XCOM: Enemy UnknownKopie toho, co jsem dal na G+. Suma mých osobních postřehů.
Why am I not going to buy XCOM: Enemy Unknown (the new "remake")
- No, it is not a remake, they just recycled the idea and put a new console game on it.
- When I discovered this game is being developed, I jumped from my chair in happiness. Then I watched about an hour and half long video of two tactical missions and some basic base planning. I had mixed feelings, but was optimistic. 50 EUR is a lot of money for me, but the boxed special edition comes with some goodies (poster, art book…) . I was seriously thinking about buying. So, what changed my mind? The deeper I went the more I did not like the changes.
FIRST and FOREMOST: this is not "old vs. new" fight. I played all UFOs and I liked some stuff, I did not some other. These are just things that ruin it for me - so this is VERY subjective evaluation based on videos and part of the demo. So, again it may be or it may not be in the final release. On the other hand, the demo should be able, on its own, to represent the feel of the game.
Lately, you often hear the argument "it's just a demo", which is followed by "It's just release day, give them time". Then it's "It's just Vanilla, they'll add it via DLC".... and so on.
Also, I do not have anything against consoles – I don’t own one, but the thing is each of them (PC and consoles) have their specifics and unless the devs realize this fact, there are going to lose some customers (I am not the only person with this sentiment). Now, the question is how would the extra coding costs compare to the extra customers money? Personally, I strongly believe that, when done smartly, the extra costs would be minimal.
1) UI - what a mess, but maybe it is just a demo:
------ lacking keybinds customization seems exactly the typical thing for console ports. There can be so much freedom in controlling your soldiers when you have something like mouse (generally a moving device) and the WHOLE keyboard to use than just a few buttons!!! (not to mention the wheel on my lovely mouse)
------ HUD is just scary, there could be and should be so much more information and customization of what you want to see. 1080p screens and I can't get the info on it without going through unintuitive menus! SVGA times had better UI.
------ More fine control for the over the shoulder cams. Like, toggle on/off various cameras (movement glam, guns, explosives) and “confirm action”
It wouldn't be the first time PC gamers were forced to make their own UI,
2) The lack of an inventory system.
You are extremely limited in equipping you soldiers (There are a ton of things competing for one inventory slot). For instance, I cannot understand why each soldier cannot carry one grenade, or/and one medkit. In reality a small explosive (or smoke) device that fits your hand can save your live in a critical situation, the same is valid for a field dressing... Both weights very little and takes very little space. It just doesn't make sense.
Inventory management (ammo, medkits, grenades, weapons, armor, and special equipment) is gameplay. Researching equipment, manufacturing it, and giving it to squaddies is gameplay. Maybe the "modern" gaming mindset doesn't attribute those features with gameplay, but I do.
Also, actual strategy IS ammunition management. You have to worry about these things when assembling, equipping, and deploying a squad in a tactical strategy game. That's the point of a tactical strategy environment.
3) Weird concept of fighting: quote: “Allowing you to shoot then move would be too large of an advantage for a defensive player.” Ah well, Fallout Tactics I miss you. I mean it's like in the Battlefield (Nowadays, it's Bad Company 2 for me), which I like very much, there is a time to rush and there is a time to cover the soldier beside you.
So, I decided to follow the advice of fellow gamer: “The mature approach is this; if you do not like the game, do not buy it. Simple and easy. Move on with your life.” But that said, it is not easily done (counts for everything I care about).
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