Posted: 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.
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.
