Close Menu
The Punished BacklogThe Punished Backlog
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    The Punished BacklogThe Punished Backlog
    • Home
      • Content Directory
    • News
      • Humor
      • Punished Chat
      • Punished Notes
      • Fantasy Gaming
      • Friday Fortissimo
    • Guides
    • Features
      • Lists
      • Opinion
      • Interviews
      • Best of the Year
      • Punished Favorites
      • Punished Hall of Fame
    • Previews
    • Reviews
      • Breaking Reviews
      • Backlog Reviews
    • Podcasts
      • The Punished Podcast
      • Weekend at Dave’s
    • About Us
      • Our Story
      • Meet The Team
      • Our Review Scale
      • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram TikTok YouTube
    The Punished BacklogThe Punished Backlog
    Home»Podcasts»Weekend at Dave’s – Episode 4: Open-World Games, Google Stadia, and PAX East
    Weekend at Dave's - Horizon Zero Dawn
    Podcasts Weekend at Dave's

    Weekend at Dave’s – Episode 4: Open-World Games, Google Stadia, and PAX East

    David SilbertBy David SilbertMarch 27, 20195 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn Email

    Back, and Better Than Ever!

    It’s been a while! After a lengthy hiatus, Weekend at Dave’s is finally back, and it’s bringing some juicy topics this time around. In this episode, we explore the state of open-world games, and why developers and publishers may have strayed a bit too far from the essence of their original design. Next, we talk the buzz surrounding Google’s just-announced Stadia platform, and how it might shape the future of gaming. Finally, we close by talking about the joys of attending PAX East.

    Strap in. It’s going to be a good one!

    https://punishedbacklog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Weekend-at-Daves-Episode-4.mp3

    Weekend at Dave’s – Episode 4 (Download Link)

    Timestamps

    0:00 – 1:57 — Intro

    1:58 – 17:26 — Horizon: Zero Dawn and the state of open-world games

    17:27 – 25:38 — Google Stadia

    25:39 – 28:58 — PAX East 2019

    28:59 — Outro

    Bully 2 truency

    Open-World Games Done Right

    It’s easy to come up with open-world games that were executed poorly and failed to meet expectations. The recent duds that were Crackdown 3 and… One Piece: World Seeker (*hysterically sobs*) are but two examples, and I could just as easily throw out names like Watch Dogs, Fallout 76, and No Man’s Sky—though I should say that NMS looks markedly better, now.

    Even easier is to come up with open-world games that were by no means bad, but came short of true greatness. Immediately, my mind goes to series in which side content is abundant and even comforting, yet truly meaningful content is far harder to come by. Prototype, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, and even several titles in the Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry universes are prime examples.

    If most open worlds fall into the latter two categories, then which ones end up being actually successful, then? Simply put, the ones that beg to be explored. The ones that, whether you played them for one hour or eighty, provided quality content from beginning to end. Simply put, they’re the ones that offered freedom without compromising on engaging gameplay.

    Here, in my opinion, are five games that did open worlds right:

    • Bully — Rockstar’s 2006 title is not just a great school-sim game, but also one of gaming’s finest open-world titles. It may not be as big as Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption, but it’s every bit as detailed and as enjoyable. There’s something magical about cutting class to race around town on your bike, beat up jocks at the football field, and take a girl on a date to the local carnival. Never thought I’d say all that in a single sentence about a video game…
    • Deus Ex: Human Revolution — It’s up for debate as to whether or not Human Revolution qualifies as an open-world game. Even if there were consensus that it isn’t one, however, I’d argue that Human Revolution is a model framework for the genre. Open, but not massive. Side quests that are scarce in number yet extremely meaningful. Skill trees that actually matter, and levels that can truly be tackled in a plethora of ways.
    • Grand Theft Auto IV — A second effort from Rockstar to make my list, GTA IV is near perfection in open-world design. Ahead of its time back in 2008, GTA IV predated icons littering mini-maps, as well as the notion that having near-endless side missions is integral to successful world design. (In my opinion, GTA V strayed from both these ideals, and was a lesser experience as a result.) A sandbox title in the truest sense of the word, GTA IV lived and breathed through its world, not its various systems. Cruising through Times Square listening to Jazz Nation Radio (“Hey, driver! Turn on JNR!”) made for some of the greatest moments I’ve ever had in a video game to date, let alone an open world.
    • Rise of the Tomb Raider — Another one that people may argue isn’t an open world. Again, it doesn’t matter. Rise of the Tomb Raider nails the feeling of having open environments and user agency in a game, all while still crafting a tight, linear experience that isn’t weighed down by unnecessary bloatware. Zones are sizable, offering plenty of side missions and hidden environments, without ever feeling overwhelming or repetitive. Plus, it’s gorgeous to boot. Oftentimes in games, less is more.
    • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — The absolute antithesis to my previous sentence. The Witcher 3 is absolutely titanic in scope, and frankly, I’d have it no other way. While it’s rare to see an open world juggle hundreds of hours of story and side content without feeling padded or redundant, The Witcher 3 does so and makes it look effortless to boot. Never before have I felt so content to just get lost in an open world for hours on end, and based on my outstanding quest log, it doesn’t look like I’ll be escaping from the game’s clutches anytime soon.

    PAX East show floor

    PAX East 2019 Preview

    PAX East is right around the corner, and we’ll be on the show floor interacting with developers and playing all the newest titles. While much of what’ll be playable is still a bit of a mystery, here are a quick list of confirmed games you can expect us to check out this Thursday through Sunday:

    • Afterparty
    • Borderlands 3 (announcement)
    • Bloodroots
    • Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
    • Control
    • Days Gone
    • Dreams
    • Falcon Age
    • Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (Switch, XB1)
    • Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn
    • Golem
    • Indivisible
    • Knights & Bikes
    • Mistover
    • Mortal Kombat 11
    • Rad
    • Samurai Showdown
    • Trover Saves the Universe

    Thanks for listening! Check back soon for another episode of Weekend at Dave’s.

    (Episode music credit: “J2E Fine Tune” by RMB)

    Bully David Silbert Deus Ex: Human Revolution Google Stadia Grand Theft Auto IV Horizon: Zero Dawn open-world games PAX PAX East PAX East 2019 Rise of the Tomb Raider The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Weekend at Dave's
    Subscribe
    Notify of
    guest

    guest

    0 Comments
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Previous ArticleLight’s Justice: How Hearthstone Ignited My Passion for Super Smash Bros.
    Next Article Punished Chat: A Candid Convo on JRPGs
    David Silbert
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)
    • Tumblr
    • LinkedIn

    David is the creator and lead editor of The Punished Backlog. He has a problem finishing games he starts. Just beat: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Working on: Tears of the Kingdom, Elden Ring, Neon White, Persona 5: Royal. Can't wait for: Hollow Knight: Silksong. Follow David on Twitter at @David_Silbert to keep up to date with all things The Punished Backlog.

    Related Posts

    Weekend at Dave’s – PAX East 2019 Edition: Day 4

    April 3, 20192 Mins Read
    Read More

    Weekend at Dave’s – PAX East 2019 Edition: Day 3

    April 2, 20192 Mins Read
    Read More

    Weekend at Dave’s – PAX East 2019 Edition: Day 2

    March 30, 20192 Mins Read
    Read More

    Weekend at Dave’s – PAX East 2019 Edition: Day 1

    March 29, 20191 Min Read
    Read More
    Latest Posts
    8.0

    A Highland Song Review: Dancing in the Rain

    December 8, 2023

    My Least Favorite Part of Alan Wake 2 Is Alan Wake

    December 8, 2023

    Allison’s Top 6 Favorite Cozy Games of 2023

    December 7, 2023

    The 16 Best Cozy Video Games (and Why the Genre Works)

    November 29, 2023
    Like Us on Facebook
    The Punished Backlog
    Follow Us on Twitter
    Follow @PunishedBacklog
    Follow Us on Instagram

    punishedbacklog

    Just a small group of friends who love to write about #videogames, big and small. Want us to cover a game? Reach out and let us know! 🎮 👇

    The Punished Backlog
    Introducing our newest project, The Punished Podca Introducing our newest project, The Punished Podcast! 

In episode one, TPB editors Sam Martinelli, David Silbert @davidmsilbert, and Amanda Tien @amandajotien discuss the difference between remakes and remasters. We also share our favorite memories of the Nintendo DS.

Check it out over on punishedbacklog.com. (Link in bio)

#podcast #videogames #gamingpodcast
    "SEASON: A Letter to the Future is an unforgettabl "SEASON: A Letter to the Future is an unforgettable story about the power of memories—how joyful it can be to make them, and how painful it can be to lose them."

@seasonthegame @scavstudio 

Read our full review: https://punishedbacklog.com/season-a-letter-to-the-future-review/
    For those #summer #saturday vibes when you just rl For those #summer #saturday vibes when you just rly don’t want to go outside and sweat. #indiegames #videogames #nature
    @amandajotien gave #Stray a 7.9/10 overall but a 1 @amandajotien gave #Stray a 7.9/10 overall but a 100/10 for a cat-in-a-bucket simulator. Link in our bio for our newest reviews. #videogames #indiegames #cute #cat
    Follow on Instagram
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram TikTok YouTube
    Proud contributor to OpenCritic.com.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    wpDiscuz