Originally Posted by henke
Speaking of Darkest Dungeon, I've heard some comparisons between it and the game I'm currently playing. (mainly due to the stress effects I think)
I’ve been playing a lot of
Aliens: Dark Descent for the last couple weeks. Very compelling real-time squad-tactics stealth/action game. I’m not big on real-time tactics games, but the gameplay here is quite accessible. You move your squad as a single unit, and when you ask them to pick something up or hack a door, one of them is automatically assigned to the task. This system works remarkably smoothly, and there’s only been a few times when I’ve wished I’d had more direct control of my soldiers. The game uses a XCOM-like structure where between missions you’re back in your stranded spaceship, the Otago, leveling up your units, researching new tech and making weapons. While the controls and gameplay is smooth, the whole experience isn’t. There’s bugs here, and I ain’t just talking bout the xenomorphs. Playing on PS5 I’ve had units get stuck in elevators, save-points not working, and low framerate bugs.
Difficulty ramps up at a good pace and feels appropriate for most of the game, except mission 6 which is a big difficulty spike. The hosts of
Three Moves Ahead had a hard time with this one as well. Often when the game gets really difficult it’s because of scripted events locking you into situations that don’t feel entirely organic. Often you’ll need to replay these segments, and knowing what to expect the second time through makes them considerably easier.
The main thing that alleviates frustrations with the bugs and scripted events is that the game is quite generous with saves. The game will save before major events, and whenever you seal your units into a room to rest. Resting also relieves stress. Yeah, stress, that’s a big factor in this game. As your soldiers become hunted their stress will go up, making them less accurate and more panicky. Over time they will develop traumas, and need to go see the Otago shrink, taking them out of action for a few days.
Overall, this is my kinda tactics game. It’s quite low on random dice rolls determining things. Instead it’s line of sight and positioning, things that are actually under your control, that determine how things will play out. The mood is great, it captures the atmosphere of the early Aliens scenes as well as Isolation captured the mood of Alien.
I’m about halfway through the campaign now. Not so long ago a timer started counting down towards an end-game event. I would have 25 days to complete a set of objectives. I’ve completed some of them. I have 9 days left. If things don’t work out I guess that’s it for my run. Game over, man. Game over.
Reply With QuoteI've used all my health items already and my health bar is almost empty, so the boss kills me with one strike. Now, to learn how the second stage works, I first have to run from the latest checkpoint, kill some normal bad guys on the way, watch a short cutscene as the big boss appears, and then play the first stage of the battle over and over again. I can beat the first stage without too much trouble now, but it's all so dull. I like(d) Nine Sols but if the rest of the boss fights are going to be like this, I'm not sure if I want to waste my time on this game.
As tedious and frustrating the learning process is, that feeling of satisfaction when you finally win is something else! Not only I can actually enjoy the game again for a good while now (until the next boss fight), I think I also actually learned something that makes me better at this game. And in some twisted way I think I may have enjoyed the challenge of the boss fight, even though it certainly didn't feel like it at the time.
I just know it!