Do you remember when you could carry more than two weapons in a shooter? It used to be highly entertaining switching between a huge arsenal of weapons, giving you a variety of ways to dispatch enemies and opposing players. It also meant you didn’t really have to worry if you ran out of ammo for one of your guns, you normally had seven or eight others you could switch to.
There was the minor issue in this system that’s it wasn’t really all that realistic. You could maybe imagine a huge battle hardened soldier carrying a huge array of weaponry as he battles the alien hordes, but having Lara Croft somehow pack the contents of a small armoury into her tiny backpack never really made all that much sense. I was never even sure how she managed to fit a shotgun in there, let alone all the other weapons and inventory items she used to carry.
This has gone the way of the Dodo in a lot of games, shooters in particular just give you a primary and secondary weapon. It can be a little disappointing, but not only does it make sense from a storage point of view it makes the control far easier. If all you have to do is hit a single button to toggle weapons it’s far easier than scrolling through a huge list trying to find something that has ammo.
Of course bagspace (that’s right, infinite storage in bags has an actual name) still exists in a lot of games, RPGs in particular. Whilst you don’t have completely infinite space, you do seem to have way more than is practical to carry. Some of the costumes in Final Fantasy are fairly skimpy, where are they even putting it? At least Lara Croft had a backpack.
Which way would you prefer games to go? Do you prefer having pretty much unlimited storage, or is it easier to just toggle between a limited selection of items? Is it harder to manage a big inventory or to decide which two weapons you should be carrying?
theturtleking
It definitely depends on the type of game you’re playing. For FPS games, the basic two weapons and some throwable objects are good enough, but for RPG’s I want to be able to carry loads of stuff without having a load of minions carrying it for me.
woodsy321
I disaggree on that one, RPG’s are all about choice, so creating some sort of limit makes it far more entertaining. I dont think you can beat the original resident evil setup. so many spaces, fill it how you want method..
woodsy321
I also know disagree only has one ‘g’. :(
lewis815
Depends on the game, Survival games like Dead Space are a good example of when it is good to limit the amount of items that a player can carry in game. It adds to the gameplay.
But then there are some games I feel would be much more enhanced by just allowing the player to enjoy the game properly. Imagine playing GTA with only being able to carry one gun and a knife?
I think many FPS could be improved by allowing the player to have a massive array of weapons at all times.
bunimomike
Top discussion, Kris.
This is where reality and fantasy clash badly. For me, it’s one of the “happy to have the game grounded in reality but don’t gimp the storage” moments whenever it comes up.
I suppose, also, a lot has to do with if there was a predecessor. The perfect example is Resistance1. Sure, the multitude of weapons took a bit of getting used to and the menu wasn’t perfect but by-buggery it was stunning to wade through. There aren’t many games I go back and play again and again but R1 was one of them. Knowing what was coming up and trying a completely loopy strategy just because I had this wonderful arsenal at hand. Then CRASH BOOM BANG, R2 throws everything out of the window and nails it all down. Obviously I got used to it but it left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. All of the way through the game.
In the RPG world I think you would’ve had the equivalent of a pack mule (in AD&D, if I recall – can’t quite remember which game) which highlighted the problem. Thankfully video games have just thought “Sod it. We don’t want to ruin the fun factor so let’s make sure they can carry a fair old whack” which to me, is perfect. Imagine picking up and dropping items every effing five minutes in the likes of Oblivion.
However, I believe Dragon Age Origins nailed it as there was a group inventory and then you made calculated choices as to what each group member wore, etc. Melee and ranged options to boot and that’s the perfect balance between fixed and flexible systems.
simplebob
Pretty sure it was Dungeon Siege that had pack mules, great idea until the donkey got stuck somewhere and killed and you’d not be able to carry any of the goodies it had been lugging. I tend to prefer unlimited inventories in RPGs. Yes its not realistic but its just so frustrating when you have to micro manage everything just so you can move (yes Oblivion, looking at you).
bunimomike
Casting fireballs isn’t realistic either but the makers don’t have a problem with that one. :-)
It’s fantasy and as long as the gaming experience is top notch then I’m happy. Sod the pack mules, sod the restrictions.
Nauraph
It really matters what kind of game you’re playing and what the whole setting is about.
Realistic games should have realistic storage.. as long as it doesn’t hinder the gameplay too much.
And the same story for the other way around.
Bodachi
I like to be able to physical see the character carrying the weapons they have. But then again I’d be dead in games like Fallout without all the weapons.
moshi
The more the merrier for me and Borderlands is a perfect example, think you could carry over 30+ weapons and somewhere to stash the other million guns you just cant get rid of even though you will never use them
Charmed_Fanatic
Love Borderlands for this! Keeps my ‘horde everything’ OCD in form!
carson321
I dont mind being restricted to a rifle and a handgun, but I did love Resistance 1 and going further back the likes of Turok on the 64 where you could pick the best weapon for the situation in front of you.
I think from a realism view point, Bad Company 2 sis a great job at only carrying a limited number of weapons but have the caches that had been parachuted in quite regular throughout a level that you could still chop and change to suit the situation with absolutely any gun you had found in the game to date
mark w.
2 small and 1 large weapon like in Just Cause 2 seems the best to me.
DrNate86
I never actually notice. I just take it for granted that I have the weapons I have. I prefer to have less weapons in 1st person shooters as it adds to the tactics, I find I usually only use a few weapons anyway when I have a big choice, and being able to carry less actually encourages me to use other weapons if my favourite isn’t available. In games like FF you usually only use the 1 weapon you have levelled up as well, so I think people will always pick a favourite and stick with it, regardless of how much choice they have.
XisTG
personally i don’t do well with a big arsenal, so i like when my weapons options are somewhat limited. like uncharted, for example.