Tomi on 1/2/2021 at 22:32
Quote Posted by Briareos H
I gave up pretty early on because it seemed like a by-the-numbers action-adventure with predictable and tired TPS game design (always the same collect-a-thon of audio logs and readables, very limited and scripted interaction with the game world, bland levels with invisible walls everywhere, run-of-the-mill shooting and boring protagonist). After the first 40 minutes I just hadn't seen
anything special about it except pretty and moody lighting. Does it later transcend its game mechanics? Should I give it a second chance?
I'd love to say "absolutely yes!", but it might just not be your cup of tea. Then again, it took me a while for that cup of tea to warm up, so perhaps you
should give it a second chance. 40 minutes certainly isn't enough, at that point I was still very confused and wondering what it's all about. Once I got some more special powers (levitation for example changes things quite radically!), a bunch of quests, and new places to explore, that was when I couldn't put the game down anymore. Gameplay-wise I don't think that Control is so unique, even though the special powers are pretty cool, and the game looks absolutely great in action. The destructible terrain is just so fun though - the aftermath of a battle in an office section is quite a sight! The level design might seem a bit boring at first, but it gets a bit more interesting soon enough. What invisible walls are you talking about? As for the protagonist, she does seem rather
ordinary (ahem), but I think that's what makes her rather likable. What makes Control somewhat unique is the whole setting, in my opinion. It delivers a story that goes a bit over the top at times, but you never really know what's around the corner. There could be something absurdly silly or something terrifying.
If you really didn't like the game during those first 40 minutes though, the chances are that you'll never like it. It does change (to better) but I think it's like any "metroidvania" game in that regard - you'll learn some new tricks and get some new weapons, and that opens new areas for you to explore, but at its core the game remains the same. Will that be enough for you? I think only you can answer that. :)
WingedKagouti on 1/2/2021 at 22:46
Quote Posted by Briareos H
I gave up pretty early on because it seemed like a by-the-numbers action-adventure with predictable and tired TPS game design (always the same collect-a-thon of audio logs and readables, very limited and scripted interaction with the game world, bland levels with invisible walls everywhere, run-of-the-mill shooting and boring protagonist). After the first 40 minutes I just hadn't seen
anything special about it except pretty and moody lighting. Does it later transcend its game mechanics? Should I give it a second chance?
The core of what made Control work for me was the setting and background information, the gameplay is decent enough but nothing special. It's things like "The Rule of 3s" and how they're used to further the story and gameplay that turn it into an experience worth going through.
Briareos H on 2/2/2021 at 08:42
Thank you both, that is very valuable insight. I never reached the point where the game becomes a Metroidvania and I actually didn't know it was going to become one (!) as I like to go blind in stuff that people recommend to me.
What I think I will do is, because the game seems to be really atmospheric, next time I'm in the mood for a gaming experience that focuses on aesthetic, I'll play it and get at least two hours in. At least until I reach the aspects that I know I would really enjoy (destructible environments, interesting powers and metroidvania).
Thirith on 2/2/2021 at 08:50
I found Control enjoyable enough, but I also thought that too much of it was pretty samey. There are some cool setpieces, but for me the Oldest House suffered from one part of it looking and feeling much like any other part for 80% of the game. That's also why the Metroidvania aspects didn't much work for me: I found the backtracking dull due to the samey environments. Then again, I loved the setting and the ideas of the game in theory, but other than in Max Payne 2 I've found Remedy's writing to be flabby and in dire need of an editor. (MP2 is also self-indulgent in its writing, but there the combination of the setting, tone and underlying weirdness worked for me.) For me, Control was a good, fun 300-page novel that unfortunately is 800 pages long.
nicked on 2/2/2021 at 21:43
Picked up Elderborn and it is gooood. First person barbarian hack and slash with Dark Souls style saving and progression system. Kicking hapless baddies off cliffs hasn't been this fun since Dark Messiah.
Tomi on 3/2/2021 at 19:23
Quote Posted by Malf
It [New Colossus] does get better after a certain story beat, but the mission before that story beat is one of the hardest in any recent FPS, expecially if you're playing on "I am death incarnate!"
And not hard in a good way either; just unfair. I ended up knocking the difficulty down a notch to get through it.
If the story beat that you're talking about is the
execution, well, wow. :D As ridiculous it is, I think it was done in a pretty cool way. That's a memorable plot twist for sure! And you're right about the game getting better too, the last missions have been quite enjoyable, even though I don't know what that hard mission that you're talking about is. I'm only playing on "Bring 'em on" though, so maybe that's why. The story is getting more interesting too, but nearly thirty years ago when I first played Wolf 3D, I never thought that I'd have any part in BJ Blazkovicz's relationship drama. :p Good to see that BJ isn't as much of a psychopath as he was in New Order, but the miserable/macho combo still is quite odd and off-putting.
glslvrfan on 5/2/2021 at 01:47
I just bought a Bioshock bundle off Steam for 12 bucks. Bioshock 1, 2, and Infinity. Also grabbed XCom 2 for 5 bucks. I got Thief Gold and Thief 2 for less than 2 bucks on GOG. It's going to be a very good time.
nicked on 5/2/2021 at 20:43
Talking of Control, if anyone's on the fence and has PSPlus, it is free on PSPlus this month.
Yakoob on 6/2/2021 at 05:55
So I'm playing Oblivion for the first time (having played both Morrowing and Skyrim before). One thing I like about it is reaching new cities and learning about their local affairs. Like I reached Skingrad and everyone talks about their amazing wines. I like that it's something so... mundane? It actually makes it feel believable. Like "yeah that makes sense I could see that being a thing". I just got to Cheydinhal and hearing rumors about imperials discriminatingly the dark elves and the racial tensions. So that's interesting.
It's almost like mini-scratching a travel itch I wasn't able to do because of Covid and all the travel restrictions.
However, there is one thing that's been really grating on me, and that's the dungeoneering. It's just starting to feel really tedious. Going to a cave and fighting Goblin Berserkers, needing to dodge, use block, and going in for strategic blow? First two or three is super fun. But by the time I'm on my fucking 20th goblin I just feel SO done. I just did a multi-layered, 2 map cave full of those fuckers and... there was nothing at the end. No cool loot, no stack of gold. I just spent an hour bashing the same bullet-sponge enemy for nothing.
Hnnnghhhhh
WingedKagouti on 6/2/2021 at 08:48
Quote Posted by Yakoob
However, there is one thing that's been really grating on me, and that's the dungeoneering. It's just starting to feel really tedious.
As far as I recall, most non-quest caves have trash loot in the early levels. The loot only improves as per the levelled random drop tables, which iirc aren't worthwhile until around level 16-20.
It is also possible that you ran into a quest cave and did everything possible without the quest active.
