Essential game features?

[Dogg Thang]

I am of the opinion that every handheld game, without exception, should have a quick save feature where you can save at any point, the game will exit and you can resume from that point at any time. I see it as an essential feature, even on systems with a sleep function as that doesn't allow switching to a different game for obvious reasons.

That's just handheld games.

So, are there any features you see as being essential? As in every game of a particular type should have? I would have thought in this day and age that customisable controls are a must. As so many games have different controls and differently mapped features that are basically the same, it would be great to always be able to map them to whatever you like. Many games now have this but not all.

Any others?

[Kubrick]

An option to edit the controls is always welcome, no matter the game, but to me, it's essential to have that option for shooters, fighters, racing games & other types of arcade games since many people like to play them with steering wheels, joysticks, Saturn-style pads etc...

I'm especially wary of buying any Western-developed driving games since so many of them don't allow you to edit the controls.

[Concept]

Skippable cut-scenes.

I don't generally skip cut-scenes as a rule, but when you're stuck on a particular section or boss and the game forces you to sit through a two minute scene over and over again to get to where you were... that's unforgivable.

And with the recent progression found in the likes of ICO, Resident Evil 4 (US version) and SotC, load-screens that say "Loading Now" are a big no-no for me in adventure games. Completely pulls you out of the world in terms of immersion. I'm not against loading per se... I just think gamers shouldn't be constantly reminded of it (which makes me wonder what on Earth Capcom were thinking with the modification they made to the PAL versions of RE4).

[Roddie]

I wish every game had a sound test option, surely it's not that much to ask for!

[lurch996]

I wish every game had a sound test option, surely it's not that much to ask for!

So would I! But soundtrack sales would go down which is why I think they dont include the option anymore.

[Julio III]

Every game should have options to adjust the levels of sound effects and music.

Hmm, I actually had a few more but can't think at the minute...

[Concept]

Games should also all have screen positioning options. One of the annoying things with the PS2 is that using RGB off-centres the screens in a lot of games.

[Dogg Thang]

Skippable cut-scenes.

+about a million

No game should be allowed hit the shelves without being able to skip cut scenes.

[Geoff D]

Skippable company logo screens on boot up - impatient I may well be, but I want to crack on with my game please.

[Jebus]

So would I! But soundtrack sales would go down which is why I think they dont include the option anymore.

I dunno, you already spent ?40 on the game, if you want to hear it on a CD player/MP3 player you'd still have to buy the soundtrack!

[eastyy]

Better tutorials in games (mostly pc games i think)

They always feel overly long

[Roddie]

So would I! But soundtrack sales would go down which is why I think they dont include the option anymore.

but japan seems to be the only place where game soundtracks are widely sold

[sj33]

Stuff like 480p mode, screen size/positioning etc, this really should be standard stuff as not everyones screen is the same.

A Sound Test always gets well-recieved by me - something that's becoming less and less common these days.