The AAA Trap

I just started playing Spider-Man 2 on the PS5. It's by no means a bad game. Neither was the first one. It's more of the same. But also bigger and shinier and whatnot.

But the only feeling I get when I play it is "meh". Since the first installment set the bars for an AAA experience, how could this be topped? After five hours, I must admit to say: It can't. And I start to have the feeling this is a recurring pattern in the gaming industry.

So that is what I call the AAA (Triple-A) trap. If you rely on superficial gaming elements, there is a certain bar you can reach, and after that, no value is being added, at least for the gamer. Of course, the publishers and developers try to convince you otherwise. But if you truly look into a game like Spider-Man 1 and then 2, you can't find arguments why you need to play the second installment.

Don't get me wrong. The game(play) is fun to play, and the story is alright. Also, it's incredibly polished since hundreds of millions went into making that game. But at the same time, the indifferent feeling while playing is somewhat only a sequel in the AAA space is able to give me.