So we have some threads about downgrades and metascores and sales, do we have a thread to talk about the actual game yet? I didn't see one. Lock if old.
I got the game + season pass on Monday to preload before release. This is the first game I have ever paid for future DLC day one before the game was even out. The beta was that good.
So far I am level 13 in the safe zone, and IIRC 14 or 15 in the Dark Zone. I am a thousand XP or so away from level 14 in the safe zone, so almost there. I have already put at least 18 hours into the game. Here are my impressions:
Good:
The atmosphere. This is the main area where this game poos all over Destiny. There is a good story here, presented in a good way, though very fragmented in tiny little pieces since it is basically an MMO. It's not entirely coherent, but its awesome. Some of the intel videos alone showing the outbreak and the decay of society and progression into chaos are just epic. Not only that, but there is TONS of detail in this game. It legitimately looks like a giant city where all social services have pretty much stopped. Trash piled high overflowing everywhere, rats running rampant on every street, criminals on almost every street mugging and/or killing people. Disabled vehicles everywhere.
Sound. I gotta say, the game has by far the best sound for blowing out tires I have ever heard in a game. Its so satisfying, I constantly blow out tires all the time while running around. Guns sound great. Shotguns roar while SMG's give out adorable little pops. And even the voice acting is really good.
AI. Another area where the game is miles better than Destiny. You have some weird AI glitches/breakdowns sometimes, but for the most part it's exceptional. And at times, downright brutal. The higher level enemies are extremely tough. Like any other MMO, mobs are full of different types of enemies you can identify by looking at them. Some throw a lot of grenades, some set up turrets. Others are brutes with shotguns that instill fear.
Dark Zone. For many, this will be the main draw of the game. The DZ is way different than the betas, it's now loaded to the brim with damn tough AI enemies. And when you try to extract gear, you're pretty much guaranteed to have a wave of AI guys rush out. These make the already tense extraction phases in the game all the more tense and exciting.
Bad:
The UI. It's terrible. Especially the map.
Double tapping a button to switch to sidearm. They should have made it a button hold. It never works correctly in those desperate moments when I need my sidearm the most.
NPC's need more lines. When you're teamed up with NPC soldiers, they mumble the same few lines again and again.
We'll see how the game progresses and how balanced things remain. Thus far things seem to be very well designed. Also, I haven't had ANY issues playing the game. What a goddamn concept. I think this and Titanfall are the only online games I have ever played that launched with extremely low/no issues at all.
Anyone else pick it up? If you're on Xbone we should patrol the DZ some time.
I picked up this bad ass SMG this morning in the Dark Zone. I was extracting and fighting off some AI enemies. Some dude runs up behind me and kills me and steals my stuff. It wasn't that big a deal, the stuff was not that good. But as he runs off, he gets gunned down by other AI guys. I go back to get the stuff he dropped and daaaaaaaaaang he had this sweet SMG that does insane damage. Thanks, friend! I ran to a far extraction and got it out safely.
