Before I purchased my copy of Blur, I researched and read up on some reviews to see if it would pump me up / determine if the game was right for me. Sometimes reviews just make me sick to my stomach. Their complaints are illogical. What happened to the fine times known as the past? They're dead, that's what.
The reviews themselves aren't that bad, praising Blur for things that I agree with, and giving it decent scores. All in all they averaged an 8/10 for Blur in terms of scoring. However, there was one part of most of the reviews I read that made me really angry. It went a little something like this:
"Blur has a split-screen mode, but it is severely lacking. It doesn't have ranks from Online modes and isn't motivating. The lack of ranks makes local play bland really fast."
I'm sorry, what?
Do you honestly need ranks and even more ego-boosting variables to local multiplayer? I'm fine with ranks to boast about online to show off your skills, but when you play with friends right next to you, your reputation is already there, you don't need a number to show it. You don't need unlocks to completely tip the scale of balance in your favor, you don't need perks to give you that edge. When you play local, there's no need for any of that stuff. It's just all in good fun. Who needs stat-tracking and showboating in-game anyway? You have that when you play on the same screen.
This is just an example of how corrupted gamers are these days. Achievements and in-game awards become addicting motivators and take away from the actual perspective and opinion of the game they are playing. Reviews are even influenced by ranks and leaderboards. What's up with that?
I remember back in the day before achievements and ranks came by. Spending time playing Mario Kart 64 on the N64 or even Halo on Xbox. It was a hell of a good time, and along with the fun was a competitive feel. Comparing skill, showing that skill in-game, and having a laugh about it. It's good times, and they were definitely rolling. With games being drowned with Achievements, Trophies, in-game stat-tracking, etc., it's just been all about a competition. Where did the fun go?
I'm sorry Achievements, but we're through. I put up with your crap for the Little Rocket Man achievement in Half-Life 2: Episode 2, and I'm done with it all. It's making me play games in an irregular way, and it takes away from the enjoyment.
No, Gnome Chompsky. Just no.
The meta-game has become the game.
The good old days are dead and gone.
I agree that split-screen modes don't need achievements. But, achievements are a good thing. When done right, they make you explore the game from every angle. The Gnome in HL2 was hilarious and it took some skill to carry it with you the whole time. Getting the Gnome over the bridge took some clever thinking. And the parts where you had to rest the Gnome in the car as you drove were very memorable.
Blue Dragon is an example of very poor achievement design. I spent about 80 hours and ended up with 90 points. Something is wrong there.
I think that achievements make people play more of the game. I'll bet the percentage of finished games is at an all time high. Developers deserve to have their games finished. It may provide better feedback, too.
Edit:
I was just thinking...it would be cool if the achievements recognized multiple unlocks. Sort of like the way CoD has prestige. So, if you launched the Gnome a second time, you don't get any more points, but you get a 2nd unlock. A number "2" would appear next to the achievement.