Definitely worth playing.
I hear you.
I think you don't like open worlds because they are just the same thing repeated over and over. This is where Rockstar really shines and sets themselves a thousand miles from another other game developer. Red Dead 2 is a masterpiece from the main story to side quests. There is no repeat the same thing in just another setting, the world is literally filled with interesting and unique side quests that tell a story.... a good story. I have not played in a while but every time I do I still find something new that I have never seen before. A cool thing I saw on YouTube was the player had the main character kill a lot of NPC's. You would not think anything of it after you clear all your wanted levels. Later in the game your character actually runs into an angry widow and goes on about the people you killed and gives you the option to be kind of continue being an ass in response. This game as really soured all other open world games because of the level of detail and thought put into it.
I started Red Dead 2, but it didn’t grab me.
I feel the same.
Yep, I loved exploring the world in Elden Ring. That's why I had no shame about using a mage build and blasting some bosses into oblivion.
Elden Ring is magnificent.
it definitely is a slow burn and not for everyone. If you are expecting a GTA but Western it is not even close. This is a slow build immersive game. I spend time just riding around aimlessly and let happen what happens.
They truly are beautiful games and a lot of fun, but again I have been so spoiled by Red Dead 2. I was playing Ghost of Yoti yesterday and some NPC conversation comes up. At the end the NPC says it has to get back to work and the little dialogue scene ends. You would think the NPC would not head somewhere to do "work" but no, the NPC literally just stands there staring off into the distance. Red Dead 2 you can literally follow people go about their day with dialogue and seemingly having things to do. Would love if developers put as much effort into their games as Rock Star does. Of course they won't because of the time it takes, but it then leaves you with a comparison of most developers basically making a fast food burger and RockStar making the ultimate fancy burger using wagyu beef.
I think that money is the issue there. Programming all those NPC takes a lot of time and effort, and thus money. Not all studio's have that kind of budget at hand.
I do agree, but the Rock Star shows if you put the time in you get the return. They are also not a game studio that is pandering to political and social agendas which has them more free to make actually compelling stories that are believable... at least where Red Dead is concerned. GTA is an over the top game obviously. Doing a quick google search on a recent Assassins Creed game Shadows. It has generated $180 million. The game cost $100 million to make though and again from google it said it was 4 years in development.
Plus Ghost had some wonderful side characters with interesting stories. I'd much rather effort be put into that than have some unnamed NPCs have realistic work schedules.
I think the side stories are ok in. Yoti, not the best and far from the worst. I would prefer time to bring about a realistic world to explore with plenty to do as well. Red Dead 2 again is the perfect example where they you have amazing side stories as well as characters who don't just stand their like statues. RockStar has shown it can be done, but studios want the quick buck and keep releasing basically the same thing with just different skins on it.
I don't know if I agree with that games like Ghost were a quick buck effort. It felt AAA to me.
www.polygon.com
