Comments on: Ramble On Rambling: Exploration Games

By: PoC

PoC — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 05:13:55 +0000

Thinking back on it, most of my big exploration moments were in JRPGs, at that point where some huge block of inaccessible world map suddenly becomes open thanks to a recently acquired boat / airship / chocobo that can walk on water for some damn reason. And I realize that it’s one of the biggest cliches in videogames to restrict progress so blatantly, but I fall for it every time. The best example, I think, is Chrono Trigger, where after hours of following the linear plot, you suddenly have access to the entirety of time and space. Or at least a bunch of different optional sidequests. I felt the same way, much earlier, in Baldur’s Gate 2, when you realize just how big that city is. I suppose, then, what I prefer is exploring that I know is directed towards some goal.
Not always, though; I do love revealing that last bit of black space in a 4x game, and one of my favorite moments in Fallout 3 was when, after hours of wandering in subways stations, I realized I was standing at ground zero of the President’s last address. Cool stuff.

By: Paul-Sebastian Manole

Paul-Sebastian Manole — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:34:19 +0000

At last someone that understands me!

Ever played Final Fantasy? Loom? Kyrandia? Indiana Jones and the fate of Atlantis and others, Maniac Mansion… though not really explorers but they had interesting and varied landscapes.

By: busana muslim

busana muslim — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:06:40 +0000

Ilike that picture ,likes so real

By: bgates87

bgates87 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:02:34 +0000

I believe there is a market for completely exploration-based games where the only goal is to satisfy your own curiosity. The intriguing element of exploration is the idea that you might find something no one else has ever seen before. Of course it’s hard to truly experience that feeling because deep down all gamers know that someone designed this game and someone already knows about anything significant you might find.

By: myname

myname — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:32:55 +0000

“Would anyone pay for a game that was created in the name of aimless wandering tourism?”

Oh yes they would – and pay for it too! People already travel further and seeking weirder adventures IRL. Online ones would be an acceptable and cheaper alternative. Online socialising also increases.
Definately a viable business opportunity

By: Visitor

Visitor — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:54:35 +0000

I had high hopes for Oblivion (on 360, sorry) and got about 80 hours into the game. Then I ran into a bug that blocked me from finishing the Fighter’s Guild storyline. It reminded me of a similar bug in Morrowind, which ALSO kept me from finishing the Fighter’s Guild storyline (I think it was Chrysamere?). So 80 hours into Oblivion and 4 years after Morrowind, Bethesda still hasn’t learned their lessons.
Oh sure, I can download a patch, but I don’t pay good money to find the bugs in games for free, besides the fact that I’m well past the point in which I can use the patch from XBox Live. And scaled leveling? Are you kidding me? Why do these companies insist on punishing their customers? Good grief. Game save deleted, eBay here I come.

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:57:23 +0000

I love Just Cause.

Driving a car off a bridge, jumping out, and then harpooning another car below so you can paraglide behind it will never get old.

By: simonkaye

simonkaye — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:51:11 +0000

Just Cause gave a beautiful and open world (about fifty times more interesting than the actual plot), but I’m not sure it qualifies as true exploration when you’re really just looking for a high place to drive a jeep off at sunset. Freelancer also left me exploro-cold. The game wasn’t dynamic enough in its freeform periods. The locations and activities were ultimately very similar. Driving a massive cargo of diamonds to a backwater planet didn’t change the price of diamonds there a jot.

Anyone remember Privateer 2: The Darkening? That game was essentially identical to freelancer. Except with Clive Owen instead of John Rhys-Davies.

By: Lucky Main Street

Lucky Main Street — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:41:08 +0000

There’s a game called Kyntt that focus on exploration and collection. There’s a few platformer type enemies and jumps, but very very few. I’ve heard it described as an ambient game, which exploration generally would be, and it’s really great. Secret passages are A1. Don’t get the sequel though.

By: Red Negativity

Red Negativity — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:08:04 +0000

Incredible, incredible article. Of course Oblivion had its major valleys, but it was one of the best games to receive a large fan base of all time.

I am SO glad somebody mentioned Shadow of the Colossus. That has the most beautiful art and game world that I have seen to date.

Borderlands will be a must for you if you love open worlds.

By: Jess

Jess — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:43:22 +0000

This is weird to admit, but I was really affected by the grand, beautiful waste of space in Just Cause. The ultra-mediocre action wasn’t worthy of the environment it took place in; it was truly a game where wandering became the only reason I’d play it. After finishing the storyline, I spent a lot of time flying around and noting small points of interest, impressed by the periodic architectural curiosities thrown around (most of which you’d never see unless wandering) and kind of hoping for some magical AI surprise to appear. You have lots of ‘random’ interactions between gangsters and police on the road offering tantalizing echoes of far-off gunfire, but it’s never worth checking out, no matter how unscripted. I’ve rarely seen as potential-filled a game world in an action game, honestly. I was really shocked at how mod-proof they made it; some added content would definitely have brought me back for more play. At one point I realized that that island world would take a REALLY long time navigate around if you never had access to vehicles and had fun stuff to keep you trekking from one spot to the next– the game affords some really beautiful clifftop vistas just asking for some wandering warrior to stop and gaze at before making it to the next town. Yet another “let’s hope the sequel offers more” case… In the meantime, where’s the modding genius who can hack that thing?

By: Mo

Mo — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:06:56 +0000

Not on PC, but look into Afrika on the PS3. Looks stunning.