[General Discussion] Games Worth FINISHING (Yes, so beating...TO THE END)

So, I am betting ninety-nine percent of you are like me. You have a stack of games that you 'swear' you'll go through at some point or another. You get a game, play it for a while, get bored/occupied, then place it on the 'to do' list as another game takes it place.

Usually.

Now, on occasion, there IS that special game that for one reason or another, you have completed. That one game that when you finished, you say, "That was well worth playing from beginning to end". What are those games? Why? Keep in mind that you want to focus more on the games that you beat because you liked beating it rather than just for the sake of beating it.

Here are some games that immediately come to mind for me:

Zelda - Minish Cap - The storyline is pretty standard but the gameplay is tight. There are several new items in the game and the puzzles range from easy to medium for the most part. Boss battles are fairly easy after a few rounds figuring out what to do and how to do it. The music is superb, the graphics have a wonderful look to it, and the game entices you to just keep playing to the end. You just WANT to make it to the end.

Final Fantasy Tactics - A wonderful story, a wonderful soundtrack, and a wonderfully made battle engine. While after leveling your characters you can become basically unbeatable at a certain point, it is fun to slow build up everyone to gain a variety of skills. While the battles aren't that difficult (save for one dungeon IF you are trying to get certain items, ugh), the game still flows nicely and you'll most likely enjoy the battles. The animations for spells, attacks, etc are done well although thankfully there is an option to skip animations. The game's leveling system is also very fun as you can build your guys up (and down if you are clever) to supe up their stats to crazy levels. This is especially useful with jobs as one you master them, you can combine them for some interesting combinations.

Chrono Trigger - Decent graphics at the time, wonderful story, wonderful cast of characters, and some innovation concerning time travel, combo attacks, and other things. The battle engine is not super deep but does have some interesting characteristics in particular the combo system. Time travel plays a huge part and can lead to some interesting developments both small and large in the game. Of course, one of the most well known features of the game is the New Game + in which you are ENCOURAGED to beat the game not once, but over and over again at certain points to get different endings.

Final Fantasy 6 - Decent graphics, decent story (although halfway through the game it doesn't pack as much punch), a wonderful cast of characters, a wonderful battle system, among many other things. The story itself is fairly innovative at it's time, and is compelling at least halfway through. After that, some might say that the story becomes a bit lacking although I have felt that the story still holds up...it's just the story is presented in a different way. The battle system is decent in which everyone has the ability to fight, run, use an item, use magic, and use a special skill. The special skills vary but are fairly useful for the most part. The magic system is prettyadvanced for it's time because what Esper you learn can invariable affect your stats as your character grows stronger. This leads to some long-term planning, and also keeping a close eye on each of your characters to know just when to do what so they get the most out of using Espers. Oh, and speaking of Espers, not only do they help you learn spells, but they also grant an attack, some more useful than others. The music for the game is superb and even fourteen years later still stands up. One can only imagine what it would be like if they remade it for the NDS and redid the music.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I'm going to agree with CT, FFT, and FF VI for all the reasons you listed. Though I'm adding "simply one of the prettier SNES endings" to the FF VI reasoning.

Suikoden I, II, and V - Why all listed together? Well, because they all get the same reasoning. Connected characters from games I already love. Wonderful stories, interesting people to meet, a varied cast... and did I mention the fucking amazing stories? Rise and fall of empires, building an army, overthrowing governments, and all in a world that flows and is connected... great. Just great.

Monkey Island. Any of them. All of them. Doesn't matter - This doesn't even need an explanation. I found the treasure of Big Whoop and all I got was this lousy t-shirt. HILARIOUS. These games are a bloody riot. Anyone who says otherwise is a communist.

Earthbound - Quirky, quirky, quirky. And on top of great music and great gameplay, it, again, has a wonderful ending. It's worth beating just to see the final battle play out.

Secret of Mana - This game just demanded my attention from start to finish. it grabbed me by the collar and kept me glued to my television. The music, the gameplay, the story... it all came together into one of the best games ever made. This one is pretty much just a given.

Dragon Force - Sure, the gameplay is great, the dialogue was wonderful, but the driving force behind this making my list is the story. You just... really want to figure out what the fuck Madruk is up to. That evil, twisted bastard. The story on this one hooks you from the opening FMV and just never lets up an inch.

There's a ton more, but I'll leave them for other people. That handful will do for now.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Terranigma. Everyone who's beat it knows what I'm talking about, and everyone who doesn't had better get on that. I'm not kidding. Right now. One of the best endings I've ever seen in any game I've ever played.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Denicalis

I found the treasure of Big Whoop and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.

It was the treasure of Melee Island that turned out to be a t-shirt, not Big Whoop.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Someone sneak another JRPG in, quick.

Thief - There are three games in the series and they all range from spectacular to respectable. The game has an art direction that cannot be beat and a well told story that manages to remain consistent even in the face of a long absence. They are all worth finishing because few games manage to make gameplay and story merge so seamlessly. Given that the third and final game in the series does provide something called "closure", it's worth an investment as a game series based solely on that.

Freespace - The last great space-sim on the PC. With Freespace 1 you are exposed to a plot that places mankind on the brink of annihilation, against an unstoppable enemy that forces two former foes to unite. Even united, the two species are always out-gunned and scraping for every inch and trying to gain every advantage they can in the face of certain annihilation.

Freespace 2 ups the ante with even better missions and a plot that expands on the previous game, giving many answers but leaving several more by end game. With a story that can be seen as obvious inspiration to the game Mass Effect, and excellent gameplay to match, there's no reason not to finish this tragically discontinued series of games.

Tetris - Oh.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Diss

Terranigma. Everyone who's beat it knows what I'm talking about, and everyone who doesn't had better get on that. I'm not kidding. Right now. One of the best endings I've ever seen in any game I've ever played.

Gah I reached so far on that game when playing on my PSP but there was something wrong with the ROM file I was using that it would crash at this certain point of the game.

Anyways, yea I got a shit load of games which I haven't played yet cause I keep playing the MGS games and FFVIII over and over again. Right now I'm playing FFVIII and I know as soon as I beat it I will start playing some MGS game or start playing FFVIII all over again.


Some of the games that I think are worth playing till the end are:

Final Fantasy VIII - Best game ever made, great story line, the best soundtrack, and a great battle system and stfu, yes the battle system is great. The ending is just perfect without any sad drama bullshit, that would never require a sequal.

Metal Gear Solid 1 (both PS1 and GC) - The storyline is amazing, the gameplay is great as well.

Metal Gear Solid 2 - Again, great gameplay and storyline.

Metal Gear Solid 3 - A masterpiece.

Resident Evil 4 - The first Resident Evil game I played which made me get into the series. The graphics are pretty good, and I liked how the characters didn't have a corny script.

Chrono Trigger - I liked the soundtrack, it didn't annoy me and make me want to hurry up and get out of a certain place due to it. An interesting storyline, not the best but it was the type that makes you want to finish the game to the end to find out what happens, so it is kind of nice.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Mass Effect - The story line just sucked me in and wouldn't let go. I had to see it through towards the and I was greatly rewarded. The ending was set up perfectly where it wasn't a complete cliffhanger but left it completely open to so many possibilities for the upcoming sequel. It had its minor issues here and there but the overall package really delivered.

Assassin's Creed - Curiously, I liked the experience though the ending left a lot to be desired and I'm still put off by the sci-fi twists and questionable gameplay choices. Either way it's a solid experience that must be tried at least once just for the sheer fact that the game is beautiful and it's damn fun to run around climbing on everything.

Psychonauts - Another game that grabbed me storyline wise and I had to see it through. I've never played a Tim Schafer game up until that point and I have been missing out severely. While possessing fairly typical gameplay elements the level design, characters, dialog and story more than made up for its short comings. Despite owning it, I'll probably download it from Xbox Live in order to support it and play through a second time.

FELIPE NO

Earthbound - This game is so weird, and in a good way. I'm actually having a rerun of the game right now, and I can still say I love it as much as the first time I played it. I'm right now not in Moonside

Terranigma - I just have to agree with Diss, the ending and overall story in this game is amazing. I love how the actual world in this game is like our world, at least in terms of geography and such.

Chrono Trigger - This game has a special place in my heart. When I play this game, some kind of magic envelops me and I can't stop playing it. There are so many moments in this game where gameplay, story and music mixes into a pool of awesome that I just have to take a dip in.

Dang, I have to go, but I'll add in some more games later. But haha, I'm such a SNES RPG nut

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I find some real challenging games can be most satisfying to play through and beat. Sure, a nice story ending and a fun cutscene are cool, but the sense of accomplishment some games give when you run through them tops all of that. While some hard games I'm just glad to beat, and think, "I'm glad that shit is over with," (I'm looking at you, TMNT), some others are fun to beat the whole way through because of how the gameplay is.

Punch Out - A lot of these fights are great tests of reflexes. I remember jumping on the couch when I was younger and first beat this, my heart was racing. This game still gets my adrenaline pumping with how intense the last fight is. I love pulling this game out every so often just to test my finger speed.

Mega Man games - This goes for most of the main ones, and some of the X games. I've beaten most of them dozens of times, and they're always fun. The open process of tinkering with the boss order keeps the first half of the game interesting. And then the end always has that gauntlet of bosses before the final battle is fun.

Lunar: Silver Star Story - This was the first time I played a game and didn't want to beat it. It wasn't due to any problem with the game, I just wasn't ready for the story to end when it wrapped up. The characters had grabbed hold of me so tightly and wound me into that story, I just wanted it all to keep going. No other game has ever had that effect on me. And the ending pulls everything together, and wraps it all up in the right way. As far as story and characters go, this game has always been tops for me.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

For me. It's mostly in the character development, storyline & gameplay that make me want to see the game to the end.

Such is the case with the following;

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
- Interesting Plotline
- Character interaction
- Cool characters (among them: Boyd, Edward, Jill, Callil, Ike, Sothe, Micaiah, Muarim, Tormod & Nolan)
- Very challenging
- Super attacks, in the form of character specific criticals and normal Critical attacks

Final Fantasy VII
- Introduction of FMVs
- Super attacks
- Interesting Magic system
- Cool characters (Cloud, Zack, Cait Sith, Aeris & Barret)
- Plotline

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Super Metroid - Over and over and over and over and over again.


The play control and overall ambience in this game is fantastic. Definitely one of my most favorite games of all time.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Planescape Torment annoyingly switches to a combat heavy hack 'n slash towards the end, but it's worth sticking all the way through. If you've been paying attention all the way through, the entire ending sequence is absolutely worth the price of admission, as it ties everything together.

It also earns a ton of bonus points for being pretty much the only game I've ever seen where you not only don't have to fight the last boss, it's the only way to get the good ending - and there's three different ways to do so. Though, actually fighting the last boss is kinda fun too, if you brought Dak'kar. The ending itself is a little lame, but the end segment is utter brilliance.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Just about all of the LucasArts games are worth beating, but I have a special soft spot for Grim Fandango's ending. The final gameplay sequence is very dark and intense, and leads into a fitting but very bittersweet final cutscene--totally appropriate for the brilliant game it accompanies.

Fallout 1 and 2 both have great finales as well. In the same vein as Planescape, you don't have to fight either final boss if you're clever, and the way each area has an ending that is tailored to your actions there is spot-on. Fallout 1 also has one of the saddest ARPG endings, and the sequel lets you continue to roam the game (and get the hint book!) afterwards.

Is there a place in the thread for worst endings? While I loved both FFVII and BG&E, I felt that their endings were far too truncated and open to do justice to the games that had preceeded them. Especially BG&E, which was left gaping for a sequel that will never arrive.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I remember fully enjoying all of Okami, from beginning to end. I enjoyed the story (though I don't know much about Japanese mythology, so, I don't know how much of that is actually based off of real legends and such), the art style was gorgeous, and the whole game was just fun to play (with only a few minor slipups... Then again, I hate fishing in ANY game.)


Also, Xenogears. Anyone who's played the game all the way through would know. Amazing story... although it got super convoluted near the end. But, I thought the ending itself was awesome (gotta commend that voice acting, haha), and that it was worthwhile to sink 70 hours into.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Okay, yeah, duh. I forgot about Fallout. Hell, you can beat both games without ever resorting to violence at all, although playing a diplomacy ninja strikes me as a rather boring way to play through the game.

Also, I'm not sure I'd cite Psychonauts as a game to play all the way through. Of course you're going to want to see the end of the game, but the Meat Circus is NOT WORTH IT. Seriously, the water trap part at the end is just kick you in the balls over and over shitty NES platformer hard. And the last boss is more of an interactive cutscene than anything you actually play. The game so abruptly nosedives from awesome to suck that I say play up to the Meat Circus, then cheat and watch the ending on Youtube.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Diss

Terranigma. Everyone who's beat it knows what I'm talking about, and everyone who doesn't had better get on that. I'm not kidding. Right now. One of the best endings I've ever seen in any game I've ever played.

Terranigma was great all around, and I totally regret the US not getting it when it first came out. The presentation was excellent pretty much throughout the whole game, but the ending really shines. I really like Illusion of Gaia, but Terranigma is the best thing Quintet has done by far.

And I'm gonna throw in Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter. I wouldn't even call it my favorite of the series, but the ending really does the game justice. Where BoFIII pretty much hit its climax before the last boss, and BoFIV's ending was severely rushed, BoFDQ shows what Capcom can do given the time frame. If the game itself doesn't thrill you (some people had an issue with the whole D-ratio countdown-to-death timer and limited saving), get a FAQ ready so you can beat it all in one attempt. You'll be won over by the ending, and it makes the whole experience worthwhile.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Nall

And I'm gonna throw in Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter. I wouldn't even call it my favorite of the series, but the ending really does the game justice.

To be honest, I love the game and all... but that whole ending just made me feel really awkward. I found myself wishing his fate wasn't handled so abruptly. I mean, hell of an ending but... that ONE part always seemed so forced.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I thought the ending was fine.

Ending spoiler for an awesome game no one played:

Odjn, recognizing the sacrifices Ryu made just to save one girl, restores him to life before shutting down. Didn't seem very forced to me, unless you mean the whole "brought back from the dead" cliche.

The original Suikoden was a great game to play through to the end. After getting over the fact that you joined the Toran Liberation Army for no real reason, you kind of enjoy watching your forces take control of the country, bit by bit. Eventually you defeat the Emperor you swore your fealty to in the very beginning of the game and watch the remnants of his Empire crumble to the ground. After that, the game rewards you with some neat music and info on what happened to all the Stars of Destiny after the war.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I kinda disagree with people who said Final Fantasy Tactics, don't get me wrong it was a great game and I loved it. But when I beat it I was more like "WHAT THE HELL?" then feeling any sense of awesome for completing it.

Star Ocean 2 - Not just because I love the game to death. But also because I love seeing some of the different couples you can put together in the ending.

Just about any RPG I play that I like really fits this category for me. If I get bored of it and stop playing it, it's because I really don't care for the game and pretty much have no intention of ever beating it.

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LOL someone said Ass's Creed!
Games worth beating til the end? Well, obviously the final confrontation is VERY important.

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Seiken Densetsu 3. Best out of the series, easily, and multiple plotlines to take. It's worth at LEAST two play-throughs, if not three.

I'd also have to give a nod out to Super Mario RPG. Incredibly beautiful ending, and a fantastic final boss.

Oh, and all three Phoenix Wright games available in the series so far. 2 not as much as 1 and 3, but they're all incredibly satisfying, and provide excellent closure. 1 and 3 especially tie up mysteries that are alluded to in the beginning of the game.

In before lurker and co. flaming the ever-living shit out of me~

How ya doing, buddy?

I see that RPGs took an important place in this "games worth playing list" but we should not forget about others such as:
-Silent Hill 1, 2, 3 and 4 - good graphics + great thought-provoking plot

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

This isn't games worth playing, it's game's worth finishing. RPGs tend to put more effort into an ending than other games, so that's why they're a big chunk of everyone's lists.

The Klonoa games are good to finish, just because the endings are pretty sad. You help make things better in the world, but in the end you just have to move on.

FELIPE NO

Let's see, either I've yet to actually "Beat" these games, or it's a game that I beat but am missing that one special something that makes me feel like I've accomplished something.

Disgaea 2 - Graphics, whaddya expect? It's a tactics RPG with anime features. Gameplay, well, it's a tactics RPG, meaning, it's partially like Chess, with hurts my brain a lot, though I'm moderately good at it.

Still haven't finished the story, OR beat the toughest side-bosses, cuz I'm trying to acquire Flonne and Laharl, then go fight BAAL!!!!

Warriors Orochi - I know you hate it because it's another DW/SW rehash, so shut up before you start. I've actually beaten all 4 stories, including all Gaiden 8 missions, BUT!!! I wanna get ALL 79 characters to Level 99 and get all Level 4 weapons. Unfortunately, that's taking longer than I thought...

Rogue Galaxy - A mixture of Dynasty Warriors, and some other shit I can't think of, but don't feel like saying, because Skills will probably rip my head off, again.

I'm only maybe either halfway or a third of the way through the game. I have one of the three King pieces and am close to finding the second, but I'm also trying to build up character levels to be able to use new weapons.

DDR Universe 2 - Naturally, this is something I wouldn't pass up. It's the same thing I've played over and over in arcades and on other consoles, big fucking deal.

Haven't finished Quest Mode yet, which is the only way to finish unlocking songs.

Gradius V - The popular side shoot-em-up, nuff said.

Don't be surprised, I've been busy with other games, and this one was pretty damn hard for me when I was playing it frequently. Kept losing all my credits at Stage 1-6 and gave up.

DDR Hottest Party - Yes, another DDR game, whatever.

Still have one or two stages in quest mode or whatever it's called in this one, plus unlocking boss songs.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I vote for Super Mario Bros., because the payoff for being told 7 other times that the princess is in another castle is worth it at the end.

Jam it back in, in the dark.