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Help me keep track of the sandbox games
emnmnme
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I love a good sandbox game. They're usually satisfying and let you play around with whatever at your own pace. But there are just so many of them floating around out there ... it doesn't help when almost all reviewers list these games' genre as Adventure. Help me figure out how many of these suckers there are on the market - maybe I can find some I haven't even heard of yet.
A sandbox game is a really loose definition but basically they start off with vast environments with emphasis on exploration and freedom. All areas are linked but, unlike games with hubs and levels, you can revisit all major areas as much as you like. There are plenty of neutral NPCs wandering around mixed in with hostile targets. These NPCs have their own routines for behavior which you can interrupt if you want to. They'll react to you, too. They'll go about their business if you leave them alone but they can turn hostile if you provoke a situation. Sandbox games are nonlinear and have their stories told through missions and side missions but they're optional. Completing missions gives you some RPG Lite-type rewards (upgrades, information, etc.) and little else - basically better gear to play with in the sandbox.
It's a broad definition so games like Shenmue, Gothic, and certain Tony Hawk games could be considered sandbox games even though they're labeled as 'RPG' or 'Extreme Sports'. One example I'll submit is Destroy All Humans, a sandbox game with smallish areas but a fun telekinetic power to play around with. The sequel featured hippies and far too many jokes about bongs but it, too, was free roaming and fun.
Others?
A sandbox game is a really loose definition but basically they start off with vast environments with emphasis on exploration and freedom. All areas are linked but, unlike games with hubs and levels, you can revisit all major areas as much as you like. There are plenty of neutral NPCs wandering around mixed in with hostile targets. These NPCs have their own routines for behavior which you can interrupt if you want to. They'll react to you, too. They'll go about their business if you leave them alone but they can turn hostile if you provoke a situation. Sandbox games are nonlinear and have their stories told through missions and side missions but they're optional. Completing missions gives you some RPG Lite-type rewards (upgrades, information, etc.) and little else - basically better gear to play with in the sandbox.
It's a broad definition so games like Shenmue, Gothic, and certain Tony Hawk games could be considered sandbox games even though they're labeled as 'RPG' or 'Extreme Sports'. One example I'll submit is Destroy All Humans, a sandbox game with smallish areas but a fun telekinetic power to play around with. The sequel featured hippies and far too many jokes about bongs but it, too, was free roaming and fun.
Others?
emnmnme on
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But seriously
Crackdown
Saint's Row
Grand Theft Auto
Viva Pinata
Shenmue
True Crime
No More Heroes
LittleBigWorld
The last two being pretty hyped games for the Wii and the PS3 respectively, coming out later.
Also, for a similarly awesome game, The Incredible Hulk:Ultimate Destruction.
Mercanaries was wicked to, and a sequal is on the way (PC/360/PS3/PS2 iirc)
I'd also add the latest Postal game but I didn't play it, either.
Srsly? Hulks ultimate destruction is a REALLY good one.
it took me months to get tired of summoning hulkbusters, grabbing them by the face, suplexing them, and then powering up and throwing them into the sun.
Dont even get me started on catching missiles fired at me.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
I haven't actually played the Hulk one, but whenever people mention it they always do so in a positive light.
In Ultimate Spider-man you can't go everywhere at the start, but it is overall a better game(graphics and gameplay wise) though the whole 'being a hero' thing is really downplayed in the sandbox mode of both games, usually consisting of:
Beat up a bunch of bad guys.
Get random person to hospital.
Stop car chase
Get balloon
Still though, each game is an 'action packed thrill ride'. But part 3, I imagine, will blow both of those away.
It's because you can be a jerk and punch a civillian clear across the city if you wanted too.
Civilization
Alpha Centauri
Black & White
Ultima 7
If you're including actual RPGs, the old-school Ultimas (4-7, especially 6 & 7) were very sandboxy: little to no distinction between exploring towns, dungeons, and overland travel; no missions, levels, or hubs; NPCs with routines and personalities whose lives you could fuck around with; and a large world to explore from almost the very beginning of the game.
Fixed for truth (and hilarity).
1) grab a civilian
2) set them down elesewhere - hulk pets them (haha)
do #1
2) press punch - hulk "flicks" them (HAHA)
3) play the many minigames. like the one where you golf. or the "swing the bat and see how far they go" game.
I really hope Spiderman 3 delivers.
I liked the swinging and stuff in Ultimate far more, the double jump was great, and web zip for scaling the buildings in a hurry was good stuff too.
Of course I didn't much care for the Venom segments either. You figure 'Hey playing as venom, this is going to kick ass' and then it doesn't. It just sucks ass. I mean seriously jumping around? They may as well have had him driving a truck.
It does have its flaws, some of the hulks moves have their own animations which go into in-engine cutscene mode for a few seconds, while the action still continues which can be a bit annoying. And on the GC version, the controls take a bit of getting used to. But it's ridiculously fun. Kinda like GTA except less bloody and whorey, in that you're in a massive city and can either go round just smashing things, or do missions. But I'm not GTA expert.
It's budget price now, I got it at Gamestation for £7.99
Also, I took down a helicopter. By throwing a cow at it. A COW.
Simpson's Hit and Run....the Driver games...
Also, keep an eye out for STALKER and Mercenaries 2. They look terrific in previews.
The only way that this gets any better is if you turn on the cheat code that turns missiles into exploding cows.
HONK HONK HONK HONK
I hoped Circuit City would have a copy in their cheap bin (which I did find a copy of Beyond Good and Evil for $14), but no such luck. Look's like it's back to half.com.
---OR---
Rip that car in half and use them as a set of boxing gloves.
---OR---
Use it as a surfboard down the street.
Do buy it.
I had Ultimate Spiderman Venom flashbacks when playing the Crackdown demo as a buffed-up, jump-happy dude.
And yet, Crackdown was fun. I don't get it.
S-M2 Lame plot US-M great plot
S-M2 Massive city US-M Tiny City
S-M2 Cool upgrade system US-M was there even one?
S-M2 Bruce Cambell US-M no Bruce Cambell
S-M2 WEB SWINGING THAT MADE SENSE US-M a retarded system that game no control to the user.
Seriously Webswinging was the thing that made spider-man 2 it was brilliant, wall running and just going straight up the side of the building wasn't done the best, but I love just tooling round Manhattan.
Satans..... hints.....
Also, did anyone mention GUN yet? It's small, but there is some fun to be had in blowing off the body parts of people you already killed.
I netted a brand new copy of Spider-Man 2 for $14, and I have a bid going to nab Hulk: Ultimate Destruction sealed for $10 (hoping I win). I was going to go for Superman Returns, but I read reviews that said it was pretty bad. That's hard to screw up really, I mean just be Superman and fly anywhere in Metropolis and kick ass. Anyways, I'll skip that one.
Next on the list is Steambot Chronicles. I'm also curious about Mercenaries, is it fun? Anything else I'm missing that's worth getting. How are any of the GTA clones?
3 page article summary: its SM2, but deeper, prettier, and a shit ton bigger. symbiote spidey has a rage meter, not sure how i feel about that decision...
360 Gamertag: Baronskatenbass Steam: BaronVonSnakPak HgL: AnsonLuap