This probably also explains my patience with games like Victoria II, during which I devoted an entire afternoon to series after series of tutorials in order to learn how to play the game. Of course, in good Paradox Interactive Fashion, I still have no idea after all that. But I’m sure it’ll be fun once I figure it out…

On a semi-related note, that last game I recall needing a manual for was Demon’s Souls. Not for typical reasons, but because the game insisted on using inane squiggly symbols next to the character stats and item stats, and silly me couldn’t remember which squiggle meant damage and which meant equip weight. They did fix this in Dark Souls by allowing you to press Select to explain the stat being highlighted.

When I think about games I replayed a lot, they’re usually ones that had simple quick beginning sections either with no tutorials or skippable ones.

Also, when thinking about replaying games, I tend to dissuade myself because I don’t think I’d want to replay ALL of it, just the fun bits. Often times, in almost any game of any caliber, there’s some slow part that was tense or fun the first time but, knowing all the answers, is now just boring. And though it seems to run counter to this editorial, I think lots of games have their best parts in the beginning. It’s there that many games have their best balance, you’re not too overpowered (often you’re underpowered) and there’s a good deal of challenge to sink your teeth into. And there’s usually more interesting locales front loaded into the game, the parts that seem to be emblematic of that game, whereas the ending of even some of the greatest games seems to get industrial-disease where you’re suddenly in some uninteresting factory or stronghold full of grey riveted walls and armored versions of the guys you fought in the beginning. Where the opening in games usually is bright and interesting and organic, too many games back fill with metal and uncreative gloominess.