God Mode: the paradox of a game.

Ironically, I find MMORPGs suffer from this issue, although in a different way. It seems like for the entire game, you try to get the highest levels, the best skills, the most powerful equipment, and complete as many quests as possible. Your entire game existance is basically spent getting more powerful...and then in the end, once you're the most powerful character you can possibly be...what's the point? There's no more reason to advance when you've reached the top, the world of possibility you saw when you were weak turns into looking down and seeing that everything is below you. Sure, you can complete a few quests or go adventuring with a bunch of other high-level characters, but why bother when there's no more reason for advancement? Even though you did spend time earning the "god mode" status, once you reach that stage it does kinda seem as pointless and empty as if you've used cheats in a game.

I guess I prefer games that are a combination of growth and skill. To use Monster Hunter as an example: at the start of the game you don't know how to fight properly, and the equipment you begin with is pitiful at best. But as you play the game, you understand the combat system and enemies more, as well as devise strategies and find more efficient ways to take down monsters, and your equipment improves along with you so that your new skills can be put to good use. I guess I like games that have a balance between in-game advancement and player skill: you should be forced to advance both of them equally in order for the game to be truely rewarding. When you do something that grossly unbalances one aspect, the game seems to loose it's purpose. The "God mode" paradox certainly causes that to happen.

On another note, I found Gun had one of the most confusing rewards ever related to this. After you clear every quest in the game, you get a special gun which is super-powerful and can basically be used to lay waste to anything. Only problem is, you've cleared every quest and have nothing to use it on.

Jam it back in, in the dark.