Lacking a lot of polish

[Fenizrael]

So far I've only gotten up to chaper 3 or 4, but I've already found a glaring number of problems that should have been picked up long ago.

The gameplay is INCREDIBLY linear, save for the occasional hidden goodie inside a cave or across a body of water. There's no exploration of any sort. You just follow a path and kill the bad guys that jump in your way.

Combat often involves locking the camera onto a 'battlefield' area, but I've frequently found creatures that can knock you out of the combat arena, over a fence, and into a corner. Normally you would just be able to walk back to the arena, but for whatever reason the camera is fixed in place and you end up trapped offscreen unable to see what you're doing. Creatures then have no problem walking right upto you in your corner and chaining knockdown abilities to prevent you from doing anything.

Scenes like the flying goblin ship battle take a massive framerate hit from all the scenery flying below. And when I thought I was clever by walking onto the enemy goblin ship and destroying all the goblins on it, I was sorely mistaken when no sooner had I killed the last goblin than their ship flew off the screen, taking me with it.

This game is terrible. To be fair, there is a hint of something potentially awesome behind it, and it's quite delightful to find a new and interesting spell combination like Life+Shield cast as an Area of Effect... but even then I found myself sticking to mainly 2-3 spells maximum throughout every combat scene, because every other spell is just weak.
Perhaps it's more enjoyable with a group of friends, but I just find myself disappointed in something that feels... rushed.

[Deukalion]

Most of what you describe as "lack of polish" are just design features fitting within the genre of throw-back adventure game.

The mechanical issues could be something that requires a patch, or your computer. I haven't experienced them.

Its a good game. Just sounds like its not the kind of game you want to play. Sorry to hear you made a poor purchase.

[mouton]

The gameplay is INCREDIBLY linear, save for the occasional hidden goodie inside a cave or across a body of water. There's no exploration of any sort.
When I remember Diablo 2 and it's endless non-linear deserts and jungles, I am glad this games does it differently.

[xFlashx]

game seems ot have more in common with a l4d than diablo.

(ie.. linear, 4 player coop focus, no loot, crazy chaotic battles)

yyeeaa...

[Deukalion]

game seems ot have more in common with a l4d than diablo.

(ie.. linear, 4 player coop focus, no loot, crazy chaotic battles)

yyeeaa...

With meteor showers, combined beams, walls of volcanoes, hilarious situations. What isn't to like?

[real4xor]

Well, I don`t really like the fact you can`t backtrack either. But heck... This isn`t really an RPG. More a creative action game that looks like an RPG, but actually just tries to be funny. And it does a nice job at that.

As for the bugs, well, they`ll be sorted out.. they could`ve tested the game a bit more thorough, but you`re always gonna have a few bugs...
On that end it might lack a little. But I don`t mind, I can play it now, instead of half a year later, when they finally got their shipment of game polish.

[Fenizrael]

Most of what you describe as "lack of polish" are just design features fitting within the genre of throw-back adventure game.

You think this is the first game I've ever played? I've played thousands of games in my lifetime. I know how to pick out a 'genre convention' from an 'unrefined game mechanic'.

[Deukalion]

You think this is the first game I've ever played? I've played thousands of games in my lifetime. I know how to pick out a 'genre convention' from an 'unrefined game mechanic'.

I'm not going to get into a flamewar, here. But platforms that move off the screen and a linear map are pretty standard, especially in the "classic" setting.

[slingblade234]

Most of the things you call 'lacking polish' or 'bugs', are things that I like.

So, no. Come back when you've got a valid complaint, or call a spade a spade; 'I don't like this kind of game.'

That's fine. C'ya.

[craterlord]

The gameplay is INCREDIBLY linear, save for the occasional hidden goodie inside a cave or across a body of water. There's no exploration of any sort. You just follow a path and kill the bad guys that jump in your way.

I expected nothing but stupidity after reading this. Linearity is not what is bad, it is how it may be executed that can be bad. This is the reason why people are saying you simply don't like the game because of what it is.

Combat often involves locking the camera onto a 'battlefield' area, but I've frequently found creatures that can knock you out of the combat arena, over a fence, and into a corner. Normally you would just be able to walk back to the arena, but for whatever reason the camera is fixed in place and you end up trapped offscreen unable to see what you're doing. Creatures then have no problem walking right upto you in your corner and chaining knockdown abilities to prevent you from doing anything.

The only thing I have to say to this is that it would be nice if you were not able to leave the battlefield. Other than that, its your own fault.

This game is terrible. To be fair, there is a hint of something potentially awesome behind it, and it's quite delightful to find a new and interesting spell combination like Life+Shield cast as an Area of Effect... but even then I found myself sticking to mainly 2-3 spells maximum throughout every combat scene, because every other spell is just weak.
Perhaps it's more enjoyable with a group of friends, but I just find myself disappointed in something that feels... rushed.

It is terrible because you don't like linearity, you mess up and get trapped in corners, and because of one, minor, fixable problem. No, that is your opinion, and you are over-exaggerating.

[niqht]

Most of the things you call 'lacking polish' or 'bugs', are things that I like.

So, no. Come back when you've got a valid complaint, or call a spade a spade; 'I don't like this kind of game.'

That's fine. C'ya.


You should have let him know that as long as you like it, he has no right to complain.

[OnyxBMW]

So far I've only gotten up to chaper 3 or 4, but I've already found a glaring number of problems that should have been picked up long ago.

The gameplay is INCREDIBLY linear, save for the occasional hidden goodie inside a cave or across a body of water. There's no exploration of any sort. You just follow a path and kill the bad guys that jump in your way.

I enjoy this. Keeps the game refined and to the point, instead of hours of aimless wandering, such as diablo 2. It promotes minor exploration without making it ridiculously time-consuming, which is good to be linear.

Combat often involves locking the camera onto a 'battlefield' area, but I've frequently found creatures that can knock you out of the combat arena, over a fence, and into a corner. Normally you would just be able to walk back to the arena, but for whatever reason the camera is fixed in place and you end up trapped offscreen unable to see what you're doing. Creatures then have no problem walking right upto you in your corner and chaining knockdown abilities to prevent you from doing anything.

I've never been forced outside of a locked battlefield before. Getting trapped and permastunned, however, is part of the gameplay. All I can say is quit being bad.

Scenes like the flying goblin ship battle take a massive framerate hit from all the scenery flying below. And when I thought I was clever by walking onto the enemy goblin ship and destroying all the goblins on it, I was sorely mistaken when no sooner had I killed the last goblin than their ship flew off the screen, taking me with it.

I expected those ships to leave. Nevermind that you were told to guard your ship, not acquire theirs. You really should have seen this coming.

This game is terrible. To be fair, there is a hint of something potentially awesome behind it, and it's quite delightful to find a new and interesting spell combination like Life+Shield cast as an Area of Effect... but even then I found myself sticking to mainly 2-3 spells maximum throughout every combat scene, because every other spell is just weak.
Perhaps it's more enjoyable with a group of friends, but I just find myself disappointed in something that feels... rushed.

Honestly, I'm loving the game. I may reuse a few spells over and over, but I often find I swap which spells I reuse from time to time, swapping combos around. On chapter 6, I mostly used beam attacks due to the nature of enemies there. in early chapters I used ice comets (ice+earth in various combinations) due to their speed and stopping powers. Other times I use pure water or water beams and have some knockback giggles.

The idea is to experiment and have fun. If you're using the same 3 spells over and over, then think of a different spell combination and use that instead.

If it's still not fun, find some friends who have it and play co-op with them, where the real fun of the game is. Just expect to die. A lot. Hell, 50% of the game is finding newer and more inventive ways to unintentionally get yourself killed!

For instance, I was once knocked off screen very forcefully to the left, then about 5 seconds later went sailing down the right edge of the screen from top to bottom damn near next to the camera, landing in the ocean off screen and dying. Another time, near a cliff-style area, a friend cast 4 water+shield in an area cast that if anyone touched the rain effect they went sailing off the edge of the map. These are just a small fraction of the hilarious ways to get killed, and every death is a giggle waiting to happen.