240°

Why are there no good Bible games?

VGW's Chris Totten: Several months ago there was a quiet buzz about a Bible-based MMO that would be released online. Based in the time of Abraham, the game featured Age of Empires-style building and resource management. While novel in concept, the game received below-average reviews. While it is still active and seems to have attracted some attention, it is far from a mainstream success. This, unfortunately, is considered to be one of the higher quality pieces in the relatively small library of games based on Biblical stories and imagery. We have games like Assassin’s Creed where killing (admittedly crooked) clergy is encouraged, but there are very few successful games where religious figures are examined by allowing players to experience their stories. Bible games, such as those created for the NES by Wisdom Tree, have traditionally been pretty awful, but does it have to be that way?

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Convas4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

I've wondered that too. There are so many epic, violent, passionate stories in the Bible that you could have a hayday if you were actually serious.

For instance, Ehud, assassinated King Eglon (Can't remember where, probably in Judges) by cloaking his dagger on his left cloak side instead of his right because palace guards always searched the right.

Eglon was so fat that when Ehud knifed him, the knife DISAPPEARED into his fat and the wound started bleeding fat and fecal matter. Assassin's Creed a la Bible anyone?

People say the Bible is fantasy, and whilst I don't believe that, video games are almost ALWAYS about fantasies. So using my powers of logic and reason, I see no reason why we don't have more Bible based video games.

LOGICWINS4754d ago

Agreed. The Bible has some of the most awesome stories out there...even though most of it is probably exagerrated B.S.

captain-obvious4754d ago

religion in general is a very VERY sensitive subject
SO no known / popular studio is insane enough to do it

let alone players just want to have fun not learn about religion when they play games

i mean thats why schools and books for

LOGICWINS4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

Well, I think Assassin's Creed 2 did a GREAT job of educating/entertaining gamers with a great plot that had action adventure blended with the corrupt history of Italy. After I played the game, I actually looked up info on the Borgias..VERY interesting stuff.

I feel that you CAN enjoy a game as well as learn from it.

LOGICWINS4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

"So why do people buy into this shit?"

Thats the question that I've asked myself for while. Its hard to explain why a seemingly logical person can believe in ressurections and magic powers. Its probably the same reason Hitler got millions of people to believe that Jews were an inferior race and why blacks were viewed by the majority of the country as subservient to the white race at a point in time:

Weak minded people.

the_kutaragi_baka4754d ago

Can you prove that? Do you have anything that would support the idea for the existance of magic powers?

Bible is not an answer.

theonlylolking4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

@logic wins
You probably would have gotten mostly agrees if you only said"The Bible has some of the most awesome stories out there."

@logic wins other post below
"women however could be stoned to death simply if they had sex outside of their marriage." That was jewish law back then.

@arjman
Catholics would make a HUGE crusade(not as bad as the one hundreds of years ago)

On topic
There are no good bible games because there are not any good devs actually making them. Most of the time it is these games that involve answering questions. If you had a game that you could play the events like the wars in the bible that would be fun.

It also would probably be rated M or A because a bible video game would have blood, gore, intense violence,strong sexual content, suggestive thems, nudity, simulated gambling, violent references, and strong language.

Esena4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

@Logic
"most of it is probably exagerrated B.S."

Ughh, I am glad everyone on N4G is a theologian. Tell me, how much time have you actually spent researching, reading, laboring over these things? Or did you just hear it from somewhere and are just reiterating stuff you personally have no experience with?

If so, then you are the one with the weak mind. You arrogant moron. So quick to judge a group of people that would eat you alive in any scholarly debate.

@the_kutaragi_baka

From where did you get your Phd? Stop reading conspiracy non-sense books and actually do some research. The top non-believing scholars affirm the accuracy of Scripture and the truth of its history. Seriously, if you aren't trained in these issues, you shouldn't comment. You all (those who claim to be experts on this) sound extremely stupid.

If you guys are the future of the opposition of Christianity, the need for apologetics will quickly dissipate.

Edit: @LOGIC I apologize for calling you an arrogant moron.

afterMoth4754d ago

The bible is home to some of the best fictional writers in history. I'm not sure most of it holds up today but still it would be fun to have croissants (aka manna) falling from the sky to refuel your energy.

I'd love to have to puzzle solve and figure out how to get out of the cave on time to be able enjoy easter. Rapidly tap the a and b button fast enough to be able to run on water (need a rapid controller probably). Catch all those fish with Kinect. Some QTE's for the Adam and Eve scene ;

ProjectVulcan4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

Live by the 7.62mm multi barrel heavy machine gun however and everyone else dies but you :-)

Lesson endeth

Redrum0594754d ago

@Esena well said, well said. ppl act like theyre historians now a days.

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Cardenjs4754d ago

Too many factors to ruin it: if you glorify the violence of the Bible then you get backlash, Then you have the historical accuracy which is very different compared to the "common knowledge" idea of everything (like the catholics always portraying Jesus as white).

You'll have pastors telling people (the exact group youd target) not to buy the game.

There simply is no winning.

LOGICWINS4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

"You'll have pastors telling people (the exact group youd target) not to buy the game."

Who cares? Fox News won't stop me from buying Mass Effect and Medal of Honor games...why would I listen to a pastor?

Cardenjs4754d ago

You do understand that most churchgoers will do whatever their pastor says.

But for the Fox News thing they essentially says "SEX, THIS GAME HAS IT, so thats why you sho_*click*" and thats how that plan backfires.

LOGICWINS4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

I have many friends that go to church and STILL play violent videogames, drink, smoke weed, and watch porn. The reality is that MOST people go to church because thats what they feel is expected of them. If people TRULY wanted to live according to the letter of the Bible, then MOST parents wouldn't want their children to use condoms..since condoms stop the flow of semen, hence wasting God's gift of a possible child.

Also, according to the Bible, men could have as many wives as they wanted...women however could be stoned to death simply if they had sex outside of their marriage.

Does that sound like a world you would want to live in? A world where half of its inhabitants have STDs and women are treated in such an unfair way?

FlameBaitGod4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

Just because you go to church doesn't mean ur a catholic, christian, mormon and etc.

"Also, according to the Bible, men could have as many wives as they wanted"

You really need to know about things b4 you talk about them. Tell me, which bible says that ? Google it up fast

"If people TRULY wanted to live according to the letter of the Bible, then MOST parents wouldn't want their children to use condoms..since condoms stop the flow of semen, hence wasting God's gift of a possible child"

lol you really don't know what your talking about.

Non_sequitur4754d ago

@ Logic
You use the Bible as an authority for your argument but it is clear you haven't read anything about the subject matter that you brought up.
There were never any laws written that promoted polygamy in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was tolerated until Jesus made the first law against the practice in the Greek scriptures. Punishment for adultery was as harsh for both men and women. An unmarried woman who had sex with an unmarried man had to marry the man she had sex with. With respect to condoms, nothing is written against them because they didn't exist. That is a matter of conscience.

TheDivine4753d ago

UM im no einstien here but if people only had sex in marriage there would be no stds. The bible isnt magic iether its a historical account that even islam and jews confirm the only difference is christians believe christ was truly sent by God. For a guy w logic is his name ur not too bright or logical. What if ur wrong about this? What then?

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Ahasverus4754d ago

I doesn't matter if they portray fantastic or realistic stories, either of both have great potential, it's something the medium hasn't explroed yet.
Of course there is El-Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron an that's a great first step. it's a (apocrypha) biblical story adapted in a exciting new way (and of course it looks amazing). Can't wait.

MariaHelFutura4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

I don`t think people would like a game about molesting children.

But, seriously it blows my mind how uneducated people are about what their involved in. Gaming has more to do w/ my belief systems than Christians (Crysis, Deus Ex, MGS, ElderScrolls, LBP, DMC, ME, GOW and countless others). Technology is the future, they couldn`t kill us all. Great book though, epecially after you read books that pre-date it.

Esena4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

Stop having so much faith in technology... I thought faith was for weak-minded people... O wait...

WhiteLight4754d ago

People believe what they want to believe, I'm christian and I believe in the christian bible because of previous experiences, one can only talk about what they know and not about what they think they know. I don't judge anyone, people who judge others and think they know the real truth are the really weak minded people

Esena4754d ago

Did you just make a judgment on a group of people by calling them weak minded? Yeah? I thought so...

MariaHelFutura4754d ago

That's pretty ironic considering how many millions of people christianity has killed to serve it's purpose. Burning people, throwing them off cliffs. For having a different belief system. The more technology grows christianity is dying and it deserves it. They couldn't kill all of us and you can't fight the future. Good luck.

WhiteLight4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

Hey, everything in the bible is happening(the one I'm reading at my church, many diff bibles out there) so... and it said technology would take over so yeah :/. Btw your watching way to many movies & videos of people who say are Christians and are not and making a stereo type. You see few cops doing wrong things and then you think every cop is like that

Esena4754d ago

@MariaHelFutura

WhiteLight is right... Don't generalize Christianity to be something some misguided Christians did in the past. That is a logical fallacy in regards to any generalization.

MariaHelFutura4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

kar·ma/ˈkärmə/Noun
1. (in Hinduism and Buddhism) The sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.
2. Destiny or fate, following as effect from cause.

Like I said....Good Luck.

Esena4754d ago

I also wish you good luck...

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dragonyght4754d ago

no studio in their right now days will touch that subject unless they want to be crucify all the way to sunday

Ahasverus4754d ago

I think AC saying Jesus did his miracles with a golden apple was pretty hardcore and yet they are selling milions :P

dragonyght4754d ago

making a reference is different than a actual Bible game

Ahasverus4754d ago

Wow, what a very well written article! I want the purposed King David game right now >.<

Uncharted3Goty4754d ago (Edited 4754d ago )

the reason i think they dont make any more of these kind of games based on it is because if it isnt a good game it could start a problem and maybe they cant find the right People to make it.

what i basicly mean is what

( arjman just said )

Simco8764754d ago

Darksiders got close with the Four horsemen.

Alot of ideas came from the Bible, but the game doesn't state "Bible Game"

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Ranking Every God of War Game From Worst to Best

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JL2930190d ago

Both requels over 2 and 3? Clowns. Those are two of the most boring games I've ever played.

Snookies12190d ago

GoW 3 was amazing, but I personally hated just one thing. (This is on me alone, because I was dumb, lol.) I hated that you couldn't skip cutscenes on repeat playthroughs. I had to go back through the game a third time because I missed one trophy accidentally on my way to the platinum... The cutscenes were great the first go round, even the second... But the third was pretty agonizing.

Haven't played Ragnarok, but I still think GoW 4 is a wonderful game in its own right. Not sure how I would stack them up against each other honestly.

Monstieur190d ago (Edited 190d ago )

I don't consider the reboot part of the original series. The original series were high-skill games with combos and rewards for mixing things up.

solideagle189d ago

lol square, square and triangle is the only combo you needed. I have played all of them on the hardest difficulties...

Golfcoachh190d ago

Maybe I’m just old school but I just couldn’t get into the last two. Maybe it’s the slower action and more story telling but the original trilogy was by far my favorite.

Crows90190d ago

It's not that youre old school. They're different genres

JL2930189d ago (Edited 189d ago )

Me either, at all. It's just yap yap yap. They try to be a RPG's instead of being action games like they used to be.

Fluke_Skywalker190d ago

I'd put the two psp games over 3 in terms of story any day. But not over 2.

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TheEnigma313190d ago (Edited 190d ago )

My favorite was part 2 and I think Ragnarok is better that 2018.

Shane Kim190d ago

The newer games are better imo.

ravens52190d ago

There is no worst. Except for Ascension, only cause I didn't play it lol. They are all masterpieces. 1,2,3, 2018 and Ragnarok. 1 of, if not the greatest video game franchise...besides MetalGear.

Snookies12190d ago

Oh wow, I actually forgot that Ascension even existed... I never played it either.

Crows90190d ago

I like ascension. It was different and some interesting combat additions.

darthv72190d ago

If you didnt play it, how could you call it the worst? Its not as bad as the media portrayed it. Honestly the worst are those flash games. they arent even considered true GoW games but in name only. At least Ascension is a real GoW game.

ravens52189d ago

Not saying it's a terrible game. Just mean it's at the bottom of my list. I played a little bit of it. Jus to me, compared to the other main games, it's last.

Fluke_Skywalker190d ago

Ascension is the only GOW game I never finished. Hated it.

Inverno190d ago

Can't agree, older games do so much more than the last two. More weapons, magic abilities, enemies are more varied, level design is also more aesthetically pleasing, and agree with those who say that they shouldn't have removed jumping. Was a time I'd agree, but those old games are so so much better, that they really should've looked into bringing into the reboot/sequels.

Crows90190d ago (Edited 190d ago )

If a game is good then a game is good. Doesn't matter what came before or what comes after.

Inverno190d ago

Of course it matters. If not for what what came before there wouldn't be an after. And if something is great before then you strive to make it just as good if not better, after. I personally don't think there's a fair way to judge the new with the old because the newer games are still essentially a reboot, and went a way different direction. But I still believe the old games did it better. I'm probably bias though since I've been going back to old games and have been finding that they lack all the annoying aspects that devs have shoehorned into new games to fluff out game time.

Crows90189d ago

@Inverno

Im not talking about the passage of time here. Im talking about individual pieces of software. If a game is good then it is good. Thats not a controversial statement. You can compare good with good...sure. But you still end up with good. Now if there is a bad game in the mix and you compare you do end up with some differentials between them...makes sense to compare and see where it went wrong.

But theyre different genres and styles which were individually executed very well.

And no. The new games are not a reboot. Theyre a new direction but simply a continuation.
Tomb raider was a reboot.

Inverno189d ago

The new games are definitely a reboot, and a continuation, it can be both which it is. And a good game might be good, but my point is that if there are things done better before it then there's plenty of room for critiquing and trying to make whatever comes after better rather than just good.

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170°

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purple101351d ago

Haha I still remember my brother playing the opening scene on ps3!!!

Yeh he had to put the controller down his heart was beating too fast trying to get past first 10 minutes. He said "it's too much". Best thing I've ever seen in gaming. Haha

robtion351d ago

A great game from an era before things went politically correct and gaming turned serious/'mature'.

It certainly wasn't concerned about upsetting or offending anyone and was more fun because of it.

The boss battles and set pieces still top most games released today.

SullysCigar351d ago

This game was absurdly good for it's time. The very definition of 'epic'.

robtion351d ago

Yes. The graphics were just ridiculous compared to most other games on the market at the time.

masterfox351d ago

I wished Ascension had the same treatment.

Heavenly King351d ago

Ascension SP had some things better than GOW3, and also some things worst than GOW3. But in general it was a really good game, for me it also deserves a REMASTER. The problem per se with the game is that most people were satisfied on how GOWIII ended, so Kratos got his revenge, so in order to rise the interest in the game how have to make it MORE EPIC is that the game did not had the epicness of fighting huge bosses (I guess due to technical difficulties,the game had actually a lot more colors (because the world is not dying like in GOWIII) so it is graphically more demanding that is my guess), but it compensated with having in general a more complex combat system, and an amazing soundtrack. but in general the game needed to be more epic than GOWIII somehow, and that did not happened, after GOWIII people had expectations through the roof. They should have waited and release it for PS4 so the vision of the game is not compromised.

My list of good and bad compared to GOWIII

GOOD: THE COMBAT
The combat was more elaborated, which allows you to be more immersed in the fights. Also every enemy was more resistant, even those that you could usually kill in 2-3 attacks in previous games. THE LAST BOSS is so damn epic!!!, but there is only one moment like this in the whole game.

GOOD: LESS QTEs
I love the fact that "cicle" in the new enemies (killing animations) are not QTEs, in Ascension they are mini-games on their own, depending on the enemy, making it more engaging. You had to dodge and hit when the window was open in order to eventually do the killing blow.

GOOD: The Soundtrack
it has the orginal trilogy musics, but with a new perspective since the game had a new composer. The ST was amazing also the new music written specifically for this game were badass

GOOD: The puzzles actually require you to think.

BAD: There are bad camera angles during the game, like zooming way too out of vista, and then swarming you with "light units" that like I said before had better AI and did not die of 2 attacks. those parts a few, but are a mess.

BAD: EMPTY ARENAS
Other thing that really annoyed me is that when you fight a sub-boss/heavy unit in a big arena; that ARENA WAS EMPTY, it was just you and against the medusa, or against the manticore. They should have zoom in into the action to avoid noticing the void scenario. I guess emptiness was because of the game having a lot more colors (because the world is not dying like in GOWIII) so it is graphically more demanding. My guess is that it was not possible technically, since in most of those cases you had huge vistas or intricate scenarios that needed to be rendered. The fact that the cerberus is smaller in this game disappointed me.

BAD: Only one BADASS EPIC moment, the others moments of the game were great but, they needed to set the bar even higher than GOWIII and they failed miserably.

BAD: The graphics did not improved much. I was GOWIII with more colors, and that's it.

So 4 good things against 4 bad ones. The problem is those 2 last BAD aspects are actually why the game was received so poorly. Everyone expects the next game to have a really BIG improvement in all aspects in contrast to the previous one, and that was not the case in ascension. And also GOW is the definition of EPIC, and that was not there neither. The jump on every aspect from GOWI to GOWII was huge being on the same console, and the jump from GOWII to GOWIII was humongous (obviously because a more powerful console). While the jump from GOWIII to Ascension is too little, and people expected more.

On it's own is a good game; but is not sufficient when GOWIII was released before it.

CrimsonWing69351d ago

I know this is unpopular opinion, but I prefer these over the new ones. I’m not saying the new ones are bad or anything, but they sort of get boring to me, whereas the older games were like non-stop roller coaster rides.

ChiefofLoliPolice351d ago

I love the new ones but I understand what you mean. The older ones had more action and was more arcady like.

MIDGETonSTILTS17351d ago

Ragnarok was not BIG at all… GoW1 had larger set pieces, and it was on ps2.

GoW 2018 had big moments in its own way…. Ragnarok abandoned these aspects though

robtion351d ago

I agree. It was just less serious and more fun.

victorMaje351d ago

One of my all time favourites.

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