Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN APRIL 2024?

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> writes:

Disappointing. I generally enjoyed the first "Horizon" game, even if I
found it to be a bit too formulaic. But it had pleasing visuals and
the central game-loop and mechanics were satisfying enough (the combat
was a bit too melee-focused, and the camera was somewhat uncooperative
but otherwise it was fine).

All that's still there and the visuals are still pleasing and in fact,
you can fly. Or rather, there's a mount you can whistle up that
flies. And there's no tedious waiting for it to land and climbing on and
taking off, it swoops in and grabs you and throws you on its back in a
funny animation. Makes sightseeing easy and in fact the end credits show
off some of the sights.

But it sounds like the sequel got kitchen-sinked*, with the developers
adding in new ideas willy-nilly without really understanding how it
would affect the overall balance, loop, and atmosphere of the game.

Unfortunately yes, I have to agree about the kitchen-sinking. They even
put in races! Still, it's not all bad, like the flying mount above.

Also, I didn't much use the other weapons in Zero Dawn either. The one
time I felt the ropecaster would be useful right then to tie down some
big machine, there was this other guy "helping", doing almost no damage
but his ineffectual firing caused the machine to pull loose from the
ropes. Just as I was trying to hit it where it hurts, of course.