Home Gaming FFD: Are you a completionist?

FFD: Are you a completionist?

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Collectibles have been a staple in games for a long time, but it was really the first Assassin’s Creed in the last generation, with its flag finding, that had people hunting to collect things for no real reason other than completionism. Sure, Crackdown had its orbs before then – but at least collecting them actually had benefits; you powered up the more of those addictive orbs you collected.

And just about every game – especially the open world sort – are littered with all manner of things for you to go out and hunt. And mostly, they offer very little reward.and collectibles are just one  of the things developers have thrown in to games in abundance to try and get you to play their games longer.

One of the newer trends is having animals available for skinning, or hunting challenges (Thanks Red Dead Redemption and Far Cry 3). The LEGO games will have you collecting and unlocking a plethora of characters .

The biggest, and most prolific hooks though are achievements and trophies, which are often tied up in the same collectible nonsense.

Me? I’ll play along and try do everything as long as its fun. Crackdown’s orb hunt had me pretty addicted, because it was genuinely fun trying to find all of those things, but as said, Assassin’s Creed’s Flag collection was duller than Darryn recounting his sex-life.

Tell us though; are you the OCD sort of person who strives for that 100% – or do those kinds of people need to find better things to do with their time?

Last Updated: April 11, 2014

96 Comments

  1. Umar's Sin

    April 11, 2014 at 10:34

    I never got trophy hunting to be honest…Seeing the credits is enough for me. I used to complete games fully back in the days with games like Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. Now?…Meh. Not that much

    Reply

  2. ZombieDogma

    April 11, 2014 at 10:36

    I have 100% for every Assassin’s Creed games except for Liberation. If the gameplay (and stabbing things) is fun enough, then collecting is a good reason to carry on running around.

    Reply

  3. Rince Striving Abomination

    April 11, 2014 at 10:38

    I like finishing games at the very least but am not an avid trophy person (though I did 100% Far Cry 3, first time).

    Reply

  4. VampyreSquirrel

    April 11, 2014 at 10:45

    Only games I’m really a completionist on are the Assassin’s Creeds, GTA’s and Lego games. Beyond that not really, but I’ll push to see how many of the achievements I can get either way.

    Reply

  5. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    April 11, 2014 at 10:46

    Nope. Don’t really care for 100% completion with side quests etc.

    The only game I tried that with was Batman Arkham city with the riddler stuff. Eventually gave up.

    Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      April 11, 2014 at 10:54

      Mine was actually Batman Arkham Asylum. Those riddler trophies in city were too tedious for me to bother with.

      Reply

      • Kensei Seraph

        April 11, 2014 at 11:24

        Same.

        Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      April 11, 2014 at 10:54

      That stuff was fun to do. As long as it’s fun & I don’t really have to go out of my way to do it then I’ll probably give it a bash.

      Reply

  6. Alien Emperor Trevor

    April 11, 2014 at 10:46

    Not really. If it unlocks stuff like hunting did in FC3 then yes, otherwise I couldn’t really be arsed to run around for hours hunting down 100 flags stuck in obscure corners for a silly Noddy badge. If it’s time consuming & tedious then I won’t – like cards or weapon upgrades in FF8. All depends on how much I think it benefits me.

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      April 11, 2014 at 11:01

      You got a LOT of games to start yet alone complete my friend. hehe

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        April 11, 2014 at 11:08

        That is true.

        Reply

        • TiMsTeR1033

          April 11, 2014 at 11:09

          I know your dirty little secret. lol

          Reply

          • VampyreSquirrel

            April 11, 2014 at 11:25

            It’s no secret… it’s on Steam for ALL to see 😛

  7. Kromas

    April 11, 2014 at 10:47

    Half Life and ME are the only games I can think of that I have completed every little thing.
    Oh wait and Dragon Age.

    Reply

    • Ultimo_Cleric N7

      April 11, 2014 at 10:58

      Bioware make it worth our while 🙂

      Reply

      • Kromas

        April 11, 2014 at 11:03

        I love Bioware more than a belieber loves that girl.

        Reply

        • Jedi JJ

          April 11, 2014 at 11:10

          I think he secretly loves a guy and is trying really hard to make people think otherwise.

          Reply

          • Kromas

            April 11, 2014 at 11:12

            I heard he loves those people who help you to your seat. What the name again? Oh yeah … Usher 😛

          • Jedi JJ

            April 11, 2014 at 11:12

            LOL

      • derp

        April 11, 2014 at 11:03

        Totally.
        The only thing that Bioware has done to annoy me in this area is make getting to level 60 in ME1 impossible without the DLCs. And yes, I killed everything on foot during the vehicle missions.

        Reply

        • Kromas

          April 11, 2014 at 11:08

          Actually you can do it you just have to replay with an existing character.

          Reply

          • derp

            April 11, 2014 at 11:12

            That doesn’t really represent the character growth that I equate with the levelling system. The game is meant to represent character growth.
            Replaying the game with the same character kinda ruins it for me.

          • Kromas

            April 11, 2014 at 11:19

            Wellll … your statement did not mention that. You just said it was impossible to level to 60 without DLC. So technically I am still right although I do get your point but then again I usually have a few character lying around that I do not mind replaying if I feel like it.

          • derp

            April 11, 2014 at 11:22

            I understand. I guess I was assuming everyone had similar feelings about characters :D.
            But the challenge was fun in itself. Killing all those Maws on foot…

          • Kromas

            April 11, 2014 at 11:25

            Finally! someone else who also enjoys killing Thresher Maws on foot!

            High Five!

          • derp

            April 11, 2014 at 11:31

            ( ^-^)?(^_^ )

            Only problem is it kinda ruins Grunt’s loyalty mission in ME2, when they make a big fuss about killing on foot.

          • Kromas

            April 11, 2014 at 11:34

            Yeah I found it funny when Wrex commented that the last guy to kill a Thresher on foot was him. Lies! It was me Tali and Garrus!

          • Matthew Holliday

            April 11, 2014 at 12:31

            I disagree, multiple playthroughs felt like real progress in Mass Effect

          • derp

            April 11, 2014 at 12:33

            Multiple playthoughs with different characters makes ME worth it.
            With the same character, not so much

          • Matthew Holliday

            April 11, 2014 at 12:36

            I dunno, I felt like Shepard could only be played one way, playing with different classes felt dishonest.

          • derp

            April 11, 2014 at 12:39

            For me, the different classes relate to different types of people…
            If you only played as a male soldier, I would have to figuratively murder you :3

          • Matthew Holliday

            April 11, 2014 at 12:47

            Male vangaurd, Shepard leads from the front.

    • dylbobjohnjoe

      April 13, 2014 at 17:27

      Little rocket man achievement, half life 2, A full day of my life for that one.

      Reply

  8. Hondsepop

    April 11, 2014 at 10:50

    Used to be, till I started with Darksouls. Now I just run, duck and dive through the different areas.

    Reply

  9. El Capitan del Blade

    April 11, 2014 at 10:50

    Honeslty it depends on the game, Example: Saints Row The Third, I was compelled to 100% complete, and it was fun, Never got that from a GTA game….

    Working on Stick of Truth 100% and enjoying it. Spec Ops The Line, brilliant game, loved it, but after completing the story, I saw no reason to go back in to hunt achievements….

    Reply

  10. Jedi JJ

    April 11, 2014 at 10:53

    Oh hell no. I finish a game if it’s good enough to be worth my time. But completing all the achievements is not something that happens often, if ever. I like running around like a loon and doing random stuff too much, especially in games like Fallout, Skyrim and Sleeping Dogs.

    Reply

  11. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    April 11, 2014 at 10:53

    I have platinumed a few games over the last few years, and while I wouldn’t say I’m a completionist, there have been games where I just had to get 100% for.

    Sleeping Dogs, Saints Row 3 and 4 were perfect examples, with Far Cry 3 being another. I just loved the worlds and enviornments so much that it didn’t bother me to find every single scrap of hidden nonsense.

    I do want to platinum Infamous 1 and 2 though (but at this stage I just don’t have time to sit down and play for days at a time)

    Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      April 11, 2014 at 10:55

      I spent so many hours on Saints Row 3 and I didn’t even check my achievements list once. Just wanted to “jaag kak aan” all the time. Especially playing it co-op.

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        April 11, 2014 at 11:02

        SR3 is sies

        Reply

        • Jedi JJ

          April 11, 2014 at 11:03

          To be completely honest: I have it because I got it with Saints Row 2 and four other decent games on Humble Bundle way back for $6. Had no idea what is was before then and played 80% of the game co-op, which made it quite fun.

          Reply

          • TiMsTeR1033

            April 11, 2014 at 11:04

            Well co-op would make it fun so I rest my case.

    • Umar's Sin

      April 11, 2014 at 10:59

      If the hidden nonsense was worth it, I would do it. Like in Final Fantasy X where you have to find Jecht Sphere and Al-Bhed primers. If it pertains to story or it’s interesting like Tomb Raider’s artifacts I’ll gladly hunt it down

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        April 11, 2014 at 11:01

        Or in FF7 where you had to ‘unlock’ Vincent.

        Reply

        • Umar's Sin

          April 11, 2014 at 11:02

          Hidden characters?? Man now that’s something I’ll hunt, so rare these days

          Reply

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            April 11, 2014 at 11:18

            Yeah, I miss hidden characters. Now they nickel and dime you by saying “they’re DLC addons”. :*(

  12. Milesh Bhana

    April 11, 2014 at 10:56

    definitely not a completionist. There are just too many games to play so when i finish the main story (perhaps a few side quests and collectibles), I’m too excited about the next game on the pile to give a crap about the extras.

    hardly even get DLC these days because i want to play everything!

    Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      April 11, 2014 at 10:58

      I think my large Steam library has also contributed to this. Usually I’d go for the 100% completion because I only had that game for the time and it kept me busy. But now I can just move on to another game when I’m done.

      Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      April 11, 2014 at 12:25

      always wonder how people have too many games to play.
      Am i just picky with the games i play or do i spend way too much time playing games?

      Reply

  13. Grimthwacker

    April 11, 2014 at 10:58

    The only game that I felt I HAD to get all trophies was Demon Souls. It was just such a damn good game. Otherwise not really interested in getting all the collectibles and trophies. (Especially if they are online types of trophies). Unless…. the collectible shards or whatever allows you to upgrade weapons,abilities, etc. Then I will hunt them down.

    Reply

  14. Hammersteyn

    April 11, 2014 at 10:58

    I would be if SP games didn’t require some achievements to be done through multiplayer.

    Reply

  15. Ultimo_Cleric N7

    April 11, 2014 at 10:58

    I am a completionist, I must do everything and see EVERY part of a game. I will exclude trophy hunting in this because in my opinion that is very different to being a completionist.

    Its all because of the story of a game. If the story is good, I MUST KNOW EVERYTHING.

    This is probably why I am staying away from WoW. That and the monthly charges. 🙂

    Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      April 11, 2014 at 11:28

      The achievements in WoW are just WOW… so many of them… by the end of Cataclysm I had 40% of them… thanks to Mists I was down to 25%, apparently only got 831/2057 WoW achievements

      Reply

  16. TiMsTeR1033

    April 11, 2014 at 10:59

    I personally am not a completionist as to say, but @illuchnemancera:disqus sure is. lol

    Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      April 11, 2014 at 10:59

      Tim! My friend! You have returned!

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        April 11, 2014 at 11:00

        For now, lol been a hell of a week!

        Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      April 11, 2014 at 11:21

      Name dropping? Really? lmao

      Reply

      • Jedi JJ

        April 11, 2014 at 11:27

        Hahaha
        He just does it because he admires how humble you are.

        Reply

        • VampyreSquirrel

          April 11, 2014 at 12:11

          lol!

          Reply

  17. Admiral Chief in Space

    April 11, 2014 at 11:01

    I try, I really do try

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      April 11, 2014 at 11:03

      I believe you, you seem like the type to try and complete all worthy achievements.

      Reply

      • Jedi JJ

        April 11, 2014 at 11:04

        His wife must be so lucky. 😉

        Reply

        • TiMsTeR1033

          April 11, 2014 at 11:05

          haha! and so happy!

          Reply

  18. derp

    April 11, 2014 at 11:08

    I do agree with the author somewhat.
    If the completion is arbitrary, pointless and just plain boring, I don’t bother.
    But when it adds some value…Hell yeah :3

    Reply

  19. MakeItLegal

    April 11, 2014 at 11:08

    I used to try ( mgs ) had for a long time , but I have less an less time for gaming , so when I game I really just wana game for fun and not think to much … If I won the lotto Tommorow I would go back and complete a large amount of games …

    Reply

  20. KingKappie

    April 11, 2014 at 11:08

    This FFD is just a cry for comments to be Batman

    Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      April 11, 2014 at 11:23

      FFD doesn’t (or shouldn’t) count towards Batman… to my knowledge at least.

      Reply

  21. Kensei Seraph

    April 11, 2014 at 11:09

    The only game I’ve actively tried to get 100% for was Arkham Asylum’s story mode.

    Other than that I’ll try to unlock all the class/race/ship options for the game.
    Currently I’m trying to get the Steakth Cruiser for FTL.

    Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      April 11, 2014 at 11:09

      The Steakth Cruiser. Silent and tasty!

      Reply

  22. Unavengedavo

    April 11, 2014 at 11:13

    Assassin’s Creed’s Flag collection was duller than Darryn recounting his sex-life.
    Now this tweet makes sense O_o
    https://twitter.com/Darrangedd/status/454200630119501824

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      April 11, 2014 at 11:19

      WOW!

      Reply

  23. Norm the Horrible

    April 11, 2014 at 11:15

    Well, I tried to collect all the riddler clues & that other jazz in Arkham Asylum.

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      April 11, 2014 at 12:50

      yeah, me too. For about five minutes. What a drag.

      Reply

  24. Devourer of Small Bunnies

    April 11, 2014 at 11:21

    Not one bit. I couldnt be bothered. My games are there for enjoyment and entertainment, giving them anymore complexity than that would ruin my personal experience. Thats nto to say there arent game I enjoy capping the achievements list, ie Burnout or NFS’s billboard runs, or strange kills in Bulletstorm or Borderlands. But every single game? All the time? Naw, thats way too tiring.

    Reply

  25. OminousRain

    April 11, 2014 at 11:25

    I want to say yes. I feel like I need to get 100%. Get all achievements, see, do everything. Then my procrastination kicks in…. and I don’t do all those things 🙂

    Reply

  26. Mossel

    April 11, 2014 at 11:27

    I nearly fully completed Bioshock Infinite. But mostly yes, I do like getting at least 50% for a game. Preferably around the 70% mark.

    Reply

  27. Mossel

    April 11, 2014 at 11:32

    Now that I think about it, I dont always like to get all the achievements, but I like to completely finish a level before I move on to the next part. It becomes problamatic in games like Borderlands where the sidequest almost never end. I think my reason for this in rpgs is that I dont want my character to be weak in the next part of the game.

    Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      April 11, 2014 at 11:33

      I do the same in RPG’s.I tend to spend so much time doing side quests that when I do eventually get back to the main my character is a beast.

      Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      April 11, 2014 at 12:19

      pretty much the same, if i dont, i be like “oh shit, but what about that loot? what if that 1% drop chance item drops in an area i didnt clear yet?! my cash dropped to under 100 billion, i may run out of money soon, what if i need ammo, i need to sell that item? OH SHIT WHAT DO I DO?”

      Reply

      • Mossel

        April 11, 2014 at 12:25

        haha just like that! And then people ask me why I take so long with games. Or when you are busy doing a main quest and you come across a cave or two on the way… It is scientifically proven that I MUST go into the cave otherwise I will always wonder about the one that got away. The one where, like you said, that 1% drop chance item is.

        Reply

        • Matthew Holliday

          April 11, 2014 at 12:28

          i just ask myself, what would Shepard do?

          Reply

  28. HvR

    April 11, 2014 at 11:45

    I prefer it when the colectibles add something like a bit of backstory.

    Liked the FC3 letters but it got ruined by the the Cali surfer dude playing with his pair of grenades and his monkey.

    Reply

  29. Hermann Schwindt

    April 11, 2014 at 11:55

    Unfortunately I am a completionist. I have made peace with the fact as it is part of my personality and I definitely have perfectionist tendencies. I can definitely play a lot more games if I didnt play a game to 100%.

    Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      April 11, 2014 at 12:03

      I wish I had your patience. I’m really bad when it comes to this. If I get frustrated with a certain achievement that I can’t get (that doesn’t form part of the main story or quest), I just move on.

      Reply

      • Hermann Schwindt

        April 11, 2014 at 12:17

        You make it sound glamorous. 🙂 But In certain instances Im glad I persevered. Like Batman challenges, once you stop button mashing, the fights become insanely fun.

        Reply

        • Jedi JJ

          April 11, 2014 at 14:21

          The one game where I really tried to get everything was actually Arkham Asylum.

          Reply

      • Rince Striving Abomination

        April 11, 2014 at 12:48

        Don’t tell your girlfriend that 0-O

        Reply

  30. Rags

    April 11, 2014 at 12:02

    Nope. Achievements are gimmicks.

    Reply

  31. Matthew Holliday

    April 11, 2014 at 12:17

    I complete all the side missions and main missions, but I dont go for the achievements.
    unless theres a specific bonus im looking for.

    Reply

  32. hairyknees

    April 11, 2014 at 13:19

    No. 😛

    Reply

  33. RedRover

    April 11, 2014 at 13:26

    I am not usually a completionist. But Borderlands 2 had me by the balls. 68 of 69 achievements. I never did the one with the Zero. The thought of levelling up a 4th character was to much. 😛

    Reply

  34. JustAnotherGamer

    April 11, 2014 at 14:46

    No, achievements are for morons. I just play the game, finish it and then trade it in for another. I don’t care about achievements.

    Reply

  35. Gustav Willem Diedericks

    April 11, 2014 at 15:38

    I’m with you on the fun factor, Geoff. If it’s fun I’ll try and complete everything (like with Farcry 3), otherwise I just leave it by the wayside and not care. I used to have OCD completion when I was a bit younger, but due to the fact that games aren’t as fun as they used to be and the fact that getting older makes you just not care about unimportant things, this has changed in me.

    Reply

  36. CAE9872

    April 11, 2014 at 18:24

    I would have to say I was. Am I an achievement/trophy whore…to some extent yes. I use them as a guide to finishing games.

    HOWEVER, I have made peace with myself on this. In theory 100% is the ultimate goal but to do that would take hours upon hours on certain games. So I have changed my habit. If I can attain 80% of the achievements/trophies/personal challenges (for older games) then I am satisfied that I have played the game enough and can move on.

    At LAST I can actually play my games without feeling “guilty” that I haven’t got the most from them.

    So to answer I will say yes to a large degree.

    EDIT: Why 80% – easy. I am an auditor and we work on the 80:20 rule 🙂

    Reply

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