Underrail: The Incline Awakens

[BING XI LAO]

I love how Core City, Rail Crossing and SGS are initially far-distant places that you have to use the train to get to and from - but later on when you clear out the Lurkers and use some TNT, you can use the Underpassages to walk between them in just a few screen transitions.

 

[BING XI LAO]

In my first playthrough I never properly explored the Lurker areas - my first time coming to this place with... seven Death Stalkers.

 

[Ol' Willy]

So you can remove the debris and open the water passage deep into Waterways facility... I got carried away and completely forgot about the crane. But I found a 160 q black cloth - hidden behind the trampoline, because of course it is. The trip was worth it, as well as few oddities and lots of toxic sludge.

Anyway, for those who are still wondering what is behind this two doors in Junkyard backyard...

Nothing. Just placeholder doors.

 

[CarbonCarousel]

Should I play this, ATOM, or Pathfinder? I haven't played any of them.

 

[BING XI LAO]

Kingmaker has been totally exposed and discredited by my recent review, while ATOM is 3D and therefore popamole.
Therefore play Underrail.

 

[Tigranes]

This, without question. One of the best RPGs of the last decade by far.

I've left the Free Drone neckbeards hanging, and went into clear Lunatic Mall. Went surprisingly smoothly, with Locus+Enrage then flurry instakill for anybody who gets within range. Just have to always keep track of scanners, snipers, and even freezers.

Oh, and I have to say, the Nexus Naga Protector at level 20 was... just went down. EMP, focus stim, flurry. Wonder if I can take two on later.

 

[Trashos]

Should I play this, ATOM, or Pathfinder? I haven't played any of them.

Let me change the frame: All of them, eventually. So it is just a matter of order.

I love how Core City, Rail Crossing and SGS are initially far-distant places that you have to use the train to get to and from - but later on when you clear out the Lurkers and use some TNT, you can use the Underpassages to walk between them in just a few screen transitions.

My issue with that is that there are random encounters spawning on the routes from one city to another. Anyway, now with rift-walking it is less important. But I would have appreciated it better if the routes remained safe after I cleared them.

 

[Yosharian]

Should I play this, ATOM, or Pathfinder? I haven't played any of them.

I love Kingmaker but Underrail blows it away tbh.

ATOM is... an odd beast to say the least.

 

[Yaz]

I like the presentation of ATOM a lot. There's a lot going on there. All the realistic weapon and armour, and the game also sounds fantastic. The Dead City is simply fabulous in this regard. Unfortunately the game is far less developed in terms of combat complexity. I'd say it's much more a successor to Fallout than Underrail is, but that's not necessarily a positive thing. It's also best played with a lone wolf character which can be disappointing for some.

I couldn't finish Kingmaker if my life depended on it... I loved the Vordekai campaign but founds mostly everything else about the game forgettable. So much missed opportunity with the companion stories, as well.

Underrail has been in development longer than either of those games and is just more polished in pretty much every aspect except graphical. I still love me some good ol' 2d sprites, though. Thing is - if one plays Underrail first one might get too disappointed with the rest. My recommended order would be Kingmaker, ATOM, Underrail.

 

[Trashos]

I am at the point where I am finishing my playthrough. By reading around it looks like I missed the native questline. I didn't genocide anyone, so it serves me right. But the camp was down to 8 sec troops, and I had to make haste. I also didn't explore the Underrail waters, I am going to do that in my next effort.

Awesome dlc, in general. The downsides are that the game was already too long and the fucking camp management mechanics. Anyway, did the Aegis angle, I will be joining the Pirates from now on. However, exploration, dungeons, atmosphere, mystery, characters are A+. Jet skis are very cool and I like them, but I am not sure about the jet ski fighting mechanics (but maybe I am just not good at it yet).

Idea for a standalone game based on the jet skis:

Spoiler

Wing Commander Privateer --> Jet Skier Privateer. The fighting mechanics may have to be reworked, however. Make it happen!

So, what is going on with the plot? Are the monoliths from the Godmen and the Shadowlith from the Leviathan? And why did Biocorp attack NFT? Did it have something to do with the Shadowlith or was it a completely unrelated War of the Corps?

 

[Ol' Willy]

Wonder if I can take two on later.

Wonder, if you can take four

 

[Yaz]

So, what is going on with the plot? Are the monoliths from the Godmen and the Shadowlith from the Leviathan? And why did Biocorp attack NFT? Did it have something to do with the Shadowlith or was it a completely unrelated War of the Corps?

Spoiler

Biocorp most likely attacked them because of the xeno-nano-bot technology they possessed and/or that surface sanctuary the Professor briefly mentions... probably. It's hinted that every super corpo had at least one Conr(Computer Of Notable Roundness) in their possession. The Monoliths are from the Godmen - that much is clearly established, and their purpose - among others - is to limit the Leviathans' influence. The Shadowliths are from the Leviathans and they seek to extend their influence as probably almost everything in the Black Sea is a product of Flottsormir's work. If doing Yngwar shenanigans there's a bit more told in this regard.

Jet skis are very cool and I like them, but I am not sure about the jet ski fighting mechanics (but maybe I am just not good at it yet).

Either get a Devastator with max Stability(need Mercantile) so that there's no difference between ground and naval combat, or get a very fast Jet so you can go in and out of danger. You're probably mostly worried about EMPs but if doing Pirates those largely go away. Pirates also have one of the best merchants in the game, as well.

 

[Yaz]

Spoiler

Never seen that level of quality from the Abandoned Waterways. Just wow.

 

[Ol' Willy]

It's not completely random...

From there as well. In the place above - from Yaz' screenshot - I found 160 Q Black Cloth.

 

[jungl]

Idk underrail gets tedious after a while. Feels like you are this underground world exterminator man. Map transition after transition more mobs to kill. Underrail sequel needs more going for it tbh. 1) Bigger maps or somehow make the area transition seem more natural and not a black screen. Maybe add mutagen barrels in gameworld like might and magic games give player random 1 skill point. Maybe other killer hobos generated in the world similiar to the player u can run into They could be aligned to a particular faction where you can trade or work together with or kill.

 

[Fenix]

Maybe add mutagen barrels in gameworld like might and magic games give player random 1 skill point.

NO!

Maybe other killer hobos generated in the world similiar to the player u can run into They could be aligned to a particular faction where you can trade or work together with or kill.

Nobody managed to do that.
I heard Van Buren tried to do that, and you can see how well it went for it...

 

[Yaz]

Feels like you are this underground world exterminator man. Map transition after transition more mobs to kill.

You're actually not required to go to most of the available in-game maps. Upper caves, for example, seems to be mostly filler content. Unless you're making Super Health Hypos it's best skipped.

After some time playing the game I don't even finish some of the questlines. Protectorate for example - I just get paid to get what I need from their shop and unless I need more I leave it alone. That's why Oddity is the superior xp system, as well.

 

[Ghulgothas]

Idk underrail gets tedious after a while. Feels like you are this underground world exterminator man. Map transition after transition more mobs to kill. Underrail sequel needs more going for it tbh. 1) Bigger maps or somehow make the area transition seem more natural and not a black screen. Maybe add mutagen barrels in gameworld like might and magic games give player random 1 skill point. Maybe other killer hobos generated in the world similiar to the player u can run into They could be aligned to a particular faction where you can trade or work together with or kill.

I want more dangerous and elusive named critters to hunt in the over-world that aren't tied to unrelated quests, like the Black Crawler or Jet Eater. I wanna go on an Underrail Safari, and decorate the walls of my hardcore living room with the stuffed heads of mutant monsters and beasties the Underrail over.

 

[jungl]

Well if you look at spiderweb software games. Jeffs best game is arguably geneforge 1. Cause the player got the endorphin rush of getting new gear stats AND pokemon pets to play with. Also the game setting is interesting with its factions. Okay clearly the solution is in next underrail you can find biotech capsules that spawn monsters with different abilities and uhh you can find gene codes that enhance them. Maybe add in some personal investment player can do in skill or perk to enchance this gameplay.

 

[Tigranes]

Wonder if I can take two on later.

Wonder, if you can take four

Well, I took on three in Joint Sec without breaking a sweat - though I killed one in a single turn out of stealth, then two came over. Just EMP, Focus Stim, Flurry again. With this build I'd actually rather fight two Nagas than, say, ,a rush mob of 15 strongmen.

jungl To be honest, I primarily treat Underrail as a murderhobo simulator and number-cruncher, and one of the best of its kind. I like that the gameworld/writing is understated enough that it provides a nice foil and doesn't get in the way. Expeditions changes that, and I think we're lucky that this was done in the DLC as opposed to the basegame - and at any rate the atmosphere is top notch to carry it through. I'm not sure I know what I'd want in an UR2. Maybe more environmental puzzles with skillchecks, and maybe more encounters with environmental hazards and interactions.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[Ol' Willy]

Ol' Willy this is quite a weird spot to store crafting mats

There's a good chance that I will never touch them again, though. I just like hoarding

 

[Trashos]

So, what is going on with the plot? Are the monoliths from the Godmen and the Shadowlith from the Leviathan? And why did Biocorp attack NFT? Did it have something to do with the Shadowlith or was it a completely unrelated War of the Corps?

Spoiler

Biocorp most likely attacked them because of the xeno-nano-bot technology they possessed and/or that surface sanctuary the Professor briefly mentions... probably. It's hinted that every super corpo had at least one Conr(Computer Of Notable Roundness) in their possession. The Monoliths are from the Godmen - that much is clearly established, and their purpose - among others - is to limit the Leviathans' influence. The Shadowliths are from the Leviathans and they seek to extend their influence as probably almost everything in the Black Sea is a product of Flottsormir's work. If doing Yngwar shenanigans there's a bit more told in this regard.

Jet skis are very cool and I like them, but I am not sure about the jet ski fighting mechanics (but maybe I am just not good at it yet).

Either get a Devastator with max Stability(need Mercantile) so that there's no difference between ground and naval combat, or get a very fast Jet so you can go in and out of danger. You're probably mostly worried about EMPs but if doing Pirates those largely go away. Pirates also have one of the best merchants in the game, as well.

I completely missed Yngwar, I will make sure I go to him next time. Aegis was a bit like having a well-paying but stressful job. Hopefully by joinng the Pirates next I will be able to chill out and take some time to smell the flowers.

I did have the Devastator, and, yes, EMPs were a big issue. The problem with jet ski combat is that the defense options are simplistic in comparison to land combat. Also, there is no much cover. Jet ski defense needs some work, afaic.

Good to hear that Aegis are not going to be chucking EMP grenades.

 

[ItsChon]

The core gameplay loop of Underrail is perfect, and no changes need to be made to the combat or art imo. Two new weapons, ranged and melee would be nice, and perhaps one more PSI school that's support based like TM, to add to the build variety which is why we all replay the game. In terms of story, I just want Styg to continue expanding upon the world of Underrail, introducing us to new critters, new factions, and new locations. With that of course should come with new encounters that are enhanced by different and new enemy types. I wouldn't mind seeing some faction v faction v faction style combat too, kind of like the Native invasions but perhaps on a smaller scale with more than just two sides.

Oh, and the more gated content the better. Something like what AoD does but on a smaller scale, as it's very rewarding to get to access something secret/hidden/gated away due to your build, and gives you motivation to try other builds.

 

[BING XI LAO]

Ideally-
It'd be good to have temporary control of allies in certain combats.
Areas should be larger to reduce screen transitions.
When targeting an AoE attack it should display the % chance of landing in every square, not just the % chance for the targeted one.
Can't think of any other criticisms.