Ever play mini-games more than the main game?

I was playing Alien Hominid HD the other night, and I realized that I enjoyed the mini-games more than the main meat single player campaign. That reminded me of the VR missions in the Metal Gear Solid series, which I enjoyed *far* more than the main story with all that j-emo. MSG had something like 120 little simulator levels which focused on all kinds of different activities. They were consistently more fun, more challenging, and also more convenient. The graphics were basic, just the regular enemy models with primitive levels made entirely of black textures outlined in Matrix-like lines, just to remind you that this was a simulation. However, they did crazy things like blow up an enemy to 3 stories tall and try to take him out with a pistol or some other ridiculous task.

Anyone else out there have a thing for mini-games?

Yea I too spent more times in MGS VR missions then the actual game (in this case the MGS2 VR missions from Substance). Other then that I can't think of anything, but most of the games I have are devoid of minigames.

The main character of Ringworld 2, an adventure game based on the Larry Niven series, spent all his time in his bedroom. That's the very first room you start in. It has a computer set into the wall with one game on it, some kind of four player card game where you're building space stations. I loved that card game, and so Ringworld probably fell to whatever threat would inevitably arise.

I liked the cardgame in FF8 as well. To me, the main game was a chore you went through to unlock more areas and competitors for the card game.

I'd say anyone who owns the new Pirates! qualifies.

Danjo Olivaw wrote:

I liked the cardgame in FF8 as well. To me, the main game was a chore you went through to unlock more areas and competitors for the card game.

Yeah that was an amazing card game. I did hate how certain rules would be adopted (ie: RANDOM).

My friend played more of the FF9 Chocobo mini-game than the main game.

Never

Vector wrote:

My friend played more of the FF9 Chocobo mini-game than the main game.

I did the same thing... I spent about 100 hours on it.

I am obsessive-compulsive when it comes to completing all the mini-games and side quests in games; to me, if I don't get 100% on everything, then I didn't play the game it was meant to be played. I collected all the Lores in FF6. I collected every puppy in Kingdom Hearts. I got every last Chocobo treasure in FF9. I even unlocked every stupid item in the Lego Star Wars II store. This is why I don't play many RPGs (or games with like side quests) anymore - I just don't have the time!

Less talk, more Pazaak!

I don't think I ever played a mini-game more than the full game, but I did play a lot of that battleship-type minigame in the original Sam & Max.

"You creamed my camper!"

My younger son was a massive Blitzball freak in Final Fantasy X. He was livid with what they did to it in FFX-2. He seriously digs building GummiShips in Kingdom Hearts.

And he has easily spent 10 times as much time in the garage in Need for Speed Carbon than he's ever spent in races. And you don't even want to know how long he's logged in races and pursuits.

OK Silly post alert****

How about God of War?

NemesisZero wrote:

I'd say anyone who owns the new Pirates! qualifies.

Seriously, you lose half of your man-cred if you get addicted to the dancing part of it.

Yes!

Super Mario 64 DS - I've played that mini-game with the turtle shells (try to get the most points with 3 shots) so much it's scary. More than almost all the DS games in my collection.

I was in the beta for FF XI and I think I spent more time playing cards than anything. Probably had about 3-4 hours in the main game, and another 40+ in the card game.

Also, does importing the PocketStation so I could play the FF VIII Chocobo game when I was stuck in a car count?

Not sure it it qualifies as a mini-game, but I loved the water races in Giant: Citizen Kabuto. I kept that game installed simply to run those races time and again.

Swat wrote:

Yes!

Super Mario 64 DS - I've played that mini-game with the turtle shells (try to get the most points with 3 shots) so much it's scary. More than almost all the DS games in my collection.

I played through Mario only to unlock the minigames. And then spent unholy amount of time with them. SM64DS was actually my favorite collection of minigames until recent 42 All-Time Classics

Cooking game in Desperate Housewives is pretty fun.

What?

NemesisZero wrote:

I'd say anyone who owns the new Pirates! qualifies.

I actually liked the ship battles more than anything. Does that make me weird?

H.P. Lovesauce wrote:

Less talk, more Pazaak!

This is a great example of when i turn to mini-games: When the overall game is feeling tired and lame. Same for Blitzball. These mini-games were used well to break the monotony and quell my rage... some.

H.P. Lovesauce wrote:

Less talk, more Pazaak!

Screw Pazaak! Where's my swoop racer*?

*The only problem with the swoop racing game was that it only had 3 tiers, and was non-repeatable. It would have been nice to have it repeatable, even if the winnings were around the scope of a typical pazaak game.

momgamer wrote:

My younger son was a massive Blitzball freak in Final Fantasy X. He was livid with what they did to it in FFX-2. He seriously digs building GummiShips in Kingdom Hearts.

I loved the Gummi Ships in Kingdom Hearts, moreso in the second one. Mimble could leave me for hours just tinkering and flying missions.

Never understood Blitzball though. Seemed like a complete hack of a game. How can a guy block my pass if he's two feet behind me?

I love the Gummi ships, too. It's like playing Gradius or Lifeforce only I get to tweak the ships. And it doesn't get any cooler than that.