What's your feel-good/comfort game(s)?

[silversnake4133]

For every genre out in the thriving video game market, there's usually a handful of games that were designed solely for comfort or to make someone feel better.

My comfort game is Okami for the Wii. Being an amateur artist, I was instantly drawn to this game because of the art. Everything about this game is nothing short of a masterpiece, ranging from the watercolor-esque graphics to using the Wii-mote as a paintbrush to advance. The characters are quite charming as well, and there's really never a dull moment (especially with Issun's constant wise-cracks).

So the main reason why this is a comfort game is the pacing. Nothing feels rushed. Sure the sun sets and rises over a set period of time and Ammy is obligated to perform certain tasks, but the player is never really penalized for taking their sweet time. (If worst comes worst, there's always the option to try again. :]) And the world is very massive and colorful that sometimes you can't help but to stop and smell the flowers (or dig holes ).

So forum what is your comfort game? (A brief explanation would be nice, but it's not mandatory.)

 

[Frequen-Z]

Audiosurf.

If I'm in a bad mood, or just feeling down, I just hop in my spaceship and fly around one of my favourite songs.

 

[IcyEvils]

It really depends. If I'm angry, usually I will pop in Modern Warfare 2 to calm me down. If I'm sad, I will play Pokémon Gold for nostalgia and remind myself of how long ago I was a child. If I just feel.. bored and lost (don't know how to phrase it), I will play Assassin's Creed II. The living, thriving crowds of people, the epic views from the tops of buildings as the sun sets, and the intense chases through the city with 50 guards on your back, dodging and climbing just to get more guards to beat, fills me with life/excitement.

 

[Dr. Awesome Face]

I find Prototype is brilliant for relieving stress.

 

[Betancore]

It probably wasn't designed to make people feel better, but I find it quite comforting to play Bully. It's pretty strange to associate comfort with a Rockstar game though. It just helps me feel in control of something, plus it's a game I enjoy.

 

[hurfdurp]

I suppose something like Harvest Moon, or Animal Crossing. You just dodder about at a slow pace, and essentially set your own goals.

 

[sunami88]

Unreal Tournament 3. Ok, this is gonna come off as troll-ish, but actually read my comment.

As bad as things get, I know I'm not as bad as half the losers playing that crappy game. A friend of mine got when it came out and was rather stupified by how bad, or at least how mind numbingly bland it is. We would occasionally boot it up to use the best feature in ANY game EVER (not being sarcastic on this one), Feign Death.

I ended up getting UT3 during the Christmas Steam sale; to buy the whole Unreal Deal Pack was less than just buying Unreal Gold + UT 2k4.

But anyways, occasionally I boot it up to feign death (usually off a bridge into water, clipping my feet just before I go over so I spin, then only to be sniped from 5 km away). I've even got my own version of Saw: The Videogame, you just feign death on top of the enemies flag then watch as your team tries to capture it.

Every game should have a feign death button. Then at least every game would have a humorous and redeeming feature.

Bonus: On the opposite side of the spectrum, there's also Roogoo. I'm not sure why I like that little game as much as I do, but I find it very soothing.

 

[OceanRunner]

Locoroco 2. It has happy music, happy characters, happy MuiMui house and a happy story. It's the happiest game ever.

 

[TheGrim1]

Little big planet is my go to game when I want a relaxing, easy, de-stressing, mellow out, grab a couple friends and explore some levels while chatting kind of game.

 

[Lacsapix]

Just cause 2, Always relaxing to blow watertowers and fuelcells up

 

[CloakedOne]

I suppose something like Harvest Moon, or Animal Crossing. You just dodder about at a slow pace, and essentially set your own goals.

Those are my two. No killing, no time limits, no boss fights in which you can't quite get the QTE sequence right (ba dum TISH to the reduction of difficult bosses down to QTE's and thereby mocking the difficulty level), and no worrying about leveling up. Just chill, try to earn a little money to make your place look nicer, and mellow out.

 

[Just Craig]

Hmm. I would say Mega Man 3. I can sit down and play it anytime. And since it was my absolute favorite game growing up, I probably played it a million damn times and I know it inside and out. Playing it now via Virtual Console is like...
...I don't know, like going back again to a favorite book, or movie, or song. You everything there is to know about it by this point, but sometimes that's what comfort is about. It's something familiar.

 

[Jack Nettle]

Pokemon Silver, though I will usually update it to crystal, because it was the first video game I ever owned. I not that old, but I still get nostalgia.

 

[TheJackel2008]

Lego Harry Potter makes me feel good, it really cheered me up when I was upset because my dog was put down last week because it was suffering from cancer. And Red Dead Redemption because riding on horse back across the map whilst the sun is rising is very relaxing. Also crushing Freaks and Cell members on Crackdown 2 makes me feel good.

 

[Lord Monocle Von Banworthy]

San Andreas. I can just steal a golf cart and drive across the state listening to talk radio, looking for sweet jumps.

 

[Kanlic]

Dead Rising, because the game is so wacky, and it gives you so many toys to play wit, it never feels stale to me, and is something fun to kick around every now and then.

Street Fighter 4, because the flow of the game is amazing, simple yet elegant, trying but fair, no game makes me feel more accomplished than that, although StarCraft essentially is the same in that regard

 

[Mechsoap]

Dead Rising, because the game is so wacky, and it gives you so many toys to play wit, it never feels stale to me, and is something fun to kick around every now and then.

Street Fighter 4, because the flow of the game is amazing, simple yet elegant, trying but fair, no game makes me feel more accomplished than that, although StarCraft essentially is the same in that regard

aaahhh, nothing beats hammering zombies with a cash register while wearing a mega man outfit...goood times...

 

[noeggsforyou]

time splitters future perfect, its nice and cathartic to set up a long game and just play

 

[Marter]

Mirror's Edge is pretty good at that for me. Beating that game in a couple hours always makes me feel good. And yes, I can easily deal with it's flaws.

Another one would be any JRPG, where I am levelled up enough to not be challenged any more. I'll load up that save file and just mow down some creatures for a while.

And, Blitzball from Final Fantasy X. Enough said, I think.