It depends, because I’ve found that certain aspects I thought were me being a nit-picking dick were actually major gripes that the gaming community had with games, and some that I considered major issues were virtually unheard of when I started complaining to people about them.
One of the first ones that comes to mind is an immersion issue that most people love about certain games that I just can’t stand. I was told for months to check out Elden Ring. I’ve never played any of the Souls games or anything else by that studio, but I was told that I technically didn’t have to in order to understand the game. Wrong. Y’all that have played it know why… I got fucked up by the dude on the horse not far from the spawn point at the beginning of the game. Why, you ask? Because I saw that bastard off in the distance and figured he was alone and would make a good target to learn the controls. Apparently it was a common mistake players made if they simply went the wrong direction. So… why not at least point the player in the right one? Now, I’m well aware that I need to “get gud” and all, but, to start a game off with zero direction and call it immersion just seems silly to me. It’s like playing Pong without being told which side of the screen to look at and having to figure it out on your own. Sure, it can be easily done, but, I always saw that kind of element as a lazy way to immerse the player.
Another issue for me is a complicated or restrictive inventory system. In my opinion, no one does a better job at simplifying a large inventory than Bethesda. Some go the route of making a restrictive system, so you have to make choices early on about what you want to carry. Others go the route of letting you pick up everything and bury it all under layer upon layer of inventory pages, which is simply too much for me. I like a balanced inventory system, and it’s increasingly difficult for me to find a game that meets that criteria for me.
Crafting. Can we figure out a uniform crafting system kinda like how we all agreed that R2 was the accelerator pedal? Do I need a workbench? Can I craft a nuclear bomb out of my backpack? Do I need a hammer? Why does an arrow need branches and metal shards in Horizon Zero Dawn but sticks and bone in another game? I’m tired of asking myself these dumbass questions every time I start a new game.
