When I finish playing a video game, there are usually a few categories it can fall into. 1.) Meh, it was okay. 2.) I hated this and I’m never touching it again. 3.) This is my new favourite game — time to start a new save file! and the rare 4.) I loved this, but I am never going through that again.
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Games can fall into that last category for a number of reasons. Maybe I loved the story and the characters, but the gameplay itself just wasn’t sitting right for me. Or, I loved it so much, I want to preserve that perfect experience forever. Whichever it may be, I have a few games that, while I love them, I just can’t see myself ever playing again, or at least any time soon.
7The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Majora’s Mask is a great game. Perhapsone of the best titles in the Zelda series, even. But that timer… As soon as I see a timer in a video game, my brain cells evaporate. I’m pressing the wrong buttons. I’m running in the wrong direction. I’m flailing in every possible way you know how. Make an entire game based on the concept of a time limit? Boy, I’m suffering, and suffering I did with Majora’s Mask.
During my first time going through Snowhead Temple, the dreaded five-minute timer appearedwhen I had just started the boss. My stress levels went through the roof. I have no idea how I managed to make it through the fight and have time to return to the first day before the moon crashed, but I did. Once it was over, I thought it couldn’t get any worse than that.Narrator: yes, it could.Those damn water pipes in the Great Bay Temple. Everyone says theOcarina of Timehas the worst water temple, but I beg to disagree. I didn’t know which way was up by the time I got out of there. All that said, Majora’s Mask has a strong story, heartfelt characters, and builds upon its predecessor in all the right ways. I just can’t do any of… that again.
6Final Fantasy 9
Final Fantasy 9was my first foray into the series, and while I enjoyed the characters and the story immensely, I had absolutely terrible luck with RNG throughout the entire game, leaving a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.
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Whenever I tried to Steal with Zidane, he would fail. For some reason, my attacks missedextremelyfrequently. It got to the point where, when I was trying to grind up my levels, my party was dying to normal enemies because of my bad luck. I couldn’t even get some levels in the bank to help me elsewhere. It felt like the game itself was against me. I struggled and struggled on because, as I said, the story and the characters had captivated me, but I don’t think I have it in me to do it again. Maybe my RNG luck would improve a second time around (it certainly couldn’t get any worse), but we’ll never know.
5Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
ManyKingdom Heartsfans dislike 358/2 Days and claim it’s one of the worst entries in the series. They are wrong. While its gameplay may be a little tedious (that’s the whole point — but I digress),its story is heartbreaking and tragic. So much so that I don’t want to put myself through that emotional turmoil ever again.
There are so many moments in the latter portion of the game that tug right on my heartstrings. Roxas telling Axel that no one would miss him if he leaves, and Axel quietly saying thathe would; Xion discovering that she was designed to be a puppet, and losing the sense of self she built throughout the entire game. The ice cream scene. You know the one. It’s too much for me to go through again.
4Hollow Knight
Despite its beautiful hand-drawn graphics and cute bug creatures,Hollow Knightis a tough game. And I struggled. A lot. The platforming was challenging, but somehow I made it through.The first few bosses tested me, but I defeated them after a few tries. But the same cannot be said for the Traitor Lord.The god-damn Traitor Lord.
After many, many attempts, I got nowhere. At one point, I had to put my Switch down and go into another room to calm myself down. It took medaysto beat this boss. Thankfully, no other boss I took on was as frustrating, but whenever I think back on Hollow Knight fondly, that memory of the Traitor Lord niggles at the back of my mind.
3Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizonscame at the perfect time. We were all stuck indoors, so what better time was there to indulge yourself in designing your own island and making lots of animal friends? Just like with New Leaf, I sunk hundreds of hours into New Horizons. I crafted my island to perfection. (Okay, maybe it’s not like thoseperfectislands you visit the Dream Addresses of, but it was good to me.)
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But, the thing is, now my island is exactly where I want it to be, there’s nothing more for me to do, especially as the game focuses so much more on decorating and terraforming. I can’t create a new island without buying an entirely new Switch, so my save is stuck there. I can’t delete it because of the hard work I put into it, but playing again feels hollow, because there’s just… not much else to do. IloveNew Horizons, but maybe I sucked it completely dry…
2Stardew Valley
Stardew Valleycontinues to thrive even years after its initial launch. Many fans have been playing it ever since then, but I’m just not one of those people. When I finish with a game, that’s it, I’m done. I’m not going back again. I fixed up my farm, made my money,experienced married life with Leah, and had a fantastic time doing all that, but now I’m good.
I could restart with a new farm map, woo a different spouse, or even try out some of the many mods available, but for some reason, part of me wants to keep my first playthrough of the game compartmentalised. Maybe I’m just sentimental, but I’d feel bad marrying another character with Leah down the road. We had a connection, you know. So, as much as I loved it, Stardew remains a great game that I’ll most likely never touch again.
Next:Best Games To Replay Over And Over
