Favourite Free-Roaming Game(s)

[Ady]

Never played Mercenary 3, but the first game on the C64 amazed me with its scope from the get go.

When you first arrive on Targ, you can buy a new ship, or if you wish, steal it instead. Wherever you go on the planet, the Palyar Colony Craft (a ltitle dot in the sky) is always visible, and can eventually be reached (gear permitting).

The game could also be completed in many different ways.

Mercenary was way ahead of it's time. The irony being that the 'story' was largely transparent and written by the player as they progressed. The polar opposite of what many of today's so-called 'free roaming' games tend to do.

As a point of discussion, it could be argued that a true free roamer is one in which the player effectively 'writes' the story from within a given environmental framework (ie the 'Sandbox' aapproach), and that games that follow a linear path (ie Shenmue et al) are merely pretenders.

Anyone else see where I'm coming from?

[Staplehead]

I've got to vote for Wind Waker. Why?

I must be one of the few people who actually enjoyed sailing on the ocean and discovering all the islands, even if they were little more than a few money bushes and those squishy blob things. I like finding those fish and the amusing 'que?' noises they make when you scatter the bait. I like all the different stuff you can do on Windfall island, even if I haven't managed to do anywhere near all of those little quests. I like the picto-box stuff and I'm sure I'd like the nintendo gallery thingy if I could be bothered to find it.

I suppose the fairly laid-back story helped in this regard, since I never felt pressured into zipping through the game quick quick quick!!!

Saying that, though, I did find the triforce thingy slightly annoying (if only because that stoopid bogey-coloured PIMP Tingle charges so much for map translation.)

On another note, I've started playing Deus Ex on the PC and I can't help feel a little let down as it doesn't seem as 'free-roaming' as I'd like it to be. Give me one big world to explore rather than individual levels, please. I heard that you could complete the missions by not killing people, but I always seem to leave a trail of blood behind me. One thing I do like, however, is re-arranging the pot plants in HQ to trap people behind their desks, then throwing the basketball at their head. I spent much time giggling to myself as I ran about like a naughty child, even though I'm meant to be a secret agent.

Sorry for rambling.

[2097]

There is only one real contender for me.. animal crossing

Ive been glued to this since august. The game feels like a second home, its so lovely, everytime I play there are new things I discover and new ways of doing things.. i love it there are no dead ends, there is always something to do and there is never a pressure on you to do anything its a dream game and I have no idea why nintendo wont release what is easily their best product in years in europe. If they market it properly it could be bigger than pokemon ever was.. but even so I dont really care now ive imported it

warioware inc deserves a mention too .. i cannot get enough of the music of the paper plane mini game and jump forever

hardwar (PC) also deserves a mention.. its one of the most ignored and underrated titles there is.. going on a simular premise to elite you choose a ship and then everything else is up to you.. the whole thing is set on a moon, smaller scale than elite but you do get the whole surface of the planet.. everything is perfectly detailed and designed to the last inch.. the handling and controls are unbeatable.. there is so much you can do and a very cool plot behind it all if you wish to follow it.. designers republic were heavily involved with the development, there is a full licenced soundtrack from warp, the graphics are still amazing to this day as free upgrades to the gameplay, online modes and graphics were continued up until very recently by the games developers..

released in 1998 by gremlin interactive with very little marketing support it quickly vanished and infogrames would never re-distribute the game

(This was released when gremlin were struggling/winding down and getting ready to sell out and get closed down by infogrames - funny as about a year or so after selling out Ian Stewart had a change of heart and has been spending the time since trying to re-create the company exactly as it was buying back the rights to the games, redeveloping the premier manager series, taking over and slowly turning zoo digital into a games publisher and moving back into the old offices..)

[Magnakai]

hardwar (PC) also deserves a mention..

*high 5*
I thought I was the only person in the world who liked this game, bar the crazies on the fansites.

[df0notfound]

Never played Mercenary 3, but the first game on the C64 amazed me with its scope from the get go.

jesus christ download UAE right now and the disk image, makes the first one look like a sandbox and most of todays games look pathetic in scale when this fitted on less than a floppy disk

[IcePak]

Occarina of Time. I just love this magnificant game. I've almost finished it too, after owning it for like 2 and half years or something...

[gossi the dog]

Zelda:TWW - Sailing across the oceans in your boat uncovering new lands is awesome. I love the game simply for that. The actual exploring dungeons part bored me though