations of kicks, punches, throws and grabs?  Move the right joystick as fast as you can (undoubtedly borrowing their techniques from Mario Party, one of the greatest games of all time).  Another plus?  Unlimited ammo.  Who needs the realism of running out of ammo?! I'm playing a video game for god's sake give me a break.  The last thing I need is to be mid gun-dual and have to worry about running out of ammo - talk about a buzz-kill.  Wanna know what happens if I die because I run out of ammo?  Game over.  You have to restart the whole level.  This sucks!  And here's why:

1. The idea of both finding “ammo packs” and “health packs” defeats the purpose of a game being realistic.  What dumb-ass bad guys are just gonna leave their shit lying around to be picked up by opposing forces?
2. What's a lamer way to die than by running around with my thumb up my ass looking for ammo and getting mauled by enemies who never run out of ammo.
3. If I'm spending up to $60 on video game, not only should I get unlimited ammo, I should get the effing king of all weapons.  I'm talking atomic bomb hand guns.  I don't even want competition, just pull the trigger and thats that.

Why has my opinion of games turned into such a lazy one where instant accomplishment is the only way??  I have spent the entirety of my life getting whooped in every single video game imaginable, except those select few where I can really channel my skills: Mario Party, Dynasty Warriors, hell even NFL Blitz.  Show me a game where I can go berserk on a plethora of buttons and I'll show you blinding skill like you've never seen before.  It's not even worth playing Tekken against me, the harder you try the more you are going to lose.  My only requests are that you don't complain that I'm button mashing, and also don't you dare ask me how I perform the most complicated of moves, because frankly I have no clue.

posted by JRB on TheSpoonFeed.com