Do You Restrict Yourself in the Games You Play/Try?

The first JRPG I ever played was "Skies of Arcadia", and it quickly became my favorite Dreamcast game. I know my opinion on the game is in the minority on these boards though. After playing Skies of Arcadia, I needed to try every JRPG that came out after that. Sadly enough, I've never played a JRPG that is as FUN since then. The only games that came close were the Shadow Hearts series, Wild Arms 4, and Suikoden 3. Its gotten to the point that, as the end of the 360/PS3 era is drawing closer, I actually can't stomach playing a JRPG anymore. Every single one that I've played this gen has been mediocre at best. So, I try to avoid JRPGs now.

I also never play FPS games with a "War Theme." I never understood what was so fun about pretending to be a soldier in World War II/Vietnam etc. Those were serious wars that traumatized people for generations, yet it seems to be the most popular video game genre for the last few years. I'm sorry, but I personally find that to be disgusting and it makes me want to vomit a little.

Basically, I guess you could say I'm still a "kid at heart" when it comes to video games. I pretty much enjoy PLATFORMERS the most, and keep wishing for 2-D platformers to make a comeback. Games like "Banjo Kazooie," "Jak and Daxter", "Maximo", "Mario Galaxy" and "Sly Cooper" are some of my "current" faves of the 3-D variety.

Besides platformers, I also enjoy shoot em ups like "Ikaruga", "Zero Gunner 2", "Border Down", "Cannon Spike" etc.

EDIT - Street Fighter 4 has also rejuvenated my love of the fighting game genre, like no game has done since the trio of "Last Blade 2", "Mark of the Wolves", and "Marvel vs. Capcom 2" hit the Dreamcast.

So, to sum it up, I guess I look to play the following genres: Platformers, 2-D fighters, shoot em ups.

I try to avoid: JRPGS, War themed FPS games, sports games

I don't play MMOs and racing/flying sim games but other than that I am down for whateva.

None of my restrictions and gaming guidelines are concrete as there are always exceptions but generally I adhere to the following:

- I stick to arcade style games, games conducive to my pick-up-and-play profile, and games with high replay value (even if it lies with a mode rather than the actual game, i.e. Mercenaries, time trials, etc.).

Exceptions: Sports games. While pick-up-and-play friendly, I generally lose interest in these games after a few playthroughs. I'll still pick up an NHL '09 or a MLB '09 The Show now and then during a gaming drought, but won't do so on an annual basis.

- I stay away from games that masquerade as experiences, i.e. not much going on with the gameplay, more going on with some pretentiously ridiculous story, basically trying to offer me the experience I'd rather get from a good book or movie.

Exceptions: something like Metal Gear Solid 1-4, games that while clearly guilty of violating this rule, have enough style and enjoyable gameplay (in spurts) to warrant my attention.

Pretty much any game where I hear, "oh the story is GREAT! also there are bits where you play for a little while", skiiiip.

Beyond Good and Evil was the last of these for me.

The only genre I completely avoid is MMO. I dislike almost all JRPGs and most RTS, so I have to hear a lot of good impressions about a game in either genre before I give it a try, but I won't simply refuse to play something because it is a JRPG.

I have always gone out of my way to play as much stuff as possible but obviously there isn't enough time or money to try everything.

MMORPGs are probably the only genre of which I have never bought a game (although I'll give a free trial a try occasionally). The genre barely appeals to me (I don't need chatting to real people in an RPG or an insane time investment) and fees nail that coffin.

I'm not into sports games enough to check out every yearly update.

I don't play games with dance mats. Muscle problems cause too much pain and I don't find dancing appealing. I would rather play a guitar rhythm game.

Certain genres like JRPGs I deem "high risk purchases", i.e. there's a strong probability they won't be worth the money. I don't find reviews that reliable for this genre anymore (sites tend to get the one guy that loves everything in the genre to review them), and often there's no demo available to try the games for free. There are some JRPGs I end up loving so I will buy them but usually only when really cheap.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by magnifiedplaid

I also never play FPS games with a "War Theme." I never understood what was so fun about pretending to be a soldier in World War II/Vietnam etc. Those were serious wars that traumatized people for generations, yet it seems to be the most popular video game genre for the last few years. I'm sorry, but I personally find that to be disgusting and it makes me want to vomit a little.

---

Agreed. I was honestly rather perplexed by the kerfuffle over Six Days In Fallujah, in light of the fact that Battlefield and Call of Duty are apparently acceptable. They're just as disrespectful, and people touched by those wars are still with us (not that it would even necessarily be okay if they weren't).

It sounds strange, but Medal of Honor Allied Assault actually gave me a deeper appreciation and admiration for the soldiers who fought in World War II. Not even Saving Private Ryan had a more powerful presentation, in my opinion.

The level that sticks out in my mind is the Omaha Beach level. The ships land, the ramps drop, you rush out, and... you probably die. Hit quickload. Try it again. Die. Repeat a few times. I stopped playing for a bit because I got frustrated. Then I thought about how risky it was in real life. Here I was, feeling frustration over getting killed repeatedly in a game, when people had faced that exact situation in all its deadliness in real life. Reality doesn't have a quickload. There are no second chances. And yet these people were willing to fight and very possibly die.

Before playing the game, I had been very active in Remembrance Day ceremonies in my city, yet it was Medal of Honor that moved me from respecting and honouring veterans to being in complete awe at the bravery of the men and women who were (and are) willing to fight and die for what they believe in.

Incidentally, a fair number of veterans I've talked to actually appreciate games like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty.

Personally, I don't think depicting a real war in a videogame is any more or less respectful or disrespectful than depicting that same war in a movie or even a documentary.

the thing about MMORPGS is that, while there is a colossal time sink to get to the truly "fun bits", the worthwhile factor is the social aspect. It's like posting here, or hanging out in a chatroom really, and making new, albeit digital, friends. This can spill over into real life, like TNL's spilled over into real life.

That said most of the MMORPG's I've tried are like 95% boring, but at least it gave me something to do while I chatted with my friends. A big problem though, is that a lot of people who play MMORPGS only want to chat about the game. That gets boring quick.

Good for nerds though. Socialization without facetime + gaming with guaranteed reward regardless of skill on pace with time invested.

I'll never play one that isn't WoW again. Eve online was such a cool concept but it would take so long to do anything/get to anywhere cool it's just too much of a time waster.

I doubt I'd ever play a JRPG again. I recently rented Shadow Hearts because it was an rpg set in WWII but I soon realized that I despised absolutely everything about the traditional JRPG genre. It's just something that was ok while I was hitting puberty and will never be okay again, like a lot of my experimental masturbation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mzo

I don't play realistic sports games, realistic racers...

You can draw a sliding scale between realism and fun as far as I'm concerned. Give me Burnout over Gran Turismo any day.

---

I feel the same way about racers. I just can't get into any serious, realistic racers. Probably because I'm just not that into cars, and like 80% of them are mostly excuses to have a digital car trophy case.

I love shit like F-Zero, Burnout, and now Stuntman which isn't even really about racing at all. Shit, I love Hydro Thunder, and enjoyed the old Episode 1 racer, and all the Mario Karts. That and shit like Uniracers and snowboarding games, waverace...etc etc. So I'm right there with you on that one.

Same with flying sims. Give me Crimson Skies and Pilotwings over Microsoft Flight Simulator and IL-2. GEEZ THOSE ARE SOME DATED REFERENCES