Minor things in games that you greatly appreciate

[King Billi]

In Red Dead Redemption I liked being able to tip my hat to passing strangers.

In Assassin's Creed Brotherhood I liked seeing some random NPC serenading his sweetheart while down on one knee in the middle of the street.

I basically like it whenever the player character makes the appropriate movements when interacting with things like picking up objects or opening a treasure chest.

 

[FFP2]

for example in Tomb Raider as I was trawling through some flooded cave Lara said "what the hell am I doing?" to which was exactly what I was thinking

I think that's just a triggered response if you press LMB or RMB while in water, found that out like 10 minutes ago.

OT: I'm currently playing the new Tomb Raider and I love that when you're close to a wall Lara puts her hand on it to support herself. My favourite thing from The Last of Us showcase was when Nathan Drake's stand-in did the same thing.

 

[Ashadowpie]

night and day in game while you wander around and random weather.

 

[thedoclc]

Characterization which develops through minor banter and voice stabs.

Spec Ops: the Line did a phenomenal job with that. Minor instructions, grunts of pain, and shouts upon confirming a kill are used to devastating effect in highlighting a character's mental state. (Hint: Not well and decaying fast.)

Even old Black Isle and Blizzard games where characters had neat little lines when they were clicked on too often or when put in charge of the party. "Magic is impressive, but now MINSC LEADS! Swords for everyone!"

It's those little things outside cut scenes and major events that lend a whole lot of extra believability to characters. And reasonable, sensible enemy banter helps make mooks more interesting.

 

[DTWolfwood]

BORDERLESS WINDOW MODE.

When i see this option on PC games this day and age, i am super duper happy.

 

[Pink Gregory]

To give a specific example from a game I love; Dishonored, when Corvo takes his mask off/dons when he boards Samuel's boat at the end/beginning of missions. The slight *tss* of the seal being released does it for me, I think.

 

[Da_Schwartz]

I loved the emote taunt and respect moves in saints row. Honking the horn and people actually move is nice. Also well done shadows/stealth/aggro, the ability to swim in action games, interactable background objects like exploding lanturns in Red dead. I also like when the story is told during gameplay like radio stations, or tv channels...not just obvious cutscenes. Pretty much anything that adds depth and immersion.

 

[MPerce]

For me, it's all about the details. The little stuff the developers put in that tell the story even when nothing's actually happening. I probably took about 45 minutes to get through the opening of Half Life 2 the first time I played it because I was enraptured by all the little atmospheric touches: the concerned glances of citizens as they pass you on the street, the camera robot, Dr. Breen's monologue, grafitti, empty Chinese takeout boxes, an old shoe in a locker, the playground, Combine that'll push you if you get too close. It made that world all the more fascinating to be a part of and explore.

I love how in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, you can pick up and cuddle cats and dogs. Yes, even tiny little kittens that squeak. You can even play fetch with the dogs and roll around a ball, getting the cats (or dogs) to chase you. It's adorable.

When I first found out you could do this, I was certain there would be some actual gameplay reason for it. Maybe you had to return the puppy to its owner or something. But I eventually realized that no, it was there just because it was adorable.

And that made me so fucking happy.

 

[TheCommanders]

The random animals and birds in The Witcher 1 were pretty cool. They, along with the fact that people actually reacted when it rained were some of the reasons I decided to keep playing after the first few hours.

I'm not sure how little of a thing it would be considered, but I loved the theater in Saints Row 2. Meant I stayed with one character a lot longer than I would have otherwise. Kind of a mystery why they took it out of Saints Row the Third...

 

[Sack of Cheese]

Being able to move quickly when latching on gaps or cliffs! Slow movements really test my lack of patience.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Proper character animations. I have problems with Bethesda and Bioware games because everyone is so...stiff. It's unsettling. Throw in some hand motions or something, jeez.

 

[Mister K]

Good, memorable soundtrack. I like Bioware games, but I can't remember a single melody from their games. But, for example, Metal Gear Rising music is really good. And I don't forget it 5 minutes after I've exited the game.

Also, well made transportation methods in open-world games.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

It's not a very common thing, but I love really in depth world building things. Minor stuff that must have took far more time and money than it could be worth it. Case in point The Darkness where there are actual TV shows on the TVs you find. With different channels! There is one sequence where you and your girlfriend are watching TV, and there is a prompt for you to go when she falls asleep. However you can stay and watch the full movie! It's just silly that they did that, but I love it.

 

[FoolKiller]

Dear lord, being able to invert the y-axis. I'm surprised (and annoyed) when this is not available as an option. I loved the Silent Hill series but Homecoming "forgot" to do this, except for aiming with a gun.

 

[Beautiful End]

Mute characters that show emotions. In DA:O, even though my character never spoke, I appreciated the fact that he would sometimes be sad or angry or whatever. I really felt sad when I saw my character's parents die during the human male story. And that's also one of the reasons why I hate HL2; I just can't relate to Gordon Freeman. I never see his face, I never know what he's feeling, I only assume he's ok with everything people tell him to do. (Please HL fans,its just my opinion, simmer down)

Also, somebody already mentioned but readable subtitles and menus. With my old SDTV, it was impossible to play games like Batman and Modnation Racers and dead Space. It realy pissed me off that I wasn't able to play my games because of the tv I owned, as if my ps3 was judging me.

 

[Mr_Terrific]

I hate loading times...so I can appreciate hidden load times like in GoD of War 3 and Uncharted 3. It's sometimes done with cutscenes but my favorite way that they mask load times is the close up wall squeeze.

You know how the camera zooms in while Drake (and Lara in the new TR) and Kratos tries to squeeze through so narrow slit in a mountain and the devs give you some amazing graphics to look at and a little control over the scene, while loading the next area. It's awesome.

The flip side to that that drives me nuts is how you're forced to walk slowly and talk into your headset while the game loads, like in Gears, Batman, and Resident Evil 6. Or Mass Effect's lazy ass elevators or even lazier technical scans of the Normandy.

Load times are a pain but can be hidden and sometimes made pleasant by certain devs.

Also, I love being able to switch shoulder views. Whoever invented that is just as important as Capcom's invention of the over the shoulder view.

 

[AVATAR_RAGE]

Head movements in MMO's of smaller scale RPG's of a similar aesthetic style. It is such a small thing that I never notice at first, but once I notice that my character is looking at the things I click on it always makes me smile.

 

[Optiluiz]

There's nothing quite like a satisfying double-jump...