Should your first playthrough of a classic use mods?

[J T]

Many older games now have mods that add high-def textures, make the game playable in widescreen, balance gameplay, etc.

If you're going back to play a classic, do you think it's best to get as close to the original experience as possible (no mods), or go for the enhanced experience (mods)?

[MrNash]

Generally I like to play a game the way it was originally released for the first time through (official patches are okay, of course). After that I'll see what mods are out there and how they changed the game. I think that helps me both to better appreciate the original game, as well as the mods in how they impacted the game.

I know stuff like the Elder Scrolls series has no lack of interesting mods, but I find I'll appreciate the mods more if I have a frame of reference as to what exactly they changed. I want to fully understand how much something like a texture pack, or enemy balancing mod impacts the original product, not just jump in on the deep end with all the mods from the get go.

[BoringSupreez]

Generally I like to play a game the way it was originally released for the first time through (official patches are okay, of course). After that I'll see what mods are out there and how they changed the game. I think that helps me both to better appreciate the original game, as well as the mods in how they impacted the game.

That's how I do things. I want to play it the original way the first time, so that when I use mods or expansions I'll better appreciate what they added to the experience.

[MrPopo]

I think it really depends on the mods. I think things like widescreen mods or unofficial bug fix mods are good and should be recommended without hesitation. It's mods that tweak how the game plays that need to be treated more carefully. For example, I'm playing Baldur's Gate 1 on the BG2 engine as part of the BGT mod. This means BG1 now uses the BG2 rules which make some things better and others worse. I also installed some tweak mods that change the rules to be more in-line with PnP D&D (for example, Grandmastery not sucking). All of these were recommended when I was setting up BGT. But I also know I'm not getting the original BG1 experience. In this case I'm fine with it, as the real experience is not so much in the nuances of the combat system, but rather the storytelling.

[isiolia]

Completely subjective.

First, there are classics that basically require that you use them if you want to run the game on a modern system or that significantly benefit from having them. Most of that will likely be rolled more into an "unofficial patch" or something, but still, it could be accompanied by actual modifications. As an example, Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines doesn't run on 64-bit Windows. The unofficial patch, which fixes that issue (and others), also restores content that wasn't originally available. There are more extensive mods/content restorations, but if you're being a complete stickler for what was put on store shelves in 2004, then it's not quite the same. Still, there's little point in avoiding that kind of stuff I think.

Second, go with what's more enjoyable. If having a game run at higher resolution/widescreen, or in a window, or with better models/textures means you enjoy it more, then of course you should use 'em. With consideration of other recent threads/etc, many of us have enough games that a "first playthrough" may well be the -only- playthrough, if it's ever even completed at all. If mods are the difference between playing once and putting it aside, and actually completing the game, then mods win IMO.
Personally, I tend to lean towards mods here too.

'course, that's also going to vary with genre, and with how extreme the mods are. I'm kinda going off the originally stated changes that are primarily modernization/enhancement type stuff.

[Hobie-wan]

Stalker should be played with the Complete (or that other perhaps) mod IMHO as it fixes many game balance issues. I kept stopping at the chokepoint to the next area until playing with this mod.

[DinnerX]

If a mod is just enhancing the graphics or audio I'll probably use it on the first playthrough. If a mod alters the gameplay I'll wait until after I've played the game once to use it.

[neilencio]

Mods that add widescreen support is recommended on the first playthrough if you have a non-4:3 monitor. Primarily because it wouldn't be an authentic experience if the screen is stretched and you're playing with pudgy characters.

[sabrage]

Stalker should be played with the Complete (or that other perhaps) mod IMHO as it fixes many game balance issues. I kept stopping at the chokepoint to the next area until playing with this mod.

This. Same with Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines and the fan patches, or any Bethesda RPG.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

Go 'head and use the widescreen mod. That will only improve the experience. But anything that alters gameplay or aesthetic probably isn't a good idea if it's your first time with a classic.