Video games for someone who hates video games

SccHarpGirl · 01-27-2011, 02:44 PM

I know, the title is something of a contradiction in terms...but here's my story.

So my parents didn't believe in having video games in the house. i was 23 before I ever played a video game for more than a few minutes at a party. I was 24 before I beat a game for the first time. I've never played Mario, Donkey Kong, or any of the games that most normal people grew up with.

I have the aptitude of a sea slug for video games. I lost to a two year old at Super Smash Bros. I also find next to no enjoyment out of them. Unfortunately, someone important to me loves them, and it's becoming increasingly apparent to me that I'm going to have to figure out a way to be at least basically proficient in them. The problem is, I've yet to really find a game that I enjoy. So I figured, if you folks would be kind enough to help me out, I would really appreciate it.

So here are the games I've played, what I liked and didn't like about them, and any recommendations for games I might enjoy would be much appreciated. All I have in terms of systems is a PS2.

*Final Fantasy 1,2,4, and 5 - likes: I like that someone who works a controller like a chimpanzee attempting to work a cell phone can manage to be somewhat successful at it. dislikes: These games were incredibly repetitive. It's like, you fight the same battle over and over and over...yes, the graphics might change, the location might change, but essentially you're doing the same thing for hundreds of mind-numbing minutes. I also took a look at Final Fantasy tactics, but it seemed to be all I didn't like about the earlier final fantasies, coupled with a complicated enough system that I just couldn't figure it out.

*Megaman (whatever the earliest one was). - this was just an all around disaster. I couldn't even get past the first screen.

*Gauntlet Legends - I liked this one the best out of the games I played. Yes, it was crazy repetitive and boring in spots, but it was multi player, which was kind of nice because I had someone to save me from myself when I would do stupid things, and eventually I started getting better. It was also not overloaded with options and choices, something I dislike.

I also don't mind arcade games (pacman, etc), but I can only do them for a little bit before I get bored.

So a couple questions...

Is it too late for me to be good at/enjoy video games? It is one of those things you kind of have to get experience with early in life in order to appreciate?

Are there any games that I might actually like? Something that has some strategy to it, but not enough to be overly complex or overwhelming...something that mixes it up enough not to be boring, but isn't too hard for someone who has trouble telling the buttons apart on the controller, and usually gives up on a game if it uses R1, R2, L1, and L2?

Anyway, sorry for the rambling post! Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks!
Noelle

**thesteve** · 01-27-2011, 02:55 PM

Honestly,

My advice, especially as cheap as they are these days, would be to ditch the PS2 and get a Wii. I feel like someone like you, with little gaming experience, would really love Nintendo's basic interactive stuff like Wii Sports.

SccHarpGirl · 01-27-2011, 03:17 PM

I definitely plan on getting a Wii but probably won't be able to until May (various reasons). ...glad to know I'll be able to find fun stuff on there, though

Unfortunately I'm under a bit of pressure (made a deal with someone to try to get better at games) so I'd really like to be able to find something for the ps2, if possible.

Thanks, though

**thesteve** · 01-27-2011, 03:35 PM

The problem is that "better at games" is ultra-vague. What I mean by this is that I'm really good at Tetris, but I'm pretty mediocre at Starcraft.

That being said...if they have it for PS2...Tetris. Also, if you enjoy racing at all, the Gran Turismo line might be worth checking out. I really loved GT2 for PS1.

**Shift** · 01-27-2011, 03:42 PM

X-Men Legends is an awesome multiplayer game. Very similar to Gauntlet. I'm sure you could get through it just mashing a couple moves and forgoing the more complex combos too.

**Skeeter** · 01-27-2011, 05:13 PM

The LEGO games are superb and are available on the PS2. Dying doesn't end the level, so there's a lot of forgiveness for when you mess up. You can also play two-player for when you need help getting past a certain puzzle. The second player can jump in and drop out at any point during a level. I really think they would be ideal. LEGO Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Batman are amazingly fun and you should be able to find at least one of them for a good price used at a local game shop.

***Art*** · 01-27-2011, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeeter

The LEGO games are superb and are available on the PS2. Dying doesn't end the level, so there's a lot of forgiveness for when you mess up. You can also play two-player for when you need help getting past a certain puzzle. The second player can jump in and drop out at any point during a level. I really think they would be ideal. LEGO Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Batman are amazingly fun and you should be able to find at least one of them for a good price used at a local game shop.

Seconded. Those games have great crossover appeal.

Giga Hertz · 01-27-2011, 06:50 PM

If you really want to immerse yourself in things you've missed over the years, you could download some old DOS games onto your computer. :P

SccHarpGirl · 01-28-2011, 12:33 PM

Thanks all for your great suggestions!

@thesteve I guess by getting better at games, what I really mean is be able to play games when people come over to hang out. Right now, I pretty much won't hang out with people playing video games at all, because I've had far too many humiliating experiences and let's face it, they are boring/annoying to watch. So what I mean by "getting better" is be able to play with other people and at least have some idea what I'm doing.

@others I vaguely remember playing indiana jones lego at a party some time ago, and finding it pretty fun...but I assumed it was just for kids. I think I might try to obtain those sometime. I also do like racing games, so I might check out the Gran Turismo games as well.

@Gigahertz unfortunately, it was the "back to basics" approach - the person who wants me to play games insisted I work my way up to the more modern games, starting with the first final fantasies and megaman, so I would appreciate what we have now - was what moved my opinion on video games from apathy to outright dislike...so I think I might go try to find some of the old games...after I've found a reason to play in the first place

Thanks so much everyone

doulos14 · 01-28-2011, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SccHarpGirl

Thanks all for your great suggestions!

@thesteve I guess by getting better at games, what I really mean is be able to play games when people come over to hang out. Right now, I pretty much won't hang out with people playing video games at all, because I've had far too many humiliating experiences and let's face it, they are boring/annoying to watch. So what I mean by "getting better" is be able to play with other people and at least have some idea what I'm doing.

@others I vaguely remember playing indiana jones lego at a party some time ago, and finding it pretty fun...but I assumed it was just for kids. I think I might try to obtain those sometime. I also do like racing games, so I might check out the Gran Turismo games as well.

@Gigahertz unfortunately, it was the "back to basics" approach - the person who wants me to play games insisted I work my way up to the more modern games, starting with the first final fantasies and megaman, so I would appreciate what we have now - was what moved my opinion on video games from apathy to outright dislike...so I think I might go try to find some of the old games...after I've found a reason to play in the first place

Thanks so much everyone

My 2 cents about gran turismo, is while they are great games, they would not be great for first time video gamers. They are the most realistic driving games hence why some call them driving simulators and would make it hard. Games like Burnout or the need for speed series are easier to handle and probably more fun. The lego games are quite fun, by all means get those.

mulletman · 01-28-2011, 03:41 PM

I'm not sure about Gran Turismo... but I know Forza has a host of driver nannies to make things easier. Turn on the traction control, stability control, recommended line, and auto-brake.... and you can point-and-shoot your way through anything. It makes things very n00b friendly.

Giga Hertz · 01-28-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

@Gigahertz unfortunately, it was the "back to basics" approach - the person who wants me to play games insisted I work my way up to the more modern games, starting with the first final fantasies and megaman, so I would appreciate what we have now - was what moved my opinion on video games from apathy to outright dislike...so I think I might go try to find some of the old games...after I've found a reason to play in the first place

Please. There is no way you'd dislike Monkey Island or Commander Keen.

**dogfood** · 01-28-2011, 04:46 PM

used to love playing Red Alert on the PS1

**slap_j** · 01-28-2011, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SccHarpGirl

the person who wants me to play games insisted I work my way up to the more modern games, starting with the first final fantasies and megaman, so I would appreciate what we have now - was what moved my opinion on video games from apathy to outright dislike

Yeah. Final Fantasy and Mega Man are not good games to start out on. They're both pretty hardcore.

Giga Hertz is right about Monkey Island. Funny writing. Decent story. No complicated control schemes or crazy skills required. I would purchase it through Steam.

Giga Hertz · 01-28-2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slap_j

Yeah. Final Fantasy and Mega Man are not good games to start out on. They're both pretty hardcore.

Giga Hertz is right about Monkey Island. Funny writing. Decent story. No complicated control schemes or crazy skills required. I would purchase it through Steam.

The first SE was pretty good. Then they completely changed the controls in the second one. It ticked me off.

If you do get them, switch it to classic mode.

:P