OFF THE MAP

A look at some genre-defining moments that didn’t come to PlayStation at the time

ADVENTURE (1980, ATARI 2600)

A square avatar dragging keys between grey rooms. It might not sound like the open world genre as we know it now, but Adventure was the earliest graphical adventure to wow players with the ability to explore a dragon-infested fantasy kingdom. A fantasy kingdom made up of 30 rooms, that is.

SUPER MARIO 64 (1996, N64)

Nintendo didn’t just set its mascot free in this first 3D iteration, it set the camera free too. Being able to steer Mario in any direction was a genuine revelation, and his moveset of interconnected kicks and jumps made the simple act of getting around a joy. Many open world developers have reached for those heights since.

BODY HARVEST (1998, N64)

The team that became Rockstar North cut its teeth on this game about a genetically engineered soldier who travels through time to save the planet from aliens. Body Harvest allowed players to commandeer vehicles. And, foreshadowing what was to come with GTA, Nintendo declined to publish the game due to its violence.

SHENMUE (1999, DREAMCAST)

The revenge story of Ryo Hazuki in 1980s Japan was charmingly unglamorous. Whether taking a part-time job at the docks or spending your money sensibly, it encouraged you to take your role in its open world seriously – while NPCs followed their own mundane routines around you.

OUTCAST (1999, PC)

Outcast still exists as a series today, but it’ll never be as exciting as it was in 1999, when the huge alien environments and long draw distance most impressed. Back then, riding a beast of burden through futuristic forests, swamps, and deserts was an extraordinary novelty. Today, you can play Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora.