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While I certainly agree that a sort of dichotomy exists between ludonarrative continuity and fun, I think games developers are quickly improving their ability to tackle that paradox.
For starters, games are getting bigger -- both in terms of in-game content and the scope of action. Although it may require billions of combined man-hours (barring any procedural revolution), the games of tomorrow promise to be incredibly comprensive. That means fewer possibilities for the illusion of the video game to be broken, which in turn make for more immersive and arguably fun games.
I feel like the cyberpunk prophecies of yesteryear are quickly becoming today's reality. So I don't call me crazy, but I think that VR--the likes of the holodeck and the Matrix--is not altogether impossible. Indeed, it may be the inevitable point which game development is marching toward. You mention VR in jest, but the entire question of ludonarrative continuity is in the context of player immersion. The more developers plug up these virtual reality-breaking glitches and bugs, the sooner we'll have hyperreal (in Baudrilliard's sense) video games.
I feel a bit like I'm rambling, so I'll sit it out and wait for someone to give me a reality check :P "
These days, I hesitate before launching Black Ops, knowing that all the Killstreaks and Wager Matches in the world won't get satisfy that itch. Yes, the golden days of the shooter are indeed behind us... and nostalgic rounds of Halo don't seem to soothe my phantom limb pain. What're we to do?
I say, launch up Unreal Tournament -- there are bounds to be a couple sorry gamers like us still playing."
Thanks for cooling my fears, Omri!"
Having said that, I have nothing against soldiers on a personal basis. People are people, regardless of the uniform they wear. But we shouldn't worship soldiers as a way to honor them, especially not in video games. If the media continues to paint war as a justifiable, glorious element of human life, we shouldn't be surprised when the next generation of kids is more comfortable with violence and war.
In my opinion, the most honorable way to remember veterans is to culturally marginalize the importance of war or eliminate it altogether. We should endeavor to make their work a thing of the past."
The dialogue alone was enough for me to shove the game to the back of my closet. While I'll admit, Medal of Honor's singleplayer campaign had some genuinely "fun" moments, it failed to engage the audience at the sentimental level it hoped for. The aegis of "immersion" was broken again and again by confused A.I., linear mapping, sub-par voice acting, and a non-existant ballistics system.
And you're completely right: On Metacritic, 75% means "generally favorable reviews." But really, if a game receives less than an 80% on these score aggregation websites, most gamers will investigate further before committing themselves to the purchase. In fact, some of them will just ignore it. 75% on Metacritic is nothing to phone home about.
Lastly, about the multiplayer -- it was phenomenal! I genuinely believe DICE perfected the formula they first introduced with BC2. The entire experience, despite being controlled by online players, seemed almost to be planned and executed."
If you have any concerns or doubts, either rent it (or, if possible, borrow the game from a friend) or wait until prices drop, which shouldn't be too long."
Gamertag: ChildeR0land / Clifforde"
I, for one, would be happy to support a revival. The controls were sloppy, the mythos made next to zero sense and the game was sponsored by Pepsi. But that aside, Shaq-Fu solved most arguments between my brothers and I, so it holds a special place in my memory. "