Bethesda-owned RPGs such as Skyrim and Fallout: New Vegas have captivated players with their expeditionary design philosophy. The journey from Riften to Whiterun or from Nipton to New Vegas are etched in the minds of gamers as significant parts of the overall gameplay experience. They serve as examples of how a well-crafted journey can enhance the player’s immersion and engagement with the game world.
The critical path in a game plays a crucial role in shaping the player’s experience. In Fallout 3, Bethesda holds the player’s hand through the main quest, guiding them through a linear path across a small section of the map. In contrast, New Vegas ditches the hand-holding approach and sends players on a journey across the vast Mojave desert, encouraging exploration and discovery. This shift in design philosophy gives players the freedom to roam and truly experience the open-world environment.
Dragon’s Dogma 2, directed by Hideaki Itsuno, embraces the concept of friction in exploration. Itsuno’s reluctance to embrace fast travel signifies a belief that a game world should be engaging enough to warrant manual traversal. The presence of obstacles such as waiting for oxcarts or consuming resources to teleport emphasizes the importance of the journey itself. By adding friction to the exploration process, players are encouraged to immerse themselves in the world and discover hidden secrets and challenges.
The world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 is designed to reward players for venturing off the beaten path. Towering enemies, roaming NPCs, and enticing rewards lure players to explore caves, mountains, and forests. The use of spells and abilities as traversal tools adds an element of strategy to exploration, turning it into progression-based puzzles. This emphasis on organic discovery and meaningful exploration creates a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that cannot be achieved through fast travel.
The pre-release preview of Dragon’s Dogma 2 showcased a thrilling battle against golems and a griffin that lasted 18 hours across the game world. This epic encounter epitomizes the essence of expeditionary design, where unplanned events and encounters shape the player’s experience. The unpredictability and excitement of stumbling upon challenges like these highlight the magic of open-world exploration.
Skyrim and New Vegas understood the importance of embracing the journey and encouraging players to explore beyond the main quest. Itsuno’s approach in Dragon’s Dogma 2 mirrors this sentiment, emphasizing the value of the journey over the destination. By immersing players in a world teeming with mysteries and adventures, open-world RPGs can create lasting memories and forge a deep connection between players and the game world.
Expeditionary design plays a vital role in shaping the player’s experience in open-world RPGs. By prioritizing exploration, discovery, and organic progression, game developers can create immersive and unforgettable journeys that resonate with players long after they have completed the main quest. The art of expeditionary design lies in embracing the unknown, inviting players to step off the beaten path, and embarking on a grand adventure filled with wonder and excitement.
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