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"Replayability"

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Sun 24/02/02 at 17:21
Regular
Posts: 787
With the wave of new consoles upon us, and a desire to taste the delights of Halo, GT3 and Smash Bros et al I broke my piggy bank to see how much I had. Unfortunately, it consisted of a Christmas list (uncompleted), £4.23 and ah yes, a hefty wad of…IOU’s. Ahem. Faced with the realisation that I might actually have to work to get some money, I broke out in a cold sweat and was forced to look towards my current games collection for solace. (Rumours that this is what forced me towards joining Special Reserve are completely unfounded). As much as it pains my game playing ego to say it, I found that there were some games that I had left unfinished and uncompleted (out of choice, of course), just collecting dust in a corner.

As you’ve probably realised by now, I don’t have a bottomless pit or money tree with which to buy all the latest games, so the games that I do have in my collections are probably the finest that console has to offer. If resources are scarce then naturally you go towards the very best. Right? Right. Shenmue, Sonic Adventure, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario 64, classics, every one of ‘em. But all uncompleted. (I was later to find out that the reason I couldn’t complete Shenmue was because of the infamous Disc 3 glitch that prevents you seeing the next cut scene to progress).

Be honest, I think it might have happened to a good number of you as well. When your half way through your current fave it’s always difficult not to be tempted by the latest triple A title, with its mindblowing graphics and innovative new gameplay. The only problem is, what was suddenly the best thing ever becomes decidedly old hat, and you find yourself putting the other game in the ‘to be completed’ pile along with Clayfighter 63 1/3 and Rise of the Robots (remember them?)

So I picked up Mario 64 and continued playing. I already had 70-odd stars because I had beaten Bowser but for some strange reason decided not to play on. Oh what a fool I was. This time I had the avowed intention of actually completing the thing and getting my money’s worth out of what I now think is the finest 3D platforming game in existence. I was astounded. I knew Mario was good, very good in fact, but I didn’t know that collecting the last few stars provided you with the most visceral, challenging, thought provoking experience ever. Suddenly, I was a changed video gamer.

I subsequently went through my old games with vigour, playing each one to the end and getting hours of enjoyment out of the best Sega and Nintendo, in my opinion the best developers in the world, had to offer. I rediscovered the delights of Shenmue (avoiding that pesky glitch) and became so immersed in the story (a rarity these days) that I made Shenmue 2 top of my shopping list. I also relived other gaming landmarks such as Zelda and Sonic Adventure, and even went through games I had completed, each one providing hours of enjoyment and plenty of ‘I don’t remember this, this is brilliant’ moments.

But this new approach to all my old games has also enhanced my all round knowledge of games and has changed how I approach a new game as well. I certainly understand what is meant by ‘replay value’. Replay value isn’t about completing a game over and over again just to unlock an extra weapon or a change of costume. Even with a game the calibre of Metal Gear Solid it just becomes boring and ultimately ruins what great memories you might have of a game.

Replay value is about rewarding the player no matter how long or how often the player chooses to play it. Games like the aforementioned Mario and Zelda certainly do this. Other games, such as Crazy Taxi and Virtua Tennis, offer instant gaming gratification and because of that they justify their inclusion in my collection.

My current plight could well be the situation you are facing this very moment. With all the new consoles out or coming out, each tempting you with hard drives, DVD playback and whatnot, there is certainly a lot to choose from. But in the meantime dust the cobwebs of your old favourites, play them through again and remember why you got into videogames in the first place.

Thanks for reading
Sun 24/02/02 at 17:40
Regular
Posts: 5,630
Pro Evo wrote:
> RM18 wrote:
> Will somebody please read my post!!!!

i have, i didnt want
> to be one of the lazy ones who reply with two lines.

*whole forum looks at
> me*

Thanks I appreciate it
Sun 24/02/02 at 17:37
Regular
"360: swfcman"
Posts: 6,953
RM18 wrote:
> Will somebody please read my post!!!!

i have, i didnt want to be one of the lazy ones who reply with two lines.

*whole forum looks at me*

What!? :D
Sun 24/02/02 at 17:36
Regular
"360: swfcman"
Posts: 6,953
I too have many games sat at on my shelf right now that are not finsished. But my reason is slightly different, and yet strange. You see, for christmas, being a little gready i asked for 3 new games, Silent Hill 2, DMC and Trickey. At first i played on them for most of the holidays and loved them to bits, all of them were superb. But slowly i began to leave the two RPG's and play SSX instead, being easier and much more direct to play it was the best option for a quick blast on the PS2.

But still, right now they are not finished, but its not beacuse i dont like, its more a point of i like them too much and want to play on them. When it comes to playing one of them i sit there and think which to play, considering the options which i like best,how far am i through them and am i stuck at one place. In the end i get wound up and play none of them, and shove Pro Evo in instead.

One thing i have learned about this is that i will not be getting too many games such as RPG's all at once, that i feel lowers the fun and time i spend on a game and to be honest, having two PRG's to play through is more than enough work for me to handle with my busy life.

Like you though, at the moment i have little money, and no real job that provides me to buy a game every two weeks, and so rather than when i had a PS1 and bought games here there and everywhere i have become much more pickey. When im looking to buy a game i really take reply value as a bigger issue than ever before. I consider how long the game is, what extras there are, and most of all is there a multiplayer option. And buy doing this now, out of my 22 games i play more than half of them regular, but this maybe beacuse they are mainly sport or arcade games that i have bought. Having a brother interested in gaming too i have multiplay gaming regular, and as we both enjoy sports that whats the collection of games is mainly made up of. But too there are many arcade games there as well, such as Crazy Taxi, SSX and even NHL and Fifa can be classed as these.

But as you say, i too have started to go back to my old games that i have began to like all over again, one main game i have been playing on this past week is Die Hard Trilogy, 3 games in one, class. It just shows that the games with the replay value are truely the best.
Sun 24/02/02 at 17:24
Regular
Posts: 5,630
Will somebody please read my post!!!!
Sun 24/02/02 at 17:21
Regular
Posts: 5,630
With the wave of new consoles upon us, and a desire to taste the delights of Halo, GT3 and Smash Bros et al I broke my piggy bank to see how much I had. Unfortunately, it consisted of a Christmas list (uncompleted), £4.23 and ah yes, a hefty wad of…IOU’s. Ahem. Faced with the realisation that I might actually have to work to get some money, I broke out in a cold sweat and was forced to look towards my current games collection for solace. (Rumours that this is what forced me towards joining Special Reserve are completely unfounded). As much as it pains my game playing ego to say it, I found that there were some games that I had left unfinished and uncompleted (out of choice, of course), just collecting dust in a corner.

As you’ve probably realised by now, I don’t have a bottomless pit or money tree with which to buy all the latest games, so the games that I do have in my collections are probably the finest that console has to offer. If resources are scarce then naturally you go towards the very best. Right? Right. Shenmue, Sonic Adventure, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario 64, classics, every one of ‘em. But all uncompleted. (I was later to find out that the reason I couldn’t complete Shenmue was because of the infamous Disc 3 glitch that prevents you seeing the next cut scene to progress).

Be honest, I think it might have happened to a good number of you as well. When your half way through your current fave it’s always difficult not to be tempted by the latest triple A title, with its mindblowing graphics and innovative new gameplay. The only problem is, what was suddenly the best thing ever becomes decidedly old hat, and you find yourself putting the other game in the ‘to be completed’ pile along with Clayfighter 63 1/3 and Rise of the Robots (remember them?)

So I picked up Mario 64 and continued playing. I already had 70-odd stars because I had beaten Bowser but for some strange reason decided not to play on. Oh what a fool I was. This time I had the avowed intention of actually completing the thing and getting my money’s worth out of what I now think is the finest 3D platforming game in existence. I was astounded. I knew Mario was good, very good in fact, but I didn’t know that collecting the last few stars provided you with the most visceral, challenging, thought provoking experience ever. Suddenly, I was a changed video gamer.

I subsequently went through my old games with vigour, playing each one to the end and getting hours of enjoyment out of the best Sega and Nintendo, in my opinion the best developers in the world, had to offer. I rediscovered the delights of Shenmue (avoiding that pesky glitch) and became so immersed in the story (a rarity these days) that I made Shenmue 2 top of my shopping list. I also relived other gaming landmarks such as Zelda and Sonic Adventure, and even went through games I had completed, each one providing hours of enjoyment and plenty of ‘I don’t remember this, this is brilliant’ moments.

But this new approach to all my old games has also enhanced my all round knowledge of games and has changed how I approach a new game as well. I certainly understand what is meant by ‘replay value’. Replay value isn’t about completing a game over and over again just to unlock an extra weapon or a change of costume. Even with a game the calibre of Metal Gear Solid it just becomes boring and ultimately ruins what great memories you might have of a game.

Replay value is about rewarding the player no matter how long or how often the player chooses to play it. Games like the aforementioned Mario and Zelda certainly do this. Other games, such as Crazy Taxi and Virtua Tennis, offer instant gaming gratification and because of that they justify their inclusion in my collection.

My current plight could well be the situation you are facing this very moment. With all the new consoles out or coming out, each tempting you with hard drives, DVD playback and whatnot, there is certainly a lot to choose from. But in the meantime dust the cobwebs of your old favourites, play them through again and remember why you got into videogames in the first place.

Thanks for reading

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