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What game are you playing right now?
Alright. I enjoy having the freedom and autonomy to alter the course of the game and plot my way through it based on my own choices. Even if I never see what “could have been” it’s somehow satisfying to feel like I arrived somewhere because I chose certain choices over others.
AKA Charo
But that’s exactly what you get from TWAU. I would understand your feelings of frustration if you tried several branches and found them disappointing, but you don’t. I will probably never get it and that’s okay.
Butter my buns and call me a biscuit! - Agent A
I think I see what you’re saying. The reason I discussed TWD was because no matter what you choose, the paths constantly converge into a single or parallel main storyline, and a single ending. I haven’t played TWAU past Episode 1 so I don’t know if that’s also true for that game as well, but I assumed it was because it was true of the other Telltale games I’ve played. If it is then what I said in my last post isn’t applicable to TWAU. Am I wrong?
AKA Charo
Batman: The Enemy Within has multiple (two) very different endings and one of the most memorable versions of a character full stop. But, really, there is no narrative-driven game (or story) with limitless well-thought out endings. They all have to have some sort of pre-defined structure for a story to exist at all. I think RPGs actually have done some compelling choices; a lot of games, unfortunately, push the major decisions near the end regarding multiple endings. Of course, if you don’t want a story, then there are many many many game options that satisfy!
I think I see what you’re saying. The reason I discussed TWD was because no matter what you choose, the paths constantly converge into a single or parallel main storyline, and a single ending. I haven’t played TWAU past Episode 1 so I don’t know if that’s also true for that game as well, but I assumed it was because it was true of the other Telltale games I’ve played. If it is then what I said in my last post isn’t applicable to TWAU. Am I wrong?
I gave you the benefit of the doubt but I haven’t forgotten what you did after I started a thread about the game Immortality. It is possible, but highly unlikely, that you have only half a brain cell and are incapable of understanding what I’m saying. Or you are an intelligent human being who is having fun at my expense. Either way, there’s no point in continuing this exchange. I’m going back to ignoring you.
Butter my buns and call me a biscuit! - Agent A
Batman: The Enemy Within has multiple (two) very different endings and one of the most memorable versions of a character full stop. But, really, there is no narrative-driven game (or story) with limitless well-thought out endings. They all have to have some sort of pre-defined structure for a story to exist at all. I think RPGs actually have done some compelling choices; a lot of games, unfortunately, push the major decisions near the end regarding multiple endings. Of course, if you don’t want a story, then there are many many many game options that satisfy!
If that’s the case great, I never played the second Batman game. I did play the first one because it was free in the PS4 Store. And I was let down with the choose your story mechanic as usual. in my playthrough I saved Harvey Dent from getting disfigured and yet he still turned into the cackling, crazy villain, just without the half messed up face. so the only real difference was cosmetic
I personally don’t think any game has to have thousands of endings but when you constantly advertise that your game is all about choice and it matters what you pick, with flashing lines above character’s heads that say, this character will remember what you said or did. then it should have more impact than what Telltale did, especially when that is the only major gameplay mechanic in the whole game.
That’s one reason I just gave Revolution credit in the Beyond the steel sky thread, because they actually do have a choice mechanic, where a character can have two endings depending on player input, but it’s such a small part of the game the devs dont advertise it as a major gameplay feature. So it’s more like a nice bonus.
As far as other choice driven games in the narrative genre, even though they have a host of other problem, they do the Choice mechanic better, like a heavy rain or Detroit become human. I think those games have serious other issues but the choice mechanic is better implemented.
I think what some of us are saying is when you majorily advertise in your game that Choice matters and then it doesn’t really, some feel duped. The most famous example in the last couple of years was with Mass Effect and the ending of Mass Effect 3. fans complained so much the devs went back in and made a director’s cut to the endings.
A RPG that did choice well was the Witcher 2, the game had three or four chapters and depending on what you chose at the end of chapter 1, chapter 2 was completely different. where you went to wholly different locations and had different sets of characters you interacted with. I mean completely different settings, not just what order you went to them in. that was a pretty big choice to make, that had some weight to it.
If modern telltale didnt advertise the fact that choice had such a huge importance and they just made story driven games, I still wouldn’t like them much because there’s no real puzzles in them. but I personally wouldn’t feel they are being semi deceitful either. just my two cents
But, really, there is no narrative-driven game (or story) with limitless well-thought out endings.
No one’s asking for limitless endings, just more than one or two. But isn’t that what Choose Your Own Adventure novels are?
AKA Charo
@Jdawg445: Ah, I did not realize that how the game was marketed was your bigger concern! And, yes, the first Telltale Batman game was definitely not as quality as the second. I quite enjoyed the Witcher games (played the three primary titles); for me, Witcher 3 had the most world-resonating choices.
@Charophycean: Yes, CYOA novels are defined story arcs with a lot of dead-ends. What are your thoughts on QFG4?
@Jdawg445: Ah, I did not realize that how the game was marketed was your bigger concern! And, yes, the first Telltale Batman game was definitely not as quality as the second. I quite enjoyed the Witcher games (played the three primary titles); for me, Witcher 3 had the most world-resonating choices.
@Charophycean: Yes, CYOA novels are defined story arcs with a lot of dead-ends. What are your thoughts on QFG4?
Yeah my two biggest beefs with telltale is 1. they marketed their game as choices that truly matter, down to intentionally calling out what a character will or will not remember, but then the devs themselves came out later and said it was a gimmick bc it would grab people’s attention. To me that’s dishonest marketing. The other reason which I pointed out numerous times is because I think Telltale was a canary in a coal mine and was the ending of bigger adventure games putting an effort into puzzles or any meaningful gameplay design. Going back to something like heavy rain, while the choice mechanics I think was better implemented, the actual gameplay was pretty awful. still no real puzzles, they just made the QTEs harder. I remember at one point near the end of the game to get through some kind of booby trap I had to do half the commands and I used my wife to do the other half, because the qte button prompts were so ridiculous that it took four hands to get through it lol. The story was also Half Baked, which turns out was because there was supposed to be a mystical element in heavy rain, but that got completely cut out, for whatever reason halfway through development.
Yeah I like The Witcher 3 a lot especially because of the side quests but with the main storyline; I was way more invested in The Witcher 2, probably because that’s just what I like. I like the kingdom Intrigue where kings and queens are backstabbing each other, kind of like Game of Thrones. it really added to the World building and lore, way more than just trying to find my daughter in The Witcher 3. I also like the idea of Hub worlds better than just one huge open world, it made things big enough to explore, but not so big that it got cumbersome, like I felt in Witcher 3 sometimes.
Plus like I said I didn’t know chapter one had choices in it at all until i played the game and it shocked me to see two completely different paths. Whether you help the elves or you side with the humans, chapter 2 is completely different, all the way around. it was crazy and very ambitious for a studio that was still very small at the time. I remember after I beat the game I went back to a save near the end of chapter 1 and picked the other side, and I was flabbergasted at the differences. It was not just new lines of dialogue or a different cutscene, it was a wholly different chapter.
Im playing machinarium finally, technically I was thinking about playing something non adventure game, but this game was on sale for $2 in the PlayStation Store and I knew it was short and finally wanted to play it. I believe I’m about halfway through based on trophies and I’m really enjoying what it is. I don’t think there’s enough there for a full-fledged review, like I usually do, but I’m very much enjoying myself.
Just ran A Twisted Tale and I was stunned by the beauty of its graphics, It is on par with the first Broken Sword, and I think it is deliberate with the graphics direction choice.. hope it is as good adventure and gameplay as well, I am yet to figure that out, but I like what I have seen so far
A1
The Will of Arthur Flabbington is a very funny adventure that captures the outrageous silliness of the classic 90s adventures like Space Quest and Larry, the first puzzle of the game concerning digging into a toilet and attracting some flies out the window, lol, didn’t know anything about it, haven’t read a review before starting it, just a slam dunk and turned out better than i have wished for.
Finally played Arthur Flabbington and I agree there’s a lot to be enjoyed. Certainly not a 5/5 start game, I really doubt even the creator thinks it’s that good, but it offers plenty of oldschool fun as long as it lasts. Felt very similar to those early AGS games that were made for pure entertainment of the community, throwing everything that came to mind into the mix without a second thought. Very silly at times, with some really clever touches (possessing people in particular) and a good feel all along. Reminded me of Lucy Dreaming - who actually made it into the game along with a whole location which was a nice Easter egg.
Also started playing The Adventures of The Black Hawk, and while clearly a lot of effort and love was put into making, it feels too much like a fan project rather than something of its own, with all usual cons presented — too wordy while not particularly funny, with little story and lots of references and fourth wall breaking all over the place. It tries to mimic everything LucasArts-related so much — from the (nicely done) close-ups, clumsy fights, characters and whole locations copy-pasted from Monkey Island/Indiana Jones — that you stop caring and start comparing, and the game doesn’t stand a chance. Maybe it gets better (or worse, as Baron Blubba warned), but it sure requires some strong nerves.
PC means personal computer
If you want to like Black Hawk but can’t (and I don’t blame you), try The Legend of Skye. It’s the best Monkey Island style game since Lucy Dreaming, and probably my favorite adventure game that I’ve played all year. Much better than most reviews would have you believe, I think. It’s low-key, unpretentious, and excellent. Challenging puzzles, very little sign posting, some *very* funny scenes, top notch ending. Definitely an indie game, so a little rough around the edges, but unlike in Black Hawk, where that roughness is (part of) the game’s undoing, in Legend of Skye it often adds to the charm.
Recently played Willie Morgan: Bonetown. Had been looking forward for a long time. Way too short. Way too much signposting, treating the player like a moron or a child. Story ‘arc’ is more like a story ‘quarter arc’ because of how abruptly it climaxes and ends. The whole game is really two layered puzzle sequences: Build a bike from household objects (Part I), and do some stuff around town to complete checklist found in an old book or something like that (Part II). Awful translation and annoying voice overs by actors who didn’t understand the material and context, just reading lines off a script. As a Pajama Sam level game for 6-8 year olds, it’s a 6/10. As the adventure game it purports itself to be, 2/10.
Also played Arthur & Susan: Almost Detectives. It starts as a charming adventure-lite with some Phoenix Wright influences, and I admired how much the developers did using so few assets. However, in a game divided into 3 chapters, the charm wears off more in each chapter, and shortly after reaching the final 1/3rd of this short-ish game, I lost interest.
I cannot stress enough how much so many recent adventure games (last ten years, let’s say, and with increasing frequency) I’ve played have been let down by poor translations that cause the humor to fall flat, and cause story cues to completely miss their beats.
Inherit the Earth, an old game I finally got around to playing, is deeeeeply flawed as a game but was a compelling experience none-the-less.
3 Skulls of the Toltecs showed promise early but for various reasons (quality of life navigation of the environment and conversation trees; puzzle design; voice acting) annoyed me so much I put it down after a few hours and won’t be picking it up again.
Sumatra: Fate of Yandi was not great, but a cool quality game in a unique setting with a well developed story and some decent breezy-but-tough-enough puzzles. Recommended.
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I was thinking of trying The Legend of Skye as it looks very nice, although I grew a bit tired of pixel graphics and I’m now playing Tormented Souls, an indie game VERY inspired by the survival horror games of the 90s. It was mentioned in the Alone in the Dark thread, and I’m really enjoying it so far, even though I had to use cheats to bypass the limit on saving points, because it’s too brutal for me. Other than that, I’m really enjoying the campy atmosphere and puzzles, they are surprisingly good for this subgenre. I also agree on Willie Morgan, played it several years ago, and it was a very disappointing experience.
As for The Black Hawk, I gave up on the episode 3, couldn’t stand the endless dialogues with badly written characters and no relation to the plot anymore. Sometimes it’s better to hire someone with actual writing skills, like the devs of Talos Principle or Unforeseen Incidents did. Also there were only like 3 real puzzles, and only the one at the beginning felt more-or-less satisfying. Collecting 100 items to brew grog using Monkey Island’s recipe might’ve sounded smart in developers’ heads, but only resulted in a lot of busywork, and those love quests for the little Napoleon in the middle of diversion felt illogical and completely out of place. Everything else was just lots of running back and forth between several locations, delivering messages from one character to another. A surprisingly uninspired game with very irritating protagonists. I expected something like the short-lived sitcom Jack of All Trades with Bruce Campbell, but it’s not even close.
PC means personal computer
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