Games with lasting emotional impact

i get it in pretty much every game where the stories isn't "SPACE NAZI FROM HELL ARE HERE TO TAKE OVER YOUR LAND, FIGHT THEM". it seems especially strong with games that have narrative that connects on different levels (after playing aquaria or mass effect1/2 i couldn't really press myself to play anything for a good few weeks afterwards). the x-files did the same to me when i finished watching them (actually before i finished, the last two seasons without mulder was like removing the soul from the series).

the funny thing is, it's never a good feeling. despite the games being excellent and awesome, it just seems like a depressive after burner.

Quote from Jenn0_Bing

Portal left me feeling actually ecstatic for a while after which is a bit different to wanting more, eventually though I gave in to realising playing again would never have the same effect again.

Same thing for me, had the same feeling for Bioshock as well. Although any game with a story similar to Bioshock is never going to have the same impact the second time around. Having the mystery of the story revealed through out the game is one thing that made it so awesome. You already know everything when you go to play it again (Bioshock did have the option of saving/harvesting little sisters which does add more unknown elements to the game if you choose to go the opposite route your second time playing.)

Blizzard games usually have this effect on me, at the end of them I'm usually super happy that they have multiplayer so I can play them endlessly.

World of Warcraft had this effect on me for the first year, after that I mostly played it because I was good at it and it is really rewarding when you are.

I can think of a few games do this, but I can't associate myself with many of the examples. Don't get me wrong, I loved the gorgeous, narrative-driven roller-coaster ride that was Uncharted and I played both twice and brought them day one, but I don’t get a lasting ‘emotional’ feeling from something linear like that. Maybe I'm weird, but I get this more from mechanically driven games: Guilty Gear is a game that still makes me warm and fuzzy inside because you can play it for years and still find out new things and I do get slightly too excited when I see new techniques being used; various Cave games (but it’s hard to explain why to norms); Warcraft 3, particularly using Undead in RoC; World of Warcraft before my class became faceroll, etc.

Quote from Skjalg

Blizzard games usually have this effect on me, at the end of them I'm usually super happy that they have multiplayer so I can play them endlessly.World of Warcraft had this effect on me for the first year, after that I mostly played it because I was good at it and it is really rewarding when you are.

do you separate this from the feeling of "game addiction"?

Shenmue.

Besides being an amazing game it lead to a lot of interesting conversations with people who I would normally have nothing in common with. I'm not really into fantasy and I get bored very easily with single player games so it's a rare thing form me to finish a game like shenmue.

Beating a game like CODMW2 is like opening a huge chain of wikipedia tabs because you're bored. You keep your eyes open for something interesting but you're not really thinking while you're doing it.

haha, i do the wikipedia thing alot.

Quote from Sentura

do you separate this from the feeling of "game addiction"?

Yes, definatly! The first year of wow (or maybe it was just the first 6 months) is a time i look back at with a warm feeling inside of me. It was my first real mmorpg and the story/world was so amazing to explore Later on, when you were addicted to the sense of accomplishment, that it something else.

Metal Gear Solid

DX:IW

Psychonauts

Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines

KOTOR II

The only true lasting emotion games offer is anger.

grim fandango

mafia

deus ex

metal gear solid

half-life 1/2/episodes

final fantasy 7/8

space quest 6

Those are the ones that first come to mind, most have already been said... but I think it's because they are damn good games.

Quote from Erratic

The only true lasting emotion games offer is anger.

I feel sorry for you if that wasn't a joke

When I think back on the long hours of playing Settlers 2 and 3 in my youth, or Transport Tycoon Deluxe, or Heroes of Might and Magic 2 and 3, or StarCraft BroodWar, or WarCraft 2 and 3. Then the feeling I get is a warm and fuzzy one.

But when it comes to FPS games, those are mostly about anger.. except the memories I have of winning tournaments

In the first Command & Conquer Red Alert I always thought it was a bit sad to send the jeeps and infantry to face off with the russians. They sounded so optimistic and positive, even though they were the worst units. They never came back to their families

Quote from insta

In the first Command & Conquer Red Alert I always thought it was a bit sad to send the jeeps and infantry to face off with the russians. They sounded so optimistic and positive, even though they were the worst units. They never came back to their families

haha made my day

Quote from insta

In the first Command & Conquer Red Alert I always thought it was a bit sad to send the jeeps and infantry to face off with the russians. They sounded so optimistic and positive, even though they were the worst units. They never came back to their families

lol