Freedom or Focus?....which do you prefer?

[Vault101]

simple question..when it comes to games...RPG's or otherwise what do you prefer


Freedom[/B]
the ability to dick around to your hearts content, you know...sandboxes and a certian game starting with "S"..AND obviously the abilty to affect the story or outcome

Focus[/B]
this isnt just linear games, but games where the path and story is a little more set, like Red dead redemption...or for RPG's...mabye mass effect

now obviouslsy there is crossover to some exent (and I dont mean for this to get mixed up with the dreaded "streamlining" thing)

personally, I prefer somthing wih focus...because I feel it provides a stronger story but of coarse I think it depends on the game

 

[hazabaza1]

It all just depends on how well it's done and what I'm looking for. If I want a better story, I'll normally grab a focused game, but if I just want to go around and kill stuff and explore caverns, I'll go with a more open game.

 

[isometry]

I prefer freedom, I don't care as much for plots because really they're all so cliche.

 

[Lilani]

It all just depends on how well it's done and what I'm looking for. If I want a better story, I'll normally grab a focused game, but if I just want to go around and kill stuff and explore caverns, I'll go with a more open game.

Pretty much this. Either of them done right can be good, and either done wrong can be bad. Pretty simple. I love the Half-Life games, but I also love Minecraft.

It's like different flavors. Sure, sweet and sour are very different, but that doesn't mean you can't like them both the same. One isn't inherently superior to the other, they're just different. However "superior" or "inferior" they are entirely depends on your personal tastes.

PS: Love your QI avatar :3

 

[DustyDrB]

If I'm viewing it in more of a continuum rather than a strict binary attribute, then I'd rather a game be more towards focus.

Like...

Focus|----------X---NEUTRAL--------------|Freedom

that.

The reason is that I do like to have choice and freedom, but I don't want that choice to come at the expense of the story. This tends to be a problem with Bethesda games, where so much of the content has little to do with the narrative. And your choices tend to have little effect on the world (You can join and head organizations that should be opposed to each other).

 

[CulixCupric]

I'm going to go both freedom and focus. games where you can explore and find secrets are good. large world games like skyrim, etc. but games with a focus like monkey island and other games in a small area are good too. bastion was excellent, yet contained. a balance between games of both types. perfect example of balance within a game: metroid/castlevania (exploration, yet a small world).

 

[Vault101]

If I'm viewing it in more of a continuum rather than a strict binary attribute, then I'd rather a game be more towards focus.

Like...

Focus|----------X---NEUTRAL--------------|Freedom

that.

The reason is that I do like to have choice and freedom, but I don't want that choice to come at the expense of the story. This tends to be a problem with Bethesda games, where so much of the content has little to do with the narrative. And your choices tend to have little effect on the world (You can join and head organizations that should be opposed to each other).

yeah, thats probably how I should have put it as well, because many games I know dont sit completley at eather end

like Mass effect offers you some freedom...but overall its a very focused game

and this is probably part of the reason Im not interested in skyrim, dicking around gets old

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

I prefer focus. Like people have said, it's easy to find RPGs with no story and just level grinding until you can kill every enemy within a few turns. I would much rather have a good story and well-developed characters that make the RPG I'm investing my time in worthwhile and fun.