Replay value has a lot of effect on the video game market. Games that have little replay value drop in used prices very quickly. You see this most often with sports games, but also with titles that are good like Assassin's Creed. Replay value can be a deciding factor in whether or not to shell out the extra cash for a new game.

Pinpointing any one aspect of a game that adds to replay value is a tough thing to do. Everyone has different reasons for replaying different games. Many games I've played over for the story (Bioshock) for the game play (Katamari Damacy) or simply for multiplayer features (Wario Ware, Mario Kart). One thing I noticed is that in addition to these other reasons, I replayed games to get 100% completion.



One of the reasons I identify myself as a gamer is that while playing for enjoyment is my number one priority, the second objective I have is to play the game as thoroughly and completely as possible. I think that might be the true difference between casual gamers and hardcore: The hardcore gamer becomes full immersed in the game world and wants to explore it to the fullest extent. I realized this when I decided to play Bioshock for a third time in order to get all of the audio diaries. Part of it is for the achievement I suppose, but most of my motivation is wanting to get the full game experience. I crave more from the Bioshock world than one quick play through can give me. The first run through was for fun, the second was for more exploration and trying to find every little secret in the game, and the third will be for listening to all 120 audio diaries. While the hauntingly beautiful world and story of Rapture is what seems to bring me back for more, the need to collect every bit of information pertaining to the world is my real motivation.



Most games also use a pack-rat, collecting mentality to get replay value into their games. Katamari Damacy is probably the most obvious of these games. At first, I would come back to this game for the wacky game play and satisfying series of pops as I decimated an entire neighborhood. But after getting ridiculously large, unbeatable Katamari sizes (my 876m moon score has yet to be passed by any of my friends) I started coming back to complete the item collection. As a gamer, I know I won't feel satisfied until I have every object in the game, thus completing the game 100%. And Katamari makes this a challenge with the different sizes of objects spread across all of the levels. I think I only have one or two of the size categories done, and hunting for the one elusive tiny object that I'm missing will probably drive me slightly crazy. However, collecting every object in the game is my final goal that allows me to replay every level in earnest.

Some games will reward the player with 100% completion. An good example happens to be a game I'm playing now: the original Condemned. I am very, very careful to collect all of the birds and metal pieces. I spend entirely more time than necessary in each level looking for these. Why do I do it? Because I know that by collecting all of these objects, I get more information in-game in the form of the numbered reports. These reports give you a much better idea of what's happening in the game, and draw you deeper into your character's world. Again, as a gamer I want the experience the game to its fullest, and by getting closer to full completion of the game I get in-game benefits.



RPGs also use 100% completion as a motivating factor. Due to the hour-intensive nature of RPGs, one would argue that there really is no replay value except for the die-hard fans. However, games like Kingdom Hearts II give you your percent completion when you "finish" the game, yet also allow you to go back and replay parts to raise your percentage. There are still things in the game that I have yet to finish (gummi ship levels mostly) and being able to go back and play those parts without replaying the entire game is pretty convenient. The player is also rewarded for completing everything in the game with an extended cut scene/trailer for the next game. RPGs like Persona 3 use a different system to help you get everything in the game with the "New Game+" feature that allows you to keep all of your stats and personas from your previous save file. You might still have to play a game over again, however you are given a large advantage by keep your old stats. You can blow through the game much faster and with less diffuculty; making the second run-through more enjoyable.

There are cases however where the temptation of 100% completion is more of a deterrent than a motivator. I was completely turned off of Final Fantasy X-2 by their system of percent completion. Unlike the "replay any area, any time" idea of KH, FFX-2 did not let you replay a chapter once it was over. Not only this, but specific challenges are only available in certain chapters. I skipped over a lot of the side quests, thinking I could do them at a later; maybe when I was putting off fighting a boss or got tired of level-grinding. However, when I reached the last boss battle I discovered I only had 55% of the game complete! This meant that almost half of the game consisted of side quests. I was so disgusted by the fact that I would have to start the game over to play the 45% of the game that I missed that I didn't bother beating the last boss. I put the game down and haven't played it since, out of pure anger.

In general, I find that replay value in a game for me tends to be in 100% completion. Harvest Moon, Pokemon Snap, Burnout Revenge, and many other games keep me coming back over and over again so I can get one step closer to gaming perfection. You can write me off as crazy or OCD, but I know that 100% completion means that I've gotten 100% of my money's worth.