When do you consider a game beaten?

[deltoidsteep]

Sorry if somebody has started a similar thread but i didn't see one. I was thinking about this the other day and realized that for me at least, how i decide if a game is beaten or not depends on what kind of game it is. Action adventure games are easy. If i beat the final boss and/or see the credits, the game is beaten. RPGs are a little harder to classify for me. Often there are still more things to do and more places to explore even after you have completed the main mission. For me, i try to stick with considering it beaten when the main story is over, but i know alot of people strive for 100 percent completion before calling it a day, finishing all side quests and collecting items. With racing and fighting games i will usually call it beat if i have completed all the challenges and unlocked all the characters or levels. And then there are puzzle and arcade games which have no true ending. I still don't know what to do about them. Anyways, what do you guys think? When is a game beaten?

[jcalder8]

I don't remember the last time that I actually finished an RPG so I won't comment on that one but for the action/adventure games it's when I've completed it on normal that I consider it finished. In terms of sports games I still haven't figured out a way to "finish" them so I wouldn't say that I've ever actually finished one.

[Nirvana]

I consider "beating a game" to be defeating the last boss in the game.

When it comes to getting all of the challenges and side quests and stuff, I consider it "100%ing a game"

[kupomogli]

I consider "beating a game" to be defeating the last boss in the game.

When it comes to getting all of the challenges and side quests and stuff, I consider it "100%ing a game"

Same here.

For RPGs though, alot of people would say all characters to the max level is factored into 100% completion. If that's the case, FF1(NES,) FF6, FF7, Mystic Quest, Arc the Lad, and Tactics Ogre Let Us Cling Together(Law/Neutral/and Chaos routes) would be the only ones for me. Possibly other ones I may have missed but I doubt it. I'm just not big into leveling to the max level on a game. I'd mention Chrono Cross as well because I got everything plus Rainbow equipment for every character, though you can keep fighting random battles and it'll raise your HP(possibly reaching some sortof max limit,) so I dunno.

*edit*

Oh yeah. Pokemon Blue. I hate Pokemon now days, but when Pokemon Blue came out, I traded for the Pokemon on Red that I needed. I also collected every other Pokemon and then used Rare Candy to get a list of my favorite Pokemon to 100. :P.

[scooterb23]

When it stops fighting back.

[atari_wizard]

I consider a game beaten when I beat the final boss; however, If I'm playing Legend of Zelda series, I strive for a 100% completion of all items & finish with a maxed out wallet.

[Solertia]

Beaten = finished
Completed = 100%

[Fuyukaze]

When the only thing left to get is extra content and not the ending.

[Ed Oscuro]

When the fat lady sings.

[sebastiankirchoff]

Beaten = finished
Completed = 100%

Wow, you just took the words right out of my mouth.

But yah, I think that if you beat the last boss and the credits roll, you have beaten the game. To fully complete a game, you need 100% and get all the bonus's. For example, I beat Resident Evil 4 years ago, but I just completed it last week when I unlocked the Handcannon, the final unlockable item for me.

[The 1 2 P]

When you hit it with an RKO off the top of a building onto a glass table---then it's beaten.

Gamewise, beating the final boss on normal or above difficulty. I don't play games on easy unless I have to for the extra achievements. For the few rpgs I've played, same thing. They are beaten when the final boss is defeated.

[SegaAges]

I agree with the beaten vs completed.

For me, beaten = ending credits
completed = done everything in the game (acheivement points help for some of these)

[Cauterize]

I consider "beating a game" to be defeating the last boss in the game.

When it comes to getting all of the challenges and side quests and stuff, I consider it "100%ing a game"

I have the same logic as this.

Regardless of what ending I recieve, I usually call it a day on games now once the ending has played through. With Retro collecting, you find your games completed to games owned ratio is really unbalanced, so IMO its best to get as many games finished and enjoyed as possible!

However having said this, I did find myself going back to Chrono Trigger recently for a bit after completion!

[Vlcice]

I agreee with beaten vs completed, too.

When I stop having fun with a game, I haven't completed it but I may have finished with it. That's where I stop playing, even if there's lots left to do. I guess you could say the game's beaten me.