This is probably my biggest issue with open world games hit right on the head. I feel no sense of urgency or tension at any given time. I restarted Fallout 3 tonight, and what did I do instead of rushing over to Megaton to investigate why my father left and I had to escape the vault? I explored the ruins of the nearby town and started killing raiders in the old elementary school, acting like my dad will just sit still while I screw around out in the Wasteland. It never feels like I need to be anywhere. Sometimes it feels like there are places I certainly should be in open world games, but in my experience, it's usually only a series of events in end game where an open world game finally says "okay, this is something you have to do right now".
I think this is one of the reasons I love the Uncharted games so much. They're exciting to play. The bad guy is making waves, and I need to keep moving to stop him. He's invading a town right now, and regardless of what I could be doing, I have to go and stop him at that very instant. It feels intense, exciting, and fun. I feel like, as the gamer, there is a purpose for me from start to finish. I feel like some games being so open ended hurts the story telling. The side quests may expand the world, but story climaxes don't feel as amazing when you go gallivanting off to get somebody some wheels of cheese right before, then run off to slay some random monsters for a farmer right after.
