Your most hated game mechanic

[PhunkyPhazon]

What game mechanic(s) do you scoff at every time it comes up? For me, I'm going to go with unnecessary time limits. I don't mind them when it makes sense in the story, like if there's a bomb or some other bad thing will happen if you run out of time. But a time limit for the sake of having a time limit?

WHY!?

For a prime example of this, look no further then 2D Mario games. They may not seem like a big deal since they always give you way more time then you need, but that actually just further's my point that it's retarded. It has nothing to do with the story, and it isn't short enough to really affect the gameplay...so why does it exist? Though this isn't the case for everyone. My nephew loves New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and for him the time limits are very real since he doesn't quite get the concept of the 'run' button and takes his time exploring the levels. (Keep in mind he's only four, I'm trying to ease him into gaming one step at a time) So again, what purpose is the time limit serving and why isn't there an option to get rid of it?

 

[delet]

There are two things I hate in games. One: The underwater levels. I detest all underwater levels where you actually have to fight enemies. It's even worse if you have an air meter! I always end up holding my own breath and it's not fun to pass out while playing a game, then wake up and realise you have to start all over because you forgot to save...

And secondly, remember those spots in Dead Space where you get in a cannon and have to destroy meteors before they hit you for a while? I absolutely hate those parts! Stick me in one spot and force me to rely on your horrible controls to hit every single damned target, of which there are thousands more than is reasonable! I'm lucky if I can even survive...

 

[ReckzB]

I'm with you on unnecessary time limits, one particular perpetrator of this is - as I've mentioned in the past - Dead Rising. The game did try to give us a mode with more freedom I guess, but it added other limits instead. That's just flawed game design, in my view.

Don't give us a game with freedom only to put a cap on it. I already hate when my service provider does it...

EDIT: Another, which I'm sure someone will agree with; stealth levels in games that are already far from stealth. The same applies in reverse. If you're playing a super-secret agent who does his job best when he's unseen, it's not a good idea to throw him into a balls-to-the-wall firefight in broad daylight.

 

[devildog1170]

It's gotta be either time limits or puzzles. I'm just not a fan of either at all. The only time I can slightly appreciate puzzles is the Ocarina of Time.

 

[Razmiran]

I never really liked regenerating health...sure drinking magical water and regenerating life isnt real, but staying behind a wall waiting for bullet wounds to close in 30 secs isnt either

 

[saxist01]

What game mechanic(s) do you scoff at every time it comes up? For me, I'm going to go with unnecessary time limits. I don't mind them when it makes sense in the story, like if there's a bomb or some other bad thing will happen if you run out of time. But a time limit for the sake of having a time limit?

WHY!?

I always thought they put in time limits so you'd have to keep feeding quarters into the arcade machines. Can't say I remember to many modern games with time limits.

 

[godofallu]

Motion Capture.

After that would be unskippable dialogue + cutscenes. If it's only 1 or the other it isn't terrible, but both combined is just insane. What if I want to replay the game? Tell me developers!

 

[Googooguru]

Quick time events ........ why god why?

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Turn-based combat. If I wanted to make combat much less fun, I'd just....well, I suppose I'd play a game with turn-based combat.


[small]zing....[/small]

 

[Pegghead]

Definitely time limits in any form, though I just love the way that it'll be worked into the story in some cases like a self destruction or time until helicopter evac.

 

[Veylon]

Unskippable cutscenes. Especially the ones that replay everytime before a boss. This is especially irritating as this is an easily solvable problem. Ninja Gaiden 2 (NES) had cutscenes, but all one needed do was press start to skip. Several of the Mega Man games skipped the pre-boss dialogue if you were a retread, jumping straight to the battle. These game designers knew there was a problem and dealt with it over fifteen years ago. Why is it still here?

 

[Tdc2182]

As much fun as CoD 4 is, I miss the creative melees. Every game seems to be settling on a knife nowadays. I wish they were all creative like Mirror's edge was.

 

[Simple Bluff]

In some recent racing games, they put in mechanics that makes it hard to drift around corners without slowing down almost to a stop (PGR). Whenever I find this in aracing game, it ruins everything. The rest of the game and controls could be absolute perfection but I'd still hate the whole thing.

Also, I don't mind long cutscenes per se, but I hate it when a cutscene ends, only to be followed by another after about 4 seconds of gameplay. Cramps my style... um, yo. It's not as common as the problem above, but it should be removed altogether.

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

Another, which I'm sure someone will agree with; stealth levels in games that are already far from stealth. The same applies in reverse. If you're playing a super-secret agent who does his job best when he's unseen, it's not a good idea to throw him into a balls-to-the-wall firefight in broad daylight.

Oh my god, how did I forget this? I HATE forced stealth sections, perhaps even more then the forced time limit. It's what turned me off of Beyond Good & Evil. I suppose one could argue that stealth was in fact the point of that game, but if so then it sure did a great job setting itself up as an action\adventure game instead. Not to mention the stealth still isn't very well executed, regardless...ugh, I better stop before I type an essay.

I always thought they put in time limits so you'd have to keep feeding quarters into the arcade machines. Can't say I remember to many modern games with time limits.

Yeah, it made sense in the arcade. But what possible purpose can they serve on consoles? None, none at all.

 

[glodud]

infinite respawning enemies, they're not very common but they are very annoying.

 

[TiefBlau]

Karma Meters.

Whatever the fuck ever happened to subjectivity? I remember a time ten years ago (as usual, Deus Ex) when choices could have consequences without having to call me an asshole or Jesus incarnate.