A game suggestion for a total gaming n00b

CiDeRmAn

My better half, herein referred to as Mrs Ciderman, is just finished a Hdip and is suggesting she might try out a videogame, a thing she has resisted for the past 25 years, the duration of our relationship thus-far.

I'm thinking that LoZ:BotW might be a good place to start, but then I'm thinking of the conventions of gaming you need to already be practiced in with a game like that.
Any other ideas out there?
I have suggested Super Mario Odyssey, but she informs me that she doesn't like Mario :eek:

Might have to be on the lookout for the next Mrs Ciderman!

Apiarist

Minecraft. Why? You can build, you can fight, or you can grow things. And it is easy to learn after the initial strangeness of blocks and the pixelated art wears off.

Mr E

Play something co-op?

BOTW is a major commitment. Start smaller.

Also not sure about the appeal of Minecraft to someone who is 40+... (It's not for me)

CiDeRmAn

No, I don't think she would be a candidate for Minecraft somehow.
And Co-op would be a definite divorce causer.

Maybe the likes of Firewatch... it is pretty linear, controls are simple and it's a grown-up story rather than the typical "save me (insert Nintendo icon name here) you're my only hope" type storylines.

Hmm....

Doodah7

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

I have suggested Super Mario Odyssey, but she informs me that she doesn't like Mario :eek:

Might have to be on the lookout for the next Mrs Ciderman!

Divorce her forthwith!!:D

How about Rayman Legends? Co-op play so you can show her the ropes and which she can subsequently play on her own. Classic platforming style game with an engaging story and a pleasant aesthetic. It also has that constant pull factor to try the next level.

CiDeRmAn

Yeah, I have that in the collection, plenty of fun to be had and the controls are pretty easy to get the hang of.

She'll be playing Elite Dangerous and Dark Souls in no time!

Star Lord

Or a bit of Mario Kart? Hard to go wrong with that!

accensi0n

Tetris.

Tom Mann Centuria

Wii sports

tony1980

Stardew Valley

CiDeRmAn

All good suggestions, I will report back...

Inviere

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

I'm thinking that LoZ:BotW might be a good place to start

God no, far too big and involved to hold someone's interest who's never played a game before. For me, there's but one answer here...Super Mario Odyssey. Hand her the Switch and the game, get her started if she needs basic help, and let the game do the rest.

nyarlothothep

E.T. for the Atari, wonderful game

tony1980

Inviere wrote: »

God no, far too big and involved to hold someone's interest who's never played a game before. For me, there's but one answer here...Super Mario Odyssey. Hand her the Switch and the game, get her started if she needs basic help, and let the game do the rest.

One problem, she doesn’t like Mario apparently.

Fysh

Something like Night In The Woods might be good (though maybe get her to watch the trailer first) - character- and dialogue-focused, with simple gameplay mechanics and appealing cartoon art. Having said that, I played it on Steam so can't speak as to whether the Switch port is any good.

Snipperclips is good simple 2D fun that also allows for multiplayer, and doesn't require too much knowledge of existing game mechanics.

mcmoustache

Kirby is a good choice for beginners. It's easy and the visuals and music are great.

I still think that BOTW is a good choice although some initial guidance would be in order.

conormario

Animal crossing New leaf

Mario kart 8 - she doesn't have to be Mario

Tom Mann Centuria

Yoshi's woolly world charming enough to entice non gamers too.

Riesen_Meal

Maybe ease here in with some QTE like type game so she can learn the buttons easy enough?

Something possibly choose your own adventure type thing, similar to maybe The Walking Dead or one of the Telltale games?

The_B_Man

Pikmin 3.

sligeach

For a total non gamer, perhaps Boom Blox: Bash Party. The controls are easy and it's good fun. Or Wii Sports Resort.

conormario

It's a tragedy people never experience e.g. super mario galaxy as it's 'just' a videogame or a 'mario' game or a 'kids' game.

So, Super Mario Galaxy, tell her to get over her Mario phobia

iamtony

Does it have to be Nintendo? If not and you have the psvr then astrobot would lure anyone in. My other half dabbles in games the odd time and the ones that held her attention recently were stardew valley and astrobot. In fact stardew valley got a bit out of hand, I'd arrive home and nothing would be done is she was off.
Overcooked is another good shout.

Tom Mann Centuria

sligeach wrote: »

For a total non gamer, perhaps Boom Blox: Bash Party. The controls are easy and it's good fun. Or Wii Sports Resort.

Boom blox party is great. Loved that game. Zack & Wiki from a similar era is a good puzzley type game too that my non gamer wife loved.
Okami too, for Wii or Switch.

manual_man

The original Super Mario Bros on the NES(classic). The game that arguably brought video games in to mainstream consciousness. And for damn good reason.

CiDeRmAn

I guess, the problem is that even a modern 3D game requires a certain amount of gaming experience to enjoy, otherwise a significant amount of time is translating stick and buttons into onscreen movement and action, which is not logical at all to a non-gamer.

So, reducing the dimensions to be wrestled with or what is to be expected within that world might be best, hence Rayman Legends or Firewatch might be a good place to begin.

I have most of the games mentioned in the thread so far, so plenty of choices should my initial ideas not pan out!

The_B_Man

Sonic 1 on mega drive.

Star Lord

iamtony wrote: »

Overcooked is another good shout.

If he secretly wants a divorce, sure! :pac:

Something simple and competitive but very "one more go..."ish could be best to ease her in... Something like Puzzle Bobble, or Mario Kart (I know I suggested it earlier, but it's worth a second suggestion!)

That or something more story driven... Grim Fandango, The Fall or Undertale perhaps? I'd add Thimbleweed Park here too, but it's probably a bit too meta.


[edit]
Now I've got the Puzzle Bobble music in my head... >.<

CiDeRmAn

Star Lord wrote: »

If he secretly wants a divorce, sure! :pac:

Might be!

Something simple and competitive but very "one more go..."ish could be best to ease her in... Something like Puzzle Bobble, or Mario Kart (I know I suggested it earlier, but it's worth a second suggestion!)

I have them both on the Switch, particularly the former, so might see about that one.
I mean, I do want my Switch back from her at some point, is Puzzle Bobble not too potent???

That or something more story driven... Grim Fandango, The Fall or Undertale perhaps? I'd add Thimbleweed Park here too, but it's probably a bit too meta.

This is why Firewatch occurred to me, it's a great experience and not too hard to play. Also might serve as a gateway drug to further adventures in the first person, such as Metroid Prime!

Now I've got the Puzzle Bobble music in my head... >.<

For you buddy, just to make your day, although true fans don't need the video, as it's playing in their heads 24/7 already!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYd-PSRXo1o

Star Lord

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

I mean, I do want my Switch back from her at some point, is Puzzle Bobble not too potent???

You would only have to show her the proper arcade version you have on your cab... She can become besties with the parrot again while playing, and the parrot will sing you the music after...





Doo da doo doo doo doo! Doo da doo doo doo doo. Doo da doo doo doo doo doo ba doo bee da doo da doo!

Retr0gamer

Snipperclips on the Switch is my suggestion. Really fun puzzle game where you both have to work together, but there's also a competitive streak were you can annoy the other player if you really want.

That or Dark Souls.

Or just get divorced if she doesn't like Mario. There's no saving her.

sligeach

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Snipperclips on the Switch is my suggestion. Really fun puzzle game where you both have to work together, but there's also a competitive streak were you can annoy the other player if you really want.

That or Dark Souls.

Or just get divorced if she doesn't like Mario. There's no saving her.

Excellent choice.

CiDeRmAn

Star Lord wrote: »

You would only have to show her the proper arcade version you have on your cab... She can become besties with the parrot again while playing, and the parrot will sing you the music after...





Doo da doo doo doo doo! Doo da doo doo doo doo. Doo da doo doo doo doo doo ba doo bee da doo da doo!

The parrot is no more.
It is deceased.
Bereft of life.
It has gone to meet its maker.

TitianGerm

I'm actually shocked she's not played a game before with the collection you have :eek:

Also she should be CiderWoman if the young fella is CidoneaLad!!

I got herself playing Crash Remastered again and Smash.

Mr E

TitianGerm wrote: »

Also she should be CiderWoman if the young fella is CidoneaLad!!

Nah. She starts as room temperature apple juice in a tetra pack with a straw, and works her way up from there. She has to earn her stripes. :pac:

CiDeRmAn

Mr E wrote: »

Nah. She starts as room temperature apple juice in a tetra pack with a straw, and works her way up from there. She has to earn her stripes. :pac:

I'll be sure to let her know she's been described as a room temp juice box.

I would probably move house, like, now... just in case....

Star Lord

Mr E wrote: »

Nah. She starts as room temperature apple juice in a tetra pack with a straw, and works her way up from there. She has to earn her stripes. :pac:

T'was nice knowing you!

CiDeRmAn I'm sorry to hear the parrot is an ex-parrot, I know how much you hated it...

CiDeRmAn

Star Lord wrote: »

T'was nice knowing you!

CiDeRmAn I'm sorry to hear the parrot is an ex-parrot, I know how much you hated it...

Ding Dong the witch is dead, which old witch, the wicked witch, ding dong the wicked witch is dead!

Inviere

tony1980 wrote: »

One problem, she doesn’t like Mario apparently.

That'd likely change after spending some time with the game.

CiDeRmAn

Inviere wrote: »

That'd likely change after spending some time with the game.

We shall see.

She has a paper to turn in after which we might see but, in truth, I don't expect anything to come of it, she will go on loathing videogames.

Inviere

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

she will go on loathing videogames.

That's a bit like loathing films without having ever watched one, or loathing books without ever having read one. Video games are as diverse as any modern media, some she will actually hate, some she would probably love if given the investment.

CiDeRmAn

Inviere wrote: »

That's a bit like loathing films without having ever watched one, or loathing books without ever having read one. Video games are as diverse as any modern media, some she will actually hate, some she would probably love if given the investment.

Yes I know.

In truth, she used to like videogames, back in the NES days.
Apparently she was rather good at duck hunt, but a toxic pr1ck took exception and made her regret ever playing it.
Hence, no more videogames.

Inviere

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Yes I know.

In truth, she used to like videogames, back in the NES days.
Apparently she was rather good at duck hunt, but a toxic pr1ck took exception and made her regret ever playing it.
Hence, no more videogames.

Sounds like she whipped some shmuck and it didn't go down well. Gimp :rolleyes:

Pac1Man

It had probably been mentioned but what about a Telltale/Life is Strange type game? You can't really fail at those other than kill an innocent child.

Scribblenauts.
Captain Toad.
Professor Layton.
The latest Spyro trilogy.
Everybody's Golf.
Angry Birds.
Super Mario Run.
Ninja Gaiden.

Generally a minimal amount of input and systems would be preferable, with the aim being to get past a small section of a level while having a longer term goal of beating level 1 etc.

Akrasia

She should play the Legend of Zelda, A link to the Past.

The snes masterpiece.

Simple controls, good progression, brilliant music and gets challenging later on.

If she doesn't like it, theres no hope for her

Inviere

Akrasia wrote: »

She should play the Legend of Zelda, A link to the Past.

The snes masterpiece.

Simple controls, good progression, brilliant music and gets challenging later on.

If she doesn't like it, theres no hope for her

That one also occurred to me too, pretty great game to get started with. Another suggestion, one of the Civilization games? They're like crack!