Games you liked the second time around

[Lee__Kanker]

I think the gameplay really is a major part of it - it definitely shares a lot of similiarities with Xenoblade, but it plays much more drily and has an even greater focus on automation than that series, which doesn't exactly have the greatest mass market appeal, I assume.

Another part would be the story - it doesn't really feature much inter-personal drama or character development for the cast (aside from Ashe and a couple scenes for the rest here and there) and is more concerned with the grand picture and political scheming between side characters.
(Again, my favourite part during the my second go-around. Especially since the game trusts the player to understand what's going on in the plot without spelling every little detail out over and over again.)

There's a reason Fran takes up most of the few callbacks to that game that tend to pop up online - she's the only thing approaching the kind of waifu character that people usually latch on to in the game.
Hell, even the ancient magical artifacts are framed more like WMDs in that game than the usual creeping influence of malign gods bent on world destruction. It doesn't present the way JRPGs usually present.

With all that said, the game is also just plain flawed - the pacing is godawful for example.

(Whoa, sorry about the wall of text - I need to teach myself how to be concise again...)

Nono, that was very infornative and fun to read

 

[Cheela]

For me is Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.
HEAR ME OUT FIRST! The first time i bought the game i was a dumb league of legends enjoyer teenager, soo my 3ds was mainly used for Pokemon and Smash Bros. Fire emblem was the niche series i was into, i heard about MH but really struggle to comprehend it the first time.
Several years later, a friend of mine invited me to try Monster Hunter Rise
THAT WAS MY INTRODUCTION TO MONSTER HUNTER: MULTIPLAYER FUN
Then i fell in love with all the games, and when i revisited Monster Hunter 4U as a more experienced player (and with a more mature mentallity). I absolutely loved, easily my second favorite Monster Hunter.

 

[JetlagMadman]

Bravely Default. First time around the absolute slog that is the mid-way point of the game caused me to drop. Second time, powered through it and found that the game has one of the most unique endings of all time, really glad I gave it the time.