The other thread about favorite mechanics is great, so let’s also do the opposite: what are some of your most hated mechanics?
Squad/micro-strategy mechanics in fps games. Commanding npcs to do specific things in the middle of a gunfight isn’t fun. Bonus points if the npc ai gets in your way when you’re not fighting as well.
Bad tutorials. Don’t teach me the game mechanics that could be learned in-game in an environment different from the rest of the game. Also dislike sudden lore dumps after the tutorial.
Mechanics in games where they don’t belong. Not every game needs skill trees, not every game needs stories or lore.
Squad/micro-strategy mechanics in fps games. Commanding npcs to do specific things in the middle of a gunfight isn’t fun.
While it’s ai is still sometimes a drunk toddler, i like the way arma offers it. You set rules of engagement and kind of a “ready mode”, and the formation and you’re set. Also quick hotkey based ways to change them.
You can still set up positions and micro manage your squad if you wanna but 90% of the time its unnecessary.
crafting dear god I hate crafting if I ever find the person that introduced crafting into the triple a formula…
I always find it hilarious when I want to upgrade a bow or something and the game expects me to use like hundreds of wooden logs, metal ingots and other random shit. It just makes no sense at all. This was even worse in AC Valhalla where you run around in 9th century England and craft gear out of tungsten and titanium for some reason.
Quicktime events. Please make up your mind if you show me a sequence or if you want me to play. I can enjoy watching, but I don’t want to feel like I am being tested for paying attention.
The beginning of the Tomb Raider remake pissed me off especially. You played a few minutes, then watched a minute of sequence, then play, watch, play, watch. One of the sequences took like 5 minutes, so I leaned back to enjoy when suddenly it flashes a heavy PRESS X in my face. I tried to quickly grab the controller but failed… too slow. I almost rage quit.
I am not playing games to get stressed out…
Quicktime events.
I’d limit it to mandatory QTEs - better games have a “story” mode that doesn’t punish you (much/at all) for having the reflexes of an old-timer.
But yeah, mandatory QTEs are an immediate buzzkill. I don’t intend to waste more time in Tomb Raider - that’s already 21 minutes I never get back.
After biting myself through the loooong intro session path, the game turned out quite good. It did still have a few QTEs later on, but typically in short sequences, which was okayish. First, because I started to expect it, and second because the sequences were short enough that I didn’t get the impression I might have to sit through a movie.
Still, the beginning of the game has left an ugly impression about QTEs.
My backlog is large enough to not consider that particular game anytime soon. I’d rather retry getting into Witcher 1 or step a toe into Heavy Rain.
Crafting with survival elements, one button stealth attacks, random loot with stats in story games.
Not a gameplay mechanic but constant fucking talking mains and npcs