VIDEO: Who says QTEs have to suck?

Matt Hawkins Contributing Writer, Video Games

You know, Quick Time Events? Those moments in games in which you’re watching 30 minutes worth of cut scenes, and then all of a sudden it decides to get all “interactive” on you by prompting a random button press? Yeah, those.

For the most part, they are kinda lame. It’s like that lady pal of yours, who realizes she’s being boring as hell, and decides to see how on your toes you actually are. But at least one game has gotten it right, and it’s Ace Combat: Assault Horizon…

Unfortunately, I don’t know what happens if you fail to hit the button. And as GameSetWatch explains, the Breakfast Club music was something added by Giant Bomb. In actually, it’s some crap rap song. Oh well.

But yeah, the game (as noted once already) is incredible! Been playing it all week. Had plans on reviewing it, and despite being quite a ways into it, I have to wonder if I’ll actually beat the game. So I’ll just re-iterate previous points: instead of just flying around and aiming at little dots on the screen, it brings all the dog fighting front and center.

It, along with all the helicopter segments, is basically the part of Modern Warfare that I actually like: all the heavy artillery and overall atmosphere. But without the stuff I don’t, i.e. the running around on foot and actual first person shooting, all distilled and made into its own game. The fact that it takes place in the real world, and has recognizable countries and weapons, is another definite bonus. I know that change has pissed off long-time fans of the series (who were also fuming to hear about the addition of choppers), but whatever. I care about America, not Gracemeria, or wherever the hell the original games took place.

And again, dogfight mode is where it’s act. It’s really impossible to really describe the thrill of getting close enough and hitting the appropriate buttons so the camera zooms in for the kill. But also being mindful of someone being on your ass, trying to do the same. Though the best part is being able to concentrate on the enemy and not worrying about slamming into a mountain side. Again, the fans have cried out against such “hand-holding”, but I think the success of the game thus far has been loud and clear; whatever it takes to make a game fun and easy to play is for the best.

Anyhow, back to QTEs, they’ve been around for quite a while, dating back to Dragon’s Lair, though the term itself is from the Sega classic Shenmue. For those unfamiliar with that game, it basically involved looking for sailors. A lot.

And here’s a far more recent example, from Spider-Man: Shattered Dimension…

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