As lots of people seem to be buying 3DS now, will try to make this post spoiler-free.
Recently I've been playing Super Mario 3D Land and Kid Icarus Uprising a lot. With the first one I just got all the star coins from all the levels. The second one I'm struggling to complete the second level in max difficulty. As a result of playing these two games simultaneously, I've realized again the problem with Nitendo and an achievement system.
We all know that Nintendo doesn't have such a standard OS level implementation of this little thing that - if I'm not wrong - was created first by Microsoft. For me, overall, it is a very good idea. It can add hours of gameplay and you get a small reward. I know that for a lot of Nintendo fans, the achievement system is just stupid or not worth it. Some of them claim that they want actual content into the game and not a simple notification to shot to your friends. But I don't think that excludes the content, and for me it is just the opposite.
As an example, I was playing Super Mario 3D Land, and there is a - per se - quite difficult level that has a more difficult direction if you ever try to get the third and last star coin in it. Turns out that that last coin is at the very end of that level, and the only way to get it is using an object you get at the very beginning. This means that you not only have to complete one of the hardest levels, but also have to complete it without being hit. This simply detail only happens once in the game, but just adds, in my case, around 40 minutes more of great experience, and the reward was just a coin. But it was rewarding! You get something for your "effort".
As a second example we got Kid Icarus: Uprising. A game that promotes replayability to maximum. Different routes, secret doors, more bonus rewards if you play the levels in higher difficulty... And then it contains the Treasure Hunt panel where you can unlock tens of additional content like the soundtrack, by playing the levels in a certain way, such as completing it in less than X time, killing the boss with a certain weapon... This kind of content is absolutely optional, but is even more rewarding that the Mario 3D Land one, of course. Some Nintendo fans say that this was the root for the Microsoft's achievement system, as this kind of small rewards was also present in Smas Bros. - another Sakurai title -
My biggest question is: When I get a reward of this kind, doesn't matter if is a trophy, a star coin or a small notification that I can compare with my other friends, I get the feeling it is worth it and furthermore, I enjoy more the game - as the 40 min added to Mario 3D Land I was talking about - Obviously there are several ways of implementation, but that does not mean that Sakurai is going to leave its - quite unique - achievement system and for example, getting a medal for completing all the Super Mario 3d Land levels without being hit, could increase the game time by a ton.
Of course you can do it by yourself, you can play Zelda with just 3 hearts during the whole adventure too, but you will never get a reward that simbolizes that, well, achievement.
What is your opinion about these different implementations? Do you think that the implemented OS level one could predate the more content focused as Sakurai's one? Mario 3D Land has the 3 star coin collection, but that special case I was talking about, alone, almost gave me 1h+. Do you think that with a small reward, you feel more into completion and pushing yourself into the game experience?
Hope to bring a civilized and interesting talk here.
Recently I've been playing Super Mario 3D Land and Kid Icarus Uprising a lot. With the first one I just got all the star coins from all the levels. The second one I'm struggling to complete the second level in max difficulty. As a result of playing these two games simultaneously, I've realized again the problem with Nitendo and an achievement system.
We all know that Nintendo doesn't have such a standard OS level implementation of this little thing that - if I'm not wrong - was created first by Microsoft. For me, overall, it is a very good idea. It can add hours of gameplay and you get a small reward. I know that for a lot of Nintendo fans, the achievement system is just stupid or not worth it. Some of them claim that they want actual content into the game and not a simple notification to shot to your friends. But I don't think that excludes the content, and for me it is just the opposite.
As an example, I was playing Super Mario 3D Land, and there is a - per se - quite difficult level that has a more difficult direction if you ever try to get the third and last star coin in it. Turns out that that last coin is at the very end of that level, and the only way to get it is using an object you get at the very beginning. This means that you not only have to complete one of the hardest levels, but also have to complete it without being hit. This simply detail only happens once in the game, but just adds, in my case, around 40 minutes more of great experience, and the reward was just a coin. But it was rewarding! You get something for your "effort".
Recent Mario titles such as Mario 3D Land have 3 star coins sort of hidden in each level, adding a small hunt to your game session.
As a second example we got Kid Icarus: Uprising. A game that promotes replayability to maximum. Different routes, secret doors, more bonus rewards if you play the levels in higher difficulty... And then it contains the Treasure Hunt panel where you can unlock tens of additional content like the soundtrack, by playing the levels in a certain way, such as completing it in less than X time, killing the boss with a certain weapon... This kind of content is absolutely optional, but is even more rewarding that the Mario 3D Land one, of course. Some Nintendo fans say that this was the root for the Microsoft's achievement system, as this kind of small rewards was also present in Smas Bros. - another Sakurai title -
The Treasure Hunt panel from Kid Icarus: Uprising rewards you with songs, weapons, trophies, etc... if you play the game in a certain way. This one unlocked a new ability.
Smash Bros. games contain a similar trophy collection. It is not only rewarding but also contains information about the Nintendo / Kid Icarus universe
My biggest question is: When I get a reward of this kind, doesn't matter if is a trophy, a star coin or a small notification that I can compare with my other friends, I get the feeling it is worth it and furthermore, I enjoy more the game - as the 40 min added to Mario 3D Land I was talking about - Obviously there are several ways of implementation, but that does not mean that Sakurai is going to leave its - quite unique - achievement system and for example, getting a medal for completing all the Super Mario 3d Land levels without being hit, could increase the game time by a ton.
Of course you can do it by yourself, you can play Zelda with just 3 hearts during the whole adventure too, but you will never get a reward that simbolizes that, well, achievement.
What is your opinion about these different implementations? Do you think that the implemented OS level one could predate the more content focused as Sakurai's one? Mario 3D Land has the 3 star coin collection, but that special case I was talking about, alone, almost gave me 1h+. Do you think that with a small reward, you feel more into completion and pushing yourself into the game experience?
Hope to bring a civilized and interesting talk here.
