Connectivity
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
- Start date
Hmm thinking about Elite, some of my favourite games, I wonder what happened to Elite 4? It's the Duke Nukem of space sim...
Gift.
Gift.
I'm sure it was said before, but I disagree with the setup in ME 1 being more "connected". And especially with the size of the universe.
I traded off a galaxy map with no sense of my ship on the map for one where I have to physically fly to each planet in order to scan it. Then, rather than getting the "Pressly found something" dialouge box, I actually get to scan a planet. A huge planet. Or at least relatively seeming so. Even to find a sidequest, I have to scan this huge-seeming planet to get some sort of "ping" back, rather than having everything on the planet happen within a walled-off nature park.
As has been said before, the Mako was a P.O.S. It looked like an NES, and handled about as well, and turned what should have been a fun planet-hopping adventure into a frustrating jiggling of joysticks trying to find the correct angle at which the damn thing would actually move anywhere at all. Then there were the enemy fights. I never felt more disconnected from what was happening on the screen than when I was blasting away with the missles at tiny red blips somewhere over the horizon, all while jogging the mako back and forth like a baby's cradle trying to make Tali shut up about "Taking fire".
In return, I get to see my enemies up close, get much, much, much better looking planet surfaces, and the idea that instead of having just one landing zone on the whole planet, that Joker finally got his act together and became able to do what humanity has been doing since WW II, make a targeted drop.
If I don't see a version of the Mako show up on ME 3, I will be the happiest little boy in the world. I'd much rather they spend the time and money on making the feel of each planet different, rather than end up making me walk down the same mining shaft forty-three times because some twit argued that it was more "connected".
I traded off a galaxy map with no sense of my ship on the map for one where I have to physically fly to each planet in order to scan it. Then, rather than getting the "Pressly found something" dialouge box, I actually get to scan a planet. A huge planet. Or at least relatively seeming so. Even to find a sidequest, I have to scan this huge-seeming planet to get some sort of "ping" back, rather than having everything on the planet happen within a walled-off nature park.
As has been said before, the Mako was a P.O.S. It looked like an NES, and handled about as well, and turned what should have been a fun planet-hopping adventure into a frustrating jiggling of joysticks trying to find the correct angle at which the damn thing would actually move anywhere at all. Then there were the enemy fights. I never felt more disconnected from what was happening on the screen than when I was blasting away with the missles at tiny red blips somewhere over the horizon, all while jogging the mako back and forth like a baby's cradle trying to make Tali shut up about "Taking fire".
In return, I get to see my enemies up close, get much, much, much better looking planet surfaces, and the idea that instead of having just one landing zone on the whole planet, that Joker finally got his act together and became able to do what humanity has been doing since WW II, make a targeted drop.
If I don't see a version of the Mako show up on ME 3, I will be the happiest little boy in the world. I'd much rather they spend the time and money on making the feel of each planet different, rather than end up making me walk down the same mining shaft forty-three times because some twit argued that it was more "connected".
Perhaps you should look up/at the game Freelancer for inspiration or ideas (or a solution to this quest to find big space games), and then look up Freelancer: Combat Evolved in particular. In that mod they did a wonderful job recreating realistic physics and space movement, as well as the true scale of interstellar objects and distances.
Just pointing this one out, I wholly agree with Yahtzee that the Mako was a scourge of god, it had terrible handling, generally annoying to use, and stupid for some of the things that happened. Lets take for example the fact that this is far beyond in the future, and your going to tell me if the back tire hits lava the whole vehicle is suddenly out of order? For god's sake shepard get your lazy ass out and make a tire change. As for the lack of bigness, well Yahtzee's idea of jetpack based exploration seems fun, though would likely bring in the question as to why not use them all the time and not just surface exploration.Suskie said:
So basically the control scheme of Descent?... because if that is the case then me wants the game.Yahtzee Croshaw said:
More on topic, I agree with that feeling of being disconnected from the vastness of the galaxy in Mass Effect 2 as compared to the original. I just don't want them to go to the other extreme and make me spend 10 minutes traversing the galaxy in a ship between missions. We do not need another Wind Waker.
On the other hand, I've gone back to Mass Effect 1 now for a second playthrough and another legacy character to bring through to Mass Effect 2 and having to leave the Normandy through a physical door that makes you stand there as long as one of the elevators is pretty annoying.
It did seem Mass Effect 2 was a bit TOO streamlined to me, but at the same time I can't really think of any complaints. I enjoyed the game thoroughly and the ending was so intense I was actually sweating. Though the final boss was kinda goofy, but I can see why they did it: people would complain there was no real final boss. At least it wasn't as balls crazy as the battle against Sovereign.
Mass Effect 1 also made me realize how much I hate the Mako. Haaaate. I think it makes more sense in ME2 that you would be dropped exactly where you need to be on a planet, rather than an approximate location and have to drive wherever you're going.
It did seem Mass Effect 2 was a bit TOO streamlined to me, but at the same time I can't really think of any complaints. I enjoyed the game thoroughly and the ending was so intense I was actually sweating. Though the final boss was kinda goofy, but I can see why they did it: people would complain there was no real final boss. At least it wasn't as balls crazy as the battle against Sovereign.
Mass Effect 1 also made me realize how much I hate the Mako. Haaaate. I think it makes more sense in ME2 that you would be dropped exactly where you need to be on a planet, rather than an approximate location and have to drive wherever you're going.
First off, ZP just makes my week, every week. I look forward to Wednesdays now. Awesome.
Secondly, I really want this game to come out: Darkstar. It originally sold me because it's got the cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in it, but it just might be the adventure space game that Yahtzee's been looking for. Probably not, but it would be worth a look...if it ever comes out. *cries* Waaaaaah! I want to play it!!!!!!
http://www.darkstar.gs/main.htm?hilo=1
Secondly, I really want this game to come out: Darkstar. It originally sold me because it's got the cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in it, but it just might be the adventure space game that Yahtzee's been looking for. Probably not, but it would be worth a look...if it ever comes out. *cries* Waaaaaah! I want to play it!!!!!!
http://www.darkstar.gs/main.htm?hilo=1
A well-thought-out article, Ben. The "airlock door" sequences and decontamination were things I missed, too. That said, they ARE coming out with a supposedly-better space buggy system for better exploration and whatnot, but I think it should have been released with the game. If they weren't done making it, they could have delayed the game's release; I'm willing to wait another month (having already waited three years) for the sake of a bit more on the immersive side.
As odd as the controls for the space sections can be, Ratchet and Clank did a fairly decent job of exploring space recently with A Crack in Time. It would probably be of interest to pick up at some point if and when you have time for it.
The article reminds me of the point at which I realized that the world in the Pokemon games moves around the character as if you're on some sort of populated treadmill.
The article reminds me of the point at which I realized that the world in the Pokemon games moves around the character as if you're on some sort of populated treadmill.
One of the things that confused me about ME2 was that you could actually open the airlock door but you never once used it.
A full on space exploration game would be most welcome to me, preferably one that has a 1950s retro-futurist feel to it. I want to be Flash Gordon! With a rocket pack added too!
A full on space exploration game would be most welcome to me, preferably one that has a 1950s retro-futurist feel to it. I want to be Flash Gordon! With a rocket pack added too!
Don't suppose reusing some of Oolite's code would be helpful? - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oolite_(computer_game) [GNU GPLv2 licence]
Thats why I loved Wind Waker because I could just go sailing for hours while singing Styx. Hell I have been known to run from place to place in games with quick travel just so I feel more like it was an epic journey. That and I tend to run into the most unusual things along the way.Outright Villainy said:
Above all else, this is the best thing about fallout. There is loads to see and do on the way anywhere...sunpop said: