This thread is in response to a review for Legasista on the PlayStation 3. You are encouraged to view the review in a new window before reading this thread.
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Author: zigfried
Posted: August 26, 2012 (08:55 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Argh, I wish developers would stop trying to use random dungeons. That's pretty much a formula for suck, since intricate design and challenging puzzles aren't something you can randomize. It's a crutch that shows the developers don't know how to create a proper game.
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Author: honestgamer
Posted: August 26, 2012 (09:00 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I'm typically just fine with random dungeons. I think they can work effectively. They're fine in Disgaea, for example (though that's still a bit different). That's why I spent as much time as I did in this review explaining what makes the random dungeons in Legasista less effective. I have put quite a few hours into the game and I still haven't seen the end of a random dungeon. Almost all of the game's trophies are tied to completing random dungeons and I don't even know how it's possible when I can't even get through a 30-dungeon floor without encountering 200+ level enemies.
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Author: zippdementia
Posted: August 26, 2012 (10:51 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I agree with Zig, though I enjoyed the review and was easily able to follow the points made in it about random dungeons. I always look at the Zelda games as the pinacle of dungeon creation. From the very first game they have been immersive puzzlers carefully designed to create a layered experience by staggering difficult rooms and demanding puzzles with breathing space and the occasional balls-tough run of enemies. It's not something that random dungeons can yet achieve. Even simplistic grinders like The Dark Spire are made excellent because of the keen dungeon design.
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Author: honestgamer
Posted: August 26, 2012 (11:04 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
To add to the many, many things I couldn't fit into the review (it already hit the 1500 mark I try to avoid when possible), let me say that the random design here was fairly... well, it's not as varied as you might suppose. Dungeons are basically just around 15 or 20 rooms put together in a random order, but the segments that make up each random dungeon are easily enough identified. I'm not sure what the coding is like behind the scenes, really, but I've put enough hours into the game to recognize definite elements that crop up a lot. That prevents any of the designs from being awful, but it also prevents any of them from having awesome surprises in the way that the Disgaea games occasionally do.
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - John F. Kennedy on reality |
Author: JoeTheDestroyer (Mod)
Posted: August 26, 2012 (11:06 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I actually enjoyed the random dungeons more than most of the story missions, which to me were mostly bland. I did, however, enjoy the later levels.
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Author: honestgamer
Posted: August 26, 2012 (11:40 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I'm constantly making runs into dungeons in search of better weapons and armor. I only rarely ever find any. I'll get lots of boots and shields and dirks and such, but they're almost always weaker than whatever I have. I think an in-game store would have removed the main incentive the developers were able to provide players to go into the dungeons, so I would imagine that was a conscious choice. Still, I feel your pain.
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - John F. Kennedy on reality |
Author: JoeTheDestroyer (Mod)
Posted: August 26, 2012 (11:56 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I think the best thing they could have possibly done is balance out the drop rate on certain items, especially armor. That way you aren't leaving a dungeon with fifteen different tomes and tablets that you're just going to discard.
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Author: overdrive (Mod)
Posted: August 27, 2012 (09:53 AM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I definitely agree with Zig on this. I think I only can truly enjoy random dungeons if they're done like in Lufia 2...where the random dungeon is optional and the main reward is just bragging rights (I mean, you do get the best equipment in the game there, but if you need the best equipment in the game to beat Lufia 2, you might have problems...).
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Author: zippdementia
Posted: August 27, 2012 (11:10 AM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Great example with the persona series, OD! I've had the same experience with each title in the series. I took a six-month break halfway through Persona 1 (the longest I've ever breaked and come back to a game) simply because I got worn out on the dungeons. Persona 4 I've now taken a three year break from... or maybe I should say I just stopped playing it one day. And 4 was infinitely more varied than 3.
Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic." |
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