Handicap Achievements
Achievements given for completing some goal while under some type of optional handicap.
Examples
Games with achievement systems and different difficulty settings typically provide different achievements for each of these settings. Fallout:New Vegas of the Fallout series provides the Hardcore achievement for completing the entire game in the mode with the same name where players need to replenish food, water, and sleep regularly[1]. The action RPG Torchlight provide Beast Slayer II and Beast Slayer III for those players that complete the game on hard or very hard levels instead of the easy or normal levels (which gives Beast Slayer I). Further, Torchlight has a hardcore mode that does not allow respawning (so one cannot die without ending the game) and gives the achievements Hardcore Victor, Hardcore Hero, Hardcore Champion, or Hardcore God depending on whether one played on easy, normal, hard, or very hard level (Perfect Victory is also given for any type of game instance completed without a death)[2].
Putting time limits can also provide a means of creating Handicap Achievements. Torchlight does this through the two achievements Swift Execution and Speed King with requires that the main enemy, Ordrak, is defeated in less than 5 and 8 hours respectively[2].
Some games provide Handicap Achievements to players that complete levels, quests, or the entire game without using certain features of the game since these make the game easier. For example, the Akimbo achievement in Left 4 Dead of the Left 4 Dead Series is awarded for completing
Of the many achievements in World of Warcraft, a few are Testing Achievements. These include I Found One! for looting a brightly colored egg during the Noblegarden seasonal event, Represent for equipping any tabard, Shave and a Haircut for visiting a barber and getting cosmetic changes to one's avatar, and
Dual Talent Specialization for testing the game's functionality of offering a different gaming experience with the same character[3].
Although having aspects of grinding, the achievement Head of the Class in Team Fortress 2 forces players to test all classes available in the game and thereby experience the different abilities available[4]. Although constructing building can be difficult to to enemy interference, helping a team mate construct one to get the Land Grab achievement qualifies as a Testing Achievements as well since it is not to difficulty to succeed with in well-chosen locations.
Using the pattern
One of the easiest ways of providing Handicap Achievements in a game is to have Difficulty Settings and provide a separate Goal Achievement for each setting.
Diegetic Aspects
Interface Aspects
Narrative Aspects
Consequences
As a type of Achievement, Handicap Achievements can form a kind of Reward and be used to create Meta Games.
not much of a Meta Game.
Relations
Can Instantiate
with ...
Can Modulate
Can Be Instantiated By
Can Be Modulated By
Possible Closure Effects
Potentially Conflicting With
History
New pattern created in this wiki.
References
- ↑ List of Fallout:New Vegas achievements in the Steam Achievements system and percentages of gamers receiving them.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 List of Torchlight achievements in the Steam Achievements system and percentages of gamers receiving them.
- ↑ Main page on WoWWiki for achievements.
- ↑ List of Team Fortress 2 achievements in the Steam Achievements system and percentages of gamers receiving them.
