Good Luck Inflexion

[Landover]

I believe this review sums up a lot of what we’re feeling. Not to mention i won’t touch too far in depth on the glaring place holders, server load times, building limits conflicting with the crafting system in place, copy paste feels in new realms, lack of complete controller support, abysmal attack registration from enemies, poorly planned offhand and hot bar, server load times, But below is my review so far and feelings after about 30 hours (feels like over 100 hours tbh).

Link to Nightingale Steam DB analysis charts and data >>>> https://steamdb.info/app/1928980/charts/

A little about the studio.

It’s a new studio, common misconception is that it’s a studio totally comprised of ex devs from BioWare (I thought the same) it’s just led by former BioWare boss Aaryn Flynn who worked for BioWare as studio manager from 2007-2019 and SOME devs from BioWare if you just got PTSD from Andromedia and Anthem I don’t blame you. If you go to the companies about us page below,

>>> https://www.inflexion.io/about

It just reads as a statement pretty much on inclusivity (shocker), nothing really about their competence as a studio, or any accolades of any team members or prior games they worked on. But mind you This team already has history of abandoning their games. Not saying this will but keep in mind there is a history of it so there is a chance. I’m not saying the decision to abandon Anthem or to abandon Andromedia was at Flynn’s sole discretion, I’m just merely stating he would have been involved in making that decision and devs brought over from that same company comprise a large amount of the current studios workforce.

From my impressions of the game not only is Aaryn Flynn perhaps past his prime, they need some seriously seasoned devs to come in and do a much needed alignment and get the house in order.
Now back to the review!

My review reminded me of another one where the guy just looked so tired in his YouTube video, like he just served prison time he said after 50 hours he’s never going back, largely felt like he just did even that to do the review lol. I’m already starting to feel fatigue set in rather quickly.

It’s monotonous, bland a lot of the times, I feel myself saying “oh wow look at that” less and less the more I play and there’s simply no magic left in the Fae anymore. The stunning vistas being the only thing sometimes between me and the quit to desktop button.

My wife is constantly asking questions on what to do, next how to proceed, where to go ect, which is unusual for her in these types of games. We both refunded the game initially, but like many we had this saved on wishlist for over a year, really wanted to get into this universe, but we were so disappointed.

Base building is not good rn, it’s bare bones really, not a lot of style blocks, you’re limited to how much you can build here is the breakdown
100 SEPARATE buildings per realm
300 blocks per building
350 item limit for entire realm.

Now to put that as an example, you can’t make mega builds or mansions, you can make 100 small to medium builds tho…
300 is just too small.

For the item count, this game has a very intense crafting system that uses many workbenches and vanity sets that correlate to the workbenches for recipes, these all take up slots in that 350 count, also some items take more slots than others, you can place a lamp down and take up 5 slots.

The building mechanics are almost identical to Fallout 76 in that game say a chair takes 2 slots but a grand piano takes 7 just for example.

You will find yourself at an extreme disadvantage very very fast if you even do coop with just 1 other person, expect to have to share workshops, no going off on one corner of the map and having your own little haven, you will have to be forced into making a centralized area in its current state.

We decided to give it another go after seeing good feedback from the devs, but I feel personally what ails this game will take pretty much the whole year they predict to get out of EA. Thats a problem because then they release a basically serviceable survival trope game as their 1.0 which is fine if you want to release mediocre as your grand finale I mean…go for it. But don't expect people to enjoy the ride.

The glaring problem isnt in the bugs or no offline mode and that most stand will scream “EA! You bought EA don’t you know what EA means!!!”.
No the problem with this game is more invasive the foundation is weak, eaten away by termites, unsteady ready to collapse, bug patches won’t fix any of that, only a change of vision will, and that will take way more than 1 year perhaps a couple, then maybe just maybe Nightingale can deliver on their promise if they can all get together to make that vision of theirs cohesive and engaging.

As it is rn Nightingale is a hot mess, plagued by conflicting mechanics and its design choices, Nightingale does not respect your time as a gamer, the mechanics are a clear showcase of this, its not a case of “git gud bro” “low iq bro” it’s just fundamentally bad game design. I’ll keep playing until I feel like I’ve been abused enough out of my $30. I’m a masochist what can I say? I hope this succeeds truly. Wouldn’t have spent all this time writing this if I didn’t.

Adding a quote from another user that articulates some more issues with the game better that I left out.

“Originally posted by Smketreez:
While I think calling the game abandoned a week into release is a bit extreme, I am a little surprised there hasn't been a second hotfix to cover some of the more broken things that theoretically should be easier bugs to squash.

For instance -
Escape key losing all functionality. Leading people to assume you can't close chests / menus with escape, not realizing it just stops working.

The inactivity timer is really broken. I have been kicked while fishing (which involves near constant left click on mouse), kicked while running from one room of my house to another, kicked while clicking through the guidebook reading things. Its almost as if after a certain point in its invisible timer, no amount of key presses reset the timer.

Dying while on a loading screen traveling from one portal to the next. This one is kinda major. Being killed while having no control of you character is fairly infuriating.

The planting system is just flat broken. From planter boxes just stopping functioning all together, to the sheer bad math involved in the process. i.e 1 seed costs 5 wheat to craft, 1 seed then grows 1 wheat in return, thus instant loss of 4 wheat, Yes I know there are charms to increase yields, but the base system should function too.

If multiple party members try to travel back to respites at the same time, the system has a tendency to break and dump the players back to the default spawn location for their abeyance realm, instead of their set respite. Even going as far as completely moving the respite point here despite the fact they have a respite built on the realm elsewhere.

While using firearms, the hit registry has a chance to just ignore shots. If a elevation difference exists between the player and mob this is more noticeable, but can also happen if the mob is right on top of the player as well.

Dragging a stack of items on top of another stack of items in your inventory doesn't combine the stacks even if those items are 100% identical. Ammo for instance doesn't have different types based on ingots used, at least not visibly apparent to the player, so any created with differing type will have the same tool tip, they are different and will not stack. Even IF the items do share the base ingot when crafted, the stacks will only combine if both placed into a chest.

The sorting button in your inventory will sort it, depending on the mode selected, but then that just stops working after some time and reverts back to ABC.

Some of the generated sites of Agility are just out of reach. I'm aware we can build in the realms, and for the most part building up to the site works fine, but I've had 3 now that required 15+ vertical foundations just to reach the very bottom of the lowest structure floating in the sky.

And this is just a handful of them, there is of course much more major ones like disconnects, loading issues, crashes, etc that other players have ran into.“

Good luck Inflexion, you’re going to need it.

*edit* (added link to steam DB for charts and analysis on Nightingale for users to gather statistical information in one spot.
Added quote from fellow user on some gameplay issues. That zero in on some glaring issues. Updated information on studio team. Added building information

[Landover]

Originally posted by Stelar Seven:

Originally posted by Landover:

*edit
Added info about building to the review.

“ Base building is not good rn, it’s bare bones really, not a lot of style blocks, you’re limited to how much you can build here is the breakdown
100 SEPARATE buildings per realm
300 blocks per building
350 item limit for entire realm.

There are more than 4 separate building sets, so far. Rough, Tudor, Shack, Desert, Asian and more in the traders I haven't gotten to past Hunt. So what specifically are you asking for? Higher build limits. I agree, it'd be nice to have those numbers up, but not if it will be a server issue. If that, then I leave them as they are.

Originally posted by Landover:

....You will find yourself at an extreme disadvantage very very fast if you even do coop with just 1 other person, expect to have to share workshops, no going off on one corner of the map and having your own little haven, you will have to be forced into making a centralized area in its current state.”

No, not if you don't share a realm.

Spoilers (mild spoilers ahead)

Very early in the game you get the ability to craft portals and realm cards that link to your home realm.

Everyone can have their own home realm and you can have a permanent portal to your friend's realm which works if they are online or off.

So sharing doesn't require that anyone not have room to build.

Is this news to you? How far into the game are you? I know less than 1% of players have some of the achievements I've gotten so no shame if it's news.

I’m able to have my own crude portal, and yes it would be nice if me and my wife could build as we pleased with no restrictions in the same realm, options are awesome, but due to limitations in design you are robbed of them when you don’t have to be, the devs responded in the building thread and noted this issue. It may not be a big deal to you but we love to build, I’m 30 hours into the game personally idk how many awards that warrants I’m doing herbarium quest line rn. I wholly agree with you that any higher would cause server issues, I think that’s why fallout 76 makes limits, that’s why I’m excited for dedicated servers/offline because I’ll just pay for more ram and cpu cores from bisect or cloudnord and we won’t be restricted by limitations caused by the only online.

As far as building blocks I do think there are very very few, maybe I’m spoiled by the sheer number of enshrouded, ark and Conan and others, but idk maybe give us an actual Victorian era block or even far themed with pulsating mana lines, I know they have the textures I’ve seen them on statues.

But yeah no this isn’t news to me, it’s actually a topic up for vote on the devs site thing. As well in regards to upping limits or just getting rid of them.

[Stelar Seven]

but due to limitations in design you are robbed of them when you don’t have to be,

This seems pretty hyperbolic. No one robbed you. The designers made a design choice and it has a limitation they are actively working to reduce.

In any case, 30 hours in, you haven't unlocked much in the way of building options. There are whole sets that are not available until you get through Gloom and Hunt. Additions to even the basic stuff.

I agree a Victorian set would be fun.

[Landover]

Originally posted by Stelar Seven:

but due to limitations in design you are robbed of them when you don’t have to be,

This seems pretty hyperbolic. No one robbed you. The designers made a design choice and it has a limitation they are actively working to reduce.

In any case, 30 hours in, you haven't unlocked much in the way of building options. There are whole sets that are not available until you get through Gloom and Hunt. Additions to even the basic stuff.

I agree a Victorian set would be fun.

I agree I was a bit over dramatic with that sentence, but it’s how I felt and feel, so I guess maybe I could have said I feel extremely disappointed? Lol idk.

Yeah, I don’t have many building options as of rn, but I do know all the blocks we get because inflexion made a trailer on the block themes. Idk the wood set feels super primitive, we collect logs sturdy logs but instead we use sticks to make a cabin and not the logs, or planks, seems like a weird direction to go.

I know this is a little off from the origin of topic but have you played medieval dynasty? If you want to craft something and unlock certain recipes you need to build a themed workshop, that would have been so much cooler than a fish on a wall. Idk just the thought popped into my head.

[Sasheria]

You know, games like this use to be "popular" like in the old days. You have some basic information but you have to go find it (like Ultima Online hehehhe now I am showing my age)

It is a hard game when you have to find things. It is less hand-holding BUT it does have a good codex that you can look things up on where to go, but not too specific (i.e. where to find ore and realm level, etc.)

[Landover]

Originally posted by Cormian:

You know, games like this use to be "popular" like in the old days. You have some basic information but you have to go find it (like Ultima Online hehehhe now I am showing my age)

It is a hard game when you have to find things. It is less hand-holding BUT it does have a good codex that you can look things up on where to go, but not too specific (i.e. where to find ore and realm level, etc.)

Lol I never played ultima but EverQuest was my first mmo and I 100% used aim before school asl! Hahaha

[Sister of Silence]

Originally posted by Cormian:

You know, games like this use to be "popular" like in the old days. You have some basic information but you have to go find it (like Ultima Online hehehhe now I am showing my age)

It is a hard game when you have to find things. It is less hand-holding BUT it does have a good codex that you can look things up on where to go, but not too specific (i.e. where to find ore and realm level, etc.)

Not sure why you seem to think not liking some things in Nightingale has to do with hand-holding. I've played Ultima Online for years (hell, I still have the cloth maps stuck to a wall), same with Wurm Online and Lineage 2. I'm well acquinted with grind and games with no hand-holding. Nightingale, however, has issues. It's not hard, it's simply frustrating.

[Sasheria]

Originally posted by Landover:

Originally posted by Cormian:

You know, games like this use to be "popular" like in the old days. You have some basic information but you have to go find it (like Ultima Online hehehhe now I am showing my age)

It is a hard game when you have to find things. It is less hand-holding BUT it does have a good codex that you can look things up on where to go, but not too specific (i.e. where to find ore and realm level, etc.)

Lol I never played ultima but EverQuest was my first mmo and I 100% used aim before school asl! Hahaha

Hehe... now that brings back memories too.

A lot of the newer games do have hand-holding (which is good in their way) but sometimes I do want something that is WAY out there. You have basic rules and a huge area/options to go nuts on ;)

In Ultima Online, there was a REALLY Basic story (like 10 quests?) and then you are on your own. No further stories or mission. You make what you will. It was a blast until the later updates added more quest, but I remember the first four years, it was just people doing stuff on their own and building towers/castles ;)

[Sasheria]

Originally posted by Sister of Silence:

Originally posted by Cormian:

You know, games like this use to be "popular" like in the old days. You have some basic information but you have to go find it (like Ultima Online hehehhe now I am showing my age)

It is a hard game when you have to find things. It is less hand-holding BUT it does have a good codex that you can look things up on where to go, but not too specific (i.e. where to find ore and realm level, etc.)

Not sure why you seem to think not liking some things in Nightingale has to do with hand-holding. I've played Ultima Online for years (hell, I still have the cloth maps stuck to a wall), same with Wurm Online and Lineage 2. I'm well acquinted with grind and games with no hand-holding. Nightingale, however, has issues. It's not hard, it's simply frustrating.

Right, in those games, you manage yourself (which Nightengale does)

now that said, there are some tweaks needed for Nightengale, but I personally think the basic is good (for Early Access)

IF we are talking about a full release, then yea.... it would be a different topic/thread/conversation ;)

[Landover]

Originally posted by Cormian:

Originally posted by Landover:

Lol I never played ultima but EverQuest was my first mmo and I 100% used aim before school asl! Hahaha

Hehe... now that brings back memories too.

A lot of the newer games do have hand-holding (which is good in their way) but sometimes I do want something that is WAY out there. You have basic rules and a huge area/options to go nuts on ;)

In Ultima Online, there was a REALLY Basic story (like 10 quests?) and then you are on your own. No further stories or mission. You make what you will. It was a blast until the later updates added more quest, but I remember the first four years, it was just people doing stuff on their own and building towers/castles ;)

I tried a game similar to that, Mortal Online 2, where it had like a tutorial but the games premise was the players create everything even the content economy ect, even like potions or materials you could be the first one to invent a potion and control the market price for that specific recipe.

Only issue was….barely anyone played so I canceled my sub, I think the server is only running due to the subs as of right now https://steamdb.info/app/1170950/

Only 600 people are online, it makes the games mechanics simply impossible to achieve even as a solo player.

[Landover]

*updated review*

[SaberToothDeathMouse]

I read... some of that ridiculously long WALL of text, and skimmed the rest. From what I read, it was mostly a lot of words strung along in poor sentence structure - and not really saying a damn thing.

You don't like the game. That's about all I got from it.

So I'll keep my comment short: Don't play it. Move along. Your "review" was a whole lot of "nothing".

[Surreal]

Originally posted by DarthTanyon:

I'm confused why people are SOOOO critical of EA games.. so much can happen from day one to day ????

I absolutely love this game. I mean I'm only 20 hours in and I completely understand the game-play loop, the same POIs copy paste, same structures etc.. I mean it's 75% the same as a few others but that is the genre. /it is what it is.. this could kill any game IF you let it.

I think this game has TONS to build off. they can add infinite biomes.. plains, highlands, mountains, snowy etc..

The enemy variety is lacking but once again can be improved and added to fairly easily.

Building could use some love as well.

Followers could also use some love and maybe an ability or cards you could make to have more than one, maybe assign them jobs at the homestead..

I don;t know for me my glass is half full I see nothing but potential and I'm already loving the game already so I'm excited about the future.

The reason a lot of people are hyper critical about EA games comes from a few places.
1. Some EA games are straight up scams. They release with promises of improvements, but dont EVER do a patch, hotfix or anything, they run with the monies.
2. Some EA games improve for awhile, then the devs realize they released an incomplete mess with almost no recourse to fix it how they promise, so they stop trying.
3. Not all Game Studios/Dev Teams are as dedicated as others. Lets use 7 Days To Die as an example. The game released in EA back in December 13th, 2013. Since then they have systematically overhauled the game, fixed issues, released updates and generally made the game amazing by comparison to release. Now lets look at a game that is dead called Breach. You cannot find it on Steam unless its already in your Library. It released, got some patching, not much, decent time between patches, then people just gave up as it seemed even the Devs had. Between these two examples, you hear a lot about 7DTD and other EA games that start as crap, turn great and keep going like No Man Sky. You rarely hear much about the failures, the cash grabs and the general failing.

More EA games fail, fall flat or just dont get enough fanbase to be worth dev time. Its why people get critical quickly of EA games. If hyper critical feedback isnt responded to early on, a lot of people just give up on EA games cause the devs arnt responding or fixing things. Considering you can look at the Community Page and scroll and scroll and scroll and all you see are new servers being launched and "Know issues", but what you arnt seeing are "Hotfix" threads or Patch Notes.

[Zothen]

Originally posted by Landover:

I believe this review sums up a lot of what we’re feeling.

True. We all collectively held our breath in anticipation of this review.
...btw, who are you....?

[Landover]

Originally posted by SaberToothDeathMouse:

I read... some of that ridiculously long WALL of text, and skimmed the rest. From what I read, it was mostly a lot of words strung along in poor sentence structure - and not really saying a damn thing.

You don't like the game. That's about all I got from it.

So I'll keep my comment short: Don't play it. Move along. Your "review" was a whole lot of "nothing".

Thanks for reading.

[Landover]

Originally posted by Zothen:

Originally posted by Landover:

I believe this review sums up a lot of what we’re feeling.

True. We all collectively held our breath in anticipation of this review.
...btw, who are you....?

I'm me, you are you.