I figured this would be an interesting topic.

When you 1st go through a game, do you only really care about making it through the storyline, or do you want to get all the unlockables and secrets you can before beating it?

Take Zelda: OoT for example. Did you try getting the Big Goron's sword on your 1st play through? Or all the bottles? What about all the hearts? Did you try filling your magic meter to max? I didn't. I played the bare minimum then after I was done I waited a week or 2 and then played it again and made sure to try and get everything.

Usually I'll try beating a game once and get through the storyline doing everything at the bare minimum. Then, I'll wait a while, play a few other games so I'm not just doing it over again (Unless it was OoT or Tales Of Symphonia), and begin playing the game with the intention of getting everything. I have a friend who tries to get everything on a 1st playthrough though, so I know there are people who do.

This obviously doesn't include things unlockable through progress or from beating the game (Or things eligible to unlock), so don't ask.

So what do you all do?

I like to finish the game first, like you. Sometimes I try to get all the unlockables and all the secret stuff but then I get impatient and start playing the actual game again. Sometimes when I can't beat a level, or can't get through a part or can't figure it out, I go and look for stuff to pass time and go back to what i actually need to do, and that helps me to beat that part!

I play through games for completion. Then, if I like the game, I go back and 100% it.

Depends on the replay value :/ If I like to play it alot and wouldn't mind playing it over and over again, I'll go for 100%. Like SSBB and L4D. If it's a rpg, Hell no! I drop those after I'm done with the story :/ I lose interest.

It depends, I try to unlock stuff like weapons or characters, but if getting 100% means collecting all the x, then no way.

Yeah sometimes trying to get secret stuff will level you up or whatever in the process, so it's sometimes helpful.

I tried completing Super Metroid 100% my second playthrough.
Didn't realize I missed a single missile tank until the point of return.

hah i've beaten tales of symphonia at least ten times and still haven't got everything.. that game has a TON of replay value.

But anyways.. i don't try and get everything the 1st playthrough. I wouldn't say i go bare minumum either. First time around i usually go for side quests that don't require me to go horribly out of my way and then the second time get everything else.

Only game i can think of off the top of my head that i 100 %'d the first time was Twilight Princess.

With ocarina of time, my first time playing was when I was about 6 years old, so I didn't know there was anything you could do in a game other than do what it tells you to.

After that, I have gotten everything except the last 50 gold skulltulas. all the extra 50 gets you is 200 rupees every time you talk to the guy.

But I went through a phase where I would be a completionist. But now, once I beat a game, unless it has a secret ending, I don't go for anything unless i feel like playing the game some days.

I complete everything if I could. I do that for every game I play.