Cole Train in Gears of War: Judgement

In an interview with xbox360acheivements, Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski has said that videogames have become too easy in their attempt to appeal to a broader audience.

"It feels like in this current console generation that we’ve taken a lot of steps to grow the audience and what I think’s happened is that the games have become more linear and easier, so it feels like a lot of quick-time-events", he said. "The more I play games like that the more I turned off to them and just want to get back to systems interacting with systems, and get back to a game that, you know, when was the last time a game really challenged you and asked something of you, right? There’s a reason why Demon Souls and Dark Souls have taken off lately. It’s because they really require you actually try."

Proving that he's willing to practice what he preaches, he went on to say that Gears of War: Judgement won't be a walk in the park for those who are seeking a challenge.

"Casual mode will still be casual, whatever, if you just want to see graphics and you don’t want to die,” he said. “But every other mode will be hard in this game and you will die."

"If this game doesn’t make you sweat, we haven’t done our jobs."

If I don't wind up ruining a few good shirts playing Gears of War: Judgement, I will be sorely disappointed. However, upping the difficulty level of Gears of War to the teeth-pullingly hard standards of Dark Souls won't solve all of the issues with the Gears franchise, much in the same way that making Resident Evil 6 longer won't automatically make it better. Or how mowing a field of grass isn't more enjoyable when you try and do it with broken legs.

Gears of War: Judgement is set for a 2013 release, and will adequately cater for people who not only want to see graphics, but also want to die.

Comments

  • Avatar
    Bob Webb
    12 years, 5 months ago

    I'd be interested in seeing if he can pull it off. Given that the previous Gears titles were extremely linear (no Blezinski, making us choose between two roads is still linear), I find myself being very skeptical that he'll achieve his vision, especially when he still wants to deliver that "casual" experience. The reason why Dark Souls was such a hardcore experience was the world and the open environment. The game didn't hold your hand and tell you how you do things or where you go (two things that riddled the gears franchise). These types of decisions are so fundamental that it changes the gameplay entirely, making it almost impossible to create a "casual" experience that is not just "Oh the enemies are less difficult." I'm not saying you _can't_ do it, it's just going to be very difficult to balance the development time and production cost of such a title that can successfully pull it off.

    A part of the attraction people have to their "hardcore" titles is that there are rarely "casual" modes built into the game. Playing the game and beating it is something of a badge of honor in itself. If he wants to make a hardcore game, he should just make one and not try to pander to both casual and hardcore crowds; he'll more likely create some amalgamation of the two which neither audiences will like.

  • Avatar
    s1yfox
    12 years, 5 months ago

    No cliff, making me stay in cover longer with no health while the enemies have tons doesn't count.

  • Avatar
    Mr.Noodle
    12 years, 5 months ago

    I hope its not just more health and more damage for the enemies and using gimmick strategies to get through it.

  • Avatar
    TheOttomatic91
    12 years, 5 months ago

    I've learned already that anything Bleszinski says is complete and utter bullshit, so no I don't think Judgement will be non-casual game especially coming from a casual series, I see myself skipping this in my 2013 game.

  • Avatar
    Chrissaviour
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Oh Cliffy B, I haven't trusted you since Gears 2. What makes you think I'll trust you now.

  • Avatar
    Soha
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Hmm... I like when games make me "feel" things, but I'm not sure "sweaty" is on that list.