Seven Awful Game Mechanics (Spawnkill.com)

Kevin of Spawnkill.com Writes:

"Gamers have come to recognize many different elements of video games as simple staples. We know we need to be able to save at some point. We know that being unable to heal our characters would make most games brutally challenging. We also, every now and then, want to find a bunch of hidden items. Still, the implementation of such nigh-necessities has actually become a bit of a problem. When games are so ultra-realistic that we are truly meant to be lost within them, stumbling upon a giant glowing save point can be an almost jarring experience. Listed below are seven frustrating game mechanics that ought to be refined or removed."

[theherp80]

escort missions! thats the worst! even worse then the backtracking

[iamnsuperman]

I hate them....every time they appear I am like not again In open world games (side missions) I will purposely try to avoid them

[rrquinta]

Yes, I also deplore them :(. I have actually purposefully avoided some games because they are escort-mission heavy.

[El_Colombiano]

You should play Dead Rising.

[swishman]

countdown timers are needed, like in COD4's mile high club, that would be too easy on vet if time wasnt an issue

[iamnsuperman]

I got bored on day while at uni (bit hungover) so I decide to do that on veteran the count down does make it harder otherwise it wouldn't have taken me most of that day to do it

[EliteAssass1n]

i hate the escort mission in Uncharted 2. It isn't that hard but i just hate it.

[dead_eye]

The one where your carrying the camera man in the rain. That's my most played level on uncharted. Epic

[Lich120]

I like backtracking when its done well. If done successfully it can actually act as a means of showing progression. The prime games are a great example of this. The first 3 halos method of backtracking however is a whole different matter... thats just terrible. Kudos to Bungie for finally fixing this for Reach. Not surprisingly Reach was my favorite single player experience of the halos.

[El_Colombiano]

Metroid games always have the best backtracking.

[Lombax]

You must not like ICO then, huh? :P

[tigresa]

Countdowns. >:I I'll do my shiz on my own time kthx game.

[InfectedDK]

Why is that clown in the picture embarrassing my country.
Lol I'm sorry I just couldn't stop it.

[HydraxFFx]

There is nothing worse the when you run out of quest and you are forced to kill the same monster 100's of times to get level in an MMORPG or when you are running around in circles waiting for random encounters to get level in an RPG.

[n to the b]

nah, all games have some degree of repetition. granted rpgs may seem to have a higher degree of repetition due to a lesser amount of direct control/involvement (vs. an action or fps game). I guess the trick is to make the process engaging enough to hold our interest until the next payout.

[Blaine]

if they're not rewarded properly. Give me some awesome weapons and armor and I'll gladly collect all the feathers. But if the only reward is a trophy... well, I'll still do it, but I won't be happy about it!

Also, I much prefer healing items to regenerating health (the worst kind being the "screen goes dark" you need take cover for a few seconds and you'll be fine). My favorite is the infinite use cool-down healing item... probably because I'm a MAG fanboy.

[HydraxFFx]

Those feathers were a pain in the ass, then you got the damn glyph things too.

[iamnsuperman]

They took so long to collect.....stupid feathers

[Xander-RKoS]

games should be easy :/

[BornToKill]

turret missions.

[BkaY]

i freaking hate tht level

peace

[Skadoosh]

Always hated bashing millions of barrels just to collect crap like in Ratchet & Clank.

[K-Tuck]

Well you're just insane.

[Koromaro]

Regen Health has to go. I like using Items then regen Health. Escort Missions need to go that's for sure. I dont know about QTE I kinda like them but should be used less or need to be taken out in games that don't need it (example: Lost Planet 2). Save Point before bosses need to go since in some games you can't back track

[DA_SHREDDER]

games that have a cover system but no blind fire. Oh and shitty controls. Would it really kill these devs to put in a couple of extra man hours to fix something that should be a no brainer?

[jeeves86]

QTEs don't require dumb luck. You need speed and skill to get pass those Xs and Circles, dammit!

Not a fan of autosave. As someone who likes to have multiple game-saves and branch off different paths, or try different techniques before boss battles, it's irritating to look back into the save file and see only one save for a particular game.

[RazRei]

Only thing that's missing is the respawning enemies where you have to MAKE it to cretin point before they stop showing up....Then you have to make it to another god damn point.

[CrzyFooL]

Good list.

[Galaxia]

People whinge far to much when things are hard. I don't have a problem with any of these mechanics. And some I actually really like, like Backtracking, when done right it can really improve a games quality.

[likedamaster]

Savepoints when done right, can be a godsend. A good example, Gears of War 1... never even came up as an issue.

A save anymore for certain games can be just as good. A great example, Hitman 2.

[Cryptech]

Should have been 8 items. The author forgot "fetch" quests. If I have to do one in a game anymore I usually stop playing it right there. I am so sick of going out and getting "5 of X" so my mission can then be "go out and get 10 of these then we can talk". Or even doing favors for people, damn man i am the star of the show here not you! I dont care what you lost in that cave, im not goin in to get it! go screw yourself!!!1one