I'm afraid I can't really agree - BotW is quite restrictive game that has few mechanisms that indeed make some of its gameplay free-form to a degree, yet that's where all the freedom ends...on mostly non-important stuff, at least from my POV.

For example, try getting into Gerrudo town on any other way than only one predetermined by game. Nope.
Meanwhile in Morrowind...want to make some custom spell that inflicts damage to strength on half a town? Sure, craft it if you know how to. You don't even have to do the main quest and still finish the game...or make NPCs do it for you.

From my POV (which is admittedly RPG one): BotW has (limited) freedom in some, overall, less important things, that result in lot of flash, but are ultimately just a fluff. Morrowind has meaningful freedoms, because it was made still in days when Bethesda was making RPGs based on P&P principles (which are the ultimate freedom in gaming).

I'd say that BotW gliding is "influenced" by Just Cause, but I get what your saying. Morrowind has so much options how you can play and experience its world - and if you choose to get into magic - oh dear.

Unfortunately, Bethesda is on the steady decline creatively since then, though even Morrowind was in some things step down from Daggerfall - so if we're ever to see remake (true to its original, not mainstreamed for better sales, as Bethesda would do) it can only come from modding community. Haven't lately checked what's the status of Skywind, but that looked promising.

I still feel that BotW only showed itself to be a very good open world.

SM64 set an undeniable industry-wide standard.

I can't see claiming BotW was restrictive. The game pretty much let the player determine how to play the game. You speak of Gerudo Valley.... completely optional, the player doesn't even have to go there. I haven't played Morrowind, but I have played Oblivion and Skyrim. Both have linear stories. Meaning the story has to be played sequentially. BotW the story can be played in any order and any aspect can be skipped. I can do all 4 dungeons, no dungeons, or anything in between. I can also do the dungeons in any order that I choose.

I guess for my take on this question..we have some really good candidates. For me it goes down to:
- Super Mario Bros.: A revolutionary 2D side-scrolling platformer that helped the game industry recover from the 1983 video game crash, mainly in America
- Tetris (Game Boy): A port of a puzzle game of the same name, but portable. It launched with the Game Boy in North America and became a killer app for the handheld.
- Super Mario 64: A revolutionary 3D platformer that broke barriers for console gaming as the industry transitioned to 3D.
- Halo: Combat Evolved: An FPS that not only sold the Xbox, put Bungie on the map, and made Microsoft a serious competitor in the gaming industry, but also a revolution in the FPS genre on consoles after the likes of Wolfenstein 3D and DOOM.
- Wii Sports: A game that pushed motion controls as a pack-in for the Wii (except in Japan). Despite it not truly 1:1 motion controlled, the game allowed new audiences to join in on gaming, which appears to be apparent to this day as its played in senior homes, parties, rehabilitation centers, etc.
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch): Not the first (or last) big open-world game, but one that combined elements of previous games and purposely went away from the conventions of 3D Zelda to create something unique of its own. Hard to argue that the Switch would be as successful from the get-go if it weren't for Breath of the Wild.

Again though, that's ultimately not relevant. It compelled the purchase of the Switch in droves, therefore by definition it's a killer app for the Switch.

Where can I get some of whatever you're smoking?

PM Sent - cycycychris

Bethesda peaked creatively with Morrowind and then turned on full mainstream mode after that (which produces dumbed down versions of TES) - you can do whatever you like in Morrowind, kill everyone and still finish the game.

I know some people love their BotW for its "freedoms", but hopefully and eventually Nintendo will make a game that actually has said freedoms to full extent and maybe then those people will realize how much BotW is lacking.

Sure...you just need to lay off BotW cool-aid and widen your gaming horizons (especially with older games that didn't catter to mass market) and it will come to you very quickly.

That's untrue mate as the many videos online show BOTW has many mechanisms that use it's freedom if you want examples look up players like CHC Yu who are finding tricks by the day and implementing them in play this isn't a case of POV it's a case of what the game actually does. Your Gerudo example is also flawed because you compare an optional situational in BOTW to a combat situation in Morrowind, Gerudo town is whether someone wants to play through the story elements or not and even then the player only needs one item set to enter it and then you're still free to do as you like Morrowind in in a similar comparison doesn't do anything that offers more freedom because as someone highlighted it utilizes the linear style progression.

Want combat examples in BOTW I'll highlight 3 of CHC's tricks that highlight the creativity of playing around with BOTW:

- Using the bomb and stasis you lock an enemy in place and detonate the bomb under them to store upward momentum on them this will launch them in midair as you release them from stasis, as they're released you shield hop on them which will give you height off the ground to enter slow motion to bombard them with arrows.

- Using Daruk's Protection during a shield hop gives you a hop action that allows slow motion activation when you want, using this you can use Ice Arrows to freeze two enemies with in a group of enemies then switch to Lightning Arrows and keep hitting one of the frozen enemies because ice is a water based element electric attacks disperse as a result and become aoe using the game's physics to your advantage.

- Another is an AOE parrying trick Link can parry his own explosive attacks so using either bomb arrows or normal bombs you can trigger a parry that interrupt enemy attacks dead in their tracks regardless of where they're attacking from, the same trick can be used to activate Link's quick rush instead allowing players to counter through attacks with out having to wait for the window of timing for a dodge.

This is how sandbox mechanics are approached as even if you chose not to use them as you've said in the other thread the level is freedom is there believe me Morrowind doesn't have the level of freedom in BOTW because in the latter not only are the mechanics utilized but anything in the situation from physics, objects, enemy behaviour/AI, weather, environment properties etc... Like I said Morrowind is a step above other games that take its route but your claim on BOTW being constrictive is simply not true the are tonnes of videos that already disprove.

Lol, been gaming for over twenty years and played plenty of niche titles. Played Morrowwind when it was new and it doesn't hold a candle to BotW.

Super Mario 64