My recent attempt to start playing through Assassin's Creed: Origins and subsequent loss of interest had me thinking why it joined a number of other games where I'd struggled to maintain interest and I've come to feel that the issue is...
their Open World
Now, this isn't an anti-world sentiment or even a criticism of the one in the games I'll mention but it's curious as to what decides the difference between an open world that engages the player or, as AC:O did, makes me fall asleep at the controller within 15 minutes of playing the game. Other games have had similar effects on me and slid into the backlog as a result such as The Witcher III, Watch Dogs 2 and Metal Gear Solid V.
But for many others the worlds built by the developers for these games are absolutely loved and one of the key selling points in these titles and their success. There's a part of me that knows these are well crafted open worlds as well and yet I find them utterly unengaging. The open world in Zelda: Breath of the Wild? Personally, I don't think it's very good. It's fine, serviceable really but I didn't begin to snooze as I played so whilst it doesn't strongly resonate with me there's clearly something about the swirling mixture of features, structure, location and mechanics that comes together to either appeal to the individual gamer or not.
It's made me somewhat curious as to what it is that clicks for me with open worlds in games, what makes the difference between one that I love and one that slips me into an unconscious state.
Now many will love the games I've struggled to maintain interest in and probably not be so enamoured by open worlds I've enjoyed more, so the question of the thread boils down to a very individualistic taste one...
What open worlds have resonated with you and what makes or breaks your love for one?
their Open World
Now, this isn't an anti-world sentiment or even a criticism of the one in the games I'll mention but it's curious as to what decides the difference between an open world that engages the player or, as AC:O did, makes me fall asleep at the controller within 15 minutes of playing the game. Other games have had similar effects on me and slid into the backlog as a result such as The Witcher III, Watch Dogs 2 and Metal Gear Solid V.
But for many others the worlds built by the developers for these games are absolutely loved and one of the key selling points in these titles and their success. There's a part of me that knows these are well crafted open worlds as well and yet I find them utterly unengaging. The open world in Zelda: Breath of the Wild? Personally, I don't think it's very good. It's fine, serviceable really but I didn't begin to snooze as I played so whilst it doesn't strongly resonate with me there's clearly something about the swirling mixture of features, structure, location and mechanics that comes together to either appeal to the individual gamer or not.
It's made me somewhat curious as to what it is that clicks for me with open worlds in games, what makes the difference between one that I love and one that slips me into an unconscious state.
Now many will love the games I've struggled to maintain interest in and probably not be so enamoured by open worlds I've enjoyed more, so the question of the thread boils down to a very individualistic taste one...
What open worlds have resonated with you and what makes or breaks your love for one?
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