Blocked Paths and Missing Tools everywhere I go

[Ron]

I really don't understand why they designed an open-world that actively PUNISHES you for exploring it.

I thought by the time I left the embassy I would have acquired all the necessary tools to explore the world... you know, like Zelda does it. But nope. Apparently I am still many hours away from getting those tools.

I like exploring open worlds, but why the hell would they add blocked shenanigans in the beginner areas? It kills the sense of exploration for me. Is the idea that having to go back in the future to the same spot I already explored supposed to add more fun?

It incentives me to just bee-line the main story and leave all exploration until I finished with the campaign.. which is a really stupid way to design an open-world game.

[Raider Deci]

Originally posted by Twintoes:

It incentives me to just bee-line the main story and leave all exploration until I finished with the campaign.. which is a really stupid way to design an open-world game.

Definetly since the tools are granted through the main-story, and I dont like it either.

[Coffee Addict]

Originally posted by Twintoes:

I thought by the time I left the embassy I would have acquired all the necessary tools to explore the world... you know, like Zelda does it.

zelda games do not give you all items from the get go (BOTW and TOTK might but i never played those ♥♥♥♥ games so i cant confirm) you have to progress the story to unlock all the things needed to unlock all the areas same with this game

[Ron]

Originally posted by Raider Deci:

Originally posted by Twintoes:

It incentives me to just bee-line the main story and leave all exploration until I finished with the campaign.. which is a really stupid way to design an open-world game.

Definetly since the tools are granted through the main-story, and I dont like it either.

Its insane. I just completed the embassy quest and the world just opened for me, I want to explore it but I also dont want to keep bumping into walls everywhere I go just because I dont have whatever mcguffin tool that is still a long way to attain.

[Ron]

Originally posted by Niki Lauda:

Originally posted by Twintoes:

I thought by the time I left the embassy I would have acquired all the necessary tools to explore the world... you know, like Zelda does it.

zelda games do not give you all items from the get go (BOTW and TOTK might but i never played those ♥♥♥♥ games so i cant confirm) you have to progress the story to unlock all the things needed to unlock all the areas same with this game

I am obviously talking about the new ones which are open-world, the older zeldas you are talking about are very linear games and their structure isn't comparable to the point I am making.

[Dino-Rang]

I feel like it is actually a good thing, even if I myself dislike it. Although I don't think it punishes you for exploring per se, I do think that it is more of a slight let down or disappointment. As for having to progress (far as I have found out) in the mainline story, I think that is more so encouraging you to go back, to reward your efforts to go back and remember your experience.

[Dino-Rang]

Originally posted by Dino-Rang:

I feel like it is actually a good thing, even if I myself dislike it. Although I don't think it punishes you for exploring per se, I do think that it is more of a slight let down or disappointment. As for having to progress (far as I have found out) in the mainline story, I think that is more so encouraging you to go back, to reward your efforts to go back and remember your experience.

I also feel as if the problems with doing it this way are slightly nullified when you consider the fact that most of the things you get from those, are all just resources you can find elsewhere, except for the occasional collectible, which is used to trade in for endgame-"ish" level gear (Mostly legendaries, which you do not really get the chance to start obtaining until mid-late game anyways.

[Viper]

This not a world exploration freely game. It is a proceed through the story game. They block off areas so you don't find them until your supposed to in the story. If you could wander around freely. Nothing would make any sense.

[SleepyDroid]

yeah it is a linear game, lol you have to progress the story a lot to get access.

[Iselore]

Just progress the game until you get all the special gear then explore the world. I also had the urge to explore the moment I cleared the embassy. But I realised it was pointless if I had to come back to the same places twice.

[Parry Hotter]

You just have to progress through the story. I have dozens of blocked paths.

[Blackwolfe]

I just explore every nook and cranny anyway, but the blocked paths are marked so I can go back anyway. I don't mind.. not gonna rush through the story (even though I played through the game on ps4 pro). My joy of exploration is still there.

[Napalm®]

At least it tells you you don't have it.
Remember the good old days when you spent like an hour on a door/puzzle/whatever just to find out you can't get in there YET

[GODzilla]

Have to agree with that, I usually don't like backtracking. There are exceptions when you get nice rewards, like you do in Jedi Survivor for instance. A new piece of clothing, a colorset for your gear or an additional dose of healing.

Unfortunately HFW gives you almost nothing. I hope I don't spoil anyones fun, but there is nothing to spoil actually. You'll find a bit of stuff behind the vines. Nothing exceptional and definitely nothing unique.

I'm telling you that because if you can, just avoid it and concentrate on the good parts of the game. It's what I did.

[HoboCop]

Backtracking has been a thing since my schoolboy years. Back then game data was limited to physical medium so reused assets were commom place.
But nowadays? They only do it to bloat your in-game hours, because shareholders gonna be looking at those numbers by the end of a fiscal year.

[joridiculous]

you probably want like that all side missions push you towards the Story goals.
The game do this unlock things really good as you have to follow the story to unlock some tools and areas. If you got all of it right away would be boring as heck