Gamers: What impresses/interests you most about a game?
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It depends on the type of game. I play different games for different reasons. For story based RPGs, it's usually story, dialogue, and characterisation. For vehicle sims, it's how the handling feels in whatever craft I'm flying/driving/whatever (the old Mechwarrior games were great for this, someone should revive them). For city builders, it's flexibility and depth of design elements (yay Cities Skylines!). For VNs it's character design, both visual and personality. For open world exploration games it's depth and complexity of the world. For shooters... lol, no, I don't play shooters.
A good level design and Good combat system.
if those 2 things done right than game can be amazing despite having bad story and characters.
if those 2 things done right than game can be amazing despite having bad story and characters.
It differs with each game. The only common factor is whatever it is, it'll be things that pull me into the world. That make me want to explore, in the broadest sense of the word, and know more about what I'm interacting with.
I don't think things like good gameplay or level design should really apply for a thread like this. Those things are the baseline we expect from any game. When things are taken to an extreme level of exceptionality those things become impressive on their own. For example, Dark Souls or Bloodborne's mind bendingly convoluted yet completely logical level design.
When there's a noticeable amount of ultimately needless detail and polish put to a game in general, I'm very impressed. For example, this could mean that when you break a potted plant that serves no purpose other than set dressing in an FPS, there would be a unique sound effect just for that, the plant would fall over, and the dirt would spill on the floor and remain there. Another good one is how not only do your tracks remain in place for quite long in Dark Souls' areas like the Painted World, but if you're standing on an angled surface, your character's feet are angled as well. Or the blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in Last of Us where Ellie picks up the action figure at the toy store if you turn the camera back after turning away. It's little things like these that separate well made games like Skyrim (a good game, but rough on the edges) from spectacularly polished games like Crysis.
When there's a noticeable amount of ultimately needless detail and polish put to a game in general, I'm very impressed. For example, this could mean that when you break a potted plant that serves no purpose other than set dressing in an FPS, there would be a unique sound effect just for that, the plant would fall over, and the dirt would spill on the floor and remain there. Another good one is how not only do your tracks remain in place for quite long in Dark Souls' areas like the Painted World, but if you're standing on an angled surface, your character's feet are angled as well. Or the blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in Last of Us where Ellie picks up the action figure at the toy store if you turn the camera back after turning away. It's little things like these that separate well made games like Skyrim (a good game, but rough on the edges) from spectacularly polished games like Crysis.
Graphics and aesthetics that specifically appeal to me. It's in no small part why I love Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne so much. They have so many locations that look like places I visited in real life but contorted in a dream like haze. It takes me ages to get anywhere in these games b/c I'm often quite literally overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the environments and can't stop panning the camera. 
It's only in specific cases that graphics impress me so much. Like for example the near photo realistic rendition of Manhattan in The Division does nothing for me(despite having visited NYC quite a few times).
Ofcourse graphics only inititially impress. What keeps me invested is gameplay, level design, a degree of diversity etc. Characters and story are a nice bonus.
It's only in specific cases that graphics impress me so much. Like for example the near photo realistic rendition of Manhattan in The Division does nothing for me(despite having visited NYC quite a few times).Ofcourse graphics only inititially impress. What keeps me invested is gameplay, level design, a degree of diversity etc. Characters and story are a nice bonus.
stroopwafel said:Graphics and aesthetics that specifically appeal to me. It's in no small part why I love Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne so much. They have so many locations that look like places I visited in real life but contorted in a dream like haze. It takes me ages to get anywhere in these games b/c I'm often quite literally overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the environments and can't stop panning the camera.
Ofcourse graphics only inititially impress. What keeps me invested is gameplay, level design, a degree of diversity etc. Characters and story are a nice bonus.
I know what you mean. It baffles me why these days people still often seem to brag about beating x game in y time. They're missing out on so much. I soak these games in like a sponge does water.
Yeah! I guess that makes us more..connoiseurs rather than bingers.hanselthecaretaker said:stroopwafel said:Graphics and aesthetics that specifically appeal to me. It's in no small part why I love Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne so much. They have so many locations that look like places I visited in real life but contorted in a dream like haze. It takes me ages to get anywhere in these games b/c I'm often quite literally overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the environments and can't stop panning the camera.
Ofcourse graphics only inititially impress. What keeps me invested is gameplay, level design, a degree of diversity etc. Characters and story are a nice bonus.
I know what you mean. It baffles me why these days people still often seem to brag about beating x game in y time. They're missing out on so much. I soak these games in like a sponge does water.
Great writing that comes out of nowhere. Examples... That part from KOTOR... That part from Bioshock... and with a bullet, the fate of Professor Mordin Solus. That one tore me up real good.
This is different from things that keep me playing a game. Depth will keep me playing for months. But moments of great writing stay with me for a long time. I've played lots of RPGs and MMOs for months and can barely tell you anything about their stories, but the examples above always come up in conversations. It's the great writing that propels games into the realm of art, for me... When it really makes you feel something.
This is different from things that keep me playing a game. Depth will keep me playing for months. But moments of great writing stay with me for a long time. I've played lots of RPGs and MMOs for months and can barely tell you anything about their stories, but the examples above always come up in conversations. It's the great writing that propels games into the realm of art, for me... When it really makes you feel something.
New gameplay mechanics/design. Nemesis system? I must see this in action! Aplha Protocol's timed responses that effected the course of the game was fun too. I still plan to get my hands on No Man's Sky even though it turned out to be drab. (Seriously, who didnt see that coming though?) Mass EFfect was pretty freakin awesome last gen... which is what made the ending so disappointing for many I think. Dragon's Dogma had some really fun combat and Horizon Zero Dawn looks to offer something similar but unique. I still need to get it and check it out. Final Fantasy used to be fun to see their new designs with each addition but it started getting stale around 10.
I am also intrigued by strategy games often. Endless Legend, Civilization, Sorcerer King. I have recently been playing Galactic Civilizations 3 because I have always struggled to understand their mechanics well but I also love the game.
I like good stories but lately I find most game stories to be a bit too weighty. Most aren't fun but are forlorn or trying too hard to be poetic/deep. Mostly in the RPG scene. Another light hearted RPG would be refreshing right now. Ni No Kuni was basically that. (which had a neat combat model) I need to see something new to really get my intrigue firing up.
I am also intrigued by strategy games often. Endless Legend, Civilization, Sorcerer King. I have recently been playing Galactic Civilizations 3 because I have always struggled to understand their mechanics well but I also love the game.
I like good stories but lately I find most game stories to be a bit too weighty. Most aren't fun but are forlorn or trying too hard to be poetic/deep. Mostly in the RPG scene. Another light hearted RPG would be refreshing right now. Ni No Kuni was basically that. (which had a neat combat model) I need to see something new to really get my intrigue firing up.
This answer is kind of on both sides of interest and impress, but attention to small details, even and especially when they're meaningless.
I've been trying to avoid most stuff about the new Prey because I want to save it for when I play but I saw a bit of a stream while I was scrolling through facebook (because I hate myself) and in it there was an open flame and a gas pipe near it and when they shot it, the bullet holes closer to the fire emitted a larger jet while ones further away were smaller.
It's probably super not my place to say that's a meaningless, I don't know enough about to say what will matter and what won't but I thought that was super cool either way.
Another thing is important non-story related things or events that are missable. That's a bit of a weird sentence but what I mean little events that don't shape the story in a huge or any way really that I might never discover on my playthrough. In Resident Evil 7, there's a part where you're running through a hallway and Jack busts right through a wall to get to you. And another part where he catches you and cuts off your leg to let you heal it with super medi-gel.
Both of these events are completely missable and I think that's really cool because I feel it adds personalization to your game, being able to talk about it and go "That happened to you? Cool, this is what happened to me", I think that's an awesome discussion to have.
I've been trying to avoid most stuff about the new Prey because I want to save it for when I play but I saw a bit of a stream while I was scrolling through facebook (because I hate myself) and in it there was an open flame and a gas pipe near it and when they shot it, the bullet holes closer to the fire emitted a larger jet while ones further away were smaller.
It's probably super not my place to say that's a meaningless, I don't know enough about to say what will matter and what won't but I thought that was super cool either way.
Another thing is important non-story related things or events that are missable. That's a bit of a weird sentence but what I mean little events that don't shape the story in a huge or any way really that I might never discover on my playthrough. In Resident Evil 7, there's a part where you're running through a hallway and Jack busts right through a wall to get to you. And another part where he catches you and cuts off your leg to let you heal it with super medi-gel.
Both of these events are completely missable and I think that's really cool because I feel it adds personalization to your game, being able to talk about it and go "That happened to you? Cool, this is what happened to me", I think that's an awesome discussion to have.
Making me give a shit about the characters they are presenting to me. If they can create a story good enough to make me have a genuine, emotional reaction to what happens to those pixelated people in the game, then they've impressed me.
Very few games have engendered a genuine emotional reaction in me. But the ones that have, either through storytelling, narrative, or emergent events happening in a dynamic setting, those are the games that hold a special place in my heart.
Everything else is just window dressing. Now I LIKE the window dressing, don't get me wrong, but it's not going to be enough to impress me.
Very few games have engendered a genuine emotional reaction in me. But the ones that have, either through storytelling, narrative, or emergent events happening in a dynamic setting, those are the games that hold a special place in my heart.
Everything else is just window dressing. Now I LIKE the window dressing, don't get me wrong, but it's not going to be enough to impress me.