Repetitive Task In Videogames Are Pretty Calming And Fun

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Case in point, Assassin Creed series. A lot of people love to hit on it for having so many towers to explore, so many pointless targets to kill, and so many other such mission where once you seen the design of it you just know the next one is going to play out the same way. Similarly most open world videogame suffers from this issue.

Shadow of mordor is another fun one. You could forcefully promote orcs, instigate fights and do a lot of those kind of stuff pointlessly over so many time, yet at the same time [for me at least] those kind of mission serves to push a button inside my head that feels so calming.

In an extreme example you have the videogame from the now defunct studio Pandemic Studios: The Saboteur. What makes it extreme is that littered all over Paris are Nazi guard towers, Nazi speakers, Nazi Generals, and even Nazi Airships. There are over hundreds of these things and they are often on the roof forcing you to spend time getting to them yet the feeling you get after you slowly thin them out is so satisfying as heck.

Which brings me back to Assassin Creed, you have all these monuments you can explore and climb, you can faff around as long as you want and the AI won't think of it, you can even just run around knocking down people because that is what you feel like doing right at the time.

It's pretty therapeutic especially after you spent a whole day dealing with people. Whoop there goes another chest in AC.

Have played both games and heck yes the reptitiveness is fun and almost tranquil, in a way!

I do not like games where you have to 'grind' e.g. continue killing enemies over and over again just to level up.

AC is different as despite the lack of diversity sometimes, the diversions are extremely fun.

Games with repitive tasks only work if the tasks are fun and if they can be approached differently each time.

AC executes this very well as dozens, if not hundreds of different tactics can be done in each Assasination contract or activity, from perfectionist stealth to naval combat to hand-to-hand.

In my playthrough of AC IV I enjoyed scavenging and searching every single individual island and location and ended up getting gold/100% complete for every island before even finishing the story.

It was some of the funnest moments of my gaming life when each afternoon daily for several months I took my time with the story and instead spent time exploring possibly the most beautiful and realistic video game world I've ever seen.

So peaceful. Probably the best part about massively open-world games - you can go at your own pace.

I personally enjoy finishing as many side-missions and activities as much as possible before completing the last story mission and will have 75% of the side-stuff done by the time I finish the game.

Yeah its crazy when you think about it, you have all these story mission with intrigues, mystery, and drama interwoven into it but anytime it has fun side activities like what AC does they all get push all the way to the back instead. I mean why bother finishing the story as fast as possible when you have over 10+ variations in how you approach the side activities.

Yeah grinding is pretty pointless, dont like most ARPG because theres really only 1-2 ways to kill the enemies which are usually cut them to death or bash them to death. Probably because theyre limited in their top down view point. Funny you mention AC IV because I did the exact same thing except the majority of time I spent boarding ships, there's just something so calming about boarding a ship while its on fire and everyone is shooting at you to duel swords.

Yeah open world is awesome in that regard, only problem is when you finish *Too* many of the side activities and by the time you meet the midboss you're already geared to fight everything lol.

It really depends on what it is.

If the repetitive thing is offering constant challenge, or has the chance of some sort of crazy surprises happening during it, then it's okay by me.

But things like grinding or whatever.... no. I cant think of more boring things to do in a game. Games like Disgaea in particular... a cure for insomnia, that.

Sorta the same with open-world games like Skyrim... I've tried a few but the satisfaction of exploring wears off quickly when I realize that the game in question is almost always easy enough to the point where I dont NEED the things I"m searching for. It makes me feel like I'm searching for things just to get totally useless achievements. I've no motivation at that point and boredom comes fast. These days I just dont bother with that genre.

Admittedly AC series does not come without flaws.

The combat is far too easy so most of the fun in the game is trying to perfect stealth (in my opinion).

But the AC series has also never been good at its stealth mechanics either.

I still love the series though and it's benefits outweigh the negatives and even those who think it's a bad game can eventually aquire the 'so bad it's good' attitude.

Otherwise Ubisoft has always been about the money, and the AC series has always been more about fun and adventure than stress and frustration like some other games. Though I'll admit all source of frustration I felt was toward perfectionist stealth (III in particular was a real cÖt, IV was far more fun). kinda funny how in IV stealth was enjoyable, III it ws har. IV I could only get 100% sync in a mission 10% of the time, III I managed to do it every mission by on my first-run throughs aside from one.

Unfortunately, the AC series has managed to attract the COD/mainstream bro crowd, who don't seem to appreciate the side-story and activities for what they are and just want a brief thrill experience to speed-through.

This is not what the series is about, as even since 1 it was an open-world pseudo-RPG element-based game.

Tbh there is a fantasy type game similar to Skyrim I play where i actually do enjoy the repetition slightly, but I do not intentionally grind.

That game is Adventure Quest World, an online fantasy game with the typical point and click combat formula and 'kill these enemies 10 times to get the item they drop 10 times and return to me' but in short bursts it is actually a fun game before I get sick of the repetition. It's much better with my favorite music and to multi-task/use multiple tabs and keep coming back to it before it logs me out rather than be the only thing I focus my attention on...

Another fun open-world repetitive series I like are Batman Arkham Asylum/City, and the new Mad Max game.

GTA series is good but never had the level of sidequests and RPG elements as most other games do due to its realism.

True, saints row 2 was awesome in this regard with its abundant of side quest but 3 went off the rail and killed off too many.

Regarding mad max, holy s**t you're right how could I forget that. Nothing quite beats beating the head of some lunk nut warboy in their camp while driving across the wasteland liberating outpost after outpost. It has less variation than AC but much much better car combat and atmosphere.

And holy sh*t how could I forget about Saints Row 2, haha!!

Mad Max's tasks were repetitive but the good news is the more fortified outposts were genuine challenges.

My uncle, who was the one who played the story while I'd help here and there, couldn't even get through the blocked doors a lot of the time let alone fight the enemy inside.

Yesterday he used all possible fuel and vehicle weapons and had to spend 30 minutes crashing into the gate with NOS boost.

Today my uncle and I just took turns doing a side-mission where the ending was to take over an outpost.

Getting in was easy, it was the actual combat that was a challenge. Not sure if you remember it or done it, but basically a small group of the skinny guys at the front, one with a bat, and then inside is a 8-12 sized group of skinny guys, a pair of shield chargers, and the actual enemy boss, all trying to fight you at the same time rather than the usual method of the minions and then fighting the boss after.

And even if you killed all the minions, not even a minute late another platoon would be on your a55.

Keep in mind we were out of water and shivs, and only had the (useless) sh*tgun (shotgun) at our disposal. I still think a shotgun that powerful should be capable of taking the shield guys down easier than the shield break move should. Very unrealistic.

Like every other time I eventually beat it and got my uncle through that part.

It's been a long time Ive actually found combat in a game that hard.

Tbh it seems most games these days are making enemies far too weak (Batman is another example where clearing a whole room without a single scratch is effortless, unless they're armed with guns of course).

I blame the rise of countering in most gaming - it's necessary, but too OP.

Even in Mad Max enemies were only challenging in high numbers, not because they were actually hard.

Hahaha no kidding, once they start putting in the unblockable knife dudes thats when combat starts to get fun. Sure dealing with minions is easy especially due to the arkham style combat but if you ever miss a rhyme you're gonna get smack big time.

I though most big outpost have like a secondary entry way? I remember pulling apart some grate, climbing some ledges to get past the gate because often time they take too long to get into. Also wow, he could have just grabbed a fuel box and place it in front of the gate and blow it up big time, unless he doesnt have a fuel box ofc.

I never faced that boss type before, usually dealing with the solo bosses with special attacks or enviromental hazard was enough for me. I cant imagine trying to make sense of all those indicator on screen if I were to go into that boss fight. Sensory overload yo.

Nah I'm sure its the trend these days because they want people to have an illusion of power, if you havent try it go play MGS Rising, its simultaneously hard and easy due to the way enemies fight. Instead of using standard attack or mob they each have phases of different attacks which they varies during the while shebang which you can counter BUT the trick is countering takes skill because its not a 1 button input, rather you have to swivel and face them then right BEFORE the attack press parry.

Funny how old games are considered hard when they used to be standards.

The illusion of power, that's it.

To attract a wider audience no doubt, makes people think 'Hell yes I am a pro!" when their combat skill may be average.

He did have fuel tanks, he used both and all his cars weapons and it still wasn't down yet. He couldn't leave the area or he'd fail the mission. No other entrance...not a standard outpost but entrance to a fortified tunnel.

That's unfrotunate you havent seen that boss fight according to my uncle the hardest combat in the entire game aside from the very last level against Lord Scrotus itself.

"Sure dealing with minions is easy especially due to the arkham style combat but if you ever miss a rhyme you're gonna get smack big time."

Yeah I think that's the point of this new popular combat style, it's waiting for you to stuff up due to being outnumbered and miscalculating your timing or targeting the wrong enemy, etc. but it's too easy for me once I pick-it up.

Batman, AC, etc. Just dodge and counter, dodge and counter, dodge and counter...*yawn*. I do find it fun at best, annoying and boring at worst.

Mad max is an example of how to actually make it WORK and is a good example of the combat style. Mad max = hell yes I feel great, but can't get too cocky.

The other games I get cocky and over-confident and still don't die.

If they are going to use this combat style they have to make you feel powerful but if you feel too confident you stop trying as hard and actually start to get hurt, not just you never die even when you're arrogant, reckless and careless.

Saints Row had no counter but was all about guns, but even the few times you can engage in hand-to-hand combat all you have to do is punch before you get hit. Don't even get me started on IV...

That is true. I know I feel that way when it comes to Dynasty Warriors/Warriors Orochi series, Tekken series and Wrestling games. Though I also feel that way with for Dante's Inferno, all the Devil May Cry series and a couple of others.

This is one of the reasons I play niche RPGs. Grinding and monotny can be quite theraputic, as long as you don't have to grind endlessly. Otherwise that kills the fun. It's why I'm not touching the recently released Stranger of Sword City, atthough I own the CE.

Now onto recommendations - Etrian Odyssey requires a bit of grinding, particularly the DS games. The map making that the player carries out on the bottom screen in itself is a repetitive task and does break up the action that features in standard dungeon RPGs. A great masterclass in game design and highly recommended.

Dragon Quest IX was my first JRPG and the repetitive task of hunting down metal slimes to level up fast is time consuming, but also very satisfying. By contrast, Dragon Quest VI does it too much. I really like the game, but one reason why I'm very underleveled is because the grinding isn't very fun in that game. I stopped playing it, sadly. I will say it is a retro game so that's perhaps a factor too.

Personally I feel that two titles I've played get it right - Etrian Odyssey IV and Dungeon Travelers 2. Etrian Odyssey IV is where I felt the balance of difficulty and repetition was perfect, in more recent gmes it's become too easy. In terms of more standard progression, Dungeon Travelers 2 gets the balance right. Very fast paced system, and difficult too at times though the enemy designs are lush. I guess the moe monster designs help in that respect.

I actually agree with you on the EO series but disagree on IV. III is the pinnacle of the series for me, in IV they made it easier to grind and for newbies to get into it but as a result it kinda loses a little bit of its edge for me. The bosses also sports a lot more 1hit ko stuff in IV but I do admit the dungeon design is better.

I played I,II,III, and IV. Its a great and awesome series. Never really tried DQ to be honest. If you have a Vita, PC, PS3 you should try the Akiba Trip game. Sure it features some [a lot] of fanservices but its pretty fun collecting outfits and money to pay for the clothing upgrades.

The SMT series is also pretty awesome in this regard but it kinda feels boring sometimes since there will be downtime between positioning and attacking.

I love playing Rune Factory 4 and 3, but for some reason I always run out of things to do in Harvest Moon games.

Rune factory was awesome, I made a set routine that I stuck to that gave me a lot of cool off whenever I need it due to its rigid structure. Plus you can get into virtual relatioooonshipp! < Total weeb.

It only sucks that when you run out of content to look forward to. And... well.... the game studio is gone... sniff.

^The in-game schedule that I made for myself is actually quite creative and varied. I'm currently dating three girls at once in 4, and I'm playing as a girl.

Eh, I run in town for 2 hours speaking to everyone, mining, eating, crafting, fighting before finally returning home to craft even more. Playing as Frey eh? Wish Lest could marry Frey lol. I already finished the game but have fun. Clorica > All.