Sandboxes... The Many Choices

[Attelia]

Here's the thing. I want a sandbox game. Now, I know what you're thinking,
"Attelia, have you gone stark raving mad with wild colors?! With the current selection of sandbox games choosing one that fits you should be like finding a sword on World of Warcraft!"

Yes, yes I know that but I have standards. Standards which will stem from True Crime: Streets of LA, the only sandbox game I own.
Let's start with the Mature rating. This game is mature because of suggestive themes. The themes that the ESRB raters show are: nudity, violence, and blood. The nudity is hookers with their bikinis attached to their bodies like parasites, the violence is hand-to-hand combat (Tekken) and shooting. Wow. The blood is so hard to see, you'd actually have to be looking for it to find it.
'Tis the underlying story that makes it M for mature. I don't want to spoil it for anyone but,

Spoiler

The North Koreans partner with an ex-KGB Russian to launder money using the Chinese!

That is controversial! But I dont care!

I'm looking for a sandbox game that isn't too bad (stomping on a puppy's head and showing its remains to the owner) but may have an M rating. Shooting people is pretty fun (...) but shooting old ladies because my character has an old lady killing health bar is a bit too much. What I can't glean from any reviewer is
Is the game a good sandbox

I don't care about the story. I've played too many JRPGs to ever want to hear another video game story ever again.
I don't care about the controversy.
Nudity is fine, but I don't want to be subjected to it forcefully.

I want Saint's Row 2 but it seems a bit too bad and my mom'll never buy it for me. (Not saying that kids should have their parents buy games like this for them, pixels aren't going to affect how I live my life)

I want Fable 2 and I'm unaffected by the hype, but it seems like a limited game.

I want Assassin's Creed 2, but is it better or worse than the original?

GTA:4 seems to ugly to me.

Help me gamer community, what is the best sandbox?

 

[C117]

Saint's Row 2. Or Garry's Mod.

 

[Rewdalf]

Best sandbox? You're looking for something that might not exist for a good couple more years...
Every sandbox has its problems, and you're going to have to work around them.
If you can't, then maybe Sandbox games aren't for you.
I own both Saints Row 2 and GTA IV. They're both fun, but in their own ways.
Saints Row is completely ridiculous, which is obviously why people will buy it.
And GTA has grown a very large playerbase who follow it to the end, although if you're joining the fanclub later on it's still an amazing game to play. There are some silly things you can do, but the game really impresses you...
I can't judge the other games since I haven't played them, aside from Assassin's Creed 2. Good game, fun, and I'm planning on buying it even after only playing a little bit over at a friend's house.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Kids these days...

Saint's Row 2 isn't as bad as some might think. It's bright and vibrant, with a surprising dose of drama. There's lots to do to unlock bonuses, though some require multiplayer to stand a chance at or just up the odds.

On the down side the game is horribly glitchy. People and vehicles will randomly vanish, and for a sprawling city the streets are surprisingly deserted. I've had sessions where I'd have to run around for minutes before any vehicle spawned. The collision is rather poor and infuriating at times. Also the game has a tendency to randomly freeze.

 

[Editos]

Sounds to me like you're overanalyzing.

Just pick one out and if its shit then trade it in against another. Or just buy a couple of different ones.

 

[Ziltoid]

Assassins Creed 2 is amazing, I would definitely recommend that. Infamous is alot of fun too, I would definitely recommend at least renting it. Red Faction Guerilla is fun at first, but I got bored of it after a little while. I would say AC2 is probably the best sandbox game this gen (Not including open world rpg's like Fallout and Oblivion)

GTA4 is really good, and I don't know how you can say the game is ugly, other than the cutscenes I think the game is very impressive in terms of visuals.

 

[mrjinx]

I've heard some good things about Crackdown, but I haven't played it personally.

 

[gamefreakbsp]

First off, Assassin's Creed 2 is a PHENOMINAL game and you should definately try to get it. I would also suggest The Saboteur, as I find that game to be greatly entertaining.

Oh, and True Crime: Streets of LA was an amazing game.

 

[Attelia]

Kids these days...

Saint's Row 2 isn't as bad as some might think. It's bright and vibrant, with a surprising dose of drama. There's lots to do to unlock bonuses, though some require multiplayer to stand a chance at or just up the odds.

On the down side the game is horribly glitchy. People and vehicles will randomly vanish, and for a sprawling city the streets are surprisingly deserted. I've had sessions where I'd have to run around for minutes before any vehicle spawned. The collision is rather poor and infuriating at times. Also the game has a tendency to randomly freeze.

My previous example, True Crime Streets of LA, was so glitchy that cars with holes shot in the wheels could merge into and through buildings. Try chasing That!
Also bright, vibrant, and horridly eccentric games are to my taste, so this seems like a good choice.

I don't know. However if you think GTA 4 is ugly then I have no suggestions as we clearly have different tastes.

What I have heard about this game is that it is so boring that there are T.V.s and radios to distract you from the game. I have played GTA: San Andreas. (or something) I know how the games work. (sorta) I only used cheats, though.
Spawn car
Spawn Money
Spawn weapons
Terrorize
I don't hate GTA, but I have heard little good from this game. I don't like games that are grey either. I can't stand grey games! And annoying cousins are my bane...

I can't judge the other games since I haven't played them, aside from Assassin's Creed 2. Good game, fun, and I'm planning on buying it even after only playing a little bit over at a friend's house.

I love Assassin's Creed. I played at my friend's house as well and the sprawling cities were beautiful. I loved the climbing, I loved the killing, and I loved my horse. I was actually wondering which was the better: the First or Second?

 

[Attelia]

First off, Assassin's Creed 2 is a PHENOMINAL game and you should definately try to get it. I would also suggest The Saboteur, as I find that game to be greatly entertaining.

Oh, and True Crime: Streets of LA was an amazing game.

True Crime was beauty divine. I loved it. Crazily so. I always entered the liscence plate that allowed me to be the Chief. She was awesome. Gunfights are lacking because of thier close-range inability. If I get pulled out of my car, I die. Only because I can't shoot them back fast enough. I hope True Crime: Streets of New York is better.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Fable 2 isn't sandbox, it's very linear.

I'd go for Assassins Creed 2

 

[DemonicVixen]

I like games with Sandbox mode however there is only one small problem. If the mode has unlimited cash (take Tropico for example) you can build anything whereever you want. You eventually lose the fun. Using cheats also spoils things because they act like sandbox mode because certain cheats can give you points/credits/money e.t.c and take away the challeges.

 

[Keekah]

Saint's Row 2 is actually very enjoyable (and only $20). Some of the dialogue is a bit...eh, but you don't play Saint's Row 2 for the dialogue. Assassin's Creed 2 is also fantastic, and completely trounces the first game.

 

[Attelia]

Snip

When I first read that I thought it was just a transcript of Zero Puncuation!

Well in response to what you said about GTA I suggest you read this.

Also, AC2 is alot better than number 1 - and from what I can tell it only contains a few injokes and references to the first 1.

Thanks. I shan't knock GTA:4 'till I've tried it. That's not going to be very soon though...

According to everyone here (thanks by the way) Saint's Row 2 and Assassin's Creed 2 are they ways to go, so I will. If I can get my hands on a copy of GTA:4 I'll truly see what the game has to it.

And yes, I do watch a lot of Zero Puncuation.

 

[Cargando]

Assassins Creed 2 was very good. It's definately a good game to piss about it, but it gets dull. Try Oblivion, I've put so many hours into it. It is a good game, but it's basically your generic RPG, so I don't know if you'd like it.

 

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

Heres a few that you should try:

Assassin's Creed II
Fallout 3 (Or Oblivion if you want more colours)
Saints Row 2
Pokemon (lolwut?)