If you have heard as if there weren’t new video games to play, you’re not alone. Covid-19 hit the video game industry hard and delays continue to mount. The only new game I finished in 2022 was Forbidden Horizon West (which was amazing), and while I’m looking forward to it Disney Dreamlight Valley i Knights of Gothamthe rest of the year seems pretty quiet.
That’s why I’ve been relying on repetitions to get me through. I’ve talked before about how games are an important part of my relaxation routine. If I don’t escape to the living world of a video game for a few days, the change in my mental health is noticeable. And without a steady supply of new releases, my old favorites have come up again and again.
What I really liked, though, is the art of repetition. I play games differently every time. If I’m hooked on a story, I often rush through a game the first time to get to the end and understand what’s going on. In the second playthrough, I go much slower and become a bit of a completist, paying much more attention to my team and exploring all the dark corners of the map.
Playing on a new platform adds even more dimension to a play. Sure, it’s the same game, but it’s a completely different way to experience it.
I have not been shy about my love Massive effectand I’m actually on my third repeat since the Legendary edition remaster came out last year. The first and second time, I played it on my PS5, but this last time? I’m experiencing it on a handheld: the Steam Deck.
I honestly don’t know what’s so appealing about playing a favorite game again on a portable system, but I want to play all the games I’ve enjoyed on this little device again. I feel the same way about getting back to playing the games I love on the Nintendo Switch – I picked up the Final Fantasy X/X-2 remasters the device and I really enjoyed working through Tidus and Yuna’s story again.
Part of it is probably that I know the story beats, so I don’t need a big screen to find the world truly immersive (I’ve also never been one to has to play a game on the best screen or highest graphics settings possible. I just need it to be playable). Plus, being able to boot it up and shut it down at any time is incredibly convenient. Because I already know what’s coming, a little dialogue is missing here and there’s not much to it.
And being able to take a handheld and play on a plane or in a hotel (I’ve been traveling a lot to work) is a convenience. Playing on a handheld also makes it easy to drop in and out of a favorite game, if you’re into that sort of thing. I’m a gamer for the most part, it’s the easiest way to really immerse myself in a video game, but there’s definitely an appeal to switching between multiple games if you’re the type to get bored with one title. (If you have strategic saves, something I’m trying to do in this Massive effect playback, you can even play your favorite scenes.)