Final Fantasy XII

[A Black Falcon]

Anyway, I'm done with this discussion here. The reviews forum isn't where a topic like this should be. If you still want to discuss this, move the pertinent posts or make a new thread elsewhere.

No, I disagree. Just because the topic is slightly different doesn't mean we should tear apart threads as a result...

Yes, but I'm referring to watching/reading/playing something the first time through. The first time I play through a game, I play for the story. I save the analysis and conquest of the game for my second play. You have any idea how many times I have played through Final Fantasy X? I know the entire story, backstory, every facet of every characters personality, and a nearly encylopedic memory of the entire history of Spira. Yet I can, and do, still enjoy the game, because I'm not focusing on the storyline (not entirely, anyway) and I'm focusing soley on the game itself. I also never read FAQ's on a game on the firts play unless I'm stuck on something for a considerable length of time (like, two weeks).

I don't replay games very often... well, ones that are designed to be replayed, like 2d fighting games or shmups or stuff sure, but longer games... no. Not often. And if I do start it a second time, it's unlikely that I'll actually finish again... there are some exceptions, like how I finished Link's Awakening like five times, but that is an exception.

I do also use FAQs when I get stuck. Not for every kind of game, but for some, when I get more annoyed with them. I wouldn't have gotten through many graphic adventure games without FAQs, that's for sure... oldschool 2d fighting games also virtually require their use because there's no other way of learning the extremely complex fighting systems, since they tell you nothing ingame. Same for hidden gameplay mechanics in many RPGs and stuff -- relationship systems with hidden variables and key points, etc... I don't want to learn later that I could have done things much better with some other decision at some arbitrary point along the way, that's cruel. Hiding stuff like that is bad game design, I feel...