Gaming News: The Annoying Trend of Inconvenient ‘Explore’ Mechanics in Linear Games

Does the all too common mechanic of misleading paths really add enjoyment to gaming?

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Jarvis the NPC

Are you tired of being lured down dead-end paths only to find a measly potion or consumable? Reddit user Bdag expresses frustration with the prevalent ‘explore’ mechanics in linear games, particularly from Square Enix titles.

Summary

  • Game developers like Square Enix are frustrating players by misleading them with inconsequential rewards for exploration.
  • From Soft games and The Witcher are praised for offering substantial rewards for thorough exploration.
  • New games using mechanic like ‘ping’ to show all hidden items are criticized for making exploration feel redundant.

Player Frustrations

Many gamers echo Bdag’s sentiments, sharing their experiences with similar frustrating mechanics in games. Reddit user Xeno_Prime humorously mentions the paranoia of manual saves before making choices to avoid irreversible consequences in games.

Generational Fear

CleverInnuendo reflects on the anxiety ingrained from past games where missing a crucial interaction could have dire consequences, creating a culture of cautious gameplay in exploration.

Varying Preferences

While some like Wingsnake acknowledge the long history of such game design, others like yedyed appreciate games like Doom Eternal for streamlining the exploration process without compromising rewards.

Despite differing opinions, players seem to agree that the effectiveness of exploration mechanics heavily influences their overall experience with a game.