Games too good to replay

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

This is mostly something I think applies to older games, those where nostalgia can add much more charm and goodwill to a game than may actually have existed at the time. Many older games haven't aged well, generally in terms of graphics but often with UIs you don't remember being so clunky, convoluted save systems, cheap bosses or incredibly tough sections.

I have my old SNES and N64 packed up neatly after recently putting them away after not playing them in years. It made me year a little for Goldeneye 64, but I'm too afraid to play it again. At the time, it was the superlative FPS. Graphics, level design, gameplay, challenge and the joys of 4-player split-screen multiplayer are unmatched to this day as likely the most fun I've ever had gaming with friends. And I'm not sure if playing it now will recapture that or take away the rosy tint on the spectacles through which I'm remembering it.

Are there any games you thoroughly enjoyed from this or previous generations, which you won't replay again for fear of tarnishing your memory of it? Perhaps because a game meant something to you, evokes particular fondness or reminds you of a happier time and you don't want to alter that. Perhaps you don't want to see how it has aged, preferring to remember it as the pinnacle of its day. Perhaps your tastes have changed and those games don't hold the same appeal any more. What games won't you replay despite loving them?

 

[shrekfan246]

I don't think the thread title means the same thing as what you're asking...

Anyway, I don't really hold many illusions about the games I played while I was growing up. I've replayed most of the ones I really loved, like Sonic the Hedgehog, Banjo-Kazooie, Star Wars Episode 1 Racer, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, Final Fantasy VII/IX, Halo, Knights of the Old Republic II, etc. and for the most part they still hold up. Some have dated visuals, some have terrible pacing, some have vastly different ideas of level design compared to modern games, but they held up against my nostalgia anyway.

There is one game for which my rose-tinted goggles shattered when I replayed it, though.

Sonic Adventure 2: Battle.

It made me so sad...

 

[Glongpre]

Might want to change that title, cause you know...it is nonsensical.

Anyway, goldeneye has definitely aged badly I am sorry to say. But this thread reminded me of when I decided to play some old games that I remember being easy. Well turns out I was just a prodigy when I was young, but now those same games kick my ass.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Whether the game is in fact "too good" or is just remembered that way isn't really worth quibbling over. I think the N64 and possibly Amiga have the most games I'm too afraid to replay for fear of ruining my memories of them. I'm interested to know what others think, what games they'd prefer not to replay despite loving them?

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

I think the title's fine. You remember it better than it was and it wouldn't hold up to closer scrutiny now you're more sensible. I think this would be true of plenty of games in the graphics department, Deus Ex among them.

But as for me, I don't know, somehow I skipped this entire era and went straight to Gameboy. Although it's been a LONG time since I played Monster Hunter...

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

More recently, that would be Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. Gotta give that game some time to sink in before playing it again. That way, the experience will be semi-fresh once more.

As for older games, I could play Banjo-Kazooie/Banjo-Tooie blindfolded and still 100% them both without even trying. Yet, I don't play the games as often as you would think. Having repurchased both the ports on the XBLA, I now have every means to do so, yet...don't.

Granted, I did play through them both on the XBLA one time each, but since then, nothing. I suppose one mustn't sully perfection through repetition, if I do say so myself.

 

[lacktheknack]

None spring to mind, but I will say that Tomb Raider didn't age very well.

Even though the Atlantis levels remain as disgusting as snot.

 

[Hero of Lime]

I'll go with GoldenEye on N64, like so many others I played that game for uncountable hours. I went back to trying it not too long ago, and it felt so bad. I still like lots of the ideas of the gameplay, such as higher difficulties requiring more objectives to be completed. However compared to so many other shooters, I felt so wrong to me, which is such a shame because I loved it, emphasis on the word "loved."

 

[josemlopes]

It made me year a little for Goldeneye 64, but I'm too afraid to play it again. At the time, it was the superlative FPS. Graphics, level design, gameplay, challenge and the joys of 4-player split-screen multiplayer are unmatched to this day as likely the most fun I've ever had gaming with friends. And I'm not sure if playing it now will recapture that or take away the rosy tint on the spectacles through which I'm remembering it.

If you have a Xbox 360 you can try out Perfect Dark (the remake) if you never played the original, it retains a lot of what made Goldeneye special with a lot of cool new things (and in the 360 you get a 60fps framerate wich is a nice bonus over the original).

If you have a PS2, a Gamecube or an Xbox you can also try the Timesplitters games, the first one is ok but mostly just the barebones of a game, the second a lot more complete and is closer to Goldeneye on crack, the third is a more focused game although loosing the classic style of single player of the previous games (although the charm and humor makes up for it).

OT: Never had an issue with it, I know that they cant hold up to the new games in some areas (mostly gameplay controls and of course visuals) but in a lot of other ways they do hold up very well (usually in what made them good in the first place, in the case of Perfect Dark the mission design is very unique and totally holds up if you allow yourself to take time to investigate the level, something that nowadays isnt present in games).

 

[xshadowscreamx]

i would not feel right replaying THE WALKING DEAD, what has happened, im happy with it. i dont want anything different it would be unnecessary.. and not sure i can handle the ending again ha.

 

[krazykidd]

I'm almost heartbroken saying this, but recently I booted up "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to The Past" the other day and I found it average at best

I remember it being a mystical game full of magic and splendor, with unrivaled playability and with almost endless things to do & see. But, whilst it was still fun and good, it was nowhere near as good as I'd remembered.

I would have genuinely had it as one of my greatest games of all time until then, and lorded it over the likes of Ocarina of Time etc. But after the recent playthrough it's just a 7-8/10 game now.

8 is average? What?

OT: Fear effect . My goodness i remember loving the game despite it having the worst controls ever . I want to remember it being a fun action/wtf movie like game . Also fuck the disc swaping in that game.

 

[TehCookie]

As long as you put on your shades before your play it you'll be fine. I love replaying old games and it never ruined the magic, but I never hold it to modern day standards either.

 

[antidonkey]

i would not feel right replaying THE WALKING DEAD, what has happened, im happy with it. i dont want anything different it would be unnecessary.. and not sure i can handle the ending again ha.

I feel very much the same way. I think that should I replay it, it would lessen the original experience. As much as I loved it, I highly doubt I'll every play it again. I honestly cannot think of another game that I have ever felt that way about.

 

[TakerFoxx]

The old Sonic games from the Genesis era have fortunately stood the test of time and are still good. Wish I could say the same for the Adventure games though.

 

[Strazdas]

games where nostalgia made me thing its awesome?
Easy...
Orda 2
War & Peace
Return Fire (no wait thats actually good)
Dungeon Keeper (the internface and inability to command creatures really feel outdated, nto to mention that you ahve to mod it just to get above 340x240 resolution.
Hearts of Iron (a great game but curse this UI!)

I'm almost heartbroken saying this, but recently I booted up "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to The Past" the other day and I found it average at best

I remember it being a mystical game full of magic and splendor, with unrivaled playability and with almost endless things to do & see. But, whilst it was still fun and good, it was nowhere near as good as I'd remembered.

I would have genuinely had it as one of my greatest games of all time until then, and lorded it over the likes of Ocarina of Time etc. But after the recent playthrough it's just a 7-8/10 game now.

8 is average? What?

As in the "average" bracket - i.e. not outstanding.

It's not an average game, but my experience playing it felt pretty average compared to how I remember it.

8 is good, not average. 5 is average. unless you use some strnage 1-16 counting system.

 

[Strazdas]

8 is good, not average. 5 is average. unless you use some strnage 1-16 counting system.

You misunderstand me. As I said, I'd rate it 8/10 as a game, but as an experience it was only average compared to how I remember it.

It's still a good game, but it felt flat in comparison to how I remember it, and therefore I had a far more average experience on returning to it than the outstanding one I was expecting.

fair enough, that makes sense.

 

[Thamian]

I don't know about previous generations, chiefly because I'm a PC gamer and generation is a bit of bizarre concept as a result, but as far as games too good to replay... I'll be honest, I'm real nervous about replaying Bioshock Infinite. I'm sure I will do one day, but that experience was just so perfect that the notion of replaying it just makes me scared that it wasn't quite as exquisite as I'd thought it was.