Endgame in RPGs

[Milennin]

Do you like games that have something to do after finishing the main story, or are you the type to quit after playing the story and move on to other games? What kind of extras do you like seeing after finishing a game?

Discuss.

 

[Einreicht]

I think it really depends on the game itself. A game that have multiple endings could benefit from a new game+, for your 2nd and 3rd option is entirely optional for the maker if they want to give their game a replay value.

The last option is a bit rare since there's nothing to do after you beat the game (with no other ending available) aside doing some unfinished sidequests or collecting items. But for a 'certain' genre of game, this is the best option.

For me myself, due to the real life and other things (like game backlog) lately, I rarely touch the game again if I already cleared it (sidestory and main story with aftermath or different endings). Could be a different case if the game is something that I really like.

 

[Matseb2611]

Most times I just stop after completing the story, because I like to keep my experience of the game on a high note. I've blasted through the story, I got the conclusion. The end.

However, this could differ depending on the game. In sandbox RPGs (e.g. Skyrim) the focus isn't on the main story, but more on the world itself, so with those I tend to come back to the overworld and do other stuff. But I don't prefer this method, because then you feel like you're just milling about with no goal. The main story gives you some sort of end goal to strive for at least.

Not a fan of New Game+. I just prefer multiple difficulty settings available from the main menu. As for cool extras like boss rush and so on, they're always welcome, but not a necessity for me personally.

 

[The Stranger]

I don't enjoy playing games after the main story, even if there's plenty left to do. I'll explore sub-plots and side-activities whilst the main plot is still around, but once it's over I'm done with the game. Even in games such as Skyrim, I can't play after completing the main quest; I'll do whatever interests me before completing it. It's just immersion breaking for me.  So, I've saved the world, now what? Fetch shiny baubles for some bloke in the arse end of nowhere? Not a chance! I just don't have it in me. Once the main story is over my interest in the game ends right along with it. I still like the game, but I can't play it anymore - not without giving it a lengthy rest and starting right from the very beginning, at least.

 

[Varius]

To me it depends on what the RPG is trying to do. Games like the Final Fantasy series, Chrono Trigger, etc. don't need an endgame. Their focus is on a story and telling that story, kind of like a book. On the other hand, games like Skyrim, with such a huge open world, should have an endgame where I can continue on after the story because the world is so rich and vibrant and there is always something new to explore.

 

[jonthefox]

Yeah depends on the game -- I know that's not really a helpful answer.  In games like Star Ocean or FF7, I loved being able to still do things like the Cave of Trials or beat the Weapons.  In a short, story-driven game, I'm mostly done when the credits roll, but some games have thought of clever things to add which really added a nice touch to the game.  The example that comes to my mind is Soul Sunder, one of my favorite games ever produced from the rpgmaker community.  After you beat the game, you're put in a post-game room that contains various characters (even enemies) that appeared throughout the game, and talking to them gives you further insight on the game's story, as well as mechanics (how choices you made affected what ending you received).  

 

[Omnimental]

Generally what I prefer to do with RPG games is play through the first time just to enjoy the mechanics and story, then I'll do a second run through to try to 100% complete everything. New Game + makes that second run through much more enjoyable.

 

[Wavelength]

I think extra postgame "hard mode" dungeons are great, a bit of extra story is even better, but the one thing that I feel is required to "stick the landing" after a well-done ending sequence is to allow the player to save, return to the world they just saved, and run around it and do whatever they want.  I like to find sidequests that I missed, try new battle strategies, and powerlevel my characters in the postgame (and I want to do it with the "final boss is already defeated" thing behind me).  If the game tosses you right back to the Title Screen after the credits roll, that's a major bummer.

 

[Sysen]

I agree with hard mode dungeon

it's nice to see your character become super imba and defeatung imba enemies 

i only replayed the game if the game has two branching stories and endings, like radiata stories and ar tonelico

kinda off topic but, what i expect on favourite game's endgame is

"a clue that there's sequel, prequel or other series" like kingdom hearts 2 :>

 

[fm2107]

i like 2nd 3rd and 4th options, all three of them combined

 

[SuperMasterSword]

I personally usually just quit the game once I've beat the story, I beat the game, saved the world, and I finally feel content. However, if there's a bit more story to be revealed after the credits that's great, but I've never been much of a completionist so generally once the story is finished, I'm finished with the game.

 

[stupid enough to like FF13]

It all depends on how well it's done.

For example, Final Fantasy II on GBA and onward have a bonus mode, Soul of Rebirth, that involves several characters from the main game. It's hard as hell if you didn't prepare for it and kind of lazy for the dungeon design, but it has a neat story to it and links with the main story in a really interesting way. (And it reinforces how the Emperor is really the most badass Final Fantasy villain of all.) So I'm quite fond of it.

The GBA and onward releases of Final Fantasy IV has a dungeon that only opens up after you beat the final boss. But it's filled with enemies that are more annoying than difficult to defeat, tedious dungeon elements, and rewards that (given how strong your party would be at that point) are barely useful at best to being downright harmful to your own party at worst. And on top of that, there's no story to the dungeon whatsoever.

So it really depends on whether such content is interesting and/or challenging as opposed to tedious, both in gameplay and plot content.

 

[TheGamedawg]

One of my favorite things to do after a game's completion is the secret boss.  A fight stronger than any in the game!  I love having a true challenge to use all my end-game equipment on after I complete everything else.

 

[KawaiiKid]

I personally enjoy it when a game's final boss is exceedingly difficult. One that is hard enough that you can't just go to the last dungeon right away and win, where you'd have to level up more, collect loot from extra dungeons etc.

Edit: And my last boss, I mean the final boss of the story, not extra dungeons and what not.

 

[OM3GA-Z3RO]

Personally I only play games for the main story and if there is two branching sides to the story then I will replay it for the other ending, end games are not really my thing, although Dark Chronicles 2 did a good end game storyline.

 

[fish]

The closest thing on the vote is new game+ for me.

What I actually prefer varies depending on the game. When playing single player RPG games, I am mostly playing for the story. If the story has branches, then I'd likely replay it to see the alternative outcomes (provided that the story is good enough to make me replay it). If the story is linear, then replay would be unlikely.

If it's an action RPG, some sort of challenge mode will be nice.

For games that offer a lot of unique play styles (eg.skyrim), I'd try them all out once I'm done playing with one style.

 

[Haydeos]

The first game that comes to mind is the Might & Magic series...

It basically tells you "Yeah there's nothing else to do, go kill everyone with your shiny new laser guns!"

That's only fun for a few minutes though. I prefer stuff like Skyrim, where there's always something new to do, before or after the main story is complete!

 

[KoldBlood]

I know I'm pretty much alone in this but I really don't need anything other than for the game to be good/fun. I don't stop playing game just because I finished it once. I will play it again and again, depending on the length of the game I might play it often or I might take breaks between but I will definitely keep it and play it again at some point.

I've always hated the traditional concepts of "replay" value because it's always based on "oh well this game has x amount of extras" or "multiple endings!", etc. Don't get me wrong, I like that stuff, those are cool extras to have and can add to a great game but personally those things aren't what makes me replay a game.

The only thing I can think to compare it to is like a good movie or song: Sure you've seen the movie and know how it ends or you've listened to the song and know the lyrics to it but you still want to watch it or listen to it because it's good and you like it.

That's my philosophy with games. If I like the story, the characters, and/or the game play is really fun I'll keep coming back because I enjoy it but that might be because gaming is at the center of my hobbies and is my main form of recreation in my spare time (probably why I can't finish my own game, LOL). I mean I still have and play games on my Atari, NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Wii, Xbox, PS1, and PS2. And that's just my old gen systems.

Anyway, my long winded post aside, my answer is: If the game is fun, I don't need anything but the main game to bring back for another round.

 

[Wavelength]

Something I've noticed with my play recently - after I've completed a game once (and especially after I've completed it twice), I don't want to be forced to sit through plot any more.  If I'm still playing at this point, it's because I'm really digging the gameplay, and I want to be able to keep doing new and interesting things (or at least doing the same thing over and over) without watching a lot of story that I already know.  This tends to be why I like the "endless endgame" where you can run around the world you've saved and keep fighting/collecting/exploring, but at the very least I like my New Game Pluses to allow me to skip plot segments entirely and just play.

 

[Safgaftsa]

I play primarily for the story.  I love how Final Fantasy games play a few cutscenes, role the credits, and end right there.  It gives a good feeling of closure and finality that isn't there when you're left on the world map wondering "well, what about Emerald Weapon?"