History Main / OpeningTheSandbox

{{MMORPG}}s are a special case. Though most do not have a true 'end', they end up becoming more top heavy over time as new content additions target veterans who have seen and done most of the things in the game. This effect is particularly severe if several consecutive updates do not increase the {{Cap}} but give already capped players new options, and is the reason that established players tend to perceive more freedom in a game than newbies.

{{MMORPG}}s are a special case. Though most do not have a true 'end', most end up becoming more top heavy over time as new content additions target veterans who have seen and done most of the things in the game. This effect is particularly severe if several consecutive updates do not increase the {{Cap}} but give already capped players new options.

{{MMORPG}}s are a special case, becoming more and more 'top heavy' over time as new content additions target veterans who have seen and done most of the things in the game. This effect is particularly severe if several consecutive updates do not increase the {{Cap}} but give already capped players new options.

* ''FinalFantasyXIII'': Pulse.
** To elaborate, the game has NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom up to the point where Lightning's party reaches Pulse. This takes quite a while and there's a living but utterly inaccessible cityscape around the straight path, which is the main reason most people accuse the game of being too linear.

* In ''TheElderScrolls'' games, starting with ''[[TheElderScrollsTwoDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'', you were thrown into a WideOpenSandbox the very moment you ended the tutorial mission.
** In ''{{Morrowind}}'', the game even tells you, "You're on your own now."
** This actually began with the first Elder Scrolls game, ''[[TheElderScrollsOneArena Arena]]''. In terms of scale it is arguably more overwhelming then any of the following Elder Scrolls games as it offers the entire continent of Tamriel for you to explore, with very little direction towards your objectives.

* Most ''{{Ys}}'' games start out linearly, gradually opening up the rest of the world, and usually providing you with a [[WarpWhistle warp item]] to quick-travel to previous areas. Usually, there's at least one PointOfNoReturn before the FinalDungeon.

* Most ''{{Ys}}'' games start out linearly, gradually opening up the rest of the world, and usually providing you with a [[WarpWhistle warp item]] to quick-travel to previous areas. Usually, there's at least one PointOfNoReturn before the FinalDungeon, though.

* Most ''DragonQuest'' games once you obtain a ship.

* ''TheLegendOfZelda'' series tends to do this multiple times each game. After the [[NoobCave introductory village and dungeon]], most of the world map opens up. And then, once you've completed about half of the dungeons, a large chunk of the map that was hidden or inaccessible is revealed, usually through some specialized game mechanic like DualWorldGameplay.

** As an Elder Scrolls fan, the one thing preventing me from re-playing Mass Effect is knowing that it'll take 3-4 hours of play before I get a ship and can do my own thing. I guess you can't satisfy everybody.

* The Legend of Zelda series tends to do this multiple times each game. After the [[NoobCave introductory village and dungeon]], most of the world map opens up. And then, once you've completed about half of the dungeons, a large chunk of the map that was hidden or inaccessible is revealed, usually through some specialized game mechanic like DualWorldGameplay.
** ''TheLegendOfZelda: [[TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]''. After you (finally) leave the village, all of Hyrule Field is open to you. When you get the Master Sword, you then gain full access to most of the areas you visited previously (even if you're still missing some key pieces of gear.)

** ''LinkToThePast'' lets you into Hyrule once you rescue Princess Zelda from the catacombs. Once you complete three dungeons and slay Agnahim, the entrance to Hyrule Castle becomes a gate to the Dark World (which holds eight more dungeons.)

* The 360 game ''Crackdown'' is already a GTA-ish sandbox game to start with. But once you've beaten all three gangs and finished the end-game you can roam freely around the city with all your powerups available and the option of re-starting any of your previous missions in a mode that feels much more like OpeningTheSandbox than just having finished the game and being able to run around. There is also an DLC that adds GodMode, which has an option that also effectively gives you an OpeningTheSandbox mode.

* The Legend of Zelda series tends to do this multiple times each game. After the introductory dungeon, most of the world map opens up. And then, once you've completed about half of the dungeons, a large chunk of the map that was hidden or inaccessible opens up, usually through some specialized game mechanic like DualWorldGameplay.
** ''TheLegendOfZelda: [[TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' - After you (finally) leave the village.

** ''OracleOfAges'' opens up three times, each time when you gain a new method of time travel. This is mostly done through DualWorldGameplay, where Link jumps between the past and present to circumvent obstacles and solve puzzles.

* ''TheLegendOfZelda: [[TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' - After you (finally) leave the village.

** When you become normal Link in ''[[TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]''.
** ''TwilightPrincess'' doesn't truly open the sandbox until you complete the first set of macguffins, like most Zelda games.

* Most ''[=~Pokémon~=]'' games: About when you can use Surf and Fly outside of battle. If you can use ''all'' the [=HMs=], you've definitely reached this point. The Gen IV games make you see (not catch, thankfully) all of the Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex before opening everything up, though.

* Most ''[=~Pokémon~=]'' games: About when you can use Surf and Fly out of battle. If you can use ''all'' the [=HMs=], you've definitely reached this point. The Gen IV games make you see (not catch, thankfully) all of the Sinnoh Pokedex before opening everything up, though.

* ''TheLegendOfZelda: [[TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' - After you (finally) leave the village.
** ''[[TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'': You can start sailing anywhere shortly before you start the Tower of the Gods. Most people wait until they get the Ballad of Gales, though, because otherwise you'd have to sail all that distance by yourself.
** When you become normal Link in ''[[TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]''.
** Twilight Princess doesn't truly open the sandbox until you complete the first set of macguffins, like most Zelda games.
* In ''{{Okami}}'', you can go back and get most of the missing collectibles once you've bought the DoubleJump and unlocked Kabegami's brush technique, allowing you to climb walls, but it's a lot less traveling to wait until you've gotten the Mist Warp technique so you can teleport between certain sacred mirrors. Most walkthroughs advise you to just wait until you hit the PointOfNoReturn and start backtracking from there.

* The 360 game ''Crackdown'' is already a GTA-ish sandbox game to start with. But once you've beaten all three gangs and finished the end-game you can roam freely around the city with all your powerups available and the option of re-starting any of your previous missions in a mode that feels much more like OpeningTheSandbox than just having finished the game and being able to run around. There is also an DLC that adds GodMode, which has an option that also effectively gives you an OpeningTheSandbox mode.

* In the computer game ''{{Spore}}'' after passing the first four objective-based levels you are free to explore and colonize the universe as you see fit.

These points are almost always near the ending, so SPOILERS.

* After beating down Dalton in ''ChronoTrigger''.

* {{Fallout3}} confines you to an underground vault, which serves as a tutorial level, in the early part of the game. You eventualy escape, gaining access to the rest of the world.

* Most [=~Pokémon~=] games: About when you can use Surf and Fly out of battle. If you can use ''all'' the HMs, you've definitely reached this point. The Gen IV games make you see (not catch, thankfully) all of the Sinnoh Pokedex before opening everything up, though.
* In ''TheElderScrolls'' games, starting with ''Daggerfall'', you were thrown into a WideOpenSandbox the very moment you ended the tutorial mission.
** In Morrowind, the game even tells you, "You're on your own now."
** This actually began with the first Elder Scrolls game, ''Arena''. In terms of scale it is arguably more overwhelming then any of the following Elder Scrolls games as it offers the entire continent of Tamriel for you to explore, with very little direction towards your objectives.

* In the computer game ''Spore'' after passing the first four objective-based levels you are free to explore and colonize the universe as you see fit.

* DragonAge, post-Lothering.

* ''FinalFantasyVI'' has two: right at the end of the World of Balance and basically the entirety of the World of Ruin.