[Marphy Black]

Lunick, on 13 July 2013 - 04:49 AM, said:

I don't think we have seen anywhere near the scale of maps to be judging if they are linear or not yet. I think we should wait until the game is closer to release before we judge things like that

I watched the Devolver guy stream gameplay on their Twitch account and the levels are, indeed, very tight and linear, just like the developer's previous game Hard Reset. Any hint of a large scale in the maps is merely a fabricated illusion as-is typical with modern shooters today trying to hide the corridor-esque natures of their levels. Pretty much every piece of preview media released so far supports the idea that this new Shadow Warrior deviates little from Hard Reset's game mechanics, which itself hardly resembles the original Shadow Warrior but rather a heavily watered-down Painkiller-like arena shooter.

In fact, one gameplay mechanic that hasn't been advertised much so far but was shown in the stream is the money and experience system that you'll use to upgrade your weapons and level up your magic powers, just as in Hard Reset. This might sound like an interesting mechanic that would add some depth to the gameplay, but unfortunately, as Hard Reset demonstrated, this just means that the new weapons you acquire will be largely useless in comparison to the already-upgraded weapons you have. You could risk upgrading the new weapons (you can't test the upgrades prior to purchase, only blindly invest in them and hope the cost is worth it), but chances are you'll simply want to keep upgrading the weapons you've already begun boosting before and ignore some of the new weapons entirely.

Incidentally, the Devolver guy in the stream mentioned that the preview build they're using to advertise the game already has all of the weapon and magic upgrades pre-unlocked. Therefore, don't expect the gameplay to be quite like what they're showing off right now as your player character will actually be quite gimped in comparison until you've fully upgraded and leveled up.

[Micky C]

Ah, that sounds very disappointing. You'd think the developers would have learned their lesson from Hard Reset. Being a reboot of a classic 90's game, you'd think they'd make more of an effort to build upon the original game's mechanics rather than completely replace (even if it is a reboot).

Who's their target demographic? It ain't COD players, and by the sounds of things it's not the classic gaming market either. They're left stuck in a very small rut.
If what you're saying is true, I'll probably wait until this game is on a decent sale.

[Kathy]

Micky C, on 13 July 2013 - 05:26 AM, said:

Who's their target demographic? It ain't COD players, and by the sounds of things it's not the classic gaming market either. They're left stuck in a very small rut.
If what you're saying is true, I'll probably wait until this game is on a decent sale.

If the budget is low enough and gives them room to experiment with new system then it's good. Making it "old school" just to appease certain demographic is the same as making popamole or cod clone to cater another demographic. Of course, the question remains if SW reboot is the right vehicle for such "tests".

[Lunick]

RinyRed, on 13 July 2013 - 05:19 AM, said:

>snip<

Well there goes the last final bits of hope I had for the game.

[Micky C]

Edit: This post was aimed at Cathy.
My main concern isn't so much the combat or health system (as long as the player can withstand a decent amount of damage between recharges I'll be fairly happy), it's the RPG unlock point based system. Honestly, it's one of the major turn offs of Hard Reset for me.

It seems like they were trying to substitute complex level design with upgrade trees for replayability. And to some extent, substituting quality core gameplay that keeps itself fresh all the way through the game with tacky unlocks to provide freshness.
It's also a bit concerning that Shadow Warrior is sounding so much like Hard Reset, as though FWH are completely incapable of any variety when making their games. Even Lo Wang looks like a chinese version of the Hard Reset guy.

[Kathy]

What 'corridor-esque' nature actually means - strict linear level progression or just lack of huge open maps? I don't remember Duke3d having much of the latter, but surely it wasn't the former. Although, I don't remember SW at all.

Micky C, on 13 July 2013 - 06:38 AM, said:

It's also a bit concerning that Shadow Warrior is sounding so much like Hard Reset, as though FWH are completely incapable of any variety when making their games. Even Lo Wang looks like a chinese version of the Hard Reset guy.

Substitute Hard Reset for Duke Nukem 3d. Which is, come to think of it, somewhat ironic for a SW reboot.

[Inspector Lagomorf]

So, tl;dr: This game is similar to Shadow Warrior in name only.

[LkMax]

Comrade Major, on 13 July 2013 - 08:06 AM, said:

So, tl;dr: This game is similar to Shadow Warrior in name only.

Way too common nowadays. Unfortunately.

[Kristian Joensen]

Comrade Major, on 13 July 2013 - 08:06 AM, said:

So, tl;dr: This game is similar to Shadow Warrior in name only.

I don't get why people say this at all, it has the setting, it has the backstory, it has Lo Wang, it has the humor(albeit it in a changed way), it has the weapons(Katana, shurikens, etc). That is much more than just the name. It is also looking quite good both graphically and gameplay wise.

[Komenja]

This does not have Lo Wang. This has an imposter.

edit:

Quote

In fact, one gameplay mechanic that hasn't been advertised much so far but was shown in the stream is the money and experience system that you'll use to upgrade your weapons and level up your magic powers, just as in Hard Reset. This might sound like an interesting mechanic that would add some depth to the gameplay, but unfortunately, as Hard Reset demonstrated, this just means that the new weapons you acquire will be largely useless in comparison to the already-upgraded weapons you have. You could risk upgrading the new weapons (you can't test the upgrades prior to purchase, only blindly invest in them and hope the cost is worth it), but chances are you'll simply want to keep upgrading the weapons you've already begun boosting before and ignore some of the new weapons entirely.

I was right, this IS more like Bulletstorm than Shadow Warrior.

[Jblade]

After playing a shitload of Shadow Warrior lately, I do have to agree that it looks nothing like the original. People get so worked up about the fucking 'racism' that people seem to overlook that it's gameplay is actually really great and fast-paced. It's a better game than Duke Nukem is - if only they had added proper modding support I think it might of outlasted Duke. It's level design is pretty fantastic, all the levels have at least one interesting thing about them and they all loop and flow really well. The atmosphere is actually very spooky, when you've got one of the more atmospheric tracks playing - and the fact that you can hear monsters pretty much constantly.

EDIT: ...I only just found out now that John Galt, Lo Wang's voice actor, also did Tracer Tong and Jock in Deus Ex

[----]

Micky C, on 13 July 2013 - 05:19 AM, said:

IThe names anyway, not the news report.

Yes, I meant the news report isn't fake.

[Mr. Tibbs]

Concept art of the Zilla Enterprises ship yard. I wonder when we'll see some new footage?

[ReaperMan]

I'm afraid..... i don't want to see anymore.

[Komenja]

Heh, cargo crates of Alienware stuff. Clearly Zilla plans to take over the world with a fleet of high-end computers.

[Inspector Lagomorf]

Mr. Tibbs, on 17 July 2013 - 01:17 PM, said:

Concept art of the Zilla Enterprises ship yard. I wonder when we'll see some new footage?

Hey, it's Water Hazard from Half-Life 2!

[OpenMaw]

Komenja, on 17 July 2013 - 02:43 PM, said:

Heh, cargo crates of Alienware stuff. Clearly Zilla plans to take over the world with a fleet of high-end computers.

It could happen.

[Micky C]

Finally some urban areas.

[Jimmy]

Kristian Joensen, on 13 July 2013 - 10:45 AM, said:

I don't get why people say this at all, it has the setting, it has the backstory, it has Lo Wang, it has the humor(albeit it in a changed way), it has the weapons(Katana, shurikens, etc). That is much more than just the name. It is also looking quite good both graphically and gameplay wise.

It must be awesome to be such a yes-man all the time.

[Radar]

It was awesome when we saw that ROTT would indeed be amazing. Unfortunately, having a great Shadow Warrior game as well is just too much to ask for.

[MusicallyInspired]

I don't get why that screenshot puts everyone to fear. What's wrong with it? Just that the setting doesn't look like the old game? You'll have to forgive me, I never really played Shadow Warrior. Once a long time ago, but never all the way through and was never very attached to it.

[OpenMaw]

MusicallyInspired, on 17 July 2013 - 07:56 PM, said:

I don't get why that screenshot puts everyone to fear. - snip -

MusicallyInspired, on 17 July 2013 - 07:56 PM, said:

-snip - Once a long time ago, but never all the way through and was never very attached to it.

You answer your bewilderment, sir.

[Master Fibbles]

The original had crates. Quit your wining.

Besides, if you can drive a forklift, I consider it all worth it.

[MusicallyInspired]

I still don't understand. How did I answer my own question?

[ReaperMan]

Mr.Flibble, on 18 July 2013 - 03:03 AM, said:

The original had crates. Quit your wining.

Are you fucking kidding me? Nearly every game has crates.

[Jblade]

MusicallyInspired, on 17 July 2013 - 07:56 PM, said:

I don't get why that screenshot puts everyone to fear. What's wrong with it? Just that the setting doesn't look like the old game? You'll have to forgive me, I never really played Shadow Warrior. Once a long time ago, but never all the way through and was never very attached to it.

You can grab the classic version free on Steam. It's a better game than Duke, if you give it the chance (3DR had a better grip on the Build engine after Duke and it really shows)

[t800]

Mr.Flibble, on 18 July 2013 - 03:03 AM, said:

Besides, if you can drive a forklift, I consider it all worth it.

Titsubishi, anyone?
---------------------------------
But now seriously, I am surprised that a lot of you fear checkpoint system, quasi health regen, modern sprinting (using weapons prohibited while running), but...
nobody, I mean nobody (except you Flibble of course) brought idea of driveable vehicles. So my two cents to Devolver are: "Dont forget vehicles, it was one of the original quirks of old SW that made stood out of other FPS from that era!" (Who could forget tank in last level of shareware episode?) So far I didnt see any pictures or videos showing player using them, or any mention in news of them, so please dont screw it up and dont forget about us vehicle combat fans.

[Hendricks266]

Mr. Tibbs, on 17 July 2013 - 01:17 PM, said:

Doesn't this remind anyone else of the second level?

[Jimmy]

Yeah, I'm not really worried about setting. You can drop Lo Wang just about anywhere and it works.

[Inspector Lagomorf]

Hendricks266, on 18 July 2013 - 09:59 AM, said:

Doesn't this remind anyone else of the second level?

As I've said before, the setting still reminds me distinctly of Half-Life 2... But I guess if Zilla Construction was remade it would look somewhat like that... The resemblance is very loose.