What gives a game great replay value?

[Guest William E]

What factors do you think give a game a good replay factor? IMO I think these 3 things are huge factors:

 

Create option: Games that give you the chance to create your own characters like the Sims or the many create-a-wrestler found in wrestling games.

 

Online Play: Being able to test your skills against someone from another state or country in a sport or fighting game is probably one of the best ways to keep someone playing for a for a long time.

 

Multiplayer: Get your friends to come over and start a tournament for endless bragging rights.

 

 

And the most important factor for a game to have a great replay value, it has to be one good fucking game!!!

[Rendclaw]

Out of all the games I own, Ace Combat 4 has the best replay... its a great game in its own right, but replaying missions, setting "high scores" on certain missions, going for special aircraft, different paint schemes on all of the aircraft, its pretty deep.

 

SYM runs a close second, because I am finding little things here and there as I go through the SLs again and again, since HCTP isn't coming out for another three months.

 

Not to mention interfering in every one of HHH's matches is a source of never ending joy for me.

[Guest El Psycho Diablo]

In my view, a couple examples of the "best" replayable games would be Fallout (1 or 2) and System Shock 2, both for PC. Both have amazing gameplay (if you're an RPG or FPS person respectively..but calling SS2 an FPS is almost an injustice), and nearly limitless ways to go through the game. Both are fairly original, and not that well known except among fans of the games.