I find it fascinating when games illustrate the passage of time through the aging of the characters. It enhances realism and makes the journey feel more significant. Fable and The Witcher 3 are excellent examples where your character changes physically as the story progresses, from subtle hair and body transformations to more drastic changes over extended gameplay. This feature suggests a deeper immersion without the hassle of managing mundane tasks like sleeping or eating. So what are your views on this gaming element?
7 Answers
While I love the concept, it did sometimes take me out of the game when my character was aging, yet everyone else around them seemed untouched by time. It feels surreal rescuing someone who looks younger than you when they should be significantly older.
Peter Molyneux often over-promised features for his games, yet, despite not meeting all expectations, the Fable series managed to surprise and delight us with its nuanced features like aging. Even with some broken promises, the creativity behind such systems makes me hopeful for more innovation in future games.
The realistic touches like aging and character scars in Fable really made the world diverse and immersive, although it certainly led to peculiar narrative outcomes. More developers should look to blend similar details into their environments.
I adored how Fable incorporated aging! You could technically finish the game at 18 if you were strategic with resources like the Temple of Avo. The subtle changes in your character’s appearance, including scars, based on your experiences, added depth to the game. I wish more games would embrace such immersive features.
The aging system in Fable was intriguing but a bit flawed. It was tied more to skill advancement than in-game time, which resulted in scenarios where you ended up older than people who should be peers. Nevertheless, it contributed a lot to the immersion and was quite innovative for its time.
Ezio’s progression in AC2 was done beautifully, showing the passing years in his appearance. It’s these changes that make games feel like a movie you’re part of, living and experiencing transitions alongside the character.
I’ve always been interested in how character development is portrayed through aging in games. In Assassin’s Creed 2, Ezio grows from a teenage boy to a seasoned man, which adds to the narrative greatly. It’s a nice touch, grounding the player into the character’s journey over time.
His ambition was always welcomed, even if it didn’t always translate. That willingness to push the envelope kept things interesting at Lionhead.