Checkpoints vs Save Game

[sasquatch]

Prior to owning the PS3, I was a PC guy, and liked being able to save a game at any moment during the game. Now I noticed most PS3 games have checkpoints and I find myself not missing the PC save game feature/habit.

The other reason I like checkpoints is because it's a challenge. You can't save each and every time you get past an enemy. Yeah, it can be frustrating, but with most games that have a decent amount of checkpoints, it's not that bad.

[Batman1980]

Yeah checkpoints are better, makes it harder to play through a game in a quick manner.

[Mouse]

It depends on the game. For RPGs you pretty much have to have the ability to save (almost) anywhere. For Action/Adventure/FPS games then it would make more sense to use Checkpoints.

[Seeking_Alpha]

I like save anywhere. It lessens the frustration.

If you want to revert to frustration then you can always enforce discipline by not abusing the save privilege. Having the choice is better.

But to me frustration does not equal a good game

Then if you add checkpoints and unskippable cut scenes
(the final battle in dead space comes to mind)

[Sagacious Koreo]

I like it when there's both. Like in Mass Effect.

[silversnake]

What I liked about PC gaming though is the quic keys like in Half Life where I could hit F9 for quick save or F12 for a full save.

I prefer automatic checkpoints as long as they are reasonable.

[Sagacious Koreo]

Quick saves are good sometimes. I liked the way it was done in Assassin's Creed 2. Seemless, and you don't even realize it's done almost, but it quick saves after doing pretty much anything with any kind of significance.

[Propellarhead9]

I like being able to save a game where ever I am so I can pick right back up again and not have to replay through sections.

[Steve]

I'm Ok with check points in case I neglected to save at some point, but I like having the option to save on my own. I liked the way it was done on Doom 3 for the original Xbox. IIRC there were check points, but you could also press the Select button on your controller for a quick save.

[jsteinhauer]

Saving at any point is always better than checkpoint for those of us who don't get long stretches of gaming time. But, it's best, if the game prohibits saves in the midst of combat. This is too much of a cheat, if allowed. Saves in games like Uncharted or Heavy Rain are too far apart. But in Fallout 3, you can save mid-shootout, which you can use to your advantage. In Dragon Age games, for instance, you can save anywhere, but if there is an enemy in combat range, you can not. That's ideal.

Take a game like Bioshock 2, that I'm also playing right now. I sometimes only get 15 minutes to play. If I had to wait for checkpoints, I'd never make any progress.