I used to do this too, but now I’ve realized that today’s games have way too much unnecessary crap and I end up way over powered. I’ve reverted to beelining the main story until it gets too hard and then exploring. This has it’s own pitfalls, like some games including key items in those side areas, but usually I would have had to explore the areas twice anyway due to needing a late game skill.
I’m sure it works for a lot of people, but for me it’s kind of ruined pacing in games. Either you end up overpowered for the main game by doing too much side content, or you end up finishing the main game too early and end up unable to experience the side content in the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Side content tends to be more fun if it is interspersed with the main game, so that there is a steady progression for both, and so that any time-gated side stuff doesn’t pile up and end up feeling tedious. But when it’s left to the player to manage that balance, they are unlikely to hit a sweet spot. At least, I usually fail to do so. Can’t plan an optimal route through the game without reading through a bunch of spoiler-packed guides ahead of time, which destroys organic exploration and feels like work anyway.
I used to do this too, but now I’ve realized that today’s games have way too much unnecessary crap and I end up way over powered. I’ve reverted to beelining the main story until it gets too hard and then exploring. This has it’s own pitfalls, like some games including key items in those side areas, but usually I would have had to explore the areas twice anyway due to needing a late game skill.
I’ve just stopped caring about main quests. The exploration is what I like, so why care about my lost kid or whatever
I guess I should try to learn that as well. I got a bit underwhelmed by the main quest bosses in the last zelda game because of that.
I’m sure it works for a lot of people, but for me it’s kind of ruined pacing in games. Either you end up overpowered for the main game by doing too much side content, or you end up finishing the main game too early and end up unable to experience the side content in the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Side content tends to be more fun if it is interspersed with the main game, so that there is a steady progression for both, and so that any time-gated side stuff doesn’t pile up and end up feeling tedious. But when it’s left to the player to manage that balance, they are unlikely to hit a sweet spot. At least, I usually fail to do so. Can’t plan an optimal route through the game without reading through a bunch of spoiler-packed guides ahead of time, which destroys organic exploration and feels like work anyway.