Anyone else feeling burned out due to level design?

[AngeryBlueBerry]

I'm on chapter 4 now making my way down this giant cave and I'm really starting to hit the point of wanting the game to end. I feel like ever since chapter 3 the level design has taken a nose dive with these huge open areas with multiple branching paths leading to more branching paths and its exhausting. The lack of map or interest points on the landscape don't help either and its so easy to get turned around.
The gameplay is fun but due to how drawn out these recent chapters been, the combat is starting to wear thin since it doesnt change at all and the whole game is just dragging at this point. How do you all feel about the level design? Oh yeah also the invisible walls suck too

[Jakob]

Oh absolutely bro. I totally felt that. The completionist in me had me running around that damn cave for bloody ages, looking for all Meditation sites. By the time I made it to area boss, I was nodding off.

[thorin.hannahs]

I felt that in Ch3 at a certain point I just thought "Oh my god I just want this to end" I enjoyed Ch4 a lot more Ch5 is just average and I really didn't like Ch6.

I don't mind invisible walls I guess I just never evolved with the rest of the video game community. Level design could use some tweaks, give me more breakable wall type stuff and better use of vertical design, more being able to move up and down through jumps and double jumps that they aren't just a one way ticket down.

[AILAD]

Yep, also felt that way in chapters 2/3/4. I think if you could open up a map it would help alleviate this feeling.

The level design isn't interesting to me at all. It's just big open areas that branch into big open areas and so on. When people said the game is linear I thought it was going to have tight levels with shortcuts like in other games.

That said, chapter 6 is terrible... it's not even confusing or exhausting, just a massive open area that's empty.

[Nonexistinghero]

Not at all. Fully trying to explore chapter 3 was pushing it a little bit, but honestly I haven't had any issues with it in chapter 4 or 5. Chapter 4 has a bunch of linear paths and chapter 5 is about as linear as the 1st chapter and only has a few branches.

Chapter 6 seems extremely big and open while at the same time not having much in terms of combat or items. Think I'll just resort to a guide for this one to get the items and find the bosses. It's not like chapter 3 where there's a ton of stuff hidden, goodies to find everywhere and no shortage of enemies. Think I'm also gonna grind some will to buy all of the good stuff from shrines (especially the mindcores) before beating it.

Outside of chapter 6 and perhaps 3 to an extent I can't say I agree with 'level design not being interesting'. I think the level design of this game stands out. There's a good amount of switching between linear and open sections, plenty to find, a couple of things very hard to find and visually the game never ceases to stop giving amazing sights. As far as I'm concerned even with some flaws, the level design overal is superb.

[Jakob]

Originally posted by RevelationSpace:

Yep, also felt that way in chapters 2/3/4. I think if you could open up a map it would help alleviate this feeling.

The level design isn't interesting to me at all. It's just big open areas that branch into big open areas and so on. When people said the game is linear I thought it was going to have tight levels with shortcuts like in other games.

That said, chapter 6 is terrible... it's not even confusing or exhausting, just a massive open area that's empty.

Agreed! Those Chapters were very weak in parts, and that's when I started my ranting review! Holy ♥♥♥♥ it's often a real slog, with the expansive areas and constant dull trash enemies, and oh - yet another little boss dominated first try!

There are some strong moments for sure. E.g. I found this cool lightning guy very far into the Webbed Hollow. I immediately perked up, thankful to have some foe that actually required my attention. Fights like that have kept me plodding on through this game.

[Nrogara]

I have had issues with Chapter 4 because it was dark and a lot of the areas inside the Hollow subzone looked very similar with each other.

I had to start using third party sites with interactive maps.

I think that this game would have benefited from the option of mapping the places you have already been.

I do not think it will be a problem during the replays due to memorization, but the I even managed to miss on a shrine during chapter 4.

The other chapters were quite fine for me.

[clawson34]

Yep after chapter 3 I just wanted it to be over and rushed through 4 and 5. I am perched in 6 on my little cloud debating if I even want to finish it....I likely will but not yet as I just do not care and do not want to finish the game that way.

[Bill Gates]

finishing up chapter 4 today. I will say chapter 3 and 4 have felt more like a chore rather than a cool place I want to explore. The bosses are all cool but getting to them is meh.

[Nonexistinghero]

Originally posted by Nrogara:

I have had issues with Chapter 4 because it was dark and a lot of the areas inside the Hollow subzone looked very similar with each other.

I had to start using third party sites with interactive maps.

I think that this game would have benefited from the option of mapping the places you have already been.

I do not think it will be a problem during the replays due to memorization, but the I even managed to miss on a shrine during chapter 4.

The other chapters were quite fine for me.

Not sure how anyone would have trouble navigating through chapter 4. Everything looked the same? Really? I had no problem figuring out where I was. Only thing that gave me some trouble was remembering where some split paths are since although it's mostly linear, there's quite a few split paths and saving one for later can quickly result in forgetting it by the time you're going back to explore those paths.

[=(eGO)=™ MIB2]

Oh, absolutely. I do think getting to the end is worth it, though, even if Chapter 6 is particularly bad in this aspect, but at least it's short

[CircaSurvive]

there's mod for maps and navigation. I'm going to try that on my NG+ round

[GroovyHobo]

I think it kind of triggers my, "But if I go THAT way I might miss something important but if I go the OTHER way I might miss something important too!" Which kind of locks you up in decision making which takes longer than it should. Especially since you know a single direction might lock you up longer than you expect. Good news is most of the time the alternative directions just circle back on the main route and the main route would've circled you back to the alternative route too. So chances of you actually missing something before a boss fight is not likely as long as you don't deliberately rush through things. But definitely harsh for us OCD bros.

[Nrogara]

Originally posted by Nonexistinghero:

Originally posted by Nrogara:

I have had issues with Chapter 4 because it was dark and a lot of the areas inside the Hollow subzone looked very similar with each other.

I had to start using third party sites with interactive maps.

I think that this game would have benefited from the option of mapping the places you have already been.

I do not think it will be a problem during the replays due to memorization, but the I even managed to miss on a shrine during chapter 4.

The other chapters were quite fine for me.

Not sure how anyone would have trouble navigating through chapter 4. Everything looked the same? Really? I had no problem figuring out where I was. Only thing that gave me some trouble was remembering where some split paths are since although it's mostly linear, there's quite a few split paths and saving one for later can quickly result in forgetting it by the time you're going back to explore those paths.

I am not sure why.
But the first time I was there, I felt I could not tell if I was going the right direction etc and started jumping down on every chance I got and ended up skipping some stuff.

[MxWu1337-bilibili]

Level 4 was a chore. Level 5 and 6 will be way better xD

I hate dark places

[Nonexistinghero]

Originally posted by Nrogara:

I am not sure why.
But the first time I was there, I felt I could not tell if I was going the right direction etc and started jumping down on every chance I got and ended up skipping some stuff.

For most part after I made it to the next point, I would go back and then check out a path I hadn't checked out yet. I think chapter 4 was pretty much the only chapter where I managed to find everything without looking anything up (usually if I have something weird I'd look it up or read something later that implies I missed something). Only thing I looked up in Ch4 was a certain boss I saw because I didn't want to accidentally progress and permanently miss out without having the ability to explore. I had read in advance there was a missable quest (but not which one until later).

Lots of people seem to hate Ch4. Either because the bugs or because it's underground or darker or some combination. I liked it though and it has some nice looking spider ladies.