Poll: Should games allow you to save anywhere?

[Flishiz]

In my most vengeful of quests in life, I've finally decided to sit down and finish Majora's Mask. The first thing that I noticed when I started that decade ago was that the save function only saves bits of data and progress, but it doesn't make a freeze state, so that you have to, especially considering this particular game, do a lot of things over again to re-achieve your position. The only big problem is that I have to save manually each time, and if my brother trips over the power cable, after a furious beating, I still have to replay parts of the game.

Fast forward chronologically and I find myself playing Fallout 3, where the ability to save anywhere at almost any time allows me to smash the quicksave button before entering a room with as many as just a single enemy in it. While it's helpful for not having to restart entire quests, it can remove much of the challenge, immersion, and fun from the game.

Now last week I was playing AC2, and I saw how the overzealous autosave popped up more times than I could count, although they saved when you made reasonable actions you wouldn't want to do over again (and the animus ability to replay memories is uniquely helpful), but the ability to not worry about saves made the game seem more real to me. Combine that with the smart use of checkpoints, and the save problem I have with games just disappears.

I like having the ability to save on my own, so that I'm not at the behest of the game, but if the game can provide a good autosave function, I don't care about saving myself. Does the ability to save manually, and specifically, at chosen time periods, take away from the game?

 

[BloodSquirrel]

The save function is as much a part of the game mechanics as the character movement. One type of save system does not fit all.

 

[The DSM]

Yeah I always Abuse Quick save, especially when im given speech trees, I want to see some of the choices.

Also I get to shoot The Wasteland Survival Guide woman and reload as if nothing happened

"Welcome to The Craterside supp-" *BOOM* *reload* "Welcome to The Craterside supp-"

Repeat ad nausea.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Sun Flash]

Quick save works on games like Fallout and Oblivion where you can pretty much choose your own adventure, GTA could also benefit but it would take the challenge out of non open world games

 

[Shoggoth2588]

yes ... it decreases instances of gamer-rage and rage-quits ... sometimes ... probably ...

 

[WestMountain]

RPGs= Quicksave

Everything else= Checkpoints

 

[jamesworkshop]

I prefer games with quick save because I don't always have the time and quick save allows me actually gain some ground

 

[Ren3004]

Depends on the game, really. I like having the ability so save anywhere Games like Fallout 3 and Oblivion because when i die in those games, I tend to lose about an hour of gameplay.

Other kind of games should have regular checkpoints. A platform game, for example, wouldn't be much fun if you could just save before every jump.

Overall, I think that having well-spaced checkpoints is the best saving system.

Oh, and I hate it when games only allow one save file.

 

[Attelia]

The Tales series allows you to save in the world. That is to say, there are save points in cities, but you can save at any time in the overworld. I do love autosaving to death, though. I suppose it depends on th situation.

 

[MrPandarium]

I like autosave better because of when I get sucked in the game to much saving isnt really something that pops in my head often and when it does its usually too late.

 

[SantoUno]

I know everyone keeps saying it but it really depends on the game. Being able to save anywhere in FPSs or platformers would seriously remove any challenge or penalty, whereas removing manual save from RPGs or other expansive games would result in having to restart an entire quest or mission, which would be VERY upsetting.

However, auto-save is a blessing, and should be included in EVERY game.

 

[A random person]

Depends on the game, but I'm generally for saving anywhere along with autosave at certain points (i.e Half Life 2).

 

[DoctorObviously]

Yes, a game should include autosaves, checkpoints and the ability to save anywhere, it's amazingly frustrating to start all over again from a certain point, I've quit Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising because of the fact that I couldn't save.

 

[AkJay]

Yes, I hate having to wait for a savepoint, or having to leave a game just to replay one part over again.

 

[Snacksboy]

The game should include autosaves, yes.

But not letting the player save everywhere is stupid. I should not be forced to play to the next savepoint when I have to turn off.

 

[Roxas1359]

I say to let the game control your saves. But the only problem with that is when it actually will save when you need it. I'm looking at you Umbrella Chronicles.

 

[Ace of Spades]

Yes, because if it does not, then it leads to scenarios in which you have to repeat the same annoying 10 minute bit of gameplay to get to the part you're having trouble with.

 

[cold killer pov]

depends on the game, like obviously linear fps's like COD wouldnt work like that, they have set checkpoints. where as i think games like fallout should have a built in auto save system but with the ability to save anywhere yourself