It's The Little Things In Video Games

Couldn't find one so I thought a thread about small details you occasionally find in games that put a smile on your face would be nice. Anything from tiny movements in animations to a way boss fights are structured, it's all valid. Also it was because Krubix is probably going to kill me if he comes on here and finds me doing nothing but complaining about video games again.

One thing I love after finishing a game is at the end of the credits it comes up with "Thank you for playing" or anything along those lines. Something about it always adds a nice touch of character and care to the game overall for me. The way the Persona games and Catherine say "Well, have fun and enjoy the game" at the start after picking a difficulty made me smile every time too.

Subtle animations like idle Sonic are always great. My favorite is probably Ratchet when you try and make him do something he doesn't want to do. The animator really captured his dickish attitude. He looks obstinate and full of contempt. Like, "what the hell are you doing, idiot"?

I love all of the Apple products in MGS4. I especially love how you find tracks and you can build up your own collection to use on an iPod classic. Brilliant.

Bioware games are full of this stuff for me. Like a human throwing a bachelor party for a Salarian in ME2 even though the Salarian's explaining he doesn't get horny like humans do or how your companions will occasionally have conversations in Kotor or ME.

Good topic.

Idle animations is something I tend to notice especially for NPCs. You will think I'm picking a fight with this but I promise I'm not but I liked how Elizabeth in Infinite was programmed to go look at shit and react in the environment. For some reason when characters and party members just latch on to you like they're part of a human train (think FFVIII) it gets under my skin so when I see stuff like Ni No Kuni where the characters lag a little bit (at least in towns) or go off and do their own thing I think it's cool.

Also satisfying level up noises.

I love how races in F-Zero start, with the camera zooming in from a bird's-eye view and that rising music cue.

On animations: I love how there are little folds on the ground in Tearaway that flatten out when you step on them.

There's also nothing better than a good feeling shotgun. You know, the ones that go beyond simply BEING powerful to make you feel like a badass every time you use it.

In modern indie games, I like to get the feeling that the developer actually likes videogames. A game doesn't have to be "fun" to be enjoyable but when it feels like the creators are ashamed of videogames (Dear Esther) there's no way to enjoy it. It applies to games that are overly cinematic, too

One really simple thing I really like is when you're going up stairs and if you look your character actually has their feet on each step and not just some slope.

Games where the first boss just becomes a regular enemy later on always get me hyped as fuck, as do games where you fight a recurring boss all the way to the end.

ajapam wrote:
There's also nothing better than a good feeling shotgun. You know, the ones that go beyond simply BEING powerful to make you feel like a badass every time you use it.

Landing a solid hit with one of these was the most satisfying fucking thing in any shooter ever. Most if not all the Killzone 2 guns had such an amazing feeling.

I can't think of any gaming-wide ones more just specific ones. I like the sound effects when sneaking in Sly. I like how animals are combos of different earth ones in the Jak games (it makes it fun to see which would pop up next). Pulling your self up a ledge with a handstand in Tomb Raider or doing tumbles and stuff down long hallways.

I like when FIFA gets goal celebrations right for players.

pspiddy wrote: My favorite is probably Ratchet when you try and make him do something he doesn't want to do. The animator really captured his dickish attitude. He looks obstinate and full of contempt. Like, "what the hell are you doing, idiot"?

I think I've missed out on this. Can you give an example?

The different animations after beating a castle in Super Mario World.

Mot wrote:I think I've missed out on this. Can you give an example?

I don't remember which exact game (maybe all of them?) but I kept trying to go through doors or something and he kept shaking his head "no". Maybe Trip or Bret can be more specific because they've put more time in the series than I have. I'm thinking it may be Going Commando since I've played so much of that I'm close to a plat.

I really like how when you finished your drink in Catherine, it gave you a little bit of trivia about the drink you had just finished. It was a really neat little thing.

Besides that, I also really like having a regular place to frequently return to. It's even better if you can then talk with the party. It was one of my favourite things in Dragon Age: Origins.

Having all your abilities and equipment just completely taken away from you suddenly is pretty damn awesome if it's done right. Suddenly having to rely on raw ability and going back to basics, using the knowledge you've gained to proceed instead of gadgets or OP as fuck weapons is really satisfying.

Waggy wrote:
Besides that, I also really like having a regular place to frequently return to. It's even better if you can then talk with the party. It was one of my favourite things in Dragon Age: Origins.

What's even better if that safe place ends up being changed or massively destroyed at some part in the game. Always makes it feel like shit got really serious.