[SOLVED/UPDATED] The Groke section is too hard for slow or slightly clumsy casual players

[oldladygreybun]

New update 30.11.2024: The Groke chase has been adjusted. It is now easier to do, and the devs have put in a fix that makes the chase slower after you've failed it a few times.

And I have now managed to get through it. Finally!! Very happy about that, even though I had to wait 9 months for it...
See details:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1808680/discussions/0/4293690852338642582/?ctp=2#c4634862623030078739
and
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1808680/discussions/0/4293690852338642582/?ctp=2#c4634862878162193555
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[Note from OP: this thread was originally headed re. any midpoint savepoints and length of Groke chase. But as the discussion developed, it consolidated into the more general issue of people not managing to get through the Groke chase. So I gave it a new heading, as you can see above.]

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Yes, I know, I'm a slow, clumsy, old lady with clunky hands on KB+M ;-)
Having to manage Run, and Jump, and direction keys all at the same time in dim light and not sure where to go - is just very hard. So I'm struggling rather badly with the Groke scene. Have been sent back to the start of that scene many, many, many times now, keep getting caught. It's getting to the point where this isn't fun any more, and starting to feel like just giving up on the game

In my misery and frustration I've watched a couple of playthroughs to help me at least with the route and any shortcuts or ways to save some time. I can see from the gameplay that people are using controllers, and I did notice a comment from someone that the game plays fine on controller but rather badly on KB/M.
So, i dunno...

Anyway - it's a long scene - with Groke reapperaring time after time before it all ends well after the fires are put out and everyone is friends. ... As I have now seen.

So long way round to my question:
Has anyone noticed a savepoint somewhere along the way in that long chase scene? Where is it/are they? Or would it all have to accomplished in one go from start to the end of the big cutscene after the sun has come up again after the fire and the policemen have left and Snufkin heads off to Hattifnatters island ??

[powerpiglet]

I got caught by the Groke after rolling the boulder but before climbing the rock face. I guess it was close enough to a checkpoint that triggered a break in the chase scene. I respawned in the same location but not being chased. So there's at least one savepoint in the middle. After continuing for a minute, Snufkin says "Oh no, she's back" and the chase music starts up again.

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't believe you have to run to complete the chase scene. If managing all the buttons is a problem, you could try just walking at normal speed.

[PanKapitan0.636]

It is hard and also terrifying, I am almost middle aged man and it gave me horror feeling. When I got frozen by Groke.
It would be probably better to have some funny animation of Snuffkin just getting scared when Groke get him and screen goes dark.

[PanKapitan0.636]

Originally posted by powerpiglet:

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't believe you have to run to complete the chase scene. If managing all the buttons is a problem, you could try just walking at normal speed.

Groke seems faster than you walking. Then there is that mud slowing you down. It is actually quite good difficulty level. Or maybe little too hard for casual player.

[oldladygreybun]

Originally posted by PanKapitan0.636:

Originally posted by powerpiglet:

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't believe you have to run to complete the chase scene. If managing all the buttons is a problem, you could try just walking at normal speed.

Groke seems faster than you walking. Then there is that mud slowing you down. It is actually quite good difficulty level. Or maybe little too hard for casual player.

It's DEFINITELY not possible to do at just walking speed - Groke catches up with you even before the first log crossing at that rate. Belive me, I've tried!

I am clearly a 'casual player' - which this game seems to be aimed at - at least as a customer group in addition to more mainstream and experienced gamers.
And this sequence just seems OFF to me.
My take is that devs made this part too hard for the audience it's aimed at.

[oldladygreybun]

Originally posted by powerpiglet:

I got caught by the Groke after rolling the boulder but before climbing the rock face. I guess it was close enough to a checkpoint that triggered a break in the chase scene. I respawned in the same location but not being chased. So there's at least one savepoint in the middle. After continuing for a minute, Snufkin says "Oh no, she's back" and the chase music starts up again. (...)

But thanks for this - it's always useful to know what midpoints to aim for, at least.

So far I keep getting caught at either the first log or the second log - just that 1-2-second fumble to get over or round them is enough for Groke to catch me.

[ffets]

I noticed, that the devs had mercy, when you reach the boulder. The Groke slows down there, to leave you time to push it.

I had also my difficulties with this scene, as I'm already 60 years old. How on earth shall 6 years old kids win this race? I think, there is at least one savepoints in between, as I was killed at least 20 times. First, I thought, you could hug the Groke and be her friend, then I always fiddled with the arrow keys of the keyboard.

[powerpiglet]

Originally posted by PanKapitan0.636:

Groke seems faster than you walking. Then there is that mud slowing you down. It is actually quite good difficulty level. Or maybe little too hard for casual player.

It's true that the Groke gains on you during mud sections, but it's easy to add distance between you when there is no mud.

Here's a video of me outrunning the Groke using only arrow keys and spacebar. No pressing shift to run. (Note that I did not bother to record audio):
https://streamable.com/ddrxgv

Is the Groke moving at a different speed for you guys?

[oldladygreybun]

Originally posted by powerpiglet:

It's true that the Groke gains on you during mud sections, but it's easy to add distance between you when there is no mud.

Here's a video of me outrunning the Groke using only arrow keys and spacebar. No pressing shift to run. (Note that I did not bother to record audio):
https://streamable.com/ddrxgv

Is the Groke moving at a different speed for you guys?

Haha pretty sure this is down to skill level ;-) Had a look at your video (thanks!) and I don't know about individual Snufkin or Groke speeds, but the thing is that there's only a few seconds between the two characters. Which is fine and good if you manage to steer Snufkin smoothly and consistently, including jumps and pulls and pushes. But for someone who is a little bit slow and clumsy, it gets hard: a small stumble can cost a half second, and a bit of a fumble at a jump or interaction can cost another second, and then a bit clumsy on the 4 directional keys leading to a somewhat more zig-zaggy path than your smooth progression can cost another second or two - and it all adds up to Groke catching up with Snufkin again and again.

It wouldn't matter so much if there was manual save or frequent savepoints here, bc then it could be managed bit-by-bit, and possible to save and exit out and rest a bit - between tries. But as is now, you get sent back quite far at a 'fail' and also at an exit mid-level.

It wouldn't be so bad if you could exit out of the loop and go back to this scene later, after perhaps practicing a bit more (I had played most of the game up to then on mouse, not on arrow keys, and hadn't used Run at all, so this came on a bit sudden for me, at least).

Well, I won't belabour the point more for now.
I've put the game aside for myself for now as a 'Stuck, perhaps get back to later'. When devs have had time to catch their breath again after the first rush of release issues gets fixed and resolved, they may be open to tweaking this a bit, or making an Easy mode, or letting us skip it. or something.
Or not... and it will just be a sad experience my end. Happens.

[powerpiglet]

Originally posted by oldladygreybun:

I've put the game aside for myself for now as a 'Stuck, perhaps get back to later'. When devs have had time to catch their breath again after the first rush of release issues gets fixed and resolved, they may be open to tweaking this a bit, or making an Easy mode, or letting us skip it. or something.

Okay. I hope you're able to get back to it at some point.

If you want I could share my saved game file from the moment that the Groke chase ends. If you're interested, send me a friend request.

[Mimi]

I just watched my friend play this part and decided the game probably isnt for me if it contains a lot more of that. is this the only part like this?

[Ruuubick]

Originally posted by Mimi:

I just watched my friend play this part and decided the game probably isnt for me if it contains a lot more of that. is this the only part like this?

Hey Mimi! That is the only part like that in the game!

[oldladygreybun]

I would like to know too:
Is the Groke chase the only chase sequence in the game?
Or is there more time-sensitive gameplay in it?
(Apart from the sneak sequences in the park(s), I mean)

[oldladygreybun]

Originally posted by powerpiglet:

Originally posted by oldladygreybun:

I've put the game aside for myself for now as a 'Stuck, perhaps get back to later'. (...)

Okay. I hope you're able to get back to it at some point.

If you want I could share my saved game file from the moment that the Groke chase ends. If you're interested, send me a friend request.

Wow, that's really kind of you !
I'm an old lady newbie(-ish) and not very techie, never tried copying in a different save, ever.
So will need to think about this.
But - Thank you !!

[Ruuubick]

Originally posted by oldladygreybun:

I would like to know too:
Is the Groke chase the only chase sequence in the game?
Or is there more time-sensitive gameplay in it?
(Apart from the sneak sequences in the park(s), I mean)

There aren't any other chase or time-sensitive sequences in the game aside for Groke's!

[oldladygreybun]

Originally posted by Ruuubick:

Originally posted by oldladygreybun:

I would like to know too:
Is the Groke chase the only chase sequence in the game?
Or is there more time-sensitive gameplay in it?
(Apart from the sneak sequences in the park(s), I mean)

There aren't any other chase or time-sensitive sequences in the game aside for Groke's!

Thanks! Good to know :-)