Games didn’t always include a multiplayer component. There was a time when games were all about the singleplayer and there wasn’t any strange added on multiplayer mode that they tried to fit in the game’s universe. Sure, there have been games such as Enslaved, Heavy Rain and God of War III this year that prove that not all games need an online multiplayer component, but there’s no denying that they are trying to add multiplayer to every game these days; it’s now a big part of gaming.
Is it really needed in every other game, though? To be honest, there are just a few games that completely dominate online multiplayer, namely Call of Duty. So, why should other games join the party and try and destroy them with their all new online mode when people will just go back to playing their favourites and levelling up in them? More and more sequels of singleplayer only games are getting multiplayer tacked on. There’s not much aside from ridiculous multiplayer trophies to drive us to keep playing them either.
I’m not saying some games don’t do it well, because I’m sure they can if it has really been worked on, but most of the time it ends up feeling as if it’s just been thrown on to a brilliant game. Now, there’s no point in complaining if the game is brilliant, but if we’re just getting half the potential with the singleplayer, then I really don’t like this idea; particularly when I can’t actually play it.
It’s not going to be a surprise when I say that multiplayer isn’t a big part of gaming for me, not anymore. At least not the online component; I’ve already talked about local multiplayer and how awesome that is. The singleplayer portions have always been my favourite part of most games, so I’m glad I’ve not lost that. There have been a few good singleplayer games this year, thankfully; I’ve really enjoyed Heavy Rain, God of War III and Fallout: New Vegas.
Fallout is a great example; it’s a game that you can sink hours into, levelling up as you go, without worrying about your online connection working. RPGs and online multiplayer games are both a very different experience, but the point is that you can have a lot of fun with both. I’ve recently leaned towards buying games with a longer solo campaign, so I can get my money’s worth, but I also like shorter campaigns, as long as they are completely action packed and really fun.
I loved Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, the story is great and there’s so much in it considering it’s only been a year since Assassin’s Creed 2. In fact, I loved it so much that I decided that I would go for the Platinum trophy; then I noticed the multiplayer trophies. It might be fun to play online, I don’t know yet, but multiplayer trophies force you to grind through the levelling system if you want to get the Platinum; not everyone wants to play it, but a lot of people want to show they are good at the game by achieving a Platinum trophy.
I really enjoyed the singleplayer in Black Ops and I’ve definitely enjoyed it more than the little time I’ve had to spend with the multiplayer; this shows that games don’t just need online to survive, even if Call of Duty is heavily based on the multiplayer section. Some games don’t even have a singleplayer mode, such as MAG, Warhawk or Team Fortress 2. This is great as it means they usually shine and can even be as good as the dominating multiplayer games.
Personally, I don’t mind tacked-on multiplayer if it’s just an additional thing, rather than a big design focus, but I’d rather games that don’t suit multiplayer (Bioshock 2, I’m looking right at you) don’t have it. Perhaps BioShock isn’t a great example, as the multiplayer was developed separately, but I would like to think that developers can still release good singleplayer games without the need for an addition of multiplayer, particularly when it isn’t needed.
Disclaimer: I wrote this before I came home and was reconnected but I was too busy with Uni work to finish it off; you can read my thoughts on being ‘back’ soon.
Phil_E
Assassins Creed Brotherhood let me down in a way with the online trophies and the lack of a trophy for 100% sync. getting 100% was a lot harder than AC2 but I have no trophy to prove I’ve done it.
Got all the singleplayer trophies and only a few trophies to get online but one is reach level 50, get all coop bonuses in one game and get every single bonus at least once. I think I might manage the level 50 in time but the others! who knows?
iAvernus
Multiplayer should be sold on another disc for games that have a MP component to it. Some people just want SP while others just want MP.
PriceKitty
When I get a game that has both single-player and multiplayer modes, I play both.
Multiplayer more, because I’m a really competitive person.
Though I don’t rule out the single-player modes, because I like the stories they tell and I know it took some time and skill to make them, so I enjoy them.
Some games have stronger single-player modes than multiplayer and vice versa, but that doesn’t mean you should just completely ignore the good each mode has to offer. =]
ico
I always think that SP is kind of forgotten. I spent so much time on CoD MW 1 and 2 online that I feel I’ve wasted a bit of my (gaming) life and while I still do enjoy multiplayer it still frustrates me for various reasons – racism, homophobia, abuse and just often getting a can of whoopass well and truly opened upon me! It’s times like these then that I switch over to SP and again realise how much I’m missing. Currently loving Vanquish with a side order of Assassins Creed 2 (even though I thought AC 1 was bit tripe – but I’m not in the minority here). Personally I could take losing multiplayer altogether if need be. Also got Prince of Persia trilogy to play again. Long live singleplayer gaming!!!!
BigCheese
For me, it’s all about the single-player, the multiplayer is usually an after-thought. There are some exceptions though, Burnout Paradise, FIFA 11, Resistance, Battlefield and GTA IV.so a fair few exceptions, but still, games like Uncharted and Assassin’s Creed are good enough to thrive without an mulitplayer, it annoys me when they have it, actually. I don’t play Call of Duty becuase I got bored of CoD 4 online within two hours and the next three games have actually decreased in quality imo.
kevhardy
Perhaps its an age thing – Sadly I will reach a half century in April :-(
I love single player because you can lose yourself in the well crafted games (Ico, SotC, Uncharted, Heavy Rain, Enslaved). I always end up finding the multiplayer experience a little disappointing – my son plays CoD on XBox all the time but then he likes exchanging abuse with other players.
I have experienced a few magic moments in Killzone and Uncharted when a team of like-minded individuals have worked together and kicked-arse – but this is a rarety and I don’t have the spare time to devote to a clan.
Charmed_Fanatic
I enjoy both SP and MP, but if a game doesn’t need MP [bioshock, dead space] then i dont think it should have it, dead space 2 would have sold well without MP
mynameisblair
Aww, I’ll be your friend.