So where is the... um.... fun? The charm? The personality?

[LadyErica]

While I did enjoy Lemmings back in the day, I absolutely loved Lemmings 2. Not only was it a much better game in every way, but it had tons of funny stuff everywhere. From lemmings on skis with Christmas music playing, to all sorts of sports, even going into space. It was brilliant.

And then we get this. The teaser for this game was pretty funny, and I had somewhat high expectations for this. And as a game, it's pretty good. But why is it so darn serious? Where's the comedy? I hate to say it, but I feel this game is too much by-the-book game mechanics, and lacks a soul. It doesn't have the charm Lemmings had. When I put a bomb on a lemming, I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry at the "oh, no!" *boom* The lemmings had a charm, despite being so low-res they only have three or four colors.

But Flockers? They are just.. sheep. Sure, they can fly...ish. Sure they can do some fun stuff, like stack and create stairs. But they aren't....fun. Again, I think the game mechanic is pretty good, so from a technical point of view, it's a great game. But a game without charm is just dull. There's still plenty of time to improve things, though. But I don't want to play a generic, by-the-book Lemmings-clone. I want a game that makes me laugh, like the teaser. :(

[Shiro]

Maybe you don't have the sense of humor they're looking for; I games tested this and found it hilarious.

[76561198103597845]

Hey there SpaceCowboy77,


Thanks for the feedback.
One of the beautiful things that being in early access allows us to do is gather this kind of feedback and act on it to make sure that the game is as good as possible.
We understand the 'feeling' that you're describing as missing but don't quite feel it ourselves.
If you can put your finger on specifics, exactly what doesn't seem present or shouldn't be there, please let us know in this thread and we'll get the developers to read it over, then get back to you.


Thank you,
Team17

[LadyErica]

Ah, but that's the problem. It's very hard to put the finger on what's missing. As I said, I do think it's a great game, and it has a lot of potential. It's just... dunno, but something feels missing. I think the best way to explain it is that it feels too... clean and safe. Yet, there are tons of blood, but I feel it don't dare to have enough fun. It that makes any sense. The sheep don't really have a decent personality, and even the levels feels too safe for me.

Think about Lemmings 2 again. The first one was fun, but the Lemmings didn't really do much, and there were only a handful of toys to play with. It made for a great game, but it got repetitive quickly. Lemmings 2 went from eight-ish toys to 52-ish, and the actual levels went ballistic. As a result, we never really knew what was around the corner. One minute we're skiing to Christmas music, the next we're in outer space. Then we're off to a circus, before we go to Egypt, and so on. There's always new things to discover and new things to see and do.

I think Flockers could learn from that. I don't need tons of skills just to have tons of skills, but I would love a lot more variation in the powers and levels. Also, the camera could maybe be zoomed in more, so we get a better look at the sheep. If we get a closer look and can make them look different with different skills, it would help a lot in giving them and the game a better personalty.

Again, I do think it's a great game, and I will of course keep playing it. It's just so... safe. :)

[BloodnBrain]

Lemmins 2 was to full with stuff, Lemmins 1 is the better game ( I think !! ), but that is not the problem here.

Maybe the thing you can not put your finger one is just simpel, maybe it is just the look of the levels!
You know, it is a factory ... a cold and dark place.
Now think about Lemmings!
The levels have a more outside look, a more alive (? ) look.

Maybe you play this game and looking at this cold and dark place kills your fun. :)

... i hope they will put some more "worlds" inside the game.
I see some pictures with grass on it and they they feel different. :)

....and with grass we can build some of the Lemmings levels, har har .... :D

[LadyErica]

Yeah, maybe that's it. I want more variation in the levels. A factory can be fun, but why stop there? Why not break out of the factory and go crazy in other areas? Also, if they do add different worlds, I really hope we can pick whatever world we want from the start. Not everyone enjoys the factory, so letting us pick the ones we prefer right from the start would be a huge plus.

Also, if we have different worlds, I think we should have different looking sheep as well. Even if it's just cosmetic differences. A little cosmetic difference can go a long way in making the game more interesting. :)

[West]

With regards to your last post SpaceCowboy77, we are going to be making some small changes in the next update to change up the scenery a little bit and to try to give more of a sense of progression.

One of the things that we'll be doing is updating the lighting and the backgrounds so that there will be a few different variations in the setting. That should help the levels feel different. That'll be tied into more of a map screen for selecting levels, to give more of a sense of going on a journey. We'll also be adding the secret challenges with the new theme, a screenshot of which you've already seen.

And once you finish off the first theme, the factory interior, you go to the outside of factory and then onto another theme that will be making it's way into a future update.

[LadyErica]

Interesting, that sounds really good. I'm looking forward to see what it'll be like. :)

[Katieclysm]

I'll second the need for more variety in tools. Also, flying seems to be an odd choice, since it's obviously taken straight from the Worms games, but the sheep can only fly vertically. Something like glue for their hooves seems like it would have been a better fit, adding to the character of sheep trotting cheerfully up walls.

Another point in feedback... the camera desperately needs help. Have WASD move the camera, OR have a key that puts the mouse in camera-move mode. Having both leads to constantly fighting with yourself until you get used to the odd controls, and gets frustrating very quickly. I didn't even realize at the start why my camera kept going in the opposite direction I wanted it to.

[HeLivesByTheEwoks]

Yes its need more humor.

When the sheeps are jumping from a high ground to a lower ground, they have to make a funny sound together.

Maybe the game is too dark in design .. i mean only in sound design ... when some cheap dont make the jump to a higher area and falls against a obstacle than he has to make a funny sound too.

And its a hard contrast of blood and lovely sheeps

[The Team Fortress 64]

As a fan of the Worms series, I have to say I love the take on turning the protagonists into ominous shadows torturing innocent animals and abusing them as weapons in a much more serious environment. The sheep have had a few spotlights in the Worms series before. I suppose it's quite possible that if you are unfamiliar with that series, it makes Flockers feel a lot more "dull" or "empty"-ish.