Open world games implement a series of strategies that immerse the player in the world. Weather is one of these strategies, there have been some incredibly immersive weather effects implemented into video games over the years.
Join us as we travel back in time to the 1600s Caribbean where the seas were locked in naval combat amidst epic storms in Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag. As well as dystopian futures where lightning and sand storms ravage the edge of Night City in Cyberpunk 2077. Here are 5 games that blew us away with their weather effects.
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag
There is so much that can be said about a great setting for a videogame. Ubisoft’s Assassins Creed series is a perfect example of this, with brilliant execution in immersing the player in both history and locations. Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag is no exception, as you follow Edward Kenway’s story you’ll explore realistically designed cities, as well as sailing across the Caribbean sea which is teeming with life to added effect.
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag is one of those games that you can keep coming back to for a playthrough. Sailing across the seas is epic as there is feedback for every action you make in controlling the Jackdaw ship.
You will hear Kenway shout out “Every last scrap of duck on the wind!” as your crew reacts to the change of throttle. The Jackdaw feels alive as you hear the crew sing sea shanties and point out whales and dolphins that pass the ship.
This feedback is one of the factors that enhance the incredible storms and varied weather. As your ship is enveloped by storms, you’ll hear your crew shouting & warning you of giant rogue waves approaching the ship.
“Windy Weather by Stormy Weather…”
The crackling of lightning and howling of wind from powerful gales, mixed with the crashing of the Jackdaw upon the restless ocean surface gives you goosebumps.
Stormy weather additionally impacts the direction of the Jackdaw. The player will find themselves battling with their controller trying to stay on course and avoid the rogue waves. If the Jackdaw hits these colossal waves then it will take damage and lose a portion of the crew.
On your travels, you’ll encounter many different kinds of weather including eerie thick fog that leaves you and your crew blind to obstacles ahead. That leaves you feeling uneasy. However, it’s not all doom and gloom as the player can witness some incredible sights in beautiful sunrises.
Cyberpunk 2077 – Badlands Sandstorms
Cyberpunk 2077 dominated the gaming media recently, and not for the best of reasons. However, Cyberpunk 2077 does have a lot to offer a gamer. It has a unique and intriguing story, with an incredibly immersive world (when the bugs aren’t present).
Within this world, the player will encounter glowing neon signs reflecting in puddles and expanded in thin layers of fog. However, today we are going to be focusing on the outskirts of Night City called the Badlands.
The Badlands is a sprawling desert filled with mountains of trash and rusty structures. There are few settlements out in the Badlands, but most have been raided. Because of this, people adapted by living their life as Nomads. These Nomads never permanently settle down and are constantly roaming around to find the next place to set up camp.
Riders on the Storm
On top of avoiding vicious gangs of the wastelands, people also have to watch out for gigantic sandstorms. Those who are unlucky to get trapped in these storms will lose all sense of direction & get bombarded by sand grains blasting into them.
The player gets caught in these sandstorms while participating in a street race in the Badlands. They quickly envelop the competitors leaving the track ahead difficult to see. Visually, it looks incredible as everything is enveloped in an orange tinge from the storm.
V, Panam, and Saul get stuck in a sandstorm in the Riders on the Storm quest. The three luckily find an abandoned motel to hide in. While in the motel, V is asked to find a way to get the power on, which leads him to step outside. Whilst braving the storm, V suffers from being battered by sand and struggles to breathe.
Every cloud has its silver lining, & as the trio wake up the next day, they venture out to see a stunning sunrise. That shows off Cyberpunk 2077‘s beautiful graphics. You can currently get Cyberpunk 2077 for $35 here (PC) , for console versions (not recommended unless played on XSX or PS5) check the latest prices here.
Dragon Age: Inquisition – Blizzard Post Haven
Dragon Age: Inquisition is a fantasy RPG, developed by BioWare. Visually, the game still looks good nowadays, despite it being released back in 2014. Developed using the Frostbite engine, Dragon Age: Inquisition features dynamic weather effects.
The game has a wide variety of weather effects & visuals that can be observed in a diverse set of locations. Players can experience hot weather and sandstorms in the Western Approach, to violent waves crashing along the coast of the Stormlands.
However, none come close to the Inquisitor traversing alone through a blizzard in the Frostback Mountains. While this segment of the game is rather linear, its atmosphere leaves the player feeling disorientated and astray.
Experienced shortly after the attack on Haven, the Inquisitor is left alone and lost in a cave. As the player makes their way out of the cave, the Inquisitor stumbles through a thick layer of snow trying to find the inquisition.
The segment goes on for quite a long time and it begins to look bleak for the Inquisitor as a pack of wolves can be heard howling and rustling around in the brush. Furthermore, the segment contains no music which adds to the atmosphere as all can be heard is the droning of the blizzard.
Fallout 4 – Glowing Sea
Fallout 4 is one of those games that people either love or hate. While I’m more of a Fallout: New Vegas fan. I can see the appeal of Fallout 4. The Glowing Sea is by far the biggest standout for me. It takes a rather large portion of the map and is extremely atmospheric and immersive.
I simply love the idea of exploring through a vast and mysterious alien-like landscape. looking up, you will frequently see lightning strikes amidst the glowing sky. While not the most attractive location on the map, it definitely has its own charm.
The land of the Glowing Sea is scattered with torn-down buildings that hold interesting stories. Exploring these ruins is exciting as you get the sense that no one has stepped foot in these buildings for a long time. You’ll also discover many valuable items including a powerful Gauss Rifle, which can be found at the location: Skylanes Flight 1665.
As to be expected, you won’t find much life in the Glowing Sea. However, the life that you do find will be hostile and incredibly deadly, as Giant Radscorpions can ambush the player. The wanderer will additionally have to deal with Deathclaws, a horrible abomination created by pre-war technology.
The atmosphere of the Glowing Sea is further enhanced when tuning into the classical radio. It’s a strange juxtaposition between beauty and horror and is a combination that results in an incredibly unique experience.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 shows off the incredible talent and attention to detail that Rockstar Games has. It truly is one of the better-looking games on the list and oozes authenticity. Additionally, RDR2 has a story to match, and it will lead you and Arthur Morgan to some incredible views. That varies from pleasant creeks and forests, to vast plains, dry landscapes, and mountain tops.
Red Dead Redemption 2‘s weather perfectly compliments these amazing vistas of the world as a result of adding some depth and dynamics to the world. Expect to experience blistering snowstorms and blizzards, as well as dense rain showers.
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