Games That Focus On Exploration

[DPB]

Actually, now that I think about it Deus Ex may be worth looking into for exploration. Both the first and third (no experience with the second) are better at it than almost any other FPS, especially in 1 where I can poke around and just find small areas that are easy to completely ignore.

The second isn't so good in that respect. Lots and lots of long loading screens (even on modern computers) and small levels, and you don't get awarded experience for exploration since there isn't any leveling, just augmentation canisters you can find.

[Prime Mover]

Final Fantasy Type-0 has one... and it came out last year.

Don't remind me. I'm REALLY bitter about that game. It was one of the reasons I bought a PSP, now it's coming out on Vita, and i'm NOT buying one of THOSE.

[Mickeymac92]

Final Fantasy Type-0 has one... and it came out last year.

Don't remind me. I'm REALLY bitter about that game. It was one of the reasons I bought a PSP, now it's coming out on Vita, and i'm NOT buying one of THOSE.

That was confirmed false over a month ago: http://www.pixelitis.net/news/rumor-final-fantasy-type-0-other-titles-coming-to-vita

[MeshGearFox]

I think world maps usually kill exploration rather than helping it. You never really FIND anything on them.

[Monsoon]

I think that many gamers prefer completing objectives in games, and others prefer exploring spaces.  I've encountered people who get bored with rich, vast game landscapes and just want to get to the next fight or plot point, and others who will play a game for tens of hours and prefer dicking around and interacting with everything they can find and could care less about reaching an endgame.  There are games out there for both people. 

And anyhow, my favorite world map of all time is that of Skies of Arcadia, because there are a ton of hidden things to find (mostly Discoveries) and sailing in such a beautiful sky is fun, sometimes exhilarating.  But that's not really what this topic is about, is it? 

My favorite spaces to explore are in Red Dead Redemption and Shadow of the Colossus.  Must be something about riding a horse around empty, arid expanses. 

[Yggdrasil]

I think world maps usually kill exploration rather than helping it. You never really FIND anything on them.

You did in FFIX, right?

[Quaestrix Vesperis]

Final Fantasy Type-0 has one... and it came out last year.

Don't remind me. I'm REALLY bitter about that game. It was one of the reasons I bought a PSP, now it's coming out on Vita, and i'm NOT buying one of THOSE.

No, babe. You bought a PSP to give me for Christmas, remember?

/troll

[Marshmallow]

This is a long shot because they're old, but Shenmue and Shenmue II had a lot of exploration, in a sense. You really didn't go to very many places in Shenmue but there are so many damn things to do and discover in the town that you may enjoy it.

[MeshGearFox]

I think world maps usually kill exploration rather than helping it. You never really FIND anything on them.

You did in FFIX, right?

The existence of exceptions prove the rule. Sure, I can think of a number of games where you do find things on world maps -- where exploration is actually useful. But the contrast provided by the minority more broadly outlines the absence in the majority.

The problem with world maps is that they're so zoomed out -- so abstracted -- that the very purpose is to streamline travel between relevant points. This doesn't mean that games with world maps can't have exploration, as I inadvertently implied in my original post. It's just that the exploration will be by and large concentrated into the local area maps instead of the worldmap itself.

[sandiny0ursh0es]

Dragon Quest VIII = perfect concept of exploration in a JRPG for me.

[Vanguard]

Zork.

[Prime Mover]

No, babe. You bought a PSP to give me for Christmas, remember?
/troll

Shit! You were listening... oh man, I'm so screwed :(

[Fyle]

I gotta further back up Red Dead Redemption. Saying you're not into westerns isn't saying much - nobody is really into Westerns as a genre on the whole. I'm not.

This game is exceptional and in my opinion on par with almost any game I've ever played all round.

Two zones are locked (Mexico and Tall Trees) but, there is an easy trick to get to Tall Trees at any point, and it's fun exploring it off the bat with the starting equipment. As you explore, there is just so much too do.

(=´∀｀)人(´∀｀=)

[Fyle]

I like exploration too by the way. Its an important factor for me.

[Prime Mover]

I love exploration, but I gotta admit, I wasn't all that thrilled with RDR. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but something was missing. I think everything looked all too similar for my taste. I'm also not all that into westerns.