The problem with fighting Mother

[J_cob]

Now I think that motheris a great boss- her attacks aren't easy to dodge, but it's possible to get used to them, she doesn't feel completely OP and it feels rewarding when you defeat her.

That said, I think the path that you must take to get to the fight is terrible. Don't get me wrong, I love the new floors and enemies but I would never go to them unless I want to fight Mother and I dought many others wood. Just to get to the alternate path cost keys, bombs and health, which you might otherwise use for something much more important. And the only benefit you get for going to the alternate paths is the option to take a blind item in the item room, they could have atleased made 2 real options like with more options. And it's soul-crushing when you must waste 2 of your hearts to go to the Mausoleum.

Besides that, you have to fight a harder version of mom and immediately fight mom's heart, which is just a harder version of it lives. And let's not forget that you fight Mother her self where you would normaly fight it lives. In the chest and dark room you get chests as a potential boost before fighting The lamb/???/Mega satan if you're desperate for better items. Now if you go fight Mother, the only thing that you get is less health and less items.

"But it makes the game harder", yes it does, but it also makes me want to get OP items like the ladder or sacred heart or to cheese it in any way to be done with it already. I usually already know in mines or ashpit that I can't beat mother, unless I get good RNG and it just makes you feel like I wasted my time with the run.

The best fix would of course be making the alternate paths more rewarding in some way but we all know that will never happen

[jayhena]

i usually always go to downpoor and mines on jacob and esau, on other chars i only go to downpoor 2 for the mirrored boss item or reroll knife piece 1 / void it). but yeah, mausoleum is a no unless it's a mother run

[Zero Grim]

I'd enjoy going after mother a lot more if i could skip the stupid lost section and the absolutely mind numbingly boring mine sequence.

Like you can skip it with sharp key, but Dads key doesn't work for some reason, find that very odd.

[RZA]

Well, Ed did state in a interview that paths like hush are not for rewards in runs, but just for unlocks. So it's really up to you if you want to go in the alternate path.

[Swizard]

Originally posted by Somescratchedupdisc:

Well, Ed did state in a interview that paths like hush are not for rewards in runs, but just for unlocks. So it's really up to you if you want to go in the alternate path.

He doesn't have the best track record of actually making his game(s) fun though

[RZA]

Originally posted by Swizard:

Originally posted by Somescratchedupdisc:

Well, Ed did state in a interview that paths like hush are not for rewards in runs, but just for unlocks. So it's really up to you if you want to go in the alternate path.

He doesn't have the best track record of actually making his game(s) fun though

That's really objective, he does know how to make good concepts and ideas that are fun. But the long run idea of benefits after getting a unlock from a route is foreign to the man, so I agree in some aspect.

[Sad Pug]

Worst punishment is mausoleum - I don't know, because I didn't try it, but for tainted eden it might be end runner right there.
And game can be stingy at times with keys and shower you with them from womb forwards, when you don't need them that much, just to rub it in your face.

[Man of Culture]

The sense of pride and accomplishment should be payment enough.