Yes, but it is not practical to do this before the endgame (in most cases; there are a couple jobs (Bard and Geomancer) that can realistically be mastered in world 2 due to needing only 175 AP). It is, however, practical to learn a skill like Barehanded (which requires only 45 AP) early on, and then give it to a different job (for example, Blue Mage, who can use strong weapons (swords) early but has low Strength).

Also, I actually prefer not to use Freelancers and Mimes later on, as they make things a bit too easy and take away some of the strategy behind Job/Ability combinations.

Titan Quest: this game lets you combine two specializations (I think the game calls them spheres) of a total of 8 (if I'm right), making for lots of different possible combo's. The first time I played the game with a hero specialized in Dream and Earth, I had a very difficult time with the boss fight, I didn't manage to defeat the Titan and continue through to the expansion. My second character, specialized in Warfare and Defense, had a much easier time however (partly because I campaigned with the second character while the first one was ahead in the game and the game allows loot to be shared between characters, with help from the caravan).

So a totally different experience wasn't had because the areas were different (the game is linear, the areas are the same) but because different skill combo's make for a whole different kind of fights (people playing Diablo might have a similar experience).

The third time I tried playing the game I had another experience altogether for a totally different kind of reason. Still in the first few area's of the game, the way the game is controlled gave me the first signs of RSI (a mouse hand/shoulder) and I quitted. I can't remember how I got through to the end the first time, maybe because the first time I did remember to hold the mouse for continuous attacks. The last time I played, I couldn't keep myself from clicking for every attack, which is very strenuous for your hand muscles and sinews. I did remember you could hold the mouse but each time in the heat of battle I forgot about that fact and just kept on clicking for each swing.

Yep. I like the game too and I got through quite well without the secret moves. But still I'm gonna try them out. Thanks!

How? Howhowhowhowhowhowhowhowhowhowhowhowhowhowhwohownhowhowhowowho.......

Final Fantasy Adventure: For years I played the game balancing stats. Then, one year I decided to focus on magic; the resulting playthrough was, for the most part, really easy. MP was a non-issue because, before I ran out, I would level up and get it all back. (I actually dislike the mechanic of regaining HP/MP at level up, as it feels wrong and ugly, and it cheapens the value of MP restoring items.) I did have to raise Power once, because a certain boss was refusing to die otherwise and magic didn't seem to work. On the other hand, doing Lich as soon as possible was the right decision, as Lich dies quickly when you are using fire magic.

Fallout 2. I think the first time I played was without a car. Then another 2 more times just to discover all the other aspects like being made captain of the guard at vault city and all.

If memory serves you have to press and hold down Ctrl or Shift.

Shift clicking worked for multi-select. I'll try to remember trying a shift drag. Drag select is probably what I've missed most when attempting to play WC1.

Also Doom when I started playing with a mechanical keyboard. The ability to strafe run to the left diagonally while also shooting was one of the biggest eye openers in my life. I still have a hard time circle strafing enemies to the left instead of right. Many years of muscle memory are hard to beat but I'm slowly getting the hang of it. I still have it hard stuck in my head that "You can't strafe run to the left or the computer goes BEEP!!!". I have to actively think about strafing to the left while strafing to the right comes completely automatically. Trying my best to beat the reflex and open my mind to all the new possibilities.

id, does that mean you still use the old keyboard controls of ctrl to shoot and arrow keys to move? ... man, that's hardcore. the first thing I did when I opened up doom was figure out how to modernize the controls

Definitely. I play all these old shooters on keyboard only. Doom, Duke 3D, Blood, Shadow Warrior you name it. Mouse just doesn't feel right in these games.

If I remember correctly, you can also hit undead enemies with phoenix downs for instakills.

What Phoenix Downs? I have played that game many times, and I don't remember even a single Phoenix Down, or any item that serves that item's function.

(Maybe you're thinking of a different game whose title starts with the same two world?)

You'd be correct, as I was thinking of the GB Final Fantasy games.

I often completely overlooked one aspect, or one "tool", of my strategy games. Be it espionnage in Master of Orion, or mariages in Total War, that sort of thing. Sometimes it's because I'm too interested in the other aspects to waste time on that one. Sometimes it's because I totally underestimate its benefits, or its fun factor. Sometimes it's because I simply don't notice that button.

Usually it doesn't matter, because such games are made to be beaten in different ways. Still, it makes for interesting replays. But I remember the feeling of late discovery more than the specific exemples (apart from the Total War princesses).