It’s almost that time of year when we in America roll the clocks back and sit in darkness for the majority of the day for several months.
Welcome back (in a couple weeks), Standard Time. You suck. Waking up in darkness and then eating dinner in darkness isn’t fun, and it brings about the very real and understandable affliction of seasonal depression for millions of people.
And you know what, Standard Time? Your sort-of-equivalent sucks in games, too. It’s not exactly the same thing at all, but the upcoming and impending darkness has me thinking about how day/night cycles in games really bug me.
For full disclosure, I thought up the idea for this piece while in a rage after losing a Pokémon after the game transitioned from day to night. Every time that happens in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, a mini cutscene plays, and then you’re given control again. The Pokémon I was attempting to catch disappeared because certain monsters only show up depending on the time of day. I was livid.
I’ve calmed down now (I’m an adult, mind you), but I’ve been dwelling on how I really don’t like these sorts of mechanics in games – and I never have. I think of games like Minecraft or Stardew Valley, where you’re basically on a timer to get stuff done during the day before all hell breaks loose at night, and it irks me. It’s why I’ve never been able to get fully immersed in Stardew.
I already feel like I’m on the clock most hours of the day, trying to get everything done. I really hate that games make me feel this way, too. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, you can sit on a bench to pass time, and in Minecraft, you can sleep to get to the next morning, but I’d just rather be able to do what I want without worrying about the setting sun.
The sun is setting on us all as it is, anyway, and I dislike being reminded by that fact during what’s supposed to be my leisure time. And I also hate feeling rushed in-game, just like I sometimes am in real life, to complete tasks before it’s time to head to bed and wake up to a new, fresh hell.
Yes, I understand Pokémon Legends: Z-A gives you plenty of warnings about when the sun is about to set, but I think that honestly makes it worse for me. It’s like playing the game with someone lurking over my shoulder, back-seating my every move, saying, “You better hurry up!” Please stop.
This sort of mechanic isn’t always a bad thing. Being on a timer works in some games where the tone is set by it, like a battle royale, extraction shooter, or something like Elden Ring: Nightreign. But when I play those games, I expect it to be there. A laid-back game like Pokémon should remain as chill as possible.
I’m willing to bet I’m not alone in my thoughts here, so let me know in the comments below while you still can if you agree (or disagree) with this sentiment. Because the clock is ticking, the sun is about to set, and the night is dark and full of terrors.
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The post The seasonal depression debuff is bad enough IRL, why do we need day/night cycles in video games too? appeared first on Destructoid.
