Renault on 4/1/2024 at 19:01

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I kind of wonder what's going on with Skin Deep. It's been in development for over 5 years now, longer than any other Blendo game, and I couldn't find any recent news on it.

heywood on 5/1/2024 at 00:42

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What's up with Core Decay? 3D Realms put out a trailer just a few months ago. Here it is:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpVB-52enLA)

I haven't been anticipating Core Decay as much as Skin Deep because IMO it copies too much of Deus Ex. And I love Deus Ex. But the trailers fall in the uncanny valley for me. That's not to say I won't play it if it's good. But Quadrilateral Cowboy was a so cool, I'm looking forward to Skin Deep.

heywood on 5/1/2024 at 13:23

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DOH! Just read Ivar Hill was one of the ones laid off, so that's it for Core Decay. I guess the Embracer Group didn't embrace their recent acquisitions.

Seems like incompetent business practices, going on a buying spree financed with near-free COVID money, taking on debt they couldn't afford to pay off at normal rates.

samIamsad on 15/6/2024 at 10:30

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Got it. And they're kinda "underselling" it in a sense. Not merely in a literal sense (they must be communists to charge 10 bucks for this :cheeky:). But with their "Noir FPS" tagline. Coupled with this being published by New Blood (of DUSK fame), everybody surely thinks "Boomer Shooter" first.

But this has oft more stuff going on than Bioshock ever did. In particular as to the non-linear level-design with multiple routes. Optional stealth. And AI that doesn't aggro the moment it sniffs you anywhere near. All that stuff makes Bioware play much more like a straightforward FPS than this. You can even pickpocket goons/NPCs. Doors can be locked... Just seen (https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/im-already-in-love-with-new-bloods-latest-the-pulp-noir-immersive-sim-fallen-aces-and-you-can-get-it-for-just-dollar10/) that PC Gamer have picked up on the great level design already also. It kinda feels like Goodfellas Shock or Dishonored: The Knife Of Mob City at times, even. But then they've always been (https://x.com/TreyPowell1964/status/1745140593666183630) pretty open about their inspirations at least in the Twittersphere.


As for a couple of personal CONS, there's a bug that's gonna be hotfixed with t(https://i.imgur.com/A8Ewxzw.png) he cool in-universe maps (Thief-style). Currently, if you load a save, that map isn't displayed in the menu anymore. As a workaround, I make a screenshot of the map upon starting a chapter, keep that open and alt+tab out of the game if I want to re-check the maps (minor annoyance). And some of the lighting system / stealth seems at times a bit random to me -- e.g. in some sections, despite moving in a dark container, you're not flagged "hidden", that kind of stuff. That doesn't mean it's inherently broken, stealth works (people have been all-out stealthing the demo from 2-3 years ago already). Just in some places, the lighting system doesn't seem 100% consistent. But then it's Early Access. And I'd never thought that small indies could ever pull this off.

I'm having fun for sure! At 9.99$ it should be a no-brainer on these boards anyway. :D

samIamsad on 15/6/2024 at 16:27

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Can't do much about the visuals and theme then... Some of the level geometry seems a bit blocky to me in spots as well, but else I think this thing oozes style. Also in the animated comic-style cutscenes (fully VO'd as well). And that SOUNDTRACK. I tried the demo back then when I was finished with Weird West upon launch (early-mid 2022) and looked what was going on in the (smaller) indie space.

The demo level (reportedly much reworked and improved for the EA release, not there yet) ticked a couple of boxes for me already. In particular as soon as you reached the Night Club to infiltrate, there were quite a few options. But so far, the levels of this don't hold back on that much any... Even in the very first scene, there's choices already to make. Not HUGE of a story PLOT spoiler per se. Just the opening situation you're thrown in.

[spoiler]You wake up into your appartment after a night of booze. Suddenly there's goons knocking at your door trying to hunt you down. Eventually, they manage to break in through the door. You could for instance flick the lights off, hide, sneak past them when they go inside. You could also surprise them by openening the door yourself and smash them to the ground (the character you play was quite the thing in boxing in an early life, which seems to help. ;) ). You could also open the window and try to make it down to the streets that'a ways... possibly skipping a multi-level apartment building altoegether, if you wanted. It's a way down there from the 3rd floor tho and you're being observed.[/SPOILEr]

And yeah, the comparison to Thief2's Shipping... and receiving level PC Gamer made with another map isn't completely unwarranted (though LGS at their most complex were still something else, naturally). Lots of vertical exploration too. Plus secrets. I'm really taking my time with this one... If you do, a level can easily take an hour or more. Depends on your playing style too, naturally. Hacking your way through Dishonored, levels were far shorter as well.

Speaking about Bioshock, there's a direct nod of kinds. Thief probably as well. But I'm sure you're gonna pick that stuff up as well. These guys have played the same games you did. (https://x.com/TreyPowell1964/status/1801173362288324664) :angel: I highly recommend playing on the highest difficulty level, and not quicksave at every turn. Game isn't particularly hard so far (they'll apparently add more options later).

edit: Just a minute after typing this I was sniped from the sniper, game over. :D