Playable on: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PC
The Arkham series started off on a strong note with Batman: Arkham Asylum . This game toyed with the idea of an open-world formula, before its sequel ended up going all out with this conc
Ghost of Tsushima is a stunning samurai adventure that utilizes incredible swordplay and stealth-based combat. It puts players in the shoes of Jin Sakai as he fights to defend the islands of Kiki and Tsushima against a Mongol invasion. Like Rise of the Ronin, the samurai setting will appeal to fans of Like a Dragon: Ishin with its respect for Japanese culture, lore, and the beautiful sett
The gaming landscape has changed considerably in that time. With the new generation of consoles came new standards for design, and while Fable , for the most part, holds up in terms of gameplay, there are mechanics within it that may have trouble in the new wave of video games. Specifically, there are bound to be difficulties with Fable's handling of morality, and with how significant the mechanic is to the game, it may create other hurdles as w
That's not always the case, however; be it a short story, small world size, or development oversight, certain open-world titles barely stretch beyond a few hours. Though length isn't necessarily indicative of quality, here are some super short open-world video ga
That said, the main storyline is easily one of the most forgettable aspects of Just Cause 2 . A hasty player could tackle the game's seven missions in around ten or so hours. In reality, Just Cause 2 is best experienced by ignoring the story entirely and pursuing crazy, self-determined objecti
Playable on: PS2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, PC
2004's Driv3r , the third release in an action-packed open-world driving series which originated on the PS1, was a barely-functioning mess which somehow garnered a cult appeal despite its many shortcomings. An obvious riff on the Grand Theft Auto formula, Driv3r felt like the Fisher-Price version of the chaotically-fun sandbox ser
That doesn't mean that horns can't sprout from a player's head if they become evil, but it shouldn't be one of two options. Instead, maybe beggars or peasants will help them in a village scuffle if they play a sort of Robin Hood archetype. There are plenty of different places it could go, and watching a character evolve with the world around them, with various aspects changing as the player makes decisions, would be an interesting twist on the Fable formula fans already know and l
In between battles, your party of three will travel to various locations that will require some platforming and puzzle-solving to obtain the next artifact. Each character has a special ability that can be used to get past hazards and giant gaps. Vi's "Beemerang" can be thrown to activate switches and cranks as well as gather items that are out of reach. Kabbu can use his horn to move objects and cut through grass. Leif can use his ice magic to freeze water and enemies so they can be used as platforms. Figuring out which abilities need to be combined to traverse Bugaria's harsh landscape was never very challenging, but it still managed to be a fun part of the g
The game might lose its steam in the latter half, but players who blast through the campaign will find themselves enjoying the title's strengths. As long as the game doesn't feel too grindy and repetitive, players will have an amazing time with Dying Lig
On the other end of that are games that dropped the morality system entirely, one example being Fallout 4. Ditching the Karma system wasn't a popular decision, but it did make players consider why they did what they did, rather than just making binary choices to fit the mold of a hero or villain. That's not an easy thing to accomplish, and unrooting players from a mechanic they've used for the better part of a decade is commendable, even if there's a notable shift in how well that change works. Morality in the game is by no means perfect, there were pointless decisions in Fallout 4 , and players were forced to play the hero in most situations, but it did make the smaller-scale decisions worthy of reflect
Dying Light 2 was seen in a couple of different press conferences at E3 2019, with both highlighting its parkour action and threatening undead hordes. Besides learning that Dying Light 2 is aiming for a spring 2020 release, we also found out that it will place a much higher emphasis on player choice. In fact, the developers estimate that someone's first run through Dying Light 2 will only allow them to see half of the game because of
In particular, these eight horror games stood out as the most impressive of E3 2019 . These games were either featured in a press conference, pre-recorded presentation, or during the special E3 Coliseum showca
Tie-in games may be much less common now than they were a decade ago, but that hasn't stopped Harry Potter fans from fantasizing about their own wizarding journeys. Leaked footage of a triple-A Harry Potter RPG began circulating months ago, but there's been complete radio silence regarding the project since then. Fans were hoping that Warner Bros. would make a surprise appearance at one of the press conferences this year to show off the game, but the focus was instead put on another adaptation, LEGO Ubisoft Star Wars Wa