Worst camera ever in a 3D game?
#1
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,515
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Austin, Texas
Worst camera ever in a 3D game?
The other day I was discussing Kingdom Hearts with a friend of mine, and we were upset by the fact that the game is really a great game, but you are crippled by your two biggest enemies -- the camera and the controls.
Notably, the camera never seems to point where you need it, always seems to change position when you don't want it to (like in the middle of a jump), and often just zooms around crazily during battle.
Still, it's not the worst camera ever.
Devil May Cry had pretty bad camera angles, I particularly didn't like the static views given in many rooms, and often the camera wasn't where I needed it during boss fights. I got lost several times because I found it hard to figure out exactly what the rooms looked like, since the angles never panned and the views were usually 'artistic' rather than 'useful'.
Still, it's not the worst camera ever, at least it didn't actively try to kill you.
No, to that honor goes Castlevania 64. I actually gave up playing this game because of the camera. I've never seen a camera spin so often at such critical junctures in the game. And unlike Kingdom Hearts, it's not like you just get hit or end up running the wrong way or have to make your way back up four or five jumps -- oh no, you die. I was killed by the damn camera more times than I could count in that game. Not only that, it seemed to take a diabolical pride in killing you after you'd done a LOT of exploring and just before the next save point. If you didn't have a memory pack, playing this game bordered on masochistic.
So, what's your worst camera?
Notably, the camera never seems to point where you need it, always seems to change position when you don't want it to (like in the middle of a jump), and often just zooms around crazily during battle.
Still, it's not the worst camera ever.
Devil May Cry had pretty bad camera angles, I particularly didn't like the static views given in many rooms, and often the camera wasn't where I needed it during boss fights. I got lost several times because I found it hard to figure out exactly what the rooms looked like, since the angles never panned and the views were usually 'artistic' rather than 'useful'.
Still, it's not the worst camera ever, at least it didn't actively try to kill you.
No, to that honor goes Castlevania 64. I actually gave up playing this game because of the camera. I've never seen a camera spin so often at such critical junctures in the game. And unlike Kingdom Hearts, it's not like you just get hit or end up running the wrong way or have to make your way back up four or five jumps -- oh no, you die. I was killed by the damn camera more times than I could count in that game. Not only that, it seemed to take a diabolical pride in killing you after you'd done a LOT of exploring and just before the next save point. If you didn't have a memory pack, playing this game bordered on masochistic.
So, what's your worst camera?
#2
Yeah, I remember that damn Kingdom Hearts camera. It actually kept me from finishing that game because I couldn't take it anymore. Sad, because I liked what I saw of the game until I quit.
#3
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
I seriously doubt it's the "worst ever", but the camera in Tench 3 gave me fits. I could never figure out where to go next and was always bumping into bad guys because the camera was always too close to my back and I couldn't see anything in those inclosed spaces. I had some trouble with Hitman 2 also in that regards (but nowhere near as bad).
Kingdom Hearts wasn't great, but at least they allowed you to adjust the camera. Several games don't and that just drives me nuts sometimes.
Kingdom Hearts wasn't great, but at least they allowed you to adjust the camera. Several games don't and that just drives me nuts sometimes.
#8
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Taxachusetts
Devil May Cry wasn't that bad--some of the camera angles were pretty cool, but DMC2 was ridiculous. It was rare when you could see your character up close and even then they were usually off-center. If there is a third one I won't even consider playing it.
#9
Moderator
My vote goes for Genma Onimusha but that was the first one I played w/ a static camera and I just never got used to it. I'm also not liking the lack of control in the Two Towers but it's playable for now...
#10
DVD Talk Special Edition
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I didn't like the camera for Zelda: Wind Waker. The free camera mode allowed you to zoom in/out and pan around, but it didn't give you control over the Z-axis. That was a poor oversight IMO.
#11
DVD Talk Reviewer/ Admin
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 31,692
Received 2,796 Likes
on
1,859 Posts
From: Greenville, South Cackalack
Originally posted by goLUCKY
The camera in blinx is pretty bad.
The camera in blinx is pretty bad.
#12
DVD Talk Special Edition
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While I absolutely loved them, MediEvil and MediEvil 2 had some issues. The ship in the first one and the tower in the second had some serious camera shift problems during jumps that led to catastrophic results.
#13
DVD Talk Special Edition
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: NYC...no longer! Collegeville, PA
I thought Spiderman The Movie was pretty bad - in fact it was so bad I had to sell the game. The gameplay was alright, but I'd rather fight with the on-screen baddies than the camera controls the whole game.
Jeremy
Jeremy
#18
DVD Talk Godfather
Bomberman 64
#20
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Herdy Gerdy comes to mind; the camera would sometimes just spin around randomly for no reason whatsoever.
I consider the camera in Super Mario Sunshine to be almost like an extra mini-game. You can play for what seems like an eternity to get the camera lined up just right, and then have it bounce all over the place once you move. It may not have been the worst camera ever, but it was enough to get me to stop playing the game.
I consider the camera in Super Mario Sunshine to be almost like an extra mini-game. You can play for what seems like an eternity to get the camera lined up just right, and then have it bounce all over the place once you move. It may not have been the worst camera ever, but it was enough to get me to stop playing the game.
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,201
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Cincinnati, Ohio/Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
I am surprised no one has mentioned Blue Stinger for the Dreamcast. This camera was absolutely horrid but I did like the game enough to finish it.
#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally posted by spainlinx0
Yeah, I remember that damn Kingdom Hearts camera. It actually kept me from finishing that game because I couldn't take it anymore. Sad, because I liked what I saw of the game until I quit.
Yeah, I remember that damn Kingdom Hearts camera. It actually kept me from finishing that game because I couldn't take it anymore. Sad, because I liked what I saw of the game until I quit.
#24
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 5,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Export, PA
Blinx is crappy due to the fact that they are timed levels and the first few times you do a new level you have to adjust the cam all the time and learn how to move around without wasting your time on the cam.
Devil May Cry was pretty bad. I was going to try the second one but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
And DOAX is on my list as well. I really did enjoy this game but felt the cam reacted too slow. I needed it to be on my side of the net when te ball was and I guess that was too much to ask. A higher view or alternate cams would of worked for me but I wasn't so lucky.
Devil May Cry was pretty bad. I was going to try the second one but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
And DOAX is on my list as well. I really did enjoy this game but felt the cam reacted too slow. I needed it to be on my side of the net when te ball was and I guess that was too much to ask. A higher view or alternate cams would of worked for me but I wasn't so lucky.
Last edited by MasterofDVD; 08-04-03 at 08:38 AM.
#25
DVD Talk Special Edition
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And DOAX is on my list as well. I really did enjoy this game but felt the cam reacted too slow. I needed it to be on my side of the net when te ball was and I guess that was too much to ask. A higher view or alternate cams would of worked for me but I wasn't so lucky.




It was a fun time passer game but the camera just makes me wanna HULK SMASH it to pieces!!!!