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Is Metroid Prime the Citizen Kane of videogames?
I'm not sure what I'd say if someone asked me which game is to videogaming what Citizen Kane is to film. For starters, I'm not even into Citizen Kane. I don't think it holds up. It's a movie for critics and film students. When it comes to ancient film from the olden days, I'll take a crowd-pleaser like Casablanca any day of the week.
But I'd probably just pick Bioshock.
It's such a loaded question, particularly when it's asked by a broadcast news agency doing some sort of high-falutin' webcast dealie hosted by Charlie "Do you support the Bush Doctrine?" Gibson. I can say for sure that I wouldn't pick the Metroid Prime trilogy, which is exactly what Michael Thomsen from IGN did. I'd also try not to look like I just rolled out of bed and I'd try to broker some sort of peace agreement between the stripes on my tie and the stripes on my shirt.
Thomsen makes a good case in that he has his reasons. But it sounds to me like he's reading a lot into Metroid Prime based on how much he likes it rather than how much is actually there. Which is perhaps what I would do with Bioshock. And perhaps what critics and film students do with Citizen Kane. So well played, Mr. Thomsen.
(Thanks 1up.)
By KeysE2S at 11:52 AM ON 10/07/09
Yes, but who is the Yngwie Malmsteen of game designers?
By Zeus at 1:53 PM ON 10/07/09
Citizen Kane is overrated. Typically, it's referenced *because* it's the "Citizen Kane of cinema" (so to speak), rather than because anyone actually watched and enjoyed it.
When it comes to debates about iconic cinema, I usually argue that Terminator 2 is every bit as essential as Citizen Kane. Critics can keep their rosebud; the world would be a dreary place without storm drain chase scenes, "Hasta la vista, Baby" and weirdly-jogging quicksilver cops.
By sbjamo at 6:52 PM ON 10/07/09
I'd say it is a faulty question in and of itself. Citizen Cane was not "the citizen cane" of cinema until like 40 years of reputation building and industry maturing, not to mention its garnering of vast critical hype.
Asking the citizen cane of video games now is like asking the same question of the film industry fifty years ago, right as it was coming into itself artistically.
Ask that question in 10 to 20 years to a group of experts and then, maybe, we'll have something. I'd say it's too early now, especially given the rapid evolution of gaming as a storytelling medium.
By OmegaChervil at 4:58 AM ON 10/08/09
I'm going to come out ahead and call Red Faction: Guerilla the Citizen Kane of games. Enjoyable, filled with new, ambitious technology that could totally change the medium if properly utilized which will be ignored for decades most likely and unbearably paced considering what's going on in it. Oh, also, not a huge commercial success upon its initial release (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=23735) but something of a critical darling. I expect Volition to collectively take solace in food and cocaine until they burn out at an early age, just to round out the parallels.
By Troy Goodfellow at 11:04 AM ON 10/08/09
I should know better than to argue movies with you, but I think Kane holds up fine. It's not as good a movie as Casablanca (for a number of reasons) but I do think it's more than a curio or LandMark Movie.
When people say "Citizen Kane" of gaming, though, what do they even mean? CK was important for a number of reasons. It was not only a good movie; it changed how movies were shot and made.
Bioshock works as a great story and a great game. For the other stuff, Doom would be the CK of gaming.
By budgethero at 11:10 AM ON 10/08/09
we all have our favorite game/game series. and do we like talking about them, oh yeah. but does any ONE person have the right to call a game the Citizen Kane or Gone with the Wind of gaming? i thought that was something we all decided and majority rules through word of mouth.
By Justin Fletcher at 2:14 PM ON 10/08/09
Bioshock might be a good choice, at least in terms of similar amounts of backlash. I think the myth of Kane has supplanted the movie of Kane, so that everyone either has to think its the best thing ever or the hyped up pretensions of a cinematic amateur. I happen to think it's both.
Troy's right in that the impact was eventually felt in the way movies are made and the "language" they used to tell their stories. For that reason, the first game that springs to mind is Half-Life and its interweaving of narrative and gameplay.
But, yeah, the question is kind of silly. You might as well ask when the Citizen Kane of pizza will be made.
By Troy Goodfellow at 2:16 PM ON 10/08/09
The Citizen Kane of pizza has double pepperoni.
By OmegaChervil at 4:13 AM ON 10/10/09
Troy, I couldn't disagree more. Clearly it's made with mashed potatoes in place of sauce and, perhaps chives as well.
One day society will appreciate its brilliance.
OmegaChervil:
Troy, I couldn't disagree more. Clearly it's made with mashed potatoes in place of sauce and, perhaps chives as we...More »