As I was wandering around the Mojave Wasteland in New Vegas the other night, I started thinking about some of my best discoveries in (more or less) open worlds. I don't mean some magic sword from a random monster, but some carefully crafted scene or location that might only be there, tucked away somewhere many people will never find, just to be there.
I think Morrowind has to be my king of games for this. The world was so lovingly crafted, with little gems hidden all over the place. A lot of these places might have been part of some quest or another, but since the game wasn't designed in a quest-centric manner, it was entirely possible to stumble into a situation (say, a pilgrim held captive by some harpylike creatures) and never know the entire story behind it.
In particular, I fondly remember meeting a dancer (nudge nudge) on a lonely road in the northwest part of the island, who asked me to retrieve her ring from the bottom of a lake. It was a pain to find, but I emerged from the water hoping for a suitable reward, only to (spoilers ahead, if you've somehow missed this) be attacked by the "dancer" and her nearly invisible companion while the voice of Azura spoke to me. It wasn't part of a quest. It was a part of the map that many people probably never visited. It didn't really have any meaning, although you do get a nifty magical item out of it. It was just a fun little scene.
The game had so many other moments like this. Hidden Nord burial ships, nekkid Nords by the bucketful, hidden smuggler coves. I can't say how disappointed I was that Oblivion lacked this sort of depth, and how much I hope Skyrim brings some of it back.
I think Morrowind has to be my king of games for this. The world was so lovingly crafted, with little gems hidden all over the place. A lot of these places might have been part of some quest or another, but since the game wasn't designed in a quest-centric manner, it was entirely possible to stumble into a situation (say, a pilgrim held captive by some harpylike creatures) and never know the entire story behind it.
In particular, I fondly remember meeting a dancer (nudge nudge) on a lonely road in the northwest part of the island, who asked me to retrieve her ring from the bottom of a lake. It was a pain to find, but I emerged from the water hoping for a suitable reward, only to (spoilers ahead, if you've somehow missed this) be attacked by the "dancer" and her nearly invisible companion while the voice of Azura spoke to me. It wasn't part of a quest. It was a part of the map that many people probably never visited. It didn't really have any meaning, although you do get a nifty magical item out of it. It was just a fun little scene.
The game had so many other moments like this. Hidden Nord burial ships, nekkid Nords by the bucketful, hidden smuggler coves. I can't say how disappointed I was that Oblivion lacked this sort of depth, and how much I hope Skyrim brings some of it back.