Emerson, Lake & Palmer?

Sometimes I think this game should let you fail and restart more often. With the extra batteries and healing items you can stumble through a lot of battles without really learning them, when it's far more fun to do it well.

Just did a long series of battles where there's edges to fall off, floor traps and protective enemies that need to be severed from their hosts before you can damage them. First time was an absolute mess (and the lock-on and camera are still never quite as reliable as I'd like), rolling into traps, getting cornered and so on. I did eventually die this time and had to restart, but aced it 2nd time, being aware of what enemies to expect and the various hazards. And it was an amazing sequence.

Switching the camera option to 'Follow enemy under attack' seems to help. Perhaps I should've tried that 30 hours ago. Or perhaps it should have been the default.

Still maintain it's too much of everything for it's own good.

AndCallMeCharlie wrote:

Still maintain it's too much of everything for it's own good.

I see it as an exceptional action game first, but the bonus shit is terrific.

Again, it took a while to click for me... The combat, being as complex as it is, can be frustrating on some occasions, and patronisingly forgiving at others. There are some pacing issues there too, and I think that's down to what I think you're saying, about this game doing loads of different things.

but, take this for example...

dynamiteReady wrote:

There's so much going on at every level of this game. I haven't even got to the point where I need to start exploring the customisation and upgrade tree, because that shit looks deeper than a good number of RPG's.

...

Andy wrote:

I’ve had a look at the upgrades, it’s nothing particularly complex...

I've been revisiting this point... It's effectively a miniature (strong emphasis on the word 'miniature') version of the Sphere Grid system in FF10... Progress along the tree gives you new moves, in addition to attack and defence level boosts. In some ways, it's very similar to what Bayonetta did, but it's really tidily done here.

The game thoroughly rewards attention to detail in how you use the Legions in battle, and the tech tree, while optional, appears to be a large component of that.

Even the IRIS thing, which initially appears to be a small conceit... 

Never feels essential as you scrape through a particularly forgiving gameplay set piece, until you look back at the level you've dragged yourself through, and realise it was the answer to an extra 2 - 3 minutes of 'brute force' bludgeoning.

Then, sure enough, in the next level, the design enforces it's use, and you come round to the fact that there are probably some really cool, Nintendo like secrets embedded deep into the game design that make use of it...

Again, it has pacing issues in parts, but it's absolute glee at times... Hope it's selling well.
Want to see more games with this attention to detail on what you're asked to do (and not necessarily just see) as a single player.

It's becoming rarer and rarer, unfortunately...

hylian_elf wrote:

Controlling the camera as well as character as well as legion all seems much at times.

Check your camera settings in the options menu. 

Be sure to enable 'Follow Enemy Under Attack'. 

Helps a lot!

Yeah, it's bizarre that it isn't the default. It's basically how every modern action game works.

What a fantastic video! Not only is it clear & concise, its also beautifully presented. Check out the UI elements from the game he re-created. Top marks!

Man they do rob a lot from evangelion in this!

Where else would you put rubbish?

It's standard issue EDGE.

You've got to bear in mind they add at least +1 to every Nintendo game and +1 to anything from the Bayonetta team because 'the love video games'™

It’s a strong 8 so far for me. Will see if it become 9 by end. 

File 6 might be where I am. Has stealth bits before you get to a big area? That one?

Unlocked that ability just afterwards. D’oh! Now fights are much better. Really enjoyed that training mission just after you meet a key person on that level.

REALLY?! Damn. I think I have enough gene codes to unlock that for all of them now. Will do! Cheers.

Still waiting on Boris or Moot to request this as part of our three-way. Feel incredibly guilty whenever I see it staring back at me. Help me lads.

mistercrayon wrote:

I’m totally trading this in. Everything apart from the fighting is kind of irritating in some way shape or form but also completely uninteresting. I have no desire to fall off another platform because the robot has some bullshit momentum and boring challenges demand some more concentration than the enjoyment can compensate.

It’s not a bad game but the story is not interesting enough to persist -

Spoiler:

is this another humans are saved in the internet thing?! Who cares? The story did that thing where you get incarcerated by your boss because you acted in a just way but they also have no means to hold you on a moral level unless they’re cool with killing all humanity b

and my non leet level skills are not getting the most out of anything but I am breezing through the fights still. - the health back on killing makes a lot really trivial.

Bah.

I’ll take it off your hands and beat the shop price.