We all have games that we pour too many hours into. As a kid, it's not so bad because time doesn't seem to go so fast. Sadly, it's a different story when we grow up, and there's no shame in admitting to yourself when enough is enough. When a video game is more of a chore than a pleasure, it's time to uninstall and move on. Life is short, and there are plenty of other things to do, and countless other games to play.
Sometimes a game is just bad. We've all played titles that are poorly written, janky beyond belief or simply unfinished messes (*coughs in Cyberpunk 2077*). These games are easier to turn our backs on because they don't feel worthy of our precious free time, and rightly so. The tricky part is when the game is technically good, it's just not what we like on a personal level. This is when the temptation to blame ourselves comes into play, despite how ludicrous a jump that is.
Speaking of quitting games, here's our Top 5 Games That Made Us Rage Quit. Did any of these titles make you give up?
Recently, I returned to Bloodborne. FromSoftware's gothic, Lovecraftian title is a masterpiece, and that's clear to see. From the first time leaving the 1st Floor Sickroom, to overcoming one of the many nightmarish bosses (I blow a pretend airhorn every single time), Bloodborne is both an excellent Souls title, and an individual experience that will lure in many of those that Dark Souls could not. Even the game's creator thinks it stands out above the rest. However, that doesn't mean it's a game for everyone.
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Picking up after a few months away, I found my hunter forlornly standing in the Hypogean Gaol. After about 10 minutes of reminding myself how to play the game - and getting beaten to a pulp a couple times - I felt my way back to where I was when I last played. After another 10 minutes, something dawned on me: I don't like playing Bloodborne. Before you grab your pitchforks and shout "Away! Away!" let me repeat that I believe Bloodborne is genuinely a masterpiece, but it's not one I want to spend further time with.
It's nothing to do with difficulty, either. For starters, Bloodborne feels easier than the original Dark Souls, and even a child can beat it. But that's not why I prefer the more recent game. Its setting of Yharnam is more appealing to me than Dark Souls' Lordran. I find the sci-fi elements of Bloodborne are more intriguing, and learning the story behind the game's wretched monsters is my favourite part of the experience. The problem is, the gameplay doesn't satisfy me.
Yes, I've put up with gameplay I haven't enjoyed before in order to get the whole story of a game, but Bloodborne isn't quite so easy to balance. The lore is vast, and the narrative is not so forthcoming compared to something like Uncharted 4. Not that I'm saying these games are - or should be treated as - similar. I'm simply pointing out that one game's plot is easier to consume than the other.
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Ultimately, the relatively slow movement speeds and weighty combat style of Bloodborne don't do it for me. I much prefer the combat systems present in titles like Bayonetta or Nier: Automata. I'm not claiming PlatinumGames are better than FromSoftware, but I am saying I prefer the former's work from a gameplay standpoint. The speedy, godlike combos of Cereza and 2B are closer to my idea of a good time, and that's the way it is.
All of this is why I uninstalled Bloodborne. It's clearly an amazing game, but not for me. The lore is fascinating, and the in-game world is full of mystery, but I've taken my last stroll through Cathedral Ward. If this were a breakup, it would be one of those clichéd "it's not you, it's me" situations. You're amazing, Bloodborne, but I have to put myself first. I'm sorry and I hope we can still be friends. Well, I'm not and I don't, but you know what I mean.
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It's no bad thing to call time on a game if it's not for you. We've all done it, but sometimes we feel like we're doing something wrong. I have friends who love Bloodborne, and they'll be livid when I tell them I've given up on it, but that's not my problem. I'll spend the time I'll now save on the games I enjoy more, whether that's on yet another run of 2020's Resident Evil 3, or getting lost in the gorgeous environments of Biomutant (a 9/10 game IMO), or earning every achievement in the Xbox One version of Nier: Automata (I already have the platinum on PlayStation 4, but I really love this game and it's in our Top 100 List).
Like I said before, life is short, and it feels a lot shorter when spent doing things you don't enjoy. Some things we have to do, but when it comes to our leisure time, make the right call. Do the things you love as often as you can, and never let a video game you're not really enjoying get in the way of the ones you do.
Featured Image Credit: Sony Interactive EntertainmentTopics: PlayStation, Bloodborne