Revive These Neglected Open-World Game Features!

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Summary

  • Minimalistic game design: Shadow of the Colossus proves open-world games can be focused and streamlined.
  • Enemy reactivity: Metal Gear Solid 5 forces players to adapt when enemies adjust to overpowered tactics.
  • Interrogation facial capture: L.A. Noire’s innovation deserves a second chance for another AAA studio.

Open-world games, which offer a vast, explorable environment, have been a popular choice among gamers for quite some time due to their promise of unlimited possibilities. While it may appear that this genre has reached its pinnacle, there are still many innovative open-world gameplay mechanics that deserve a comeback.

In simpler terms, some unique gameplay elements from older open-world games, be it because they were replaced by more popular features, a burst of creative inspiration, high risk, or simply being too costly to replicate, have been left untouched and can still be found in these games that are over a decade old.

A Minimalist, Focused Experience – Shadow Of The Colossus

A Wide Open World With A Single, Clear Objective

Open-world games frequently seem to contain an assortment of elements, almost as if they’ve thrown in everything except the kitchen sink. This is likely because developers aim to keep players engaged within the open world for extended periods. Minigames, side quests, bounties, towers, collectibles, and the widespread open-world crafting system are all designed to divert the main character from their crucial objective of saving the world. However, the elegantly minimalist design of Shadow of the Colossus demonstrates that open-world games can serve as an ideal setting for a focused, streamlined adventure, if they can effectively engage players with the right gameplay concept.

In simpler terms, this game doesn’t have collectibles or a system to track them like other open-world games often do. Instead, it focuses on battling boss monsters, which was brilliantly conceived. It might inspire another studio to take a chance and produce a game as straightforward and focused, even though some may have added crafting features along the way, such as Praey for the Gods, an indie successor of Shadow of the Colossus.

Reactive, Long-Term Enemy Tactics – Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

When Enemies Get Tired Of An Overpowered Build

It’s astonishing to think that “Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain” is over a decade old, considering how contemporary its designs and graphics still appear today. One of the game’s standout features was its enemy-tactic responsiveness, which often went unnoticed. If players found an effective strategy to overcome challenges, enemies would adjust, compelling the player to modify their tactics. For instance, consistently relying on headshots led to soldiers being more frequently equipped with helmets due to the word spreading.

In simple terms, having missions take place at night could lead to encountering more guards wearing night vision gear. This adds an exciting twist to open-world games, as it pushes players to experiment with different playstyles they might otherwise avoid, since the enemies seem to anticipate their moves. However, creating such a mechanic involves meticulous testing and tweaking, which can be time-consuming. Despite this, many gamers might be willing to wait for a feature as deep and engaging as this one.

Reading Facial Features – L.A. Noir

It’s Hard To Trust Anyone These Days

A valuable yet often overlooked talent in everyday life is the knack for reading another person during a conversation, negotiation, or first encounter. The video game LA Noir emphasized this aspect extensively. Rockstar Games utilized advanced motion capture and facial recognition technology for LA Noir’s interrogation segments (32 cameras were employed to translate actors’ performances onto 3D models), where Detective Phelps must discern lies from truth as he questions witnesses and suspects.

Despite facing challenges during development and receiving mixed feedback from players regarding its interview mechanics, this unique feature warrants a second opportunity. Notable studios have effectively utilized cutting-edge facial capture technology in games like ‘Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice’ and ‘Metal Gear Solid 5’, but none have applied it to interrogational gameplay. With over a decade of technological progress, perhaps a leading studio with the boldness and financial backing is ready to make another attempt.

Fully-Developed And Interactable NPCs – Shenmue

The Secret Lives Of Non-Playable Characters

In some instances, an open-world game might not require non-player characters (NPCs). Instead, the allure could be in a desolate landscape, offering relief from gaming fatigue or melancholy. However, people’s inherent curiosity about other humans persists even within virtual environments.

The game Shenmue , for instance, captivated audiences with its extraordinary detail, much of which revolved around the hidden pasts, daily routines, and interactive personalities of its NPCs. Games like The Witcher 3 often showcase large crowds with realistic movements: Carpenters saw wood, cleaners sweep, but these are merely superficial touches.

In a more conversational style, here’s how I would rephrase that: Back in 1999, games like Shenmue provided players with an opportunity to build genuine relationships with characters. However, modern open-world games often lack depth in character interactions. With the advancement of Language Learning Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Deepseek, it’s possible that future open-world games, even those as expansive as Red Dead Redemption 2 or Cyberpunk 2077, could feature complex, individually crafted character histories. This could become a reality if AI developers can find ways to reduce the tendency for these characters to become too immersed in their imaginary worlds.

The Nemesis System – Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor

Making Memorable Rivalries Organically

In video games like those of ‘Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor’ and ‘Shadow of War’, creating rivalries is commonplace. However, the ingenious developers took it a step further by making these rivalries dynamic. The way Talion interacts with named Orc enemies can have lasting effects on their identity or rank. For instance, if Talion defeats an Orc, that Orc might be promoted due to the victory.

In future encounters out in the world, these recurring characters will jog the player’s memory about their previous interaction, increasing the intensity in subsequent battles. Picture an action-adventure game set in an open world, where villains from the Nemesis System adapt and reappear throughout your journey. However, it’s unfortunate that Warner Brothers has patented the Nemesis System, a move that exemplifies how capitalism can hinder innovation as much as it fosters it. Regrettably, other studios won’t be able to utilize this concept until 2036.

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2025-04-15 13:36