[MrOogieBoogie]

Something reminded me of Okami just now, a game I played and beat a few years ago and remember really, really enjoying, but I can't for the life of me remember WHY I enjoyed it. I don't remember how the game played out, barely remember the plot or characters, can't "picture" the overworld, etc., which is strange because I spent 35+ hours on it. Same thing goes for Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and a slew of other titles.

Anyone else have the same issue?

[rybrad]

Same for me. When people ask me for details or help on a game a few months later, it is really hard for me to recall specifics.

[emb]

You're not the only one. I have good memory for details of some older games (mostly ones that I've played over and over, ie Zelda 1, 3, 4, 5, Super Metroid, Mario World, etc). But most all of the games I've played in the last ten years or so? I play far enough to beat them, then move on.

It's strange to go back into an extensive game and have everything be almost like new again. Not quite new, but stuff you would never remember without going back to it.

[LowTecky]

Yeah I got some of that. Makes me wonder why I do anything, knowing there will be a time when I won't even recall the experience. Replaying the game (or watching a youtube clip) often immediately jogs my memory though.

[Cramoss]

Same for me. When people ask me for details or help on a game a few months later, it is really hard for me to recall specifics.

And I thought I was the only one.

[SovanJedi]

Good lord, don't we all. The only game in recent months that I've been able to remember (most of) the main cast's names of is Xenoblade. Everything else I have to constantly look up on Wikipedia just to jog my memory, which is bad because it makes people think I forget them out of apathy.

[sixteen-bit]

Maybe the games just aren't very memorable.

[Amneisac]

Maybe the games just aren't very memorable.

They're also really complicated. I mean some RPGs you're talking about a 20-50 hour story. Not exactly easy to remember all the details. But yes, I agree with you. Plenty of games are just forgettable.

[Codeblue]

I can't remember things that happened in the first half of a game if I'm near the end. I usually have to replay a game if a sequel comes out since most don't come with an encyclopedia.

It sucks when a game references some minor character from the first act or tells me to go meet someone from earlier. I'd name a specific example but I can't remember any.

[xxczx]

One that I can think of is Jet Force Gemini. I think of it as my all time favourite N64 game but I can't remember anything about it.

[7threst]

I have a horrible memory when it comes to games. Luckily, I do remember if I enjoyed a game or not so I can always go back and replay it and enjoy it again.

[kingkaiser]

The funny thing is that i often forget major details of games too. Then i go to play them again in the hope to enjoy it like playing for the first time, but after playing one hour or so it's just...bam.. and i remember everything.

[animlboogy]

The only way to remember this stuff is to play games repeatedly like we used to when we were kids. If you end up getting obsessed over a single game and doing multiple playground, it will stick with you. Doing what I often do, playing dozens of games a year, it's hard to remember the details. But that's fine. When I encounter a game I really love, I keep playing it.

[Derrick01]

I've played so many games that I can't recall many of them on the spot. I can usually just remember if I enjoyed myself or not and maybe some basic stuff like if the story is good or bad. I wouldn't be able to tell you why though without playing it again and refreshing myself. I find this happening more and more now since so many current games are so diluted.

[volturnus]

Maybe the games just aren't very memorable.

This.
Sturgeon's Law, my friend, Sturgeon's Law.

[Max Knight]

I can remember how to get through most games that I've beaten, but mostly while I'm playing them, or watching someone play them. If someone just asks me outside of that context, I typically can't stumble through it in my head. I guess I need those visual cues to jog my memory.

[hey_it's_that_dog]

That's kind of how memory works. You remember whether you had a positive or negative experience, but not the intricate details, especially several years later. Your brain doesn't need to store all that stuff, anyway.

The plus side is you can enjoy a game again.

[HylianTom]

Look on the bright side: When you replay a game, that sense of discovery is somewhat renewed due to your poor memory.

I'm the same way, which might be lending a hand in why I like to replay my favorite old games so very much.

[GringoJB]

Oh God yeah, same here... there are so many titles that interest me that, after a couple of months of playing tons of other things, I mainly just retain whether or not I had a positive/negative experience (there's not room up there for much else!)

[upandaway]

The games we're talking about here are the games we play in long sessions. (I'm no expert but) the ideal conditions for long term memory are being the one most intense thing before sleep, so experiencing most of the game between sleeps isn't exactly the most conducive thing to victory.

I'll always remember if I enjoyed a game or not, though. That's like one true/false value to remember. Not to mention we talk the shit out of it here.

[Myriadis]

The funny thing is that i often forget major details of games too. Then i go to play them again in the hope to enjoy it like playing for the first time, but after playing one hour or so it's just...bam.. and i remember everything.

This. I'm replaying Dragon Quest VIII at the moment, I think I played it two years ago. Thought that I would barely remember anything but I even know where to find several "visible" enemies and where I should go. Did a Sequence brake even for that reason. I just can't remember which combined items produce with new weapons and how I should set the skill points best. Still, it somehow feels kinda fresh and new.

[chickdigger802]

I can't even remember character names, but i'm terrible with names irl ;/

[KevinCow]

If I play a game just once, I usually barely remember it. I really have to play a game at least twice to remember it well.

[Junie12]

Yes, I have that exact issue OP.

I can never remember why I like these games so I always have to go to the game's wiki to jog my memory about said game. Then when I read them I get that OHHH! moment where I suddenly remember everything about that game and for some reason I find that hilarious.

Heh, it's funny how memory works.

[Dog Problems]

Not only do I have bad long-term memory when it comes to video games, but also short-term. For example, I played through Fez last week and other than the soundtrack I don't remember much at all and I did enjoy it so it's not like the game was boring and unmemorable.

Video games are the only thing I'm like that with. Music, movies, television shows...I remember many details about all of them.

[AwRy108]

Something reminded me of Okami just now, a game I played and beat a few years ago and remember really, really enjoying, but I can't for the life of me remember WHY I enjoyed it. I don't remember how the game played out, barely remember the plot or characters, can't "picture" the overworld, etc., which is strange because I spent 35+ hours on it. Same thing goes for Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and a slew of other titles. Anyone else have the same issue?

I have the same issues, OP. I think Achievements/Trophies have made my long term memory worse b/c oftentimes I'm just going through a virtual check list to feel like I've accomplished something while sitting on my ass and gaming.

Doesn't this whole conversation support the strong pull of nostalgia that most of us "suffer" from? I retained so much more about games when I was younger b/c I didn't have other responsibilities clogging my brain; and this is something we all dream about returning to. Hence, the warm feeling of nostalgia.

In turn, isn't this whole concept the major reason why all of us over 30+ years in age still buy Nintendo consoles to play long-time Nintendo franchises, despite the fact that these franchises have evolved more slowly than the rest of gaming?

[matics]

I feel your pain, bro.

But I have really bad memory in general, and can't remember the details of a lot of things.

[MrDenny]

Same thing happens to me with; Resident Evil 4, Twilight Princess, and Final Fantasy XII

[gogogow]

I do remember that Okami was waaaaay too long. Fun game, but kept going and going and going and....

[CitizenCope]

I lend my games to my brother when I'm done with them. Never fails that 2 months after I finish he asks me about a part of the game and how to find something or beat something. I can hardly ever help him. Yup just 2 months later I tend to forget a lot about a game.

[QP3]

I am just like you. It sucks when trying to talk about games from the past. It happens to me with movies, books, t.v., everything. Feelsbadman.gif

[Ledsen]

Not just games, also books, movies, tv shows... Even stuff at work which can get pretty embarrassing sometimes. It's pretty common I think.

[ScreenSplitter]

I still remember the general level structure from Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.

I just wish all the shit I'm revising for finals now would stick like that does.

[Ultimadrago]

Not just games, also books, movies, tv shows... Even stuff at work which can get pretty embarrassing sometimes. It's pretty common I think.

Mmmhm.

With some of my all-time favorites too, I'd like to think that they'd be the easiest to remember all the details in.

[nel e nel]

The real question is how does this apply to people not seeing how their choices impacted their ME3 playthrough?

[The Skater]

I find that my memory seems to be getting worse as I get older. Feels bad man. But I think that happens to most so I wouldn't sweat it.

Video game details are hardly worth remembering anyway.

[revolverjgw]

I'm pretty good for remembering settings and set pieces, but more often characters and plots are immediately forgotten.

[RobotHaus]

There's a handful of games I can remember every detail in, and even then most of them are from the 90s or before. It seems like every other game I just remember the key moments and hazily fill in the blanks from there.

I wonder if multiplayer has anything to do with the lack of memory recall? We play the same moments over and over again to the point where it gets harder to remember and easier to fall into routine.

[Raw64life]

Definitely noticed this happening to me this generation. Can still remember the plots of most of the games of my childhood like a book but for the most part I can't remember shit about most of the games I've played the last 5 years in regards to plot, character names, location names, etc.

[Kontergurke]

Hmm, maybe I'm the odd man out, but I remember almost anything from any game I really liked, even if I only played it once or twice. But then again, I don't buy that many new games (maybe 1 game/month on average), and replay classics a lot, so that might be it ...

But of course, if people play lots and lots of 8-hour-games only once, it's only natural to forget about the details. Not really suprising, I think.

[TheShampion]

I have this with pretty much everything (movies, books, games, etc.) and it is a total boon because I can sometimes relive that "first time" experience with some of my favorite entertainment.

[dragonlife]

I'm like this, too, and I'm glad. I replay my games months after beating them--heck, sometimes years--and being hazy on details is nice.

[Ravensmash]

Same, but then I started thinking about it and worrying (good to see I'm not the only one).

I find I actually make it worse if I focus on trying to remember it; whereas if I get really immersed in something I'm more likely to remember specifics.

As for story elements, I don't think you'll meet many people who can recall everything off a playthrough.

[djtiesto]

Definitely noticed this happening to me this generation. Can still remember the plots of most of the games of my childhood like a book but for the most part I can't remember shit about most of the games I've played the last 5 years in regards to plot, character names, location names, etc.

Yup, especially in a lot of RPGs... the scenarios kinda blend together. I'm always bad at remembering town names and monster names and boss fights and such... it really impresses me when people can recall every single detail about a game they have played years ago.

[Easy_D]

I suck at remembering things, but when I get in front of the game it all comes back to me pretty much. For some reason though the one Zelda dungeon I can remember pretty vividly is the Water Temple, of all things.

[Minasu]

same... i'm in a trance when i play games!

[Droog]

I can definitely relate to the OP. I can remember very little of the original Deus Ex (haven't played it since it originally came out) but one boss battle stands out in my memory.
It was roughly halfway through the game where you have to fight another enhanced agent. I don't remember his name but if the player was the prototype then this guy was meant to be the production model.

The only reason I remember this fight was that I reached him with no ammo for any of my guns whilst he was sporting a massive weapon (flamethrower?). I hadn't saved in ages and wasn't allowed to save here so thought I would just run straight at him with a melee weapon, swinging like crazy and go out in a blaze of glory.

I killed him without taking any damage. :-/

[rayner]

I am the EXACT opposite of you, I can recall games from over 20 years ago with detail. Been writing in my blog lately about NES games from 1989.