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Games with pitch-perfect pacing--not too long, not too short
- Thread starter MinerArcaniner
- Start date
Resident Evil 4 is my number 1. Really the best paced game of all time.
Uncharted 2 is behind it I would say.
Uncharted 2 is behind it I would say.
First game I thought of when I saw the thread title.
Lol. Surprised it's not on the first & second page.
In terms of open world games : Sleeping Dogs. It's one of the few open world games where I was constantly interested in playing the next story mission instead of just dicking around in the world. There was a nice progression, the missions were varied and the game doesn't overstay its welcome.
As far as JRPGs go (I believe pacing is probably the most important aspect of the genre), Tales of Symphonia is pretty damn great. Xenoblade Chronicles would also be perfect, although I think the Mechonis parts drag a little bit.
Journey
All versions of RE2
Jedi Knight Jedi Academy
Ace Combat 5
Metal Gear Solid 1
Castlevania Symphony of the Night
Titanfall 2
Basically to me the peak of pacing is games that have those perfect chill moments that lead into intense moments but they don't do it enough to tire you out or to make the game lose its thrill. It's enough to keep the gameplay mixed up and keep you engaged while feeling like the game ends because it was the logical ending. Sometimes I feel like I get more value out of a 8 hours experience than a 120 hour experience.
All versions of RE2
Jedi Knight Jedi Academy
Ace Combat 5
Metal Gear Solid 1
Castlevania Symphony of the Night
Titanfall 2
Basically to me the peak of pacing is games that have those perfect chill moments that lead into intense moments but they don't do it enough to tire you out or to make the game lose its thrill. It's enough to keep the gameplay mixed up and keep you engaged while feeling like the game ends because it was the logical ending. Sometimes I feel like I get more value out of a 8 hours experience than a 120 hour experience.
I've always felt like CT's pacing has numerous bumps, especially the first visit to 2300 AD and the first visit to 65M BC.
I'd say any open-world game that doesn't funnel you properly actually has really bad pacing. I played BotW for 150 hours and only finished 3 Guardians before I stopped playing. Same as Metal Gear Solid 5, I sunk in 150 hours (again) and only managed to finish Act 1 before stopping. The act of giving you freedom is in itself counter-intuitive to being properly paced. I don't think the argument that "it is well paced because you set the pace yourself" flies here because these games encourage you to over-indulge in meandering behavior.
Disagree with the mentions of Portal 2 and Uncharted 2. The mid section in Portal 2 is a little too long and on your first playthrough you're especially eager to just get out of there and find out what's happening up above.
And in Uncharted 2, the monastery section drags out too long with many samey fights with bullet sponges.
And in Uncharted 2, the monastery section drags out too long with many samey fights with bullet sponges.
While you could argue parts of the island chapter drag a bit at points, Resident Evil 4 is still the best-paced game ever made.
Having beaten BotW in 75 hours, you definitely made a choice not to follow the clear outline.
With that said, it's weird game to name as an example. It doesn't have bad pacing, but I wouldn't describe it as moves along quickly.
I'm saying having that choice in itself is the discounting factor. Perfectly paced games like Portal 1 sets the pace for you (unless you're really bad at puzzles).
Some people don't like the open world chapter, but I like it and TLL is perfect imo
The open world chapter almost single handedly ruined the pacing of the game. I will never accept the "TLL is well paced" opinion.
It's been mentioned probably a dozen+ times in this thread, but Uncharted 2 is among the most well-paced pieces of entertainment I've ever experienced.
Metroid Prime has excellent pacing, but I think the key hunt stops it from being "pitch-perfect." That's just my opinion, though, and I haven't given a ton of thought to it.
Recently, I would say Monsterboy. Probably my favorite game of 2018 along with Into The Breach and Hollow Knight.
I cant imagine a well paced game, like watching most of the games you guys keep posting have some sort of backtracking or extended plot to keep the game alive.
I would go for Journey
I would go for Journey
I distinctly remember the final part of this game being drawn out too long (and it was also a difficulty spike too iirc). It was one of my few criticisms of the game.
Honestly - and people are going to blast me for this - buttttttt...
Okami
Yes it's long. Yes, you fight a boss 3 times. But honestly I felt like they were still throwing mechanically unique ideas at me right up to the end, there was still a lot to do, it didn't feel like that much grinding (helped that it was fairly easy), and I never felt like I was doing too much of one thing *or* like they had yet to utilize some interpretation of the mechanics. Also Orochi is a great boss, so...
Okami
Yes it's long. Yes, you fight a boss 3 times. But honestly I felt like they were still throwing mechanically unique ideas at me right up to the end, there was still a lot to do, it didn't feel like that much grinding (helped that it was fairly easy), and I never felt like I was doing too much of one thing *or* like they had yet to utilize some interpretation of the mechanics. Also Orochi is a great boss, so...
The game needs this middle part. Otherwise that what happened "above" wouldn't feel so drastic. And the player needs time to build at least some postive connection to Glados.
Devil May Cry 3 is a great example of this, largly thanks to the game being a pretty typical 3 act structure, each act ending in a Vergil bossfight.
I'm probably the only person on the planet that will agree with you but i totally do.
Okami is the best 'trilogy that the devs firgot to actually make into seperate games' I've ever played
The Last of Us DLC Left Behind was perfect for me.
I felt the original game was a little too long.
I felt the original game was a little too long.