A Beginner’s Guide to Video Games: Perspectives
Written by Vivek Philendra
@vivekphilwrites_
Thumbnail Photo by Sam Pak
Gone are the days when video games were considered a bad influence; today, gaming is one of the favourite pastimes of Canadians and people around the world. In fact, gaming was a major player in helping people feel connected with their friends and family during the pandemic.
Whether it is to hang out with your friends on the weekend while being socially distanced, to get big on Twitch, to show support toward your partner’s interests, or to get back at your annoying twelve-year-old cousin who keeps boasting about his Fortnite win streak during the monthly family Zoom call, you’ve finally decided to dip your feet into gaming. Firstly, welcome to the club, I think you’re going to like it here! There are plenty of games out there that fit different individual tastes, so no matter your interests, the gaming community will always have something to offer. Secondly, due to the vast nature of gaming, it’s understandable that you’re feeling very overwhelmed. If the following image looks like you, rest assured that we’ve got you covered.
We’re creating a guide to make gaming feel like the most approachable thing on Earth, even to the most technophobic folks out there. This is the first installment of a simple yet comprehensible guide that will explain everything you need to know about video games before you get your feet wet. Don’t worry, we’re going to look at everything from camera perspectives to payment models. So, without further ado, let’s begin! There is no better place to start our guide than with an overview of camera perspectives, as they directly affect the very nature of what you’ll be seeing during the entire game.
Video games can be categorized by four kinds of camera perspectives: first-person, second-person, third-person, and top-down/isometric. I’ll be looking at what these terms mean, how to identify them, what kind of games use them, and examples for each.
First-Person Games
Ever had a dream where you realized that you were inside the body of someone else the whole time? Did it help you relate to that person more and understand their actions better? That’s very much how a first-person game is experienced.
Photo by The Verge. Ghostwire: Tokyo
When people consider first-person games, their mind usually goes to shooter behemoths like Call of Duty immediately. However, first-person games are much more diverse in reality. By showing you the world through the protagonist’s eyes, you attain a level of immersion unlike any other medium.
This perspective works well for fast-paced games that rely on quick thinking, and it helps you experience unique situations and events by putting you in the shoes of the people who must go through them. This camera perspective provides game storytelling in its most authentic form.
Some popular first-person games are the action-heavy Battlefield games, the long-running Ubisoft survival franchise Far Cry, parkour legend Mirror’s Edge, and the highly-acclaimed puzzle series Portal.
Second-Person Games
Photo by Neoseeker. オペレーターズサイド (Lifeline)
By now, everyone has probably seen that impressive video of a cameraman rushing past athletes to cover a 100-metre sprint in China. Now imagine you’re one of the athletes running, but you can only see things from the cameraman’s point of view. That’s kind of how second-person games work. In these types of games, you see through the eyes of an AI companion and control the protagonist (you) that’s in front of them. It’s important to note that you have no control over the companion.
If that sounded too complicated to you, just know that you’re not alone - second-person perspectives can be too convoluted in their design. That’s why I’m glad this trend was abandoned in the PS2-era, and I’m hoping no amount of retro revival is going to bring it back in the future.
The only games of this type probably worth playing are Mario 64 and the Siren games. I’m willing to bet that you won’t be running into games that use this perspective often, and that’s probably for the best.
Third-Person Games
Movies being adapted to video games are no rare sight today. In fact, video games are considered by many to be the best form of storytelling today due to the level of engagement they have with the audience. Third-person games work best with stories where the characters are already established to solely reflect the view of the director and writers, i.e. they represent clear-cut narratives exceptionally well where players don’t take an active role in how the story unfolds. There will be little to no opportunity to personalize or change any aspect of your character.
Photo by Wallpapers Home. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
The third-person perspective has you controlling your character while viewing their whole body from behind. In my experience, the majority of new players find this perspective the most comfortable and approachable. If you’re a first timer, I recommend trying out a third-person game.
A lot of popular games feature this kind of perspective, such as the explorative Uncharted and Tomb Raider series, expansive open-worlds such as Assassin’s Creed and Grand Theft Auto, and the Western that put Hollywood flicks to shame, Red Dead Redemption 2.
Pro Tip: Some games feature both first-person and third-person perspectives, allowing the player to choose whichever mode they are most comfortable with. Racing and FIFA games are a great example of this.
Top-Down/Isometric Games
Top-down games typically have the camera placed above the action. It can either be directly above your character or at an angle, as the case is with isometric games. Role-playing games and real-time strategy games work best in this perspective because it allows players to view the entire playing field. This simplifies your ability to make decisions and it is easier to keep track of all your teammates.
Fun Fact: The Grand Theft Auto games initially started in the top-down perspective, then transitioned to third-person with the release of the third game in 2001.
Photo by Windows Central. XCOM: Chimera Squad
The most popular games that feature this perspective are the iconic dungeon-crawler series Diablo, the 2020 game of the year nominee Hades, the first two Metal Gear Solid games, and the charmingly addictive Overcooked.
Interesting Fact: While Japanese role-playing games historically used to exclusively feature the top-down perspective, this trend has been changing in recent years. Long running JRPG franchises transitioned to third-person with Final Fantasy VII Remake and Persona 5, which have received great acclaim!
Now that wasn’t too bad, was it? Don’t you feel much more confident approaching video games now? Sign up for our newsletter to get notified whenever newer sections of our guide are released. Good luck with your gaming journey!