Secret Identity Games

[Kuya Cocoy]

This has always been a peeve of mine, how game creators haven't quite tapped into this game mechanic as much as I would like. Picture going from ordinary to extraordinary, at will AND vice versa, and each form has to be used for particular gameplay sections (preferably in free roam.) And they can have an instant stealth game by making sure the change happens out of sight.

Or maybe have the weak guy be the "strong-guy-with-less-health" or the strong guy be "weak-guy-who's-just-charged-up." And this will be shown of course, with visual cues ala costumes.

Wouldn't that be the ultimate immersive experience (at this technological time?) Because the weak identity would be as realistic as can be (thereby relatable) IN THE GAME, but you can also turn into superman IN GAME, thereby also giving you a sense of "changing into" "that guy" yep, IN GAME. Boy do I crave this ability so bad..

I've got a couple of games that come to mind and play when I long for secret identity gaming.. Viewtiful Joe is awesome in this front, even the cheesy Henshin-a-go-go line is welcomed by me. Power rangers for SNES have players be the humans first before they morph into Rangers. I think the GBA version of Danny Phantom has Danny charge his ghost powers faster by becoming human.. that could work..

OK, I only got fired up on this recently when I played Megaman ZX for the first time today. Like.. whoa, I can "turn" into Megaman? And then choose to be plain clothes at will? Ingame?

I just feel they can easily add even that ability in games to change character skin for a loading moment, and that would make me so happy and give superhero games authenticity. But they don't. Opportunities like this for Spider-man, Superman or Batman should be there (well, maybe for that Sega Megadrive game for spiderman) but are not. Don't you want this in your games?

What other games can you think of (for me?) that has secret/dual identity gaming? Different people swap don't count, and cheating for skins is so bothersome.

So, am I a little crazy for wanting this too much? ;p

[Flatpicker]

I could see this being an element in a GTA style superhero game.
Imagine being Spidey one moment and Peter the next to take pics of the carnage for the bugle?

[Bingley Joe]

At first I thought you were talking about this: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Secret_Identity)

http://www.galacticfed.com/msi/images/photo8.jpg

Which would be weird.. but awesome.



I think I like your idea better though ;)

[Disgustipated]

Sounds like a valid want, and not too crazy.

[Baron Samedi]

There's always Dead Rising - doesn't exactly change the gameplay, but at least you can play Barbie :D

[TrackZero]

At first I thought you were talking about this: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Secret_Identity)

http://www.galacticfed.com/msi/images/photo8.jpg

Which would be weird.. but awesome.


Heh, so did I. It'd be cheap to get Jerry in the game, it's not like he's doing much work these days.

[frederec]

Ever place Crystalis? An old Zelda-style NES game. At one point you get this spell that allows you to change your appearance into these several other forms. Generally just used in certain places (like getting into the Amazon-woman type village), but it was kinda fun making yourself look like different people then seeing how townspeople respond to you.

[cppcrusader]

Well, the trick here is to actually come up with compelling gameplay for the secret identities. Take the superhero games for example. The main reason people play these is because they want to play as those heroes. Not to mention the fact that its the stuff they do in their super persona that makes them interesting to play.

The only one, as far as I know, that's even come close to doing anything with the secret identity was the Spider-man games. Even that only consisted of changing out of the costume before accepting a Bugle assignment, changing back into costume to do the assignment, and then changing back out of costume to turn in the assignment.

The only one that I could feasibly see something being done with is Batman. He has a past history of using either Bruce Wayne or another disguise to get information.

[Deadend]

I think being Peter Parker would be great for a new Spider-man game. As you could have dialog scenes as Peter trying to get various girls, or income to pay for an appartment.

Oblivion let you do it kinda when you got the Grey Fox mask. Assassins Creed could have used a disguise function to blend into crowds, as Altair is visually distinct.

Hitman had disguises.

But no one has done the whole secret identity. Hulk : The Movie game had Banner stages, that were stealth, but sucked, and didn't make sense.

The hardest part of doing a secret identity is making the player be willing to use it.

[Kuya Cocoy]

The hardest part of doing a secret identity is making the player be willing to use it.

And there's the rub, huh?

That's why i think free roam feel is essential, the normal character can blend in with other normals like himself, be the explorer/recon, eat sleep, just do GTA/sim stuff etc. I mean, Peter Parker CAN'T afford to be Spider-man all day unless the people he rescues actually pay him, right? Doesn't that take away from the immersion a bit?

Now that I think of it, Persona 3 is another dual identity type game, where you're a student by day and demon hunter at night. And yes, it did add to the immersion of the game!

For example, If Altair can change his clothes, wouldn't that add a change of pace from being a Templar? Give his uniform stat bonuses so he HAS to use it, but also give freedom to just mingle, then add gameplay when players do that, is that too hard? Then maybe the complaint about its repetitiveness wouldn't be as pronounced.

I realize there are no current superhero games to make this thread current.. But I was just so enamored by Megaman ZX so maybe if there are any developers reading this.. Here you go, free idea. You're welcome. :p

[Xerxes]

Heh, so did I. It'd be cheap to get Jerry in the game, it's not like he's doing much work these days.

Hell, if it was good, I'd be game. I use to love that show. Spray can for power ups.

[LionEyez]

Sounds a bit like the Ben 10 game.

[Delenda]

This has always been a peeve of mine, how game creators haven't quite tapped into this game mechanic as much as I would like. Picture going from ordinary to extraordinary, at will AND vice versa, and each form has to be used for particular gameplay sections (preferably in free roam.) And they can have an instant stealth game by making sure the change happens out of sight.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines almost had it. You had to stay 'normal' as you wandered about the city, using your conversation skills to get missions and rewards. Then when you were out of sight you could turn on the vampire super speed/strength/magic/etc. and go crazy. Or just feed on alley hobos.

[pseudopseudo]

The thing that instantly springs to mind for me is an Incredible Hulk game.

Has there been a *decent* game at all that actually balances the two personas, or have they all been "HULK SMASH!"-action games? If someone could make a game that balances say, puzzle-solving as Bruce and the actual fighting stuff as the Hulk? And there'd have to be a point where you'd actually *prefer* to be Banner in parts.

Just a random thought.