The broad video game market today exists thanks to the current population of varying individuals who play video games. Understandably, people who are not used to purchasing video games, or choosing the right games for someone they know, can have a difficult time deciding on what game is the right choice either for themselves or for others.
While this article might not make the choice crystal clear, it will definitely set several qualities to look for and guidelines to follow when looking for a video game.
Gameplay
As there are several genres within video games, there are also several forms of gameplay which can differ as much as chess does to paintball. What a person may believe is the best kind of game depends on their past experiences with video games, what they enjoy, and what their reflexes can handle.
Fast-paced games, like first person shooters (Call of Duty or Halo), can serve to frustrate inexperienced gamers or gamers who do not have sufficient reflexes to succeed within them.
On the other hand, slow-paced games, such as strategy-based products (Front Mission and Starcraft), might seem like much more work and thought to someone who would rather get right into the action, though it may be a good idea for someone who has not played many games before or currently.
These are all simple possibilities however, and the best option would be to remember enjoyable games and look for similar ones.
Story
This factor within video games is typically glanced over, or outright ignored, by many reviewers. It is unfortunate considering that the definitive thing that a gamer will have to accept and live with throughout an entire game would be the storyline and the characters within it.
Additionally, a dull story within a video game can be similar to a dull book which a person might have little to no drive in finishing.
Originality/Franchise
The originality of a product can be replaced if the game is a part of a larger franchise, such as Halo or Final Fantasy. Franchise games typically focus on a single main character, mode of gameplay, or basic concept, though they can stand apart from each other.
Each game within a franchise is related to each other at least through gameplay and sometimes characters which have been successful in the past. Though the game is not necessarily the same one as before, it is generally considered a safe gamble in enjoyable games.
Originality focuses on the fact that the game is new and has never been done before, which means its unique take on entertainment cannot be reached by any previous game. Sometimes, this can be a gamble. While the uniqueness can be interesting, it is also technically a type of gameplay that has never been tested on the masses and these kinds of games can only be compared to what is normally encountered in gameplay.
“Mirror’s Edge” is a perfect example. This brilliant concept focused on giving gamers a first-person view of the main character free-running from rooftop to rooftop, across and inside buildings, up walls, over railings, and even avoiding or combating enemies through hand to hand means or with weapons. It received critical acclaims and sold well. The only prevalent issues came from the fact that such a new form of gameplay was a bit difficult and frustrating for even the experienced gamer to become accustomed to.
There is also the fact that another game with a similar kind of gameplay has yet to be created or even announced, leaving “Mirror’s Edge” as a one-of-a-kind game and no others to support the genre and any gamers who enjoyed this type of gameplay.
Price
When purchasing for a fourth-generation console system (PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii), pricing can have very little impact. Video games typically start at $59.99, and if they become best sellers, then those games will likely retain that price for at least a year, before being bumped down maybe $10.
Games which are cheaper than this are either fairly old, obscure, or just that bad. Going into older games for different generations, such as the PS2, PS1, Xbox, Gamecube and so on, is another article by itself.
Replayability
This quality exists for video games that need to be completed more than once, or are so enjoyable that gamers cannot help but play through them again. Such games can have multiple endings, hidden secrets, a complex storyline requiring multiple playthroughs, or achievements/trophies.
Final Product
The final product of a video game is different from how trailers and development interviews portray it. This quality can be judged by how successful the developers were able to complete what was promised in the video game. It does not take an experienced gamer to notice choppy control schemes and cheap graphics, all of which are qualities that make a developer look lazy and a product seem unfinished and frustrating.
Unfortunately, while one can trust reviewers from IGN, GameSpot and other such websites to some degree, there is no better way to test the final product until a gamer plays it and makes his own decision. This is where renting from Blockbuster or Gamefly comes in handy.
Personal Opinion
One game can bring a wide variety of opinions from different people. There are some qualities in a video game that some people can forgive while others might find it completely unacceptable. A game can receive nothing but bad reviews from professional writers, though an individual gamer may not agree with such reviews.
Again the best way to make an informed decision is to research and then rent the game itself. If buying for another person and the buyer is not a gaming enthusiast, the best option would be to move on to a different game.
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