Why a roguelite?

[eve!]

The original Hyper Light Drifter held a really unique place in the industry and in my heart for its atmosphere and puzzle solving. The handcrafted world with unique bits of worldbuilding scattered about added a lot to the sort of 2D Zelda-like experience, and I don't see how that's going to transfer into a procedurally generated roguelite that's just like the other twenty procedurally generated roguelites.

I just don't understand... the original game held its own in a niche that largely gets ignored, and it's sad to see its own developers abandon what made it so charming in a sequel that feels like a bandwagon chasing cash grab. I don't know if there's time to reconsider, but if the game isn't releasing until 2023 and even then in Early Access, I hope that the common sentiment of not agreeing with this direction can somehow salvage this.

Otherwise or without significant convincing, I don't think I'll be buying this one.

[CID]

Roguelite huh? Yeah, that is disappointing.

[DYMAXION]

Being a roguelite I am more optimistic than if it were a roguelike. It remains to be seen what aspects of the game will be reset when you die.

[Jevmen]

im confused.
At first it all sounds like Darkest Dungeon 2 rogelike style, with super long rung (3-6 hours) and everythings seems to aim for that, variety of builds, exploration and some open fields. However if you can play this multiplayer.. i dunno, i dont thing you can have such long runs with strangers, maybe the multiplayer is more like playing with only friends andnot randoms like Risk of rain 2 or Deep rock galactic

[DaemonX_HUN]

I completed nearly 800 video games. Hyper Light Drifter is among my top 10. I like finite games with a good pacing, handcrafted content, with a definitive start, middle, and end. I hate artificially stretched content and uninspired, randomly generated levels, things that are basically essential parts of rogue games. Even Hades, which many consider a masterpiece and the best in its genre, I though was a 7, or an 8 at best. The only two rogue games I've ever enjoyed were Prey: Mooncrash and Void Bastards, and the reason why I actually enjoyed them is because they were only partially rogue games and had a lot of actual progression and handcrafted elements. I could give a shot to HLB, but it's quite disappointing to see a new HLD game that ditches many of the aspects that made the original great.

[Jevmen]

Originally posted by DaemonX_HUN:

I completed nearly 800 video games. Hyper Light Drifter is among my top 10. I like finite games with a good pacing, handcrafted content, with a definitive start, middle, and end. I hate artificially stretched content and uninspired, randomly generated levels, things that are basically essential parts of rogue games. Even Hades, which many consider a masterpiece and the best in its genre, I though was a 7, or an 8 at best. The only two rogue games I've ever enjoyed were Prey: Mooncrash and Void Bastards, and the reason why I actually enjoyed them is because they were only partially rogue games and had a lot of actual progression and handcrafted elements. I could give a shot to HLB, but it's quite disappointing to see a new HLD game that ditches many of the aspects that made the original great.

have you ever played a rogelike with handcrafted maps? like, wtf... those get the most boring because it gets repetitive.
Also HLD exploration was pretty normal, not sure why ppl says it was one of the strongest points of the game. the only thing i liked were the secrets, who even were kinda annoying sometimes.
if they do this right, im 200% up for a rogelite

[yiyi.z]

Totally understand not being down with roguelikes / roguelites! (Speaking as not a rep of Heart Machine, it's not really a genre I play much either!)

Ultimately, the team wanted to make a new game: one they are proud of and one that they themselves would want to play. Breaker will still share some common threads with Drifter, and stay true to our particular aesthetic and tone.

The best I can tell you now is that unlike with Solar Ash (which was largely made in a vacuum), we'll be regularly sharing our dev process, content, gameplay, narratives, etc. as we head toward Early Access. Hopefully some of the things we share will pique your interest. And even if not, really appreciate your advocacy and support for Drifter <3

[mejorqvos]

Originally posted by yiyi.z:

one they are proud of and one that they themselves would want to play.

Aren't developers happy with HLD? :(

It's one of the best pixel art games I've ever played. I don't recall many details, but the pacing, the lore, the world they created, the gameplay, the mechanics, and omg the OST all come to mind. The main OST is so gorgeous that I occasionally return to listen to it! It brings back memories and warm, cozy feelings for me.

I don't play video games as frequently as I once did because I regret wasting so much time on them, but I don't regret playing HLD. I treasure the memory of playing it.

So, developers should be proud. It's fun to play, but more importantly, it's beautiful to experience.

[mintho]

Originally posted by yiyi.z:

Totally understand not being down with roguelikes / roguelites! (Speaking as not a rep of Heart Machine, it's not really a genre I play much either!)

Ultimately, the team wanted to make a new game: one they are proud of and one that they themselves would want to play. Breaker will still share some common threads with Drifter, and stay true to our particular aesthetic and tone.

The best I can tell you now is that unlike with Solar Ash (which was largely made in a vacuum), we'll be regularly sharing our dev process, content, gameplay, narratives, etc. as we head toward Early Access. Hopefully some of the things we share will pique your interest. And even if not, really appreciate your advocacy and support for Drifter <3

I really hope that the Roguelite aspects will be toned down at least.
Hyper Light Drifter is one of my favourite games ever. It just has the perfect flow. While personally, I would have hoped for a typical sequel, i.e. more of the same with a few new things/mechanics thrown in, I can understand that the devs want to do something new. But chasing the Roguelite bandwagon feels like a mistake.

In my case, there is a lot of good will stemming from my experience with Hyper Light Drifter, so I will probably try out the game eventually. But I fear that I won't enjoy it nearly as much. Nothing beats a hand crafted world and Hyper Light Drifter exemplified that. The jump from 2D to 3D is daring enough IMHO. Instead of working on procedurally generating worlds, something that I have never seen succeed, the devs should focus on getting the combat right. Making it as crisp as in Drifter but in 3D is a challenge in itself. I'm dreaming of a mixture of Zelda and Bayonetta. The hand crafted world of Zelda coupled with Bayonetta's combat and Drifter's atmosphere could be a perfect game.

[yiyi.z]

Originally posted by mintho:

Nothing beats a hand crafted world and Hyper Light Drifter exemplified that. The jump from 2D to 3D is daring enough IMHO. Instead of working on procedurally generating worlds, something that I have never seen succeed, the devs should focus on getting the combat right.

Re this concern - it is valid. I wonder if this clip from the latest talk on our tech art process would help alleviate some of your feelings here: https://youtu.be/IeH7CGS4mo4?t=1454
Our tech art lead Len talks about we absolutely want for the player to feel like the levels are completely hand-manicured experiences instead of stuff feeling just like randomized levels.

[LordApollo474]

I LOVE Roguelikes so...

[mintho]

Originally posted by yiyi.z:

Originally posted by mintho:

Nothing beats a hand crafted world and Hyper Light Drifter exemplified that. The jump from 2D to 3D is daring enough IMHO. Instead of working on procedurally generating worlds, something that I have never seen succeed, the devs should focus on getting the combat right.

Re this concern - it is valid. I wonder if this clip from the latest talk on our tech art process would help alleviate some of your feelings here: https://youtu.be/IeH7CGS4mo4?t=1454
Our tech art lead Len talks about we absolutely want for the player to feel like the levels are completely hand-manicured experiences instead of stuff feeling just like randomized levels.

Thanks, that does sound good. I guess we'll see soon how it works.

[Giffsen]

Originally posted by greg:

The original Hyper Light Drifter held a really unique place in the industry and in my heart for its atmosphere and puzzle solving. The handcrafted world with unique bits of worldbuilding scattered about added a lot to the sort of 2D Zelda-like experience, and I don't see how that's going to transfer into a procedurally generated roguelite that's just like the other twenty procedurally generated roguelites.

I just don't understand... the original game held its own in a niche that largely gets ignored, and it's sad to see its own developers abandon what made it so charming in a sequel that feels like a bandwagon chasing cash grab. I don't know if there's time to reconsider, but if the game isn't releasing until 2023 and even then in Early Access, I hope that the common sentiment of not agreeing with this direction can somehow salvage this.

Otherwise or without significant convincing, I don't think I'll be buying this one.

The best thing about today's gaming world is that we all have tons of options and choices. We can always choose to not play something instead of trying to insinuate whatever direction they took on their projects is "following a bandwagon" or implying a whole genre of game we don't like a "cash grab", but hey, what do I know.

[Klisk]

This feels like it's trying to capitalize on Risk of Rain 2. Which is disappointing, since I hated RoR2.

I like Hyper Light Drifter because it's not a rogue-whatever. The genre is honestly getting so painfully overdone, and as someone who doesn't enjoy that gameplay, it feels like dodging a minefield just to avoid accidentally buying one these days.

Really disappointing. But then again, I also think it's disappointing this game is in 3d. I would prefer to remain in the 2d realm. It's just not for me.

I think the character designs are really neat, though. It has that going for it.

[jchaosmaster]

Honestly I'm really exited for this. Because its only been in maybe the last year something like this has been attempted. I cant think of a true open world rogue game in full massive 3d. At least one that's not a crafting survival game. Honestly a open world rogue game sound amazing. More because at least unlike something like Raven fall This is being made by devs that have made both games and 3d action games.

As for drifter i know of at least maybe 10 other pixel/zelda style games. Where the only 3d/ third person/ open world/ rogue game i can think of is Raven bound. If they turn this into another Crafting/ survival/ base building game i will be dissapointed.

[jchaosmaster]

Originally posted by mintho:

Originally posted by yiyi.z:

Totally understand not being down with roguelikes / roguelites! (Speaking as not a rep of Heart Machine, it's not really a genre I play much either!)

Ultimately, the team wanted to make a new game: one they are proud of and one that they themselves would want to play. Breaker will still share some common threads with Drifter, and stay true to our particular aesthetic and tone.

The best I can tell you now is that unlike with Solar Ash (which was largely made in a vacuum), we'll be regularly sharing our dev process, content, gameplay, narratives, etc. as we head toward Early Access. Hopefully some of the things we share will pique your interest. And even if not, really appreciate your advocacy and support for Drifter <3

I really hope that the Roguelite aspects will be toned down at least.
Hyper Light Drifter is one of my favourite games ever. It just has the perfect flow. While personally, I would have hoped for a typical sequel, i.e. more of the same with a few new things/mechanics thrown in, I can understand that the devs want to do something new. But chasing the Roguelite bandwagon feels like a mistake.

In my case, there is a lot of good will stemming from my experience with Hyper Light Drifter, so I will probably try out the game eventually. But I fear that I won't enjoy it nearly as much. Nothing beats a hand crafted world and Hyper Light Drifter exemplified that. The jump from 2D to 3D is daring enough IMHO. Instead of working on procedurally generating worlds, something that I have never seen succeed, the devs should focus on getting the combat right. Making it as crisp as in Drifter but in 3D is a challenge in itself. I'm dreaming of a mixture of Zelda and Bayonetta. The hand crafted world of Zelda coupled with Bayonetta's combat and Drifter's atmosphere could be a perfect game.

Would you be intrested in a very Old game. The game is called elder scrolls two Daggerfall. It was one of the first open world RPG with procedurally generated sections.