The Fall - Last days of Gaia

Monolith · Post by **Monolith** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:51 am

Well, I haven't played it extensively yet due to lack of time, lack of promised features and bugs. The latest patch is 1.6. The release of the 1.6.5 Beta ist planned for the end of the week, 1.7 for the end of the month. 1.6.5 Beta doesn't contain "new" features, but smashes some bugs. Patch 1.7 will contain a couple of features, some new and some which are already mentioned in the manual but somehow never found their way into the game + plus the usual bug-smashing.

Personally, I'm waiting for a patch which changes the combat system. I don't like it very much. The promised tactical versatility is, well...mentioned on the box, but that's it, as far as I've experienced it. The lead designer made some hints that they are going to change it - thus include what has been promised since the beginning of the development (at least some tactics...it's useless to lie in ambush, you'll probably lose more ammunition and groupmembers than you'd do when taking out the enemy by attacking him directly, with heavy weapons that's the easiest "tactic". And the enemy can see and shoot through walls...).

I can't say that I'm not disappointed of the product. It is a good game anyway. The story is said to be great, although I haven't seen much of it yet, 'cause I played only about 2 or 3 hours - the voluntary beta-testing for patch 1.5 beta not included. The quests are interesting and funny, at least some of them (like I said, I haven't played much yet). The characters are interesting, though you shouldn't expect something as in Baldur's Gate, where the NPCs in your team really interact with each other. In The Fall they say something from time to time to another NPC and mostly these other NPCs don't even react. More like in Planescape: Torment. The overall atmosphere is great, can't and don't want to deny that. But some unrealistic aspects (you can use the streets of a town as a stockpile for food, water and weapons - other NPCs will never ever touch it) and balance issues (too many weapons, too much ammunition, too much food and water, close-combat totally unnecessary) destroy some of it. Anyway, the combat system really destroys the game, at least in my opinion - besides the many bugs.

I know nothing about the US-Release, but I know that for sure: You're lucky. Until the game will be released in the US most of the bugs should be wiped out, plus all the promised features should be included. I'm waiting until the German version is...completed. Then I'm going to play the game. I want to play the game when it's what it was promised to turn out and the developers are working on that, as far as I know. The game deserves it. Anyway, I should have waited for a couple of months, maybe half a year, before buying the game. I should have known better...

Anyway, the game is already released in France and in Spain. Both versions are as buggy as the German one and have some own, new bugs as well. It's weird, I know...

I put my trust in SSE and I although I have been disappointed I still think that they'll patch up the game until it's really the final product which they promised.

The Great Hairy · Post by **The Great Hairy** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 5:08 pm

Sounds like the game is shaping up to become a "I am required to buy this" title when it is released to the rest of the world. It's a little concerning that the French and Spanish releases have new bugs however, and I hope they get everything sorted before we see it.

Thanks very much for the info, Monolith! Please keep us posted on further developments.

Cheers,
TGHO

Monolith · Post by **Monolith** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 10:39 am

Ho Ho,
perhaps it's time for a little update?

The German community is currently testing the 1.7 BETA - open BETA-Stage, fun for the whole family...

1.7 should wipe out most of the rest of the bugs, optimize performance, enhance navigation, balance the game furthermore, add a couple of promised features (some of them were already listed in the manual

), increase difficulty slightly and improve the enemy AI.

The latter is going to be the first step in the planned improvement of the combat system in general. Patch 1.8 will enhance it further on.

In addition to that, a *free* Add-On is in development and is assumed to be released together with patch 1.8 - probably later. It will contain new maps, many new quests, new characters and a main plot. This Add-On is meant to be some kind of apology for all the trouble.

During all the bug-smashing and damage limitation, Silver Style didn't forget to keep to it's roots: working together with the community.
Right now we're discussing the implementation of food and water being necessities - or at least the implementation of such an option. We have a poll running which Carsten Strehse, the lead designer, startet. Thus new features are on their way...

Well, that's it. Ahh, on thing left. About the English version:

Carsten Strehse wrote:I can assure you that everything is fine with the English version. Everyone should understand that we want to bring a polished version without any bugs to the US market. And that takes some time, that's all.

Grizlok · Post by **Grizlok** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:52 pm

English or should I learn German - which is faster?

I heard reports of an English version for sale in Taiwan. Any updates on the validity of this game seeing an english speaking market?

Monolith · Post by **Monolith** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:46 am

Looking back, I feel so guilty for falling for the hype. Whatever, lesson learned.

@Grizlok:
The game is crap.

Grizlok · Post by **Grizlok** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:14 pm

Monolith wrote:Looking back, I feel so guilty for falling for the hype. Whatever, lesson learned.

@Grizlok:
The game is crap.

That honestly makes me sad. The closest I will get to Fallout 3 will be what I've dubbed Fallout: Oblivion. I'm sure the Fallout mod Bethesda is making will be fun, but it 'ain't fallout'