The second time around

[Necromancer]

Is it just me, or are games the most fun on the second playthrough? I mean, the first playthrough of a game is always interesting, intriguing, full of discovery, etc., but you often don't understand everything, you might miss some things, screw some stuff up, etc. So, I like the second playthrough of a game quite a bit more because understanding how the game works allows you to maximize your game playing experience. Plus, there are probably things that you've left unexplored from your first playthrough, and that, paired up with a better understanding of the game, can even allow you to discover more stuff than you did the first time around. The two games that are most like this that I can think of off the top of my head would probably be Assassin's Creed 1 and Fallout 3.

Assassin's Creed 1 can be a very boring and confusing game, especially when playing through it for your first time with no prior knowledge of the series. You just run around doing these seemingly meaningless missions, not understanding what most of the characters are talking about, and just waiting to assassinate someone. However, when you go back and replay the game knowing what the story of the series is all about, it becomes much more interesting. When listening to dialogue in cutscenes, you suddenly understand what the characters are talking about. You start to understand references to the Pieces of Eden and Those Who Came Before that can really only be understood using knowledge acquired in AC1's sequels. The game becomes much more enticing, and even though some of the gameplay is still boring, it makes you want to play through the game more to find other things that you missed before that can help you better understand the story of the series. I can safely say that when I play this game now, I definitely have more fun than I did when I first popped it in my Xbox, and not just because that was back in the day when my Xbox would destroy my discs.

I was pretty late to the Fallout party. I didn't start playing it until this past summer, and I'm currently nearing the end of the story in my second playthrough. The first time I played this game, I was overwhelmed and confused. I had no idea which skills and S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats to upgrade in the beginning of the game. I didn't know how many of them worked, and I didn't know which ones would be useful. I also didn't know what many of the abbreviations on the different parts of the pip-boy were, though I could infer what some of them meant. This remained the case even after I had leveled up a number of times. I wasn't having quite as much fun playing this game as I thought I would, but I pushed through it like I always do because it's usually worth it in the end when a game seems sort of crappy. By the time I really understood how to level up my character effectively, it was pretty much too late. I hadn't distributed my skill points very well, and I ended up with some crappy perks that I thought would be good. Then, after I got the GOTY edition a week or two ago, I started a new game. This time around, things went infinitely better than before. I knew how to level up effectively, I knew my style of playing, and I was familiar with all the game mechanics. Plus, I hadn't quite explored everything or completed most of the quests during my first playthrough, so this time, it was nearly perfect. I knew exactly how to play the game, and yet, I was still discovering tons of new stuff all the time.

So, thoughts?

 

[Dark Drakan]

I find they are better the second time around because the first quarter of the game in the first playthrough you are still learning the controls/systems and such and therefore miss a lot of things. The second time around you can explore more, you know more about the systems so miss less, know where you can take your time and where you need to hurry up etc for example. Picking crappy perks and techniques you find yourself never using is a good example, once you have played the game you know what is effective and against what and as you know what your going to come across you can plan beforehand.

 

[Quistrix]

Second time, or even the third time playing a game is good. You know what to do and what not to do. You can play it with more ease, because you pretty much know exactly what you're doing this time around.

But then again... There's many games I wish I could play for the first time ever all over again. Games rich in story, like Final Fantasy or Fallout. Just to get that awesome feeling you get when discovering it all for the first time. Sure, I could play a game again after several months or years of not playing it, so it seems a little fresh. But it's just not the same.

 

[Gikoku]

Fully agreed with Drakan, but I find this sort of thing only happens with big games that have multiple outcomes like Elder Scrolls and Fallout for example. Whereas for a game that is linear, I don't normally get the same pleasure playing it multiple times over, because I already know everything that happens and the outcomes are always the same. Take Batman: Arkham Asylum for example, sure it's open-world, but it's also very linear and I've uncovered everything there is in the game. Playing it again won't unveil any new surprises nor be any different, the only pleasure I'll find in it is experiencing the fun gameplay again (and perhaps a rerun of the story). There's a lot of games sitting on my shelf right now that have never gotten a 2nd playthrough.

There's also other games like platformers that I've played many times over, but merely for that quick pickup & play fix.

Sure, I could play a game again after several months or years of not playing it, so it seems a little fresh. But it's just not the same.

I do this as well and it does help a fair bit. Like Final Fantasy X for example, I haven't played that game in 5 years now so I've forgotten a large amount of things... problem is, it tends to all come back once you start playing again.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Fully agreed with Drakan, but I find this sort of thing only happens with big games that have multiple outcomes like Elder Scrolls and Fallout for example. Whereas for a game that is linear, I don't normally get the same pleasure playing it multiple times over, because I already know everything that happens and the outcomes are always the same. Take Batman: Arkham Asylum for example, sure it's open-world, but it's also very linear and I've uncovered everything there is in the game. Playing it again won't unveil any new surprises nor be any different, the only pleasure I'll find in it is experiencing the fun gameplay again (and perhaps a rerun of the story). There's a lot of games sitting on my shelf right now that have never gotten a 2nd playthrough.

There's also other games like platformers that I've played many times over, but merely for that quick pickup & play fix.



I do this as well and it does help a fair bit. Like Final Fantasy X for example, I haven't played that game in 5 years now so I've forgotten a large amount of things... problem is, it tends to all come back once you start playing again.

Yeah games that are large open world ones with plenty of choice and replay value really are the gems the 2nd time through. Rarely do people play those linear titles more than twice through, people usually just use the 2nd playthoughs to get achievements they missed the first time.

 

[cheezMcNASTY]

I can love the story and world of a game and still be bored of it. To me the game gets old when the gameplay gets stale and/or the feeling that there are things left to be discovered is gone. It doesn't matter how much actually is left to be discover, it's the urge that disappears. Usually the urge goes first. I may love a game for the first playthrough, but often the second time around I'm no longer intrigued by the game. It's shown me all it's tricks so usually the second playthrough is left unfinished.

Very rarely the story will give me a rush that makes me play it 2+ times over. I got that rush when my Fable character was thrown into prison for the first time. I got that rush when I saved the citadel from reapers in Mass Effect and survived the final mission of Mass Effect 2. Eventually though, even the biggest rush loses its edge and you're left playing a game that isn't was fun to actually play as it used to be. That's when it gets heartlessly discarded and lost. Lol.

 

[White_Howler]

I have but one thing to say: New Game +. Saves replay value.

 

[SelfAppointedGunslinger]

Only Free roaming games with multiple quest choices/outcomes, I found fallout 3 a lot more fun the second time around I put a lot more effort into finding unique weapons and improving the strengths that my character had. Currently I'm playing Skyrim for the second time as an Altmer battlemage, played as a Nord warrior the first time round.

I was actually surprised at how quickly I started up another playthrough on skyrim, I usually wait about 6 months to a year before replaying a game. However playing as a mage (which I have NEVER done before in an RPG game, usually play as a combination of Swordsman and marksman,) has opened up so many new possibilities that my experience has been quite different from the first time around.

 

[White_Howler]

Only Free roaming games with multiple quest choices/outcomes, I found fallout 3 a lot more fun the second time around I put a lot more effort into finding unique weapons and improving the strengths that my character had. Currently I'm playing Skyrim for the second time as an Altmer battlemage, played as a Nord warrior the first time round.

I was actually surprised at how quickly I started up another playthrough on skyrim, I usually wait about 6 months to a year before replaying a game. However playing as a mage (which I have NEVER done before in an RPG game, usually play as a combination of Swordsman and marksman,) has opened up so many new possibilities that my experience has been quite different from the first time around.

Sometimes it's good to switch up your playstyle. Recently I've gotten into a magic-based caster thing for my games. Normally I play the assassin. I like being stealthy and determining the outcome of a battle with my first attack. Illusion magic and the like to back that up. Don't play archers or warriors much but that may change if I ever get my hands on Skyrim.

I do know this: I love Argonians and more than likely I'll be playing as one for any of my characters. Also more than likely female. I got a thang for them lusty argonian maids X3

 

[Tsuyu]

I disagree... sorta.

While I do "get" a lot of the things happening on my second playthrough that I was just mystified by during my first, I can't say I prefer the second playthrough. Ignorance is bliss, and I'd love to be able to forget it all and be able to play through it as a virgin again....

Your first time is precious. <3

 

[Necromancer]

I guess I already knew this to some extent, but I'm realizing that in comparison to most gamers, I never get bored of games. The Force Unleashed 1 & 2 are some of the most linear games I have on my Xbox, and I even replay those a lot.

Sometimes it's good to switch up your playstyle.

That's exactly what keeps me going on Fable. I create very specific types of characters and just use my mind to get lost more in the feel of the character I've created than in the feel of the game. And that's not even something I do just to make myself play the games a bunch of times. I truly enjoy it.

I disagree... sorta.

While I do "get" a lot of the things happening on my second playthrough that I was just mystified by during my first, I can't say I prefer the second playthrough. Ignorance is bliss, and I'd love to be able to forget it all and be able to play through it as a virgin again....

Your first time is precious. <3

Is there anything you can't relate to sex? (This is a serious question.)

 

[White_Howler]

I guess I already knew this to some extent, but I'm realizing that in comparison to most gamers, I never get bored of games. The Force Unleashed 1 & 2 are some of the most linear games I have on my Xbox, and I even replay those a lot.

Seems almost like a roleplaying aspect you apply to your games. I do the same but... I can only deal with Theresa telling me I'm her biotch so many times before it kills the roleplaying for me XD But with other games sure I can see that easily. Like Elder Scrolls or Fallout. Almost any game really can do that. Not sure how you'd rp with Force Unleashed though.

 

[Necromancer]

Not sure how you'd rp with Force Unleashed though.

I don't. That's pretty much just with Fable.