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Quick Time Events: Love them or hate them, they're here to stay.
Is there a place for QTEs in modern day gaming?
Written by Steven Williamson, 01 February 2010
Definition: Quick Time Event (QTE) - A method of gameplay used in video games. It allows for limited control of the character during cut scenes or cinematic sequences in the game, and generally involves the player following on-screen prompts to press buttons or perform other actions.
With developers continuously striving to bridge the gap between video games and reality, Quick Time Events (QTEs) have become a staple ingredient of many modern day titles, and their purpose over the years has remained the same.
Since the early '80's, when Dragon's Lair showcased some of the earliest examples of QTEs, developers continue to create these interactive and cinematic set-pieces to engage you and suck you into the game-world.
The successful execution of a QTE may lead to the triggering of a lethal finishing move in a fight, for example, or the dodge of a blow, or a leap of faith over a gaping chasm. QTEs revolve around tense situations and are often a matter of life or death, so failure usually means that you have to start the QTE sequence again.
This can make their inclusion in some games very frustrating, so there's no real surprise that there are many examples of games where QTEs have been poorly implemented. If they're used too frequently throughout a game, for example, or interrupt the flow of the gameplay, see Indigo Prophecy, (aka Fahrenheit)for a prime example, they serve no other purpose than to infuriate.
Whether we actually need QTEs in video games is often up for debate: do they really add anything to the experience? Are developers just being lazy littering their title with these visually impressive sequences to distract us from the lack of quality gameplay? Is there a place for them in modern gaming? The inclusion of QTEs continues to divide opinion with some hating their very existence and others enjoying the interaction they bring. One thing is for certain; they're here to stay.
In the debate, we don't sit on the fence. There are many fine examples of where QTEs have merged perfectly with other aspects of the gameplay to enhance the game and provide an engaging and immersive experience. When implemented properly there's no doubt about it: QTEs can be a very memorable part of our video game experience.
Take these three shining examples.
Shenmue
360Zine Issue 38
For our latest Bayonetta coverage, click here to download 360Zine Issue 38 for free.The QTEs in Sega's 1999 classic Shemnue perfectly compliment the slower-paced, open-world adventuring, providing action-packed sequences that are fun to pull off and exciting to watch. A chase down a side alley, that requires you to press buttons in time to jump over obstacles, dodge crates or fists, is just as much fun as the wonderfully choreographed fight sequences which also require your quick reactions to a series of on-screen prompts.
Without QTEs Shenmue is an immersive game with great characters, strong story-telling and a beautifully detailed game world, but QTEs are also part of its magic. There aren't many games since that have done QTEs as well as Sega did back in the '90s.
God of War
Of course it helps that the violent hack 'n slash epic, God of War, is one of the best action games of all time, but QTEs certainly play their part in delivering an entertaining journey. The QTEs blend perfectly with the brutal and fast-paced combat as you move from a flowing combo into an extravagant finishing move.
Beautifully detailed animation help to make these QTEs exciting, but there's also skill needed to pull them off. When you successfully complete a QTE in God of War and you sit back to watch the gory outcome, you get a sense of satisfaction that few other actions games haven't managed to recreate.
We can look forward to more QTEs when God Of War III lands. Just check out You Tube for the clip of Kratos ripping off Helios' head. Crazy stuff!
Robert Ludlum's Bourne Supremacy
Our third pick may come as a shock to some because Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy doesn't exactly sit alongside our other two picks in terms of their "classic" status. However, developer High Moon Studios makes spectacular use of QTEs in the game because they fit perfectly with Bourne's daredevil persona and the high octane action of the movies.
Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy is an extremely polished effort in terms of graphics and storyline, but through QTEs it offers something a little extra. The developer has cleverly managed to give gamers a taste of what it's like to be in the shoes of Robert Bourne with spectacular stunts and a variety of stunning takedown animations. QTEs fit perfectly with the Bourne franchise and High Moon Studios implemented them ith a lot of care and skill.
Love them or hate them, QTEs are still set to crop up in games throughout 2010. Two of the biggest and most anticipated titles of the year, Quantic Dreams' interactive adventure, Heavy Rain, and God of War III, will feature their fair share of QTEs. Bayonetta and Darksiders, two QTE-friendly titles, have already launched this year, and no doubt they'll be many others that utilise this gameplay feature to try and create a more immersive and interactive experience. Keep them coming we say. There's plenty of room for more QTE-laden games, if they're done properly.
Bayonetta coverage available in 360Zine Issue 38 - click here to download it for free!
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