We don't celebrate chapter selection enough

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

Having grown up using consoles and older PCs, I always resented losing sight of a particularly inspired area or level after being done with it the first time because I was usually preoccupied with figuring out how to beat them to properly enjoy them.

I mean, sure, some games offered it even back then, but the vast majority operated on "start-the-whole-game-over-if-you-wanna-see-this-part-again" rules, and it kind of majorly sucked.

I have a lot of respect for games that let you revisit any part of the story for any reason after you have completed them, and I even deem any lacking such a feature to be "incomplete" — it really has become core to my gaming experience.

Is there any game you are thankful that includes this feature?

 

[HYEROS]

In Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron for PSP, you can replay any mission or level as many times as you like once you've completed them. And thank goodness for that, because while the third-person levels are just so-so, the space levels—where you pilot iconic fighters from the saga (which you can even switch out mid-mission)—are pure joy.

 

[ConanTheDestroyer]

I agree it's a great feature and it also makes a lot of sense. Allowing the player to go back and replay parts of the game in order to do it better whether it be to get a higher score or completing other objectives for instance. Really appreciated it in Goldeneye and Perfect Dark as I would replay missions on higher difficulties after finishing the game since it gave you additional objectives depending on the difficulty so as to keep things fresh.

 

[ArchienineZXAdventArchienineZXAdvent's icon]

Mega Man.
Most games includes secrets that are or a nice extra or a optional weapon that helps.

 

[Battleplayer83]

I like when Games have a replay mission feature whenever i want to see a specific cutscene again.

Post automatically merged: Today at 4:12 PM

In Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron for PSP, you can replay any mission or level as many times as you like once you've completed them. And thank goodness for that, because while the third-person levels are just so-so, the space levels—where you pilot iconic fighters from the saga (which you can even switch out mid-mission)—are pure joy.

i like the battlefront psp games.
they are actually pretty good.
Just wish they would have fixed the battlefront 2 ship battle mode cause you cant blow up the huge ships like in the console and pc versions.

 

[Cu1tur3D_Gam3R]

This feature adds a lot of replay ability in games & I truly appreciate it. One of the games that I enjoyed the most with the chapter select is the Ace Combat games, particularly 4, just an absolute banger.

 

[Ikagura]

When a RPG has an area that is no longer accessible due to story I can get it (as much as I'd hate to miss on items) yet non-RPGs should allow some kind of mission replay outside of a NG+...

 

[Kovlak]

I like it a lot in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed as the funnest part of it is really the first level with The Apprentice before force resistant troops show up and the bossed gain invulnerability to certain force powers.

 

[shaggi]

I don't like going back to places in the game. It feels like going in circles. Although it makes sense in some RPGs, where you return to places you've been because of changes related to the main character's actions.

 

[Bakuma1997]

As of recently? I am glad Gravity Circuuit not only lets you simply pick your level, you are also allowed to pick from which Checkpoint to begin, that makes looking for civilians and upgrades easier

 

[JustLooking123]

I think the feature is really important, necessary, and great!

However, depending on the complexity of the game, it might be difficult or impossible to implement...
For example, imagine a story heavy game where each action might set an internal flag that can affect a certain point of the story...

The only way i can think of to implement such a feature in such games is applying everything based on a chosen save-data until that point... but still it won't allow a true "Go anywhere you like"... but i guess that would be fine.

An alternative feature that some games (such as visual novels) use is Fast-Forward... i think a similar feature can be implemented in RPG games too! especially for their New Game+ runs.

For simpler games, a game that implemented it and i loved it is Sonic3/Sonic & Knuckles (Actually i played their combined version known as "Sonic3 & Knuckles").
It was really great that i could start at any stage i like!

 

[JG5009]

That's something I like about Xenosaga as where I am at the first one, past areas are freely explorable at save points and not too many secrets are missable thanks to the linear story and even more linear areas.

 

[Sheepy765]

I'm a big fan of Final Fantasy XV's chapter select, it allows you to explore Eos as it appears at various points of the story, and is useful for gnabbing things you missed before the final boss without New Game Plus.

 

[Ikagura]

An alternative feature that some games (such as visual novels) use is Fast-Forward... i think a similar feature can be implemented in RPG games too! especially for their New Game+ runs.

The first Zero Escape game allowed it indeed.

I do like when there's a visible flowchart though.

For simpler games, a game that implemented it and i loved it is Sonic3/Sonic & Knuckles (Actually i played their combined version known as "Sonic3 & Knuckles").
It was really great that i could start at any stage i like!

Sonic CD locking you in Metallic Madness Act 3 when you finish the game, preventing you from going for the good ending, was not the best idea...

 

[MDGeistsfavMC5song]

yeah Ive been playing Ys 4 (PC Engine one) with english patch and Xak 3 with english patch and yeah, if it wasnt for save states Id go crazy.. also take a break with blasting thru Last Resort on Neo Geo in breaks... yeah I need those lately... but I blast the japanese Sonic CD soundtrack when I take a shower.. its too good.. it makes you move