How to properly do undead. - by addone
jtr7 on 11/5/2009 at 23:24
Interesting paradox. If you could discover exactly what it was, then that may be the ticket to an undead you could tolerate, if we can't come up with another suggestion to make the game totally enjoyable for you in that regard.
Dia on 12/5/2009 at 00:12
Bless your heart, jtr! I've often wondered while and after playing Morrowind & Oblivion just why the undead in those games didn't bother me nearly as much as the zombies in the Thief games. Still haven't a clue. I do admit that the ghosts/haunts in Morrowind & Obilivion scared me more than any other nasty creature. They were spooky, creepy, and lethal.
addone on 12/5/2009 at 00:24
Quote Posted by Dia
Bless your heart, jtr! I've often wondered while and after playing Morrowind & Oblivion just why the undead in those games didn't bother me nearly as much as the zombies in the Thief games. Still haven't a clue. I do admit that the ghosts/haunts in Morrowind & Obilivion scared me more than any other nasty creature. They were spooky, creepy,
and lethal.
That reminds of the [spoiler]Thieves Guild mission in Oblivion where you must rob from this grave. The ghost that appeared after stealing the item creeped me out so much... it just appeared there. Staring. And their breathing was surprisingly scary :P[/spoiler].
kamyk on 12/5/2009 at 00:25
I have to disagree somewhat on TDS undead vs TG/TMA undead. TDS undead were scarier for me because of the fact that they were faster, and less distinguishable from normal people. I can tell a TG/TMA Hammer Haunt from a mile away because of the laughter and chains. TDS Haunts looked just like regular hammers from the back, and caught me off guard more. At least until I realized that nothing in the catcombs was human, and that nothing outside them was undead. I realize it is heresy to say this, but the laughing chain rattling haunts are worn out for scare factor. As a challening enemy perhaps not though, and I'd hate to see no haunts at all...
I hope they make at least some of the undead in Thief 4 hard to tell apart from normal AI. Hell why not make a variety? It's not like a modern engine couldn't easily accommodate zombies in every stage of decay from freshly dead, to bloated corpses, to husks missing parts and dripping magggots. The more rotted they got the slower they would be and the more wheezing they would make due to decaying lungs etc.
edit:Adding my vote on the torsos that are still a threat.
addone on 12/5/2009 at 00:30
Quote Posted by kamyk
I have to disagree somewhat on TDS undead vs TG/TMA undead. TDS undead were scarier for me because of the fact that they were faster, and less distinguishable from normal people. I can tell a TG/TMA Hammer Haunt from a mile away because of the laughter and chains. TDS Haunts looked just like regular hammers from the back, and caught me off guard more. At least until I realized that nothing in the catcombs was human, and that nothing outside them was undead. I realize it is heresy to say this, but the laughing chain rattling haunts are worn out for scare factor. As a challening enemy perhaps not though, and I'd hate to see no haunts at all...
I hope they make at least some of the undead in Thief 4 hard to tell apart from normal AI. Hell why not make a variety? It's not like a modern engine couldn't easily accommodate zombies in every stage of decay from freshly dead, to bloated corpses, to husks missing parts and dripping magggots. The more rotted they got the slower they would be and the more wheezing they would make due to decaying lungs etc.
I think that the idea of the Haunts wasn't to catch you off guard, I think just to purely creep you out. Surely in Thief 1 and 2... you just got this horrible feeling of dread hearing those chains as you descended a ladder?
Though I agree about making the zombies less distinguishable. I think they should simply look like rotting human corpses...since that's what they are, nothing fancy. No neon-green skin or anything :P
Actually, it'd be nice to see a variety of zombie skins. That I think would add to the immersion and fear-factor. It gets tiresome seeing the exact same zombie every time. Maybe some with more bone exposed, some wearing different clothing. Some with hair, some without. Some pale, some with a bluish tinge. And so on. Thief 2 touched at points such as [spoiler]In one of the graves at the end of Tracing the courier.[/spoiler]
jtr7 on 12/5/2009 at 00:31
Surely we can have undead of highly diverse appearance among a single classification? Unless it takes to dang long, then nevermind.
kamyk on 12/5/2009 at 00:37
Quote Posted by addone
I think that the idea of the Haunts wasn't to catch you off guard, I think just to purely creep you out. Surely in Thief 1 and 2... you just got this horrible feeling of dread hearing those chains as you descended a ladder?
Well, at first perhaps... Now though, I just think in terms of how best to backstab the noisy things. I will admit I'm not keen to get spotted by another one while backstabbing the first one, but that isn't really anything more than the same feeling I get blackjacking a guard.
I will say I would miss traditional haunts. I just don't find them terribly scary anymore... Then again, I do love horror, and am always looking for the next fright. I'm sure there are others not as desensitized as I am.
addone on 12/5/2009 at 00:38
Quote Posted by jtr7
Surely we can have undead of highly diverse appearance among a single classification? Unless it takes to dang long, then nevermind.
I just thought I'd mention it :P Undead in games tend to not be very varied. I know that was partly technology... I just thought it'd be appropriate to mention it, just in case. Though, I agree...if it takes too long.
On a similar note, in Half-Life 2: Episode 3..I told care how long it takes...if I see another zombie in jeans and a white t-shirt........
sethL on 12/5/2009 at 01:01
Quote Posted by addone
How to properly do undead.
Always use protection.
jtr7 on 12/5/2009 at 01:03
Oh man, I thought it, but wasn't gonna say anything. Too easy, but it was inevitable. Surprised it took so long.:ebil:
