To add to this: I have no interest in the rogue-like/rouge-lite genre in general. I see the appeal, but I find it too frustrating and too much of a waste of time. The only exception where I've enjoyed this type of genre, is the DLC mode, Mr X's Nightmare. Even that mode has its own issues.
I fucking called it. "it's only over $40" don't mean shit, if they're up charging something that's already $200+. And it won't be long until they add more interest on top of that within a month or two.
www.eurogamer.net
Honestly I'm more convinced Ubisoft is gonna put out a AC Japan that's a very pretty map of Japan with a ton of GaaS elements and bloated to shit. Like the last few AC games. GoT will likely look like the better game due to Ubisoft Ubisofting all over their answer to it.
While you have your points, that does not make Ubisoft's problems and game design problems any less true. Though I started hating on Ubisoft since the Rayman Legends fiasco, and before it became "cool" to do so. With one or two minor exceptions, AC combat is ass and super automated. This is the major advantage Ghost has over every game in the franchise. Not to mention better characters and side characters, better narrative, and just more fun activities and explorations. Not held down by some stupid conspiracy no cares about anymore.
Yes, it is redundant. See my text from above. Their folly decision will be even more redundant when Ghost 2 comes out.
@Dalisclock example only further proves my point.
I did not say that, but it would be nice if they did stop existing at some point. Don't make me dream right now, and don't ever put words in my mouth.
Yeah, the lore and meta-narrative still sucks in AC, and only got worse each time.
Not really. You can still care about AC, and find Tsushima better than AC. Don't know who told you that, or how you came to that conclusion. I've met plenty of people that liked both AC and Tsushima, but realized or had no problem saying the latter is the better game.
I understand your sentiments on their face, but I'd argue that stamina in FromSoft games adds a layer of gameplay complexity that must be considered to survive the game. In fact, to say "I can assure you nobody actually considers this stupid stamina bar during combat" is by far and away an inaccurate statement. I, for one, went into DS1 trying to play it like a typical hack 'n slash game, tried to button mash, and got shredded. It wasn't until I learned that managing stamina was a vital key to success before I was able to manage. I learned that an opening in an enemy's attack pattern meant nothing if I took advantage of it without enough stamina to roll away or block without being stun-locked.Stamina bars are just... why?
Is this a hot take? I don't know, but considering this has never been a point of contention for Fromsoft fans I feel like bringing it up anyway. Stamina bars are shit. If they're just for special moves or skills, fine, but if simply running, jumping, and even swinging your weapon costs stamina, how is that at all an engaging mechanic? It's just annoying. It's not fun to work with or work around. What makes it worse in Souls games is that you need that shit to dodge AND swing your weapon... while you need to keep your eyes on the action so as to know when to dodge and when to swing your weapon... while the stamina bar is in the corner for you not to properly keep tabs on.
I can assure you nobody actually considers this stupid stamina bar during combat - unlike a health bar it charges up too fast for you to bother, yet it still gets your way - so why the hell is it even there? You're then pretty much forced to pump skill points into this stupid thing so that in 5 hours or so you have the promise of being able to perform a combo of 4 hits instead of 3. Yipee!
It sucks, yet Fromsoft just keeps 'm around for some reason. And yes, this is me taking the oppertunity to dump some more on the myriad of bad mechanics in Souls games.
Honestly I think it made a lot more sense in the early games like Demons, Dark and Dark Souls 2 where the Stamina Bar didn't fill up quickly and the games were designed around fairly slow and methodical combat. Ignoring the Stamina bar in Dark Souls would lead to you being unable to do anything but walk and get wrecked at the worst time. As fast as the newer games are getting(Bloodborne and beyond), the Stamina Bar feels like it's there for the sake of being there most of the time(it might be more noticable if you're playing an unga-bunga build). It does act as a limiter of sorts but honestly you're more likely to just fuck up and get clobbered long before you run out of stamina in Elden RIng.
I was thinking along these same lines; sans stamina, the only way to punish/reward performance in combat without a stamina bar would have to be insanely high weapon/armor degradation, which means more trips to a blacksmith, or the entirely pointless full regen upon resting at a bonfire, both of which are far less engaging than punishing/rewarding my performance during engaging gameplay.
Yeah. I did forget that Stamina does keep you from just hiding behind a shield and tanking attacks, so that is one purpose it serves. Granted, some shields can tank some big hits with minimal stamina drain but those are the big heavy ones that require a lot of strength and carry weight to use.
While I won't stretch so far as to say they "perfected it," FromSoft has done a really good job [generally] of balancing the "give and take" of your various build options. Like you say, Havel's Shield can mitigate a lot of incoming damage, but you have to invest a butt-ton into Strength to wield it, points that could easily have gone into Stamina and allowed you a more agile build with a lighter shield to the same effect of mitigating damage, and BOTH options require an active awareness of your stamina bar.
