What makes a good game brilliant?

[randomrob]

The title explains it all really. I've played some games (like GTA 4) with brilliant graphics, gameplay and story and yet I could still only charitably describe as them as good games. There's nothing wrong with them there just not that exciting or replayable. They just about cut the mustard between the occasional amazing timeless classics that come out about once every two years or so (if your lucky).

So what do you think defines these rare classics? Characters? Originality? Humour? Any ideas Escapists? Because it's left me in the mother of all pickles.

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

Immersion.

 

[Yumi_and_Erea]

Immersion.

If you can get a truly immersive game, all other criteria become irrelevant.

 

[Poopie McGhee]

Are you eating a sandwich? (Mustard, Pickles)
OT: It's many things to many people, but to me, It's how well these things (Characters? Originality? Humour?) meld with the design...
And how much fun it is... "Release the endorphins!"
And immersion is big, too...

 

[Cowabungaa]

I'll join the immersion horde. Immersion for me is created when all the elements inside a game (art/level design, music, gameplay) are perfectly aligned. That doesn't mean that they all have to be perfect, but that they all fit together like clockwork.

Halo did that for me with fantastic, epic background music, colourful and interesting level design and simple but smooth gameplay with a perfect pace. WoW did that for me with beautifully crafted enviroments, with the minute details taken care of, at times engaging quest lines with fun plots and absolutely stunning background music. Half Life 1/2, Portal, BioShock, Mass Effect, FEAR, Batman: AA, Uncharted 1/2, they're all examples of games who did just that, in which all the game's elements worked together like a well oiled machine.

 

[Little Resistance]

It's replayability.
I payed 60 bucks for Uncharted 2. Played it for about 2 weeks. Then I was done. Same with BioShock. 60 bucks for only 2 weeks of entertainment. On the other hand, I paid 20 for Killing Floor, and I've been playing it for nearly a year now.

 

[Mondzo]

Sry cant help u there, but dont ask IW. =P

 

[wooty]

Longevity, one of those games that lasts for a long period of time and doesnt get boring.

 

[The Real Sandman]

Impossible question is impossible.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Impossible question is impossible.

This. All games have something...But its the players taste that affects the answer.

 

[Spaghetti]

I would say there is no one thing that makes a game pure awesome. It's a combination of all things: Plot, Charachters, Gameplay, Length etc.

The whole is always greater than the sum of its parts...

 

[Pimppeter2]

Being like Jak 2

 

[badgersprite]

Attention to detail. It factors into immersion, but it's really the little things that change an experience from being above average to great, or even awesome.

That includes giving the controls a degree of finesse and subtlety, and having layers of complexity to the story without banging the player over the head with it, as well as those little extra hints of forethought that show a designer has put a lot of effort into designing a level.

That's what it comes down to, really; additions and decisions that show a designer has really thought about the player when it comes to crafting the experience of the game.

 

[comadorcrack]

If you have to stop playing, and you just don't want to. Then you've got a great game.

 

[rokkolpo]

fun, and that's personal.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I'd say true Wit. A little dry sense of humor that hits at odd times.

Most just have characters yell chains of swears or cough up the same lame one-liners.

 

[karlos]

a game that when ur not playing it, u think about what ur going to do next in the game

i have had that with only one game

fallout 3

<3

 

[The_Bearded_One]

Immersion.
Makes you think you're actually doing the things in the game

 

[Halo Fanboy]

Replay Value and overall timelessness are what makes a game a classic to me.