I despise open world "Wide as the ocean deep as a puddle" games. Instead I love what I call microcosm games, but maybe you could call them snowglobe games or pocket world games; A small geographic space that contains a fully functional society, where density replaces scaleThe 4 big examples:Majora's MaskMegaman LegendsShenmueTrails from ZeroIn each of these games you explore a small town that is full of stuff, charming characters, and interactive density. The sounding areas compliment the central hub and add depth to the central hub. These kinds of games feel truly alive. It's the kind of game I'd like to make some day. Can you recommend me some other games like this?
>>12639542You should play moon: remix RPG adventure.Some contrarian faglord here will try to tell you the game is shitty youtuber bait, don't listen to them, they are full of shit.
You may also like this game, but the game is very restrictive on what you can explore and for how long. Give it a try. I also greatly enjoy these types of games.
>>12639551Pretentious shit
>>12639556>"thing I don't understand and can't appreciate"is not synonymous with "pretentious"
>>12639542What's the opposite? I want an open world game that seems small on the surface but is actually incredibly deep if you give it time. I want an iceberg game.
>>12639581GOTHIC!!!!!!
>>12639581Almost exactly what you described except it's not really open world (depending on your definition)
>>12639581op is more or less saying that game doesn't exist
>>12639542You should look into the Way of the Samurai games. They all focus on a very short time period within a small region, and give the player a lot of choice regarding how to get involved with whatever is transpiring there.Azure Dreams might also appeal to you, since it has one hub town and a lot of interactions with the characters there.>>12639638There really are a ton of interesting little details in KF4 that most players will likely never notice.
>>12639542>Instead I love what I call microcosm games, but maybe you could call them snowglobe games or pocket world gamesReminds me of Steve Grand's games The Adventures of Robin Hood and Rome AD 92. They used an engine called Gulliver, but was actually called Microcosm before that.I've only played some of Rome AD 92, and its version of Rome for example, is very small compared to the actual Rome, but does feel very life-like with people moving about doing things, even off screen. The available interactions are quite limited though. And the animations and scrolling are very choppy and it's difficult to control, so it's hard to recommend today (though the Amiga version is somewhat smoother than the PC version), but pretty cool for its time. Steve Grand later made Creatures.
>>12639776OH yeah Azure Dreams is a good one
I haven't played any of these do you guys think they fit the bill?Koudelka Growlanser II Alundra Suikoden V (two main towns?) Ar Tonelico 1&2 - The entire world lives on a giant tower above a cloudless void. Folklore Resonance of Fate Persona 3/4 deadly premonition crosscode
>>12641153Most of those are not retro. Koudelka, I wouldn't describe it as what OP is looking for.
>>12639542Pokemon Legends Z-A tried this and everyone fucking hated it.
>>12641917People who still play modern pokemon games don't know what they want
>>12641917Legends ZA is wide as a puddle and deep as a puddle. Arceus handled its open world better, even if that's not saying much.
>>12639542what immediately springs to mind is Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, it really is exceptional with the way it carves out unique spaces, it does so much with so little, every street and room feels like it's there for a purpose and the characters are some of the best I've seen in any game when it comes to writing and voice acting CRPGs might be a good fit; Fallout, Planescape, Arcanum all have highly detailed worlds with interesting characters and places that you often revisitmaybe an odd pick but Psychonauts might feel similar, the camp definitely has the hub with all the characters and stuff Deus Ex and other immersive sims maybe, since they tend to go for highly interactive and detailed smaller environments maybe some JRPGs like EarthBound, and maybe Chulip idk. this kind of thing feels surprisingly uncommon now that I think about it
>>12641917that's just a shit game for 500 other reasons.
