Free roam gameplay

"The gameplay is semi-linear, my experiences with sandbox games (like FC2) has been that the player gets bored unless he is told what to do. So you'll be able to explore the wilderness for ammunition/ journal entries/ new routes but there will always be a set path." - From an interview with the devs of "Ivan's Secrets"

What is your opinion? Do you get bored without something to do or can you just explore? Which do you like better?

"The gameplay is semi-linear, my experiences with sandbox games (like FC2) has been that the player gets bored unless he is told what to do. So you'll be able to explore the wilderness for ammunition/ journal entries/ new routes but there will always be a set path." - From an interview with the devs of "Ivan's Secrets"

What is your opinion? Do you get bored without something to do or can you just explore? Which do you like better?

Luthreidrome

When i was younger I was a huge pc gamer. I played free roam games like mafia and the whole gta series and postal 2 back when I used to play them I always found the citys much more exciting and always looked around as much as I could and since Ive got my ps3 every freeroam game I played I never took the time To look around.

"The gameplay is semi-linear, my experiences with sandbox games (like FC2) has been that the player gets bored unless he is told what to do. So you'll be able to explore the wilderness for ammunition/ journal entries/ new routes but there will always be a set path." - From an interview with the devs of "Ivan's Secrets"

What is your opinion? Do you get bored without something to do or can you just explore? Which do you like better?

When i was younger I was a huge pc gamer. I played free roam games like mafia and the whole gta series and postal 2 back when I used to play them I always found the citys much more exciting and always looked around as much as I could and since Ive got my ps3 every freeroam game I played I never took the time To look around.

johnnystarr

[QUOTE="johnnystarr"]

When i was younger I was a huge pc gamer. I played free roam games like mafia and the whole gta series and postal 2 back when I used to play them I always found the citys much more exciting and always looked around as much as I could and since Ive got my ps3 every freeroam game I played I never took the time To look around.

Luthreidrome

[QUOTE="Luthreidrome"]

"The gameplay is semi-linear, my experiences with sandbox games (like FC2) has been that the player gets bored unless he is told what to do. So you'll be able to explore the wilderness for ammunition/ journal entries/ new routes but there will always be a set path." - From an interview with the devs of "Ivan's Secrets"

What is your opinion? Do you get bored without something to do or can you just explore? Which do you like better?

DeanG642

I agree completely. I have never played Mass Effect but this is how I would describe Super Mario 64 and it is one of the reasons it remains my favorite game of all time.

When i was younger I was a huge pc gamer. I played free roam games like mafia and the whole gta series and postal 2 back when I used to play them I always found the citys much more exciting and always looked around as much as I could and since Ive got my ps3 every freeroam game I played I never took the time To look around.

[QUOTE="DeanG642"][QUOTE="Luthreidrome"] Maybe the quality of the free roaming has degraded?Luthreidrome

Free Roam games need to not only give the player the environment to explore, but also a reason to explore all of that environment.

Free Roam games need to not only give the player the environment to explore, but also a reason to explore all of that environment.

KlepticGrooves

[QUOTE="KlepticGrooves"]

Free Roam games need to not only give the player the environment to explore, but also a reason to explore all of that environment.

DeanG642

I wouldn't say Mass Effect did it "excellently", but it certainly had more to do than a lot of other Free Roaming games.

[QUOTE="DeanG642"][QUOTE="KlepticGrooves"]

Free Roam games need to not only give the player the environment to explore, but also a reason to explore all of that environment.

KlepticGrooves

I wouldn't say Mass Effect did it "excellently", but it certainly had more to do than a lot of other Free Roaming games.

[QUOTE="KlepticGrooves"]

[QUOTE="DeanG642"] Exactly. See my above post for details about how Mass Effect does this excellently.DeanG642

I wouldn't say Mass Effect did it "excellently", but it certainly had more to do than a lot of other Free Roaming games.

Sure, but it's far from a perfect balance. It can be a total bore sometimes, while at other times it's pure genius.

[QUOTE="DeanG642"][QUOTE="KlepticGrooves"]

I wouldn't say Mass Effect did it "excellently", but it certainly had more to do than a lot of other Free Roaming games.

KlepticGrooves

Sure, but it's far from a perfect balance. It can be a total bore sometimes, while at other times it's pure genius.

[QUOTE="KlepticGrooves"]

[QUOTE="DeanG642"] I loved the way Mass Effect did it. Few Games can match that level of Freedom without feeling lost. Its a perfect balance. Where as other games can give you lots to do with not enough freedom, or nothing to do with too much freedom.DeanG642

Sure, but it's far from a perfect balance. It can be a total bore sometimes, while at other times it's pure genius.

Yup, that's why I disagreed that Mass Effect had a perfect balance. It's definitely one of the better games though.

[QUOTE="DeanG642"][QUOTE="KlepticGrooves"]

Sure, but it's far from a perfect balance. It can be a total bore sometimes, while at other times it's pure genius.

KlepticGrooves

Yup, that's why I disagreed that Mass Effect had a perfect balance. It's definitely one of the better games though.

[QUOTE="KlepticGrooves"]

[QUOTE="DeanG642"] I will agree there, because at times, the things you have to do are a chore, but that doesnt last long, and luckily doesnt take up most of the game. Like Dragon Age Origins. Some of the parts in that were the worst gaming moments I have ever had, like the circle of mages...DeanG642

Yup, that's why I disagreed that Mass Effect had a perfect balance. It's definitely one of the better games though.

I think getting lost was the point of playing Fallout and Oblivion. Both games emphasised exploration, and so you never really "got lost", you just found somewhere new. I see the point though.

I considered Mario 64 to be pretty linear anyway.

Each to their own I guess.