Just when you think you've seen everything... - by ZylonBane
ZylonBane on 14/2/2005 at 16:52
Okay, I've played through DX start-to-finish at least four times, and individual missions much more than that. I thought I'd seen everything. Well...
Last night I was screwing around with the gas station mission, seeing how quickly I could finish it and still save Tiffany. In one of my tries the MiB chased me back to the gas pumps, blasting away with his plasma rifle... and the roof collapsed on him, killing him! :eek:
I'd never, ever seen that before. Probably because whenever I play that mission for real I take the guards down as quickly and quietly as possible. There's really an amazing amount of stuff packed into that tiny little map. It wasn't until many plays later that I discovered you can get into the tanker and the crashed van. There's goodies stashed all over the place.
Tortus on 14/2/2005 at 19:32
That's what I like about having occasional maps or missions of that size, it invites more replayability. More importantly, you're more likely to replay it trying different styles of play.
I can understand a bit better what the devs mean about having a simulation vs brute-forcing in special cases like this. But I still think this is cool. Great find.
Ajare on 14/2/2005 at 19:41
Just rambling, so excuse anything that's well known already.
The MJ12 labs under VersaLife are great fun. I managed to get a WiB to deliberately kill two MJ12 troopers with her Dragon's Tooth. I guess it was due to friendly fire. It's great fun just to let the greys, greasels and the bum out and see how many scientists the MiBs set on fire as a result.
Also, I discovered a wierd bug, whereby if you lean over a ledge, and throw a grenade directly down, not only do you fall after it, but you then bounce like a grenade. Great for introducing yourself to Maggie at the UC. (
http://www.tetracorp.net/stuff/bounce.avi) Video.
Also, a question about that gas station mission. Is it possible to take out the commando just outside the room that Tiffany's held in, without the alarm going off? I've tried just about everything, and the only two ways I can complete that mission are by either dropping in via the roof, or storming in and killing the trooper and MiB before they get to Tiffany.
ZylonBane on 14/2/2005 at 20:23
You mean the one inside the garage? I'd think killing him would be a pretty effective way of stopping him from pressing the alarm button. Or do you mean the rocket-shooting Commando who patrols outside? I almost always just drop him with one or two sniper rounds to the back of the head. Even if he gets some rockets off, the guards inside never seem to hear.
What bugs me is that you cannot drop into Tiffany's cell without being heard. Also, it's almost impossible to take down the guard behind the building (where the dogs are) without the guards inside hearing it and sounding the alarm.
Getting back to the collapsing roof, what was doubly surprising about it to me was that, as far as I know, this is the ONLY destructible structure in the entire game. It even has a custom animation for when it collapses.
And here's a fun, evil little bit of script-breaking-- if you rescue Tiffany, then drop a LAM immediately before boarding Jock's helicopter, it will kill Tiffany and cause Jock to play his, "Oh no we've failed let's get out of here" dialogue as you're already flying away.
Ajare on 14/2/2005 at 20:58
Quote Posted by ZylonBane
You mean the one inside the garage? I'd think killing him would be a pretty effective way of stopping him from pressing the alarm button. Or do you mean the rocket-shooting Commando who patrols outside? I almost always just drop him with one or two sniper rounds to the back of the head. Even if he gets some rockets off, the guards inside never seem to hear.
Oops, forgot that Tiffany is in a room inside a room. I meant fresh-air outside. Then again, the only people in the room are a MiB and a trooper. Yeah, the commando outside. He patrols next to the window, and when/however I drop him, the people inside see.
Quote:
Also, it's almost impossible to take down the guard behind the building (where the dogs are) without the guards inside hearing it and sounding the alarm.
Silenced sniper rifle works for me. I would have thought that the prod would too.
ZylonBane on 14/2/2005 at 21:07
I think they're actually hearing him hit the ground. Maybe if I didn't always cap him when he's directly opposite from the inside guard. :erm:
Silencer81 on 14/2/2005 at 21:58
A couple of quick observations about the gas station level:
During my initial runs through the game I tried various ways of making the roof collapse, but only explosives seemed to work. I had assumed that everyone would hear if you set one off, but for some reason none of the other enemies seemed to care. It's still a little counter intuitive, as any explosive could just as easily be used directly on the commando himself.
As far as dropping in from the roof, I found that the way to prevent the guards from hearing you is to stand up before you enter rather than crouching. For some reason dropping in crouched results in a footfall noise, whereas if you stand you are automatically crouched when you hit the cell roof, muffling the sound. As for the guards I just gas them and use the prod.
You can also shoot the alarm button off the wall with the silenced sniper rifle, for all the good it does.
ZylonBane on 14/2/2005 at 22:04
Y'know what else is really cool about this level? It's tiny even by Invisible War standards, yet it doesn't feel tiny because it's so completely wide open. :thumb:
JDAdams on 15/2/2005 at 01:19
Quote Posted by Ajare
Also, I discovered a wierd bug, whereby if you lean over a ledge, and throw a grenade directly down, not only do you fall after it, but you then bounce like a grenade. Great for introducing yourself to Maggie at the UC. (
http://www.tetracorp.net/stuff/bounce.avi) Video.
LMAO - best video EVAR!!!!111!!0ne!11! Ahem, sorry, but it is :p
Deiyen on 15/2/2005 at 04:13
What a great game. I've played it <i>so</i> many times through, although like you ZylonBane, I didn't find out about the exploding gas pumps until much later after my first time. Careful if you're standing under it it can kill you too (mash you into large meat giblets too).
I still felt that that mission was pathetically small, but considering its size, there's quite a lot to do for completeness' sake.
Quote Posted by Ajare
Is it possible to take out the commando just outside the room that Tiffany's held in, without the alarm going off?
I believe that guy patrols into the big empty lot out front so you can wait around for him to walk away from the station and then kill him.
Quote Posted by ZylonBane
What bugs me is that you cannot drop into Tiffany's cell without being heard.
Yea, I always found that quite stupid although I guess it gives a use for the silenced running aug.
Quote Posted by Silencer81
I tried various ways of making the roof collapse, but only explosives seemed to work.
I know from experience that it can be done with the rifle so I believe any gun will work (possible Master level), you just have to aim right.
Quote Posted by Silencer81
As far as dropping in from the roof, I found that the way to prevent the guards from hearing you is to stand up before you enter rather than crouching. For some reason dropping in crouched results in a footfall noise, whereas if you stand you are automatically crouched when you hit the cell roof, muffling the sound.
That sounds good, I've never tried that. Typically when I drop in from the roof I'm crouched and I immediately wedge myself in the back corner. They can't see you there and I just wait for them to calm down.
