Summary
Open-world games span many genres, fromfirst-person shooters, to complex survival games. Some open-world maps are so huge that a player will likely never experience it in its entirety. Others opt for smaller open-world maps, that have been lovingly crafted, with high levels of attention to detail.
There have been a number of open-world games that have been polarizing, with the opinions of gamers split, although rarely down the middle. Some of these games went on to become beloved classics, with active communities still heavily invested in the game many years after launch, despite arocky startor public criticism.
Featuring a universe made up of billions of planets waiting to be explored, few games offer as much freedom asNo Man’s Sky. Thecrafting gameplay is excellent, exploration is rewarded, and combat can be fast and furious at times, whether in space or on the ground. Overall,No Man’s Skyhas matured into an exceptional title, but this wasn’t always the case.
What makesNo Man’s Skysuch a polarizing game, is the debacle that took place at its launch. Many of the promised features were missing, and those that were included didn’t match up to the pre-launch hype. Many players dropped the game at this stage, and refuse to go back to it, even though it is now considered something of a classic.
A Great Hacking Game
Watch Dogs
Play as Aiden Pearce, a brilliant hacker, whose criminal past led to a violent family tragedy. Now on the hunt for those who hurt your family, monitor and hack all who surround you by manipulating everything connected to the city’s network. Access omnipresent security cameras, download personal information to locate a target, control traffic lights and public transportation to stop the enemy. Use the city of Chicago as your ultimate weapon and exact your own style of revenge.
The gameplay inWatch Dogstakes place sometime in the future, in the city of Chicago. Players have access to a full range ofhacking tools, as well as methods of surveillance and espionage. Using these tools, they strive to complete the mission-driven storyline.
The game was praised for its realistic, exciting setting, and the well-thought-out hacking mechanics. However, on launch, it was discovered that the shipped product did not live up to the pre-release hype. In short, many players loved the game, but others were left disappointed.
The originalFar Crygame was groundbreaking in many respects. It gave a glimpse of how gaming technology was about to enable developers to take gaming experiences to a whole new level. WhenFar Cry 2was announced, fans of the original game expected more of the same, but bigger and better.
Unfortunately,Far Cry 2launched with some new gameplay features that FPS fans simply found cumbersome and over complex. Additionally, the core gameplay was much more focused on survival, moving away from the combat-focused experience of the first game. This left players divided over their opinions of the game.
The 3rd installment in theAssasin’s Creedfranchise was intended to mix things up a little, and bring a more varied gaming experience to keep the franchise fresh. This included a completely new main character, and a much more modern setting than the previous 2 games. It also added new gameplayer elements such as scripted historical events.
However, the developers should have remembered the old adage, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The changes to the gameplay, as well as the very different setting, didn’t go down well with much of the fanbase. So much so, that some players dropped the franchise entirely at this point and never played anotherAssasin’s Creedtitle.
Considered one of the best open-worldrole-playing gamesever made, it may seem strange to seeThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunton this list. The open-world map is exceptional, and cram-packed with content, so why is it considered a polarizing game?
Well, there are players that criticized the game for simply being too big. These players felt overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the game. Furthermore,The Witcher 3: Wild Hunttouched on mature themes, which didn’t sit well with some players. This lead to the game having something of a rocky start, although it must be said that this didn’t stop it from becoming one of the most respected RPGs of all time.
Red Dead Redemption 2is another surprising title to find on this list. The game is generally seen as one of the best open-world experiences ever. Whether the player wants to follow the exquisitely crafted main storyline, or simply head off to explore, few games are as immersive asRed Dead Redemption 2.
But some players have issues with the game. Stating that its slow pace, and often tedious attention to detail leave them feeling more like they are playing a part in an interactive movie than playing a game. A further criticism is the poor way that online gameplay has been, and continues to be managed, as cheating and exploiting are rife.
Cyberpunk 2077spent more than a decade in development. At first, little was divulged about the game. However, as the launch date came closer, the hype began. Marketed as something that would be one of the best games ever released to date, the reality was a half-finished title full of game-breaking bugs.
The blatant overpromising from the developers lead to very vocal criticism of the game on launch. With many players requesting refunds. Yes,Cyberpunk 2077is now a fantastic game, with all of the problems fixed. ThePhantom LibertyDLC was also well received. However, there are a whole host of players who refuse to play the title to this day because of the terrible launch.
