I enjoyed that stuff.
I despised all the stuff I had to do to get to the main game in Yakuza 3. Fucking taking photos...
Photo taking and fishing are neck-and-neck as the worst 'main game side objectives'. Arbitrary racing is probably the third.
I loved Yakuza 1 & 2, but I gave up on Yakuza 3 right quick.
Fishing in Ocarina of Time. Game was shit. Fishing was not. Yes I'm a heathen.
Sailing boats in AC3. Taking down AT-ATs in Shadows of the Empire. Both mini level/modes that led to very successful full blown games.
Dodging lightning.
Are we on Ssjn or ip's topic?
Not better than the actual game, but I enjoyed the blackjack game in the sewer towards the end of the original Lunar.
Fuck Nier's farming and fishing minigames.