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Time Limits in Video Games

I have a confession to make……… I have never like the “time limit” system in video games.

To name some examples, Pandora’s Tower, Lightning Returns and the Atelier series, are some games that impose time limits of some form to the game mechanics. Of course, the time limit isn’t particularly tough from the ones I experienced, and once I’ve done most of the things I needed, I still have some free time to burn. I still don’t particularly care for the system though.

People may say “The game gives you more than enough time to complete everything! You will have more time then you ever need!” I just dislike the fact that I have to be constantly aware of the time limit, and while I mostly like playing games in my own pace, having time limit just takes away that freedom.

Don’t let this cute game fool you!

It’s one reason why I have never really sunk too deep into the Atelier series, which is extremely time-based. Nothing’s more frustrating than missing an ingredient or two to craft something, and having to waste a couple of days (even weeks, depending on the distance) just to collect them in the fields. Worse, I remember there are some specific ingredients or events you can only get on certain days. The game’s cute and pleasant, but time management’s stressful. When I’m playing Atelier Games, it’s like I’m halfway getting healed, only to take my cure away by stressing me to hell with all the time limits. Man, what a fucking tease. Atelier games to me, are vicious sadists. Don’t let the cute atmosphere fool you!

Even at the time of this post, I’m only just barely done with the Arland trilogy (which is ancient by now). I heard the new ones no longer have time limits, though I still have the Dusk trilogy to slog through. At this pace I’m going, it will be 10 years before I’m even close to catching up with the series.

Strangely enough, I’m mostly fine with games like Persona. I think it’s the way they implement their time system that doesn’t feel as forceful. For these games, you can feel the time system is there to make you feel the flow of time, not to force you to complete your tasks faster. Thus the inclusion of time mechanics isn’t detrimental to the experience, but rather an improvement. Though admittedly, finding the best of both worlds may be the tricky part.

Nonetheless, immersion is important in video games, especially RPGs at that. It feels amazing to be able to enjoy the scenery, listen to the music and to explore every nook and cranny of the world. It’s important to implement time limit mechanics into them without losing that adventurous charm. Games like Persona are few and far in between though, and from my experience, I’m usually more worried about finishing my tasks than taking in the scenery and world, which isn’t the ideal way for me to tackle my RPGs.

Video games to me are fun, with an immersive fictional world for me to explore. Video games help me forget about the bustling real life where everyone is always in a rush. The “time limit” system however, is like an anti-thesis of all of those, and turns gaming into a sort of a chore — it turns gaming into another one of your many life obligations. I guess to that end, to encapsulate my point, implementing time limits in RPG is a bad idea all around in my opinion, even if there are rare titles that do get it right like Persona.

What do you think of time limits in video games?



This post first appeared on Deluscar, please read the originial post: here

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Time Limits in Video Games

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