Deathloop

[BitterToad]

1 minute ago, Moz said:

The crucial failing of Deathloop is giving you a pixel perfect silenced SMG early on. From then on you can headshot half the enemies in the map without moving from a vantage point sometimes. And they're so criminally stupid they don't react to their pals dropping like flies. Every other weapon type felt like a clumsy piece of shit (including the special ones, which were uniformly awful) and none of the abilities were remotely useful apart from blink, which was only useful for getting around quicker.

See I think Deathloop has plenty of failings but this isn't one at all. The issue you had is that you ran into the silent SMG first. The fun of it is that you can crack it open in a number of ways and get to things in different orders but it also causes the game to spoil itself and twist itself in weird ways. But then the fun is always in experimenting. I had the silent SMG and could have quite easily cleared the map by blinking around and taking everyone out, but I had much more fun working out awesome game breaking builds. 

 

So I had an offensive build that was based around Havoc. I used the Mod that gave you back power for kills and paired it up with an SMG that gave me health back when I got hit. So I could basically just wander into any room like the terminator. Chuck in a bit of Karnesis for the fun of it and you've got yourself a stew. 

 

I don't think it's perfect but if you're just finding one thing that works and blaming the game I kind of think you're playing it wrong. 

[Dudley]

Yeah I don't think I've even seen that SMG.  My killer weapon was a version of the nail gun that explodes.

[Jamie John]

3 hours ago, BitterToad said:

...you're playing it wrong. 

 

This is the fundamental issue I have with the game: the fact that you can play the game "wrong", and that the game entirely enables you to do so. Like Moz, I used the silenced SMG a lot, because why wouldn't you? And once, two hours in, I'd picked up a purple Rapier rifle that one-shot pretty much everything with exploding bullets, there was very little incentive for me to care about unlocking the other guns - I found myself doing so arbitrarily, just to tick off the quest marker, but then not actually using the gun I'd acquired.

 

The same extends to many of the other mechanics in the game: you can kill the visionaries in elaborate and interesting ways, requiring lots of forward planning, multiple run-throughs and intel gathering, or, you can just shoot the visionary from across the map with your exploding bullets, or walk up to them and shotgun them in the face, then run away, and often it's a lot easier and less tedious to do so.

 

I wanted the game to make me engage with its systems more, to reduce the chance of me "playing it wrong", but because it didn't, I probably did play it in a less than optimal way, and I found it disappointing and a bit boring as a result.

[Dudley]

Depends if you consider it playing it wrong.

 

If you decide to go route 1 good for you, maybe it says something about you. Like the person who uses the Porsche they get gifted in the first 10 seconds of Forza Horizon to play the entire game while fast travelling between every single race.

 

The nature of an open world game is you play it how you like.

 

But "Shoot the visionary from across the map" I don't think that's possible anywhere. They're pretty well placed to make that difficult to impossible.

[NecroMorrius]

On 09/11/2021 at 10:15, Dudley said:

Yeah I don't think I've even seen that SMG.  My killer weapon was a version of the nail gun that explodes.

 

Silenced LIMP-10. They're all over the map. I was walking round with three of them at one point I think. I looked it up and apparently it's in Egon's lab, but I found them all over the place. Maybe they start dropping from enemies once you've picked your first one up. That nail gun was absolutely useless incidentally. Like shooting farts with a peashooter.

 

9 hours ago, Dudley said:

Depends if you consider it playing it wrong.

 

If you decide to go route 1 good for you, maybe it says something about you. Like the person who uses the Porsche they get gifted in the first 10 seconds of Forza Horizon to play the entire game while fast travelling between every single race.

 

The nature of an open world game is you play it how you like.

 

But "Shoot the visionary from across the map" I don't think that's possible anywhere. They're pretty well placed to make that difficult to impossible.

 

You can do this to several of them. I didn't even know I was fighting a visionary when I killed the invisible guy for the first time. I just shot at where some sniper shots were coming from. And then the reward he dropped fell through the map.

 

It's not an open-world game. It's not even an immersive sim sadly.

[Harrisown]

Yeah the weapons aren’t all that. My explosive rifle is exactly what I want and all I use really.

 

 Bit of a missed opportunity there.

 

I am getting the hang of how to progress now though. It’s starting to make more sense.

 

Before I was just jumping in and jacking shit up trying to grind some loot but I’m at the point where I have all I need and it’s time to solve this.

 It’s complex and complicated to get your head around but I’m enjoying it.

[NecroMorrius]

I looked it up, it's a perk roll. There are only 13 weapons in the game including the named special weapons. So if you never saw a LIMP-10 (one of the most common weapons, there's one behind you at the start) with the suppressor perk, I'd be very very surprised.

[Qazimod]

£16.49 at Humble until 6pm on the 13th.

 

https://www.humblebundle.com/store/deathloop

[Vemsie]

Skill Up didn't like this at all. Now I didn't complete this game, but as a fan of Arkane it just didn't grab me. For me, in a better world, Prey would have received all the acclaim and awards this got. 

 

 

[glb]

Played a couple of hours and feel quite underwhelmed. There’s a few touches I like, but the onboarding is as bewildering as I can remember, with so many things thrown at you that so far the ‘game’ feels more like an interactive tutorial. Combat feels pretty weak too, there’s no real weight to it.

 

Not going to abandon it just yet (although I’m close) but as someone who thinks Prey is a masterpiece do feel disappointed. This currently lacks any of the atmosphere of that game, nor does it currently feel very compelling. Which is a bit rubbs for a game built on a mystery.

[davejm]

Mixed feelings here.  I've just got my PS5 and this was a gift; and I wanted to give it a shot before I dived into Ghost of Tushima.

 

I wasn't keen at all to start with, but I persevered through the starting missions to the point where I could infuse items.  I like the concept of the time loop; but I've had some frustration with dying right at the end of missions and losing two hour long play sessions (aside from the knowledge gained).   But despite turning off in frustration both times I've been compelled to return.  So the game has some draw.

 

I'll see how long I can carry on with it.

[Dudley]

Certainly the period a couple of hours in is the worst bit.

[Harrisown]

2 hours ago, davejm said:

Mixed feelings here.  I've just got my PS5 and this was a gift; and I wanted to give it a shot before I dived into Ghost of Tushima.

 

I wasn't keen at all to start with, but I persevered through the starting missions to the point where I could infuse items.  I like the concept of the time loop; but I've had some frustration with dying right at the end of missions and losing two hour long play sessions (aside from the knowledge gained).   But despite turning off in frustration both times I've been compelled to return.  So the game has some draw.

 

I'll see how long I can carry on with it.

I would just do random map runs for a bit and explore. It’s a really fun game with a strange structure but when you figure it out and pull it off it’s pretty neat.

I need to get back to it.

[Angles Morts]

I'm enjoying this. The first few hours were frustrating because I was trying to do stuff I was aware of (either from reviews or this place) but it turns out wasn't unlocked yet. I've been thinking about my diabolical final day run, but disappointingly it seems it might be a bit spoon fed from now on. If so it will be a bit of a shame but I can see why they'd do it for hordes who'd get stuck, but I would have welcomed an approach more like Outer Wilds where you have to figure things out.

Difficulty wise, once you've found your feet, the NPCs are very easy to kill, especially after a few upgrades, so the only real danger is from invasions or complacency. I have to invasion off when I've had a drink though.

[davejm]

2 hours ago, Harrisown said:

I would just do random map runs for a bit and explore. It’s a really fun game with a strange structure but when you figure it out and pull it off it’s pretty neat.

I need to get back to it.

 

That's what I've been doing, until I realised I'd killed one of the visionaries but died jumping through some laser wires (I though'd they just set off an alarm, rather than killing me).  Lesson learnt.

 

12 minutes ago, Angles Morts said:

I'm enjoying this. The first few hours were frustrating because I was trying to do stuff I was aware of (either from reviews or this place) but it turns out wasn't unlocked yet. I've been thinking about my diabolical final day run, but disappointingly it seems it might be a bit spoon fed from now on. If so it will be a bit of a shame but I can see why they'd do it for hordes who'd get stuck, but I would have welcomed an approach more like Outer Wilds where you have to figure things out.

Difficulty wise, once you've found your feet, the NPCs are very easy to kill, especially after a few upgrades, so the only real danger is from invasions or complacency. I have to invasion off when I've had a drink though.

 

Yeah, I've got one of the powerful dart guns and a silenced LIMP so things seem pretty easy.   Complacency seems the biggest issue for me

[MechE]

It took me a little while to realise that this isn't aiming for the same thing the Outer Wilds was and to judge it on those terms would be a little unfair.

 

I think Arkane are very good at giving people several very viable, but more importantly, very fun ways of completing objectives and with Deathloop they want people to notice just how skilled they are at that. 

 

I tried to never do the same run twice by mixing up weapons, powers, trinkets, routes and approaches (stealth, going loud, sprint to Visionary, etc.) and it ended up being an immensely fun challenge.

 

Also it can be quite rewarding to follow the backstory breadcrumbs that you have to piece together from following up clues littered around the world, which don't get added to the main objective tree. For example, piecing together exactly what you did to Julia to make her this angry with you requires going well off the beaten path and figure out several different clues.

 

It's for these reasons that it's my game of the year.

[davejm]

I've been enjoying this, to a point.  I've enjoyed stealthing around the map and uncovering the clues, but I'm not a massive fan of the combat.

 

I'm finding the Juliana hunting annoying, as I want to focus on my objectives and take my time.  But having to deal with her is annoying to the point where I've been reluctant to play today.  I gear up with my silent SMG and dart gun, which doesn't seem suitable for the encounters with her.

 

Plus, I swapped out one dart gun I had for another (which seemed to have a better bonus) but is actually much less powerful so is basically useless to me now.  And I sacrificed the original one I had.

[Dudley]

Go to online Julianas but make it friends only?

 

Or does the game see that trick and still throw in AI ones?

[hmm]

I played through this over the last month or so - maybe a bit less actually, even with Warzone interspersed, as it's not the longest game in the world - and ended up loving it. It's no Returnal, but then a) what is? b) it's not especially trying to be, with a much stronger puzzle and mystery element.

 

That's a good job really because the combat is weak. Not the worst, just a bit uninspired: the weapons and the powers never get as interesting as you'd hope, it's too easy throughout thanks to the basic AI and underpowered visionaries, and there's little variety either. It didn't put me off while I played through, but when I had a break for a week or so after completing it, with the intention of going back to polish off the other trophies, I realised that, with nothing much left to discover and only the combat and general gameplay left, it wasn't compelling enough to spend another 10 hours with.

 

But that's ok, because the initial playthrough was a pleasure, and satisfying enough to not leave me feeling short-changed. Typically, a gang of wacky characters and great volumes of banter playing unprompted throughout the game would be a reliable formula for intense irritation, but I thought it was all fairly well written and mostly genuinely funny when it intended to be. The plot didn't turn out to be quite as interesting or surprising as it promised earlier on but it was decent, besides the strangely abrupt ending. The setting and the atmosphere were top notch and the intricacy of the levels and the puzzles woven through them (and through time) was a unique delight. I would have preferred less hand-holding as the pieces fell into place - a step by step guide for completion needed to be an option, not unavoidable - but it was still fulfilling despite that.

 

I doubt we'll see a sequel - I can't see how you could - so there is certainly some unrealised potential here, and I wouldn't be putting it up as GOTY or anything, but it's definitely worth spending some time with.

[davejm]

Just finished.  The Juliana encounters didn't end up being too frustrating in the end, I just carried a sniper rifle alongside my silenced weapons so was able to take her out quite easily in the latter stages of the game.

 

Spoiler

The ending was sudden (I shot Juliana), but was quite satisfying as I wouldn't have been keen on a prolonged final act.  It was good to have the game build up to the 'perfect day' with a short wrap up.

 

I didn't feel any attachment to the characters or story, but I enjoyed the game.  It had a 'one more session' type feel with the way the day is split up.  Good stuff.

 

[glb]

Played a bit more and it finally clicked more than previously. 
 

Did find the initial few hours a little bewildering, more in terms of the wealth of mechanics thrown at the player than plot, but now the game has settled down a bit more, it feels more enjoyable. Still find the gunplay rubbish though, looking forward to being able to be more stealthy.

[Zio]

I... don't think I like this game. Loved Arkane's Dishonored, so this appealed based on that, plus the timeloop gameplay appealed. But, like Returnal, it's a game that makes me think maybe I'm getting old, because I appear to be utterly abysmal at it (I've apparently sunk 19 hours into Returnal, and still can't defeat the first boss).

 

Whilst learning the ropes, I forgot to infuse my first two slabs, so now I need to get them again, which is hugely putting me off. But also, whenever I've tried to go back to it, I end up being hunted by Juliana and just can't fucking defeat her ever, it seems. I'm finding it to be pretty soul-crushing, all told.

 

My PS5 is gradually turning into a Spiderman and PGA Tour 2K1 machine, annoyingly.

[Angles Morts]

17 hours ago, Zio said:

 But also, whenever I've tried to go back to it, I end up being hunted by Juliana and just can't fucking defeat her ever, it seems.

Are you fighting online Julianas? Humans are much much tougher than the AI. Try setting it to Friends Only.

[macosx]

I’m at the end of this I think but what is annoying me is 

Spoiler

that the game doesn’t save partway through the final plan day, so if I screw up the evening party kills (which I’ve done three times) it resets the whole day and I have to laboriously kill Harriet, the lovers and Igor’s machine again to get back to try again. Tedious .

 

[RJames]

FWIW I never got a silenced sub-machine gun in my entire play through either.
 

Spoiler

I mostly used the epic version of the nailgun and the 'legendary' sniper rifle you can get (which is really really cool. Love the breath hold mechanic with it). I think that's a more 'fair' / balanced load out really - since the sniper isn't silenced you have to be careful how/when you use it.

I also mostly used the Shift + tying-everyone-together slabs - they're kind of the best as they were in Dishonoured too.

I don't think this is GOTY stuff, but it was a good time, I finished it, and I enjoyed it all. The narrative is actually where it really falls down for me. It promises a lot of intrigue (Lost style) and then majorly underdelivers. The ending options are also somewhat unsatisfying.

Solid 8.5/10, would recommend, worth completing, some lovely map design, sound design+music, weapon design, voice acting and other bits. Let down by weak narrative and weak gunplay (esp. dumb enemies).

[Zio]

On 05/01/2022 at 22:51, Zio said:

I... don't think I like this game. Loved Arkane's Dishonored, so this appealed based on that, plus the timeloop gameplay appealed. But, like Returnal, it's a game that makes me think maybe I'm getting old, because I appear to be utterly abysmal at it (I've apparently sunk 19 hours into Returnal, and still can't defeat the first boss).

 

Whilst learning the ropes, I forgot to infuse my first two slabs, so now I need to get them again, which is hugely putting me off. But also, whenever I've tried to go back to it, I end up being hunted by Juliana and just can't fucking defeat her ever, it seems. I'm finding it to be pretty soul-crushing, all told.

 

My PS5 is gradually turning into a Spiderman and PGA Tour 2K1 machine, annoyingly.

 

So... I've changed my mind on this. My brother texted me a few days ago to tell me he'd finished it and I told him I'd given up on it. He convinced me to give it another try. I got back the two slabs I'd lost, infused them, then carried on... and it's suddenly seemingly clicked for me. I even streamed it last night with online player Julianna enabled and I've got to say I'm really getting into it again now. I've even grown to like the extra pressure having Julianna enabled adds to the experience!

 

I can see myself finishing this after all.

[macosx]

Finally finished last night and found the wrap up to be a chore tbh and although I loved the aesthetic, it’s no Prey sadly and can’t see me going back to it even though I still found new bits of levels even late game.

 

Something I never managed to do 

Spoiler

was how to successfully clean kill the lovers. Every time I drowned or died and lost a life and they just auto drowned off screen. 

 

[glb]

Posted in the Abandoned Games thread but having given up on this I went back for one last fling, and have turned if not 180 on the game, at least in the right direction.

 

Unlocking a slab (Nexus) was crucial in this turnaround. And the doing so being so enjoyable I killed the same Visionary two more times to level up the slab. Will go back for the final upgrade.

 

Now playing with level 3 Nexus and level 2 Aether (fluked an upgrade while killing Julianna) and feel almost overpowered. Also found a nail gun with explosive nails, which does the job. It had a lower ammo capacity but a trinket fixed that problem.

 

Have unlocked a few more leads and I’m getting a sense of the puzzle pieces that need to be slotted together. Not convinced the game is quite as smart as it thinks it is, but what was a frustrating experience has become a fun one. I know my feelings for it have grown because I was thinking about my next loop during work.

 

If you’re playing this and feeling a sense of frustration, the tip that turned the tide for me was to follow an arsenal lead, rather than a Visionary one. Can’t guarantee this will help but in my case I got a better feel for the game’s mechanics.

 

Should also add that the maps feel incredibly well designed. Uncovering more each run now and things are slotting together nicely. So yeah, while this isn’t quite as amazing as some reviews made out, and it’s certainly no Prey, feel it is a very enjoyable shooter with a lovely design in both how it looks and now feels to play.

[glb]

Ooh, currently following the lead to takedown Fia.

 

Spoiler

Do like the jeopardy of a nuclear bomb going off to hinder progress!

 

Will seek out Egor again and level up Aether, could be crucial in taking down Fia.

 

[Phelan]

Just reading on here that so many didn't like it? I tend to avoid most games news and sites these days and just play games instead and Deathloop was my GOTY 2021.

 

I loved every single second of it.