Bulletsponges? Not so much.

[VaniKa]

I finished the game with all main and side missions and reached level 50. Now I started a new run to see if the game really is that difficult at first or enemies are really bulletsponges like they appeared when first playing the game. Some people even claimed that the game is like that to justify the skill system. Well, I must say it's all wrong. The game doesn't feel any different at the beginning than at the end. I just wasn't used to the game when I first started it. I even beat the first boss without losing a heart on normal. During my first run I died and died and finally lowered the difficulty for the boss to "easy". So, the boss isn't too difficult and the enemies aren't bulletsponges. I could kill every enemy quickly with the right approach, like using the knife/axe and relying on my beloved Kugelgewehr that carried me through most of the later game during my first run. So it's more about understanding the game and adapting to its mechanics. Enemies with armor have a non-linear health pool and there are tricks to lower the armor part more quickly. Not only the bullet type matters but also where you shoot (look for special parts to shoot off). I also disregarded the bullet-type-matching-the-enemy rule many times because it worked regardless. Try a Nagel-upgraded Kugelgewehr as your standard weapon. Reach is good then and damage is really awesome. And remember, melee/throwing is your friend. You'll be surprised how quickly you can dispatch heavier enemies with that, especially when you have upgraded the knife/axe skill.

[Grr. [SG CMD] Majah Lazah]

Ammo switching doesn't add depth to the game, it simply adds artificial difficulty.

This isn't Mass Effect, and monetization incentivization doesn't make it so.

[fujisawajazz]

I actually didn't feel the enemies were bullet-spongey either, at least not any more than in previous games. You just have to employ the right tactics and methods. The barrier mechanic doesn't make much real-life sense (I can melt a heavy with my laser gun in one second but a Jäger with light armor somehow powers through this?). However, from a gameplay perspective it is simply more fun for me to be changing up weapons more often. The barriers combined with the mastery system encourage me to use all of the weapons available to me much more frequently. (In New Colossus I basically just stuck to the assault rifle w/ scope and armor piercing.)

Considering your report that going back to a new game didn't feel much different from the end of the game, though, I really have to wonder what purpose "leveling up" has besides awarding skill points. The "permanent damage bonus" is of questionable and unverifiable benefit because enemies constantly level up along with you, and we don't know what kinds of changes they get while leveling up. To me not much feels different so I just have to assume that the level-up damage bonus is offset by increased enemy resistance, possibly. I feel like an experience bar to "next ability point" would have simplified things greatly. Or just grant ability points from objectives.

[SkacikPL]

To me light weapons feel really underpowered, you're much better off (and faster) to just chuck a melee weapon their way.

Fully upgraded throw nearly kills Tier 4-5 Jagers and one shots other light armor units.

[Smugass Braixen-Chan]

Originally posted by 🔰SkacikPL🗾:

To me light weapons feel really underpowered, you're much better off (and faster) to just chuck a melee weapon their way.

Fully upgraded throw nearly kills Tier 4-5 Jagers and one shots other light armor units.

Throwing things at people is more deadly than shooting them?
https://youtu.be/an0bVaTjF_Y

[Xr-1]

Barf bag! Yea dude!

[SkacikPL]

Originally posted by Smugass Braixen-Chan:

Originally posted by 🔰SkacikPL🗾:

To me light weapons feel really underpowered, you're much better off (and faster) to just chuck a melee weapon their way.

Fully upgraded throw nearly kills Tier 4-5 Jagers and one shots other light armor units.

Throwing things at people is more deadly than shooting them?
https://youtu.be/an0bVaTjF_Y

Yeah it's kind of absurd. It's much simpler to always run with heavy armor weapons and just use throwables to deal with light armor units than to actually use light ammo.

[Coldhands]

Yeah, the only bullet sponge enemies are the ones covered in armor (the ones that were bullet sponges in the previous games).
The only issue I have is that I feel like I need one more hard barrier weapon. The AR is the only good one I’ve got so far, so I keep running out of ammo for it.
I wish the shotgun could be upgraded to be good against either barrier, depending on which mods you had on it.

[The Grin]

Originally posted by VaniKa:

I finished the game with all main and side missions and reached level 50. Now I started a new run to see if the game really is that difficult at first or enemies are really bulletsponges like they appeared when first playing the game. Some people even claimed that the game is like that to justify the skill system. Well, I must say it's all wrong. The game doesn't feel any different at the beginning than at the end. I just wasn't used to the game when I first started it. I even beat the first boss without losing a heart on normal. During my first run I died and died and finally lowered the difficulty for the boss to "easy". So, the boss isn't too difficult and the enemies aren't bulletsponges. I could kill every enemy quickly with the right approach, like using the knife/axe and relying on my beloved Kugelgewehr that carried me through most of the later game during my first run. So it's more about understanding the game and adapting to its mechanics. Enemies with armor have a non-linear health pool and there are tricks to lower the armor part more quickly. Not only the bullet type matters but also where you shoot (look for special parts to shoot off). I also disregarded the bullet-type-matching-the-enemy rule many times because it worked regardless. Try a Nagel-upgraded Kugelgewehr as your standard weapon. Reach is good then and damage is really awesome. And remember, melee/throwing is your friend. You'll be surprised how quickly you can dispatch heavier enemies with that, especially when you have upgraded the knife/axe skill.

All true :D

[Deuterium the Sentient Mattress]

Originally posted by Coldhands:

Yeah, the only bullet sponge enemies are the ones covered in armor (the ones that were bullet sponges in the previous games).
The only issue I have is that I feel like I need one more hard barrier weapon. The AR is the only good one I’ve got so far, so I keep running out of ammo for it.
I wish the shotgun could be upgraded to be good against either barrier, depending on which mods you had on it.

Agreed - the supersoldaten were hard as balls in the last 2 games too, only thing that worked with consistency against 'em was the sig weapons and the heavy weapons

[Pangolin Legends: Arceus]

I can't even kill the first boss.

[Billy Blaze]

Where is the moron who called me out, that I am "the only one on earth" who thinks this game doesn't have bullet sponges?

Also yeah, playing "The New Order" and "The Old Blood" beneath "Youngblood" and I've played a fair ammount of "The New Colossus".
Absolutely every game had enemies who could take multiple hits.
The orange shotgun guys in "The New Order" take a whole shotgun-magazin to the face before going down.
"Youngblood" has definitely less spongy enemies.
You need to pump drones full of lead in TNO, but now, 1-2 shots are enough.

I have to admit, it's kinda annoying with the 2 shield types, but it's still easy to manage.
And if you dual wield a pistol and a machine pistol at the same time, you can destroy both shields without switching weapons.

[Vulkan]

Originally posted by Billy Blaze:

Where is the moron who called me out, that I am "the only one on earth" who thinks this game doesn't have bullet sponges?

Also yeah, playing "The New Order" and "The Old Blood" beneath "Youngblood" and I've played a fair ammount of "The New Colossus".
Absolutely every game had enemies who could take multiple hits.
The orange shotgun guys in "The New Order" take a whole shotgun-magazin to the face before going down.
"Youngblood" has definitely less spongy enemies.
You need to pump drones full of lead in TNO, but now, 1-2 shots are enough.

I have to admit, it's kinda annoying with the 2 shield types, but it's still easy to manage.
And if you dual wield a pistol and a machine pistol at the same time, you can destroy both shields without switching weapons.

busy getting laid if i had to guess.

[Billy Blaze]

Originally posted by Coldhands:

Yeah, the only bullet sponge enemies are the ones covered in armor (the ones that were bullet sponges in the previous games).
The only issue I have is that I feel like I need one more hard barrier weapon. The AR is the only good one I’ve got so far, so I keep running out of ammo for it.
I wish the shotgun could be upgraded to be good against either barrier, depending on which mods you had on it.

The pistol works wonders against shields, since you decide with a fast trigger-finger how much DPS you deal.
And with dual wielding, these things just melt armors.

I play constantly with a shotgun and when I see something with armor, I either press "Quick Weapon Swap" once for the Assault Rifle for far way armored targets, or I hit it twice for instand dual wielding pistols.
Basically, this simply gives you another quick-swapping method, since the Shotgun and Assault rifle are still selected for the one-time-pressed quick slot.

[fujisawajazz]

Speaking of dual-wielding, how do you hold one of each gun, pistol and machine pistol? I did it once by accident but couldn’t reproduce it. I’m on a controller usually BTW

[Smugass Braixen-Chan]

Might have to hold the button down or something.

Is there a controller option/map in the menu?