CanardPC's almost-review

[Billionfold]

How else are people supposed to get a feel for it? There isn't a demo, there's not going to be a demo, There aren't any (that I'm aware of), places that will rent PC games, so the only method of evaluating it is via reviews, gameplay videos.

This point is valid, I'm not disagreeing with you there.

However, the gameplay footage I've seen has not been terrible at all. I like the way this game is looking so far, so I'm at a loss when I see all the complaining, and PRAISE even for this particular preview.

Of course, everyone has different opinions and that isn't my point.

 

[Matt K]

I have to say it's nice to see an honest review of the game (and I use review in it's basic meaning since it's not his official one). Personally, I find negative reviews a lot more enlightening than positive ones simply because they give more info (at least the good ones do). I can figure out on my own if those fault are bad enough for me not to buy while a positive review glosses over those faults to my detriment.

I have to say while I've been pretty sure this game would not be Fallout, I figured if it was a decent game I would get it eventually. However it seems the game lacks any sort of consequence to your actions (either player or character) and thus is a pretty bland game. Frankly, I'd rather spend my money on something fun than something mediocre.

 

[Ausir]

It would make more sense for armor to have skill penalties rather than for clothes to have bonuses.

 

[entropyjesus]

I personally refuse to pirate any game, but I have played it and everyone's worst fears are true and then some.

So your saying we should take the advise of a non pirating pirate. Bully for you.

Meh, my only issue with the revi..ehem "editorial" is that for all his negativism about the game, he still doesn't really tell us anything. At least the fluff pieces have given some points about the game that they think are cool.

He seems to have decided to point out how it isn't like the originals, which isn't news at all. I am rather surprised that he didn't go into more detail about the conversation trees and such, that would have been some new info.

Well, I was at a friend's house who just so happens to have a modded X Box 360 and the game that I've been waiting years to play just so happened to be sitting in the system, so yes, while I don't condone piracy and would have never done this on my own, my willpower failed me and I broke down and played it. You can choose to ignore my advice, but that would just prove how badly you want to believe that Bethesda didn't screw this one up, which they did for the most part.

 

[Pope Viper]

How else are people supposed to get a feel for it? There isn't a demo, there's not going to be a demo, There aren't any (that I'm aware of), places that will rent PC games, so the only method of evaluating it is via reviews, gameplay videos.

This point is valid, I'm not disagreeing with you there.

However, the gameplay footage I've seen has not been terrible at all. I like the way this game is looking so far, so I'm at a loss when I see all the complaining, and PRAISE even for this particular preview.

Of course, everyone has different opinions and that isn't my point.

Very true, have you happened to see any of the leaked footage? If not, I would try to track some of it down, I think you'll be a bit surprised.

If so, then I respect your opinion.

I just don't share it.

 

[Texas Renegade]

Could anyone explain to me HOW clothes giving you stat-boosts is a good design decision for instance roleplay-wise ? Instead of just shittin on the CanardPC guy because he is evil and biased ?

A logic fault ? How does wearing a surgeon overall makes you better at medicine is the REAL question and you know it so do play dumb...

I actually have no clue other then the idea that Beth probably wanted to give people a reason to use some of these items.

I could halfway see the camping suit giving a bonus to sneak or such...Agility is a bit of a stretch.

But in all honesty, I rarely if ever use stat improving stuff anyway, so it isn't a big concern to me. I mean I don't think I have ever used the first aid kit in the originals. Think I used the doctor bag once....and no this isn't it an "ignore it defense" this is an explaining why this wouldn't be an issue to me but it is kind of dumb "response"

 

[Sicblades]

Negativity...Could you please explain how everything he says in his preview should be perceived as positive ? I mean the karma thing, the clothes thing, VATS being broken etc etc etc ? please DO because I sure would like to be able to appreciate Fallout 3 so enlighten me.

Well, maybe I should have wrote where the people who dislike where FO3 was taken hang out, rather than "negative". Nothing in that preview should be taken as positive. Forgive my poor choice of words.

 

[entropyjesus]

Could anyone explain to me HOW clothes giving you stat-boosts is a good design decision for instance roleplay-wise ? Instead of just shittin on the CanardPC guy because he is evil and biased ?

A logic fault ? How does wearing a surgeon overall makes you better at medicine is the REAL question and you know it so do play dumb...

I actually have no clue other then the idea that Beth probably wanted to give people a reason to use some of these items.

I could see how they'd want to give an incentive to wear the numerous armor drops in the game. As it is, you can pretty much get any item, with a few minor exceptions, within the first hour or two of playing the game, so they might as well make it so that there's a reason to not use the power armor you picked up in the first 45 minutes of play (seriously). It's the total opposite of the dynamic in the original Fallout and it doesn't work too well.

 

[Brother None]

Nothing in that preview should be taken as positive.

Eh? He complements some side-quest design and from what I've seen, he's right. Some of the side-quests are conceptually somewhat weak but in design/execution are pretty strong, like the Replicated Man.

 

[Pope Viper]

I agree that Fallout did the pwoer armor quest very well.

The first time I saw it, I was thinking "Damn I need to get that."

Very enjoyable aspect to the game, and well done in that you didn't buy it.

 

[Seboss]

The funny thing is that the game does not sound intrinsically bad. The core gameplay seems pretty alright for a shooter w/ rpg elements, but Bethesda ruined it by trying too hard to cram as much content, loot, gore, VATS whatever into the game.

Bethesda should try to meditate on the 'less is more' paradigm.

 

[UncannyGarlic]

Good read, I'm interested in his final review.

He meant random encounters during quick-travel, I think.

He mentions that seperately. I think Renegade is right, I think he was looking for more than killing people random encounters but he probably fast traveled as much as possible (due to the time restraint) which also limited how many encounters he got into period.

I hope when the real reviews come out that there are a couple of well balanced ones amongst them. Possibly someone who loved the previous games but also loves FPS games.

He says that it fails to satisfy as a FPS as well, noting VATS being the main cause.

VATS slow motion may be the worst crime against video gaming since the invention of the auto-aim and checkpoint based save system.
I don't know what the people of Bethesda had in mind... Maybe they feared that the game would be too short and imposed a twenty seconds on us at each targeted shot to extend the gameplay length, maybe they really desire that we notice their face modeling with independent eye globes, maybe they simply suffer from blaring bad taste, from a love for Brotherhood of Steel they want to share at any price?

Either way, this "feature" that retarded teenagers and "self-confident but still crappy" violence loving morons will love (and even then, not beyond the 10 first minutes), guarantees that you will avoid using the targeted shot system at any price. It sucks, it's ugly, it's not funny, it's long et absolutely useless.
Worst of all, there's no way to skip it or deactivate it in the options. You will be then forced to endure these scenes not even worthy of Soldier of Fortune 3.

The main problem that I knew would be there, it's too damn long. I'm still interested in how it's balanced but it sounds like weakpoints on enemies make it way too good. I also noted that the violence wasn't up to snuff with Soldier of Fortune 2's violence earlier, sounds like someone agrees.

I'm sorry, let me elaborate just a bit more for those of you that are just a bit thicker skullwise.

I am of the opinion that those of you that have formed opinions without having played the game, are full of crap.

Have you watched footage from the leaked game? Have you read a summary of the story? If not then you are not on equal footing with people who have. You are going to buy the game so obviously you think that it looks and sounds good and thus, have an opinion. The decision about whether or not to buy a game is based on opinion, some people have informed opinions before purchasing and some people don't. Most of the people who aren't going to buy the game or are skeptical about it despite planning on buying it have watched the leaked gameplay and read about the plot.

Because it's hard to be a doctor when you have giant steel armor and a helmet on. Hell, I dunno. Seems like a bit of a logic fault almost.

There is a difference between bonuses and penalties. It's one thing to have armor get in the way of fine motorskills because that makes sense (though for skills that can't be used in combat, it's a needless annoyance) but when you start giving bonuses for wearing overalls it gets a bit absurd. Keep in mind that when a skill is maxed that you have 100% effeciency at it so it makes sense that not wearing gear for it would make you less than 100% effecient while wearing stuff designed for it would give you no penalty.

I actually have no clue other then the idea that Beth probably wanted to give people a reason to use some of these items.

That's exactly it. There are folks who like to play Barbie's Doll House with Bethesda games and who were saying that they would be upset if they couldn't do it in Fallout 3, there were also folks who weren't fans of all of the useless clothing in Oblivion so Beth thought that the logical solution would be to make clothing give bonuses (hence why it's refered to as magic clothing).

 

[Brother None]

Bethesda should try to meditate on the 'less is more' paradigm.

That's been clear for some time now, tho'.

 

[Pope Viper]

That's a good point, Seboss. I think that could have applied to their design work as well as their marketing.

 

[Sicblades]

Nothing in that preview should be taken as positive.

Eh? He complements some side-quest design and from what I've seen, he's right. Some of the side-quests are conceptually somewhat weak but in design/execution are pretty strong, like the Replicated Man.

Sorry my mistake again. The side quests do seem like fun, we'll see how "darkly humourous" they are after a while I suppose.

 

[entropyjesus]

I agree that Fallout did the pwoer armor quest very well.

The first time I saw it, I was thinking "Damn I need to get that."

Very enjoyable aspect to the game, and well done in that you didn't buy it.

Well Fallout 3's armor and weapons require a minimal effort to get and there's no "wow" factor anymore. It's worse than Oblivion in that regards and not even close to the way Fallout 1 and even 2 handled item rarity. Even the Fat Man is a fairly simple item to come by and it mainly just serves as a means of destroying the Behemoths, which are a bit like the FO3 equivalent to Big Daddy or HL2 striders.

 

[Billionfold]

I'm sorry, let me elaborate just a bit more for those of you that are just a bit thicker skullwise.

I am of the opinion that those of you that have formed opinions without having played the game, are full of crap.

Have you watched footage from the leaked game? Have you read a summary of the story? If not then you are not on equal footing with people who have. You are going to buy the game so obviously you think that it looks and sounds good and thus, have an opinion. The decision about whether or not to buy a game is based on opinion, some people have informed opinions before purchasing and some people don't. Most of the people who aren't going to buy the game or are skeptical about it despite planning on buying it have watched the leaked gameplay and read about the plot.

Ummm, yes I've seen gameplay footage, no it hasn't swayed my opinion to the obvious dark side. Having read the plot? Hell no. Why would I ruin the game? Knowing the plot beforehand would certainly be a reason not to want to buy the game.

 

[Pope Viper]

I think this is proof positive that Fallout 1/2 were not played by the devs, or at least played through to completion.

Or else they did, and simply didn't give a shit.

 

[Sicblades]

Ummm, yes I've seen gameplay footage, no it hasn't swayed my opinion to the obvious dark side. Having read the plot? Hell no. Why would I ruin the game? Knowing the plot beforehand would certainly be a reason not to want to buy the game.

Yeah that's what I was thinking. Until I read it. Now I don't want to play the game for other reasons; knowing the plot is the least of your worries.

 

[Sicblades]

Well I wanted to get my hands on the power armor mark II once I saw the Horrigan random encounter... so I guess that WOW effect.