What do you want in a Sandbox game?

[Brain_Cleanser]

Last night, I downloaded the Just Cause 2 Demo and played it (at a friend's behest, mostly), and found it really really.... meh.
When I was talking to him about it, I started listing off things I wanted in a Sandbox and it was simple:
Destructible Buildings ala RF Guerrilla or Mercenaries. I want buildings that show damage that's different for each weapon. I don't want a two story house that looks the same after I blast it with an RPG as it does after I shoot a cannonball through the supports (I also really want cannons in my sandbox games)
I also want it to be packed. Saints Row 2 did this right, full of squishy destroyable people and objects. Mercs and Just Cause don't do this, it's full of just empty space that doesn't have much to do but shoot a tree or grapple up a tree (Based only on demo play for Just Cause 2).
And vehicles that work right. Just Cause 2's vehicle controls are kinda awkward.
I know it sounds like I'm whining, but I really do want a sandbox that promises freedom and destructibility and really delivers. I'd be perfectly content with being in a confined but open area with lots of destroyable things.
And I want the Havok Engine, but that's just a preference.
Search Bar approved.
Also, all my opinions on Just Cause are based on 2's demo. I haven't played the first.

 

[Risingblade]

I wanna be able to go into every building in the game v.v

 

[Lolth17]

I would love something that is a little more Assassin's Creed/InFamous and a little less GTA IV/Prototype. i.e: is fun and not a terrible, tedious endeavor with a main character I wish I could shoot in the face.

Mind you, I haven't found many sandbox games with a main character I don't want to shoot in the face, but I'm sure there are more of them hiding out there than I realize.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

i) sand
ii) a box

 

[eels05]

I dont want invisible walls.

As far as destruction would it be so difficult to get a mixture of the ground destruction from RF1 and building destruction from RFG.

If stealth is included it really should be worth your while to carefully encirle an encampment and quietly pick of sentries,unlike Farcry 2.

 

[boxcat]

I would like to see a small sandbox game, one where it was only about a block big but you could do anything in that block.

 

[Kollega]

[HEADING=2]A jetpack, duh.[/HEADING]

I mean, like a jetpack in Dark Void. Wouldn't that be awesome? I thought about making a retro-futuristic/art-deco style sandbox game where most weapons and even vehicles are rocket-propelled.

 

[Nomanslander]

What people want really is larger levels, more exploration involved, and when the game is a streamlined corridor from start to finish that's when players get annoyed.

 

[Sneaklemming]

Clear direction, and good storytelling.

I know its asking the impossible right?

 

[SturmDolch]

Either uber-realism, almost like Mafia but more, or uber-unrealism, like Saint's Row. Nothing halfway in between like GTA IV. I'd love to have a life simulation game... With AI that acts like real people, not just "RUN IF GUN, WALK AIMLESSLY IF NO GUN".

 

[Composer]

lots of hilarious hidden secrets that the devs put in

 

[azncutthroat]

A video and image recording system a la Halo 3.

 

[ELS84]

[HEADING=2]A jetpack, duh.[/HEADING]

I mean, like a jetpack in Dark Void. Wouldn't that be awesome? I thought about making a retro-futuristic/art-deco style sandbox game where most weapons and even vehicles are rocket-propelled.

I came to this thread to say the same thing. A jetpack would be awesome in a sandbox game. It doesnt need to be in a city but just a game where to get around you only need one vehicle. No need worrying about different controls for cars, trucks, planes, etc. Just a jetpack and a variety of weapons. I really like the Destroy All Humans 2 game. Where it had several places that were sandboxes and you could get around in either your jetpack, walking, or flying using your ship. It worked well and i would definitely play a game like that again. That game was awesome plus the guns and dialog were funny.

 

[Flack]

Destructible Environments
that plus a healthy does of fun.

 

[SantoUno]

Being able to freely move around it very fast and efficiently, most gamers tend to be very impatient so they want to get everywhere fast. This is why Spiderman 2 and Prototype worked very well in the sandbox aspect. The faster the better.

I wanna be able to go into every building in the game v.v

Oh, and definitely this.

 

[OneBig Man]

Online so I can cause mayhem with friends.

I wanna be able to go into every building in the game v.v

And this.

 

[Angry Caterpillar]

Realistically destructible environments. No "Oh, there's a tooth pick underneath that structure so it can stand!" RF:G bullshit.

Also, I want to be able to enter the buildings. This has been said fifty times before.

Lastly, I want to build the world around me. I want to skydive, but there's no suitable places? I'll build a skyscraper. I want a straightaway race track? I'll build one of them, too. You get my point.

 

[Oilerfan92]

Battlefield Bad Company 2 level destruction to buildings.

A REALLY good selection of vehicles. Not the same 3 vehicles reskined.

Selection of weapons.