Summary
The open-world genrehas only become more popular the longer it’s been around, and this has meant that developers have constantly been evolving these kinds of games to try and make each one bigger and better than the last. As a result, some open-world titles, especially from older generation consoles, can seem a little dated by today’s standards, but this certainly doesn’t apply to all of them.
The PlayStation 3 specifically featured a wide array of open-world games across its lifespan which impressed players at the time, but are still just as fun to jump into today. Whether it’s because of their timeless visuals,unique gameplay mechanics, or just the immersive world that they offer for players to explore, these games are still able to hold their own and provide an enjoyable experience for open-world fans, despite their age.
Fallout 3was a massive deal when it was first released back in 2008, primarily because it was one of the first instances of a truly open-world FPS RPG game ever being released on consoles. Since then, the series has come a long way and built upon the foundation of whatFallout 3set out, but that isn’t to suggest this game feels old in any way. In fact, the richly detailed map of Washington D.C. is so massive and alive that it could easily fit in with the modern open worlds that we’ve been exposed to over recent years.
Unlike a lot of newer open-world titles,Fallout 3also doesn’t go too far with its hand-holding, allowing players to feel like a true lone survivor as they explore and learn about their environment at their own pace. Thoughthe intro to the game is a tad too long, it can be completed quite easily on subsequent playthroughs when skipping through the dialogue, as it’s when players are finally able to step out from the Vault where the game truly shines.
The firstSaints Rowgame was already leaning into its more comedic aspects, but it did still seem a bit confused on whether it wanted to be an off-the-wall experience or more of a grounded gangster game. This, unfortunately, caused the game to be seen as nothing more thanaGTAclone, but this thankfully wasn’t the case for its sequel,Saints Row 2, which went all-in with its humor and absurdity, making it much different from most grounded open-world games at the time.
As a result, the story has a very campy tone to it which is only bolstered by its whimsical characters, especially the effortlessly charismatic Johnny Gat, who plays a big role in the narrative. The city of Stillwater where the game takes place is also packed full of activities, and players are encouraged to get involved in as much of it as possible since they will earn Respect Points for doing so, which are needed to progress through the game. Some have argued theSaints Rowseries became a bit too silly from the third game onwards, but the second entry pulled off its comical tone just right and still featured plenty of enthralling missions, including demolition derbys, vehicle escorts, and all-out gang warfare to back it up.
Just Cause 2was the first game in the series to introduce the grappling hook - a tool that would become a mainstay for future entries as it made traversal much faster and so much more enjoyable. The introduction of this simple gadget speeds up the core gameplay ofJust Cause 2tremendously, making it far more exhilarating to jump into and play than most open-world games even today. It also helps thatthe island of Panauis full of environmental variation, allowing players to quickly navigate between deserts, mountains and jungles in barely any time at all.
In order to move through the main story, players must earn Chaos points through completing specific side missions, and by destroying government property in the most extravagant ways possible. Considering the majority of the map is covered in government bases, players are free to experiment with different methods of getting rid of them to rack up their total points, and thanks to the grappling hook, the ways in which this can be achieved are more or less endless.
TheInfamousgames have always been about giving players a toolbox of unique abilities and powers they can use to wipe out any enemies who stand in their way and to help them navigate across the map. While there was certainly a lot to play around with in the first game,Infamous 2introduces plenty of new powers to help keep the experience fresh. Though Cole isn’t able to use vehicles, this really isn’t necessary anyway since he can cruise his way through the gorgeous New Marais at blistering speeds thanks to his newfound otherworldly abilities.
Speaking of New Marais, not only doesit still look amazing from a visual standpoint even today, but it’s absolutely packed full of side missions and extra activities, which will all net Cole a little bonus Exp and will also have an effect on his Karma which will allow him to access certain abilities over others. It’s a shame theInfamousseries has remained more or less dormant since this game, but the good news isInfamous 2still looks and plays just as well as it did when it was released back in 2011, so it’s more than worth a revisit.
Most of theAssassin’s Creedgames will remain relevant in the gaming landscape for maybe a year or two before the next entry inevitably arrives, but the fourth game,Black Flag, didn’t exactly follow this trend. Even today, many in theAssassin’s Creedcommunity are still talking fondly about the game, with many arguing it ‘revitalized’ the series, and it’s because Ubisoft took quite a few risks which ensured it would be a standout in this already beloved series.
Of course, the biggest component of the game many people thoroughly enjoyed was the naval combat, whichallowed players to truly live out their dreams of becoming piratesby banding with their crewmates and venturing into the deep blue seas for loot and treasure. Ubisoft also managed to provide a perfect balance between stealth and action with its main missions, and it also helps that the game has an infectious soundtrack that features plenty of swashbuckling tunes to keep players immersed in the world and the whole pirate aesthetic. It’s hard to believeBlack Flagis now over a decade old, especially since it feels like it could easily stand side by side with many modern open-world games released nowadays.
