Games with Linear Exploration?

Started by AndrewBri November 16th, 2015 5:55 PM
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Male
Seen February 17th, 2017
Posted November 16th, 2015
1 posts
7.5 Years
I just posted this in the welcome center, but probably realized this was better suited in this section. Keep in mind I'm a noob. :)

I've had a nagging question I could never seem to get answered.
You see, I love the pokemon games, but not in the way you may think. I'm sure many of you love the "catch em all" concept, which is great, but what wins me over in the games is the sense of going on a journey. I never enjoyed the catching and battling as much as the prospect of traveling from route to route, city to city, going through rain, snow, and desert. I think this type of "linear exploration" always was a sense of marvel to me. In that respect, I always saw battling and training as a minor annoyance. While still fun, they were nothing compared to that feeling of awe I received in journeying through a world. With that in mind, I ask this. Are there other games out there that convey that type of quest, a journey where you travel through cities, towns, and treacherous regions? Many of you may be quick to say Zelda, and I have indeed tried it before. The problem I have with Zelda is the problem I have with many other games of the type: it's a fairly open world, and thus, you don't get that sense of going through a linear path. Some may believe linearity is limited, but in pokemon, I always had fun journeying on a set path. Anyway, I'm getting off topic. My question is, are there are any games out there that feature a linear journey through various cities and regions like pokemon without the annoyances of rpg-based battles (I'm ok with Zelda-like combat)? I know it's a bit of a far-fetched question, but I think if I could find a game like this, it would be incredible. Thanks, in advance, and as a new member, I hope I can get to know the community. Please feel free to ask questions if you need clarification.

Hiatus

Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted July 24th, 2021
12,283 posts
10.8 Years
If you don't mind trying something a little bit more mature, I would suggest Destiny. It's like a first-person shooter MMO, so to speak, in which we're able to make our own characters, level up, gather weapons, upgrade them, and so forth; I'm not sure about others, but in a way, it does remind me of Pokémon.

Cassandra

Transgender Queen

Female
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Seen September 22nd, 2016
Posted June 12th, 2016
161 posts
9.9 Years
The games I can think of that are closest to Pokemon are Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 and 4 and Yokai Watch. Don't ever look at Yokai Watch lest you desire to have your soul taken from you by such a horrid game, but check out the Persona games and catch all the Personas.
Male
Seen February 10th, 2023
Posted January 1st, 2017
439 posts
9.7 Years
The games I can think of that are closest to Pokemon are Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 and 4 and Yokai Watch. Don't ever look at Yokai Watch lest you desire to have your soul taken from you by such a horrid game, but check out the Persona games and catch all the Personas.
Just curious: How bad is Yokai Watch? I have read several opinions outside here about how it's the "Pokemon Killer" even though I don't have a 3DS nor that game so I'm curious about this game. Thanks.

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machomuu

Stuck in Hot Girl Summer

She/Her
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Seen March 4th, 2023
Posted April 26th, 2022
10,505 posts
15.1 Years
Just curious: How bad is Yokai Watch? I have read several opinions outside here about how it's the "Pokemon Killer" even though I don't have a 3DS nor that game so I'm curious about this game. Thanks.
It's quite fun. Great attention to detail, pretty good humor (surprisingly, it had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion), and the battle system's involving and challenging at times.

I could go into why it's good, but essentially if you like Monster Collection games with a lot to do then Youkai Watch's definitely worth a look. It's pretty well designed.

Also, pretty much any Shin Megami Tensei game works. Not sure why you want the linearity, exactly, but the games can be either open or linear at any given time and will take you through different environments, etc. Of course, if you don't want it for the capture mechanic, there's no real reason to look here. Less so with Persona 3 and 4 (1 and 2 might be your speed, though). They are great games, nonetheless.

But if the linearity is your thing, I'll just go with what inevitably will be said and say Final Fantasy XIII. Bunch of different environments, linear as can be. 'S got great music, though, and the cutscenes are beautiful. So there's that.

magicalgirlj

I liek Popplio

Female
Richmond VA
Seen February 8th, 2017
Posted January 14th, 2017
338 posts
8.4 Years
Megaman Battle Network and Star Force. At least the random virus encounters remind me of Pokemon battles. Too bad there is no repels in those games because the virus encounters are pretty annoying.
One does not simply get too old for Pokemon
If everyone would stop wonder trading Zigazagoon's that would be great

ソラ

May My Heart Be My Guiding Key

Age 32
He/Him
California
Seen April 7th, 2023
Posted March 18th, 2023
2,002 posts
15.2 Years
The games I can think of that are closest to Pokemon are Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 and 4 and Yokai Watch. Don't ever look at Yokai Watch lest you desire to have your soul taken from you by such a horrid game, but check out the Persona games and catch all the Personas.
I was gonna say this! P3/P4 is like an adult version of Pokemon. Well Persona in general since P1 and P2 you actually get Demons/Persona to join you.

Spinosaurus

Seen May 27th, 2019
Posted June 7th, 2018
4,569 posts
14.1 Years
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne is the best Pokemon game I ever played honestly.

I recommend you check it out. Be wary that the game is rather demanding, and you're only doing yourself a disservice if you don't constantly change your party. That's part of the fun and the game punishes if you stick with an early demon. To be fair, the only similarity with Pokemon it has is the monster capturing aspect, so it might not be your cup of tea in the end. But it's much more about that and thus closer to Pokemon than Persona, but Persona is a much more forgiving series.

It's sort of like the Dark Souls of these kind of games, if you will.

machomuu

Stuck in Hot Girl Summer

She/Her
Take a left, turn right at the next stop, bear left for a few mil
Seen March 4th, 2023
Posted April 26th, 2022
10,505 posts
15.1 Years
I was gonna say this! P3/P4 is like an adult version of Pokemon. Well Persona in general since P1 and P2 you actually get Demons/Persona to join you.
I dunno, I can't really see much way that P3 and 4 are similar to Pokemon save for Monster Collection, which the OP isn't looking for. The main series, sure, but not Persona. Even in 1 and 2, you don't convince them to join you so much as you get them to give you things that will allow you to summon more of them or fuse them.

Really, I think that's the misconception here, and the title's pretty misleading in that the OP isn't looking for games like Pokemon, they're looking for games with linear exploration that take you through different environments.

Might as well change the title to that, actually, to avoid further confusion.

Lunaturret

The Forgotten

Age 38
Female
Sky Island (uk)
Seen April 14th, 2018
Posted March 30th, 2016
253 posts
9.5 Years
As soon as i read the thread title it plainly brings up alot of games like for one alice madness returns places where i should be able to go im restricted. And even top titles like gears of war and tombraider, i really dont mind as long as theirs enough action or beautiful art/scenery to keep me distracted.
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