RDR2 & Breath of the Wild Have Set the Standard for Next Gen’s Open World Games

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Red Dead Redemption 2 are two of the most engaging recent open worlds, in large part because of their slower pace and focus on immersion.

[-Foxtrot]

I can understand Red Dead Redemption II despite it's many faults gameplay wise but Breath of the Wild? Nothing that does evolves the open world formula, whether people still don't want to admit it or not the fact is many games before it did some things in their open world games better.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

I've played quite a few, and none that I've played do everything that BotW does all at once.
Separately, sure, but not all at once.
I can't recall even one, in fact, that makes better use of atmospheric tones and light instrumentation for its score.
BotW's biggest flaw was how light its story felt since most of it happens through flashbacks, but other than that it's an excellent open world game, one that pulled people into its world and immersed them like few others have.
If more games going forward manage to capture BotW's ability to encourage exploration, merely by their world feeling vast and interesting and filled with things to find without overwhelming the player, that will be a positive no matter which way one swings it.

[generic-user-name]

I could say the same for Horizon, it didn't do anything particularly new, but it put many great things together in an extremely polished open world. Great story, fun combat, imaginative enemies and stunning art design and graphical fidelity. Yet it was never in the running for GOTY, nevermind getting the non-stop praise that BotW had heaped on it by the Nintendo-loving games media. (Maybe I'm exaggerating, they may have felt the need to review it so highly to avoid the fate of Jim Sterling after all.)

RDR2 feels like something new, mechanics layered on top of mechanics, all interacting with each other and with the kind of visual fidelity you would only expect to see in a AAA linear game like U4, not an open world. It feels next gen. Whereas BotW feels like Zelda finally catching up with Ubisoft open world games.

[Kosic]

We must had played different games. Botw did nothing for me, I'm one of the small few who disliked the game and found it nothing special. Only jaw dropping thing I liked about the game was the clouds actually cast a shadow on the world as they float above. Was that sort of attention to detail I liked.

Actual game though, was over rated. Especially for story as you has to find these flash backs (I didn't).

[Christopher]

***I've played quite a few, and none that I've played do everything that BotW does all at once.
Separately, sure, but not all at once. ***

That's most good games this generation. It doesn't set a standard, though, when everyone is doing the same thing by pulling from old concepts and putting them together.

[Old McGroin]

@ Foxtrot

BotW was an amazing game, dry your eyes and get over it already.

@ generic-user-name

Such a weird coincidence that the only people who think the media is biased towards Nintendo are Sony affiliated fans. Funny that.

[Dom_Estos]

"BotW was an amazing game, dry your eyes and get over it already."

Is right.

I couldn't help but feel that RDR2 had borrowed a lot of the elements that made BoTW amazing. The camp fires with smoke that draw you in that direction, and the cooking, hunting and survival aspects of the game. They're both unique and amazing open world environments that make you want to just explore. By far two of the best open world games I've ever played, and in the 3 of the best games I've played in the last decade, the other being Mass Effect 2, which RDR2 also borrows from with it's characters you get to know through the camp.

[Veneno]

How any real gamer cannot admit to the triumph that is BOTW is beyond denial.

[generic-user-name]

Yeah, you tell me Twilight Princess deserves its meta score with a straight face.

[DarXyde]

I don't know. I really enjoyed Breath of the Wild. Something about it felt rejuvenating. I love the little things like getting struck by lightning in an open field while wearing armor or riding a shield downhill.

Something about the design and accumulated items in the world makes everything seem so purposeful. I can't say I have felt this with other games.

My two cents, anyway.

[BigTrain]

Im glad you enjoyed Breath of the Wild. I picked it up and wanted to enjoy it but found the inventory management a huge distraction. In particular the way the weapons broke just wasn't my cup of tea. I probably would've continued playing the game but I literally googled to see if there were any weapons that'd be permanent at some point to which the answer was no. That killed it for me.

[DarXyde]

BigTrain,

Different strokes, mate. I can see why you might feel that way about inventory management. That's a fair criticism.

As for weapon deterioration, it's not my first rodeo with that kind of feature. I'm used to it from the SoulsBorne games.

[Sono421]

Seriously I am so confused as to why people think Breath of the Wild was so revolutionary. I played through the entire game and have over 100 hours logged into the game. What made it so great? That when you fight a group of enemies in the wild to get the chest behind them the chest simply contains an item you could find laying around in the wild that didn't require you wasting weapons and potential food. Or the fact that there were a lot of mini shrines all over the place that were extremely simple to beat? Or the fact that its the same 5 kurok seed puzzles copy and pasted all over the world? Or is it the fact that no open world game has ever been so easy? I honestly believe that everyone who says this game is amazing literally only watched trailers or played a few hours of it (Which is why reviews that came out later as apposed to the rushed ones at the beginning gave it lower scores)

Just a guess but I think the people who call this game great didn't actually explore the open world, simply went into coast mode, took in the beautiful scenery and explored a little bit without much challenge (Which made them like it) maybe found some opal, a few arrows, solved a kurok seed puzzle, solved a few shrines, and then finally ended on a divine beast. Then simply assumed there was a lot more out there to discover, but no, they'd be wrong, just the same things over and over never giving you any real reward.

Every "reward" simply makes annoying mechanics less annoying, like how kurok seeds let you hold more weapons so the extremely annoying weapon breaking mechanic is a little less annoying. Or how ravali's gale makes climbing less annoying.

There is never a meaningful reward throughout the whole game, besides the master sword which still has a BS recharge on it just so you still have to use the garbage weapons that break. Everything you get from the divine beasts are handicaps that just make the game easier, get revived as soon as you die, 3 free defense blocks, get lifted 20 feet into the air, and do one big lightning attack (this one I actually think is the most interesting and cool).

I remember when I found my first labyrinth I was excited that I finally found something worth wild, but then I get to the center and what do I find? ANOTHER shrine....... then I thought...well maybe there is some epic boss inside and i'll actually get new gear from this. Nope. It was actually one of the shrines that says "By getting here you've already proven your worth, heres your sh*tty weapon and millionth spiritorb" oh, geee, thanks, couldn't see that coming.

The game has so many flaws these fanboys just gloss over and it's just sad, at this point I am convinced they didn't actually play the whole game like I did, and don't even get me started on the fact that there is literally no story. Oh and also don't get me started on how attack and defense buffs don't even make noticeable differences. I'm talking about clothing and elixirs. Not that any buffs would be needed anyway because the game is so easy.

[DarXyde]

Sono421,

I did play it. Several times longer than 100 hours, actually. Explored quite a bit too.

Is it so hard to see that others really enjoyed it? You've got different tastes, pure and simple.

[Moe-Gunz]

People can blindly throw hate your way if they want but I too find BoTW grossly overrated. One of those games that if it didn't have the title I think would be criticized more. I found Horizon to be superior and was greatly disappointed 🤷🏾‍♂️

[-Foxtrot]

The sad part is how upset and angry they come at people like myself who state it’s overrated or not as special as people make out

They also say how I “hate it”...I’ve literally never said it was a bad game, it’s a good game, a well made game with attention to some detail but apparently saying it’s overrated is the same as saying the game is shit

People just want to see what they want to fuel their supposed counter argument

Look at some of the replies here, it’s sad with how people respond.

[DarXyde]

Horizon is a technical marvel. I didn't think the PS4 could do that. But I still prefer Zelda.
Horizon has a far more interesting narrative, but fun factor has always been my gaming priority. As a game, Zelda is better for me.

For the record, the name doesn't mean too much to me. Metal Gear Solid was my favorite series, and I cannot express my disappointment in The Phantom Pain enough.

Amazing gameplay mechanics, disappointing plot, and empty.

[Imalwaysright]

Blindly? This fox guy was claiming that BoTW wasn't deserving of the scores it was getting before the game had been released. Before he even had the opportunity to play the game if he played it at all. This fox guy was the one that said that the developers that were praising the game were doing it because it was a zelda or nintendo game. He was essentially saying that they were lying.

He showed his bias time and time again and now look at him, the troll playing the victim.

[Old McGroin]

@ Foxtrot

The sad part is how you keep flip flopping and moving the goalposts to suit yourself. One minute BotW doesn't deserve the scores it got and is overrated, the next it's a good game. So many twists to make whoever responds to you in a way you don't agree with look bad.

Look, it's been well over a year since BotW released. It's universally acclaimed as one of the greatest games ever. It's pretty sad that after all this time you're still dwelling on this. Get over it.

[-Foxtrot]

@Old McGroin

Here's one of them now...thank you for proving my point

" One minute BotW doesn't deserve the scores it got and is overrated, the next it's a good game "

LOL...how is that flip flopping.

I'd say it's a 7.5 or 8 at the most...did it get those scores? No...so yes it's a good game but I'm also right that it didn't deserve the perfect scores and the overhyped comments saying it's the best thing since sliced bread.

Unless you are one of these people who thinks a 7 or 8 means it's a bad game? Don't grasp for straws man, it comes off as desperate

"It's pretty sad that after all this time you're still dwelling on this. Get over it"

Oh yes because it's just me, there's a shit load of people out there who think exactly the same, it's something you don't seem to grasp so how about you stop being a little child about other peoples opinions and get over it yourself. I mean look at the viscous comments towards people on here who don't think the same as you...seriously re-read them, and you tell me to stop being sad. Come on...pot calling the kettle.

[Moe-Gunz]

I too don't think it deserves the scores it got. I do think it's a good game but it received perfect scores and people saying it's the best game released in years, and I adamantly disagree. It reminds me of the GTA4 release. 10/10 everywhere but to me was incredibly overrated.

The mindset here is if you think it's not the best game ever and a 10/10 you must automatically think it's terrible and that's not the case. You guys act like a cult sometimes with this game.

[Imalwaysright]

But you believe that after playing the game right? You experienced the game and formed your own opinion. He was downplaying BoTW before even playing it. He showed his bias and has been trolling the game before its release date so why should anyone even respect his opinion?

[BigTrain]

Horizon was triple A perfection. Loved it!

[ECHOINFINITY]

RDR2 sets the standard for immersive world building. BOTW sets the standard for a world that is truly 100% open and let's you do literally anything and everything in the game from the beginning. Horizon set the bar for open world combat though and I preferred TW3 to all of them hands down.

[Trez1234]

i don't know... i feel breath of the wild is and will be looked at by alot more by devs with things like climb anywhere, less markers on the map and the sense of discovery. I do prefer RDR2 but not sure about all the so cold new things it has brought.

[Sirk7x]

The chemistry system the game employed was absolutely brilliant as well. Some of the things people have done to alternatively solve puzzles in the game are cool, like laying down metal objects to complete circuits. At its heart though, Zelda is a game with a particular atmosphere, and has very heavy puzzle elements. It is very dear to my heart, but I can understand if it doesn't resonate with some.

[Shiken]

I shit you not, I took one look at the title of this article and thought, "I bet this triggers Foxtrot". One comment in, and I am not disappointed! XD

OT, both games are fantastic and have raised the bar. BotW is my game of the gen, God of War is my GotY and a close second to BotW, and Read Dead is right up there with GoW for me.

That is how I feel anway.

[CaptainObvious878]

You're right of course, Fox, but don't waste your time trying to explain it to these blind ninty loyalists.

It's already been well discussed it's flaws and well documented the media bias that overlooked those flaws while marking other games down for the same thing.

Unfortunately, that same bias media gave it so many GOTY awards, so they feel vindicated and are never going to see reason.

[rainslacker]

Rdr2 doesn't really do anything except have a ton of content. Nothing in it is particularly innovative. It just did a good job of putting a lot of stuff together and made a system for interaction which revolves around mundane tasks which wouldn't be appropriate for all kinds of games.

BOTW did.nothing to innovate the genre, barely had a story, and while it was a decent game, I wouldn't say it was a shining example to try to live up to.

[nezzko]

It's nice that we can get out of the open world comfort zone now and again. Understandable folk are going to bounce off that of course, but I'd rather that than the same, admittedly solid, formula over and over.

[TheOptimist]

Haven't played RDr2, but if there is one open world game that has set the standard, it is by far Witcher 3 and I hope that Cyberpunk 2077 is even better which will set a bar of its own.

[Gardenia]

When it comes to nature and looks, Horizon Zero Dawn and Assassins Creed Origins impressed me. I disagree with Breath of the Wild, because the world really is empty apart from a few towns

[Sirk7x]

Witcher 3 is goddam amazing.

[Spurg]

Don't forget The Witcher 3

[nowitzki2004]

Witcher 3 is game of the gen.. So many games that get released nowadays try to be more like Witcher 3. RDR2 is just the latest.

[Ceaser9857361]

Red dead 2 is on a different league.. And R* has been doing this for years now.. W3 was amazing and still my fav but Noway Red dead 2 was trying to be like W3..

[nowitzki2004]

@Ceaser

Witcher 3 is a 100+ hour game without tasks like brushing/feeding your horse, eating, shaving and showering.. and Witcher 3 was much better with fast travel. So even without all that nonsense to make the game seem longer than it is Witcher 3 gave you much more

[generic-user-name]

Longer isn't the same as better.

[Dom_Estos]

Witcher games aren't really true open world games in the same sense that these two are. The world is split and sectioned off and requires loading screens between areas. These two don't do that.

[Rimeskeem]

I hope the standard isn't traveling for 5 minutes and making someone pay a debt for 2 minutes and traveling back. Also, terrible controls....

[Gatsu]

I dont see why people cry about the controls. Just learn how to play.

[pietro1212]

The game isn't difficult by any means, but it does have control issues (what Rockstar game doesn't though)

[UltraNova]

I can learn to play that RDR2 knife/hand mini game in real life but it wouldn't make it fun now would it? See where I'm going with this?

[Dom_Estos]

It's not enough to appreciate the whole these days. Moaning b*stards have to nitpick one thing, and base their entire view around it to tear a game down. The game has clunky control issues? So what? So do some of the best games ever made in the history of the industry. If you want cited examples, go ahead and ask.

[GTgamer]

I'm sorry what🤔🤔

[Rimeskeem]

Because I would like intuitive controls. Not ones where I dont play for a week and forget everything.

[ShadowWolf712]

The controls ARE bad tho. Like, really high input lag, makes every action feel slow. Hurts the game a bit imo.

[JackBNimble]

Obviously there is always room for improvement when it comes to the control. But I've put in a shit ton of hours and finished the game and I can say that the control issues are there but extremely exaggerated.

[pietro1212]

Dom_Estos:
Dude, no one is down playing how good the game is, but it did the game has control issues same goes for Witcher 3, which I find to be best game this gen.

[SpinalRemains138]

They're glitchy and that's a fact. Prompts appear and disappear and do not always respond to pressed. Weapon Item wheel doesn't always respond when L1 is released, etc...

I love the game, but the criticisms are very legit. Saying "learn how to play" does not remedy a game which has issues.

[pietro1212]

As much as I enjoyed BotW I thought it's world was pretty basic. It was nothing more than a colorful Skyrim, but without decent sidequests and interesting npcs (which was odd for a Zelda game considering the past titles always have interesting characters). If it wasn't for the shrines and towers I never felt the need to explore. I never felt immerse in it's world especually compared to RDR2 and the Witcher 3.

[Imalwaysright]

Bullshit. Unlike Skyrim, BoTW was trying to simulate how the world reacts in a somewhat realistic way and the attention to detail oozed from the game because of it. BoTW went as far as having interactions between elements such as air, fire or water with each other and the objects in the world in a way that led to emergent gameplay scenarios and gameplay mechanics. Skyrim's world (as are most worlds in open world games) is a sad joke compared to Zelda's and I doubt that you even played the game.

[pietro1212]

Nintendo ID: Pietro FC: SW 3584 1323 6714
Typical fanboy BS: He obvious didn't play the game because he doesn't share the same opinion as me. We're in a digital age where you can't really bs about the games you play now. Clocked in 120 hrs so far.

[Imalwaysright]

Opinion? It's not a matter of opinion. Either BoTW world is basic and comparable with Skyrim's world or it isn't and no BoTW world isn't basic. Far from it. It's one of the most complex open worlds ever crafted with an attention to detail, physics system and logic based interaction between each object in the world and elements that puts skyrim and pretty much every open world to shame. BoTW is trying to simulate how the real world reacts in a somewhat realistic and simplified way and you're comparing it of all games with Skyrim?

If you ask me you're the fanboy that is parroting what he has heard from other trolls on internet forums. Comparing BoTW world with skyrim's is a joke and not a funny one.

[pietro1212]

Yes, opinion all those reviews, etc are opinions How you and I felt when playing the game all comes down to opinion.

I guess Aonuma and Fujibayashi were fanboys too right? Considering most the interviews they conducted mentioned the inspiration that was drawn from the Elder Scrolls franchise particularly Skyrim.

I'm not saying BotW is a bad game by any means, but I personally did not have the same experience while exploring it's world. Also a fanboy to what exactly?

[Imalwaysright]

No it isn't opinion. Either BoTW has the systems that make its world far from being basic or doesn't. BoTW HAS the systems that put its world far ahead not only of skyrim but the vast majority of open world games in terms of detail, interactivity, complexity and realism. Like I said BoTW is actually trying to simulate how the real world reacts with logic based interaction between each object in the world and its elements. Not only that but the game also has the concepts of heat and cold. Does Skyrim have the concepts of heat and cold that affect the game's objects? Do the elements in skyrim interact with each other and with the objects in the world? Does Skyrim world have the the same level of interactivity and realism that zelda's world has?

Just because Zelda devs were inspired by Skyrim doesn't mean that they didn't take Zelda's world to a whole new level and they did. They sure as hell did.

[pietro1212]

I'll give you that. The way Link/ the player experienced the world around him was impressive (i.e the rather system and physics) but that goes so far. You have this huge beautiful world that still felt empty. Yeah, I can come across some npcs venturing out here and there, but they were so dull (which was odd for a Zelda game.
Outside of the shrines and the shallow sidequest I never felt the need to explore or inclined to do so.
Like I said before It's I personally feel about the game. You don't have to agree with me and that's fine that's how opinions work and that's cool.
Do I think BotW is a bad game? No, why would I put 120 hrs in it so far and I didn't enjoy it. Do I find it to be the best Zelda or see it as a revolutionary change to open world games.. No I do not. The same could be said about the Witchwr 3 and RDR2 but I found their worlds to be far more interesting and immersive while exploring them.

[Imalwaysright]

You don't have to give me anything. I'm glad that you remembered how impressive BoTW world truly is and how far Nintendo took open world design with BoTW. Other games might have some of the elements I mentioned but none of them offer the whole package that BoTW gives us. No open world that I played went as far and impressed me as much as BoTW did.

I played many games this whole generation and I can tell you right now that the most exciting moment I had while playing a game this generation was when I discovered that the heat produced by a fire interacted with the air to create an updraft and I could use that updraft to use the paraglider to fly. This is the same basic concept that allows hot air ballons to fly and this combination of logic based interaction between elements and energy (heat) and how it then could be used as a gameplay mechanic showed me how far video games went since I started gaming in the SNES/Megadrive era.

Basic is not a word that can be used to describe BoTW world. I mean if this combination of systems that I mentioned above is "basic" then what words can be used to describe other open world games such as skyrim?

[philm87]

BotW is a great game, a bit overrated though. The open world is largely quite bland. Kinda nice, but so many large areas with nothing much. Not knocking it too much, but it doesn't set any sort of standard.

[Sirk7x]

From an artistic and design standpoint though, it really did. When it released, look at what any game dev was saying, that they couldn't stop thinking about employing the game design tactics they were seeing from the game. Doesn't mean as much to someone just playing it, but as far as how open world games are going to be made in the future, there's no way those companies won't be bringing up ideas that BotW brought to the table at some point. Some people play games and get immersed, but it's totally okay to break down elements into how they were created as well. Some people watch movies, some people break down and analyze films, lighting, cinematography, acting, philosophical implications, continuity, etc, because they have an interest in how they were made and what makes them work.

[blm504]

Agree with both but Include the The Witcher 3

[ninsigma]

BOTW just does what open world games did for the whole gen before it. It's not setting any standards.

Red dead too. Fantastic game but I don't see anything new here.

What they both have in common though is the addition of elements that try to be super realistic but it just ends up being to realistic to be a good feature.

[PCgamer98]

I love botw as well and still play it on my switch from time to time. It's worth to buy a switch just for the game alone, but honestly I don't see anything botw did that other games or open worlds hadn't already done.

[dimasok]

RDR2 did jackshit. BOTW is the one that evolved the formula

[generic-user-name]

Yeah it was a real revolution when they added voice acting to that franchise for the first time. And how about those towers that reveal more of the map when you climb them? Where does Nin come up with these ideas?

[Switch4One]

Sony fans really can't stand anyone else getting praise can they?

[pietro1212]

How so? It didn't bring any new to the table.

[Switch4One]

Don't praise BotW in these parts and not mention Horizon. They types around here won't like it

[BehindTheRows]

Yet, most people didn’t even mention Horizon.

[-Foxtrot]

Hardly no one has even mentioned Horizon

Typical

You even try to make it about Sony and Sony fanboys in another comment above

Sigh...

[pietro1212]

Horizon was a good game and it's was gorgeous, but it also didn't do anything different any other open world title.

[Lexreborn2]

I legit don’t get the hype for open world games like RDR, Breath of the Wild, Witcher 3 and GTA. These have been the most boring generic open worlds to me to date. But people keep praising them like they are revolutionizing open worlds.

[MajorLazer]

Sad to be you

[Lexreborn2]

Sad to be me for knowing what I don’t like? Sure okay

[hot4play]

Horizon: Zero Dawn

[generic-user-name]

Nintendo Presents: Horizon: Zero Dawn

There, now you have a GOTY contender with a high 90 on meta guaranteed!

[Imalwaysright]

As yes, the "Sony is a victim" narrative.

The same Sony that had Uncharted 2 getting dozens of perfect scores and winning dozens of GOTY awards.

The same Sony that had TloU getting dozens of perfect scores and being at the time the game with the most GOTY awards ever in a year that was competing with GTA5 no less.

The same Sony that had U4 getting dozens of perfect scores and winning dozens of GOTY awards.

The same Sony that had GOW getting dozens of perfect scores and will most likely win dozens of GOTY awards.

Sony the poor bullied victim whose games keep getting heaps of praise and awards by the media.

[Switch4One]

Is God of War and UC4 also a Nintendo game or were the critics right on those games?

[generic-user-name]

@Imalwaysright @Switch4One @Madmoose

I'm not saying critics don't give Sony good scores, though none of the games you've listed have reached the highs of the Zeldas/Marios on metacritic, Uncharted 2 being the highest Sony exclusive at 96, the same as Twilight Princess ffs, I'm saying they give Nintendo's games better scores in general.

You see it with console features too, Nintendo making you use a phone app to voice chat in a current gen system (actually the Switch is next gen right?) is waved away as being 'oh, Nintendo'. PS or Xbox would get crucified for that.

[Inzo]

RDR2 has certainly set the standard for realism in an open world game but thats where it ends other than that it is what it is. It also proves along with the new Assassins creed games that bigger isnt always better at least in some cases. BotW also, not quite sure what standard it has set.

[ECHOINFINITY]

RDR2=most realistic/immersive world
BOTW=most truly open world
Horizon=best open world combat and visuals
TW3=the best complete open world package

[Movefasta1993]

Visuals goes to RDR2, the water, skybox, character models, attention to detail is second to none.

[BehindTheRows]

Second to none? Nope. However, they are among the best of any open world game.

[ECHOINFINITY]

Its not even in the conversation with Horizon lol

[OzzY-waZZy]

BotW is the only Zelda game that I couldn't finish. 3 of my friends thought it started off great but someone around the middle just lost interest completely. It's an open world shell.

[chris235]

last time i checked breath of the wild pretty much failed to meet any industry standard. so this article comes around as a bit strange.

[sampsonon]

not for me. one is boring as hell, even though I'm still going to finish it. the other was over hyped.
for me Horizons open world with its combat flow, enemies and story set the bar. imo
https://youtu.be/m40usFj92p...

[ShadowWolf712]

RDR2, sure.

BotW... not so much.

[windblowsagain]

I haven't played RDR2 Yet, Enjoyed the Original. But like any game, some will like them more then others. I'm playing AC origins ATM. Even though I started to hate AC games. It's decent. But most Open world games have a main story. Can be good, can be crap. Horizon's story bored me. I did enjoy BOTW, but did not finish it. I'm not really bothered about side missions as some are. Fetch this, go here, get that. Find him. kill that one. etc. I prefer single player linear stories aka, Uncharted.

I think that's the biggest thing games need to suck you in with. A GREAT STORY OR really well told one to keep you interested.

I am though sick to death of people ramming horses into objects to compare games, like that Fking means anything,lol..

[Lord_Sloth]

lol Okay.

[bujasem_89]

I can't wait to play rdr2. I logged in 1000hours into BOTW along the year. I have to say I loved how it made me feel like i'm in a miyazaky movie the entire time. Surfing on the shield when you find any smooth down hill made moving around fun with in it's self.

The open space made small things pop out and gave little stories to most places you visit making them more memorable.

The thing I loved most aside from the fantastic physics system it runs on for dynamit weather and the environment beil a living thing in the game. Was that you pick up a side/main mission, the npc tells you what's to be done at a location they mention or materials wanted. However, when you track anything, the list tells you what happened but all the marker shows you is the npc you dealt with never hovers an icon floating in the middle of the screen ,compass , or a mini map. It made you question what if here is where i find something useful for someone. I honestly appreciated that so much, made me explore so much having fun the whole time, I hope more companies pick up on that detail, make your games come to life with our imagination.

[HeisenbergX]

Hell yeahhh.. i really hope other open world games will look up to these two i mean it's not even a contest and we all know it BOTW and RDR2 are the new standards.

[jznrpg]

The standard has been set a long time ago. Morrowind was one of the first I remember that is similar to today’s games and the only thing people have been doing since then is add on a thing here or there .

[ThePsychoGamer]

Honestly I think the improvements the open genre could see if developers started taking notes from the Yakuza series are far greater than either RDRII or BOTW.

[bujasem_89]

I'll be taking advantage of kiwamy from plus to revisit the yakuza world. I really hoped we'd get the meiji era of yakuza dubbed, I hope kiwami shows me further Japanese ideas

[Xaevi]

nothing about BoTW sets a standard. it's freedom, it's physics, the annoying towers have been done in games since the start of last gen. this blind love for BoTW just confuses me, makes me think that I played a completely different game.

[bujasem_89]

Honestly i shared your point of view, found the combat pretty simple and easy, then realized it was because I simply got too good that made me feel safe like combat was a non issue. All that mattered was the adventure, what'll be next? When will i find that durable shield or boomerang again, and the tiny stories you discover around every place you go to, the experience keeps changing because of the time cycle. I think it's simply a different mind set for approaching a different type of game. BOTW wild took credible mechanics from so many recent games with their own style a little innovation in design and they cooked it in the best way they can.
Zero dawn was fantastic also in a different spectrum.
It made every combat experience intuitive and challenging it had combat as the life line of their world, and provided a wonderful narrative I believe, if you took the time to read everything you found. So you were connected to the varied enemies and the tricky puzzles they were as to how to best them efficiently based on the surroundings you're provided for cover or space to manuver, and the story hidden in collectables. It missed out on the mechanic for westher affecting what attire you chose (she already had animations for temperature and time of day) it's just disconnected from the player, and cooking with so many leaves and animals around would have been a blast do i use that meat for a potion or a enhansing meal, that leaf and wood for an arrow or an elixer. I realised I don't like heading towards a distant icon on a screen i tend to miss most of the trip like driving a car.

Sorry for the rant, just a lot of thoughts I had around gaming, and the many directions it can be taking and the ones it is taking.

[Sirk7x]

I really can't name another open world game within the action rpg genre that has the interactions between elements and objects like BotW does. I remember the first time I pulled a bomb arrow out on a volcano, and it caught fire and exploded in my face because the temperature was too high. Or freezing meat in a cool area. Using an ice weapon to cool yourself in a desert, or laying down metal objects to conduct electricity. Starting a fire to create wind updrafts to gain vertical advantage, or throwing food at enemies to distract them. You cab chop down trees, use them to cook, float them over water, or attach balloons to it and float through the sky. It just works and all makes sense in relation to the in game logic. Usually, a situation arises, and you go "I wonder if I can do this", and chances are the answer is yes. The possibilities for approaching any situation have an incredible amount of solutions. That's why, from a design standpoint, it's going to be influential to game creators for a very long time. So yes, it does set new standards.

[Cartman55125]

Awful controls?

[Sirk7x]

And yet no one ever talks about the first Xenoblade Chronicles lol. One of the greatest jrpgs ever made, with a huge, beautifully designed open world. Truly based on exploration, with one of the best sound tracks in gaming.

[pietro1212]

Last generation that's why. Xenoblade 1 is a gem though and I agree it is one the best JRPGs around (heck its an amazing rpg in general)

[FallenAngel1984]

What did BotW do with open work that was so special

[milohighclub]

Been a fan of Zelda since the first one on the nes, botw wasn't that good.

[Platformgamer]

oh god fuck both games, breath of the wild is the most overhyped of the two for sure and RDR2... is just a western game, chill out guys! i don't care if it is a marvel of technicism, it's a boring western game.

[pietro1212]

Like there's so many Western games in the market.

[StormLegend]

BOTW is overrated as hell. THE only praise I can give that game is the climbing.

[Germaximus]

Can only hope not. Literally two of the worst open world games ever made. Certainly better than any of the new Assassin's Creed games but they are beyond overhyped and if more games go in that direction, we'll have less games to actually "play."

[rainslacker]

As GaaS start becoming more common, games like this will start becoming more rare. I wouldn't say either is the worst games ever made....far from it, but if you look at this gen compared to last, the number of high profile AAA SP games is not as many as it used to be. There are some that receive a lot of attention now, but nothing compared to what we had last gen. There are still more SP games than there used to be, but not the big ones like we used to.

[Thomaticus]

115 hours of BOTW.... Only thing I can remember is being afraid to use weapons in fear that they would break. That one issue really kept me from enjoying the game fully. Overall, BOTW can't be considered amongst the best of the open world games...

[Hardiman]

I'd have to go with Witcher 3, HZD and Red Dead 2 myself. Heck AC Origins was pretty dope!

[InTheZoneAC]

I played about 94 more hours on Dragon Quest 11 than BotW. Sure DQ11 isn't open world from the start, but it gets there sooner than later and I couldn't stop playing that once I started. BotW I pretty much played on Friday launch and have barely touched it since, thanks in part to Horizon Zero Dawn. I do like GTA 5's open world, haven't touched much of RDR2 yet as I know I can't be playing that when I'm tired.