Jason Moyer on 15/8/2022 at 10:50
I *abhor* crafting systems, and I enjoyed playing with the one in Prey. Probably the aforementioned charm.
Briareos H on 15/8/2022 at 14:36
Quote Posted by henke
Seriously, Bri, what are you envisioning as a better, modern version of a skilltree?
Hmmm. I don't want to give the false impression that I know much about games design, I'm not here to solve a problem and I'm not asking anyone to agree with me that there is a problem to solve. I'm just (subjectively) very sensitive to stuff that telegraphs a designer's intention, I don't like it when all I'm seeing is an engineer trying to balance systems and fine tune meta-economies in order to craft a certain experience. As usual, my rant was hyperbolic but I have a tough time with AAA games in general.
Anyway I am enjoying my time. It's refreshing to see the game let you savescum shamelessly if you want, which I tend to do less and less as I like going through the outcomes of failure. Right now this all feels like what Bioshock should perhaps have originally set out to do: remake SS2 with more modern and finely tuned game mechanics, and what seems like it could be the narrative agency of Deus Ex. Looking forward to seeing more of the latter.
ZylonBane on 15/8/2022 at 17:42
Quote Posted by Jason Moyer
I *abhor* crafting systems, and I enjoyed playing with the one in Prey. Probably the aforementioned charm.
Prey doesn't have a crafting system in the conventional sense, where you have to gather X and Y to build Z, then Q and X to build R, then combine Z and R and some V to build A, and so on.
Instead it just has a pure resource system that you use to directly "buy" any item in the game. It's a direct expansion of SS2's Valu-Reps. Instead of one resource (nanites) you have four resources. Instead of only being able to buy certain items at certain replicators, you can buy any item at any replicator.
Shoshin on 17/8/2022 at 20:19
I've never played Prey so I put it on my Steam wishlist a couple days ago thanks to this thread. Got an email from Steam yesterday that it was on sale for 75% off in case anyone else is interested. Sale ends on the 22nd.
samIamsad on 18/8/2022 at 08:31
Quote Posted by Briareos H
As usual, my rant was hyperbolic but I have a tough time with AAA games in general.
Re: RPG tropes/mechanics, actually I considered and still consider Prey to be more of an RPG than pretty much any self-proclaimed AAA RPG of the like the past decade plus (minus New Vegas and Kingdom Come, of course). And that wasn't even marketed as such. I found that to be pretty delightful. It's not only in the mechanics and character progression but how the game reflects on how you handle situations and NPCs until the very end.
That was so bloody refreshing and good in an era of game making in which major studios are more insterested in ever increasing their target audience with each game to the extent that (AAA) RPGs more and more become like either semi-interactive action/adventure movie type of experiences (the Bioware school), guided open world theme park tours with barebones character systems/decisions (Bethesda school) or a mix of both of them (Witcher school). The "evolution" of the Fallout series in general is pretty telling for the evolution of the (AAA) RPG in itself, with Bethesda being increasibly more interested in what's mass marketable (exploration and gunplay) over anything that made Fallout unique in the first place. AAA RPGs are barely distinguishable anymore from pretty much any other action/adventure AAA blockbuster game out there that contains the more typical RPG tropes (experience points, level systems, loot and what not).
What was kickstarted in around 2012ish pretty much saved the genre for me. The entire genre is completely split in two since then though. Hopefully, BG3 may build a few bridges upon release, a game likewise that wouldn't exist where it not for what happened back then.
Semi-rant over. :D
henke on 29/8/2022 at 08:56
Finished my replay of Prey. Still good! Tho it's definitely strongest in the early parts and it kinda started dragging towards the end. Trying to do every sidemission I came across was a mistake. This time I blew up the station and escaped with some of the crew. I've got a savegame near the end, think I'll go back and try getting the "just neutralize the typhon" ending. I think this is Arkane's best game storywise, and gameplaywise. It's just great all around!
ZylonBane on 29/8/2022 at 17:17
Prey's greatest weakness, IMHO, is that there's not a single character on the station that I care whether they live or die. Everyone is either annoying or background noise.
System Shock gave us freaking SHODAN.
Prey gave us a mumbling fat guy.
Jason Moyer on 29/8/2022 at 18:49
Is there an Arkane game where the player character isn't the most interesting character? Looking back, it sure seems like most of the mystery/interest in their games is focused on the person you're controlling. The NPC's in Prey are also certainly weak compared to their other stuff, which seemed to have at least a few entertaining NPC's. I think the only character besides the protagonist and his brother that I even remember, 5 years later, is Danielle Sho and that has more to do with her name than her personality.
Jason Moyer on 14/10/2022 at 04:49
Finally played Mooncrash. It starts really slowly, but once you have everyone unlocked and the simulation is fully maxed out it's a good time. It was fun doing all the different character builds I'd never use in the main campaign and I thought the story was actually fairly interesting. At least, the story in the simulation, the meta story is pretty whatever. I definitely recommend giving a play, I think it took around 15-16 hours for me to finish it in the end, without having any characters fully maxed out.
Aja on 14/10/2022 at 22:38
Quote Posted by Jason Moyer
Is there an Arkane game where the player character isn't the most interesting character? Looking back, it sure seems like most of the mystery/interest in their games is focused on the person you're controlling. The NPC's in Prey are also certainly weak compared to their other stuff, which seemed to have at least a few entertaining NPC's. I think the only character besides the protagonist and his brother that I even remember, 5 years later, is Danielle Sho and that has more to do with her name than her personality.
Deathloop's NPCs are pretty interesting; problem is that they don't get developed as well as I think the writers intended because all you do is fight them.