I'm really enjoying this game, but man. I HATE the climbing sections so much, they just bog everything down. Why are we still on like Uncharted 1 era preset climbing paths still? Even with the perma-visible paths option turned on I'm finding a lot of the more organic climbing parts to not be particularly well telegraphed. Maybe it's just me, but everytime I get to a big climbing/platforming section it makes me want to stop.
So, I was initially disappointed that they didn't implement BotW-esque climbing, but after a few of the dungeons, I get why - there just wouldn't be a way to path people correctly otherwise.
I know it was never ALL dinosaurs but replacing the watchers with burrowers has really made it a dinosaur robot hunting game with no dinosaur robots (at least in the first zone).
I stg if this represents an in universe robot evolution until we’re fighting humanoid robot reaper babies in the 3rd game…
Watchers were always an anomaly in that they didn't actually have an animal/dinosaur analog. They were just fauna-based machine with no real basis to any species of anything.
MOST of the robots in Zero Dawn were animals. I think the only 'this is a dinosaur' one from the first game is probably Thunderjaws? Some like Rockbreaker and Bellowbacks don't really have a direct comparison either. They're just cool looking monster robots
Oh sure and I’m certain that there’s some element of using the thunder jaw being the signature game 1 Bigboi on all the covers and stuff just kind of contributes to “robot dinosaur game” more than anything
At least in the over world the climbing is a little more loose than uncharted, you often have multiple paths to go and there’s usually a lot of ledges and such not just one path. Of course in more linear moments it’s more restrictive, but i dig it as full botw climbing is neat and all but I don’t feel necessarily it’s a direct “upgrade” that should replace uncharted style climbing in every open world game, it’s more a design choice.
Also holy shit was fighting near like a few concrete walls and then the robots start smashing through them, didn’t think they were breakable walls so it scared and delighted me. I also love that like after a big battle not only are the robot bodies solid and look real, but like any ice attacks that froze the landscape stay after the battle, it gives a great sense of permanency and immersion. Too many games don’t realise the joy of the after battle collect your thoughts and survey the damage moment, which this series nails
And there’s definitely still robot dinosaurs in this one, at least two new I’ve seen so far in the second zone
a pterodactyl analogue and a raptor with feathers
The game has a new robot animal that basically makes it the best game ever
robo kangaroos with yo-yo ball pouch attacks
One thing that still annoys me from the last game is the waypoint always pointing to like a road, it’s technically helpful in areas with complex geography so you know exactly where to go, like climbing a mountain, but I wish there was a second indicator telling me exactly where the waypoint is so I could just make a beeline for it
Prohass on
0
knitdanIn ur baseKillin ur guysRegistered Userregular
Got an annoying bug
The "collectibles" section of the Notebook is lit up like I have something to read but I've already checked out everything I have in there and the icon won't go away
“I was quick when I came in here, I’m twice as quick now”
-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
+4
AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
Also is literally everybody thirsty for Aloy? Jesus.
Have you met Aloy? She's brilliant, she's beautiful, she's humble, and she's saved the lives of literally everybody she's met an average of more than once.
I'd almost say the game needs a series of Mass Effect romance options.
Story progression question:
In story-gear terms, I just got the glider (and am now spelunking in the first Cauldron I can find to get some override options). How many main quests do I want to do to get the underwater breathing thing? I saw it in trailers, and oxygen meters give me enough anxiety that I'm just avoiding water until I can find it.
A lot.
In fact I think you’re really supposed to be doing most of the main quest as a ton of side content is locked behind several core upgrades.
pyromaniac221this just might bean interestin YTRegistered Userregular
You may have already done it, but worth checking the tutorial section. IIRC the first menu level there doesn’t show the unread-entry indicator, but if you go down a few you start to see them.
One thing that still annoys me from the last game is the waypoint always pointing to like a road, it’s technically helpful in areas with complex geography so you know exactly where to go, like climbing a mountain, but I wish there was a second indicator telling me exactly where the waypoint is so I could just make a beeline for it
I think you can change this. Saw some reviewers saying that you can choose between "waypoint directs you to the next point in the chain so that you never hit a wall or a mountain or whatever that you can't pass" or "waypoint just exists as a final destination marker and you have to figure out the path there (over or around mountains, etc.).
AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
edited February 2022
The path it shows also follows roads because that is what mounts will do by default. This is why it can be hard to control mounts with the option to have them follow waypoints and roads on.
I know it was never ALL dinosaurs but replacing the watchers with burrowers has really made it a dinosaur robot hunting game with no dinosaur robots (at least in the first zone).
I stg if this represents an in universe robot evolution until we’re fighting humanoid robot reaper babies in the 3rd game…
Hope you like apex clawstriders, as for a while that is all I fought (pretty much).
Edit: Also there are a wider array of actual dinosaur robots in this game. After the first area you will not be disappointed for dinosaur fighting.
The "collectibles" section of the Notebook is lit up like I have something to read but I've already checked out everything I have in there and the icon won't go away
I just had that too. It turned out the icon belonged to something in the "datapoints" section instead. As soon as I looked at it the icon went away.
The "collectibles" section of the Notebook is lit up like I have something to read but I've already checked out everything I have in there and the icon won't go away
I just had that too. It turned out the icon belonged to something in the "datapoints" section instead. As soon as I looked at it the icon went away.
I had that too and it turned out it was something in the tutorials.
Also I have made it to the embassy and I have found some dinosaurs all is well now.
Also I went from being really bad at fighting all the first zone machines to now just casually tearing off all the parts in consecutive shots
I do find myself wishing that they’d taken the ‘press button to cruise control mount to follow road to waymark’ from Witcher 3
They did. Just accelerate the mount. It will follow the road to as close as possible without your input.
The trick is realising this.
Also I have solved my equipment issues. It turns out they absolutely expect you to do main story until the arena opens (you will know it when you see it). A character after starting that side quest trades your hunters medals for some amazing equipment. This has made things 100% more bearable and I no longer feel I am ineffectually tickling the machines to death.
I really recommend getting the medal trader ASAP if you’re on any difficulty above normal.
AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
edited February 2022
Holy fucking shit this underwater section is beyond incredible but I can’t handle it.
MOTHER FUCKING ROBOT PLESIOSAUR
If you get stuck here for 30 minutes like I did
Against all logic, you MUST swim towards the big fucking dinosaur for a bit. This triggers Aloy to look for another solution, which you can only interact with after doing so
Can i talk about the first game in here? I just picked it up again after about a2 year lull in play. I'm over 70% done with it and I'm only now realising how bloody useful corruption arrows are! They do the job for me.
I honestly don't think I ever used corruption arrows aside from the tutorial quest.
Same with the Rattler. One day I may try to do a no bows playthrough.
Nobody remembers the singer. The song remains.
+2
AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
The rattler in Forbidden West is hilarious with the explosive tip skill.
In FW I'm almost feeling like there's too many weapons. I guess it's cool that I have choice but I have whole categories of weapons I'm ignoring.
I think it’s about play style. I have adapted to a set of weapons I really enjoy and that work for me. The spike thrower is utterly brutal once you rope a creature down. At the same time it’s not the “I win!!” button of Zero Dawn.
Similarly the rattler I thought was garbage in ZD but the FW equivalent is hilarious with the right skill. The biggest casualty for me in this game is the tripwire: It’s just absolute shit.
In FW I'm almost feeling like there's too many weapons. I guess it's cool that I have choice but I have whole categories of weapons I'm ignoring.
I think it’s about play style. I have adapted to a set of weapons I really enjoy and that work for me. The spike thrower is utterly brutal once you rope a creature down. At the same time it’s not the “I win!!” button of Zero Dawn.
Similarly the rattler I thought was garbage in ZD but the FW equivalent is hilarious with the right skill. The biggest casualty for me in this game is the tripwire: It’s just absolute shit.
I still have tripwire on rotation but only because it's a prep weapon. Drop a couple wires before a fight and don't think about it or include it in the rotation once the fight starts.
What is this I don't even.
0
AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
edited February 2022
I was doing the same thing, but 30 hours in I am over changing weapons constantly. I also have a very good set up now I opened the medal merchant - that equipment legit made the game fun again. It was getting painful.
DemonStaceyTTODewback's DaughterIn love with the TaySwayRegistered Userregular
Oh I was also going to say the fidelity mode looks incredible. If I didn't already know and you asked me the framerate I'd definitely have no clue. Feels perfectly smooth (so far) to me, granted I'm less sensitive to that stuff.
0
AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
edited February 2022
This is beyond unfair and makes me wonder if the rest of the arena will be this bullshit.
Slitherfangs basically require tying them down or shredding their tail ASAP. The equipment you get and abilities are so bad, it has to be an obvious fucking troll. I cannot figure out how to beat this thing, as the abilities and equipment given are utter shite against a siltherfang on hard difficulty.
Also exposes how bad trip caster is for anything.
Does anyone know how to fucking kill this thing on hard with the shit equipment you’re given?
For what it's worth, it turns out this netted me 55th in the world in terms of time beating him on hard difficulty.
It's seriously not easy whatsoever. The gameplay above is actually mine, being somewhat terrible but managing to pull it out from somewhere, because it started amazingly poorly. Also here is proof of my glorious accomplishment:
The facial detail is amazing. They managed to nail some real middle-aged looking folks.
Also is literally everybody thirsty for Aloy? Jesus.
The thing to remember about Horizon is that it basically has all the beats and trappings of a standard YA novel.
I can never tell if Aloy is completely unaware or deliberately ignoring all of it. Either way it’s great.
I think an interaction early on indicates she’s more than aware, but she just doesn’t have any time and possibly no interest to go along with it as well.
Also this glitch happened to me the other day and I did remember to record it:
I do not really like that they made Aloy.... kinda mean frankly. I'm fine with too busy for your shit but it moves towards almost sadistic.
It's something that they definitely play as A Good Thing in the first game because everyone is so bull-headed and self-absorbed and you mostly see Aloy cutting through the indolence and beauracracy and Getting Results
In this game though, you even very early on, you can see how her demeanor is pushing people away. The people who were previously enamored with her are having their tolerance tested, especially with her basically just leaving immediately and obviously not valuing any of her relationships with other people. Those that helped her before out of personal affection, now do moreso because they understand the stakes. And characters have been pretty explicitly calling her out on it, noting that even though she's the Chosen One, she NEEDS friends and allies to really do anything. I'm still very early on but I expect it to be the major throughline of personal growth.
I do not really like that they made Aloy.... kinda mean frankly. I'm fine with too busy for your shit but it moves towards almost sadistic.
It's something that they definitely play as A Good Thing in the first game because everyone is so bull-headed and self-absorbed and you mostly see Aloy cutting through the indolence and beauracracy and Getting Results
In this game though, you even very early on, you can see how her demeanor is pushing people away. The people who were previously enamored with her are having their tolerance tested, especially with her basically just leaving immediately and obviously not valuing any of her relationships with other people. Those that helped her before out of personal affection, now do moreso because they understand the stakes. And characters have been pretty explicitly calling her out on it, noting that even though she's the Chosen One, she NEEDS friends and allies to really do anything. I'm still very early on but I expect it to be the major throughline of personal growth.
Very early game spoilers.
absolutely I know where they're going with it but I don't think they land the beats. "Literally running away from your best friend in the dead of night multiple times because you're just TOO busy saving the world" is just a really weird asshole blast. And then it's funny juxtaposed against "I'm gonna stop and play some Warhammer before I go though."
I'd heard the story in this one was much weaker and I have to agree. Still solid gameplay but much weaker story. Especially... Later for stuff I'm not even putting in tags because I don't know how to label it.
It doesn't help that 90% of the obstacles that are in her way tend to be Tradition.
You need to go to this place to save literally all life? We can't let outsiders go there, because of Tradition.
Tradition is the reason she was an outcast, she has a very low tolerance for it whenever it's bought up.
Couple that with desperation about the stakes, and the fact that she doesn't feel like she can explain it to anyone so they'd understand. Even Varl has to parse what she says into stories about spirits to make sense of it.
The only person who really understands what she's talking about is a manipulative possible sociopath she knows she can't trust.
It's annoying to be sure, but it definitely fits the narrative.
Nobody remembers the singer. The song remains.
+5
AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
edited February 2022
These arena challenges would be fun if they didn’t give me the shittiest equipment for them. The “boss” fights are basically leaving you to deal with a terrible build vs incredibly fast constantly attacking enemies. Like this (spoiler for second arena championship match):
knitdanIn ur baseKillin ur guysRegistered Userregular
I'm still early on but I definitely notice "hey, don't be such a loner" developing as a theme.
Part of the problem, I think, is that she's sick of having to explain every single thing to people who either don't have the knowledge base or are too religiously stubborn to understand shat she's talking about.
She sees things nobody else does, she understands what they mean, snd every time she has to go "that machine is possessed by an evil spirit" or "that's not a goddess" or"this object you revere is actually just the hubcap off a VW beetle" it tears off a piece of her soul.
Plus there's the aspect of trying to protect her friends from danger without truly acknowledging that they fsce danger no matter what and often can handle themselves just fine.
“I was quick when I came in here, I’m twice as quick now”
-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
+2
OrcaAlso known as EspressosaurusWrexRegistered Userregular
Very very early game spoilers (I'm basically just past the tutorial phase)
It's very clear they're calling her out for being shitty. Especially the ones that helped most that we've met so far. Varl dresses her down and is genuinely hurt. Erend dresses her down and is very visibly hurt as well. The Sun King is cordial and still thirsty, but confused. If I'm remembering right Vanasha calls her out on it.
And of course she straight up runs out on Varl in the dead of night despite his best efforts to keep up. Erend at least knows he can't keep up.
I'm hoping this will be an area of growth for her, because yes, it's shitty she keeps running out on the people that thought they were her friends.
+5
AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
Posts
I stg if this represents an in universe robot evolution until we’re fighting humanoid robot reaper babies in the 3rd game…
MOST of the robots in Zero Dawn were animals. I think the only 'this is a dinosaur' one from the first game is probably Thunderjaws? Some like Rockbreaker and Bellowbacks don't really have a direct comparison either. They're just cool looking monster robots
Also holy shit was fighting near like a few concrete walls and then the robots start smashing through them, didn’t think they were breakable walls so it scared and delighted me. I also love that like after a big battle not only are the robot bodies solid and look real, but like any ice attacks that froze the landscape stay after the battle, it gives a great sense of permanency and immersion. Too many games don’t realise the joy of the after battle collect your thoughts and survey the damage moment, which this series nails
And there’s definitely still robot dinosaurs in this one, at least two new I’ve seen so far in the second zone
The game has a new robot animal that basically makes it the best game ever
One thing that still annoys me from the last game is the waypoint always pointing to like a road, it’s technically helpful in areas with complex geography so you know exactly where to go, like climbing a mountain, but I wish there was a second indicator telling me exactly where the waypoint is so I could just make a beeline for it
The "collectibles" section of the Notebook is lit up like I have something to read but I've already checked out everything I have in there and the icon won't go away
-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
A lot.
In fact I think you’re really supposed to be doing most of the main quest as a ton of side content is locked behind several core upgrades.
I think you can change this. Saw some reviewers saying that you can choose between "waypoint directs you to the next point in the chain so that you never hit a wall or a mountain or whatever that you can't pass" or "waypoint just exists as a final destination marker and you have to figure out the path there (over or around mountains, etc.).
Hope you like apex clawstriders, as for a while that is all I fought (pretty much).
Edit: Also there are a wider array of actual dinosaur robots in this game. After the first area you will not be disappointed for dinosaur fighting.
I just had that too. It turned out the icon belonged to something in the "datapoints" section instead. As soon as I looked at it the icon went away.
I had that too and it turned out it was something in the tutorials.
Also I have made it to the embassy and I have found some dinosaurs all is well now.
Also I went from being really bad at fighting all the first zone machines to now just casually tearing off all the parts in consecutive shots
The trick is realising this.
Also I have solved my equipment issues. It turns out they absolutely expect you to do main story until the arena opens (you will know it when you see it). A character after starting that side quest trades your hunters medals for some amazing equipment. This has made things 100% more bearable and I no longer feel I am ineffectually tickling the machines to death.
I really recommend getting the medal trader ASAP if you’re on any difficulty above normal.
If you get stuck here for 30 minutes like I did
Same with the Rattler. One day I may try to do a no bows playthrough.
I think it’s about play style. I have adapted to a set of weapons I really enjoy and that work for me. The spike thrower is utterly brutal once you rope a creature down. At the same time it’s not the “I win!!” button of Zero Dawn.
Similarly the rattler I thought was garbage in ZD but the FW equivalent is hilarious with the right skill. The biggest casualty for me in this game is the tripwire: It’s just absolute shit.
I still have tripwire on rotation but only because it's a prep weapon. Drop a couple wires before a fight and don't think about it or include it in the rotation once the fight starts.
I'm doing the DLC at the moment, and occasionally mixing it up with fire arrows / frantically running backwards shooting tripwires
Daaaaamnnn this is good.
It's got good skill trees, rewarding side content, fun combat and properly cinematic cutscenes and story sequences.
Characters don't just stand still and talk at each other?
Hot damn!
Also exposes how bad trip caster is for anything.
Does anyone know how to fucking kill this thing on hard with the shit equipment you’re given?
This is the “lowest” tier of the arena too!!!!
GOT HIM!!!!
For what it's worth, it turns out this netted me 55th in the world in terms of time beating him on hard difficulty.
It's seriously not easy whatsoever. The gameplay above is actually mine, being somewhat terrible but managing to pull it out from somewhere, because it started amazingly poorly. Also here is proof of my glorious accomplishment:
The thing to remember about Horizon is that it basically has all the beats and trappings of a standard YA novel.
I can never tell if Aloy is completely unaware or deliberately ignoring all of it. Either way it’s great.
I think an interaction early on indicates she’s more than aware, but she just doesn’t have any time and possibly no interest to go along with it as well.
Also this glitch happened to me the other day and I did remember to record it:
It's something that they definitely play as A Good Thing in the first game because everyone is so bull-headed and self-absorbed and you mostly see Aloy cutting through the indolence and beauracracy and Getting Results
Very early game spoilers.
I'd heard the story in this one was much weaker and I have to agree. Still solid gameplay but much weaker story. Especially... Later for stuff I'm not even putting in tags because I don't know how to label it.
You need to go to this place to save literally all life? We can't let outsiders go there, because of Tradition.
Tradition is the reason she was an outcast, she has a very low tolerance for it whenever it's bought up.
The only person who really understands what she's talking about is a manipulative possible sociopath she knows she can't trust.
It's annoying to be sure, but it definitely fits the narrative.
At least let me fail with my actually GOOD build instead of whatever the fuck these are supposed to be.
I will get one dam it.
Part of the problem, I think, is that she's sick of having to explain every single thing to people who either don't have the knowledge base or are too religiously stubborn to understand shat she's talking about.
She sees things nobody else does, she understands what they mean, snd every time she has to go "that machine is possessed by an evil spirit" or "that's not a goddess" or"this object you revere is actually just the hubcap off a VW beetle" it tears off a piece of her soul.
Plus there's the aspect of trying to protect her friends from danger without truly acknowledging that they fsce danger no matter what and often can handle themselves just fine.
-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
And of course she straight up runs out on Varl in the dead of night despite his best efforts to keep up. Erend at least knows he can't keep up.
I'm hoping this will be an area of growth for her, because yes, it's shitty she keeps running out on the people that thought they were her friends.
Tear arrows to the mouth are the easiest way of getting those I find.