UPDATED: Game's excellent! --- Original: ACG's review is out - good game but overburdened and empty

[Sunbather]

So, some of you have brought up reviews from gaming magazines already. I prefer ACG though since he doesn't mince words and actually has arguments why he did or did not like features.
And unfortunately, ACG has some pretty negative things to say about the game:

1. Overburdened UI

2. some wonkiness in the technical department (bad animations, ridiculous death
animations, cheap blood effects)

3. questionable if gaming loop is for the world seems to be pretty empty and the loot isn't meaningful enough

EDIT:

4. Frustrating and unrealistic hit chances. You could stand in front of someone and still miss. So it's XCOM reboot all over again.



And personally, after I was able to watch some uncut gameplay now, I think the game leans way more towards XCOM2 as they let on.



UPDATE

Now that I've played the game for four intense hours, I can give my own opinion on ACG's points.

1. UI is great. Feels very natural, all the important things are there. And there are a ton of keybinds. Which only means that this game is made for PC first and foremost.

2. Didn't see any of that so far. Death animations could be much better though!

3. Can't say much about the game loop since I only landed on the mainland. But I was very happy about every bit of loot that I have found so far. And although the game is naturally designed in a way that you don't run out of money in the first few weeks, the pressure was still there and I at least had the feeling of making my own choices how to use the time at my hands.

4. So far, I have only encountered a miss from the distance of one tile two times so far. And both times my mercenaries were wounded and stressed and I was clearly told that their accuracy had suffered significantly.

I also wanted to add that so far I have not once missed the hit chances not being shown. In fact, I am very glad about it. Neither have I looked at the + and - which give you a indication if the shot wil land or not, e.g. + already shot at the target - it's nighttime.
You don't even need that. You can just use your common sense, and I think that's what I like the best about this game. Things that should work out IRL will work out in this game (most of the times).


So in the end: no it is not like XCOM2, not at all. But it doesn't go as deep as 7.62 Calibre for example. It plays quick and slick like XCOM2 but the rest is very, very different. It is also a very dark game, despite the ironic overtones. Almost like a cRPG.

[Stinger]

Messaggio originale di Kyorisu:

Messaggio originale di Stinger:

Reviewers are a great way to save money on crappy games.

I tend to find raw gameplay footage is a faster and more efficient use of my time. Opinions grow on trees. Any major technical flaws will have 100 threads spammed about them so no problem there either.

I do a bit of both. I actually get hyped from seeing positive reviews. Reviews can be fun to watch. I also feel that you get a better long term nuanced impression from reviews rather than raw footage. Each to his own I guess.

[da_toeter]

A 9 on IGN is huge though; people that might be on the fence will be tempted to try it now.

[Sunbather]

Messaggio originale di Kyorisu:

I tend to find raw gameplay footage is a faster and more efficient use of my time. Opinions grow on trees. Any major technical flaws will have 100 threads spammed about them so no problem there either.

That's a rather stupid attitude. Yes, everyone can have an opinion but only some people actual have an informed opinion and even less can then objectify their "opinion" in order to split personal taste from objective problems.
And when you can even express your results in digestible words, you will have my ear.

[Sunbather]

Having watched quite a few raw gameplay videos now and it seems that ACG's points do have some truth to them but they might be easily surpassed by the game's merits.

What I am really disappointed of is the lack of ragdolls though. The animations really look rough and even silly.

[Fake News Fredo]

I watched half of ACG, he does not know what he's talking about.
He's confused by the game mechanics, is overwhlemed by the stats & never played a JA game.

[Kan3da.]

Messaggio originale di Sunbather:

Messaggio originale di Kyorisu:

I tend to find raw gameplay footage is a faster and more efficient use of my time. Opinions grow on trees. Any major technical flaws will have 100 threads spammed about them so no problem there either.

That's a rather stupid attitude. Yes, everyone can have an opinion but only some people actual have an informed opinion and even less can then objectify their "opinion" in order to split personal taste from objective problems.
And when you can even express your results in digestible words, you will have my ear.

You find that him not needing advice on what games he might want to play and checking forums for technical issues is a stupid attitude?

Bro, that is so hilarious im keeping your post for posterity.

What the hell does that second paragraph even mean? That there is an objective way to review entertainment media?

You made my week man, thank you.

[Kan3da.]

Messaggio originale di Stinger:

Messaggio originale di Arthur:

who cares what that hairy idiot reviewer ACG says, make up your own mind, he's a nobody, some dude making videos in his house lol

Reviewers are a great way to save money on crappy games. His opinion is just that; an opinion, but it contains some valuable information that helps people decide. I have preordered the game even if he had some criticism. I think I will still like it.

I think your post is pretty dumb , and that is me making up my own mind....

Ah, the "i help you save money" programming from his videos. Good boy.

[Sunbather]

Messaggio originale di Kan3da.:

You find that him not needing advice on what games he might want to play and checking forums for technical issues is a stupid attitude?

Bro, that is so hilarious im keeping your post for posterity.

What the hell does that second paragraph even mean? That there is an objective way to review entertainment media?

You made my week man, thank you.

You must lead a very poor life if you are impressed so easily. Glad I could make your week.

[BOT Cecil]

Messaggio originale di Arthur:

who cares what that hairy idiot reviewer ACG says, make up your own mind, he's a nobody, some dude making videos in his house lol

He happens to be one of the best most impartial reviewers out there. I do agree about the making your own mind part.

[Mr armchair general]

Messaggio originale di Sunbather:

So, some of you have brought up reviews from gaming magazines already. I prefer ACG though since he doesn't mince words and actually has arguments why he did or did not like features.
And unfortunately, ACG has some pretty negative things to say about the game:

1. Overburdened UI

2. some wonkiness in the technical department (bad animations, ridiculous death
animations, cheap blood effects)

3. questionable if gaming loop is for the world seems to be pretty empty and the loot isn't meaningful enough

EDIT:

4. Frustrating and unrealistic hit chances. You could stand in front of someone and still miss. So it's XCOM reboot all over again.



And personally, after I was able to watch some uncut gameplay now, I think the game leans way more towards XCOM2 as they let on.

Crappy game then :(

[pistalpug]

boys and girls don't believe reviews ....

I still remember all the reviews for battlefield 2042 when it was launched majority of them were 8 out of 10. If anybody had played that game you know it wasn't . If anything it was a solid 2 at launch.

Just saying your best bet is to watch someone play on twitch or you tube videos make the judgement for yourself from them playing it.

Thats my two cents, I watched someone play this game on twitch early access. All I can say is I bought it , it looked like something I would really enjoy.

The day of trusting those reviewers are long gone, for me at least. They have demonstrated time and time again they can be bought and paid for.

[The Renderer]

Do all you "make up your own mind, reviewers know nothing" people really think anyone watches a review and then simply does what the reviewer said? It's a data point among many.

Also, this happens all the time. Game is crap, reviews come out, people who have invested in it (by preordering or just psychologically) go all up in arms about "sheep not thinking for themselves". Game is still crap, though.

And from what I have seen so far, JA3 will not be crap, but still squarely fall into the "meh" category. Of course I'll gladly be surprised if turns out to be better, but past experience says nope. Classic "7 out of 10".

[Dumeka]

To be honest the hit chance thing was the same in JA2. You could be partially like in front of the face of someone and you would still miss while other times you were out of range and you will still hit them. It was often more of a gamble instead of the amount of markmaship of a merc so if it is like that in JA3 then it stayed true to the previous installments for sure.

[maximustrajan23]

Messaggio originale di tanjo two guns:

Messaggio originale di Velvet Eyebrows:

9 out of 10. Wow.

Yeah I'm actually not sure about the weird combat / rules game breaking. As I look more into it, I think I might be wrong. I need to see a full on gameplay video.

My question is: can you snipe an enemy, stay in stealth, snipe another, stay in stealth, melee stealth takedown, stay in stealth, etc? Or does it force you out of stealth when you start combat? If I can't stealth my way through missions then the game is a no go for me sorry.

have you played the actual original games?

[The Great Cornholio]

I'm already pissed about how the combat is working, the guy is literally 10 feet away, takes 4 shots to kill him, and he has no armor on. WTF!!!

That's...just like the other JA games.

I imagine some of the first mods will be higher/realistic damage because some people want that but it's not how the previous games were designed.