Interactive Cut Scenes

I’ve found that in the gaming world there is often a disparity between those who love cut scenes and those who are appalled by them. Those gamers that have an inherent hate for cut scenes often make a mad scramble for the skip button the moment a cinematic sequence begins. With a few exceptions cut scenes are an integral part of story immersion, thus in a franchised game developers seem to favor the use of cut scenes throughout the gameplay experience.

Some games have attempted to make a compromise to the gamer by incorporating cut scenes that require participation on the player’s behalf. This compromise often fails to satisfy either gamer that takes one stance or another in regards to cut scenes. The interactive cut scene does little to contribute to the narrative aspect of the story and as for its gameplay aspect it is generally reduced to the timing of pushing a couple button. I generally appreciate cut scenes and rarely skip them as I find myself usually invested with the story and not just the gameplay itself. One exception I have found to this and the purpose of this discussion derives from a recent replaying of Resident Evil 5. Here is the scenario: the cut scene begins in an open dirt courtyard and suddenly a trio of dirt bike driving Uroboros infected humans start riding in circles around me, I have to pull the triggers on my controller to dodge, push A once for some inane action, couple of Paul W.S. Anderson action shots later and the cut scene is over and I’m feeling incredibly empty.