Game Design Elements Warranting Strappado

[thedoclc]

I did a quick search, hoping to make sure I wasn't producing a duplicate thread, and was surprised this topic hadn't been opened yet.

What elements are so bad that there is no excuse for ever including them in a game?

I'll nominate cut scenes that cannot be skipped. No matter how long the scene is, there will generally be someone interested in watching it. However, on replay at the very least and on a first run in almost every game, they should be optional. No matter how good a cut scene is, I'll sometimes want to get back to the action and skip the exposition. No matter how bad it is, I won't hold it too much against a game if I can just get back to good game play.

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

I think I'll second unskippable cutscenes. If I want to watch it I'll watch it. If you force me to watch it I'll hate you.

And before the army of QTE haters appear, I'll go on record saying I like them in small doses ;-)

 

[Xhumed]

Ill third unskipable cutscenes, especially ones right before difficult missions that you have to wade through every. single. sodding. time. GTA:VC, im looking at you and that bloody exploding limo mission.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

fixed camera (in platformers)

some spots in Super Mario Galaxy really made me say: "Turn you damn lakitu."

note: I still think of a Mario game's camera as being held by a lakitu.