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I just finished Metro 2033 and I thought the auto save and checkpoint system was pretty good overall, but there are a few places where it's a bit annoying, and one area where the lack of quicksave is just infuriating. Even if those areas had a few more well judged checkpoints I'd still be frustrated - very often I want to go back and replay a section that is further back than the last checkpoint, but I don't want to be forced to replay the whole level from the start just get to the bit I want to repeat.
I'm sure 4A Games (or THQ) had their reasons for not implementing quicksave, and it may even be a simple case of being unable to schedule the QA of a non vital feature. I did notice that the checkpoint system is bugged anyway - sometimes when you reload the mutants/enemy fighters are still on a heightened state of awareness or scripted events are already active when they should be reset. Possibly save anytime was more problematic, but I feel I'm clutching at straws and making excuses for the developer. It should be properly sorted and I suspect that the game engine is perfectly capable of save at any time.
As a games designer I don't agree with the decision to omit quicksave, or putting up false barriers to make a game last longer. If people want to exploit the save system, or cheat, or use any exploits then that's up to them. There is absolutely no point in any developer investing any effort in preventing this as someone will always find a way to cheat, use an exploit, download a mod, download a save file etc. There are always 1001 more important things to do during development (obviously priorities are different for multiplayer)
Developers have to make games fun for as many people as possible, saying there should never be quick saves is pretty damn ignorant
The range of skill level amongst games is very broad. Very few games are too easy or too short for average or low skill players. There is no reason to punish those players by denying them a free save system. People want to enjoy their games, not have it turned into a chore with frustrating repetiton.
If you don't like free saves learn some self discipline and don't exploit it.
I'm sure 4A Games (or THQ) had their reasons for not implementing quicksave, and it may even be a simple case of being unable to schedule the QA of a non vital feature. I did notice that the checkpoint system is bugged anyway - sometimes when you reload the mutants/enemy fighters are still on a heightened state of awareness or scripted events are already active when they should be reset. Possibly save anytime was more problematic, but I feel I'm clutching at straws and making excuses for the developer. It should be properly sorted and I suspect that the game engine is perfectly capable of save at any time.
As a games designer I don't agree with the decision to omit quicksave, or putting up false barriers to make a game last longer. If people want to exploit the save system, or cheat, or use any exploits then that's up to them. There is absolutely no point in any developer investing any effort in preventing this as someone will always find a way to cheat, use an exploit, download a mod, download a save file etc. There are always 1001 more important things to do during development (obviously priorities are different for multiplayer)
Developers have to make games fun for as many people as possible, saying there should never be quick saves is pretty damn ignorant
The range of skill level amongst games is very broad. Very few games are too easy or too short for average or low skill players. There is no reason to punish those players by denying them a free save system. People want to enjoy their games, not have it turned into a chore with frustrating repetiton.If you don't like free saves learn some self discipline and don't exploit it.
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