It's funny, even though mechanically they're the same, different games make it feel different.

Like, if a game presents them as special objectives or something, that seems okay. Extra stars for extra achievemnt? Fine.

But when they say "you finished the level... I rate you a D+" that's kind of a kick in the nards.

just play it and enjoy the gameplay :)

Some people play games to get away from the challenges and struggles of their day-to-day. Others play to find new way to challenge themselves.

I like games with clear indicators of "good", "better", "best", even inside wins. Having a grade, or at least some metric by which to measure just how good my success was, is fun to me. I still load Hi-Fi Rush because, even though I've beaten it twice over, there's opportunities to get a higher rank in each stage or in the post-game challenge modes. I raid in FFXIV because I like trying to parse better and better every week. "Haha number go up" is a fun goal in any game where I find the gameplay engaging.

Does this mean I play games "right" or "wrong" while you do the opposite? Not at all. I'd assume we're just there for different reasons, and that's totally fine. The good news is there's games for both types, and we don't have to play them all.

IMO, just ignore the grading system and have fun. Once you're hooked enough and actually want to improve, that's when you will want to start paying attention to it.

As long as getting a perfect grade is doable, I like it. This is why Sonic Adventure 2 is a great game; getting S rank is doable.

I decided Sonic Heroes 100% would take more time/effort than I wanted to give, so I put it down.

I have the same issue with grading systems. I feel judged, and don't want to continue until I get a better rating. Generally this ends with me petering out on the game faster than usual.

The trick is to not give a shit I guess: Just play the game, and if you can't enjoy it, why bother playing it?

There might be some mods out there to change it if you play on PC though, might also be worth looking into, but at the end of the day: If you aren't having fun, what's the point?

DMC grades you on the "rule of cool." It's not about being good. It's about looking good, and is based on how many times you can hit something without missing or being hit; often you'll take out an enemy pretty fast without getting even a B rating, and I feel like getting through the game faster is better than keeping a weak ass enemy in the air for 1000 hits. So found it much easier to ignore than Hitman and other stealth game rating systems, as those really do kinda judge how well you did since they focus on being stealthy. Sure you can go in guns blazing and kill everything to win, but it's a stealth game. You're supposed to be sneaky. The scoring reflects that.

First play through ignore the grading system. I know I’m going to get a crap grade - I need practice, upgrades, moves unlocked etc. I will only worry about that system on a second play through where I know exactly what I’m doing and now I’m ready to try perfecting it. At that point I must still be enjoying the game and the challenge of doing better. Most games I never do this, but some of them are really fun. I think if you worry about the grade right away its like skipping classes and homework and going straight to the test. Yeah, you’re probably going to have a rough time.

I thought I'm the only when. Every game I played / watched a review and saw those C/D/A/S whatever I immediately say nope and uninstall. I have enough performance reviews in real life.

A grading system that does nothing doesn't bother me. A grading system that unlocks highly desirable, but non-essential stuff will probably get me on my nerves, or get me to cheat. Tenchu on the PS1 had 1 unlockable item for each mission you got a GrandMaster rank

I like factory or management games, even ones where it is expected you will fail, like Dwarf Fortress, because it's not about winning or getting a high score. It's about going in with an idea and setting it through to fruition. I like seeing things I spent a bunch of time on as a large concrete thing I can go back and look at again, and actually have it provide meaningful value in a direct way instead of just incrementing some number in the engine somewhere.

I still play some roguelites that are like that, but there is something nice about sandbox games where progress isn't directly quantifiable.

Doesn't Hitman have a grading system too? Going for Silent Assassin is half the fun no?

I think this really is just a personal preference deal. I WANT games with scores and grades. Come on, game, tell me that I'm horrible and that I need to do better! Maybe I'm into the punishment, I don't know. Played too much Bop It! as a kid and got used to the guy screaming when I messed up.

This is why I play so many arcade style games, and so many rhythm games. This is why communities for speedrunning, rhythm games, and high scores still exist - otherwise I would think I'm completely alone in this 😂

If playing a game is fun I’ll have fun. If playing it is not fun, I’ll not have fun.

I don’t take grading systems in consideration. Just like the color of the protagonist’s shirt doesn’t affect my fun.