Avid gamers may have noticed a slight change to the gaming landscape recently. Like the movie world, the flavour of the day usually dictates what genres and titles we see being presented to us by game developers. Over recent years, that genre has largely been First Person Shooters, and has presented us with titles such as Call of Duty and Battlefield. Even though those franchises are still dominating the industry – indeed, both have new titles out this Christmas – we are now seeing other genres appearing on the best sellers lists.The most notable of the genres on the shelves this Christmas is definitely the Open World RPG’s. Games such as Skyrim, Batman: Arkham City, and Saints Row: The Third are dominating sales, and seem to be capturing the imagination of the gaming public like never before.
Certainly, in the past we have seen Open World games doing well. There are some old favourites of many gamers that consisted of Open Worlds. Games such as Fable, Fallout and the Grand Theft Auto franchise introduced us to what an Open World can be like. Then more recently we have seen Red Dead Redemption, Just Cause 2, and the Assassins Creed Quadrilogy. All of these titles gave the gamer a freedom that is rarely seen in the gaming world.
So what is Open World and why is it so different?
Well first you have to understand how most games work. Usually, a game will follow a set pattern, where the gamer will follow a storyline, and have to complete goals and objectives in order to get to the end. Many games have a “Campaign” that can be played, and from start to finish the gamer is going in a set direction, following the lead set by the storyline.
Open World games almost totally take this away. Take for example, Saints Row: The Third. In this game you play a gang member, and your objective is to take over the city. Basically that’s it. Sure, you’re given goals and objectives that you can achieve, but you don’t have to. The gamer is free to roam the game world as he likes – in this case that world is the whole city of Steelport – and basically do what he likes. Its this freedom that has broken the shackles and the rules that the gamer has always played under, and set them free in the world of the game to do whatever their imagination allows them to do.
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, is breaking all sorts of records in the industry at the moment, and for good reason. Here is a game that has combined several great elements together to guarantee instant success. Fantasy, Single player RPG and Open World. Gamers in Skyrim can spend literally hundreds of hours roaming the world fighting dragons, learning magic and upgrading their skills with the broadsword and bow. There is no limit of what they can do, and it will probably never get boring. If it does – they can go back and achieve all the objectives they opted out on months ago when they bought the game!
Red Dead redemption is a totally different take on the same genre. Here you play an outlaw in the wild west, roaming from town to town, doing what you please. And in Batman – well – you’re Batman. What else do I have to say?
If you have the slightest interest in games at all and haven’t tried the Open World Genre, then do yourself a favour and get on board. Buy one this Christmas and have a go. You won’t be disappointed.
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