What's your most "improved" game?

[o2william]

Of all the games you've ever played, which has improved the most in your estimation since the first time you played it? Maybe you tried the game and hated it, put it away for a while, then broke it out again only to find it was much better than you remembered. Or, maybe you disliked the game at first, but gave it a few plays anyway, until it finally grew on you.

For me, I'd have to say my most improved game is NES Section Z. I bloody hated this game at first, because I couldn't get the hang of the odd dual-button firing controls and I kept dying horrible, painful deaths within seconds of hitting the Start button. But I kept trying, out of spite I think, and gradually mastered it. Now it's pretty fun.

The flip side of this question is: which game has slipped the most for you? As a kid, I used to find loads of fun in Out of this World! for Odyssey2, but now I just... don't.

[Crush Crawfish]

My most improved game would have to be monster party for the NES. I used to have the game when I was little, and I hated it. I couldn't figure out how to beat the first level. I recently rebought it, and now I love it. It's one of the strangest, most unique platformers I've ever played. I highly reccommend it.

[Daria]

Two games that I can think of are Shadow Maddness and Clock Tower (PSX)

Shadow Maddness was one of the first PlayStation games I owned. My dad bought it for me along with Star Ocean 2 and Legend of Legaia. First impression I developed from playing the game was the god awful ugly graphics. Played a little ways into the game and thought it was awful. Switched to SO2 and fell in love... Maybe a year or so later I gave the game another whirl, and was surprised to find that it had a really well written script. Jokes were funny, characters well developed. Turned out I was actually enjoying playing it. (:

Clock Tower was much the same senario the graphics were such a shock compared to the original I couldn't play it. But and after listening to Gideon rave about the damn storyline I had to try it again. I'd grown accustom to 3D games by then and the graphics didn't look half bad, the font wasn't even as nearly appaling as I'd remembered. The gameplay was identical to the original which I already loved, and yes Gideon was right. The storyline was good. Now it's one of my favorite survival horror games.
________
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[IntvGene]

Beamrider (INTV/2600/CV/5200) - The first time I played Beamrider, I didn't get it. It just didn't work for me. I didn't like how you were forced to travel on the light paths, and it just seemed so sluggish. I played it very little and didn't believe the hype.

Now, I realize the game for what it really is.. wait until you get to the higher levels, and it starts to shine. The newer enemies and insane difficulty make it much more enjoyable (and much more frustrating).

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Improved: Crazy Climber. LOTS. And, oddly enough, Kickman. I've also gotten tons better at Galaga, as in six-digit-scores better. ;)

[Sibs]

I hated Sonic the Hedgehog when I first played it way back when it first came out(part of the reason was cuz I was a Nintendo head), but when I got Sega Smash Pack Vol.1 for my Dreamcast, I loved it.

[Eternal Tune]

Since this topic is getting two different answers...I'll just go with the flow

Most improved skill wise:
Fatal Fury Mark of the Wolves, KoF 99, KoF 00, and Capcom vs SNK 2. I've actually mastered combos for Rock in Mark of the Wolves and VS. I made Kensou my project character in KoF 99 and 00. I still suck, but I've improved vastly, compared to earlier this year.

Also, I put in Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts a few months ago and actually got past the first stage!!! My sister and I could NEVER get past it when we were younger. Damn that game is freaking hard.....

Shit game that now is a gem:
Final Fantasy Tactics. When I first purchased this game, I thought it was complete shit. Put it away in a drawer and didn't touch it for a few months. One afternoon I got extremely bored and started reading through the strategy guide. The story seemed interesting, so I popped the disc back into my playstation and once I figured out what I was doing, I fell in love. The original Tactics has grabbed my heart and has yet to let go.

Another mention is Xenosaga. I was so wrapped up in the "this isn't Xenogears" crowd, I overlooked it. I let that precious gem collect dust on a shelf, until last month, after seeing screenshots from Episode 2. I decided to give it another whirl. I'm glad I did. Sure there are tons of movie cut scenes, but every last one of them had me on the edge of my seat. A godly game, IMO....plus I got to put Jr and chaos in swim suits during battles. Fan service for chicks. Yum. :D

[DigitalSpace]

Tetris. When I first played it as a kid on a friend's Game Boy, I couldn't get into it for some reason. Years later, my brother had bought a cheap handheld Tetris game and I would play it until the batteries ran out. I finally own a copy myself (Tetris/Dr. Mario for SNES), and it's one of my favorite games of all time.

As for games I'm not as good at as I used to be, NBA Jam and NBA Jam T.E. for SNES are two of them. Back in the day, I had a long winning streak... now, playing on the easiest setting frustrates me.

[JaredCenter]

Which game has improved the most since the first time I played it?

Defender, especially when played on William's AGH for Playstation.

Which games have slipped the most for me? I would probably say Atari's Arabian and Kangaroo. Since these two were arcade games, I figured the levels would continue to change as you advanced further, like Jumpman. But having the game repeat after four levels is a real bummer.

[Ed Oscuro]

The only stuff I can say I enjoy more would be handhelds/LCDs, but I've always liked those to some extent, and one single N64 title, Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness. I haven't played it in about a week, but after the initial happiness of running through the levels as Corny, the game pretty much slumped, then I played as Henry, that died out after a while, and then I played it again. For being such a shoddy product there IS some good life left in it. I'll also have to try out Harmony of Dissonance (second on the GBA), where I tired of the screeching music quality and many terrible level designs. I might end up liking that one...wish me luck.

Original Metroid, well, I don't forsee myself ever really being able to enjoy that one, but I'll try sometime.

Overall, though, I usually find games slipping on me, instead of growing better.

[downfall]

Mine fits both:

Mega Man 2. When I was growing up, I couldn't stand Mega Man games. I thought they were too hard, and too frustrating, and that the control wasn't very good.

Turns out that was just my being so little and not all too great at the game at that time. Now that I have a copy of it and I'm a bit more mature, it's in my top ten games of all time, and my skills have shot through the roof in it. I've beaten it without dying now, whereas when I was younger, I could barely get through a stage or two.

I think most of the games that fit these categories for me are just due to a maturity thing anyway. I didn't understand everything that I do now, so I see a whole lot of games in a completely different light these days, and games that I thought were crap are now great, and games that I thought were great are now crap (although that's not always true).

[josekortez]

Deathrow for Xbox. At first, I absolutely hated the controls and the fact that the enemies were so vindictive. I got knocked around more than a schoolyard pipsqueak. I put the game away for a couple of months, and I tried it again one day only to discover that I was good at it. I guess time really heals all wounds...

[Mr. Smashy]

If I had to single out a game, it would be Qix.

[Oobgarm]

I can't really recall any games that I despised back when I was younger. The only thing I can think of is Robotron 2084. It was always too hard for me. Now, I love it. Terrific frantic action.

My improved personal gameplay award goes to Galaga, much like PDF above. Those space bees don't stand a chance now. Consider Qix a runner up.

I remember buying Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Gamecube back during the Cube launch. I despised it and promptly sold all of my Cube stuff. Something brought me back to it a few months down the road, and I was hooked. I played nothing else for a long time. Still trying to get a few trophies. 8-)

[Raccoon Lad]

I recently warmed up to Splatter House 2, after deciding I didn't like it about 8 or so years ago.

Now, I must go.... the mask... it calls out to me....
"We can save her, Rick"....... "She doesn't have to die"....... "Go back to the house"......

[Sotenga]

Any and every fighting game. Gone are the days when all I do is fire the friggin' projectile move over and over again. I think a certain board member would agree that I'm a force to be reckoned with as Akuma. ;)

Specifically, I've become a monster at Samurai Shodown 2. I can say that I kick ass with every character in that game, especially Galford, Hanzo, Sieger, Earthquake, and least of all to mess with, GENJURO. :evil:

[Kroogah]

Pop'n Music. First time I ever played it was the first mix.

Let's be honest here, people. The music in Pop'n Music 1...SUCKS. It SUCKS it SUCKS it SUCKS.

However, Pop'n Music 8? Including transplants? Best song list of any home Bemani release, ever.

[le geek]

Like better now: Super Mario World. I'm really enjoying it now, and for the longest time I just thought it was okay. I'm up to 72...

What was I thinking? Cybermorph. It wasn't a bad little game when the Jag came out, but the popup and framerate nearly kill it now!

Cheers,
Ben

[Kid Ice]

improved: Xevious. Didn't like it as a kid.

declined: Buck Rogers and The Planet of Zoom. Yep. Loved that game as a kid. I think it was mostly for the flashing red light on the joystick though.

[Funkenstein]

Sewer Shark (SCD). I couldn't get five minutes into the game without dying when I was younger, but I threw it in on a whim the other day and beat it all the way through. Same goes for Golden Axe

[Lone_Monster]

Well, i's been a while, but years ago, when I first tried Ogre Battle 64, I hated it. Then, years later, I rented it again, and loved the crap out of it, and quickly bought it. I wish I still had that game...

[BHvrd]

I can't really recall any games that I despised back when I was younger. The only thing I can think of is Robotron 2084. It was always too hard for me. Now, I love it. Terrific frantic action.


I totally agree there. Now that i've gotten older I understand the "out of focus" type gameplay, and Robotron 2084 is the best ever. If only I would have realized to focus on the humans back then, lol.

Recently I would have to say Worms 3D. I was ok at first, but the more single player campaign you do the better you get. I can now hook-shot bazooka blasts, and ninja rope from one end of the screen to the other, of course, this goes for previous Worms games as well, the more you play the better it gets. Greta game, but quite a learning curve.

[Ikari Warrior]

Splinter Cell. I bought it the first day of release, played the first level and a half, got stuck and never played it again. I always told people it was too hard, blah, blah. Well with the release of Pandora Tomorrow, I decided to get PT just for the online. After playing a bit of PT and loving it, I beat the whole game in one weekend, and moved on to the first immediately after.
I had very little trouble and now think the SC series is one of the best today, and Sam Fisher rocks. And after all that , I hardly went online with PT at all.

[-hellvin-]

For me one game goes both ways......and that would be Fatal Frame for the Xbox. I fucken hated this game the first time I played it but after a while I got REALLY into it and got damn far and really good at getting zero shots on the ghosts all the time, but last I played I decided to fight this optional ghost in the door hallway that sway back and forth and circles around you and I just can't get a critical hit or any good shot of her anyways, so now I fucken hate it. Again.

[Big Shady]

Games that have gotten better with time for me are:
KOF '00: I was realy 'meh' about this game, but after significant time when I got it on homecart to add to my collection, OH SWEET JESUS! Great game.

Metal Slug 3: This game kicked ass from the start, but it gets better EVERY FRIGGN' TIME! AWESOME!

Shin Samurai Spirits: Ah like a good burbon, just gets better with age. I never tire of SS2

Okay, so I'm a NEO GEO rut here, but I am a HUGE SNK fanboy. For my non-SNK games we have

Ikaruga: God I love this game, its like a puzzler and shooter in one. I am always finding ways to improve my game.

Gate of Thunder: Didn't like it much at first, but this game is Turbo DUO shooter gold!

[Dr. Morbis]

My most improved game is Clash at Demonhead for NES. I tried to play it many times in my youth, due to my friend's repeated insistance that it was a great game. But I just couldn't understand it. I thought it was crap. I must have tried it dozens of times with the same result. One day, my friend says "force yourself to play it for an hour. Do NOT stop till the hour is up". So I set my timer for one hour and, I must say, the first 30 minutes was really tough. I was lost and had no clue what to do or where to go. But it all started making sense in the second half hour. I gradually became immersed in the game's world.

Anyway, I ended up playing for like 4 hours that night and discovered a really kooky and enjoyable game.

[agent57]

Arcade version of Defender. I always hated this game with a passion! I've been playing it (or at least trying to) since it came out and never managed to get over 10,000 points. No videogame has EVER kicked my ass like this one, before or since. (Arcade Gravitar comes close, though.)

For some reason, I recently became determined to finally kick this game's ass and after a lot of games and many hours later, I can now score 200,000+ almost every time I play. Once you do get decent at this game, the rush is simply incredible - no other videogame ever created gets the heart pumping like this classic from 1980. Now, instead of being a game I hate, it has instead become an addiction!

Maybe in another 20 years I'll be ready to tackle Stargate...