Nowadays, many game designers and even gamers have the strong belief that cutscenes are unnecessary, and the future of games will be to “cut” cutscenes out of games entirely – especially non-interactive cutscenes. I have heard numerous times that non-interactive cutscenes take away from gameplay, and are not immersive enough for players when gameplay could be used instead. I have heard that these types of non-interactive cinematic experiences should be left for movies, since movies can create these kinds of experiences better than games can. In my opinion, this is a ridiculous idea. I have always loved great cutscenes, especially non-interactive ones, and here are some reasons why.
Kingdom Hearts 2
First of all, having non-interactive cutscenes does NOT mean that the gameplay will be bad in any way. Some gamers and game developers seem to think that cutscenes will take away from gameplay, but this is completely illogical. If gameplay is good, it will be good regardless of whatever else is added to the game. In addition, we don’t need to leave amazing cinematic experiences to movie makers, because cutscenes deserve their place in games. Just because movies are better at showing a full story in a cinematic way doesn’t mean that games can’t use cinematic cutscenes as a creative aid in telling the story of the game. Game developers should not limit themselves with rules of what does or does not belong in games if there are players that still enjoy these things.
Also, I would like to argue against the point that movies create non-interactive cinematic experiences far better than games ever could. I personally find that I get very drawn into non-interactive cutscenes in games because the gameplay of the game gets me very attached to the characters since I control the main character, and so I feel like I am personally interacting with all the characters rather than just watching them. This makes the story feel more personal, and so when cutscenes come along, I am more drawn into whatever happens than I am while watching a movie. In this way, the gameplay serves to set up the cutscene to have a greater emotional connection with the player through interactions with characters, so when the cutscene actually happens, it has the potential to be extremely moving. Now, I know that many players may not agree with me, but this is the greatest reason why I love cutscenes in games – I have far greater potential to fall in love with the characters through a game, so the cutscene, despite being non-interactive, has the potential to be far more moving than any movie.
Persona 4
Another reason why I love non-interactive cutscenes in games is because if the cutscene and story of the game are really good, they can feel like a reward after a big gameplay challenge, such as fighting a boss. I have always loved beating bosses in cutscene-heavy games not just because of the accomplishment involved in taken down a tough enemy, but because I know a cutscene is likely coming up which will advance the story – and I love being able to sit back and relax after a lot of difficult gameplay. If the cutscenes in the game are really well done, to me, they are the best way of showing a major story event. With that said, cutscenes should not be the only means of progressing the story. The story should progress through gameplay as well, or else the gameplay will not add anything to the cutscene to make it more effective. However, cutscenes are still great for showing really important or dramatic changes in story that gameplay just can’t accomplish as well. The non-interactivity of the cutscene is also important to me because if the cutscene is showing a really major plot event, in most cases, I do not want anything to distract me from what is happening. I would rather sit back and watch with my full attention rather than mess around and see how I can interact with what is happening.
Final Fantasy X
Lastly, fantastic cutscenes make a game far more memorable to me. I’m not just talking about beautiful graphics and sound, but actually showing great plot events and really dramatic or emotional moments in cutscenes can really get players to remember the game. A game with good gameplay but no amazing cutscenes will be fun for a while, but in many cases, I’ll eventually forget it. However, games with excellent cutscenes that show an amazing story (along with the gameplay, of course) can stay on the surface of my mind for weeks or even months. I have had games with great cutscenes showing pieces of even greater stories haunt my dreams after playing them, in the best way possible. These are often the games that I want to replay the most, because I want to experience them again. And with great cutscenes and a great story, a game truly is an “experience” rather than just a game.
In the end, cutscenes are not everything. A game developer cannot make a game with gorgeous cutscenes and crummy gameplay and expect it to be successful. However, a game with an excellent story and cutscenes that show the story brilliantly can have so much more to offer if the game developer(s) know what they’re doing. Gamers and game developers need to stop trashing cutscenes, especially non-interactive cutscenes, and open their eyes to the fact that interactivity isn’t everything. Cutscenes can add so much to a game if they are done right.
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