Jason Moyer on 10/10/2022 at 19:45
Generations is out November 3rd apparently, so I'd probably just wait for it. It's going to have all of the same content except for the old WRC and FWD Rally4 cars since they've been replaced by the new WRC Hybrids and Rally3 in real life, plus they completely remade Sweden to better represent the location WRC has been using the last few years. Chances are it will have the same incremental improvements that 9 and 10 had, meaning it won't be a massive improvement in any area but will have enough small improvements that it's pointless to go back to the older versions. I'll certainly be grabbing it and reviewing it.
Tomi on 11/10/2022 at 18:26
Looking forward to your WRC Generations review, Jason! :thumb:
I started playing Witcher 3 yesterday. Yeah, I've never played it before :o
I've only ever heard good things about it, and I even played the first two games so that I could fully enjoy the experience (I didn't intend to have a 2-year break after Witcher 2 though and forget the whole story, but oh well!), so my expectations for Witcher 3 were super high. After 5+ hours in, what are my first impressions? Slightly disappointed, to be honest. But just slightly.
Perhaps my biggest gripe is the third person camera. Witcher 3 is the sort of a game that I would love to immerse myself in, but after experiencing the wonderful world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance in first person, 3rd person RPGs just don't feel that immersive anymore. Just wandering around the forests was a great experience in Kingdom Come, and as pretty as the world is in Witcher 3, it just doesn't feel like the same to explore it. As for the exploration, what's with all the hand holding? For example I found this hidden stash with a letter and a key in it, and the letter said that there's a secret hideout with a treasure near a mill. Ooh a secret hideout and a treasure! :o I immediately knew where this place is and for a brief moment I was somewhat pleased at myself, until the game spoiled it all for me by drawing the shortest route to the "secret" place and marking it on the map. My favourite thing in these games is to discover secrets by myself - I don't want the game to tell me exactly where to go. I really don't like the Ubisoft-like "interesting place" markers either that are all over the world map.
The combat seems decent and I'm still under the impression that it's rather complex, in a good way. I'm not a fan of the inventory management and all the crafting stuff, there's just way too much going on, but maybe I'll get the hang of it. The story and the characters are currently the best thing, I just wish there were more NPCs around that have something to say. I'm still in the first area (White Orchard), but about to leave it soon, so I'm sure that that will change. White Orchard is really small too (I like to go exploring and I bumped into the edge of the map all the time - that's a real immersion breaker), so hopefully that will change as well.
So yeah, I find Witcher 3 pretty good so far, but I'm still expecting much more from it.
nicked on 11/10/2022 at 19:36
I never understood that mindset. It's like saying "This film is good, but I really wish the camera was strapped to the main character's head."
What's immersive about the Witcher 3 is the great writing and characters, nothing to do with the viewpoint.
Renault on 11/10/2022 at 19:57
It's weird that you're thrown off by the 3rd person view, when you say you played the first two games which had the same exact perspective. It really shouldn't have come as much of a surprise.
I actually think the Witcher games are made for third person, as you often have multiple enemies surrounding you to keep track of. And it also makes for more interesting visuals, when you can see Geralt using a variety of sword techniques and throwing out signs at the same time.
Tomi on 11/10/2022 at 20:51
Quote Posted by nicked
I never understood that mindset. It's like saying "This film is good, but I really wish the camera was strapped to the main character's head."
In that case our mindsets must be different indeed. :D It's a bit hard to explain though. In my opinion your film comparison doesn't really work, since film isn't an interactive media, and I'm not even trying to put myself in the place of the main character. But in a RPG like Witcher I want to
be the witcher, not just play the witcher. Don't you agree that it feels completely different to play a racing/flight sim from the cockpit view for example, versus playing it from a third person view? Or imagine playing Thief from another angle.
I'm
not saying that third person view is always worse. It's not, of course. I choose the behind view in racing games that have a more arcade feel for example, and all sorts of fast action games. But for me there's no feeling of "being there", and that's what I'd love to have in a RPG. Having said that, maybe calling this my "biggest gripe" with Witcher 3 was a mistake - it's not
that bad. :)
Quote Posted by Brethren
It's weird that you're thrown off by the 3rd person view, when you say you played the first two games which had the same exact perspective. It really shouldn't have come as much of a surprise.
It didn't come as a surprise of course, and 3rd person view isn't a dealbreaker for me either. Also, you make a good point about Geralt having to watch his surroundings, so that and the fancy combat moves probably wouldn't translate well in first person view.
henke on 12/10/2022 at 07:59
Quote Posted by Tomi
I was somewhat pleased at myself, until the game spoiled it all for me by drawing the shortest route to the "secret" place and marking it on the map.
You can turn those off in the options! I turned markers off, and found it was a lot more immersive that way.
Tomi on 12/10/2022 at 13:47
Ah, I'll have a look at how I can tweak the settings even further. I already turned off the medieval TomTom and made the UI smaller, and I like it better that way. If the game is designed so that you can actually find the quest objectives without following the markers, then I might disable them altogether. We'll see about that.
I left White Orchard behind me and the next area feels much more interesting already. Lots of things to do and lots of places to explore, I like that. I have a feeling that this is a game that'll keep me busy for the rest of the year.
nicked on 12/10/2022 at 14:17
Quote Posted by Tomi
In that case our mindsets must be different indeed. :D It's a bit hard to explain though. In my opinion your film comparison doesn't really work, since film isn't an interactive media, and I'm not even trying to put myself in the place of the main character. But in a RPG like Witcher I want to
be the witcher, not just play the witcher. Don't you agree that it feels completely different to play a racing/flight sim from the cockpit view for example, versus playing it from a third person view? Or imagine playing Thief from another angle.
I'm
not saying that third person view is always worse. It's not, of course. I choose the behind view in racing games that have a more arcade feel for example, and all sorts of fast action games. But for me there's no feeling of "being there", and that's what I'd love to have in a RPG. Having said that, maybe calling this my "biggest gripe" with Witcher 3 was a mistake - it's not
that bad. :)
It didn't come as a surprise of course, and 3rd person view isn't a dealbreaker for me either. Also, you make a good point about Geralt having to watch his surroundings, so that and the fancy combat moves probably wouldn't translate well in first person view.
Depends on the game I think. First person games are all about inhabiting and becoming a character. Third person games, at least good, character-driven ones like the Witcher, are more cinematic and about observing a character more than "being" that character. The game is not designed around you "being" Geralt; sounds like you're asking for a different kind of game.
Briareos H on 16/10/2022 at 14:40
Finished Scorn in three small sittings. 5 hours overall.
It was exactly what I thought it would be and if you had any extensive familiarity with video games at the time the original trailer came out, you would in no way be surprised that it's half a walking sim, half a puzzle game with the occasional methodical shooting of monsters when you're cornered. That being said, it seems the devs may have overemphasized some aspects of the game at one point that led to the current backlash. If not that, I really can't explain why gamers seem salty about the game but to be fair I have avoided all info since I wishlisted it.
Gameplay-wise it's rather unremarkable but more than makes up for it in atmosphere and visuals. I consider this the definitive execution in any form of Giger's and to a lesser extent Beksiński's works, and I'm a disappointed they weren't credited, perhaps for legal reasons. The developers clearly took several core artworks and ran with them, trying to imagine how a linear narrative around these would look like. In that exercise, the game is a resounding success. It is otherwordly, it is bleak, it is gory, organic, sexual, biomechanical, grotesque, hostile, decaying and beautiful. And narratively obtuse in the best way. The artistic design is top notch.
Be wary of a couple of puzzles that may be frustrating if you're not expecting them. Actual, bona fide logic puzzles.
Oh and I played it entirely on Steam Deck with graphics on high. Once again, I am in awe at how powerful the Deck is.