The Difficulty with Linearity | Mini-Read
52The Difficulty with Linearity - why are linear games kept in the naughty corner of large parts of the industry? This video examines how—and if—fictional time plays a larger role in linear games compared to more open-ended ones, and why that can be a problem. It would seem that a more open-ended structure lets the player be part of what decides what, when, and how something happens, but the question is whether that's a good thing or if linear games simply more noticeably betray failures of dealing with time in fiction. We look at a bunch of different games, and how they deal with the rather abstract concept of time.
Mini-Read is a short-form series of games criticism published every other Thursday. Alongside it, I publish long-form criticism on a when-it's-ready basis.
Games featured in this video (in order of appearance):
Final Fantasy XII
Ms. Pac-Man
Half-Life
Mafia 2
Final Fantasy XV
Mafia 3
Half-Life 2: Episode 2
The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (arguably)
Music Used (in order of appearance):
Final Fantasy XII - Clash of Swords
Final Fantasy XII - Golmore Jungle
Half-Life 2 - You're Not Supposed to Be Here
Half-Life 2: Episode 2 - Eon Trap
Final Fantasy XII - Lowtown
Critical Composer - Control (feat...Ludocriticism?)
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A very special thanks to
Micah Edmonds https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3NW8WwJL7Z6qGG5sFXAGNw
Select Screen https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkLjoa6wwCZp87ktZBAt_xQ
for recording additional narration.
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Noah Gervais' video on Mafia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lestiMZ4qk&t=3673s
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