Re: Game mechanics do you like?

On Mon, 13 Jan 2025 12:33:21 +0000, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, JAB
wrote:

Well I though about from a thread of which ones we dislike and also a
video about do gamers know what they dislike
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCjHipuMir8). The video is a bit
rambling but it did make a point for me that whereas I can easily name
several mechanics that I dislike, I find it that much harder for ones I
like and the reasons are less concrete.
>
So anyway I'll give it a go in no particular order.

[snip]

I was going to mention an engaging storyline but then thought I can't
explain what that really means to me!
>

No one can. Literally no one. Tbh, I'm not even sure that's even a
"mechanic."

My list, in no particular order:

- Save anywhere, ability to savescum if the task is too difficult
- POV/spat-viz puzzles
- How do I get *there*?! puzzles (in both 2d or 3d)
- Secret levels/hidden secrets/easter eggs (I love doing stupid
sparkshine tricks in Metroid, for instance)
- Timed tasks, such as "collect all the stars in 15 seconds"
- Sequencing and timing puzzles, as long as it isn't to the milisecond
- Pixel perfect jumping
- Dash moves, combos
- Scavenger hunts
- Dialogue trees, especially deep ones that have imaginative options
- Resource management
- Multiple solutions to an objective (such as in Deus Ex)
- Boss battles where the boss has a weakness that you can intelligently
discover and exploit (not random crap like in Nintendo games)

As a bonus, another one I hate that I forgot:

- Weapon or armor degradation/maintenance of *any* kind. Busy work.

This all was almost as easy as figuring out what I don't like for me,
unlike others have reported.

--
Zag

This is csipg.rpg - reality is off topic. ...G. Quinn ('08)