Replay Value: The Most Important Factor in Gaming
So why are some games dismissing it?
Article by Rusty Bailey (Email)
February 4th 2006, 04:05PM
Multiplayer
Many single-player games these days are being designed with a multiplayer mode in mind. The developers are realizing that games sell better if people know they can play it with their friends. Let’s take an example from last generation: Jet Force Gemini for Nintendo 64. I don’t know how many people played this game, but it was exceptional in my opinion. After I completed the single-player mode, my friends and I played the crap out of the multiplayer. If it hadn’t included multiplayer, I’m pretty sure it would’ve gotten shelved the minute I finished celebrating Mizar’s defeat.
More specifically, online multiplayer is like crack to any gamer. You know when you see the label on the box that says LIVE or Wifi compatible, the probability that you’re going to buy the game goes up 30%. Case in point: Mario Kart DS. I know less than ten people that own a DS, and most of them live too far away for me to frequently meet up for a race or two. If Mario Kart DS weren’t online, I would have beaten the heck out of single-player and only occasionally been able to play multiplayer. Now I can pick it up whenever I want and leave little kids in the dust.
Mini-games and Sidequests
What could be better than a game within a game? Well, a pool full of Jell-o might be, but that’s a different discussion altogether. Mini-games give you a little extra gameplay and may even keep you coming back to play more than the game you initially bought. In WarioWare Inc. for GBA, you were awarded such mini-games as Fly Swatter, Dr. Wario, and Pyoro. These were as addicting as the game itself and added to the life of the game immensely. Also consider the Boss Rush mode on the GBA Castlevania and Kirby games. After completing the game, you are able to challenge yourself by consecutively fighting each boss.
Role-playing games already clock 60+ hours with leveling up and traversing the vast landscapes, but sidequests only add more game time. The Final Fantasy series is probably the most famous for its array for sidequests for you to complete. The task may be going off your beaten path to slash through a dungeon or simply trading an item with a villager. Of course, the extra time it takes always pays off when you’re fighting the final boss with the Super Ultima Longsword... or whatever.
This list is not at all complete. Plenty of factors that I did not mention here go into the replay value of a game. What I encourage you all to do is read online to see if that game you’ve been waiting for months to play has any lasting appeal to it; if not, rent it. It would be much better to pay a tenth of the price and rent the game, than to go out and buy it just so it can gather dust. Maybe the next Mario & Luigi will have online co-op, or unlockable characters. Personally, I just want Bowser as a playable character again.
