Good early access, disappointing full version

[a7]

After playing early access of Wrath I hoped that a really high-quality game could appear in the retro FPS genre.
I wrote here: "The mechanics of the game are solid, the weapons have a proper impact, the enemies are good, the pacing is fine and the game environment is nice too." Even the often criticized savegame system suited me and I also liked the music (it creates a good ambient atmosphere and I appreciate that it's not just another metal score like in every second FPS game) as well as that each of the five locations in Mourningvale was unique, had memorable places and moments.
So I was expecting the full version to add new enemies, another meaningful levels, etc. and I would have liked the game much. But now when I've completed the second hub (along with mere 0.7% of the players) I'm rather disappointed.
While the first hub felt like a meticulous handiwork, the second seemed to me like randomly generated by AI. It was just sprawling and quite confusing labyrinth of sameness (especially Shadow Pantheon), and instead of creating an interesting variety of new enemies, the creators of the game simply increased number of old enemies to such an absurd level that the whole thing felt like a parody.
Killing such hordes of the same enemies over and over was just boring. Plus the number of enemies was similarly increased in the first hub of the full version of the game for "a good measure".
The main motivation for playing the third hub for me is just to see if it will be as mediocre as the second one and that's not the best motivation for playing the game.
It's quite sad, because Wrath could have been an outstanding boomer shooter if it had been given a bit more care after the first hub.

[NeutronVortex]

Originally posted by a7:

...But now when I've completed the second hub (along with mere 0.7% of the players)

I think the low achievement percentages are tied to the fact they weren't added until the full release but the potential player pool is including those who played the EA version(edit: and haven't come back yet).

Similarly, you can also see the same low achievements completion percentages in games where achievements where added years after the game's initial release, which is the case with the first Risen game for example.

As to the rest well, I haven't beaten the EA content again since the full release so I can't comment on anything past that.

[a7]

I know there was a change of developers during the creation of the game. I wonder if the first and second hub wasn't each created by different people.

[lvl 4000]

I'm sorry but the game goes even further downhill from there. Last two maps (bloody pit and something-something life) of the third chapter are clearly unfinished and, probably, were hastily put together to push out this game to release before the Embracer layoffs. New enemy doesn't have any unique dismemberment states and animations.

[a7]

Originally posted by lvl 4000:

I'm sorry but the game goes even further downhill from there. Last two maps (bloody pit and something-something life) of the third chapter are clearly unfinished and, probably, were hastily put together to push out this game to release before the Embracer layoffs. New enemy doesn't have any unique dismemberment states and animations.

That's what I was worried about. I had similar experience with Graven. As the game goes on, the quality decreases and it's clear how rushed the final parts are.
But both games were in development for a long time so I wouldn't blame the publisher. Without a forced release, we would maybe wait forever.
Wrath is at least technically solid compared to the horribly buggy Graven. I haven't run into gamebreaking bugs yet, just had some FPS drops in parts of the second hub.

[DreadLurker]

Originally posted by lvl 4000:

I'm sorry but the game goes even further downhill from there. Last two maps (bloody pit and something-something life) of the third chapter are clearly unfinished and, probably, were hastily put together to push out this game to release before the Embracer layoffs. New enemy doesn't have any unique dismemberment states and animations.

yeah that enemy has a very unpolished texture compared to the other enemies and it's death animation and sounds are just very jank?

[Yzal]

My thoughts exactly, first hub and the other two feel like they were made by completely different people.

[The Dukenator]

Originally posted by Lazy Dog:

My thoughts exactly, first hub and the other two feel like they were made by completely different people.

They were.
Plus the first hub was part of early access for years.

[Yzal]

Originally posted by The Dukenator:

Originally posted by Lazy Dog:

My thoughts exactly, first hub and the other two feel like they were made by completely different people.

They were.
Plus the first hub was part of early access for years.

I know they were on ea for years, got the game in 2020. Did not know if the guys that made the first hub and levels were still part of the dev team.

[Snus]

Originally posted by a7:

It's quite sad, because Wrath could have been an outstanding boomer shooter if it had been given a bit more care after the first hub.

Exactly this. Instead of having 4-5 hours of great content (like Quake except maybe episode 4), Wrath just drags on and on.

Even if they had the exact same levels but removed respawning enemies, the game would feel much better already. Because 300-400 enemies in each location is an overkill even for a 90s era style shooter.

[Phade]

This is understandable, as the dev teams changed before the final version released. the new dev team had no true concept of what the game was about and as such it failed.

[a7]

Originally posted by Phade:

This is understandable, as the dev teams changed before the final version released. the new dev team had no true concept of what the game was about and as such it failed.

I think there is still a chance for improvement, but if there is any roadmap of official updates, I haven't seen it. The minimum the developers can do are things like adjusting the balancing and difficulty levels and adding mutators to allow the players to customize some parameters themselves.
Mods creators could help with the maps, I would welcome smaller size and better arrangement of some maps like Shadow Pantheon. Adding some new enemies to the later maps would also help.

[DreadLurker]

since the game is moddable, modders should be able to fix some of these issues

[a7]

Originally posted by lvl 4000:

I'm sorry but the game goes even further downhill from there. Last two maps (bloody pit and something-something life) of the third chapter are clearly unfinished and, probably, were hastily put together to push out this game to release before the Embracer layoffs. New enemy doesn't have any unique dismemberment states and animations.

I finished the third hub and I see you are right.

[gast128]

Agree. The first two EA levels were one of the best fps experience ever. The final game is not so great with massive levels; annoying projectile spamming enemies and enemy placement which forces to use distant weapons.

I am still glad they finished the game but they better had chosen quality over quantity.