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[Assassin's Creed] Syndicate is out and is apparently pretty damn good

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Posts

  • SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaver That beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
    Must...stop....getting sidetracked.....doing....piratey things......

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    PSN/Steam/NNID: SyphonBlue | BNet: SyphonBlue#1126
    Erin The RedPreciousBodilyFluidsTef
  • FreiFrei A French Prometheus Unbound DeadwoodRegistered User regular
    edited December 2013
    Also, I mean, it's not really hard to frame your opinions in non-shitbird ways. "I can't understand why anyone likes this shit." is just inflammatory and insults people's intelligence. Don't be a goose about the things you don't like and maybe learn to express yourself better by not inferring that everyone who likes something is taste-handicapped and your opinion is fact.

    Frei on
    Are you the magic man?
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  • BobbleBobble Registered User regular
    SyphonBlue wrote: »
    Must...stop....getting sidetracked.....doing....piratey things......

    A pirate is never sidetracked. He is merely seizing opportunity.

    Erin The RedTef
  • klemmingklemming Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    SyphonBlue wrote: »
    Must...stop....getting sidetracked.....doing....piratey things......

    I actually can't do this, which is something I love about the game.
    Pick a destination, and don't look at anything else on the map. Even if you only deal with things that you see on screen or on the minimap, you're probably going to find half a dozen different things to do on the way.

    Oh there's a ship, well I'm kind of going to Kingston already. I'll just check to see what they have on board- WOW over a hundred metal, I could do with that.
    ...
    Okay, I've added a ship to my fleet, back to the main plot- OOH, tiny island with treasure on it!
    ...
    Right, got the treasure, full sail to the port of whatever it was- Oh no that whale did NOT just dare me to kill it. (I blame the whale for this, seriously. It jumped up right there. I was prepared to ignore it, suddenly it starts mocking me, calling me 'chicken' (In whalese, obviously))
    ...
    Back aboard, let's get back to OH NO HUNTERS.
    ...
    Well, that was fun.
    ...
    Where was I going?

    klemming on
    Nobody remembers the singer. The song remains.
    SyphonBlueBobbleErin The RedPreciousBodilyFluidsTefMego Thor
  • eahenryiieahenryii Registered User regular
    klemming wrote: »
    I like the pause menu description for terminals hacked.
    It's not really 'hacking'. It's testing!
    Just keep telling yourself that, and everything will be fine.
    So I guess the totally-expected twist that Watch_dogs and AssCreed share a universe is official.

    Say what now? I've never played Watch Dogs nor heard this theory. Is that a game I should be checking out?

  • klemmingklemming Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    eahenryii wrote: »
    klemming wrote: »
    I like the pause menu description for terminals hacked.
    It's not really 'hacking'. It's testing!
    Just keep telling yourself that, and everything will be fine.
    So I guess the totally-expected twist that Watch_dogs and AssCreed share a universe is official.

    Say what now? I've never played Watch Dogs nor heard this theory. Is that a game I should be checking out?

    It's not out yet (it got delayed from now to January? I think?), but it basically looks like modern-day AC mixed with Person of Interest.
    Since it's the same studio, and it's all about a massive surveillance network that controls everything, people thought Templars/Abstergo.

    klemming on
    Nobody remembers the singer. The song remains.
  • OpposingFarceOpposingFarce Registered User regular
    Further musings on removing the modern day element;

    Overall, the conflict is fighting templars/abstergo templars. So basically every game has two 'save the world' objectives. Could you not do away with the modern templars? Wasn't fighting and defeating the bad dude with the piece of eden in AC1 enough world saving at the time? Granted, the modern day pushed the 'this isn't over' angle but you can transfer that burden to the the old stuff easily. Example; Desmond watches Ezio watch the piece of McGuffin reveal McGuffins all over the world. Desmond and Ezio realize this is a Big Deal. Desmond and Ezio are spurred to find answers and get help. Both want to stop the templar plans. Is one of them redundant? You could make the argument.

    Gameplay wise, wasn't Ezio stopping the Pope from becoming Space Pope enough of a win/conclusion for the gamer?

    I just don't like the argument that you can't go without the modern day story element. You can't get rid of it now because it is so entrenched (well you could and I wouldn't mind). But all the literary, story elements modern day provides could be transferred to the old stuff if you wanted to write it that way.

    What if the next AC game was just about a dude fighting templars and stopping them from using a piece of McGuffin for badness? No modern stuff. Would it be more bland, as in oh great another secret society versus secret society (which is the case already but the duel timeline makes it better?)? Would it be more immersive because you're not character swapping? Those are personal decisions to make.

    I know I'd be comfortable with a great pirate game about a dude fighting templars from doing big-bad evil stuff, and that my protagonist was related to some old protagonist as part of the series' little continuity and that's why he's so strong etc etc. I don't need the modern story. It don't derive enjoyment from it, and that's my personal taste.



    Also I want to be mad I paid 37 for AC4 and now it's 30 but it's not like this game isn't worth it and eeeehhhhh.

  • Dr. ChaosDr. Chaos Post nuclear nuisance Registered User regular
    Lots and lots of references to Joan of arc in the modern day stuff. Emails, NPCs talking about her, the audio tapes.

    I would love an AC set in France and thats an interesting figure to set it around.

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    Caveman Paws
  • klemmingklemming Registered User regular
    Well, we're essentially getting an AC game set in one era, they're just calling it Watch_dogs.

    Like you said, they can't just ditch the overarching story now, and it does help to establish the full scale of the conflict.
    In AC1 it was just about two opposing groups in the Middle East. Except we know that the conflict wasn't limited to that, but has covered most/all of history.
    AC2 expanded on that a lot with the Subject 16 stuff, which was where they really started to work on their mythos, and tie a lot of things together with the Pieces of Eden.
    Sure, the main plots for each characters could have been done regardless, but if you've got a historical story that suddenly introduces a magic/sci-fi gizmo partway through, people wouldn't really like the bait-and-switch.
    But since you've known you were waching this via a sci-fi gizmo in the first place, you're able to readily accept it and move on.

    Nobody remembers the singer. The song remains.
  • AcharenusAcharenus Registered User regular
    klemming wrote: »
    Well, we're essentially getting an AC game set in one era, they're just calling it Watch_dogs.

    Like you said, they can't just ditch the overarching story now, and it does help to establish the full scale of the conflict.
    In AC1 it was just about two opposing groups in the Middle East. Except we know that the conflict wasn't limited to that, but has covered most/all of history.
    AC2 expanded on that a lot with the Subject 16 stuff, which was where they really started to work on their mythos, and tie a lot of things together with the Pieces of Eden.
    Sure, the main plots for each characters could have been done regardless, but if you've got a historical story that suddenly introduces a magic/sci-fi gizmo partway through, people wouldn't really like the bait-and-switch.
    But since you've known you were waching this via a sci-fi gizmo in the first place, you're able to readily accept it and move on.

    Why would you need the sci-fi elements at all?

  • AcharenusAcharenus Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    Dr. Chaos wrote: »
    Lots and lots of references to Joan of arc in the modern day stuff. Emails, NPCs talking about her, the audio tapes.

    I would love an AC set in France and thats an interesting figure to set it around.

    Either that or Japan would make me a very happy chappy. There are few other eras I'd like to explore as much...Rome has a lot of different angles you could jump into, I actually wouldn't mind a Hadrian's wall/Briton or ancient Greece.

    Wouldn't mind some more female protagonist's...Hate to say this about the one we have but I find her boring...apparently beggers can be choosy and I know how the notion sends publishers scurrying under there beds in terror.

    Acharenus on
    Caveman Paws
  • MorninglordMorninglord I'm tired of being Batman, so today I'll be Owl.Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    Frei wrote: »
    Also, I mean, it's not really hard to frame your opinions in non-shitbird ways. "I can't understand why anyone likes this shit." is just inflammatory and insults people's intelligence. Don't be a goose about the things you don't like and maybe learn to express yourself better by not inferring that everyone who likes something is taste-handicapped and your opinion is fact.

    Yes. This is what annoys me. Not that people have opinions. It's that they're so thoughtlessly rude about it. It's how you say it, not what you say.

    Morninglord on
    (PSN: Morninglord) (Steam: Morninglord) (WiiU: Morninglord22) I like to record and toss up a lot of random gaming videos here.
    FreiPreciousBodilyFluids
  • Dr_KeenbeanDr_Keenbean Dumb as a butt Planet Express ShipRegistered User regular
    Anyone know what today's update did?

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  • AchireAchire Isn't life disappointing? Yes, it is. Registered User regular
    How does wanted level work? I found this very nice guide on the ships for fleets, and now naturally I want to max out my wanted level. I got it to 3 earlier on, but it seems to reset on its own every now and then. Any tips on how to build it up fast and why it goes down without bribing officials?

  • Dr. ChaosDr. Chaos Post nuclear nuisance Registered User regular
    Edward might have the lowest IQ of any of the characters in this entire series and I say that with love.

    You were stuck on a deserted island and fighting over crabs with a crazy hobo pirate.

    Time to hang it up, man.

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    MorninglordRisenPhoenixEtchwartsPreciousBodilyFluids
  • eahenryiieahenryii Registered User regular
    Achire wrote: »
    How does wanted level work? I found this very nice guide on the ships for fleets, and now naturally I want to max out my wanted level. I got it to 3 earlier on, but it seems to reset on its own every now and then. Any tips on how to build it up fast and why it goes down without bribing officials?

    It goes down when you die at sea. Not sure if it does when you die on land. Dying while boarding a ship counts as dying at sea, from what I can tell.

    As far as building it up fast? Schooners and gunboats. Just sink them until you're the level you want. There are a couple of spots that are pretty packed with ships in the Northeast to Eastish section of the map.

  • eahenryiieahenryii Registered User regular
    Acharenus wrote: »
    klemming wrote: »
    Well, we're essentially getting an AC game set in one era, they're just calling it Watch_dogs.

    Like you said, they can't just ditch the overarching story now, and it does help to establish the full scale of the conflict.
    In AC1 it was just about two opposing groups in the Middle East. Except we know that the conflict wasn't limited to that, but has covered most/all of history.
    AC2 expanded on that a lot with the Subject 16 stuff, which was where they really started to work on their mythos, and tie a lot of things together with the Pieces of Eden.
    Sure, the main plots for each characters could have been done regardless, but if you've got a historical story that suddenly introduces a magic/sci-fi gizmo partway through, people wouldn't really like the bait-and-switch.
    But since you've known you were waching this via a sci-fi gizmo in the first place, you're able to readily accept it and move on.

    Why would you need the sci-fi elements at all?

    Well, the Animus is what makes you able to relive memories, so, presumably, without it, there'd be no reloading of sequences. Unless that's not what you mean.

  • AchireAchire Isn't life disappointing? Yes, it is. Registered User regular
    eahenryii wrote: »
    Achire wrote: »
    How does wanted level work? I found this very nice guide on the ships for fleets, and now naturally I want to max out my wanted level. I got it to 3 earlier on, but it seems to reset on its own every now and then. Any tips on how to build it up fast and why it goes down without bribing officials?

    It goes down when you die at sea. Not sure if it does when you die on land. Dying while boarding a ship counts as dying at sea, from what I can tell.

    As far as building it up fast? Schooners and gunboats. Just sink them until you're the level you want. There are a couple of spots that are pretty packed with ships in the Northeast to Eastish section of the map.

    Thanks! That explains things. I'll go hunting schooners and gunboats then.

  • MorninglordMorninglord I'm tired of being Batman, so today I'll be Owl.Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    eahenryii wrote: »
    Acharenus wrote: »
    klemming wrote: »
    Well, we're essentially getting an AC game set in one era, they're just calling it Watch_dogs.

    Like you said, they can't just ditch the overarching story now, and it does help to establish the full scale of the conflict.
    In AC1 it was just about two opposing groups in the Middle East. Except we know that the conflict wasn't limited to that, but has covered most/all of history.
    AC2 expanded on that a lot with the Subject 16 stuff, which was where they really started to work on their mythos, and tie a lot of things together with the Pieces of Eden.
    Sure, the main plots for each characters could have been done regardless, but if you've got a historical story that suddenly introduces a magic/sci-fi gizmo partway through, people wouldn't really like the bait-and-switch.
    But since you've known you were waching this via a sci-fi gizmo in the first place, you're able to readily accept it and move on.

    Why would you need the sci-fi elements at all?

    Well, the Animus is what makes you able to relive memories, so, presumably, without it, there'd be no reloading of sequences. Unless that's not what you mean.

    The templar truth is that all gods are a lie due to those who came before, who were real flesh and blood creatures, just not human ones, who used science, not magic, that was on a level we cannot understand, and who created us and so could control us.
    They thus decided that humanity is too vulnerable, in it's lies and myths and gods and wars, to be left to its own devices, and took it upon themselves to do it for us. Without the shared truth of the elder race they would just be another crazy religious cult and would have none of the compelling grey areas. It'd be Good vs Evil, not Liberty vs Tyranny.
    You'd cut the heart out of the entire premise.
    The thing about the templars is that what they believe is actually correct. They're just going about solving the problems they see stemming from these beliefs the wrong way.

    You would have no reason to go stabbing through historical areas in any way. No assassin's vs templars. It's all gone. It's not actually sci fi elements overlaid. The trick with this game is that you can't remove those elements without destroying the rest of the plot completely including the entire reason you are even able to stab in these historical areas in the first place. It's like wanting to rip out your nerves because you itch.

    Put it another way. Their modification of history allows them to mess with the real history to create stories. Without it you are constricted by real history, which would suck badly, as both a developer and a player who wants to feel empowered.
    If historical simulation games were AAA level sellers I guarantee there'd be a ton more of them. Instead, as it turns out, what people want is quasi-historical power fantasy, which is easiest to do by throwing in something like this. Any purist will hate it, but play it anyway, and meanwhile they make the big bucks off the masses. It makes perfect sense. Which is why it'll never go away.


    And now for something completely different!

    Fishing!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHyMPeAWhUQ&feature=youtu.be

    Morninglord on
    (PSN: Morninglord) (Steam: Morninglord) (WiiU: Morninglord22) I like to record and toss up a lot of random gaming videos here.
    klemmingMonger
  • CleveraliasCleveralias Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    Since completing the storyline there has been a female assassin that hangs out in my house - I can click on her and when I do she takes of running. I followed her around the island for a while but she didn't seem to do anything other than run around. Anyone have any Ideas what that's all about ? Or just scenery or something. Oh and @moringlord what is the key combination to reel people in like that - for some reason I thought it was Range attack then tap attack but that doesn't seem to work . Please and thank you.

    Cleveralias on
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  • MorninglordMorninglord I'm tired of being Batman, so today I'll be Owl.Registered User regular
    Hold the button down and press the left stick away from them.

    (PSN: Morninglord) (Steam: Morninglord) (WiiU: Morninglord22) I like to record and toss up a lot of random gaming videos here.
  • JoolanderJoolander Registered User regular
    Oh @Morninglord

    I forgot earlier: could you add me to the PC UPlay list? I'm Joolander on there as well

  • MorninglordMorninglord I'm tired of being Batman, so today I'll be Owl.Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    Done.
    I've had some really amusing bugs with killing animations today.

    I countered one guy and then Ed did the kill on a different guy.

    I comboed up to a kill with one guy and then Ed did the kill on the guy behind him.

    It was like he was showing them what he would have done to them. So they remember the fear.

    Morninglord on
    (PSN: Morninglord) (Steam: Morninglord) (WiiU: Morninglord22) I like to record and toss up a lot of random gaming videos here.
  • Blackbird SR-71CBlackbird SR-71C Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    Legendary ship N.4: Currently at the bottom of the sea, somewhere.

    Speaking of bugs, did you know you can actually board pirate ships? One time I saw a crippled pirate ship at the horizon and went to board it. Now here's the thing though - you can't kill the pirates on board, they're still marked as friendly. The only way to kill them is with the swivel guns, and sadly I only got 4 of 5 with my swivels before running out of ammo. So I can't tell you what'd happen id you tried repair it or whatever.

    Oh yeah, here's a question: Does the stealth outfit do anything? According to the description it should make staying hidden easier or something, but I didn't notice a difference when trying it out.

    Blackbird SR-71C on
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    Steam ID: 76561198021298113
    Origin ID: SR71C_Blackbird

  • -Loki--Loki- Don't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining. Registered User regular
    Achire wrote: »
    It feels pretty weird that it is the 6th installment of the series and they still haven't dropped the terrible, terrible scifi elements.

    They won't. There was a 'Making of' seris for this game on IGN with the games lead designer. He said while in Black Flag they made as much of the modern setting as optional as possible (to the point of taking about 20 minutes in the entire game to do bare minimum if you want to), they won't remove it entirely as it is part of the brand.

    Get used to it - it's not going anywhere.

    Blackbird SR-71C
  • Dr_KeenbeanDr_Keenbean Dumb as a butt Planet Express ShipRegistered User regular
    I don't mind the modern stuff at all if it's handled as well as it is in Black Flag.

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  • -Loki--Loki- Don't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining. Registered User regular
    Same. By the end of 3 I was thoroughly sick of the modern setting. It just didn't feel right, and was obvious it was rushed just to get that story done (I had several cutscenes in there were mouths didn't even move at all when the characters were speaking).

    The way they did it in Black Flag is obviously tongue in cheek, but is handled very well and is at least entertaining to play through.

  • Dr. ChaosDr. Chaos Post nuclear nuisance Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    I don't mind the modern stuff at all if it's handled as well as it is in Black Flag.
    Hopefully in the future they'll write tech guys that aren't giant assholes.

    First Shaun and now "John". The Modern day characters would actually start to grow on me if they weren't all douchebags or complete dicks.

    I've always liked the modern day element and the first civ stuff never bothered me (though I do miss the sense of mystery), I just found the supporting cast annoying.

    Dr. Chaos on
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  • Steel AngelSteel Angel Registered User regular
    Dr. Chaos wrote: »
    I don't mind the modern stuff at all if it's handled as well as it is in Black Flag.
    Hopefully in the future they'll write tech guys that aren't giant assholes.

    First Shaun and now "John". The Modern day characters would actually start to grow on me if they weren't all douchebags or complete dicks.

    I've always liked the modern day element and the first civ stuff never bothered me, I just found the supporting cast annoying.

    They have had an issue with the modern day characters being annoying, one dimensional, or boring. A blue collar slob with no defining characteristics outside of three tribal tattoos, being captured, and being silent while strapped into a computer just isn't going to be as interesting as any of the ancestors you play as and the modern setting environment isn't going to compete well with the more lavish historical settings.

    Big Dookie wrote: »
    I found that tilting it doesn't work very well, and once I started jerking it, I got much better results.

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  • ChrysisChrysis Registered User regular
    The companion app doesn't work with my tablet. That's dumb. Why release something like that and limit it to the dozen most recent models of tablet?

    Tri-Optimum reminds you that there are only one-hundred-sixty-three shopping days until Christmas. Just 1 extra work cycle twice a week will give you the spending money you need to make this holiday a very special one.
    Morninglord
  • DhalphirDhalphir don't you open that trapdoor you're a fool if you dareRegistered User regular
    edited December 2013
    Dhalphir on
    Morninglord
  • MorninglordMorninglord I'm tired of being Batman, so today I'll be Owl.Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    Companies lately have been implementing that kind of stuff pretty badly. They want to be able to market it but not actually, you know, do the work required to get it to work on all the tablets and devices the marketers imply it's useable for.

    I really loved the part where he got the sniper to shoot the other one.

    Morninglord on
    (PSN: Morninglord) (Steam: Morninglord) (WiiU: Morninglord22) I like to record and toss up a lot of random gaming videos here.
  • Dr. ChaosDr. Chaos Post nuclear nuisance Registered User regular
    Been to every area in the game that isn't locked by story and only find two social chests. Bah.

    My game has got to be bugged or something.

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  • ChrysisChrysis Registered User regular
    Companies lately have been implementing that kind of stuff pretty badly. They want to be able to market it but not actually, you know, do the work required to get it to work on all the tablets and devices the marketers imply it's useable for.

    Yeah, turns out one of the problems I might be having is the Android version. The play store says 2.2+, which I have, but from what I've read the requirement is actually 4.2+. It installs fine when I sideload it, but doesn't run and obviously doesn't give any hints why.

    Tri-Optimum reminds you that there are only one-hundred-sixty-three shopping days until Christmas. Just 1 extra work cycle twice a week will give you the spending money you need to make this holiday a very special one.
  • CleveraliasCleveralias Registered User regular
    Or they wait to get it right before releasing like Rockstar did for GTA and the android fanboys cry conspiracy because the iOS ap hits first.

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  • MongerMonger I got the ham stink. Dallas, TXRegistered User regular
    Dr. Chaos wrote: »
    Been to every area in the game that isn't locked by story and only find two social chests. Bah.

    My game has got to be bugged or something.
    I don't think social chests are fixed. I think they're random events like white whales and royal convoys.

    Also, the service that controls the social stuff doesn't seem to work consistently.

    Dr. Chaos
  • Dr_KeenbeanDr_Keenbean Dumb as a butt Planet Express ShipRegistered User regular
    Chrysis wrote: »
    The companion app doesn't work with my tablet. That's dumb. Why release something like that and limit it to the dozen most recent models of tablet?

    Because ipads make up the lion's share of the tablet market and all run the same OS. As opposed to android which who knows what it's got on it.

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  • SiliconStewSiliconStew Registered User regular
    edited December 2013
    And if they'd implemented it as a web page instead of a stupid "app" we wouldn't even be having this discussion.


    There's definitely something wrong with the social stuff. I was seeing convoys, chests, and whales occasionally the first few days, but now I haven't seen a single one in like a week.

    SiliconStew on
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  • Dr. ChaosDr. Chaos Post nuclear nuisance Registered User regular
    Monger wrote: »
    Dr. Chaos wrote: »
    Been to every area in the game that isn't locked by story and only find two social chests. Bah.

    My game has got to be bugged or something.
    I don't think social chests are fixed. I think they're random events like white whales and royal convoys.

    Also, the service that controls the social stuff doesn't seem to work consistently.
    Right. I guess I probably shouldn't be obsessing over trying to finish those challenges right now then.

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