I enjoy games, don’t get me wrong, but I get frustrated. I hit a hard boss and its deflating to me. I can try again and again to beat it but sometimes I just can’t get it. Usually I’ll get stuck on a puzzle. Or I’ll get stuck in passageway. Or I’ll keep dying. Maybe I’m just a wuss, but I give up rather than trying again and again and again.

I remember once playing Wing Commander. I had gotten things down pretty well until I got to this one mission that I could not for the life of me get past it. It was some kind of guard and defense mission. I must have played it over 100 times before it broke me and I just plain gave up. I would rather have fun than be frustrated, but that’s just me. I don’t enjoy tough challenges all that much. Maybe that’s why I like open ended games like the Sims, Morrowind, or Civilization III. There are missions and tasks you can set for yourself, but no hard bosses to beat and get by before you can enjoy the rest of the game.

I’ve only finished a handful of games in my time, and some of them I finished with a great deal of help. I’ve completed “Ultima VI”, “Baldur’s Gate II”, “King’s Quest V”, “Myst” and “Riven”. I almost finished “Beyond Good and Evil”, but I totally couldn’t kill the final boss and I gave up, conceding and telling myself I really didn’t need to see everyone cheer for my character and watch the ending video. I don’t feel unfulfilled. Really.

I’m currently playing “Prince of Persia: Sands of Time”. I’m still at the place where the Prince is fighting his dad. His dad sucks. I really don’t want to give up this time, especially since I’m only about 15% into the game. Maybe I’ll have more persistence this time. I wonder if I’ll finish this game or if it’ll join the ranks of all the other games I never finished.

UPDATE: I totally beat the Prince's dad. Aww yeah.