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1/6/2013 8:38:06 PM
27
Having to read the books to understand the game is a bad idea.
I say this because gamers should not be forced to read into the universe so that the game makes sense. There's nothing wrong with extended universe and lore, or setting up the next game, or hinting towards the next game.
But having answers that can only be answered in either sequels or books is just a cheap move to make gamers buy the next game and/or the books. For example...
1. I think not explaining Ancient Humanity in the games at all (except for showing them roflstomping Forerunners/ getting roflstomped by Forerunner) was a bad idea. There should have been FAR more information on them, IMO. While I've read the books, I can't help but think "nearly ALL of my friends aren't going to have a clue, and if they don't understand, the won't have fun and will probably get rid of the game."
2. The Didact. The gloriously hideous [url=http://http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=skyrim+orc&num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1024&bih=679&tbm=isch&tbnid=6dqY8lKjovqAcM:&imgrefurl=http://preorderskyrim.wordpress.com/pictures/skyrim-orc/&docid=_d7ze79EHsiuKM&imgurl=http://preorderskyrim.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/skyrim-orc.jpg%253Fw%253D900&w=900&h=506&ei=gt_pUIrDIq2b1AWz6oDwAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=253&vpy=141&dur=151&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=152&ty=80&sig=103714314942789368058&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=239&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:94]albino Orc[/url] is by far my new favorite character, both in the games and in the books.
But not telling the gamers ANYTHING about him is pretty crappy. Sure, he's a main character in the Forerunner Saga books, but for those who haven't read the books... He's really a kind of nobody. Besides hints as such in the terminals, it's never said that he's the leader of the Forerunner military, that he is one of the most powerful Forerunners around, and all that.
Gamers should not be forced to read the books. As we know, not everybody reads books for entertainment. I do, and I've clearly benefited over those who don't. I don't feel that this is fair. There should be some kind of large information in the game that offers similar information, and hints towards the Forerunner Saga books.
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I can agree completely with the basic idea you are putting forth, OP. That a game shouldn't need additional media, like books, to understand it's story. I just don't think any of what you are saying applies to Halo 4. If you played the previous Halo games and even made an attempt to read the Terminals, you have some idea of who the Didact and Librarian are as well as what their roles are. It is not spelled out for you, no, but there is enough information there for you to have an idea of what their jobs as Forerunner were. Even without that, Halo 4's plot makes plenty of sense on it's own. If you want the details, then you have an interest in the backstory, or the full story in other words. For that, they have books, comics, and other media that give you what you crave, more story, and answer many of the questions you have as well. As many said, an FPS cannot present all that material within the game itself without taking away from the action, the essence of the game. No modern FPS does it, and I doubt any ever will. There are plenty of other games that blend this and RPG elements pretty well, such as Bioshock and Fallout someone mentioned. But those games are far from being the same type of creature or a fast-paced competitive multiplayer shooter.
