My problem with Open World/Sandbox games.

Within each generation of consoles there has always been that recurring trend. We gamers are constantly being told by developers that their game will have us immersed. As technology improved, one of the biggest ways that this was displayed was by giving us an open world/sandbox game; and with good reason.

Open World games gave players a nonlinear way of approaching missions. They gave players a sense of freedom and diversity. In this current generation however, I am starting to get a little burned out from these games due to a number of problems that kinda haven't been solved yet. RPG games are excluded in this discussion due to the level of complexity and interaction.

Problem #1: Repetitiveness

At some point during the game you just get tired of seeing the same things within the environment or when you just feel like you are doing that same thing over and over again. That's because you ARE doing the same thing over and over again! That deja vu factor becomes REALLY annoying after a while.

Notable examples include Assassins Creed, Red Faction Guerilla

Problem #2: The world and environments are boring

I understand the desire for us gamers to have our breath taken away by certain structures in video games. That shock and awe when we are brought into these creative worlds. However, if we have a beautiful world being brought upon us then there needs to be something to do right?

My most recent example of this is L.A. Noire. Don't get me wrong this game did some groundbreaking things in technology with the facial expressions. I never really seen any game like L.A. Noire mainly because of the genre. Unfortunately, the recreation of 1947 Los Angeles isn't too exciting. Yes there are landmarks and film reels to see and cars to collect. However, the world just gets boring after a while. After the first 2 hours I just decided to let my partner drive to the next area for the rest of the game.

Problem #3 Balance

All open world games have some kind of theme to go along with it. It may be a game mechanic or setting that defines that theme. Sometimes developers focus too much on one area to the point where they ignore other important aspects of the game. After a while, these problems can stand out just as much the main thing the developers were focusing on to make the game addicting.

Notable Example: I have to say Prototype. The ONLY thing fun about this game were the powers you were given and the way I could move around the city. Running up buildings and gliding never gets old. But, that's where my fun stops. The visuals and graphics aren't really appealing and the scenery in general is dull and never changes. I also felt like the challenges were a chore so I would never do them. Some of the missions were pretty cool but given Prototypes concept; I think it wouldve been a better game if it were linear.

Problem #4 Tedious sidequest or collectibles

This is mainly for trophy and achievement whores. I don't really qualify in that department but there are some games where things seemed fun to the point where I would try to finish a certain number of sidequest/challenges or even complete them all. But sometimes it feels like it just drags on to the point where you just give up and don't even bother for a while with those sidequest/challenges. You simply burn out.

Notable Examples: Assassins Creed series, Infamous 1 sidemissions, Any game that throws in racing missions as a challenge or side mission.

Now here are some games in this current gen that I think addresses the problems above quite well.

Infamous 2: This game improves on all aspects of the first one by giving us more powers, giving us more variety in missions, and constantly rewarding the players with new powers as they progress through the game.

Red Dead Redemption: Not only the world of Red Dead Redemption was huge; There was also alot to do in the midst of this old western story. There were bounties, poker, and other activities that made sense within the theme of this game and supported the main story to a certain extent.

Just Cause 2: This is personally my favorite sandbox game. This game is HUGE and delivers us an island with scenery such as snow capped mountains, a desert, a dense populated financial city, district, beaches, and a floating gentlemans club. It also helps that there are alot of weapons and vehicles to keep the players perception fresh and interested throughout the entire game.

Now I simply think developers can solve this problem. It could be budgeting issues or even laziness. But I do know for a fact that these problems can and will be solved eventually. What do you guys think?

[kane_1371]

I agree with inFamous 1 having annoying repetitive sidequest (I finished them all though, both good sides and bad sides) and Assassin's Creed, But the second and third games were much better, come on...

[SageHonor]

I'll exclude brotherhood because that was different. AC2 was better than the first but still felt repetitive and tedious at times.

[Redempteur]

i could have the plat of acé ..i just couldn't bother to get all those feathers

[Nate-Dog]

I'm not really quite sure why you use the example of Assassins Creed so much. Assassins Creed isn't a sandbox game nor is it really an open world game (you could argue AC:Brotherhood is, but if you say that then it sort of nullifies your argument saying there's nothing to do since there is a lot more to do in ACB in things that could be regarded as "RPG elements" if you want to go that way such as capturing Borgia Towers and sending out Assassins to do missions and whatnot), Assassins Creed games have always been action-adventure games and are actually very linear. Plus you use the example of it to talk about repetitiveness and about annoying collectibles but don't use it as an example of having a good world and environment to enjoy.

[SageHonor]

Repetitiveness and tedious collecting was one of the main problems in The first 2 Assassin Creeds. Those problems stuck out. I didnt use Brotherhood because that was more of a sandbox and open world game. Regardless, The first 2 games are still open world.

[QuodEratDemonstrandm]

I will agree that AC1 was very linear, but 2 was a huge improvement (AC2 is what AC1 should have been). I also completely agree with your opinion of the worlds these games offer, particularly Renaissance Italy. However, I have to agree with Sage. Our freedom to wander through these worlds wherever we want makes them open world games (a subgenre of Action/Adventure) by definition.

I can't say I share Sage's opinion of open world games. I actually enjoy them, but that's just my preference.

[InLaLaLand]

I thought RDR was quite repetitive if you took up the blue stranger tasks. The hideouts had respawns of enemies (not bad though).

[ian72]

Just Cause 2 is my favourite open-world game this gen. I must have spent over 60 hours just messing around between missions.

[JellyJelly]

And you can buy it for nothing now. One of the most worthy bargain bin games. It has the most beautiful vistas of any open world game imo.

[xX-StolenSoul-Xx]

Gta Iv is my Favorite just because of the multiplayer. RDR is up their to.

But my alltime favorite was Saints Row 2, alot of stuff to do after you finish the game, pop into co-op with a pal Alot of minigames Insane Fun!

[MidnytRain]

Give an example of repetition. I don't know what you mean.

It is inevitable to have only one location in a sandbox game. You can't have wildly different environments in one setting.

The good thing about side quests and collectibles in open-world games is that we aren't forced to do them. I look at my missions and say, "Which do I want to do?"

Don't be like the fools who say, "I didn't know I would not like this game." You have the internet that tells you all you need, and you should know what you like. I enjoy all my purchases because I am informed.

[SageHonor]

I dont understand what you mean in that last paragraph. I own and have played every game I talked about in the blog.

Open-world games give us the choice to do it. That is true but one of the other things open world games are supposed to do is to give us freedom and a nonlinear way of approaching our goals. How can you enjoy that if the side quest feels tedious?

Hmm, I don't agree with location that much. Some open world games have 1 major setting while others have some kind of diversity within them. However, it is always a good thing when an open world game has diveristy in the environment.

[MidnytRain]

We can know whatever we want about a game, so let there be no excuse for why we bought something we didn't like. I have no regrets in this area.

[Sweeet]

"We can know whatever we want about a game, so let there be no excuse for why we bought something we didn't like. I have no regrets in this area."

That doesn't make sense. We can know only what other people let us know, either through their personal experience or through a video, say on youtube. You're never going to know everything about a game unless you play it yourself. Other peoples experience can only tell us so much.

Lots of times I've bought a game after reading reviews/watching videos and then after playing the game have found it not to live up to my expectations. The game may look great and sound amazing, but until you've actually played it first hand you're never going to know whether something is tedious or repetitive.

We're all different, what you find amazing gameplay I may find repetitive, it's as simple as that.

[MidnytRain]

I must know myself better than you know yourself. Unless completely unfamiliar with something, I can know through Google, N4G, and complete video walkthroughs, if I please, about what the game has me do, and if I'd like it. Let me say so again: I've never regretted a purchase.

[theonlylolking]

Oblivion felt empty other than quests.

[bunfighterii]

I thought GTAIV was a well crafted sandbox world. I remember spending hours feeling like a tourist in NYC playing that game, just wandering around the distinct neighbourhoods. When I went to NYC last year, it made me appreciate just how accurate a 'caricature' it was of NYC.