Summary
Open-world gamesseem to get bigger and bigger. They have miles of space for players to explore, and many fill those vast spaces with side quests and other optional content. These pursuits make the huge setting feel more alive. They also give fans an excuse to explore beyond simple novelty. Not all developers get the memo, though.
Some open-world gamesskimp on optional stuff.They have barely any side quests or extra activities, while certain titles forego these aspects altogether. That lack of content usually hurts the experience, as it wastes a potentially engrossing sandbox. The open world boils down to set dressing. At that point, why bother? These settings may be fun to traverse, but they have nothing to offer beyond that.
Depictinga war between two Norse goddesses,Viking: Battle for Asgardunfolds across three islands. The player’s job is to run around these islands and recruit other Vikings for the cause. This process involves raiding camps and freeing prisoners. The act of clearing outposts usually makes up the optional content in open-world adventures, but it’s the main attraction here.
Gathering all these guys bolsters the Viking army. Once that army is large enough, the warriors launch an all-out assault on the undead invaders within their home base, and winning this battle drives enemies off the corresponding island. Granted, players can recruit as many Vikings as they want, but the siege requires a minimum number. As such, it’s not optional by any stretch.
The only things fitting that description are the collectibles. Scattered around the islands are kegs, treasures, skulls, and other items. The players can gather these to boost their Viking’s power and purchase new moves, but they lack the narrative drive of the recruitment missions. Because of that, they feel like a shallow endeavor.
The Inaugural AC Game Requires Repetitive Busywork To Reach Altair’s Targets
Assassin’s Creed
The setting is 1191 AD. The third crusade is tearing the holy land apart. You, Altaïr, intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict.You are an Assassin, stalking your prey with a hidden blade. A warrior shrouded in secrecy and feared for your ruthlessness. Your actions can throw your immediate environment into chaos, and your existence will shape events during this pivotal moment in history.Master the skills, tactics and weapons of history’s deadliest and most secretive clan of warriors including the deadly Hidden Blade.Stalk your prey through richly detailed, historically accurate, open-ended environments. Scale buildings, mount horses, blend in with crowds. Do whatever it takes to achieve your objectives.Experience heavy action blended with fluid and precise animations. Use a wide range of medieval weapons, and face your enemies in realistic swordfight duels..
Though Ubisoft packs modernAssassin’s Creedgameswith optional content, the series' debut is far more focused. Here, players visit several Middle East cities during the Crusades, viewing them from fresh angles thanks to the franchise’s trademark parkour mechanics. Each city has a number of sneaky odd jobs: eavesdropping, tailing, pickpocketing, etc. Some might think these are optional. They’re definitely mindless enough for open-world busywork, but no.
Playershaveto do these repetitive gigs, as completing them gathers intel on their main targets. Protagonist Altair can only assassinate these targets after a certain number of intel missions. These aren’t his only errands, though.
Fans can also collect flags. The game has hundreds of these banners in its myriad of maps, but even these aren’t entirely optional. Some intel missions involve grabbing several flags within a time limit. Sadly, they’re still as boring to gather as any open-world collectible. Aside from finding a few more nameless Templars to kill, players have no reason to exploreAssassin’s Creed’scities.Considering how brilliantly they recreate the historical architecture, that’s a real shame.
Like many web-head titles,Ultimate Spider-Manlets players control the titular hero inan open-world New York City. Despite the game’s free-roaming nature, though, progression is linear. The hero has no extra villains to fight; there’s only the main story. Sure, crime-fighting deeds like fighting muggers and chasing getaway cars break up the tedium, but these aren’t optional. During each chapter, players must complete a certain number of side missions (City Goals) before they can take on a story mission. In essence, the game operates on a similar loop toAssassin’s Creed, albeit a bit more engrossing.
Only a few truly optional activities exist here. Players can gather comic tokens and compete in the odd web-swinging race, but that’s it. No arenas or meme-worthy pizza deliveries (previously seen in 2004’sSpider-Man 2). There are simply the standard inclusions that barely anyone does. Needless to say, it’s quaint compared to today’s Spidey titles.
A shortage of side content isn’t a new problem withMafiagames, but it’s especially egregious in this case. The first entry’s remake boastsa gorgeous recreation of Prohibition-era New York. It seems to be bustling with life, but it’s all just for show. Outside the main story,Mafia Definition Editionhas almost nothing to do. The only real side missions are Phone Booth Jobs. Twelve of these exist in total, but they’re all racing challenges. The sole reward is more cars to satisfy the player’s inner packrat.
That collector’s impulse makes up the only optional pursuits. Masks, magazines, cards, and cars lie hidden around the city. Some fans might find these items neat, but hunting them down is a mundane chore and completely negligible in the grand scheme of things. With such an inspired setting, the developers could do so much more to strengthen the game’s immersion.
Here’s a rare positive example of this trend.Shadow of the Colossusachieves beauty through simplicity. To restore his lost love, the protagonist must slay sixteen enormous creatures, called Colossi. These behemoths lie hidden acrossan open world rife with peaks, valleys, forests, deserts, rivers, and ruins. However, said world is eerily empty.
Apart from plants and the occasional animal, this place is utterly devoid of life. That emptiness enhances the forlorn atmosphere. More importantly, it adds significance to every Colossus. The game devotes all its aspects to these climactic battles.
That includes the optional content, or lack thereof. In addition to giants, lizards are a potential quarry. Shooting them and collecting their tails increases the hero’s stamina. He can also eat fruit from special trees to boost his health. However, these boons are few and far between. They’re not exactly the stuff of legends (or great side quests). Instead, they prepare players for the main objective, and they will be hard-pressed to defeat the game’s later Colossi without them. Even then, they’re not essential.Most fans will probably go straight for the bigger prey.
