The easiest way I can describe this type of open world design is this:

I like instant ramen a lot. Is it as good as actual ramen? Hell no. But it's easy, reliable, and makes for a good breakfast in the morning.

Just because I like instant ramen does not mean I love two packages of instant ramen cooked in the same bowl. I mean, I don't hate it. It's more of what I like, up to a certain point. Past that point, it's chewing, chewing, chewing, and then there's the broth. Fuuuuck, the broth. By the time I'm done with the noodles, I feel like I've committed a cardinal sin of some type and my stomach ain't having it. It wants to go on strike, but I can't resist the alluring temptation of the broth. By the time I'm done with a bowl, I never want to touch the shit again. I'm getting too fat, Jesus Christ, I should eat, like, broccoli or something next time.

I know how arbitrary and stupid that metaphor is, but really, that's what these massive open worlds feel like. I'd love to say that it's a Ubisoft problem, but Just Cause 2 did the same thing in 2010. These clutter-boxes just aren't to my appetite, and that's a shame.

Reviewed on May 14, 2023


5 Comments


10 months ago

Looking into the broth of my nearly consumed Top Ramen and finding the trapped reflection of Giancarlo Esposito staring back at me: Ah damn, I'm gettin' Chawan no Naka'd over here!

10 months ago

Fr though games having more content these days is a major burden

10 months ago

@Weatherby I don't entirely get the joke, but I get the gist of it, and it's pretty goofy. Thank you, thank you, thank you 👉

@Kago Oh yeah, definitely. I think it can be manageable if the atmosphere is solid or the content is at least consistently entertaining. I know I love to bring up this game, but I think Cyberpunk is a decent example of that. I wish this was :/

10 months ago

There's just very little of substance here! I mean, that's the name of the game in a lot of open worlds, they're an excuse to jam More Content™ in whatever form it can take. So much of FC6, though, struggles to convincingly pretend like it's meaningful - and I generally like these games!

10 months ago

@jobosno Absolutely with you on that. That lack of meaningful substance is why I fell off of this pretty quick, and that's a shame because I totally agree with the sentiment that these games are pretty fun