42 hours of frustration - I'm done. Help?

[Ixhaton]

Small wall of text incoming.

40+ hours of sheer frustration and it seems I just can not grasp the controls of this game.
It simply does not click.

Struggled through the campaign by sheer force of will.
And now playing operations - solo mostly I just can not even finish one on the lowest difficulty. Especially not after the latest updates.
Blocking is inconsistent at best.
Parrying - what? Sometimes maybe.
Dodge? Does not work. At All.
The blue icon shows up, I tap Parry, sometimes it parries.
I tried mashing the parry button with equally bad results.

The red icon shows up, I press dodge and lose most of my armor and/or health.
Mashing dodge: same result.

So far I only played Assault class. It is the only one I've been interested in really.
Maybe that is my problem?
I tried keeping distance only to run out of ammo.
Tried Chainsword, Hammer and Powerfist.
I tried those "weapon combo's" with very mixed results.
I tried button mashing.
I tried button mashing and yelling at my screen.
Nearly destroyed my controller in frustration. Nothing works.
The tutorials are useless at best and there is no way apart from starting a mission to actually "learn" by getting whacked and fail?

Weapons feel underpowered and melee is a swarmfest with the most unreliable controls in a game ever.
I get swarmed and my health and armor are gone with no escape.
Or to get almost to the end of an operation to die just before the final act. 30+ minutes of my time wasted with NO rewards or anything? Come on!

And before you start to type: GIT GUD NUB or anything: I was rocket/nade jumping back in the early 90's, I know timing and reflexes. Oldskool OG Gamer here. Keep your disrespect to yourself please. :)

I just passed the ALT+F4 > Uninstall point and consider to get the game refunded, elligible or not.
For now I am firmly in the camp of This game is garbage and the devs need to fix it urgently.
And YES: I watched a lot of videos on youtube, guides and gameplay, but for me it will not work somehow.

Any proper hints, tips or encouragement on how to play properly are very much welcome, maybe I will give it another go some day.

[Dingo]

Originally posted by Realigo Actual:

It's not you bro. Ut's the Eastern European difficulty curve + game design being always behind other disciplines of software and system development.

Icons are lies. All different by case. The system does not adhere to them, they are applied after the fact. Minion parries work as expected. Press the button in time and you get the thing. Tier 2 parries do not work as expected. Parry is done early, much before the attack hits. Dodge is done late, almost right before it hits. Not sure how the game determines a parry. Suspect it is connected to the frames in your animation and the frames on an enemy's animation, but there is only one indicator. Therefore, each attack has a different window, and the indicator is only barely helpful. There are 3 tiers of weapons in ops, and "Block" weapons do not parry, at all, and blocking doesn't give you damage immunity to other things. "Fencing" and "Balanced" weapons have different windows but I am not sure how it works. It could extend the parry window some amount in either direction (aka can press earlier than too early on Balanced and later also). The whip guy is his own special thing. Still not sure how to parry that reliably, and unfortunately you can't drill that one with a trial.

In general, just remember to parry early (but not too early), and dodge late. Listen for the scream from a Lictor for when to dodge its ambush. Enemy attacks have chains, and you must parry each hit in the chain and the ones in the middle can't be perfect parried or fumble parried but also do not give you the blowback which must come from parrying the final attack in the chain. You can drill some guys in the classes' trials.

ah man, so refreshing to read something with substance.

[fenix555551]

Originally posted by Lowbei:

Originally posted by fenix555551:

with all mouse your combat moves are very fluid, you can go from shooting to melee to block, while normally moving, i get yuor point and i believe you finished lethals on it, did same with my setup, its just an option, and it erases possibility of missclicks in heat of moment between space/alt adn caps/shift/tab

the question is, if they are struggling with the controls, do you really think its a good idea to not only remove normal fps controls like right click to aim, left to fire, and instead use 5 mouse buttons?

this is not an fps game, treating it liek it is probably part of the issue, its a slasher, mostly, melee is way more dominant and important for survival. 5 mouse buttons is fairly ergonomic to use, and once you kill one wave with it you pretty much cant imagine how to fight with other layout. at least for me and good amount of my battle-brothers.

[Lowbei]

Originally posted by fenix555551:

Originally posted by Lowbei:

the question is, if they are struggling with the controls, do you really think its a good idea to not only remove normal fps controls like right click to aim, left to fire, and instead use 5 mouse buttons?

this is not an fps game, treating it liek it is probably part of the issue, its a slasher, mostly, melee is way more dominant and important for survival. 5 mouse buttons is fairly ergonomic to use, and once you kill one wave with it you pretty much cant imagine how to fight with other layout. at least for me and good amount of my battle-brothers.

its a shooter, and yes melee is huge, but its a shooter, and if the OP is struggling with the basic controls that are mostly on the mouse, logic dictates to try something else.

[Chimz]

Maybe it really isn't the game for you. To be honest, the first time I finished the camaign I had half-grasped the controls. I played a second run with my friend and it was much better, but still I found myself not fully skilled at the end.

As I played Operations (multiplayer, no reason to force yourself through the pain of solo) I gradually grasped everything and got to the point where I was in complete control and would not go down even once on Ruthless.


My point is it took me time, but I definitely grasped it before 42 hours. If you still want to dust off yourself and get back in the fight, I would highly recommend trying out other classes like Bulwark, Vanguard, Heavy and Sniper (excluding Tactical).
Playing other classes makes you learn new things and new tactics. And sometimes a class you didn't think you'd like at all could become your favorite. I didn't think I would ever enjoy Sniper in this game, but after I picked it as my fourth class I got carried away with it and played so much that it reached a level higher than my other classes.

[Ixhaton]

Ok, on the topic of controls>
I am using a controller. A PS4 Dualshock to be exact.
Normally on all PC games I am a traditional mouse+keyboard FPS guy but I quickly found out that this did not work at all for me.
So I forced the switch to a Dualshock.

I play - and have played, some really complex games with mouse+keyboard.
But the control scheme Space Marine 2 offers on mouse+keyboard is absolutely janky at it's default and it took me hours of experimenting with key setups in order to finally give up and grab a controller.

But even with the dualshock it's still not working out. Or better; I seem to do it totally wrong and get destroyed in the process.

On the topic of my preferred class>
No, I have not tried any of the other classes, no idea if they are even easy to play.
I was, and still am very interested in Assault. I play similar classes in other games with great success.
And from the info I got, the Assault class is somewhat of a hard mode it seems, I liked the challenge. The whole premise of the class itself is the most appealing of all ingame classes to me.

[Ixhaton]

Originally posted by Lowbei:

stop.

back up.

go buy a fencing weapon. not balanced, not blocking.

How? I need the purple credits for it but I can't get those.
Are these available on higher difficulty?
I mean: I struggle to finish the lowest difficulty, how do I even manage to finish anything higher? ;)

[Ixhaton]

Originally posted by Realigo Actual:

It's not you bro. Ut's the Eastern European difficulty curve + game design being always behind other disciplines of software and system development.

Icons are lies. All different by case. The system does not adhere to them, they are applied after the fact. Minion parries work as expected. Press the button in time and you get the thing. Tier 2 parries do not work as expected. Parry is done early, much before the attack hits. Dodge is done late, almost right before it hits. Not sure how the game determines a parry. Suspect it is connected to the frames in your animation and the frames on an enemy's animation, but there is only one indicator. Therefore, each attack has a different window, and the indicator is only barely helpful. There are 3 tiers of weapons in ops, and "Block" weapons do not parry, at all, and blocking doesn't give you damage immunity to other things. "Fencing" and "Balanced" weapons have different windows but I am not sure how it works. It could extend the parry window some amount in either direction (aka can press earlier than too early on Balanced and later also). The whip guy is his own special thing. Still not sure how to parry that reliably, and unfortunately you can't drill that one with a trial.

In general, just remember to parry early (but not too early), and dodge late. Listen for the scream from a Lictor for when to dodge its ambush. Enemy attacks have chains, and you must parry each hit in the chain and the ones in the middle can't be perfect parried or fumble parried but also do not give you the blowback which must come from parrying the final attack in the chain. You can drill some guys in the classes' trials.

Originally posted by Dingo:

Originally posted by Realigo Actual:

ah man, so refreshing to read something with substance.

Originally posted by Chimz:

Maybe it really isn't the game for you. To be honest, the first time I finished the camaign I had half-grasped the controls. I played a second run with my friend and it was much better, but still I found myself not fully skilled at the end.

As I played Operations (multiplayer, no reason to force yourself through the pain of solo) I gradually grasped everything and got to the point where I was in complete control and would not go down even once on Ruthless.


My point is it took me time, but I definitely grasped it before 42 hours. If you still want to dust off yourself and get back in the fight, I would highly recommend trying out other classes like Bulwark, Vanguard, Heavy and Sniper (excluding Tactical).
Playing other classes makes you learn new things and new tactics. And sometimes a class you didn't think you'd like at all could become your favorite. I didn't think I would ever enjoy Sniper in this game, but after I picked it as my fourth class I got carried away with it and played so much that it reached a level higher than my other classes.

Interesting stuff right here, thanks!
Maybe i've been going in way too autistic and focused on the wrong class.
I want this game to be a game for me, otherwise it would be a waste of my precious money - and time. It can not be that hard, right? Right? :)

And just to illustrate:
At one point in time, late 90's, early 2000's I actually was in the top 3 of a Quake/Unreal Tournament clan ranking 5th in my country. I have been around and I know how to kick ass and chew bubblegum while rocketjumping through lava. On both PC and console.
Yes I am way older now but still.. It leaves me absolutely puzzled on why I can not seem to grasp this game.

Parry early
Dodge late

[EmperorVolo]

Play with other people so you can SEE what you're doing wrong. Have some people carry you till you learn how to play the game cause it's super clear you don't have a clue what your doing.


Cause you can't expect that a majority if not nearly EVERY SINGLE person can beat the lowest difficulty and you can't then blame the game for the failure. The failure rate for minimal difficulty for the ENTIRE population who plays the mode is 3%.

3% of people solo, coop, whatever fail minimal.

So.....that suggests it's entirely on your end. You are a singularity a rarity.

[JenoLT]

For me it took a while to realize, that blue and red indicators are just hints that something is going to happen for majoris (for minoris, blue always triggers a kill) - which is very confusing at first.

You need to parry / dodge when the attack is about to hit, not before. It works for all attacks as well, not just the ones with the notification. Once you realize that and train a little, the game becomes pretty easy.

[Lowbei]

Originally posted by Ixhaton:

Originally posted by Lowbei:

stop.

back up.

go buy a fencing weapon. not balanced, not blocking.

How? I need the purple credits for it but I can't get those.
Are these available on higher difficulty?
I mean: I struggle to finish the lowest difficulty, how do I even manage to finish anything higher? ;)

I understand and think its weird that chainswords dont come with a basic fencing option. practice with the controls and once good, you should be able to handle those difficulties. dont be afraid to join randoms and try anyways. nobody is going to be upset at you, and even if they are, ignore em.

[BanzaiMann]

Brother, Stop, Relax, Invest in Fencing.
Get Used to Blue Icon and automatically parry
To distance yourself when you're getting swarmed use secondary to Clear out Gaunts
Use Jet pack to clear out massive hoards, rinse and repeat.

By the Lion I promise you this will help. If not enlist my help and I will teach you the ropes to become a Dark Angel.

[GrenadeMagnet6]

You have to master the melee combat in the game, and you have to watch the enemy animations to see when to press the correct block/parry or dodge action. You can get attack animations even without the red and blue indicators. The game does not prepare the player well for the melee combat.

If you can master the melee timing then you could likely play all the difficulties, even up to Lethal

The developers want players to go through this timing/melee combat game with practically all enemies except the airborne ones. And the developers like tanky enemies so the melee combat has to take time for each opponent.

You should see if there are any Youtube videos available that explain better how the melee combat timing works. If the timing part doesn't click then just move onto another game.

I'm still playing thru campaign on Veteran difficulty and I'm getting a little better with the timing, but I'm finding the combat to be a chore, and don't feel like it's a good Space Marine/power experience, due to how tanky the enemies are. I already fought the Carnifax and it took me 33 attempts, and also had to watch a few Youtube videos on how to do it. So I will likely restart on a lower difficulty just to reduce the frustration.

I also have to exploit Titus's special ability to keep my health up. On Veteran difficulty in the campaign, when my health now gets taken down too low I get to the next Assembly point and use the "Righteous Fury" ability to heal up part-way, then sit and wait 5 minutes for the ability to recharge (just switch over to social media while waiting), then use Righteous Fury again to fully heal up.

That's stupid I have to exploit the game's mechanics like that, so it makes sense for me to switch down to the lower difficulty, just to save myself all the waiting time.

And when I finally finish the campaign and solo Operations missions I will never want to play this Space Marine 2 ever again lol

[Dingo]

Try Vanguard for one specific reason. He uses a chainsword aswell and has a perk early on that increases the perfect parry window turning your balanced weapon option into somthing similar to fencing. That might be enough to help you over the hump.

[Øv]

Originally posted by Ixhaton:

Small wall of text incoming.

40+ hours of sheer frustration and it seems I just can not grasp the controls of this game.
It simply does not click.

Struggled through the campaign by sheer force of will.
And now playing operations - solo mostly I just can not even finish one on the lowest difficulty. Especially not after the latest updates.
Blocking is inconsistent at best.
Parrying - what? Sometimes maybe.
Dodge? Does not work. At All.
The blue icon shows up, I tap Parry, sometimes it parries.
I tried mashing the parry button with equally bad results.

The red icon shows up, I press dodge and lose most of my armor and/or health.
Mashing dodge: same result.

So far I only played Assault class. It is the only one I've been interested in really.
Maybe that is my problem?
I tried keeping distance only to run out of ammo.
Tried Chainsword, Hammer and Powerfist.
I tried those "weapon combo's" with very mixed results.
I tried button mashing.
I tried button mashing and yelling at my screen.
Nearly destroyed my controller in frustration. Nothing works.
The tutorials are useless at best and there is no way apart from starting a mission to actually "learn" by getting whacked and fail?

Weapons feel underpowered and melee is a swarmfest with the most unreliable controls in a game ever.
I get swarmed and my health and armor are gone with no escape.
Or to get almost to the end of an operation to die just before the final act. 30+ minutes of my time wasted with NO rewards or anything? Come on!

And before you start to type: GIT GUD NUB or anything: I was rocket/nade jumping back in the early 90's, I know timing and reflexes. Oldskool OG Gamer here. Keep your disrespect to yourself please. :)

I just passed the ALT+F4 > Uninstall point and consider to get the game refunded, elligible or not.
For now I am firmly in the camp of This game is garbage and the devs need to fix it urgently.
And YES: I watched a lot of videos on youtube, guides and gameplay, but for me it will not work somehow.

Any proper hints, tips or encouragement on how to play properly are very much welcome, maybe I will give it another go some day.

in the campaign you only have acces to balance weapons that is why so many are strogeling whit it.
and many mele weapons in PVE has the same problem you start whit the balance version (as far as i remember) and first lather you can get the fencing weapon (the fencing weapon is the best for parry when you are strugeling)

[Axus]

Originally posted by JenoLT:

For me it took a while to realize, that blue and red indicators are just hints that something is going to happen for majoris (for minoris, blue always triggers a kill) - which is very confusing at first.

You need to parry / dodge when the attack is about to hit, not before. It works for all attacks as well, not just the ones with the notification. Once you realize that and train a little, the game becomes pretty easy.

This is a great insight. Treat the colors as just indicators that a parry or dodge is coming up (sometimes right then), and watch for when they strike you. Parry/dodge when their attack animation actually happens.

So much of it though is getting a sense through trial and error. Definitely join up with others, no reason to play solo ops. And as others have said, try the Vanguard - early on your chainsword gets an extended parry window, which will help the most until you get a fencing weapon. Vanguard is also really fun, and you might like it if you like Assault because of the mobility.