no excuses for the checkpoint thing. short as the levels were, there's no reason to force people to replay large sections of a game because its "hardcore." not everyone has the luxury to play for long amounts of time, and sometimes shit just comes up and you have to shut the game off where you are. design a game where every room is its own unique fun challenge instead of setting up a game where the "fun" is playing long parts over and over again just so you can work on the one tough part 8 minutes into the level.
save points are way outdated, and the few games that still use them deserved to be called out.
I disagree, Devil May Cry games are designed around short stages, which are meant to be replayed for optimum style points, speed and items. It's the actual basis for the gameplay to not have checkpoints every room, you are supposed to master each mission. If thats not for you, fine. Don't say that there's no room for games like that these days, some of us still enjoy challenging games where you are punished for your imcompetence.
I'm just trying to say that certain games are designed around certain types of saving progress (the Dead Rising games are another good example of restrictive saving actually being an integral part of the core game design). And in my opinion, game design should be as different and varied as possible. We sohuldnt only have the option of playing cakewalks that save every 5 seconds like Gears of War (which I would like to add is a great n00b ego inflater: "OMG I beat Gears 2 on Insane!!! I am 1337!!!1" I actually had a fucker voice message me on XBL with that crap. He was defriended straight away).
And re: "not everyone has the luxury to play for long amounts of time"; then just choose your games accordingly. Just becuase gamers are older nowadays and have responsiblities doesnt mean that every game has to let you be able to play for 5 minutes and still make progress. Which is why I keep a varied libarary of big immersive stuff I can play for hours, and the pick and play titles I can just jam with for 5 minutes if I'm strapped for time.
Like if you know you may not be able to play very much just do a level of Meat Boy, Peggle, Outrun, Rez or something.