Here you post a theme or genre, or whatever, and say a popular example of it done wrong in your opinion, and then your opinion on something that got it right. This could be for anything, movies, games, ect.
Zombie Apocalypse/Survival Horror
Who got it wrong: Left 4 Dead
My main problems for Left 4 Dead in this category is that there is rather forced team work, the stuff like getting pinned or hanging off a ledge is stuff that the player on the couch could have gotten themselves out of in real life (it does not help that most of the pinned animations are merely you flailing your arms about rather then trying to free yourself). Even when swarmed it is not that urgent, after all you can pretty much come out unscathed with a melee weapon. Now don't get me wrong, the game is fun with other people but can get tedious over time.
Who got it right: Dead Space
In Dead Space the atmosphere sucks you right in, and it has you "alone" most of the time as you fight your way through hordes of necromorphs. The best part? Even though you are alone, the necromorphs are far more dangerous, even the special necromorphs, and at least when they pin you down Isaac can do something useful, get himself out of the shit he gets into. I also love the plot so much more (it is my favorite TPS, this includes TPS story too).
Sci-fi Series
Who got it wrong: Star Trek
What I don't like about this classic is how it seems to shove one view down your throat, to the point of predictability. Specifically it will shove a enlightened perspective in your face and write both that and various other positions as facts. On top of that, whenever there is a problem it is always "Quick everyone! Let us unite and use science to save the day!" and that is what everyone does, learning a nice and good family friendly moral at the end. The problem is that this is too unrealistic, science in real life can't always save the day. The show does have some cool episodes and high points I admit, but as a whole I would prefer the option I listed below.
Who got it right: Babylon 5
Now here is what I would consider Sci-fi series at it's best. Sure the start may have been a little shacky, but it us worth continuing to watch. This series knows that science is cool and can be important, but can't always save the day. In fact, this show was willing to twist stereotypes and sometimes outright ignore them, replacing them with what it wanted. Even better, the good guys don't always win, and when they lose it is not in the Star Trek "we lost but learned an important family friendly lesson", when the good guys lose here, they lose Big Time, and sometimes the moral is anything but family friendly, yet it is quite true none the less. Perhaps best of all, this show will not only show the enlightenment side, but also the romantic, on top of that both sides are presented as sympathetic and it leaves it up to the audience to determine which side is right (as opposed to Star Trek's "The protagonists are always correct and you should uphold their beliefs, rather then those who oppose them as their beliefs are stupid).
What about you guys?
Subject: Who you think got it wrong, then who got it right 
Thu May 03, 2012 9:55 pm
