SladeyGaming

3 minutes ago, Serenity said:

If the wolves behaved more like in survival mode I wouldn't complain much:

• they need to roam more and not always be in the exact same spot
• timberwolves are completely broken and need to have their fear setting lowered (the regular wolves are fine in the regard). The Bleak Inlet wolves also run away sometimes, but not like this. The pack attack bar needs to go away sooner when you're out of range
• there needs to be more time between killing and respawning. They seem to be back right away.
• maybe make it so they can spawn and despawn a bit like in survival, but on a shorter timescale. So their presence isn't so predictable.

I wouldn't mind having to deal with wolves if they behaved properly and in interesting ways. I can enjoy playing with wolves in survival mode. But especially the broken timberwolf behavior made me not take any of it seriously. It unfortunately continued the trend where the actual survival part of Wintermute is really bad. Which is a shame because the storytelling and animation was far better than in previous episodes.

I enjoyed exploring certain parts of the map, but I just can't enjoy Wintermute as a survival game because the settings don't support that. I'm not even asking for Interloper difficulty here, but more basic things like not being able to sleep when you aren't tired.

I think thats the thing though, wintermute is not intended to be survival really. I've had the game since early access when it was easier to learn. But I have friends who really struggle getting into the game because the tutorial side of things just isn't that good. Wintermute IS the tutorial essentially so yes there are some mechanics like the sleeping mechanic that need to stick around to help new players. I've got over 250 hours in the game. I can survive on stalker easily. But I have friends who struggle with the basics of the long dark. They have given you the tools to keep the timberwolves at bay. You are supposed to craft noise makers and scare them off. 

That said I do kind of agree that the severity of the timberwolves mixed in with the normal wolves at times was a bit much - perhaps keeping seperate timber wolves and normal wolves areas would have helped with this. However, I kind of expected the wolves to be intense if even the prisoners are scared of them. Wolves usually spawn a few days after being killed whereas I think the point with this map is theres a lot and theyre there all the time. I think the spawns essentially worked that when you entered or left a building they would respawn. 

I mean went a bit survival mode myself for a while. Made a wolfskin coat and survived over two weeks before getting back to the prison, but that in itself breaks the immersion of the game and I think this episode is not meant to be played like survival. 

First thoughts:

Love the new map! You are right its such a mash up of different maps its really nice. I hope it connects to all of these regions too tbh. The story was good and the characters were interesting and engaging as well. 

Things I really liked were: 

• The map: All the areas to explore, the tunnels to get from one side of the map to the other. The mine and the different routes to take there and back. Moose lake and the bricklayers hut. Splendidly done. I hope we get more of the interal prison on survival mode and can't wait to see how it connects up. 
• The characters and voice acting. I like how McKenzie was true to his character and didn't start killing off the prisoners by shooting them. I like how Matthis is still alive at the end and how we met Jace. Continuity with the forest talkers being around as well.
• How we went from Mckenzie not knowing what he's doing in the first episodes to being confident out in the wild which brings me to the next point...
• The wolves. Like everyone is complaining at how hard they are, but honestly? These wolves have been eating the dead prison guards. Essentially fed by the prisoners and have a taste for human flesh. Ofc theyre gonna be on your ass. Not only that but the hardened prisoners who are murderers and rapists (probably) are scared shitless of them. So yes. The wolves were exactly what I expected them to be. 
• Noise makers. I love how there is now another way to scare them off. It balances out the timberwolves. And I think this episode basically forced you to make them which is good because its something I'll be considering in survival from now on.
• I like the puzzles. Mixes it up from the walking simulator of the first couple of episodes. Nothing too complex but something to mix things up. 
• The realistic confiscation. (caveat below)
• The side quests were good and I liked the lore building of the island.
• Suffocation is now a thing at it was great. Realistic of deep mines and fire.

Things I think could do with a bit more work:

• The confiscation should maybe not include all your clothes, but maybe the top layers. Like a coat and things. To make a point that the prisoners are nasty but also not leave you completely naked that broke the immersion a little
• The forest talker puzzle could have been executed differently. My game bugged and wouldn't let me do it. 
• Immersion was broken by not having a timer or anything on how long you are outside in the game. I think it could have been good that if you were back in three days or something that they would kill the prison guard you were with or something to put pressure onto you. For example I managed to craft a wolfskin coat in the meantime. So I think something to keep you hurrying along would be good.

Things Im dissapointed with:

• How the episode ended. We should have been able to at least make Jace a fire or give her a coat or something. 
• Wanted to play a little as astrid. Even if it only involved walking through the dead whales to find a canoe before going out into the open ocean. Like why the hell did she take that risk? Thats what I wanna know. 
• No methusela. Like dude cmon. Where was he? I wanted him to be there. He's like PART of the long dark universe now. It would have added to the mystery if he was there after the mine collapsed. 

Anyway, really really enjoyed it. I do wish they'd sort out some of the bugs though. But honestly, theres a lot to like and I look forward to the next episode. 

On 10/8/2021 at 1:49 PM, ElleJoy said:

I actually don't disagree here. It would've made sense, had the intentions been thoroughly character based. The problem I have is two fold.

The first is that it wasn't just Mathis and his goon squad. The caller (don't wanna spoil) was also swearing quite frequently, which gave me the impression this was a decision to amp up the 'adult' levels, rather than a choice to make bad people sound bad. Sort of like when a show changes primetime slots to a later slot and they decide to ramp up the violence/language because the kids are in bed. There's no real reason to and it doesn't further the plot, but they can so they do. Only problem with TLD doing it, is the game's rating didn't change... But the filter does help (though it misses quite a few words haha) so there's that at least.

The second issue is that this isn't the first time these types of characters were introduced. In chapter one Mack interacts at length with the same breed of creeper and while he's definitely a ruthless brute, he manages to convey that without dropping F bombs. Same with the end of episode two, when you first encounter Mathis. 

It all gives me the impression of a preteen first exercising their 'adultness' by throwing cuss words into their sentence structure on the playground, meanwhile knowing they'll get their mouths washed out with soap at home. It was a strange direction to take, for Devs who seemed to take great care in effective dialogue structures in the previous chapters, particularly because their writing is one of their greatest strengths. Before, the swearing was minor, but it had effect. Now it's just sprinkles on a cupcake... Useless sugar flavoring the already sweet. Glad I can filter it, but still a shame they went that route. Hoping episode 5 won't follow suit, cause it really isn't necessary for the game to be good.

Eh Jace is a young student type tbh. Its also a high pressure situation. I don't think the swearing here is over excessive considering the circumstances the characters are in. Very high pressure and very rough characters. 

I really really hope we can get inside blackrock prison on survival and that the inside is fleshed out a lot more. What an awesome base that would be for the area. I love how you can essentially use the tunnels to get about the map too. 

Im seeing a lot of complaints about the wolves but like, the prisoners, murderers, rapists whatever they are, are SCARED of the wolves. Furthermore theyve been eating the bodies of the deceased prison guards so its plausible that theyre out and about hungry for people because theyve got a taste for people now too. You're supposed to have learnt to survive and be able to tackle anything. 

The only two issues I had that do break the immersion are:
1) You can end up surviving in the wilderness for days by yourself. I crafted a wolfskin coat I was away for that long - I feel like there should be a timer or something. Like if you're not back in time they break out donner or something just to keep the pressure on a bit. 

2) The clothing being taken completely when confiscated. I feel like they should take away only your top layers of clothing. It was a bit much that they took everything and it made little sense to take your long jons and socks.

My other critisism is it would have been nice to play as astrid. Even if you just see her push off the boat after seeing the dead orcas. Some nice imagery of the dead whales and her finding the boat. Just 5 minutes of gameplay to help tie everything up. I liked meeting jace but I hope she isn't dead. Because that is just a waste of an interesting character too. 

I've also seen complaints about the lack of mystery now, but honestly I think that the mystery came from Mckenzie not knowing much about whats happening. Now its been explained by Jace so the mystery has dissappeared. It would have been nice to see methusala again in the wilderness. Maybe after the mine. I think the forest talker puzzle could have been a bit different, but I love love LOVED the gas and suffocation mechanic. Thats way more realistic of actual cave systems. I love the noise makers I think theyre super duper cool and find a use for the excess cans too.

I think it helps push towards wolf avoidance over wolf attacks. I really really can't wait to see how it ends as its been a long time coming. I bought the game for £5 in early access and my gosh its come a long way. 
 

Yes but that is not Mckenzie at the end of the day. I do think this whole episode lacked a bit of the mystery the previous episodes did. Which was kinda disapointing, but then it gets explained that theres probably a scientific reason behind the whole aurora thing. So I don't think that its that much of an issue. Also McKenzie wants to get the case to astrid at the end of the day. 

Yeah I thought it was weird how you couldnt craft a moose coat. Like any experience player is gonna take out the moose by the lake. 

I think they should only take outer layers. Because theres a cut scene where the point is made that theyre sending Mckenzie with out any coats on. I think they should perhaps let him keep a jumper and trousers. But take his hat, gloves and coat. You could argue a coat could hide a knife.