My favourite game of all time:
![[Image: impossible_mission_03.gif]](http://i2.wp.com/www.skyflash.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/impossible_mission_03.gif)
Impossible Mission on the c64.
Ultra-tight, responsive controls that almost seem to happen before you even press them. Randomised layout of rooms. Randomised power ups. Randomised distribution of the puzzle pieces you have to collect. Randomised ways in which those puzzle pieces fit together in the subgame. Randomised robot behaviour in response to your presence, which leads to multiple moments where you think you know what type of robot you're dealing with until you get blasted. Plus you can knock it off in under 25 minutes or so.
All of this meant it was replayable as hell, because there was no guarantee of what was about to happen. Compare that to a modern game and you'll realise how futuristic the design still seems.
The only game of the previous generation I'd consider as making this kind of thrilling design choice was 'Dead Rising', and gamers hated the risks it took, most not even rising to the challenge of exploring the clever time management game within the game.
Impossible Mission on the c64.
Ultra-tight, responsive controls that almost seem to happen before you even press them. Randomised layout of rooms. Randomised power ups. Randomised distribution of the puzzle pieces you have to collect. Randomised ways in which those puzzle pieces fit together in the subgame. Randomised robot behaviour in response to your presence, which leads to multiple moments where you think you know what type of robot you're dealing with until you get blasted. Plus you can knock it off in under 25 minutes or so.
All of this meant it was replayable as hell, because there was no guarantee of what was about to happen. Compare that to a modern game and you'll realise how futuristic the design still seems.
The only game of the previous generation I'd consider as making this kind of thrilling design choice was 'Dead Rising', and gamers hated the risks it took, most not even rising to the challenge of exploring the clever time management game within the game.