how 'sandbox-happy' are you?

[Misterian]

As Yahtzee said, Sandbox games are becoming the Iphone of video games, I myself have, I think, 4 sandbox games, 1 for gamecube, 3 for the Xbox 360.

But how exactly do you handle sandbox games?

I personally start with first finishing whatever main quest their is in the game.

when I'm finished, I do whatever side quests there are, depending on what significance they have in the game.

when I'm finished with a side quest, or if I find the side quests to lack any context or good reason to do them (like with Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, where the side missions seem only there to require Smash Points, which I feel you coud get just as well by smashing whatever you think you can smash.), that's usually when I start going, as Yahtzee would put it, peanut butter-banana-sandwich-crazy, like in Fable 2, where as a female hero I took all my clothes off and vulgar-thrusted in front of some people, get arrested by guards, only to pay a small fine and do it again.

 

[Old Man Neck]

I usually go to a mission, but I go on foot and do random things on the way.

 

[Hazy]

1 for gamecube

Spider Man 2, is it? Either that, or the aforementioned Ultimate Destruction.

I just meander about, doing fun things. I don't think I did the story in Oblivion until at least 6 weeks in of solid playing.

I just take what's coming really, no structure or anything.

I follow this approach. Though, more often than not, I try to complete the main quest first and then side missions later.
Again - depends upon the game.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Rarely ever sandbox happy.

The only games I've ever been SBH (hehe) in are Saints Row, GTA, and Oblivion

 

[Darkblaven]

Hmm... good question I only have about 2 r 3 sandbox games (if assassin's creed 1 counts), and I do pretty much what I feel like, missions or no missions. But mainly playing online on Saints row 2 with some buddies, and a major thing for me, where we fly planes at each others screaming "HIROSHIMA!!"

But nonetheless I feel that being sandbox happy just means I enjoy the game, oh and also I do find the AI to be confusing where they'll hate you for looking at them funny, and praising your farts.

 

[Avatar Roku]

I do the main story, then start a second playthrough where I do the main quest just enough to get some kind of power I want (i.e, Blade in Prototype, nothing at all in Bethesda games), then do sidequests and explore while ignoring the main story.

 

[Freedomario]

I dont really have many sandbox games, But i have played one, the Spiderman THE MOVIE THE GAME and it just depends on how i am right now, Angry i would just go to the objective, or happy i would swing around and mabye help some of the unlimited citizens.

 

[DustyDrB]

I have GTA IV, played Oblivion, Prototype and The Godfather (for Wii), and will be getting Red Dead Redemption. My policy is that they have to offer something unique. Too many of these games are played in a city based off of NYC and use many of the same gameplay mechanics. GTA IV fits this description, The Godfather does as well. Oblivion is something I don't even think of as a sandbox (though it is). Prototype has a unique style of gameplay, and Red Dead Redemption will have a unique setting (and some unique gameplay with that).

I generally play this types of games linearly, occasionally going off on side missions (which I explore more in a second playthrough)

 

[Blatherscythe]

I do the story, make the good choices, do side quests, hoard powerful weapons and armor, then fuck about. I do this in Fallout 3 when I'm bored.

 

[Solytus]

I tend to do the main story first, but if I get stuck on a mission, I'll go off, do countless sidequests until I become some sort of unstoppable deity armed to the teeth with weapons of mass destruction, and proceeed to annihilate the mission that was giving me trouble.

Efficient? no. Cathartic? Hell yes.

 

[Kagim]

It depends if its rewarding to play in the sandbox or not.

Fallout 3 had unique locals to discover if you played around while i felt oblivion was littered with copy and pasted caves and dungeons with an occasional unique one.

I spent HOURS playing around in the wasteland in F3 but got bored and traded in Oblivion. F3 had lots of neat side quests that i actually wanted to do. Interesting little places to find if you wandered around long enough. Vaults, tiny shops in the middle of no where stuff like that.

Essentially the game has to make the sandbox worth it. I find more often then not the sandbox is just large and empty, only there so they can claim its a sandbox.

 

[Misterian]

1 for gamecube

Spider Man 2, is it? Either that, or the aforementioned Ultimate Destruction.

the aforementioned Ultimate destruction.

I used to have Spider Man 2, but it grew tiresome, so I traded it in.

 

[The Last Nomad]

I usually explore the available world first, followed by story missions, followed by more exploring as new areas open up. Which was the case with Assassins Creed II recently. I usually do a few side missions while doing the story missions and I generally finish the side quests if possible after I have completed the game.

However, in games like Saints Row 2, where there is no need to unlock any new areas, I explore a lot near the start as Im doin a few story missions, But as I play through the game I explore more and more until I know all the ins and outs of the game.

Although it is sorta different for every game...

 

[Insanum]

I just meander about, doing fun things. I don't think I did the story in Oblivion until at least 6 weeks in of solid playing.

I just take what's coming really, no structure or anything.

Pretty much this, I mean i like to be the most BADASS guy i can before i do the main story, Which is why sometimes it annoys me if i cant get to the harder enviroments till i do X Boss, Its like "Its just a fence! Let me in there!"

 

[SimuLord]

I just meander about, doing fun things. I don't think I did the story in Oblivion until at least 6 weeks in of solid playing.

I just take what's coming really, no structure or anything.

Bingo. I'm on record as saying if I can't play the game on my terms, I don't want to play the game. This is why Mount&Blade is one of my all-time favorite games; it is whatever I make it. Some days I just want to run around trading and killing Sea Raiders and Forest Bandits, other times I want to take over all Calradia. There's no "main quest" to get in my way.

 

[sephiroth1991]

inFAMOUS was one of the latest sand boxes i liked cos it was fun to get around.

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

I usually follow the main mission until I get lost or bored (or both). At that point, I start doing messing with the whole 'open world' thing.

 

[Xeros]

Run around and explore, doing a mission, or side quest every now and then.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

Usually side quests then main quest. I have many hours in Oblivion, and am head of practically everything, but have only done 2 main story missions.

The trouble with Fallout 3 is you HAVE to do it that way as the game ends at the end of the main quest.

 

[OmegaXzors]

I like Sandbox games that involve many things to do. Square inch upon square inch of pointless redundant buildings don't make me happy. I want shops, activities, reactions from crowds. Assassin's Creed(2) did this pretty well for me. Interaction to make it feel a little more lively. Prototype sandbox, NO! It's just a bunch of buildings.

I like exploration.