Beaten In 2026 (you knew it was coming)

[AceAerosmith]

1.God Of War II (PS2) 01/21/26 - I wish I could say I enjoyed this game.

[Az]

I wish I could say I enjoyed this game.

As someone who has only played this series for probably 15 minutes, why didn't you like it?

[AceAerosmith]

As someone who has only played this series for probably 15 minutes, why didn't you like it?

First, let me say, I am not good at video games but I love them. I've lost a lot of skill with age (55) and I've got a slight touch of arthritis in my button pressing hand. That being said, I've always felt that so many games have a level that takes the game from being fun to just a chore/nightmare. GOW2 had many of those levels: the collapsing columns level where you had to jump to one column/platform while spinning around, multiple medusas in a hallway you can't back out of, obscure puzzles, the battle with Zeus, etc. I hate when a game wastes my time making me do things over and over. I know some of this is my fault with my aging reflexes but when I have to go to an online guide to see what I AM DOING wrong or what hint I'm missing, I sort of lose interest. If I beat a game and have no desire to return to it due to the level of anger it inspires in me or not wanting to put myself through the torture of a level I found frustrating, then, to me, it wasn't an enjoyable experience. And, I'm running into a lot of games that I just want to end sooner than they do as well. I don't need a game to be 50 hours or hold my hand the whole way but I want it to be fun. This game wasn't fun to me. It's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[calthaer]

And, I'm running into a lot of games that I just want to end sooner than they do as well. I don't need a game to be 50 hours or hold my hand the whole way but I want it to be fun. This game wasn't fun to me. It's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I really wish they made shorter games these days - games that could be beaten in something around 3-10 hours. I'd happily pay $15 for a tight 3-hour game that is consistently enjoyable. What was that Halloween game...Costume Quest. Perfect length. Subnautica? Amazing. Loved the "Shadowrun Returns" series.

What I do see more of is games with variable play where a "run-through" or session lasts about that long...and then you unlock more things for future sessions. Slay the Spire, The Last Spell, Griftlands, Deep Rock Galactic, Loop Hero, Dead Cells, Into the Breach - "Rogue-lites" or whatever they're called. I'm generally OK with these but I do burn out after a certain # of runs and rarely unlock everything...but I do have a certain amount of fun with it.

[AceAerosmith]

I really wish they made shorter games these days - games that could be beaten in something around 3-10 hours. I'd happily pay $15 for a tight 3-hour game that is consistently enjoyable.

This. I'd pay $20-$30 for a game that was solid front to back. A lot of people shit on The Order:1886 for its length but I fucking LOVED that game. Fun weapons, great action, and plenty of story in a compact, tight game that clocks in under 10 hours. I listen to a multiple gaming podcasts and hear them say great things about a game that peaks my interest but as soon as they say it can be completed in 50 to 100 hours, I'm like "Fuck that!". I looking at you, Baldur's Gate 3. After slogging through Assassin's Creed Valhalla (100 hours+) wishing it would just end, I have lost all interest in games that long.

[Steve W]

I finished Warhammer 40K: Boltgun for the PS4. Although at the end it turns out I only completed 15% of the full game according to the percentage meter.

[MidnightRider]

Normally, I'd just say get a classic 2D pixel cartridge console, or into emulation, or whatever.

Some more arcade-like, or at least quicker games:
The Switch got a Star Wars compilation, but any other way you can play games like Jedi Academy(may take you a while at first, but when you get used to it, it's about a 5.5-6 hour game), of The Force Unleashed(if you don't mind the GoW QTE button mashing thing).

Monkey Ball(usually starts with "Super"), if you don't mind the Marble Madness style balancing act, it's just a load of small, increasingly challenging stages.

Earth Defense Force. Not the arcade shoot 'em up ported to the SNES. The mostly 7th+ Generation series(started on the PS2, but not in NA). Again, loads of fairly quick stages, kinda like a sci-fi Musou(Dynasty Warriors & the like) game.

Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth. It may look like Symphony of the Night, but it goes quick, roughly 6 hours. Plus it has a polarity system, similar to Ikaruga.

I wish I were better at finding these types outside of indie games(and I always look for physical/retail at that, if I'm going to bother), but I don't care for a whole lot in the polygon disc realm of things.