Can open world structures in gaming be too overwhelming?

Playing through Mass Effect 3 got me thinking on the subject of open worlds and linearity in games. We can often classify games by their genre, but today there is a tendency to judge them on the aspect of how open they are and how much freedom the player is being given. There are lots of those kinds of games which offer vast open worlds, ready to explore; Skyrim, GTA4 and Assassin’s Creed to name a few.

[RIPSKATEDESTROY]

so true: "quantity doesn’t always mean quality."

[vortis]

Alex Hutchinson said it best that AAA games are like bloated Hollywood films made to milk gamers. I think most big-budget AAA open-world games follow this method.

Rockstar aims to move the genre forward while others seek to cash-in on their popularity (i.e., Prototype, Godfather 2, etc.,)

The article makes some good references to lower budget, open-world games that did it right. We don't need bloated-budget games to have fun open-world games.

[TopDudeMan]

I think as long as they give you a cool way to travel and plenty of funny side stuff to do, they're great.

My favourite open world game was just cause 2. I didn't particularly enjoy the missions that much, but it was so much fun just playing around in this huge open world.

[Hanilugtehul]

yes yes and yes:-)

[catfrog]

i cant stand some of the open world games, no direction, nothing, just go have fun in this sandbox, you dont really have anything to do, you know, just go find something to do. because were not getting paid to entertain you are we? we built this sandbox, entertain yourself damnit

[urwifeminder]

Yes most open world games involve travel treasure hunting and are very boring but some certainly get it right.

[kma2k]

all of my top 15 or so favorite games current get & even all time are all open world games. The only two games i have ever had that overwhelming fealing in were oblivion & skyrim i have no idea why i didnt get that overwhelming fealing in either fallout 3 or nv but it wasnt there. Having said that though that fealining in no way shape or form caused me to dislike either games quite the contrary i have spent more time on oblivion & skyrim that any other games this gen i absolutelty loved them!

[Eiffel]

So far open world games have been the most bang for my buck this gen, hours of gameplay. Fallout 3 is one of the few games where I felt my $60 was well spent. Love open world.

[Conzul]

I only prefer open-world games over linear games when the linear games won't let you keep your skills and powerups on the second run-through.