gaming Game Discussion: Is free roam too limited?

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

These days, there are plenty of games that are free roam. This typically means that the game gives you the option to explore the world around your character. Some games use this to their advantage and give you big, fun open world to explore. Other games don't do that. Some set it apart where the world around you is so limited, there's almost no point in having the free roam option there at all

So, is free roam sometimes too limited?
Which games have the best and worst free roam?

Edited August 7, 2013 by Stevenearthpony

[Moonlight 7,287]

Personally, I adore free roam, so anything free roam-related is automatically a plus in my book. But, yeah, it can be TOO limited.

 

A limited free-roam game I have played would be: A majority of the Silent Hill games....why?

Well, they let you explore freely but most locations are blocked off or most of the doors are locked and inaccessible. 

 

I don't think there is one that is god-awful though.

 

 

A free-roam game I have played would be: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess or several of the Sonic games.

They usually allow you to explore a multiple areas freely.

 

Stuck right in the middle would be the GTA and Saints Row games...why?

Well, they let you explore quite a lot freely, BUT, you can't go into all of the stores or anyone's houses and such.

[Zygen 6,066]

Eh, Free roam is really awesome, and alot of games tend to do it well, of course there are always the ones that have it as a seperate from the main story or something thing, or its just so restricted its not worth it, but typically its done well, i can't think of any off the top of my head that are to restrictive.

 

Of course the less restrictive the better! I mean theres always the option of making it so you can enter all buildings, which not every game does.

 

I enjoy free roaming skyrim, thats one off the top of my head i like, lots of pretty scenary to see, and some secrets, not to mention quests scattered around, and different dungeons, and enemies scattered around, dragons, stuff like that, its just enjoyable to wander around, I mean the wandering around and doing other quests feels like a story in itself, even though story is pretty good, the roaming the world doing quests makes it.

 

Zelda is pretty good with it generally, except it can be kinda restrictive depending on the game in what dungeons you do.

 

I can't think of any others right this moment.

 

I think free roam is one of my favorite features, i like to be able to immerse myself in the world, and not be restricted to the story.

[akalink 163]

I think one of the best way to make free roaming game is with the collect-a-thon type games. Game like Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie had these free roaming levels, but to beat the game you had to explore the entire level. I remember finding the town in Wet-Dry world being one of the most exciting things in Mario 64, or seeing both the small and large version of Tiny-Huge Island. Every level in Mario 64 had something to discover. I bet you can guess what game I'm looking forward to...

 

 

Edited August 7, 2013 by akalink

[Tilapia 4]

There are two types of free roam: Open-world and open-area.

 

An open world would be GTA, Saints Row, Skyrim, etcetera.

 

An open area would be more like Thief or Dishonored: They drop you into a level and the level is open, but the world beyond it is not.

 

Each serves its use. As for "limited" free roam, I can only think of old PS2 games that had "open" worlds alongside annoying "You cannot leave the area" prompts. Invisible walls had the same effect of closing off the world. But this restriction fades as the tech can render greater areas.

[ErBoi 501]

I kind of think free-roaming is overrated.  I realized lately, especially with Lego City, that, at least to me, free-roaming in a game where you play as a 'normal' human is a tremendous bore.

I don't see much need for free-roaming unless you have abilities that make exploring large landscapes more surreal and fun.  That in mind, I do love free-roaming in Spider-Man games.

No More Heroes 2 dropped the open world of the first game and that was probably one of the best decisions made between the games.