The Slowdown: The Goggles, They Do Everything

Did the detective mode in Batman: Arkham Aylum make the game too easy? Should Rocksteady Games have restricted its usage in order make the game more balanced? The Slowdown’s Nabeel Burney discusses the responsibility of making a game fun, and whether it lies solely in the hands of the developers, or if gamers should shoulder some of of it too.

"I’m sure it’s happened to you: you’re playing a game and you come across a weapon, or ability, or game mechanic that you just love, and you wish you could use it all the time. Only you can’t, because the developer has placed restrictions on it in the name of balance.

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Where does the designer’s responsibility for making a game fun end, and the player’s begin? Should the player be given full reigns over the available tools or should the designer limit them?"

Drawing from examples such as BioWare’s Mass Effect series, Nabeel explores cases where introducing restrictions to gameplay mechanics can improve the experience, and where it may not.