I agree, but in Journey's case, I know I'll never have that same first experience again, and I see no point in trying. Basically, I'm good on Journey. I'll keep thinking about it, but what if that first playthrough is your entire experience? How many games encourage that?

I generally think less of games that have little replay value. And like you, I don't see the point in replaying Journey.

As an interesting parallel, David Cage encouraged gamers to only experience Heavy Rain once (because of the finality of your choices). But I enjoyed each playthrough -- likely because of the rich narrative.

This will no doubt set you off, but I was done after one playthrough of Heavy Rain, for different reasons. It was cool and all, but I just didn't feel like doing all of that stuff again.

To each his own, my friend :)

My favorite games of the last 5-10 years have compelled me to play them again, almost immediately. Games like Portal 2, Heavy Rain, L.A. Noire, and The Force Unleashed were replayable for their stories, alone. In this way. they're no different than great movies.

After finishing the second episode to Telltale's The Walking Dead. I agree with David Cage. One playthrough make the game more profound. It becomes my own personal story when the choices I make are final. This is something that a second playthrough cannot duplicate.

Where does Mass Effect fit into this? I know people who are on their second or third playthroughs of the entire series just so they can see everything, and I've never heard "one and done" directed at it. Is it because Walking Dead and Heavy Rain are more personal, immediate stories?

Why do I feel like I'm writing a study guide?

Discuss.

I think the difference between Mass Effect and walking dead / heavy rain, is that Mass Effect has robust gameplay. You are correct in saying that the more personal stories are more potent with one playthrough. I played Mass Effect several times as different classes for the fun of it, while the choices I made stayed the same for the most part in each playthrough.

Well, Heavy Rain and The Walking Dead (especially the former) have elastic narratives that stretch to accomodate your choices. So the story is literally what you make of it -- it is very intimate and personal. In that sense, your first playthrough is the most impactful.

But I didn't just enjoy Heavy Rain's narrative for its elastic qualities. So I have no trouble returning to it.

But what about the part where you [spoiler] on the [spoiler] and then [spoiler]?

If you are refering to Journey spefically I tihnk a solo play through puts the narrative in a completely different context which holds its own against a cooperative one...what I mean is  surely the cooperative expereince isnt the same but a solo play through has the potential to put so much more weight into the over arching narrative.

If you mean in a more broad sense....I think part of really apreciating the best our favorite medium has to offer involves understanding why and how the part "where you [spoiler] on the [spoiler] and then [spoiler]" is so important or so meaningful the first time you play through. Great moments and achivements in any medium will stand the test of time even after we hold them up to the light. Although multiple playthroughs won't give you the same exact emotional experience it doesn't take away from what the games developers were able to accomplish - among other things... how they were able to make you feel the first time...and thats maybe a different discussion but when you think of  your best game of the year you are most likely going to consider how each game you played in 2012 made you feel (and how it may or may not have changed how you think about the medium) - not necessarily how it makes you feel now.

I think what I was getting at is that real surprises are so rare that I kind of like letting them stand. The scene with the [spoiler] is [spoiler] the first time, but [spoiler] [spoiler] the [spoiler].

That joke might have gotten away from me.

Which room in Fez?

MegaMan inspired room with the blocks that disappear....finally figuring out how to get in that super cool door was the firs part of it but then playing though that section is just so freaking awesome. My favorite music in the entire game as well.

I'll say this -- Koudelka (old PSX RPG) had an amazing story, but the gameplay was so clunky that I couldn't force myself to replay it.

In that case, I'd avoid watching Indie Game: The Movie :-)

Ha, I've actually already seen the movie, and other than coloring my opinion of how the game was made, I don't think it really spoils much of anything. 

I'll know that the art style had been updated and I'll probably look at the background a little more closely to appreciate the Tetris block motif, but right now, it's still just some nebulous game that I want to try, which is exactly what I want.

It's sitting by my TV right now, just waiting for me to grab the last few Achievements in Lollipop Chainsaw.

...

That's a weird sequence of things I'm playing.

Those last few achievements aren't worth it. Umbasa!

I have a problem, Rob.

It's a weird counterpoint, though. I've played through that game four or five times now.

Heh. I probably shouldn't tell you the chances you have for finding pure bladestone, then. Ulterior motives and all that.

It wouldn't be a "favorite game" story if Rob didn't mention Demon's Souls...

;)

...or if Jason didn't mention Heavy Rain.

Am I really that predictable, Evan? Evaan? EvaaaaaN???