Alternative to cover-based combat?

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Zer_

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Feb 7, 2008
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Cranyx said:
Often people complain of an over-abundance of cover-based combat in video games today, and these complaints are legitimate, but what exactly are the pther options for shooters aside from the Halo/GoW wall of bullet-absorbing meat?

I am not trying to defend cover-based combat, and it may just be that I haven't played any of the games that have created a different system, but I myself cannot think of any.
Blocking rockets with your face and taking it like a man... Quake style.
 

Rayne870

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Nov 28, 2010
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Cranyx said:
Often people complain of an over-abundance of cover-based combat in video games today, and these complaints are legitimate, but what exactly are the pther options for shooters aside from the Halo/GoW wall of bullet-absorbing meat?

I am not trying to defend cover-based combat, and it may just be that I haven't played any of the games that have created a different system, but I myself cannot think of any.
Both styles have their places. Blends of the two are also interesting. The biggest problem with cover based combat is level design, too much of the cover is put there to be cover rather than being naturally occurring cover. Vegas 2 seems to be the closest to the ideal mix of cover and open combat with tactics, for the type of game it is. Meat shield mechanics are very fun, and that's what made things like Bullet Storm and the older arena or frag fest games great.
 

number2301

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Apr 27, 2008
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It would feel strange and unnecessarily limiting to me to play a modern game without a cover system nowadays, but my ideal would be a shooter with a cover system which isn't defined by that cover system.

You know, sometimes there are chest high walls, sometimes there aren't. It'd also make ambushes less predictable.
 

technoted

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Nov 9, 2009
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Wait, you're classing GoW as a bullet absorbing game? I love that game but 95% of it his looking at Marcus' face as he crouches behind a wall.
 

CrashBang

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Jun 15, 2009
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It's no entirely bad unless an entire game is based around it, like GeOW. Actually, I don't hate GeOW, it just gets a bit repetitive
Cover-based shooting is a great tactic to be used in shooters, just make sure it's not the only tactic. Another great option that should be integrated into a game? Stealth! Take cover, fire off a few shots, duck down and flank them, taking them out Solid Snake style
Stealth and cover-based combat work well together. Let's see more of it
 

Zantos

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Jan 5, 2011
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I like cover based shooting, but to twist my arm for something else then Fallout 3 & New Vegas mashed a few ideas together that could work. A little assisted targeting, a bit of run and gun, some ironsights and some sneaky sneaky you can't see me. You'd have to balance the different tactics for an MP but the bare bones are there.
 

Vegna60

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Apr 11, 2011
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Instead of static cover system, how about a form of shield that the character carries.
Heavy fire, just bring it up and push forward.
Too exposed, protect one side as you run to a better vantage point.
Too many, leggit with the shield on your back and get out of there.

Maybe a riot cop game wouldn't be too great, but still an alternative.
 

TheKruzdawg

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Apr 28, 2010
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Souplex said:
Radeonx said:
Run and gun, non cover based combat?

Souplex said:
What's wrong with Halo superhumanism? It makes games fun!
And this.
Exactly. That's one of the many reasons why ME1 is better than ME2.
I didn't mind the cover based shooting in ME2. Until you get up to a high level in ME1 (at least in all of my experiences) simply trying to run around without taking cover or just stand there is a quick way to get killed.

However, I wish they had kept the medigel health system instead of the regenerating health. I gave me a reason to explore everything to look for supplies. Also, where did the grenades go?!?
 

Agayek

Ravenous Gormandizer
Oct 23, 2008
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Just off the top of my head:

Shields one can carry
Suppression fire capabilities (able to make the bad guys you're shooting at duck behind cover and stay there til you stop)
High mobility
Higher damage (ie, 1-2 shot kills instead of half a clip)
Special abilities (ie, Crysis suit powers)

Any of these can be used to counter the tedium of cover-based mechanics. It's just unfortunate that that's never going to happen.
 

Agayek

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Oct 23, 2008
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TheKruzdawg said:
I didn't mind the cover based shooting in ME2. Until you get up to a high level in ME1 (at least in all of my experiences) simply trying to run around without taking cover or just stand there is a quick way to get killed.

However, I wish they had kept the medigel health system instead of the regenerating health. I gave me a reason to explore everything to look for supplies. Also, where did the grenades go?!?
The grenades were dismantled and turned into heatsinks. Didn't you hear?
 

TheKruzdawg

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Apr 28, 2010
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Agayek said:
The grenades were dismantled and turned into heatsinks. Didn't you hear?
That's too bad. There were plenty of time when I could have used some of those grenades. I liked how they glided where you were aiming. A new way of using them. It was fun. Especially if you got them to detonate directly under someone when you had the High Explosive upgrade.

Oh how high the enemies would fly...
 

kittii-chan 300

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Feb 27, 2011
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a game where the cover isnt a defense, its an attack. your charater can throw chest high walls and plant pots at people by usin the force.
or game where instead of shooting people you have to convince them to commit suicide.
or mecha combat
 

Souplex

Souplex Killsplosion Awesomegasm
Jul 29, 2008
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TheKruzdawg said:
Souplex said:
Radeonx said:
Run and gun, non cover based combat?

Souplex said:
What's wrong with Halo superhumanism? It makes games fun!
And this.
Exactly. That's one of the many reasons why ME1 is better than ME2.
I didn't mind the cover based shooting in ME2. Until you get up to a high level in ME1 (at least in all of my experiences) simply trying to run around without taking cover or just stand there is a quick way to get killed.

However, I wish they had kept the medigel health system instead of the regenerating health. I gave me a reason to explore everything to look for supplies. Also, where did the grenades go?!?
In ME1 you took cover, but you ignored the cover system. In ME2 they took out the ability to duck and shove crates around and whatnot. Made the game feel slower.
 

MASTACHIEFPWN

Will fight you and lose
Mar 27, 2010
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Non recharging health, other alternitives to combat itself, for instance, I may start a project from a comic I'm writing which takes the POV of the main character, and Instead of fighting yourself, You have to use your soldiers.

That's just an idea though. Cover based combat isn't bad in my mind, but I do like the occasional Halo, Quake uber fast paced combat game... holds a place dear to my heart.
 

TheKruzdawg

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Apr 28, 2010
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Souplex said:
In ME1 you took cover, but you ignored the cover system. In ME2 they took out the ability to duck and shove crates around and whatnot. Made the game feel slower.
I've played ME1 a few times through now and I never knew that I had the ability to shove boxes and stuff around. I've just been trying to maneuver into the best spot possible before the AI flanks me and makes me fight without any cover. Since it's been awhile since I played ME2, I forgot that you can't duck anymore. I liked that feature in the original. Especially when I was trying to snipe.
 

Laser Priest

A Magpie Among Crows
Mar 24, 2011
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Running straight at the enemy and firing your gun and then hiding behind a wall or running away to find a health kit when your health drops. In other words, the exact same thing only with more stupid.

People like to complain. If a lot of them do it, it doesn't mean that they're right.
 

BoredDragon

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Feb 9, 2011
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I really don't think cover based shooting applies to Halo (at least the way I play it :p).

OT:
You could use stealth and then run and gun when you're caught.
 

bl4ckh4wk64

Walking Mass Effect Codex
Jun 11, 2010
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High Speed, Low Drag. Bang Bang, slaying bodies, all the time. Goodtago.

In all seriousness, there isn't much else. So far I think BC2 did it best with destructible cover. It's really awe-inspiring how much you can change a map just by blowing up some houses.
 

Frotality

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Oct 25, 2010
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mobility. simple as that. there could be cover, but to survive, you had to keep running from cover to cover; the game should have fluid locomotion, and hiding behind the same wall playing peek-a-boo would get you killed. the simplest and oldest form of this is basic circle strafing, which is often more exiting than cover-based games today. a game like rainbow 6 rewarded you for either setting up an intelligent position to take all the enemies quick and efficiently, and/or moving from vantage point to vantage point to keep your enemies on their toes and avoid being flanked; thats what i think we should be developing.

cover-based combat isnt bad, its just that modern games dont do anything with it; its just a game of peek-a-boo with the guys on the other side of the chest-high wall field. it isnt dynamic.