| 29 MAY 2006 at 10:41pm |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2592
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Online | Ugh! That sounds awful!
Thanks for posting what you did -- I'm now one step further away from wanting to play Dreamfall. Timed sequences make me nuts, and if I want to hide, sneak, fight and/or die, I'll just play a first-person shooter.
I think I'll stick with TLJ. It contains none of this kind of foolishness.
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| 29 MAY 2006 at 10:49pm |
| Deleted User | If you aren't used to lots of sneaking, Chapter 5 is a toughie, by far the toughest. Once you're through it though, it doesn't seem to happen as often.
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| 30 MAY 2006 at 6:15pm |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By cecirdr (29 MAY 2006 9:19pm)
Argh...I loved TLJ, but dreamfall is driving me crazy. There's no real reason to bother posting this, but I just felt a need to grouse publicly. I'm in Chapter 5 in the subterranean tunnels...and going crazy sneaking around, hiding from creatures and avoiding the giant troll. All of the sneaking, having to do things within time limits, and running to get through doors in time is driving me batty. I feel like I only solved one puzzle...the lockpick. Everything else is action/timed sequence kind of stuff. The "puzzle" where I am now is obvious and the only reason it's taking any time is the blinking sneaking and reapeatedly getting killed by the troll. I've also discovered that I stink at the fight scenes. I feel thrown into them unaware. All of a sudden I'm being attacked and the camera moving and clipping makes it really hard to see where I am relative to the "bad guy" attacking me.
Sigh....from what I've heard, the game ends with an obvious suggestion there will be another sequel. Here's hoping that they make it more adventure and puzzle and less action/timed sequence gaming. I'm not having fun at all with Dreamfall so far.
Ceci (rant over)
It sounds like I am not the only one that doesnn't like action in AG's and especialy when they are timed or you die all the time.
Luckily I didn't buy this one and I can wait until they make a real adventure game.
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| 30 MAY 2006 at 9:16pm |
cecirdrIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 24
Joined: 25 SEP 2005
Status : Online | I wanted to post my experiences so far because I knew dreamfall had action *elements* in it, but I didn't know how many. I just *assumed* that they'd keep it minimal since the first installment was so widely regarded. if it ain't broke, don't fix it) But I was wrong. There aren't just some action elements....it's nearly all timed sequences and sneaking. Sigh...I have to admit that I haven't gone back to play the game yet since I'm not looking forward to how I have to finish this subterranen level. I've died so many times that it's ridiculous. I just can't handle the fight scenes either. By the time I realize that I have a fight on my hands and get repositioned on the keyboard, I've been whacked several times and am already nearly dead.
So consider this an FYI. This game may not be a traditional adventure gamer's cup of tea. It's certainly not mine. Here's hoping that they return to more puzzles to supplement the adventure in the next installment....leaving out the action.
Ceci
I am. Therefore, I think
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| 31 MAY 2006 at 5:39am |
AjSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 278
Joined: 25 JAN 2005
Status : Online | You must be really new to moving around in a 3D enviroment (although I thought people lived in one) to find any of this game hard. It's just not, I triggered the big grubber three times, without trying to avoid the little one, and I only once had to hide behind the well placed blocks.
There are very few puzzles in the game, there is a music one, and a few slider puzzles, I believe two combining objects together puzzles, and that's all I can remember. Although the action elements are even less in the game, so I'm slightly confused about your observations. If you find ways around fighting, I think it's 3 or 5 times you need to enter combat. I think I can only remember five required sneaking sequences. Some of the puzzles are timed, I didn't mind this so much, the time given was very generous and everything in the game was easy enough.
The thing about the fighting is, it's so badly implemented that trying to actually "play" it will just bring fustration, with the results being random. After three fights I realised that moving back is bad, blocking is ineffective, and strong attack is not worth the risk, light attacks don't do that much less damage when you factor in speed. Strafe around your target in a circle, light attacking, I didn't love a fight, and I didn't get hit much. If you feel confident well timed strong attacks can speed victory.
I find that Adventure developers who add elements of other genres nearly always do it badly, but other developers have managed to add Adventure elements to their games that have turned out as good, or sometimes better. I question whether the Dreamfall developers have played any combat or stealth games. Other games have done much of the work in finding out what works, and how to implement things, I'm all for innovation, but leave the innovation for things that need it.
If you're going to do something badly, why do it at all? Ragnar had said that the stealth and combat in the game would be because the story called for them, but the majority of them are obviously contrived for stealth or combat, not the other way around. I doubt anybody enjoyed these elements of the gameplay, I would find it harder to believe that anyone thought they were important to the plot.
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| 31 MAY 2006 at 6:08am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Aj (31 MAY 2006 5:39am)
If you're going to do something badly, why do it at all? Ragnar had said that the stealth and combat in the game would be because the story called for them, but the majority of them are obviously contrived for stealth or combat, not the other way around. I doubt anybody enjoyed these elements of the gameplay, I would find it harder to believe that anyone thought they were important to the plot.
I agree 100%, which is a rare thing between us. If the combat was so vital to the story, why not have those sequences as cutscenes instead of poorly implemented combat sequences. I am glad I played Dreamfall, being such a TLJ fan, but I am disappointed that it didn't even come close to the thrill I got out of playing TLJ.
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| 31 MAY 2006 at 6:33am |
AkhillesPrivate Detective
Posts : 581
Joined: 21 JUL 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By cecirdr (29 MAY 2006 9:19pm)
Argh...I loved TLJ, but dreamfall is driving me crazy. There's no real reason to bother posting this, but I just felt a need to grouse publicly. I'm in Chapter 5 in the subterranean tunnels...and going crazy sneaking around, hiding from creatures and avoiding the giant troll. All of the sneaking, having to do things within time limits, and running to get through doors in time is driving me batty. I feel like I only solved one puzzle...the lockpick. Everything else is action/timed sequence kind of stuff. The "puzzle" where I am now is obvious and the only reason it's taking any time is the blinking sneaking and reapeatedly getting killed by the troll. I've also discovered that I stink at the fight scenes. I feel thrown into them unaware. All of a sudden I'm being attacked and the camera moving and clipping makes it really hard to see where I am relative to the "bad guy" attacking me.
Sigh....from what I've heard, the game ends with an obvious suggestion there will be another sequel. Here's hoping that they make it more adventure and puzzle and less action/timed sequence gaming. I'm not having fun at all with Dreamfall so far.
Ceci (rant over)
Ah cmon people. I'm the worst adventurer here and I did the entire game without help!
You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door. There is a small mailbox here.
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| 31 MAY 2006 at 10:34pm |
cecirdrIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 24
Joined: 25 SEP 2005
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Aj (31 MAY 2006 5:39am)
You must be really new to moving around in a 3D enviroment (although I thought people lived in one) to find any of this game hard. It's just not, I triggered the big grubber three times, without trying to avoid the little one, and I only once had to hide behind the well placed blocks.
It's very likely that I *am* the worst 3D fighting game player you've ever seen. I love 3D games actually...Morrowind and KOTOR) I actually tried to use all the the functions...blocking, light versus strong attacks. FWIW...I didn't see strafing. All I see is the ability to move and the camera keeps swinging around. I don't like a fixed camera because movement direction controls change as the character moves) In the process it gets clipped by terrain elements if the fight is in confined spaces. There's also no lock on target which would have greatly helped someone like me who gets too much adrenalin to be able to handle fight scenes.
I do agree with you that the action elements seem to add little to the game to me. I'd have preferred puzzles to break up the story line versus action elements. The forumula for TLJ worked very well, so I'm surprised they changed it so dramatically for Dreamfall.
Ceci
I am. Therefore, I think
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| 31 MAY 2006 at 10:37pm |
cecirdrIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 24
Joined: 25 SEP 2005
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Akhilles (31 MAY 2006 6:33am)
Ah cmon people. I'm the worst adventurer here and I did the entire game without help!
You must be mistaken. Worst 3D gamer is my title! FWIW...there's no way anyone can help me. In my pathetic-ness, I know what I need to do...I just can't make myself do it. I'm dreading the rest of the game if it requires as much action as chapter 5. I still haven't started playing it again. The thought of dealing with the sneaking and fighting makes me go ugh. If I grit my teeth and get through this, does it get better?
Ceci
I am. Therefore, I think
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| 31 MAY 2006 at 11:22pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By cecirdr (31 MAY 2006 10:37pm)
I'm dreading the rest of the game if it requires as much action as chapter 5.
Nah. Chapter 5 is the worst. The worst part of the game for me was
Spoiler AlertZoe in Waticorp, trying to get downstairs in that area with the big cylindrical thing in the middle of the room. Zoe kept getting electrocuted by that guy coming up the stairs.
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| 31 MAY 2006 at 11:54pm |
cecirdrIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 24
Joined: 25 SEP 2005
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Jenny100 (31 MAY 2006 11:21pm)
Originally Posted By cecirdr (31 MAY 2006 10:37pm)
I'm dreading the rest of the game if it requires as much action as chapter 5.
Nah. Chapter 5 is the worst. The worst part of the game for me was
Spoiler AlertZoe in Waticorp, trying to get downstairs in that area with the big cylindrical thing in the middle of the room. Zoe kept getting electrocuted by that guy coming up the stairs.
You won't believe this, but I totally lucked out there. I only had to replay that section 3-4 times before I got the timing right. If I'd had as much trouble there as in the troll caverns now, I'd want to toss the game out the window right now. Here's hoping that the running, timing, and sneaking reduces dramatically in the future chapter. I may buck up and try to get through the caverns again tonight. I've spent way too much time there, but I'm dead ended until I luck out getting the sneaking right to solve the puzzle.
Ceci
I am. Therefore, I think
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| 1 JUN 2006 at 1:18am |
GhostSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 273
Joined: 31 JUL 2004
Status : Online | Thanks for hiding the "spoilers" on this board everyone...I'm still debating on whether or not to buy Dreamfall (I loved TLJ!!)
I don't mind the sneaking around part, but I don't do well with "timed" sequences...are there very many in this game?
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| 1 JUN 2006 at 1:43am |
kittySorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 269
Joined: 27 SEP 2003
Status : Online | That cave part drove me totally batty, too. Nice to know that now that I'm done with that, there shouldn't be anything else *quite* that frustrating.
As far as timed sequences, I haven't finished the game, but I think there have only been 3 or 4 so far, and about half of them I was able to get through the first time. They are not as frustrating to me as the sneaking and the fighting.
Also, I would like to throw my name in the ring for worst 3-D game player. I have to have my boyfriend play all the fighting scenes for me.
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| 1 JUN 2006 at 8:13am |
| Deleted User | I had real trouble surviving the timed sequence in the garden, Spoiler Alert turning that corner up into the building with the elevator and then blocking the door shut.. I must have done it 30 times before finally getting it right.
The caverns were exciting and fun, once I found the hiding spots and started saving after every room.
Chapter 5 was quite hard. But from then on the game was almost too easy. A couple of the later chapters almost had nothing for the player to do other than watch the cutscenes.
Still, I love Dreamfall. It made me appreciate TLJ all that much more by adding to the story and the mystery of how it's going to end.
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| 1 JUN 2006 at 9:36pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By cecirdr (31 MAY 2006 11:54pm)
You won't believe this, but I totally lucked out there. I only had to replay that section 3-4 times before I got the timing right.
I guess I totally lucked out in the troll caverns. I got caught only once there.
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