ELEX Pre-Release Thread

[ZagorTeNej]

Oh no doubt, definitely in case of G1. We're talking about a 2001 game tho. ALL 3d games back then looked vomit inducing.

Strongly disagree, while the problem with earlier 3D games is the low polygon count many of them more they made up for that in other areas pertaining to visuals such as art direction, area/level design, visual clarity (especially compared to modern AAA stuff with overuse of bloom and other special effects where you can't see shit anymore), distinct look etc. I've been replaying some of the (3D) games from that period recently and I was surprised how well they hold up visually, Gothic, Urban Chaos, Thief, American McGee Alice, VTM Redemption, Sacrifice, Max Payne etc. it's not that I merely enjoyed their gameplay despite outdated visuals, it's that a good part of my enjoyment was related to the latter (I never was a part of the "Graphics don't matter" crowd).

Of course the whole experience depends on how visuals tie up with other elements like sound and gameplay but I definitely felt more immersed in say Thief and Gothic than Dishonored or Risen 1 (two games I still liked very much) and not once felt graphics were dragging down the whole experience but rather adding to it.

 

[Zombra]

I think this actually adds to the atmosphere and mood-setting of those games.

I don't disagree at all, but ... that mood is still depressing. And ELEX looks even more depressing.

 

[taxalot]

I don't care about what you guys are talking about, the screenshots have an atmosphere to them that sent some strong Gothic 1 vibes.

I want a gameplay video now.

 

[Ludo Lense]

Every time I remember Piranha Bytes is making a new game I also remember it has a roll move...and I promptly try to forget again.

 

[taxalot]

Every time I remember Piranha Bytes is making a new game I also remember it has a roll move...and I promptly try to forget again.

How did you like Witcher 2 and 3?

 

[Ludo Lense]

Every time I remember Piranha Bytes is making a new game I also remember it has a roll move...and I promptly try to forget again.

How did you like Witcher 2 and 3?

Well the roll combined with Geralt's truly exquisite move set allows to the player to express himself in numerous ways so the combat truly comes to life and allows the player to feel what it means to be a Witcher.

Spoiler

This is what CD Projekt Red actually believes.

 

[meanwhileInPoland]

it looks like shit and its gonna be shit like 3 out of their last 4 games

 

[Zombra]

it looks like shit

That's not really fair. We haven't seen anything yet. "Look! A dirt road!" Nothing to do with the game really.

its gonna be shit like 3 out of their last 4 games

Yeah, probably.

 

[vonAchdorf]

Why roll when you have a jet pack?

 

[adddeed]

Oh no doubt, definitely in case of G1. We're talking about a 2001 game tho. ALL 3d games back then looked vomit inducing.

Strongly disagree, while the problem with earlier 3D games is the low polygon count many of them more they made up for that in other areas pertaining to visuals such as art direction, area/level design, visual clarity (especially compared to modern AAA stuff with overuse of bloom and other special effects where you can't see shit anymore), distinct look etc. I've been replaying some of the (3D) games from that period recently and I was surprised how well they hold up visually, Gothic, Urban Chaos, Thief, American McGee Alice, VTM Redemption, Sacrifice, Max Payne etc. it's not that I merely enjoyed their gameplay despite outdated visuals, it's that a good part of my enjoyment was related to the latter (I never was a part of the "Graphics don't matter" crowd).

Of course the whole experience depends on how visuals tie up with other elements like sound and gameplay but I definitely felt more immersed in say Thief and Gothic than Dishonored or Risen 1 (two games I still liked very much) and not once felt graphics were dragging down the whole experience but rather adding to it.

Well said. Currently playing Max Payne 1. Game looks gorgeous.

 

[SwiftCrack]

Max Payne has the great advantage of fluid gameplay.

 

[Joni Odin von Hassenstein]

Of course the whole experience depends on how visuals tie up with other elements like sound and gameplay but I definitely felt more immersed in say Thief and Gothic than Dishonored or Risen 1 (two games I still liked very much) and not once felt graphics were dragging down the whole experience but rather adding to it.

I even think the opposite is the case. As long as there was some room left for the players own fantasy to fill out the details 3d games were more "dream like" and therefore emotionally more immersive.
Nowadays graphixx are just "too good" to leave that last small bit of space between whats happening on the screen and my own phantasy which I think is needed for trve immersion.

 

[Metro]

To their credit Risen 3 was a slight improvement over Risen 2 (but still worse than Risen 1). Maybe they can make another baby step back towards a decent game. But I don't expect much. The promos/marketing for Risen 3 made it look like a return to the 'classic' PB formulation. When I paid $8 for it I was sorely disappointed.

 

[Aenra]

When I paid $8 for it

You're missing your old tag, aren't you. Admit it

 

[Joni Odin von Hassenstein]

To their credit Risen 3 was a slight improvement over Risen 2 (but still worse than Risen 1).

When it comes to having the dense atmosphere of the Gothic-series again I even think Risen 3 was the best Risen.

 

[Doktor Best]

Max Payne has the great advantage of fluid gameplay.

So Gothic doesnt have fluid gameplay? I think its pretty fluid. Pacing is great, dialogue is on spot and kept short, yet informative, you dont spend too much time micromanaging (infinite carrying capicity is great)

And combat is (to me) also great. I dont get peoples problem with it. Read enemy behaviour, wait for opportunity to attack, try not to let other enemies flank you (they have a group based AI, groundbreaking thing back then, and even nowadays a very rare thing), time your attacks (if you smash atk button you will hit slower), use combos if opportune. Its all there, once you get beyond the weird controls (weird, not bad), its a fucking treat.

Gothic 3 on the other hand... is a decline in so many ways.

 

[Joni Odin von Hassenstein]

So Gothic doesnt have fluid gameplay? I think its pretty fluid. Pacing is great, dialogue is on spot and kept short, yet informative, you dont spend too much time micromanaging (infinite carrying capicity is great)

And combat is (to me) also great. I dont get peoples problem with it. Read enemy behaviour, wait for opportunity to attack, try not to let other enemies flank you (they have a group based AI, groundbreaking thing back then, and even nowadays a very rare thing), time your attacks (if you smash atk button you will hit slower), use combos if opportune. Its all there, once you get beyond the weird controls (weird, not bad), its a fucking treat.

 

[Tito Anic]

Nowadays graphixx are just "too good" to leave that last small bit of space between whats happening on the screen and my own phantasy which I think is needed for trve immersion.

 

[Bloodwyn]

They've said ELEX will be the next attempt for a bigger world like in Gothic 3.
Doesn't that imply that PB will ruin it?
Also i can't lose the impression that PB wants to make the Marvin Mode an element of their games.
In Risen 2 the Voodoo stuff with taking over persons and now the jetpack.

 

[PorkyThePaladin]

Gothic 1/2 combat was great, problem is most people don't now how it works. Those games don't do a great job of explaining combat mechanics to the player, so I get the impression most people just whack away at stuff and then try to use combos once they get them. That is NOT how the combat works. Combos can be used against wild animals, but even then, a lot of them will interrupt you, preventing the combo from finishing.

Against humanoids, they will very quickly interrupt your combo and do damage to you. The proper way to go Gothic 1/2 combat, is to use parry and counter-attack. You have to wait until the enemy humanoid attacks, and then VERY quickly parry the blow. You only have a fraction of a second to do it or it will fail. If you hit parry in time, it will prevent enemy damage, and then give you a short window during which you can counter-attack. The cool part is, different enemies attack with different patterns, so sometimes you will have to parry once, sometimes twice, sometimes even 3 times in a row before being able to counter-attack. But once you get the hang of it, you can re-enact cool movie swashbuckling scenes but chain-parrying and then counterattacking. That has as good a feel as any melee combat game I've ever tried so far.

 

[Sjukob]

The cool part is, different enemies attack with different patterns

Speaking about Gothic II ...
I remember there were only 3 patterns in the game .

1) Basic humanoid . Swings only once , pauses after the attack , instantly counter attacks after you hit him . You hit him him and then parry , repeat untril victory .

2) Advanced humanoid . Those are unpredictable , sometimes they swing only once , sometimes twice . If you try to guess how many times they are going to attack and try parry , you will either get hit or miss the opportunity to attack , here is what I was doing . Run to them and as soon as you are in their attack range jump back , while the character jumps back he blocks attacks as well , and it lasts longer than just parry , so you can block 2 attacks in row with this move . So , you just keep running towards the enemy and jumping back until they swing 2 times , after that they make a pause and you will have time to smack them in face . Repeat until you win .

3) Orcs and lizardmen might swing up to 3 times in a row , but the strategy is the same as with advanced humanoids .

So , knowing that , you can beat any humanoid target in 1vs1 combat without taking damage , except mages of course . Fighting with multiple enemies is different , I won't be explaining it here . Although I finished Gothic I as a melee character , I don't remember shit about patterns of enemies , I just remember that parry in Gothic I lasted for few seconds unlike in Gothic II .

Pacing is great

My problem with Gothic II is that you become overpowered way too fast . It happens after second chapter in original Gothic II , or after finishing Jarkendar in NoTR .

 

[Metro]

To their credit Risen 3 was a slight improvement over Risen 2 (but still worse than Risen 1).

When it comes to having the dense atmosphere of the Gothic-series again I even think Risen 3 was the best Risen.

No. Risen 3's atmosphere and story were utter garbage.

 

[subotaiy]

In my humble opinion, the big mistake most players make in NOTR is min-maxing the learning points spending + hording tablets/herbs.
It gimps you in the early game and makes you a god at the end.

 

[Joni Odin von Hassenstein]

To their credit Risen 3 was a slight improvement over Risen 2 (but still worse than Risen 1).

When it comes to having the dense atmosphere of the Gothic-series again I even think Risen 3 was the best Risen.

Yeah. Risen 2's atmosphere and story were utter garbage.

Fixed.

 

[PirateScum]

To their credit Risen 3 was a slight improvement over Risen 2 (but still worse than Risen 1).

When it comes to having the dense atmosphere of the Gothic-series again I even think Risen 3 was the best Risen.

Yeah. Risen 2's atmosphere and story were utter garbage.

Fixed.

Risen 3 is the worst Risen for sure.

Risen 2 may have drifted away from Risen 1 mechanics (which remind a lot of good old Gothic 2), but Risen 3 just kills the series with rollfest and retcon of Pattys Bewbs just about everything.
New hero makes no sense, old heros appearance makes no sense, big bad makes no sense. But listen people Rune Magic and Magic Magic is in, it's just like ze old Gothics, buy nao!