Games that you're better off watching?

[fathamburger]

My ex-gf was a kind of hardcore gamer turned casual game watcher/ wii player but when we first started seeing each other I always playfully teased her whenever she wouldn't play a "real game" i.e. the ones that most of us play. She kept her interest but otherwise just watched what I and everyone else played. Over time I started thinking, she was the smart one. Games need to give people compelling reasons to play, and if you can take away most of the experience of the game just by watching then something's wrong.

Basically a lot of games are just full of ****, and I don't just mean the ones with all graphics and no go. I mean we're playing a lot of the same crap over and over again i.e. the same FPS, slightly different and you should play this one because it shoots 2 rockets instead of 1 and they're blue! or the game has so much filler in it i.e. final fantasy games where most of the game consist of watching summon animations or hardcore level grinding that you're better off just checking in on a friend playing it every now and then.

Metal Gear Solid 3 is another example, I tried to play that but there was definitely something missing in the gameplay. When someone made movies of all the Metal Gear games and I watched the 3rd one to catch up with the story to prepare for the 4th game I realised I didn't really miss much. I think MGS4 will give us a good reason to *play* from what Ive seen so I hope I'm not wrong. Recently I finally unlocked all the openings in Rumble Roses XX, definitely a labor of love as the process of playing through all that was a joke.

However I think this is a real problem, doing the arms race, the tech race etc. We're basically losing people and why the Wii is kicking everybody's ass. So.. can anyone name any other big offenders?

[mrchainsaw]

If I remember right, I never personally beat MGS 2, MGS 3, or KH. I just liked watching my brother play them. Then there wasn't really a point for me to go back and do it all over. I always catch myself thinking I've played through them but I personally have not.

[seanr1221]

Guitar Hero if the person is really good...but I don't think that was the answer you were looking for, because it is even more fun to play yourself.

[Puffa469]

The original Resident Evil on the ps1. I used to play thru it like a speedrun, and people would watch like it was a movie. I could getr thru the game in about 2 hours. I remember one time beating the game three nights in a row! People would watch me play, and then the next night some new people would be hanging out with us, and someone would say 'Play thru RE again! This guy never saw it"


I also like watching other people play rhythm games, cos then you can check out the graphics and backgrounds, and not have to concentrate on the little dots or whatever system the game uses.

When GTA San Andreas came out, I was living at a friends house while my apt was getting renovated. We would take turns playing, but eventually my friend gave up and just watched me play. He said the way I played was more entertaining. lol

[Warner1281]

My wife is the same way. The majority of games I play, she'll just watch. She won't watch me play RPG's (and I don't blame her), but if I'm playing a platformer or action game, she'll watch and tells me not to play it until she gets home, etc. The only games she'll play with me are hack-and-slash games (Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 1 & 2, etc.)

[Strell]

*insert Square game here*

/thread.

[Vinny]

Any of the Metal Gear Solid games... since half those games are just cut-scenes.

[ch3zyp00fs]

Shenmue

[VipFREAK]

Ac4

[GF_Eric]

I actually really enjoy just sitting back and watching my friends play games. We'll take a co-op mode any day of the week, of course, but if it is single-player only it can still be fun to just sit back and let them play and we figure things out together.

[PyroGamer]

I love games that are considered "good", but if you took out the actual "gameplay" elements, they'd be really just as good, but then you'd have to consider them "movies", in which case they'd be relatively mediocre or just plain awful.

[optimusprime]

Survival horror games (particularly Silent Hill series). They are still very captivating to watch, but much less stressful than if you're the one playing. Nevertheless, I still love playing them.

[PyroGamer]

If it's a game worth the electricity it takes to spin in your disk drive, then it's a game worth playing over watching.

Though I did like to watch a good Halo 2 montage back in the day (of course, it was funner actually playing).

[Dark Slayer120]

Xenosaga series

Final Fantasy Series

Metal Gear Solid Series


These are some games that you are better off watching. Although I love all three series, they just have some long cut scenes....

[Graystone]

Rhythm games, FPS, and puzzle games. Are the only ones I can really watch people play.

[Backlash]

My wife is the same way. The majority of games I play, she'll just watch. She won't watch me play RPG's (and I don't blame her), but if I'm playing a platformer or action game, she'll watch and tells me not to play it until she gets home, etc. The only games she'll play with me are hack-and-slash games (Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 1 & 2, etc.)

My wife is almost the same way, except she enjoys following along with the RPGs (though she often kind of reads a book or knits while also watching me). And she'll play puzzle games in addition to the hack and slash games.

Really, it's quite nice, because she helps me figure out puzzles and keeps track of peripheral things for me, like ammo and equipment, etc, depending on the genre of game. When I used to play Age of Kings a lot she'd let me know when I was about to get housed (run out of room for units and have to build new housing), which was great.

There's nothing wrong with watching; I just usually prefer to play, or at least take turns watching and playing.

[fathamburger]

Cutscene heavy games are mostly guilty here no question, but what about rehashed action game experiences?

Actually NFS Carbon is something I think you're better off watching. The best aspects of that game are the tracks and the cutscenes, and you only need to see them once. The car handling is just awful and overall the game is a big disappointment compared to Most Wanted. I would like to know what happens to the guy after Most Wanted but... Im not willing to play the game to find out lol (unless its at $20), the atrocious "drift" sections especially.

[chakan]

Dreamfall

[Mr. Beef]

Twilight Princess.

[ViolentLee]

My wife is the same way. The majority of games I play, she'll just watch. She won't watch me play RPG's (and I don't blame her), but if I'm playing a platformer or action game, she'll watch and tells me not to play it until she gets home, etc. The only games she'll play with me are hack-and-slash games (Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 1 & 2, etc.)
Okay, now you have me worried that my wife is two-timing, because she's just as you described. She'll also play Monkey Ball, Animal Crossing, and Picross.

I would think Indigo Prophecy would be a great game to watch someone play, though I haven't done it myself. fLOW was a nice game to have someone play in the background while I was hanging out with friends. But I tend to "drive" games. Eternal Darkness, DOA4, and NBA 2K7 are all games I've played a lot, but would probably enjoy watching someone else (who's also proficient) play.

[IAmTheCheapestGamer]

I actually really enjoy just sitting back and watching my friends play games. We'll take a co-op mode any day of the week, of course, but if it is single-player only it can still be fun to just sit back and let them play and we figure things out together.

My one buddy and I do that too, where I'll sit there and watch him play a single player game while giving him my ideas for how I think he needs to solve a particular puzzle.

I may actually take my copy of Silent Hill 2 up his house and see if he can blow through the game in one night.

You know, I wish they would make a multi player survival horror game. I'm sure there IS one out there, but I haven't found it yet.

[ViolentLee]

My one buddy and I do that too, where I'll sit there and watch him play a single player game while giving him my ideas for how I think he needs to solve a particular puzzle.

I may actually take my copy of Silent Hill 2 up his house and see if he can blow through the game in one night.

You know, I wish they would make a multi player survival horror game. I'm sure there IS one out there, but I haven't found it yet.
RE Outbreak 1 and 2? I don't know if they're any good, though, or even if they're still running online.

[SinnerChrno]

From what I've seen of FFXII...I think I'm going to hate playing it. Watching the cut scenes seems to be few and far between.

I've decided to take my sweet time with FFX and FFX-2.

[Puffa469]

You know, I wish they would make a multi player survival horror game. I'm sure there IS one out there, but I haven't found it yet.

Theres a game called 'Obscure' for the ps2 & xbox that is coop multiplay survival horror. I played thru it with my wife.

You play one (or two) of several stereotypical high school kids investigating strange goings on at the local high school. Each kid has a different ability, the Jock can fight, the tech geek can pick locks, the cheerleader girl does something I forget... lol.

[abhinav]

Most point and click games, dreamfall was mentioned and i think syberia fits into that catagory aswell. I really like watching RPG's that i will never get the time to play myself, my friend has told me disgaea is really fun to watch.

[dallow]

My wife is the same way. The majority of games I play, she'll just watch. She won't watch me play RPG's (and I don't blame her), but if I'm playing a platformer or action game, she'll watch and tells me not to play it until she gets home, etc. The only games she'll play with me are hack-and-slash games (Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 1 & 2, etc.)

Aw, your wife is really cute.
I like how she wants to follow along with you on the platformers and doesn't want you to play without her.

[dallow]

You know, I wish they would make a multi player survival horror game. I'm sure there IS one out there, but I haven't found it yet.

RE: Outbreak 1 and 2?