Maybe you don't mind the effects in the game. Maybe you find Final Fantasy XIV's dramatic spotlight for weaponskills or the constant beams crossing in Star Trek Online more obnoxious. Whatever the context, there are doubtlessly games in which you feel there's a bit too much going on in the midst of a battle. So what game do you feel goes overboard with effects when you want something just a bit more straightforward?
The Daily Grind: What games go overboard with effects?
Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous
38
It's not that I don't love City of Heroes, don't get me wrong. And it's not that I don't love the flashy and unique animations that every powerset gets to show off. But when you get in a full group of people exploding with various powers, the whole screen turns into a sustained burst of white light grouped around a red box that's probably your target. It's kind of overkill at best, and it makes it near impossible to see what's going on at worst.
Maybe you don't mind the effects in the game. Maybe you find Final Fantasy XIV's dramatic spotlight for weaponskills or the constant beams crossing in Star Trek Online more obnoxious. Whatever the context, there are doubtlessly games in which you feel there's a bit too much going on in the midst of a battle. So what game do you feel goes overboard with effects when you want something just a bit more straightforward?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Maybe you don't mind the effects in the game. Maybe you find Final Fantasy XIV's dramatic spotlight for weaponskills or the constant beams crossing in Star Trek Online more obnoxious. Whatever the context, there are doubtlessly games in which you feel there's a bit too much going on in the midst of a battle. So what game do you feel goes overboard with effects when you want something just a bit more straightforward?
Reader Comments (38)
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 8:06AM Ziltod said
I'd say that Everquest II is on par with CoH with eye damage. ^^
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 12:20PM Brendan Drain said
@Ziltod Agreed! In EverQuest II I routinely lost my mouse pointer with all the shiny flashy things happening all over the screen.
Reply
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 8:24AM Dumac said
Yes, i thought of CoH when i saw the title. Don't think many other games can compare.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 8:52AM Dagget said
Anarchy Online can seriously blind you when a raid is going on - indoor missions with a full team especially.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 8:56AM Wisdomandlore said
From SoA well into Moria, Loremasters had several annoying skills that would turn the entire screen a blinding white.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 9:03AM johnnliu said
Actually outdoor raids in RIFT were pretty crazy at launch, since everybody and their dog is throwing something on the boss. On my PC at the time I had to return to the "stare at the floor / BWL strategy".
A graphics patch was put in later that allows you to limit the effects to just your own (and the bosses') abilities, which made it nicer.
A graphics patch was put in later that allows you to limit the effects to just your own (and the bosses') abilities, which made it nicer.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 9:09AM Balraw said
Rift, when you have a couple or three full raids going after a final stage invasion boss it can get a bit much especially if you are a melee right at ground zero. Fortunately there is an option to hide other players hit effects which makes things a little clearer.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 9:31AM Dirktooth said
EQ II got my top list. I remember doing tanking and got blinded by the healing effects.
CoH is the next in list. So colorful that i cant tell the difference between red and yellow. Ice tank here.
Anarchy Online is one fun MMO. Though their effects were done with particle systems, it have a very graceful fall off after the casting. I really miss the buffing of my Lv198 Keeper.
Rift seems bearable. But does get messy when in PvP and/or rifting.
CoH is the next in list. So colorful that i cant tell the difference between red and yellow. Ice tank here.
Anarchy Online is one fun MMO. Though their effects were done with particle systems, it have a very graceful fall off after the casting. I really miss the buffing of my Lv198 Keeper.
Rift seems bearable. But does get messy when in PvP and/or rifting.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 9:59AM Zax19 said
I'm afraid Guild Wars 2 will be a bit too shiny so hopefully we will be able to tame it down a bit, although I like the Harry Potter 5 style shadow clouds :).
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 10:43AM Dumac said
@Zax19
Yeah, from what we've seen the effects seem to be pretty elaborate which could get messy during events. As far as toning down goes i would really like it if you could turn down the intensity of effects and/or prioritize your own, over completely turning them off. There is at least one game that has that feature, although i can't remember which... but i KNOW i saw that somewhere.
Reply
Yeah, from what we've seen the effects seem to be pretty elaborate which could get messy during events. As far as toning down goes i would really like it if you could turn down the intensity of effects and/or prioritize your own, over completely turning them off. There is at least one game that has that feature, although i can't remember which... but i KNOW i saw that somewhere.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 10:01AM Channel84 said
cabal online
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 10:03AM mael said
EqII is top on my list not only for effects but fighting on your mount and having a little pets on your side everyone has something following you , good thing you can turn those thing off now .
Ao is kinda weird with all the disco lights but bearable .
Ao is kinda weird with all the disco lights but bearable .
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 10:07AM alzeer said
i love those effects & the flashier the better
especially if was done by a boss
especially if was done by a boss
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 10:10AM (Unverified) said
A lot of times the amazing amount of effects is due to them catering to one crowd: the 'ooo shiny!' ADHD crowd.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 10:16AM nevin said
EQ2's were a bit ott but I loved them. They used to really add to the impact of the spell.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 11:02AM (Unverified) said
!000% in disagreement, as I'm sure most of us are.
No offense Massively, but is THIS really whats considered viable columns at the end of 2011???
You take away One Shots and now we have tHIS??????????????
Please, wake up
No offense Massively, but is THIS really whats considered viable columns at the end of 2011???
You take away One Shots and now we have tHIS??????????????
Please, wake up
Posted: Oct 23rd 2011 1:41PM MajorPorpoise said
@(Unverified)
Have you never seen a Daily Grind article? This is what they usually are; easy, casual questions that are fun to talk about.
Also, I'm going to hedge my bets here and say you probably never contributed to One Shots.
Please, wake up.
Reply
Have you never seen a Daily Grind article? This is what they usually are; easy, casual questions that are fun to talk about.
Also, I'm going to hedge my bets here and say you probably never contributed to One Shots.
Please, wake up.
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