Minimize enemy encounters or MAXIMIIZE ENEMY DEATH

[JJ Styles]

So in many video games, we players are often given the choice of avoiding as many encounters as possible in order to quickly progress through the game and just proceed to important fights and other plot important elements or we can always satisfy our desires to commit ruthless aggression by simply killing as many enemies as possible. To be straight to the point, its not mandatory to kill every single enemy on a map or level unless they are either in the way or they prevent further progression.

This applies mostly to adventure games, platformers, and even many first person shooter games, as well as other games that may or may not use an "EXP" mechanic. In most of these games, killing enemies do not really reward the player other than power ups, useful items, in-game currency like gold or blood shards, the classic "EXTRA POINTS", and/or simply the feeling of defeating said enemies in order to get used to the combat.

So a simple question for VG, would you minimize enemy encounters or MAXIMIZE ENEMY DEATH?

 

[pkmin3033]

Both, depending upon my need to grind. I don't really like grinding as I progress; I do bursts of grinding, make progress, rinse and repeat as necessary. In Bravely Default, for example, I'd crank up encounters to the max, grind for however long, then turn them off completely and progress through the story. I've gotten to the stage where I'm not overly fond of enemy encounters breaking up the plot excessively.

 

[Arsenic]

Depends on the game. On the spot risk/reward calculation. If it's worth the trouble or I feel/need to eliminate them than I will. Otherwise it's not worth it.

 

[Fannie]

I like games where I have the option for stealth kills. I spent so many hours sniping in the Far Cry series. If everyone is dead you can't get detected ;D I like grinding in RPGs but prefer when there are no random enemy encounters. Pokemon is great though, because for the most part you know which areas you'll come across them. Certain RPGs where you're just trying to get from A - B and the ENTIRE area is filled with randibob encounters - very annoying.

 

[Prairie]

Unless I'm going for some in-game achievement where I can't kill anyone (Dishonored), I'll most likely kill anything in my way if I can't jump over it or get past it somehow, easily. I don't care for killing stuff if there's nothing I get from doing so.

If there's grinding involved, though, like in an RPG or something, I'd usually try to kill everything I come across for the EXP or loot. Except for when I'm surfing in the Pokemon games, though. It's Max Repels all the way for that.

 

[Crackin355]

I'll fight whatever is on the way to the objective. If I'm sick of fighting then I'll try run around some fights but most of the time I'll just kill whatever tries to kill me.

 

[Satoshi Ookami]

I have addiction to grinding, so... obviously killing everything.

 

[Bay]

Both, depending upon my need to grind. I don't really like grinding as I progress; I do bursts of grinding, make progress, rinse and repeat as necessary. In Bravely Default, for example, I'd crank up encounters to the max, grind for however long, then turn them off completely and progress through the story. I've gotten to the stage where I'm not overly fond of enemy encounters breaking up the plot excessively.

Haha same here whenever I play Bravely Default and hence why I like how you have flexibility with the encounters. Other games, like Child of Light, though, I can easily avoid enemies if I want, but if I want to grind a bit I have no choice but to find the enemies myself.

 

[JJ Styles]

In updating my own thread by answering my own question, you guys here at VG already know my policy: its all about the BLOOOOOOOOOD DANCIN, and letting enemies TASTE THE WRATH!

I remember playing any Mario game and i always thought that it was fun to headstomp every goomba and koopa troopa in the screen. I remember always killing every enemy on the map in any Megaman X game because it would feel "lacking" if i didn't. In Doom, i always make sure that i kill at least 90% of the monsters before going to the next map. Heck even i went on and killed every hostile enemy in a Tomb Raider game, even though combat was never the main selling point.

I rally find it pretty enchanting that playing some of the older games again, I realized that you did not need to kill anything. I've seen passive Speedruns of Contra and Megaman X and felt like i could have done that, but avoiding enemies is something that I never really liked. Besides, quoting John Rambo, "Killing is as easy as breathing"

Also, maybe i should have left out Bravely Default since its so easy to answer this thread by saying "it depends, especially when i can set my own encounter rates"