Personally I think story can make a game stand out far more than graphics or gameplay. I also disagree that the game boiled down to one question. While it was the primary focus of the narrative, the underwater laboratories and world building/history was amazing.
Comment on What games are just objective master pieces?
jacksilver@lemmy.world 4 weeks agoI feel like Soma was a decent metaphysical question wrapped in a okayish walking simulator.
It got a lot of praise, but basically boils down to the question “what makes you you” with nothing else about it standing out.
If the gameplay isn’t a driving factor of making the game objectively good, then I don’t think it counts.
kinther@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
jacksilver@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
I don’t disagree, but my opinion is gameplay (or the interactive nature) of games is what sets them apart from other mediums so would be a deciding factor in a masterpiece game.
But I guess it largely just boils down to the fact Soma just didn’t do much for me.
FeelzGoodMan420@eviltoast.org 3 weeks ago
I’d recommend playing SOMA again, but this time get extremely baked before you play. I’m joking (not really) but I found that game’s story so profound and interesting. It was like the most twisted unsettling environment I’ve ever seen. It had basic walking sim mechanics but being able to explore the environment and look at things up close was just really enjoyable.
jacksilver@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
The setting was definitely interesting. However the main story was a bit too much of a one trick pony - who is the real you.
!Additionally they kinda cheat in the story telling around who lives on. It’s not random chance, each time they replicate their memories it just makes a clone. The original was never going to make it to the end.!<
MintyAnt@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
The lack of gameplay is fine, and very much important to call out for any new players. There’s a whole genre of “you’re playing a movie” that SOMA fits nicely into
jacksilver@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
I think a masterpiece game has to offer more than just story. Additionally I think something like Firewatch does a much better job at telling a compelling story for a walking simulator. But clearly this is why “objective” masterpiece is hard to define, as nothing is really objective in these opinions.
Other games I’d consider better in the walking simulator category: