Open-World Games With The Best Movement Mechanics

Key Takeaways

Perfecting traversal mechanics can make open-world games feel unique and engaging for players to explore actively.
Forspoken and Spider-Man 2 showcase how mastering movement abilities can enhance gameplay and keep traversal from feeling stale.
Batman: Arkham Knight amps up traversal options with the Batmobile, offering players more dynamic ways to navigate Gotham City.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming experience under my belt, I must say that the traversal systems in these open-world superhero games are simply unparalleled. The movement mechanics in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Infamous 2, and Batman: Arkham Knight have left me spellbound, making me feel like a true superhero soaring through the skies or gliding across rooftops.

Open-world video games have gained significant popularity in recent releases, as developers strive to maximize vast, content-rich virtual environments. The speed at which this genre evolves can make it challenging for game creators to avoid feeling outdated upon release, so they focus on refining every aspect of gameplay and packing their worlds with engaging content to keep players hooked.

One effective method for open-world games to stand out is by prioritizing smooth and engaging traversal mechanics. Instead of merely navigating through the game world using basic keyboard or controller commands, players should find themselves immersed in an active exploration experience. By designing intuitive control schemes, movement within these games can transform into a captivating gameplay aspect that players enjoy mastering.

1 Forspoken

Despite Its Issues, Traversal Is A Blast In The Game

There’s no denying that Forspoken has many issues that turned it into one of Square Enix’s most dated games. The poor visuals and dated writing made this game an easy punching bag in the eyes of many, and it didn’t help that the combat took way too long to open up. This caused many people to drop it instead of playing it to completion, which is a shame since a lot of players missed out on the amazing traversal mechanics that make the act of exploring Athia a blast.

Familiarizing oneself with Flow and blending it with Rush, while gradually acquiring additional enchanting parkour skills that Frey has access to, creates an engaging gaming journey. As players unveil these expansive movement abilities, the combat also becomes increasingly diverse, allowing gamers to delve deeper into Athia as they become more immersed in this experience. Soaring above the world on ziplines, scaling vertical structures, gliding over water bodies, and stringing together speed bursts form a parkour system that warrants greater recognition.

2 Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

The Last Assassin’s Creed Game Without An RPG Focus Before The Series Changed Its Approach

Unfortunately, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate didn’t meet Ubisoft’s sales targets due to lingering doubts about the quality of Unity. This was unfortunate for Jacob and Evie’s engaging storyline, set in their mission to establish their gang and conquer London’s districts. One of the key aspects that makes Syndicate enjoyable is its superb movement system.

In future Assassin’s Creed games, players will be able to navigate more freely using specially designated buttons, thus minimizing unexpected deaths that were common in parkour systems of earlier versions. The grappling hook, alas, has been met with criticism by some fans, despite enhancing the player’s traversal abilities and facilitating seamless movement from one location to another without interrupting momentum or necessitating extensive retraversal due to climbing work invested in scaling tall structures.

3 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

The Best Swinging And Movement Mechanics In An Open-World Spider-Man Game

The Spider-Man video games are celebrated for their exceptional traversal systems, which players enjoy manipulating, and these motion mechanics are refined to perfection in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. While Miles and Peter may not be significantly different when gliding over New York City, gamers won’t mind the similarities as long as they can swing and glide with impressive agility. The movement mechanics from the initial game have been substantially enhanced to prevent traversal from becoming monotonous at any point.

As a gamer, I’m thrilled about the web wings upgrade! It allows me to seamlessly transition between swinging and gliding mid-flight, adding a whole new layer of excitement to my adventures. Plus, there are two special, rechargeable moves I can unlock for an instant vertical or horizontal boost when exploring this vast world.

4 Infamous 2

Moving Cole Around In The Overworld Is A Blast

It’s unfortunate that the Infamous series appears to have been overlooked, despite the widespread acclaim for Sucker Punch’s creation of Ghost of Tsushima. The character of Cole MacGrath, a complex and captivating protagonist, plays a significant role in the initial game, serving as its emotional core in ways that players might not initially appreciate. With the specter of the Beast casting a shadow over America, it falls upon Cole to become stronger to confront this apocalyptic menace in the sequel and save the world. His electrical abilities are crucial in this battle, and players have the option to choose fire or ice powers depending on Cole’s moral compass.

Regardless of which powers players opt for, the traversal of this game hinges on Cole’s grasp over his electrical powers. Players can use power lines to zoom across the map, glide to reach elevated surfaces, and use an Assassin’s Creed-esque parkour system to scale buildings. It’s a simple yet refined movement system that feels great to this day, and fans would love a modern Infamous game that builds upon these movement mechanics to make something special.

5 Batman: Arkham Knight

Chaining Dives, Glides, And Grapples Along With The Batmobile Makes For A Great Time

Prior to “Batman: Arkham Asylum”, superhero video games didn’t exactly enjoy a stellar reputation, often seen as money-making ventures tied to movie releases. However, this perception was shattered with the release of Rocksteady’s exceptional game centered around Batman. The sequel, “Arkham City”, was a flawless follow-up that refined almost every aspect from the first game. Although some felt that “Arkham Knight” wasn’t as much of an improvement compared to its predecessor, it provided players with additional ways to explore the game world.

Navigating and maneuvering through Gotham City has never been more enjoyable, as Batman deftly moves at high speed and precision. The inclusion of the Batmobile offers players an incredibly powerful vehicle that can obliterate nearly anything in its path, providing a supremely satisfying driving experience. Zipping around corners before exiting the Batmobile for a glide through Gotham’s world is extremely rewarding, demonstrating why Arkham Knight remains a significant milestone despite some debatable design decisions.

2024-08-29 14:33