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===''Metal Max'' (1991) to ''Shenmue'' (1999)=== Since 1991, the [[Metal Max (series)|''Metal Max'' series]] of post-apocalyptic [[role-playing game]]s featured truly open-ended, [[non-linear]] gameplay. They lack a predetermined story path, but the player is instead given the choice of what missions to follow in whichever order while being able to visit any place in the game world at any time.<ref name="vc_mm">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_mmx/index.html|title=Metal Max|work=[[Virtual Console]]|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|accessdate=2011-05-16}} ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nintendo.co.jp%2Fwii%2Fvc%2Fvc_mmx%2Findex.html Translation])</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_mmx2/index.html|title=Metal Max 2|work=[[Virtual Console]]|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|accessdate=2011-05-16}} ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nintendo.co.jp%2Fwii%2Fvc%2Fvc_mmx2%2Findex.html Translation])</ref><ref name=Crea-Tech/> The [[Multiple endings|ending]] can be determined by the player, who can alter the ending through their actions, can complete the game at almost any time, and continue playing the game even after the ending.<ref name=Crea-Tech>[http://www.crea-tech.net/GAMES/games_MM_gai01.html Metal Max] ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crea-tech.net%2FGAMES%2Fgames_MM_gai01.html Translation]), Crea-Tech</ref> Some of the games give the player the freedom to complete the game almost immediately after starting it, particularly ''[[Metal Saga]]'', which could be completed with a full ending scenario just minutes into the game, making it the shortest possible RPG.<ref>[http://www.rpgamer.com/games/metal/metalsaga/metalsagaimp.html Metal Saga - Impression], [[RPGamer]], Spring 2006</ref> Since ''[[Romancing SaGa]]'' in 1992, the [[SaGa (series)|''SaGa'' series]] has also been known for its truly open-ended, non-linear gameplay, offering many choices and allowing players to complete quests in any order, with the decision of whether or not to participate in any particular quest affecting the outcome of the storyline. The game also allowed players to choose from eight different characters, each with their own stories that start in different places and offer different outcomes.<ref name=IGN-Romancing-Saga>[http://ps2.ign.com/articles/799/799108p2.html Romancing SaGa Review], [[IGN]]</ref> ''[[Romancing SaGa]]'' thus succeeded in providing a very different experience during each run through the game, something that even later sandbox RPGs such as ''[[Fable]]'' had promised but were unable to live up to.<ref name=RPGFan-Romancing-Saga>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/romancingsagaminstrel/index.html|title=Romancing SaGa|author=Patrick Gann|publisher=RPGFan|accessdate=2011-03-02}}</ref> ''[[Metal Max]]'' (1991) was an open-world RPG,<ref>http://www.rpgamer.com/games/other/gba/mm2kai/reviews/mm2kaistrev1.html</ref> where the player can pursue missions in any order, visit any place in the game world,<ref name=Crea-Tech/><ref name=Nintendo>[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_mmx/index.html Metal Max] ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nintendo.co.jp%2Fwii%2Fvc%2Fvc_mmx%2Findex.html Translation]), [[Virtual Console]], [[Nintendo]]</ref> determine the [[Multiple endings|ending]] through their actions, complete the game at almost any time, and continue playing the game after the ending.<ref name=Crea-Tech>[http://www.crea-tech.net/GAMES/games_MM_gai01.html Metal Max] ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crea-tech.net%2FGAMES%2Fgames_MM_gai01.html Translation]), Crea-Tech</ref> ''[[Romancing SaGa]]'' (1992) was an open-ended RPG by [[Square (company)|Square]] that offered many choices and allowed players to complete quests in any order, with the decision of whether or not to participate in any particular quest affecting the outcome of the storyline.<ref name="ign_romancing_saga">{{Cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Meghan|title=Romancing SaGa Review|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/799/799108p2.html|publisher=IGN|accessdate=15 May 2011|date=11 October 2005}}</ref> ''[[Secret of Mana]]'' (1993) was a major leap forward for open-world gaming. Its open world was the largest at the time (millions of square miles), significantly larger than ''The Legend of Zelda'' games at the time, for example. ''Secret of Mana'' could've had an even larger open world if it released for the SNES CD add-on as originally planned, but had to be cut down to fit onto a SNES cartridge.
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