Current Gaming Obsession

Of the three video games I got for Xmas, the one I was least enthused about is actually turning out to be the best, and has thoroughly trashed my sleep schedule. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (AKA R&C 2).

It's not the story, which is cliche crossed with "humor". It's not new and innovative gameplay; Everything it does, I've seen done before. It's a deep and fundamental understanding of The Cookie Principle (a design principle of mine: Give the Player a Cookie (i.e. reward) as Often as Possible), and excellent pacing and game-balancing. I'm not finished with it yet, but I thought it already worthwhile to list some of the things that this game Does Right that so many other games seem to miss:

( detailed game geekery here )

Current Gaming Obsession

Of the three video games I got for Xmas, the one I was least enthused about is actually turning out to be the best, and has thoroughly trashed my sleep schedule. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (AKA R&C 2).

It's not the story, which is cliche crossed with "humor". It's not new and innovative gameplay; Everything it does, I've seen done before. It's a deep and fundamental understanding of The Cookie Principle (a design principle of mine: Give the Player a Cookie (i.e. reward) as Often as Possible), and excellent pacing and game-balancing. I'm not finished with it yet, but I thought it already worthwhile to list some of the things that this game Does Right that so many other games seem to miss:

( detailed game geekery here )