F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate versus Project Origin - by Digital Nightfall
june gloom on 19/11/2007 at 23:07
Quote Posted by Malleus
And all the paranormal stuff gets more creepy in a game world that's basically believable.
this
HybridVision on 19/11/2007 at 23:25
Quote Posted by Malleus
Hmm, I prefer the latter, and I think FEAR is just fine as it is. I wouldn't say it's more realistic this way, but it's certainly more believable, and help me get into the game more. You fight one or two kinds of enemies with one or two guns in most tactical shooters and I love those, so FEAR being a bit reminiscent of those games is what I really like about it. And all the paranormal stuff gets more creepy in a game world that's basically believable.
Ultimately, it depends what you think is more valuable in a computer game. Being as believable as possible, or keeping the game entertaining with lots of variety.
Although you could argue it the other way. When the grunts in F.E.A.R. see that throwing unit after unit at you is getting them killed, why wouldn't they try something new?
If they had no additional resources (like tanks, aircraft, choppers, APCs, etc), the last thing they would do is continue to attack in small groups, as they do all the way through the game. The only reason that's done is so the player never faces an impossible challenge. But in a believable world, your opponent
wants to create an impossible challenge.
So you have to concede that already F.E.A.R. is not believable. They only reason you can get to the end is because the devs intend it to be possible, not because it should be. Stupidly fast reflexes aside, they had the numbers to overpower you at any time.
[edit: And you can say exactly the same thing about HL2. Despite all the resources the Combine must have had at its disposal, they send at most 1 chopper or 2 gunships at a time. Which is, frankly, absurd. It would cost them nothing to send in a whole fleet, and nuke Dr Freeman back into the last century.]
Malleus on 20/11/2007 at 00:00
Quote Posted by HybridVision
So you have to concede that already F.E.A.R. is not believable.
No, I don't have to. It is believable enough, and works fine for me.
As for believability and entertainment, they're not mutually exclusive. They are if you don't like (quasi)realistic approach for game design, like in FEAR, or even more in tactical shooters.
Looks like it's just not your cup of tea, which is fine, it's just that I don't really see a point in complaining. It's like if I'd complain that there is no leaning in HL2 (which I do sometimes).:rolleyes:
june gloom on 20/11/2007 at 00:12
It's called suspension of belief, HV. You have to have a little for FEAR same as you would for every other game- the difference is, you don't have to suspend it much. Though I admit the AI can be retards.
HybridVision on 20/11/2007 at 00:42
Hey, I'm not the one arguing for believable games ;) I'd be happy to fight a flippin' aircraft carrier, ala Midnight Resistance.
All I was saying about Fear is there isn't enough variety :p Then we got onto all this believability stuff, and ...
Malleus on 20/11/2007 at 01:02
Quote Posted by HybridVision
Hey, I'm not the one arguing for believable games ;)
I thought you're arguing against them... :) Not that variety would necessarily mean less believability, but given FEAR's story, locations, and premise, the small variety is justified, I think...
Bjossi on 20/11/2007 at 01:52
Quote Posted by HybridVision
All I was saying about Fear is there isn't enough variety :p Then we got onto all this believability stuff, and ...
The only variety problem FEAR has, is with bad guys. And maybe level design could be more interesting too. But we got more than enough guns. ;)
Jason Moyer on 20/11/2007 at 04:54
Variety is overrated. If I want to cap squads of clone soldiers in slo-mo while wandering around industrial park environments, I'll play FEAR. If I want to blow up other shit, I'll go play something else that doesn't do the "killing clone soldiers in slo-mo" part nearly as well.
june gloom on 20/11/2007 at 07:11
Quote Posted by Jason Moyer
Variety is overrated. If I want to cap squads of clone soldiers in slo-mo while wandering around industrial park environments, I'll play FEAR. If I want to blow up other shit, I'll go play something else that doesn't do the "killing clone soldiers in slo-mo" part nearly as well.
QFT
EvaUnit02 on 20/11/2007 at 11:50
Quote Posted by Bjossi
People that say JupiterEx has aged badly (like IGN and Gamespot reviewers) need to get their eyes checked out. Sure it looks bad by today's standards, but that doesn't make it look bad at all. HalfLife: Blueshift and Unreal: Return to Na Pali were released 3 years after the originals, and I didn't see reviewers complain.
Agreed. Monolith are in fact using an enhanced version of JupiterEx for the official FEAR sequel, Project Origin. Probably because it's being simultaneously developed for PC and consoles. A new engine on par with the likes of CryEngine2 would bring the current consoles to their knees.
I'm still in two minds about getting this new expansion. Whilst I greatly enjoyed the first game and expansion, even the hardcore fans are saying that PM is really poor.
Project Origin's timeline ignores both of Timegate's expansions, they reckon that both are not up to their ideal level of quality.
