We continue our exploration of the techniques
Uncharted 2 uses to help create the wonderful
pacing that it has.
This time we will talk about contrast.
Let’s take a look at our chart from the
second video.
In the middle section we have pretty much
non-stop action that keeps getting more and
more intense, culminating in the famous train
ride levels.
After them, though, we pretty rapidly drop
down to the calmest chapter of the entire
game.
You can’t even jump there, you don’t fight,
you just walk around, greet people, play with
children and pet yaks.
This is contrast, and it is very important
for player engagement.
People get used to things, that’s just the
way we are.
And so they wouldn’t, you switch things
up.
Keep in mind though that contrast is not just
about variety, which we have discussed in
one of previous videos.
Contrast is about changing things in the opposite
direction.
This is why a whole sequence of ever increasing
action is followed up by a chapter of absolutely
no action at all.
And that is the most efficient way to achieve
contrast: by drastically changing intensity
and the predominant type of actions.
That being said, this is not the only way.
You can also achieve contrast by changing
the approach to the actions.
For example, in this section closer to the
end, you predominantly do only combat.
However, in these 3 chapters, you are not
in control of what’s happening and always
have to scramble and adapt to survive.
But in the following two missions, most of
the time you keep control of the situation
and how the engagement will go.
That said, while this type of contrast is
enough to keep players engaged, it might not
necessarily be as memorable as the type discussed
before.
One last important note about contrast is
that you can’t do it too often.
If you do, players just won’t be able to
get a proper taste of any kind of gameplay.
So, you first keep players engaged by varying
things up within a certain context, and then
continue engaging them by switching the context
through contrast, and repeat after a certain
time.
With this, we conclude our exploration of
Uncharted 2’s pacing, and what makes it
so good.
I hope you have enjoyed the series as much
as I have enjoyed making it.
I’m sure there are many details that these
videos might not necessarily cover, so if
you want, let’s discuss them in the comment
section.
A special thank you goes to my patrons for
supporting my channel, that really means a
lot.
If you’d like, feel free to support my campaign
at patreon.com/farlands.
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Thank you very much!
