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[Bradamante3D]

that is the Avatar of gaming, somehow super popular but shallow to the core. contrary to game critics tho, film critics don't get blinded by "presentation" and superfluous crap so Avatar never got that critical acclaim lol

Correct.

Half-Life 2, Marathon 2, Breath of the Wild, Dota 2 come to mind.

I might even consider Elite Dangerous, as strange as that may sound. However if the simulation aspect of video games is important as a criteria, I would bring games like ED, MS Flight Simulator or Cities:Skylines to the forefront.

 

[SkylineRKR]

Doom and Wolf weren't really suited for kids and they were only for PC which was usually fathers toy. I would say SMB or SM 64.

 

[Notabueno]

Why MW 2 over 1? what do you mean by ME Catalyst?

MW2 is MW1 refined, but the campaign is the by far the best of the whole franchise, the airport mission holy molly. Which make think of putting Battlefield 3 which is also the best of the franchise, made by the same creative director as Mirror's Edge in fact. ME Catalyst probably fails on the narrative, game structure and loop aspect, but it's a personal favorite so much the rest is perfect, that is if you like visual art/architecture, level design/landscape and immersion.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

Silent Hill 2.

 

[Plantoid]

Doom

 

[Deerock71]

Mario 64

That's kind of the one I'm leaning towards. Citizen Kane was really the first movie that demonstrated cinema was a director's medium, and showed us things that had never before been done on film. Mario 64 kind of did that with video games.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

SMW on SNES.

I've never been a big platformer fan and SMB on NES to me was a good game but nothing special. I'd rather play Blades of Steel or Contra. But SMW was fantastic. Among my most fav SNES games I played.

 

[DGrayson]

An "old" movie, revolutionary at the time, pioneers many film making techniques and story telling techniques which have become so common that watching it now you may not really understand what the big deal is. Brought movies from the past era into the modern era.

=

Super Mario Brothers NES

 

[22:22:22]

Halo CE

 

[Hendrick's]

Mario 64

 

[kurisu_1974]

Hydlide, introduced many mechanisms that would define RPG gaming to this day, was earlier than Zelda and Ys, and merged elements from difficult to play western and early Japanese adventure / role playing games.

Metal Gear, first real stealth adventure game, one of the first games with meta elements.

 

[SirTerry-T]

Mario 64...it built on the game mechanics that had been introduced earlier and then revolutionised them with the 3d camera. Changed the way games could be made.
There's certainly plenty of other titles that are worthy of consideration too, Elite (original 8-bit version), Dungeon Master, Westwood's Dune.
It's a question that can't really be answered fairly, I think...films are primarily a medium for storytelling where's as a game succeeds or fails (for the most part) on it's gameplay mechanics and systems.

 

[Clear]

I strongly suspect that most people aren't actually familiar with why Citizen Kane is so highly regarded, because its about a whole lot more than it just being a really good movie.

Read this article for a pretty decent summary of why its such a movie-geek favourite, although it really only scratches the surface because so much of the legend of CK is the legend of the man who made it. And if you do that then you need to look at Welles background with his Mercury group in theatre and on Radio.

As per usual its pretty difficult to apply the same values to any game or game-maker, so to be honest I'm really not sure that the comparison could ever be made. In the case of TLOU it was used to try and laud the game's success as a narrative work, but I'd argue that was really missing the point as the techniques used in that regard were far less radical and varied than CK compared to other movies of its time.

 

[OldBoyGamer]

Not sure the question is truly relevant tbh. Films and video games are different at the foundational level in that one is interactive and one is not. Yes there is crossover, but the majority of that crossover is in video game cut scenes, which are… not interactive.

If we ask the same questions for other mediums what are the answers?

What’s the citizen Kane of.. books? Comic books? Songs? Poetry?

The answer appears to be there isn’t one. The reason is possibly because CK set a precedent in the way a movie was filmed - the techniques used to make a movie. Camera angles, lighting, mood, etc.

Games don’t work that way because video games are made up of a collection of systems and mechanics. And each game is relatively unique - even in the same genre, systems and mechanics will be different. The one thing that doesn’t change… are non interactive cut scenes of course.

So whilst I have some sympathy for games like Mario, Doom, Wolfenstein and OOT having a massive impact on everything that followed, even games in the same genre had completely different systems and mechanics leading to different gameplay. GTA uses a similar camera and control system to Mario64 but I don’t think they play similarly. Doom uses a similar camera and control to Portal, but I don’t think they play similar.

And you can fuck right off with TLOU. :/

 

[OldBoyGamer]

I strongly suspect that most people aren't actually familiar with why Citizen Kane is so highly regarded, because its about a whole lot more than it just being a really good movie.

Read this article for a pretty decent summary of why its such a movie-geek favourite, although it really only scratches the surface because so much of the legend of CK is the legend of the man who made it. And if you do that then you need to look at Welles background with his Mercury group in theatre and on Radio.

As per usual its pretty difficult to apply the same values to any game or game-maker, so to be honest I'm really not sure that the comparison could ever be made. In the case of TLOU it was used to try and laud the game's success as a narrative work, but I'd argue that was really missing the point as the techniques used in that regard were far less radical and varied than CK compared to other movies of its time.

Thanks for the link. Interesting article.

 

[Spaceman292]

Old and boring and overrated? Ocarina of time

 

[TintoConCasera]

Straight up... The combat in The Last of Us Part II is completely and entirely unmatched.

I think you should play more games dude. Why do think the combat is so great? Because of the graphics, the details or something like that? I played the game and the combat was the most basic thing ever.

I dunno, if someone would ask me about games with great combat I would say God Hand, Sekiro, Furi... But not TLOU2.

 

[Vagswarm]

An "old" movie, revolutionary at the time, pioneers many film making techniques and story telling techniques which have become so common that watching it now you may not really understand what the big deal is. Brought movies from the past era into the modern era.

=

Super Mario Brothers NES

Super Mario Bros is the past era, for 2D side scrollers. Super Mario 64 is the modern 3D era with open gameplay and 360 degree views.

 

[adamsapple]

Pong, baybee !

 

[Fuz]

Why the fuck should there be a "Citizen Kane of gaming"?

 

[yurinka]

Citizen Knack

 

[deriks]

For videogames is kinda weird. Citizen Kane stablished some defaults for any movie ever. For gaming we have NES Mario for sidescrollers, we have Mario 64 for 3d platformers, we have Doom for first person shooters... and time passes by and we have new standards too, like BotW that said "you have a whole world to see, but you also can defeat the main guy in the first 10 minutes"

 

[drganon]

Bubsy 3D

 

[MayauMiao]

Quake

 

[vito_don_corleone_]

I don't think people understand what Citizen Kane was for cinema. It wasn't important only for its camera work and clever technics. It was the fact it was a transition from films being a compilation of infantile, fun gags (Chaplin, Marx Brothers) into great storytelling.
It's funny that people here use Mario as games' Citizen Kane. Mario is exactly what masses still think all video games are: infantile entertainment for little kids...

 

[Fuz]

HEY GUYS WHAT IS THE CITIZEN KANE OF BOOKS?

 

[Vagswarm]

HEY GUYS WHAT IS THE CITIZEN KANE OF BOOKS?

Ask a reading forum.

 

[Deerock71]

I don't think people understand what Citizen Kane was for cinema. It wasn't important only for its camera work and clever technics. It was the fact it was a transition from films being a compilation of infantile, fun gags (Chaplin, Marx Brothers) into great storytelling.
It's funny that people here use Mario as games' Citizen Kane. Mario is exactly what masses still think all video games are: infantile entertainment for little kids...

That's a you problem.

 

[Amiga]

Gaming is still an evolving medium, many games contributed to it. Mario 64 figured out 3D. RE4 figured out over the shoulder TPS. Doom and Wolfenstein established FPS. Halo made FPS work on a console. Diablo figured out action RPGs. Old P&C games integrated storytelling. games like Flashback and Out of this World blended the story with the gameplay. Half-Life did that for FPS. SF2 gave us combos. DMC gave us combos in a 3D action game. Metroid gave us the connected world. Metal Gear Solid made deep storytelling fundamental to any kind of games(most non RPGs before it just shallow stories). Wii Sports (yes) made motion controls viable. Alex gave us a full gaming experience in VR.

many other games were inspiring templates for doing things well together even if they didn't pioneer something specific, games like Shadow of the Colossus, Journey, GOW(PS2) and many others.

big and small steps are still happening in games.

 

[Huevos de Oro]

Is Citizen Kane the Dark Souls of movies?

 

[Gp1]

 

[Cock of War]

Inside

 

[Jeeves]

While the question itself is kind of silly, I think most of us can tell pretty easily what it's asking.

An "old" movie, revolutionary at the time, pioneers many film making techniques and story telling techniques which have become so common that watching it now you may not really understand what the big deal is. Brought movies from the past era into the modern era.

=

Super Mario Brothers NES

This. I think this is an instance where the answer is so obvious that many are overlooking it, probably by overthinking it.

We could just as well be asking "What's the Super Mario Bros. of movies?" (don't say the Mario movie you cheeky SOBs)

Mario 64 is arguably an acceptable answer too...lightning struck twice for that franchise.

 

[blacktout]

I don't think people understand what Citizen Kane was for cinema. It wasn't important only for its camera work and clever technics. It was the fact it was a transition from films being a compilation of infantile, fun gags (Chaplin, Marx Brothers) into great storytelling.
It's funny that people here use Mario as games' Citizen Kane. Mario is exactly what masses still think all video games are: infantile entertainment for little kids...

I generally try to be pretty restrained with how I express my opinions on here, but this post is just outrageously wrong.

First of all, Citizen Kane didn't in any way mark the transition from gags to mature storytelling you mention. Many early films, including those from the silent era, were far more than "gag compilations" and included fully fleshed out narratives, dealing with mature subject matter. M was released in 1931, a full decade before Citizen Kane. Metropolis was released in 1927! Citizen Kane actually is remembered for its technical innovation and achievement, as others have said, and for its general high quality, not because it invented serious film-making or was somehow the first film to show that movies could be art.

Also, you're seriously understating the importance of Chaplin and other great silent film comedians (like Buster Keaton) if you think their films were "infantile" or mere gag reels.

And, of course, you're dead fucking wrong about Mario.

 

[manfestival]

Huniepop

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

I didn't ask who came first, but rather why is it supposed to be more influential? it's not about having a feature set, it's about spreading the idea. Wolfenstein was big and influenced plenty, Doom was gigantic and influenced everyone.

Couldn't one argue that Wolfenstein inspired Doom and thereby is the more influential of the two?

Wolfenstein kind of got the ball rolling right? Doom may have given the ball a push but it's creation is what had the most impact.

 

[Dr. Claus]

The Last of Us: Part II

And im in no way joking.

It is, by far, the most mature game in terms of subject matter, themes, writing, how certain things/characters are handled, willingness to do certain things, etc in a AAA game. Not even close.

Zero discussion on core game mechanics. Zero discussion on how the story elevates anything. Its the same tired "It just is! Look at how MATURE it is! Look at how good the WRITING is!" with no critical thought. No extensive discussion.

I swear you TLOU2 zealots are the most thickheaded on GAF.

 

[existensmaximum]

Super Mario Bros on the NES is the obvious answer to me.

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

Orcarina of time. I think people here are misunderstanding what citizen Kane did for film.

 

[Trilobit]

So Citizen Kane came out 1941, about 50 years after the first fictional movies saw the light. So if we count 50 years from Nintendo's Donkey Kong released in 1981("widely considered the first game that had a story that players could see unfold on the screen") we arrive at the 30s. So we still have some time before a Citizen Game has to be crowned.

 

[Bragr]

Couldn't one argue that Wolfenstein inspired Doom and thereby is the more influential of the two?

Wolfenstein kind of got the ball rolling right? Doom may have given the ball a push but it's creation is what had the most impact.

Have you played Catacombs? it was the game Wolfenstein was built from, and Carmack's first 3D FPS game. But Catacombs didn't have the same impact, even though it's the true grandfather of FPS.

It's a rabbit hole, every game is inspired by something. I try to pinpoint the one game that spread the most and a game that game devs actually cite. Doom is cited a lot more than Wolfenstein. Doom was one of the reasons why Valve came to be because Gabe Newell was obsessed with Doom.

 

[SleepySlippy]

Kane & Lynch is the nearest I can think of.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Again I'll leave this here.

Straight up... The combat in The Last of Us Part II is completely and entirely unmatched.

Already discussed how the combat shits on everything else. This thread isn't about gameplay.

-

God Hand shits on TLOU2. Wanna know why? Because that game is actually fun, inventive and took risks with it's camera and control scheme in order to offer something new and different.

TLOU2 just is just a walkie-talkie, run of the mill game, one that doesn't invent anything new when it comes to gameplay, and one that takes itself too seriously to even begin being fun.

 

[Represent.]

God Hand shits on TLOU2. Wanna know why? Because that game is actually fun, inventive and took risks with it's camera and control scheme in order to offer something new and different.

TLOU2 just is just a walkie-talkie, run of the mill game, one that doesn't invent anything new when it comes to gameplay, and one that takes itself too seriously to even begin being fun.

TLOU 2 is extremely fun.

Its the most intense and visceral hand to hand combat i've ever seen in a game point blank. Thats where it innovates.

 

[Deerock71]

Orcarina of time. I think people here are misunderstanding what citizen Kane did for film.

I appreciate this, but it wasn't the first like Citizen Kane was. One could say Miyamoto learned from Mario 64 himself when making Zelda, so Zelda would be more like...well, any other movie Orson Welles made after Citizen Kane that benefited from what he learned.

 

[OldBoyGamer]

I generally try to be pretty restrained with how I express my opinions on here, but this post is just outrageously wrong.

First of all, Citizen Kane didn't in any way mark the transition from gags to mature storytelling you mention. Many early films, including those from the silent era, were far more than "gag compilations" and included fully fleshed out narratives, dealing with mature subject matter. M was released in 1931, a full decade before Citizen Kane. Metropolis was released in 1927! Citizen Kane actually is remembered for its technical innovation and achievement, as others have said, and for its general high quality, not because it invented serious film-making or was somehow the first film to show that movies could be art.

Also, you're seriously understating the importance of Chaplin and other great silent film comedians (like Buster Keaton) if you think their films were "infantile" or mere gag reels.

And, of course, you're dead fucking wrong about Mario.

What a great shout with Charlie Chaplin. We’re talking genius level performer.

 

[rofif]

Half-Life 2

 

[jufonuk]

I'll give you 3 very special Citizen Kane gaming titles. I'm sure you can even find them in black and white like Citizen Kane...
Tetris
Pong
Pac-man

Space invaders also ?

Super Mario bros 3 because it helped to create Doom in a round about way.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Star Citizen Kane

8 years of whaling for a product that will never have a retail build.

 

[IAmNotFromDelaware]

This is closer to the "The Room" of video games.