Replay Act Two

So, you ask, "What else makes you want to replay stuff, Dean?"

Go ahead, ask.

.....

I'm so glad you asked.

4. CONNECTION This is a broad category. If I'm connected and compelled by a character (Martsen for his struggle for redemption, Monkey, for his mystery and strange humanity, Yuna for her gentleness and strength, Auron, Kanji), a conflict that feels human or epic, maybe even a time period (my first boyfriend bought me a strategy guide to FF VII when we started dating and he had no interest in games- I knew then he was awesome, and that game is very connected to that segment of my life). There is also connection to franchises and universes I love (KOTOR springs to mind). Finally, I am loving in game connections where you see the consequences of your actions in the game or between games like how Mass Effect 2 checks your saves from Mass Effect, where the story is your story.

5. FUN is the gameplay fun, interesting, is it complex in its simplicity? Do I feel like I am accomplishing something. I replayed both Force Unleasheds because it was so much fun to be a sexy badass jedi with cool powers.

6. EMERGENCE When a game has a series of complex systems sometimes outside the player where unscripted or unplanned events make the universe seem more alive. Unscripted isn't quite the right word; in Dragon Age when NPC's banter with each other as you move through the world, or react to a situation, in Dead Rising where zombies do crazy stuff or fall into your traps, passerbys in GTA4 and their craziness. The Dead Rising Franchise and the Bioshock ones also do a good job of allowing you to play in a variety of different ways and approach enemies with creativity, avoiding the "Use this new power now and your other ones are useless" tropes I hate.