I like the city where I live. It's pretty cool. There are tall buildings, shows to go to, things to do, shops that don't exist anywhere else. I live in a pretty cool town. I occasionally like to go for a walk and explore, but not now. It's too cold outside for that.....
That's why there are video games. I've talked about the escapism of video games, and the places I like to go there, but it isn't very often that video games have places that I want to go to. I'm usually lost in the story, characters, or action to take the time and just roll around. Come with me on a journey, as I talk about the different video games that I just like to walk around in.
Skyrim
I picked up the ultimate edition of Skyrim during the fall sale on Steam. It's kind of silly that I did so, being that I already had it on my 360, but what separates the PC version from its console counterparts is the community driven mods. Mods can shape the game in many different ways, whether it be something silly or game changing. The mods I've downloaded are purely graphical, and make the game even more of a wonder to behold. Skyrim was already a good looking game. I got lost in it for hours, just wandering around, exploring in caves and fighting bandits. Skyrim is one of those games that I can get lost in because there's no real pressure to do anything in particular. Now, every now and then a dragon can just drop in wherever he pleases, and that puts a damper on my musings. However, that's all part of the experience. Skyrim is something of a marvel, because while there is a fast travel function, I don't use it. I just like walking, and taking in the sights and sounds of Skyrim. I don't mind doing nothing in the game. I'm just a tourist as far as I'm concerned.
Assassin's Creed II
AC II is a game that is full of action, character and conspiracy, and a game filled with wonder and immersion. After I beat Assassin's Creed II for the first time, I still wanted to hang around and just do stuff. However, I'm not really good at screwing around, and getting in trouble and causing chaos. So, I decided that I would just wander around Italy. I've always wanted to go to Italy, though, I may not get the chance to ever go there, Assassin's Creed II gave me that chance. The cities that the players visit are full of live. All of the NPCs have their own agendas, and errands to run. They have places to go, and people to see. The architecture of the city is simply marvelous. The towering buildings and the back alleys that wind through the city, and Venice. Oh Venice. Most of my traversal of Venice is on her rooftops, but my goodness what a city to behold. The people that you come across have the most amazing outfits that are intricately detailed, and you can tell by their style of dress what class they hold, and what their profession is. Assassin's Creed is a game where you can just go sight seeing, and relax.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto has always been a sandbox for many gamers and a place to just wreak havoc upon the helpless. Though, as I've mentioned, I'm not very good at that sort of thing. One thing I am good at, is driving. GTAV has a massive world that I can explore, and most of it is connected by roads. One of my favorite activities in the game is just to drive along the coastal highway from the southernmost point to the north. It's like a mini road trip. What helps is the absolutely killer song selection that the developers have chosen for the radio stations. My favorite is the hipstertastic Mirror Park Radio, that plays synth pop, and has a pretentious hipster DJ who claims not to be a hipster. When I've had my fill of driving, I take a walk along the beach, or around the city, and gaze up with awe at the skyscrapers that cast shadows that consume the landscape. Dropping eaves isn't very polite, but it's hilarious to listen in on the conversations that people are having. Whether it's one side of a cell phone conversation, or some guy talking to his fellow bro about a girl, San Andreas is full of life. Every area has its own set of rules and cliques that rule it. I recommend GTAV solely based on this facet of the game. One can truly get lost here.
Red Dead Redemption
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I love Red Dead Redemption. I love the ability to walk down the streets of Armadillo, or Black Water and say hello to people. I love the sunsets. I love the star filled skies at night. I love roaming around the desert and hunting animals, or picking flowers. I love the eloquence of John Marston. I love the idea of fighting for something that truly matters: family. I love taking down the bad guys on the wanted poster, and cleaning up the land with a bit of wild west justice, and making a tidy sum. My favorite part of the game was towards the end when John Marston is finally allowed to see his family again, and you just run your ranch. It is what Jon had wanted all along and he finally got it. He got an honest life. And I got to experience it, and be around his family. I loved watching John Marston teaching his son how to run the ranch, and how to hunt. It wasn't action oriented, there was no shooting bad guys, or anything like that. I was just living out someone elses life, in a beautiful and detailed world. I love John Marston, and his character. He's one of my favorites. I couldn't find a video that accurately depicts my love for the game and the land that it created, so here's one about the man behind the voice of John Marston.
Those are just a few, I'm sure that there are others. Maybe I'm just a boring person, who enjoys the mundane things in video games about action. Though, I find it's a wonderfully pleasant contrast to what is considered the "norm" in video games. I think that's something to think about next time you play a video game. Take in the world, don't just look at it.
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