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[Fredrik]

So, I've had WiiU since day 1, PS4 since day 1 and I plan to get XB1 day 1 if Microsoft some day remember that Sweden exist.
Anyhow, I've played on an import XB1 and today I think I've seen the games that is said to really show off the generational leap on all platforms.

I finally played Second Son for the first time yesterday, which DF said was the best looking game on any platform in their technical article, and I thought I would finally come away really impressed.

But no, I was not impressed, like at all.

I get that games will get more impressive over time and Naughty Dog still haven't shown their next gen stuff which might be amazing, but so far this has easily been the most underwelming start of a new generation for as long as I can remember.

Games still look about the same, most games still run at 30fps and we basically still play the same exact games as before since nothing has happened on the gameplay front.

ZombiU had some novel ideas with the Gamepad screen which I really liked but WiiU sadly isn't delivering the visual leap I'm looking for when entering a new generation. Off TV Play at 60fps without lag is probably what I'm most impressed about so far, but it's on WiiU again. PS4 and XB1 has the power to impress, I think, but so far I'm just not impressed at all with the gameplay or performance there. Also, isn't it annoying that we see far more 60fps games on WiiU when it's supposed to be more like a last gen console technically?


Am I the only one with this feeling?

 

[Persona7]

You have several more years to decide. I am underwhelmed as well on the technical side but I guess that is my problem. The best game I've played so far this generation is Killer Instinct.

 

[MSMrRound]

Pssh. 5 months isn't a generation. Come back in 6 years.

 

[MurkyZebra2417]

Games still look about the same, most games still run at 30fps and we basically still play the same exact games as before since nothing has happened on the gameplay front.

I don't know, there is a difference for me here:

 

[Trent Strong]

The first year of new generations are never very good. Games will look better as time goes on.

 

[Concept17]

Shadowfall and Second Son have made me greatly appreciate this new generation. The IQ in both games is consistent and far beyond games from last gen.

Also new hardware does not equal a revolution in gameplay. Expecting devs to suddenly create new types of gameplay while they're trying to grasp all the extra technical power available is just nonsense.

 

[NIGHT-]

PC gaming has spoiled us, or me anyways. New consoles just don't have the leap they used to.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Have you seen Mario Kart 8 though???

 

[Xanos]

Yeah maybe a better way for you to have phrased this thread is something like "I'm not impressed by this generation so far". Like others have said, it's still very early to rate this generation in it's entirety only a few months in.

 

[elementalsin]

While premature, I can relate to the feeling. While I was impressed with some of the technical feats of infamous... It just doesn't seem like its enough. Again, perhaps a bit premature, but at the same time just today I was discussing future releases with some friends and how it was concerning/odd to think that even as far as next year we'd be seeing 'big name titles' on previous gen still.

Think about that... Assuming it happens, that's 1.5-2 years into what many are assuming to be a fairly short cycle that we're still seeing cross platform or just old platform period. Not exactly what I'm looking for these days.

That being said, I also feel graphics just aren't enough anymore. While we're not at photo realism or anything, I still feel we're getting to a diminishing returns situation. Couple that with a lack of revolutionary (or even baby stepping) gameplay evolution.... It just feels similar.

I donno. I feel ya.

Shadowfall and Second Son have made me greatly appreciate this new generation. The IQ in both games is consistent and far beyond games from last gen.

Also new hardware does not equal a revolution in gameplay. Expecting devs to suddenly create new types of gameplay while they're trying to grasp all the extra technical power available is just nonsense.

Actually I feel this kind of comment and thought process is nonsense and I've been saying it for awhile. "Yay more graphics! MOAR POWA" Unless its the favorite darling of a title... Then its all about the gameplay. Expecting devs to fall back to 'better graphics = better game' is nonsense and frankly I'm tired of practically everyone supporting it.

 

[Auto_aim1]

I was impressed by Ground Zeroes but yeah so far this gen feels like an extension of the previous gen. But it's still way too early to say and games like The Witcher 3 might blow us away.

 

[Richie]

If Second Son didn't impress you, maybe you're more of an art style sorta fella? Have you looked at Mario Kart 8's latest videos? Reaaaally pleasing to the eye, and arguably, the first Wii U game that really -feels- like a generation leap from its Wii prequel.

 

[MormaPope]

The first year of new generations are never very good. Games will look better as time goes on.

The 360 had an awesome first year, problem was the console could/would possibly break within that year.

Elder Scrolls Oblivion
Call of Duty 2
Dead or Alive 4
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Dead Rising
Hitman Blood Money (cross gen port)
Condemned
Gears of War
Rainbow Six Vegas

 

[NIGHT-]

I haven't seen anything that gives me the feeling that Gears of war did when I first saw it. Shit, I was so blown away.

 

[Corpekata]

I think they look great. The gameplay in most of the stunners though is a little middling.

 

[Wiktor]

Well..this generation hasn't been impressive so far.

 

[DJIzana]

You need more Japanese games before you can be impressed, that's all. Hopefully E3 will deliver on that too. ;D

 

[Mondy]

You have to love these judgmental jump the gun threads that are fueled by nothing but boredom.

 

[Makai]

Hmm. WebMD didn't turn anything up.

 

[Danny-Boy]

Really? My first game on the PS4 was AC4 and I was blown away by the upgrade.

 

[Fredrik]

You have several more years to decide. I am underwhelmed as well on the technical side but I guess that is my problem. The best game I've played so far this generation is Killer Instinct.

I've played Killer Instinct and besides a lot of flying particles I don't see what's so impressive about it. I thought it was super fun though and really liked the design but that has nothing to do with this geing a new generation.

 

[Immaculate]

...uh huh

 

[Brashnir]

It's not just you. This generation sucks so far.

 

[Fredrik]

Pssh. 5 months isn't a generation. Come back in 6 years.

The feeling that I'm jumping in on a new generation should be there day 1 in my opinion, not 6 years later.

 

[vocab]

PC gaming really has made the graphical upgrade not really impressive to me. I'm more interested in the games when they eventually come.

 

[HUELEN10]

It's not just you. This generation sucks so far.

Question: Do you own an 8th-gen handheld yet?

 

[Megatron]

PC gaming has spoiled us, or me anyways. New consoles just don't have the leap they used to.

Lol no. This is the smallest jump ever in generational power. Of course the op isn't impressed. It will get better, but you're not going to ever be overwhelmed. Consoles Should have stayed in last gen a few more years so the hardware could improve.

 

[Fredrik]

I don't know, there is a difference for me here:

Is those pics supposed to show the difference? Honestly, I really don't see a generational leap anywhere in those pics.

 

[zoukka]

Mario Kart in 2 months.

 

[Spine_Ripper]

You know what'll help? Waiting more than 5 months to play true next gen titles. This is the type of shit I expect from YouTube comments, not GAF. Cmon guys, we keep going over this.

 

[Bebpo]

With the PS2 -> PS3/X360 we got gameplay advancements due to finally having enough memory to do bigger, more open environments. But PS3/X360 -> PS4/XB1...the memory just goes into higher resolution and more effects/ai/physics.

It's definitely the weakest entry into a generation from a gameplay-advancement perspective. Nice looking games, but nothing really new or interesting yet gameplay-wise.

 

[JAYSIMPLE]

Have you seen Mario Kart 8 though???

This. Butter smooth 60. Insane graphics/art direction. Can not wait. All next gen games so far (on ps4 and one) are just prettier. Wait for the true next gen games on ps4/xbox

 

[Nibel]

I had some fun here and there with my PS4, but I'm far from impressed

No chance to play anything on XB1

 

[elektrixx]

Don't expect 60FPS to ever become a standard.

I'm not thrilled about the console's power either, but what I'm more concerned about are games playing almost exactly like other games from the last generation.

 

[Dizzan]

I'm skipping this gem for this reason amongst others. Hopefully by skipping a gen, the following will really blow me away

 

[impact]

This. Butter smooth 60. Insane graphics/art direction. Can not wait. All next gen games so far (on ps4 and one) are just prettier. Wait for the true next gen games on ps4/xbox

Mario Kart 8 is pretty much just Mario Kart but prettier though.

 

[Fixed2BeBroken]

Games still look about the same, most games still run at 30fps and we basically still play the same exact games as before since nothing has happened on the gameplay front.

I agree with this aspect...except for maybe Titanfall which is kinda of next gen gameplay but yea...for the most part, the games feel like last gen games with a makeover.

I'm hoping watch dogs provides not only dat next gen graphics (i know, debatable) but dat next gen gameplay too (but "Oh teh nooooes! it's an ubi world game!" some will say).

 

[LeBart]

Obligatory.

 

[JordanN]

Also, isn't it annoying that we see far more 60fps games on WiiU when it's supposed to be more like a last gen console technically?

Far more? In what sense? I don't remember any Wii U multiplat running at a higher fps than a PS4 or XBO version. The opposite is likely true though...

 

[B-Dubs]

The first year of new generations are never very good. Games will look better as time goes on.

Yup. It happens every generation for every console. As time passes and developers learn the ins and outs of an console the graphics will improve.

 

[nbnt]

Is those pics supposed to show the difference? Honestly, I really don't see a generational leap anywhere in those pics.

You don't see a difference between this

and this?

And we're only 5 months into this gen. And the above is an open world game made by a 100ish-man team.

 

[MormaPope]

I agree with this aspect...except for maybe Titanfall which is kinda of next gen gameplay but yea...for the most part, the games feel like last gen games with a makeover.

I'm hoping watch dogs provides not only dat next gen graphics (i know, debatable) but dat next gen gameplay too (but "Oh teh nooooes! it's an ubi world game!" some will say).

I'll just say this, if Infamous Second Son is similar to past Infamous games gameplay wise, and its a current gen only title, how will Watch Dogs end up? As its cross gen title.

 

[Eusis]

There's a reason I think calling this "current gen" is completely daft and why I actually prefer using last gen and next gen while shelving current gen as a term I'd use for now though personally recognizing it for "last gen" still. It's still going through growing pains, it has yet to more than a handful of titles AT BEST that can truly be considered true showpieces for the generation (at worst, just a lot of pretty games without anything really pushing limits that couldn't before outside of visual awe) and is really just immature all around. The only time you get good games close to launch is when they're either upgraded ports or can be developed quickly, and incidentally a lot of the better earlier games ARE either cross gen titles or indie titles that were developed pretty quickly.

I think this would be a more interesting statement for last gen, or at least the upcoming proper next gen games, and at any rate it's better to ask in another year once the libraries start to grow some. Even better in two years, because by that point last gen we had MW1, Bioshock, Rock Band, Halo 3, Uncharted, Super Mario Galaxy, and many more, and GTA4 was just about ready to hit.

 

[Novocaine]

The feeling that I'm jumping in on a new generation should be there day 1 in my opinion, not 6 years later.

Did you get the feeling you are basing what you should feel now off of the difference between PS2 to PS3 or Xbox to Xbox 360?

 

[Blablurn]

I hope PES Productions stun me with a beautiful Next Gen version of PES 2015. It must happen.

THE TIME IS NOW.

 

[Filipus]

Not even on PC you had a major leap, no idea why you would expect something impressive on consoles.

By major leap I mean MAJOR, so don't hate me, hate reality

 

[Brashnir]

Question: Do you own an 8th-gen handheld yet?

I don't think this topic is about handhelds, but yes, I own a 3DS.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

I'm impressed by The Order, Ryse, Quantum Break, and Second Son visually.

On the gameplay side? Meh. Still holding out hope for Quantum Break to do some cool stuff with the time powers though.

 

[Converse]

You're not crazy, OP. Since this is an enthusiast forum, lots of people want to justify their console purchases or they feel strongly identified by their respective consoles (I'm not saying that I'm immune), so they'll tell you that you're crazy or blind for not seeing the massive graphical leaps and bounds of the current-gen consoles.

But I'm right there with you. As an enthusiast, I can see the difference, and I think all three current-gen consoles are putting out lovely looking games. I don't think this gen "sucks" at all (I've been around for a while and I feel that nowadays we're absolutely saturated with content -- if you can't find good things to play, you're not looking very hard), but I do think the graphical difference between the current and previous gen is very incremental in comparison to the generational transitions of the past. As a gamer since the NES days, it's the smallest generational leap my eyes have seen, no contest.

 

[TDLink]

You're not wrong. There are an extremely small handful of games that seem interesting on the 3 current gen consoles. For the most part it's just more of the same of what we have been getting for the last 8 years. Hopefully more interesting games will be announced at E3.

Right now the only things I'm super super pumped about are like X/Smash/Bayo2 on Wii U and FF15/KH3/TLG on PS4 (if they ever come out).

Witcher 3 could be interesting but other than that it's all the same old Ass Creeds and CoDs and Batman etc.