Painfully Slow Game Starts That Test Your Patience in 2025
Explore the frustration with slow-starting games like Dragon Quest VII, Skyrim, and Kingdom Hearts 2, highlighting their epic payoffs versus tedious beginnings.
Oh man, as a gamer in 2025, I gotta vent about how some games take ages to kick off! It's like waiting for a snail to win a marathon—absolutely brutal. I've poured countless hours into titles that tease you with epic adventures but start slower than my grandma dialing up the internet back in the day. 😩 You know what I'm talking about? Games that build up so slowly, you're practically snoozing before the real fun begins. And let's be real, in this fast-paced world of instant gratification, ain't nobody got time for that! But hey, sometimes that long intro pays off big time, turning into a glorious payoff that makes you go "Whoa, that was worth the wait!". Yet, other times, it's just a soul-crushing slog that makes you question your life choices. 🤯 Anyway, buckle up as I dive into this rant, 'cause I'm about to spill the beans on the worst offenders.
First off, let's chat about Dragon Quest VII. Holy moly, this classic JRPG from the PlayStation era still haunts me. The intro? It's a freakin' marathon! You spend 2 to 3 hours—yes, hours!—just getting through the setup before the game lets you loose. 
I mean, come on, it's like the devs thought, "Hey, let's make players earn their fun by sitting through a mini-movie." But in 2025, with all the quick-start options out there, this feels ancient. Yet, the payoff? It's legit amazing once you get rolling, so I guess it's a necessary evil... or is it? 🙄
Then there's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Now, this one's ironic 'cause it starts with a bang—dragon attack, prison break, all that jazz—but then, bam! It slams on the brakes. After escaping Helgen, you're stuck trudging through forests, and unlocking the first shout "Fus" takes forever. 
And don't get me started on the Seven Thousand Steps to High Hrothgar—it's like climbing Everest in slow-mo. In 2025, with VR mods and all, this part still drags, making you wanna scream "Get on with it already!" 😤
Next up, Kingdom Hearts 2. Man, this series splits gamers down the middle—love it or hate it—but everyone agrees the intro is snoozeville. It's so long and uninteresting, you're practically comatose before the real action hits. 
I swear, it's like watching paint dry while listening to Disney tunes. But hey, at least the story's cohesive, so it's not a total wash. In 2025, with remasters galore, this intro still feels like a relic—why can't they cut to the chase? 🤔
Now, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings—oof, this one's forgotten in the shadow of Wild Hunt, and for good reason. The intro quest is a drag, taking ages to get into the meaty campaign. 
Geralt spends hours doing insignificant stuff, and in 2025, it's even more glaring. Like, dude, where's the monster-slaying action? It's a classic case of slow burn that burns out too many players.
Moving to Dwarf Fortress, this game is the OG of complexity. Getting into it? Excruciating! There's no traditional intro, but you'll spend dozens of hours just feeling "OK" at it. 
Even in 2025, with streamlined tutorials, it's a beast. It's like learning rocket science while juggling chainsaws—totally nuts, but once you're in, it's pure gold. 🚀
Borderlands (the first one) is another culprit. Back in the day, it started slower than a turtle race. The combat was simple and unintuitive, not the neon chaos we love now. 
In 2025, revisiting it feels like wading through molasses. I mean, where's the guns-blazing madness? It takes forever to rev up, making you wonder why you bothered.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker hits you twice with slowdowns—the start and near the end. Link doesn't hit a proper dungeon until after visiting multiple islands, which can take hours. 
And that Triforce shard hunt? Ugh, it grinds to a halt! In 2025 HD remakes, this still feels like a test of patience, but the payoff is sweet.
Finally, Grand Theft Auto V. GTA games are legendary for their worlds, but intros? Slow as heck. That heist intro explaining character backstories takes ages. 
In 2025, with GTA VI hype, V's start feels like a necessary evil to build the world, but man, it's a slog.
To sum it up, here's a quick table of these games and their slow-start pain levels (on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being 'I quit!'):
| Game Title | Slow-Start Duration | Pain Level | Payoff Worth It? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Quest VII | 2-3 hours | 9 | Yes, eventually |
| Skyrim | 1-2 hours for key parts | 8 | Mostly yes |
| Kingdom Hearts 2 | Long intro segment | 7 | Meh |
| The Witcher 2 | Several hours | 8 | Sometimes |
| Dwarf Fortress | Dozens of hours | 10 | Absolutely |
| Borderlands | Slow combat start | 6 | Not really |
| The Wind Waker | Hours at start/end | 8 | Yes |
| GTA V | Lengthy heist intro | 7 | Necessary |
But why do we endure this? It's all about that delayed gratification, baby! In 2025, with games evolving, slow starts can still be a double-edged sword—awesome if done right, awful if not. Now, onto the FAQ to clear things up!
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
- Q: Why do developers include slow starts in games?
A: To build tension and world immersion, but sometimes it's overkill, like pouring ketchup on ice cream—messy and unnecessary.
- Q: Are slow starts worth it in modern games?
A: In 2025, with faster tech, it depends. If the payoff is epic like in Dwarf Fortress, heck yes! Otherwise, nope, it's a waste of time.
- Q: How can I speed up these intros?
A: Mods or skipping cutscenes—duh! But for classics, grin and bear it.
- Q: What's the worst slow-start game you've played?
A: Dwarf Fortress, hands down. It's like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops—insane but rewarding.
- Q: Do slow starts affect game sales?
A: Totally! In 2025, gamers bail fast if it drags. Devs need to adapt or lose players.