The "Sony Games" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Gameplay, graphics and sound are all very important features in games. Where would Gran Turismo 3 be without its stunningly realistic visuals? Where would Tetris be without its insanely addictive gameplay? Where would Music Generator 2 be without sound effects? However, these three categories are not everything in a game. There must be lastability.
How do you improve lastability? Well, many games just crank up the amount you have to do. Even Gran Turismo 3 can be accused of simply adding to the number of laps as the game progresses. In many cases its just a matter of doing it twice as many times, or doing it twice as fast. In my opinion this is a bad idea, as it can put many gamers off continuing. If you`re getting bored with a game, then you may wish to try something else.
To combat this there are two possible courses of action:
1) The first is to shorten the length of the game, so that it feels less repetitive. Zone of the Enders was a fantastic game, however it did suffer from this first scenario. To avoid letting the player get bored with fighting, the game stopped after a mere 6-10 hours. Similarly The Bouncer was also short lived.
Simply cutting the game short does not work. Both the above games were rightly accused of being too short, especially for a game appearing on a next generation console. As a result, other games have used an alternate, more favourable strategy.
2) The second (and from the gamer`s point of view, more favourable) option is to introduce large variations, secret modes, and additional extras to unlock. Star Wars Starfighter attempted this, with some success. The main game was not incredibly long, however the medal system meant that you could achieve bonus goals that would unlock secret missions, and extra craft. The extra missions included a two player mode. The new craft also varied significantly, making older missions replayable.
The success of games such as Zelda and Final Fantasy has partially depended on the hidden features within the game. Mini adventures such as fishing in Zelda, or playing in the arcades in Final Fantasy 7 were all hugely popular, and added a vast amount of depth and longevity to the game.
Unfortunately there are some games that use a criminal form of secrets. The use of cheat codes has been responsible for this, as virtually every game today has some sort of cheat somewhere inside the game.
Cheats are fair enough if the gamer is unable to progress and requires assistance, however they are unacceptable when they allow access to a part of the game that can not be found without the codes. For example (and I hate to pick a flaw in this game) SSX had the "Running Man" cheat, which allowed you to use a rider, with their board strapped to their back, and their feet whirling below them. Could this be achieved using your own skill in the game? No, you had to enter a cheat code.
Super Bombad Racing did a similar thing. Certain characters could only be unlocked by using a code. Boba Fett and the Tank Droid were accessed with cheats, leaving only Darth Vader to be uncovered the proper way.
To round off, secrets are hugely beneficial to a games lastability, providing a welcome surprise to anyone who makes it far enough. It is also acceptable to use cheat codes when you are stuck. However, I totally disagree with secrets that can only be found using cheats.
How do you improve lastability? Well, many games just crank up the amount you have to do. Even Gran Turismo 3 can be accused of simply adding to the number of laps as the game progresses. In many cases its just a matter of doing it twice as many times, or doing it twice as fast. In my opinion this is a bad idea, as it can put many gamers off continuing. If you`re getting bored with a game, then you may wish to try something else.
To combat this there are two possible courses of action:
1) The first is to shorten the length of the game, so that it feels less repetitive. Zone of the Enders was a fantastic game, however it did suffer from this first scenario. To avoid letting the player get bored with fighting, the game stopped after a mere 6-10 hours. Similarly The Bouncer was also short lived.
Simply cutting the game short does not work. Both the above games were rightly accused of being too short, especially for a game appearing on a next generation console. As a result, other games have used an alternate, more favourable strategy.
2) The second (and from the gamer`s point of view, more favourable) option is to introduce large variations, secret modes, and additional extras to unlock. Star Wars Starfighter attempted this, with some success. The main game was not incredibly long, however the medal system meant that you could achieve bonus goals that would unlock secret missions, and extra craft. The extra missions included a two player mode. The new craft also varied significantly, making older missions replayable.
The success of games such as Zelda and Final Fantasy has partially depended on the hidden features within the game. Mini adventures such as fishing in Zelda, or playing in the arcades in Final Fantasy 7 were all hugely popular, and added a vast amount of depth and longevity to the game.
Unfortunately there are some games that use a criminal form of secrets. The use of cheat codes has been responsible for this, as virtually every game today has some sort of cheat somewhere inside the game.
Cheats are fair enough if the gamer is unable to progress and requires assistance, however they are unacceptable when they allow access to a part of the game that can not be found without the codes. For example (and I hate to pick a flaw in this game) SSX had the "Running Man" cheat, which allowed you to use a rider, with their board strapped to their back, and their feet whirling below them. Could this be achieved using your own skill in the game? No, you had to enter a cheat code.
Super Bombad Racing did a similar thing. Certain characters could only be unlocked by using a code. Boba Fett and the Tank Droid were accessed with cheats, leaving only Darth Vader to be uncovered the proper way.
To round off, secrets are hugely beneficial to a games lastability, providing a welcome surprise to anyone who makes it far enough. It is also acceptable to use cheat codes when you are stuck. However, I totally disagree with secrets that can only be found using cheats.
Page:
Thanks, those are two very good suggestions. I`ll have to find out a little more about EF first though.
Thanks!
Any ideas what game to get?
Has to be PS2.
Possibly Res Evil Code Veronica, or one of the amazing titles not out for a few months, such as Wipeout, Jak and Daxter etc...
Any ideas what game to get?
Has to be PS2.
Possibly Res Evil Code Veronica, or one of the amazing titles not out for a few months, such as Wipeout, Jak and Daxter etc...
yay, yay, u won gameday. and i cant think of anything else to rhyme hey, hey. well done. and doh he won a game Sub. (sorry. i really cant help being annoying to JATs)
SSXPRO, if your reading this goto: http://gameaday.co.uk/ and click the red link
If I'm not mistaken you've won a prize!
Woohoo!
I think you get the game of your choice.....
let me know how you got on.
If I'm not mistaken you've won a prize!
Woohoo!
I think you get the game of your choice.....
let me know how you got on.
I remember when secrets used to be something special.
Nowdays we're surprised (and disappointed) if they're not there.
Well deserved win there.
Nowdays we're surprised (and disappointed) if they're not there.
Well deserved win there.
I still believe that all extras should be achievable through your own skill, but you have an excellent point.
However, wouldn`t it be simpler if for example the Mallora Board and running man cheat were all unlocked as well as the blue halos when you finish the trick book. Just having the halos was a complete anti-climax, so an extra bonus would have been nice :-)
However, wouldn`t it be simpler if for example the Mallora Board and running man cheat were all unlocked as well as the blue halos when you finish the trick book. Just having the halos was a complete anti-climax, so an extra bonus would have been nice :-)
Some cheats are okay. SSX for example. The unlock all cheat is appalling, and anyone that used it is a d*****s! They spent 40 quid on the challenge of a new game, and with 10 button presses or so its finished. (and then moan that it diddnt last...)
BUT, the little code to get the mallora board is nice, you cannot get it anywhere else, though an extra touch of the code not working unless you had finished the game legitemately would have been nice. (though as i did my ssx legit i dont know wether this is actually the case or not.)
Hey! Theres a brainwave! If you use an unlock all cheat it restricts you from using the "get the extra bits" cheats.
Whaddaya recon?
BUT, the little code to get the mallora board is nice, you cannot get it anywhere else, though an extra touch of the code not working unless you had finished the game legitemately would have been nice. (though as i did my ssx legit i dont know wether this is actually the case or not.)
Hey! Theres a brainwave! If you use an unlock all cheat it restricts you from using the "get the extra bits" cheats.
Whaddaya recon?
Just realised that whilst Starfighter does offer secrets to be unlocked, it also has some areas only unlocked by codes (galleries, certain video sequences, and even one starship).
I agree totally with you there though.
Page: