The Small Things in Games We Like

[PsychicTaco115]

Fellow Escapists, has there ever been a small feature in a game, that if removed by the developers, just takes away a small bit of fun?

For example, the emblem creator in Call of Duty:Black Ops was a really neat addition to the game, that was scrapped in MW3. I don't know why, but I just enjoyed being able to create a personal logo, it gave me a sense of ownership.

So what small features in games do (or did) you like in games?

 

[Nouw]

Character Customization. One of the many reasons why I love Halo:Reach so much.

 

[ChupathingyX]

The Deck of 52 member profiles in Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction.

The profiles were taken away in Mercenaries 2 and hunting HVTs ended up being less fun, plus the fact that you were given their exact location and didn't have to hunt them down anymore like in the first game.

 

[Vegosiux]

Well, pretty much any fun easter egg, anywhere.
The thrash compactor in ME2.
Noober and Lilarcor in BG.
The Malkavian stop sign and TV reports in VTM Bloodlines.
Throwing the Adoring Fan off Dive Rock in OB.

Stuff like that.

 

[RedFeather1975]

I like jumping. Games that don't have a jump just make me want to jump so bad.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Character Customization. One of the many reasons why I love Halo:Reach so much.

I loved the armor editing in Reach. Not only can I use my pink Spartan in MP but in SP as well?! It is Madness and yet it is wonderful!

---

Grenades and, weapon mods from Mass Effect. Snipers in ME1 were already over-powered but adding explosive rounds just makes the game unfair to the enemies. I also think I'm the only person who liked the fact that anybody could use grenades in the first ME game.

I loved the fishing mini-game in Ocarina of Time...and Animal Crossing too although fishing is arguably more vital in AC than it was in OoT.

 

[Strain42]

I know this is gonna sound like I'm just quoting Yahtzee, but I actually do like when story and gameplay find a way to combine. I also like characters coming across in their fighting.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. There's a video game called Persona 3. I enjoy this game.

One character is named Junpei. He uses giant swords for his weapon. His character is basically the lovable goofball sidekick. However, when he enters battle, he's not suddenly a skilled samurai with these swords. He swings it like a baseball bat. I like this because it fits who he is. He's a 16 year old high school student. He's probably never handled a sword in his life.

Another character named Akihiko is a member of the boxing team. Akihiko is left handed, and they actually designed his fighting animation to be a left handed boxing style, which actually differs from if you give your protagonist boxing gloves ('cause he's right handed)

Little touches like that are the sort of thing I really enjoy seeing.

 

[triggrhappy94]

People reacting the way they should when I shoot them in the face.
Not to be one of those crazy people, but it's alittle annoying when I take the time to line up the shot and the person doesn't die awesomely.

 

[Loner Jo Jo]

I've always noticed water in games for some reason. Not only how it looks, if it's realistic or not which I've heard is a hard feat to accomplish graphically, but also if a character is wet when getting out of the water. It's not much, but it's a neat little thing I've always paid attention to.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Feeding and playing with the cat in No More Heroes.

Nothing kicks off driving to an assassination mission like waving a feather around for her to bat at.

 

[Cranky]

Armor customization and fleshed-out characters.