Poll: Lower expectations = better game and experience?

[LaMer]

I thought the first Dead Space was mediocre, so I had some low expectations for the sequel. I gave Dead Space 2 a rent. Now, it rivals both Mass Effect 2 and Saints Row 2 as my favorite game of all time. Is it because I wasn't expecting much? Had I expected it to be my new favorite game, would it have been?

What games have you had a better experience with because you didn't expect much?

 

[Vampire cat]

Of course expectation affects the experience. Does it make it better? Not necessarily. I've found games to be good/bad regardless of what I expected. I guess it has some influence on the "severity" of like/dislike, but not beyond that.

 

[RatRace123]

Some of the best games I've played have been ones that I knew virtually nothing about save for a review or reccomendation that praised it.

I'd say for the most part yes, expectations can affect your perception of a game.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Remembering the pre-internet age I can't say that expectations will make or break a game. As a kid, I rented an Ultraman game on the SNES, knowing nothing of the title. Disappointment. My first Zelda was Link to the Past of which I knew nothing. Loved it.

Expectations may play a role in whether or not you enjoy a game but I don't think it holds that much sway in weather or not you like or dislike the game.

 

[Daymo]

This happened for me with world in conflict. I picked it up on a whim in a steam sale expecting it to be okay, but not that great as I don't like RTT's, but it's probably one of my favorite games of all time.

It's not always the case though, I had super high expectations for MGS4 and I absolutly love that game as well.

 

[TheXRatedDodo]

Removing expectation from the equation should lead you to be able to judge a game with a clearer head, not make you get complacent and start accepting shitty games as good ones.

 

[Verlander]

Yes, although my expectations are fairly low, and I'm still frequently disappointed. The business side of games appears to be removing all of the fun out of games. Fuck graphics, just make it work!

 

[Casual Shinji]

Expectations only effects your gaming experience in the short term. Unless ofcourse you have an insane, unattainable level of expectation.

But if a game is good and within your rang of taste, you're going to like it regardless of expectation. You might be somewhat disappointed at first that it doesn't reach for the moon, but as soon as the initial impact has dwindled you'll appreciate its true value. [sub]Almost sounds like a fortune cookie.[/sub]

 

[Mr. Grey]

Truth be told, I'm not sure.

I can't honestly remember a moment when hype ever killed a game for me. Usually I forget any hype I've had when the game is in my hands, never managed to figure out how it happens much less explain it. Generally my mind escapes whatever longing there was in the past and just sinks into the game, whatever problems I have are influenced little by hype.

I suppose the best way to explain it is that I want to experience it. I don't put it in that high of a regard, but I honestly can't wait to play the game as it comes out. What they talk about may get my imagination roaring, but for some reason that never comes into play when I'm... well, playing the game. So really, have it good or bad never really concerned me, it's more the curiosity of what it is and what its gameplay will be like when it's released that matters.

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

I think the reason Halo is so hated is because it's overhyped.

That said, it was awesome to play through the first three Halos for the first time back-to-back, because the graphics were just incredible to me when I got to Halo 3.

 

[Estoki]

In my experience, yes, I went into Shadow of Chernobyl barely knowing what to expect and had tons of fun with it.
On the other hand, I hyped the shit out of Mirrors Edge and it turned out to be a huge disappointment.

It could just be the fact that one is a universally well-received game and the other is generally accepted as mediocre, though.

 

[FinalHeart95]

Absolutely. If you're surprised by the good things you remember them more, thus having a better overall memory of the game. If you're expecting them you simply think "well, it SHOULD be this good anyway!".

 

[Ordinaryundone]

It usually only works in one direction for me, in the "I didn't know anything about this game and was pleasantly surprised" sort of way. Metro 2033, Red Dead Revolver, and Saint's Row 2 were the two most recent examples of this. I bought Metro on a whim because the box art looked cool, RDR because I remembered kinda liking Revolver back on the PS2, and Saint's Row 2 on a friend's recommendation (he said it was more like San Andreas than GTAIV was, which appealed to me).

I've had a couple of times where my hype led to some disappointment, but I've never really stopped liking a game because of it. For example, I was SUPER hyped for GTAIV, and while I still love the game I remembered being a little disappointed in all the little things that I felt didn't live up to San Andreas.

 

[Dexiro]

I've never known hype to ruin a game for me completely. I mean sometimes I might be hyped for a game that's inherently bad, but I've never hated a good game for not being perfect.

There have been a few games where I was disappointed initially because my expectations were wrong. Like my friends were hyping up Fallout 3 to be an FPS and I was a bit annoyed to find it was an RPG, despite the fact I prefer RPG's - It's just not nice buying a game and not getting what you expected.

It's hard to say whether low expectations for a sequel would improve my experience because most sequels are better games anyway.

 

[DustyDrB]

Not a bit. I might be so happy to finally be playing a game that I've been waiting on that I enjoy it a little more, but that's all expectations do.

I can listen to all the hype in the world and it won't have an effect on me. If I like or don't like a game, it's because of the quality of the game itself.

 

[Zhukov]

No, not really.

For example, I went into Portal having heard a ton of praise, knowing the end and all the plot twists. I was still blown away by how good it was.

 

[Rarhnor]

No. Went in to The Force Unleashed with rather low expectations (closer to not having any at all). I closed and deleted the game after 20 minutes of gameplay.

 

[Shepard's Shadow]

It does to a certain extent.

I gave Dead Space 2 a rent. Now, it rivals both Mass Effect 2 and Saints Row 2 as my favorite game of all time.

Those two sentence are shocking; well, more the second then the first. Have you played the last level of Dead Space 2? That is just unfairly hard.

 

[D33dl3]

yes and it works for movies to ......

 

[Epslion.Bear]

Yes

Viva pinata

When I first saw it I thought it would be a crappy kids game
but its not.

And addictive.

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