Summary
Microsoftowns a number of well-known game development companies, such as Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax Media, Obsidian Entertainment, and Bethesda. For the most part, Microsoft allows these subsidiary companies to publish titles under their own trademark. However, Microsoft also publishes games under the Xbox Game Studios brand, and as Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft has released some great open-world games, some that can be quite challenging.
It isn’t just individualMicrosoft titlesthat have been of note in the open-world genre either. Several top-rated game franchises fall under the Xbox Game Studios banner. Many of these are noted as being some of the best (and hardest) open-world games of recent years. These games cover a range of plots and genres from motor racing to zombie survival.
This is Crackdown
Crime is ‘the new black." The world teeters on the verge of anarchy. Law enforcement recruitment has plummeted—no one wants to be in the firing line. All forms of policing across the globe have united to form the Agency. But still it’s not enough. The Peacekeepers are barely able to keep what little peace there is.
Desperate times, desperate measures…. The Agency is exploiting the work of disgraced scientist Doctor Baltazar Czernenko (rumored to now be in the employ of Shai-Gen). His underground eugenics program uses a near lethal cocktail of cutting edge technology and military grade pharmaceuticals to propel the human race to a whole new level. Now, that same program is being used to create agents of justice: superior to conventional law enforcers in every way, and capable of rapid physiological evolution.
Rival factions—the gangs—are taking over increasing amounts of territory. The Agency is making a last stand in the heart of Pacific City in a high-security compound known as the Keep. Access is restricted and guarded by Peacekeepers.
Around the world, hundreds of thousands of new law enforcement agents will be coming online, each one capable of replacing an entire police force. These potent prototypes are ready, willing, and able to use unreasonable force to wipe all crime from the face of the Earth. With your help, this will be the ultimate crackdown.
TheCrackdownfranchise consists of three separate titles. Each of these extends the storyline and adds some new features and mechanics. The backstory of this franchise revolves around the escapades of a biologically enhanced agent (controlled by the player), taking on various crime lords in Pacific City. The overall premise ofCrackdownis to hunt down each crime boss.
However, this is far from simple, as even finding the location and then the entrance to a kingpin’s lair takes time. Add to this the fact the player needs to search for orbs to improve to a level where they can tackle the next crime boss on the list, andCrackdownhas the makings of a game with a long and difficult playthrough.
There is plenty to do inCrackdown. With quests and in-game activities includingcar chases, street races, treasure hunts, and, of course, battling villains. This is partly what makesCrackdowna tough game. Full completion involves dealing with a large number of side quests and other activities that need to be tackled to ensure the safety of Pacific City’s citizens. For players who like open-world experiences and want to try a solid, well-established franchise,Crackdownwould be a great choice.
Unpredictable Combat And Narrative Choices
Fable
For every choice, a consequence.Imagine a world where every choice and action determines what you become. Where you evolve in real time based on every little thing you do. Introducing Fable, an RPG action adventure unlike any you’ve ever dreamed of
There are three games in theFablefranchise. Each of these takes place in the land of Albion, which is loosely based on Medieval Britain. The player takes on the role of a young boy whose village is overrun by bandits at the start of the first game. The player then progresses through the story, and the plot changes depending on the narrative choices they make. This is somewhat of a pitfall at times, as a wrong decision can lead to a tougher playthrough without the player intending it. Combat is also challenging, as enemy attacks are entirely unpredictable due to short animation times of only a handful of frames in some cases.
Players are free to roam Albion as they wish, but this is what makesFablea difficult title to master. The map is vast and will take many playing hours to complete. Players can choose to follow the main plot or embark on their own adventures as a trader, prizefighter, or even a thief.Fableis a great choice for players who enjoyhack-and-slashopen-world games.
What needs to be said about theForzafranchise? Anyone who is intodriving gameswill likely have played one, if not many of these games. There are also a number of spinoff titles that revolve around this franchise. Each of the games in theForzaseries revolves around exploring an open-world map of a specific real-world city, so completing the entire map is going to take quite a while. Additionally, the player really does need to master their driving skills, as this is not a simple driving sim; it has real depth.
Players have often complained of the step-up in difficulty fromFH4toFH5. The main complaint is that at times, the AI seems to drive perfectly, making them very hard to beat. In some cases, AI driving exactly the same car as the player seem to perform much better, which can obviously be frustrating. What this does, however, is encourage players to race better. WhereForzareally shines is in allowing players to progress their motor racing career however they wish. Don’t expect a linear storyline and set races. Instead, the player is free to pick and choose the style of race that best suits their playing style. However, they’ll be forced to adapt eventually if they want to clear out the map.
Sea Of Thieveshas been around for some time. It’s apirate-themedopen-world RPG that had a rocky start, but has since grown in popularity, especially after it was added to Game Pass. And of course, no pirate game would be complete without a large ocean map to explore, whichSea Of Thievesdoes very well.
Sea Of Thieveshas some multiplayer aspects, although it is not considered a full-blown MMORPG. This means that players can team up with friends to become the scourge of the high seas, or, if they prefer, live a more peaceful life, simply trading between seaports.Sea Of Thieveshas something for every playing style, as well as some of the most fun team PvP in any multiplayer game. This is where the main challenge can be found. Solo players will find it difficult to compete with teams of players that have a full crew for their ships. The single largest problem that solo players face in PvP is being boarded by a group of enemy players. Solo PvP inSea of Thievestherefore revolves around making sure that the player’s ship is positioned in a way that makes boarding impossible, before engaging with cannons. Even if this is done perfectly, a talented enemy crew can still put up a fight.
A Huge Amount Of Information For Beginners To Take In
Minecraft
Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. you may survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours. But if the thought of exploring a vast new world all on your own feels overwhelming, then fear not!Minecraft has no set goal and can be played however you’d like! This is why it’s sometimes called a “sandbox game” – there are lots of things for you to do, and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, then you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you’re feeling brave, you can explore the world and face daring challenges. Blocks can be broken, crafted, placed to reshape the landscape, or used to build fantastical creations.Creatures can be battled or befriended, depending on how you play. The world of Minecraft allows for epic adventures, quiet meditations, and everything in between. You can even share your creations with other players, or play in community worlds!
Released in 2009,Minecrafthas taken the world by storm. This is a simple game with a surprising level of depth.Minecrafthas inspired a number of clones and copycat games, simply because it redefined the open-world genre. It is this depth that makesMinecrafta hard title to master. Players will need to learn about resources, crafting dependencies, and a whole host of other gameplay features that are much more complicated than first impressions hint at.
Minecraftisn’t for everyone. However, for players who enjoyexploration and building, and are willing to overlook the block-style graphics,Minecraftcould well be their next addiction. Minecraft is hard in its own way, especially when trying to do something like building underwater, although frustrating might be a better word than hard. The real danger withMinecraftis that it lulls the player into a false sense of security. Often, players will be so busy seeking a resource node that they miss the fact they are about to step into a lava pool, or are about to be attacked by aggressive NPCs. And of course, players who want to learn how to use theMinecraftScript Engine face an entirely different set of challenges.
ReCorehas a large open-world map set in the colony of New Eden. However, this isn’t the kind of open-world game where players can roam at will. Instead, explorers will discover platforming elements and world puzzles that need to be solved. For players who struggle with puzzles,ReCoreis going to be quite a challenge, as they take some thought and logic to overcome.
Taking on the role of Joule Adams, players are encouraged to exploreNew Edento find out why the original colonization mission went so wrong. The storyline is adequate, but it is theopen-world puzzlesthat really makeReCoreshine. The hardest challenge of all inReCoreis the final tower that has to be solved and scaled. Jumps must be timed with absolute perfection, and getting one even slightly wrong means a quick trip to the ground, far below and a full restart of the climb. Put simply, the standard jumping and platform puzzles inReCoreare already challenging, and the final one is insane.
One word can describe theState Of Decayfranchise better than any other: Zombies! Where many zombie survival games focus on keeping the player alive,State Of Decaydoes things a little differently. Instead, the player is encouraged to discover and fortify strongholds on a large open-world map. What makesState Of Decaydifficult is a twofold problem. Firstly, the game requires intense micromanagement, to the extent that the player can be under information overload at times. Secondly, the early game is very hard to overcome. With just a single survivor, this game is tough. Many players have complained thatState Of Decaydoes not respect their time, posing unnecessary challenges that do not add to the game.
The player must harvest materials and find food to survive and build their strongholds, all while fighting off hordes of zombies at the same time. As mentioned above, this can be very difficult in the early game, as the player doesn’t have access to late-game resources and equipment, but even the most well-equipped survivor can be killed. That’s bad news, because inState of Decay, death is permanent. The second game in the franchise introduces a 4-player co-op mode, which really spices up the action and adds to the fun. Players who enjoy the zombie survival genre, but prefer a high-stakes open-world playing style, might like to check out theState of Decayfranchise.
