Cactus Game Design Message Boards

While most of my favorite games are M rated and I cannot list or go into specifics for each, I have noticed several similarities between them in general.

1) A well written, unique, and interesting story.

If the single player doesnt have a good story to go along with WHY your playing through the game, it BETTER have some good gameplay, see the original First Person Shooter and the 3rd in its series for a good example of this.  Also, it seems the best games have the really complex stories that take multiple games to play out.

2) Unique gameplay features.

It seems its always the highest rated games that truely introduce new aspects into games. Gravity gun anyone?

3) Setting.

This can play into my first point, but you better have a VERY good reason to have a super generic level design.

4) Freedom to do what you want.

There comes a point were you most likely WILL run into invisible walls or whatever, but I love when games give you options other then things like, which weapon will I use or which party member will I use? I'm talking about where games just let you free roam, let you decide how to assault that fortified base, or let you decide how the game ends. There are a few that DONT offer you this freedom, but thats because everything else makes up for it. There is a game being released this month that I REALLY want to give as an example but sadly I am not allowed to do so. 

On a side note, it seems MOST of my favorites are science fiction. I thought about why, and realized that Sci-Fi is by far the easiest to create new ideas in. It seems most non sci-fi games are ALL the same, with a few standouts. They're almost ALL one of the following:

Racing
WW2 shooter
Modern War shooter
Flight simulator

So I ask you, what other aspects/features make the great games great? I know this may be a little harder to discuss since MOST of the "great games" are M rated, but just talk about general ideas like I listed.

lol at the first one.

The 2nd two I agree on as well, and it can be tied into Freedom. You can have a game thats relatively simple to just powerblast through, but to find all the GOOD stuff, you gotta really know what your doing.

3rd point I agree with too. I hate repetitious games.

cat, cept exploitable not so much. Though...most games are.
Unlockables are great but hidden areas, sub plots, and other missions are better imo.


Others ones
A Catchy name: Yes this doesn't really do much for game play but if the game's name can't grab your attention, you may never know how good it is.

Customability: More options, More fun, More ideas.

Unique Story line: Without a good story line many games fall flat on their face (halo2 Campain).

Unique story telling devices: Using new techniques can have very big pay off, if your princess isn't in another castle.

Challanges: If a game is able to be waltz through when doing all the extra stuff, there is an issue.

Human Interaction: Though many games are for 1 person games that focus on interaction with people usually can redeem the fact the game itself is horrible (halo2 multiplayer)

And that is all for now.

I think that games that you can play forever, that have great gameplay as far as controls go,that get better the farther through the game you go, and that have amazing storylines are really the best and most fun. i agree that a lot of m rated games are really really good but not only m games are good a lot of E and Teen games are loads of fun and still provide the gameplay that people are looking for.

Metroid Prime
-Right amount of action but no gore
- Replay ability
- Beautiful scenery
- Awesome Bosses
-Exploration

Pikmin 2
- Pikmin
- Exploration
- Imaginative collectibles
- Unique enemies (where else can you fight a walking gold fish with a mortar on it's face?)
- Challenging areas 
My two favorite games and the reasons why
   

There is a game being released this month that I REALLY want to give as an example but sadly I am not allowed to do so

 *whispers* Fallout 3

Quote

There is a game being released this month that I REALLY want to give as an example but sadly I am not allowed to do so

 *whispers* Fallout 3

No actually:

*whispers* Far Cry 2

For me it is story line I dont really care about much else it could be the same old same old game play but if the story line is great then I love it. Such as With Kotor 2 being the same as Kotor 1 but the story was just as good or better.

Fave Games with great story lines.
Fire Emblem
Mass Effect
Kotor 1 & 2
Oblivion  and Morrowind
And many more!