July 31, 2007 -
In 2006, Roger Ebert, one of the world's most prolific and well-known film critics, wrote that videogames could not be considered art. It's not that the medium - still less than 50 years old - is too young, Ebert argued. Rather, he said, videogames' nature, their very raison d'etre, prevents them from ever being elevated to a higher status than that of pastime.
Since Ebert's gaming gauntlet was heaved onto the Internet, videogame enthusiasts the world over have begged to differ - some politely, others not so much. In response to the backlash, Ebert has since clarified his position, writing on his blog this month that he should have been more specific. It's not that videogames are not capable of being art…of a sort. What he meant was that "games could not be high art, as I understand it," he said.
Thanks for the clarification, Rog. But we here at IGN aren't about to let you off the hook that easily.
Rather than refute his arguments point-by-point (games aren't linear enough, their plots are often formulaic, etc.) we decided to cite specific examples of games that deserve to be considered art. Why? Because we love lists, and so do you.
So if we could sit down with Ebert and show him just 10 games with high artistic merit, here are the ones we'd choose:
Publisher: Delphine
Developer: Delphine
Platforms: SEGA Genesis, Super Nintendo, PC, 3DO
Year Originally Published: 1990
When it arrived on the adventure game scene back in 1990, Out of This World boasted some of the most realistic character animations ever witnessed. The game did such a marvelous job of engrossing the player in this alien world we almost didn't want to find our way home. Along the way we encountered friends that, while not human, had humanistic qualities that endeared us to them. And the music is a sparse, barren soundscape dotted with audio punctuations -- the perfect complement to this uninviting new reality.
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo 64
Year Published: 1998
Widely considered to be one of the best videogames ever made, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has it all: an immersive world, an emotional and engrossing narrative, great music and a beautifully constructed world. Is Ocarina a game? Definitely. But it's also something much more. Much like the individual dots of a pointillist painting blend to form a beautiful work of impressionist art, Ocarina is a living, breathing realm built from countless lines of lovingly-written computer code.
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Platform: PlayStation 2
Year Published: 2001
With its dizzying array of characters, plot threads and killer robots, the Metal Gear series probably won't win any awards for narrative construction. But what the series lacks in story arc it more than makes up for in style and statement. Some games on this list are like paintings (Okami). Others are like multimedia museum installations (Electroplankton). But the series in general, and Metal Gear Solid 2 in particular, is most like film - a dark, gritty film full of betrayal, loss and hard choices. With its cinematic cut-scenes and score (written by film composer Harry Gregson-Williams), the difference between Metal Gear Solid 2 and art is purely semantic.
Publisher: LucasArts
Developer: LucasArts
Platform: PC
Year Published: 1998
There hasn't been another videogame with the unique artistic vision of Grim Fandango before or since its release nine years ago. Cult-favorite Tim Schafer's adventure game delivers a hilarious, mature storyline set in a universe where everyday is Dia de los Muertos. The ingenious character design and clever visuals make sure everyone you encounter is unique and individual -- even though it's a world of skeletons. A mix of jazz and traditional Mexican music makes for one of the most standout soundtracks in videogaming.
Publisher: Sony
Developer: SCEI
Platform: PS2
Year Originally Published: 2005
Ebert is right in his assertion that many videogames boast derivative plot lines, characters, and gameplay mechanics. That's why Shadow of the Colossus stands out as something truly unique. Beautiful, epic, compelling -- everything that makes for great literature and cinema can be found here. We haven't been this heartbroken over a horse since Artax sank into the Swamps of Sadness. And each Colossus is a majestic, breathtaking sight. Declaring videogames can never be considered "high art" is an insult to all the artists and artistry that went into this game.