4 ms·

Not a traditional urban-realism example, but my favorite flexible sim is the new Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom. Right during the tutorial you're given powers

Not a traditional urban-realism example, but my favorite flexible sim is the new Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom. Right during the tutorial you're given powers to: - Telekinetically lift, rotate, and glue together anything that is not alive or nailed down. - Summon and activate small mechanisms (fans, self-spinning wheels, flamethrowers, hydrants, etc). - Phase vertically through any ceiling, as long as it's not too far away. This includes mountains, floating platforms, and large enemies. - Reverse the last ~30 seconds of any object's motion. A falling boulder flies back up, a floating plank goes against the current, a spinning wheel changes direction. Then you get to apply these powers for transport, combat, and puzzles. And somehow it just works. I found myself frequently wondering what is the canonical solution to a puzzle, because it sure as hell isn't what I just did. It's a brilliant game.

a_e_k 3y ago
Not just that but I think half the fun that I had in the prior game, Breath of the Wild, was finding creative ways to navigate using the paraglider together with the amazing climbing mechanic. Climbing a nearby height, letting go, paragliding over an obstacle, etc. And then Tears of the Kingdom cranked that to 11 plus added all the new toys you mentioned. In many ways, I'm reminded of the Portal games where just figuring out how to creatively move the player character from A to B is a big part of the game loop.
cgriswald 3y ago
One of my favorites in the previous game, Breath of the Wild, was a ball-in-maze puzzle you're presumably supposed to solve by guiding the ball through the maze with motion controls and have it fall out the exit into a cup; but it is possible to instead use the maze essentially as a paddle and bat the ball into the cup instead.
philsnow 3y ago
Your characterization of Tears of the Kingdom strongly reminds me of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_Machine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_Machine
- lobsterthief 3y ago
  Oh man I played that so much. Was such a great game as a kid.
- hypertexthero 3y ago
  There’s a spiritual sequel called Contraption Maker: https://store.steampowered.com/app/241240/Contraption_Maker/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/241240/Contraption_Maker/

a_e_k 3y ago

Not just that but I think half the fun that I had in the prior game, Breath of the Wild, was finding creative ways to navigate using the paraglider together with the amazing climbing mechanic. Climbing a nearby height, letting go, paragliding over an obstacle, etc. And then Tears of the Kingdom cranked that to 11 plus added all the new toys you mentioned. In many ways, I'm reminded of the Portal games where just figuring out how to creatively move the player character from A to B is a big part of the game loop.

cgriswald 3y ago

One of my favorites in the previous game, Breath of the Wild, was a ball-in-maze puzzle you're presumably supposed to solve by guiding the ball through the maze with motion controls and have it fall out the exit into a cup; but it is possible to instead use the maze essentially as a paddle and bat the ball into the cup instead.

philsnow 3y ago

Your characterization of Tears of the Kingdom strongly reminds me of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_Machine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_Machine

lobsterthief 3y ago
Oh man I played that so much. Was such a great game as a kid.
hypertexthero 3y ago
There’s a spiritual sequel called Contraption Maker: https://store.steampowered.com/app/241240/Contraption_Maker/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/241240/Contraption_Maker/