I try my best to attain 100% completion in just about every game I purchase.  There are exceptions, but it has been this way as long as I’ve been playing.  The original plan was to make a series about some of the painful trials involved in accomplishing everything, but I’ll begin with how my completion obsession started.

The simple truth is it was always really about the rewards after all.  You see, Resident Evil and Final Fantasy VIII were the first titles I played that weren’t fighting games, beat ‘em ups, or simple side-scrollers.  I quickly learned that exploring and completing side quests would make the journey to the end credits a little easier.

At elementary school age, I felt Resident Evil was the hardest game in the world.  I never knew what to do or where to go.  Any progress I made was by trial and error.  Even after getting somewhere, I’d be overwhelmed with enemies that seemingly absorbed most rounds fired at them. 

Well this is wonderful

I’d frequently consult Tips & Tricks, only to find out they had a decent weapon by that point of the game. 

Furious and teary-eyed I’d start an entire new game, this time exploring every nook and cranny to find a weapon, key, or at least an extra herb to better prepare me for future encounters.  I’d still like to replay the original RE and finish it, but my mind is clouded with so many memories of toddler rage that it’s just too daunting a task.

Final Fantasy VIII was my first foray into RPGs and the first game I felt any good at.  I was too young to understand how to completely exploit the junction system, but I quickly learned to use elementals and status effects to my advantage, and genuinely enjoyed random enemy encounters.  What was wrong with me?

Mug is arguably Final Fantasy VIII’s most useful ability.  It allows you to steal items from opponents upon striking them.  An optional Guardian Force/Summon called Diablos --who must be defeated after being summoned with a magical lamp-- enables the player to learn the ability. 

Even without the ability, is this guy badass or what?

The player can miss out on grabbing the magical lamp if they don’t talk to an NPC before heading to a different continent for a mission.

In retrospect, the character (Headmaster Cid) is pretty obviously placed, but I still didn’t consider talking to him before heading off on my journey.  I was scavenging shops for a specific item shortly afterward and kept coming up empty handed.

After much frustration I swallowed my pride, went online via 56k connection to GameWinners, waited 10 minutes for the site to load, closed a dozen pop-ups, waited some more, and found out the item had to be mugged from an enemy, and that I had missed my chance to gain the Mug ability.

Toddler rage ensued.  I was still young and only allowed to play for so many hours on the weekends, so I lost about a month’s worth of progress.  I had a decision to make: keep going and miss out on some fancy upgrades, or start from scratch. 

I wiped my tears, started a new game, and then cried some more when I accidentally saved over my old file.

Fast-forward to this day, and I still hold the same mindset of being as prepared as can be when playing new titles.  I avoid using consumables and refrain from starting story missions until completing all side quests possible.  I’ll even talk to the same character multiple times in a row to be absolutely sure I’m not missing anything from them.

I feel that you almost had to do everything to stand a good chance with older games.  Part of it could be because I was younger and unskilled.  It could also be because older games really were more difficult. The occurrence of more and more “streamlined” action titles, wherein you don’t even have the option to explore the world around you or do more than what is required, may also have some influence.

There is probably some truth and myth to be found in all three reasons, but I think many of the first 3D games I played really encouraged me to explore and complete side quests.  Heart pieces and skulltulas, anyone?

When games tell me to go North, I’ll go every other direction first before I obey.  Every barrel will be broken.  Every chest opened. 

As much as I appreciate a detailed environment, the real reason I explore is to find an upgrade, potion, loot, or a stranger who needs my help.  Sometimes the reward is less practical like an achievement or easter egg.  Sometimes there really isn’t anything there. 

That’s still good enough for me.  I’d much rather take every precaution than to miss out on fancy gear, or worse, throw a childish tantrum as I begin a new play-through.