Difference between revisions of "New game plus"

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(Created page with "'''New game plus''', also referred to by several similar names, is a video game mechanic where, upon successfully finishing a game, the player is allowed to restart the game w...")
 
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'''New game plus''', also referred to by several similar names, is a video game mechanic where, upon successfully finishing a game, the player is allowed to restart the game with their character just as powerful as they were when they beat the game. This is usually done to allow the player to more easily find secrets they missed in their first play through or experience alternate endings.
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[[Image:Chrono Trigger - SNES - Screenshot - New Game +.png|thumb|256x256px|''[[Chrono Trigger]]'' (1995) is the origin of the term.]]
  
The term "new game plus" comes from the 1995 game ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'', however, the mechanic has existed since the 1980s. A traditional new game plus does not alter the game beyond having a more powerful starting character. There are similarities between a new game plus and a [[hard mode]] or [[alternate world]], but they are quite different and should be treated as different mechanics even though most online resources do not properly distinguish between them.
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'''New game plus''', also referred to by various similar names (new game +, new game ex, etc.), is a video game mechanic where a player is allowed to restart a game from the beginning, but with all the character advancements they previously made left intact. This is usually done to allow the player to more easily find secrets they missed in their first play-through or more quickly experience alternate endings.
  
I like when developers add a new game plus feature. It doesn't require much work, and it gives the game more life and replay-ability because it's usually fun to replay the early stages of a game when you're over-powered.
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The term "new game plus" comes from [[Square]]'s 1995 JRPG, ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'', however, the mechanic has existed since the 1980s and was actually pioneered by [[Nintendo]] in their action adventure games, ''[[Metroid]]'' and ''[[Kid Icarus: Angel Land Story]]''. A traditional new game plus merely allows the player to use their more powerful character to replay the game without altering the story or plot. There are similarities between a new game plus and a similar game mechanics like [[hard mode]] or [[unlockable worlds]], but these mechanics are quite different and should be treated as separate even though most online resources do not properly distinguish between them.
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I played many of the earliest games that featured the new game plus mechanic when they were popular, but I usually didn't even notice that the mechanic existed, and instead just assumed when I beat the game the first time there was nothing left to do. Like most retro gamers, my first memorable experience with the mechanic was from ''Chrono Trigger''. I appreciate it when developers add a new game plus feature to their games. It's usually fun to go through the early stages of a game as a highly over-powered character, and it's a fairly simple way for the developers to add replay-ability to a game.
  
 
==Games==
 
==Games==
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! Title !! Released !! Notes
 
! Title !! Released !! Notes
 
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| [[Borderlands]] || 2009-10-20 || At any time, you can start a new game with your existing character, maintaining all your stats and equipment.
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| [[Chrono Trigger]] || 1995-03-11 || The story resets, but each time a character joins your party they begin with the stats from the previous game.
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| [[Chrono Trigger]] || 1995-03-11 || You keep everything except certain plot items.
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Diablo]] || 1996-12-31 || At any time, you can start a new game with your existing character, maintaining all your stats and equipment.
 
| [[Diablo]] || 1996-12-31 || At any time, you can start a new game with your existing character, maintaining all your stats and equipment.
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| [[Gunmetal Arcadia Zero]] || 2016-11-15 ||  
 
| [[Gunmetal Arcadia Zero]] || 2016-11-15 ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Kid Icarus: Angel Land Story]] || 1986-12-19 ||
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| [[Kid Icarus: Angel Land Story]] || 1986-12-19 || Essentially required to get the best ending.
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Metroid]] || 1986-08-06 || You keep all your power-ups (excluding energy tanks and missiles).
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| [[Metroid]] || 1986-08-06 || You keep all power-ups excluding energy tanks and missiles.
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]] || 1987-01-14 || You keep all your levels. When you max out, additional levels give 1-ups.
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| [[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]] || 1987-01-14 || You lose all equipment but keep your levels. When each is level eight, subsequent level-ups give you a 1-up.
 
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|}
  
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{{Link|TVTropes|https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NewGamePlus}}
 
{{Link|TVTropes|https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NewGamePlus}}
  
* [https://www.giantbomb.com/new-game-plus/3015-150 giantbomb.com/new-game-plus/3015-150] - Giant Bomb
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* [https://www.giantbomb.com/new-game-plus/3015-150 giantbomb.com/new-game-plus/3015-150] - Giant Bomb.
  
  
 
[[Category: Game Terminology]]
 
[[Category: Game Terminology]]

Revision as of 13:53, 8 July 2019

Chrono Trigger (1995) is the origin of the term.

New game plus, also referred to by various similar names (new game +, new game ex, etc.), is a video game mechanic where a player is allowed to restart a game from the beginning, but with all the character advancements they previously made left intact. This is usually done to allow the player to more easily find secrets they missed in their first play-through or more quickly experience alternate endings.

The term "new game plus" comes from Square's 1995 JRPG, Chrono Trigger, however, the mechanic has existed since the 1980s and was actually pioneered by Nintendo in their action adventure games, Metroid and Kid Icarus: Angel Land Story. A traditional new game plus merely allows the player to use their more powerful character to replay the game without altering the story or plot. There are similarities between a new game plus and a similar game mechanics like hard mode or unlockable worlds, but these mechanics are quite different and should be treated as separate even though most online resources do not properly distinguish between them.

I played many of the earliest games that featured the new game plus mechanic when they were popular, but I usually didn't even notice that the mechanic existed, and instead just assumed when I beat the game the first time there was nothing left to do. Like most retro gamers, my first memorable experience with the mechanic was from Chrono Trigger. I appreciate it when developers add a new game plus feature to their games. It's usually fun to go through the early stages of a game as a highly over-powered character, and it's a fairly simple way for the developers to add replay-ability to a game.

Games

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but rather games that are important to me.

Title Released Notes
Chrono Trigger 1995-03-11 The story resets, but each time a character joins your party they begin with the stats from the previous game.
Diablo 1996-12-31 At any time, you can start a new game with your existing character, maintaining all your stats and equipment.
Gunmetal Arcadia Zero 2016-11-15
Kid Icarus: Angel Land Story 1986-12-19 Essentially required to get the best ending.
Metroid 1986-08-06 You keep all power-ups excluding energy tanks and missiles.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link 1987-01-14 You lose all equipment but keep your levels. When each is level eight, subsequent level-ups give you a 1-up.

Links

Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-TVTropes.png