The ghost sucks

[Yextiny]

the instant death ghost makes the game less fun because you can't ♥♥♥♥ around and explore.

Seems like conflicting game design to encourage a careful approach with traps, enemies, fall damage, low health pool, and permadeath... and couple it with a timed instant death mechanic that obscures part of the screen and clips through walls.

Like, do you want players to spelunk, or do you want me to hustle? You can't do both.

I might find a way to enjoy this game eventually, but I am really bouncing off of this & it's been too long to refund it.

[Hand's Hermit Permit]

1: It's slow and you can avoid it. On top of that, the payout modifier for it is high. It's much much easier to deal with in groups, and even if you're solo, Scout and Driller have a much easier time avoiding it so you can play them.

2: If you don't wanna deal with it you don't have to. It's unlucky if you have a ghost mission on your assignment, but assignments rotate every half hour. Do a different run for your exploration or season pass dailies if you really want to avoid the ghost modifier. When it refreshes you probably wont have to deal with it.

[Herr Quezt]

Originally posted by NW☆DD:

I hated the ghost in Spelunky! Is it in Spelunky 2?

Yes, the ghost is also in Spelunky 2! The ghost is a key part of Spelunky's design, which is partly inspired by arcade games. It adds tension to the exploring, forces the player to make hard decisions sometimes, and it's connected to the game's world in other interesting ways. In Spelunky 2 the "ghost timer" is longer, however (3 minutes instead of 2.5).

Spelunky isn't really exploration focused in the way you seem to want it to be. It's an action platformer and the ghost is there in a sense to force you to make decisions on the fly and to keep you constantly moving through the level.

That being said 3 minutes is really plenty of time to check every corner of a map, finish side objectives and still make it to the exit without the ghost ever spawning. It might take you a couple of hours until you feel confident enough dealing with the different types of enemies and traps but you definitely will get to a point where the ghost will practically never be an issue.

Best advice would be to not be afraid of dying, learn from your mistakes. Stick to the main path until you feel confident enough in skill and time management to explore. I'm sure people have plenty of good advice if you struggle with any specific zone/enemy/trap.

Very cool DRG player above me btw. Didn't even know you guys had a ghost too

[Yextiny]

Originally posted by Hand's Hermit Permit:

1: It's slow and you can avoid it. On top of that, the payout modifier for it is high. It's much much easier to deal with in groups, and even if you're solo, Scout and Driller have a much easier time avoiding it so you can play them.

Payout? What are you talking about? I chucked a rock and an arrow at it and it just passed through it. You're telling me I should try to fight the functionally-invincible instant-kill ghost enemy that shows up on EVERY STAGE to get around the 3min timer? Sounds like that would take up most of my playtime.

Originally posted by Hand's Hermit Permit:

2: If you don't wanna deal with it you don't have to.

WTF are you talking about? You absolutely have to "deal with it" if it shows up.

Originally posted by Hand's Hermit Permit:

It's unlucky if you have a ghost mission on your assignment, but assignments rotate every half hour. Do a different run for your exploration or season pass dailies if you really want to avoid the ghost modifier. When it refreshes you probably wont have to deal with it.

I don't even know what this is all in reference to. This sounds like you're talking about features or game modes I have not unlocked or otherwise are not available to me.

Originally posted by Herr Quezt:

Spelunky isn't really exploration focused in the way you seem to want it to be. It's an action platformer and the ghost is there in a sense to force you to make decisions on the fly and to keep you constantly moving through the level.

Oh word? well let's look at their ad copy:

"Spelunky 2 builds upon the unique, randomized challenges that made the original a roguelike classic, offering a huge adventure designed to satisfy players old and new. Meet the next generation of explorers as they find themselves on the Moon, searching for treasure and missing family. "

Sounds like they f**king lied then huh. They really imply the game is centered around exploration. I can't "explore" if I have a ghost on my ass every 3min that clips through walls.

Also "spelunking" literally means exploring caves. Saying it's not an exploration-based game means they have misleading branding. The main character is even wearing a pith helmet and holding a torch, which is about as stereotypical imagery for "exploration" as you can get.

Originally posted by Herr Quezt:

That being said 3 minutes is really plenty of time to check every corner of a map, finish side objectives and still make it to the exit without the ghost ever spawning.

Demonstrably untrue because that is not my experience. 3min may be plenty of time to you, but not to me. I do not like feeling rushed or having gameplay timers on exploration games and this feature was not hinted at or mentioned in the ad copy or any of the store page materials. I think I have reason to be annoyed by this feature that cannot be turned off.

[Herr Quezt]

Originally posted by Y'allchemy:

Sounds like they f**king lied then huh. They really imply the game is centered around exploration. I can't "explore" if I have a ghost on my ass every 3min that clips through walls.

Also "spelunking" literally means exploring caves. Saying it's not an exploration-based game means they have misleading branding. The main character is even wearing a pith helmet and holding a torch, which is about as stereotypical imagery for "exploration" as you can get.

If you actually read my post I said exploration in the way YOU want it to be, you can still explore things even with "limited" time.

There's a ton of secrets, areas, items, enemies, crazy interactions e.t.c. to be discovered. Which all checks out with how they describe it right there.

Originally posted by Y'allchemy:

Demonstrably untrue because that is not my experience. 3min may be plenty of time to you, but not to me. I do not like feeling rushed or having gameplay timers on exploration games and this feature was not hinted at or mentioned in the ad copy or any of the store page materials. I think I have reason to be annoyed by this feature that cannot be turned off.

This is why you have the quite generous 2 hours playtime & 2 weeks since purchase refund policy on steam. Remember to try out your games next time you buy them and save yourself some money if it's turns out to be something you don't like.

Don't know what else to tell you. Sucks to spend money on something you dislike but that's just how it is sometimes. Have to try something before you know if you like or dislike it.

edit: If you actually want to play without a ghost

https://steamcommunity.com/app/418530/discussions/0/3267933887528005272/#c3267933887531152844

I still think you should keep ghost on and try to focus on getting to new areas, it's way more rewarding in the end than disabling one of the core mechanics of the game.

[Hand's Hermit Permit]

Originally posted by Y'allchemy:

Payout? What are you talking about?

Whoops, uhhh.

I'm posting in wrong game forum. I thought this was the Deeprock Galactic forum complaining about the ghost mission modifier again. This is some real perfect confusion I had.

[Yextiny]

Originally posted by Herr Quezt:

edit: If you actually want to play without a ghost

https://steamcommunity.com/app/418530/discussions/0/3267933887528005272/#c3267933887531152844

I still think you should keep ghost on and try to focus on getting to new areas, it's way more rewarding in the end than disabling one of the core mechanics of the game.

I would argue a pass/fail level timer is not a "core mechanic" of the game. Like, what does the mechanic add? A sense of urgency? Why does there need to be a sense of urgency? In a game filled with traps and fall damage and spikes & your character has a very limited health pool, I don't think anyone needs a target-seeking insta-kill ghost clipping through walls just because they were taking their time in order to not die instantly.

I hate it when games rush me. My internal monologue is like "I'm trying to enjoy this game, stop hassling me."

It isn't multiplayer, so the only time I'm wasting is my own. Let me waste my time in a fun leisurely way and leave time-attack modes for those who are interested in that sort of game.

[DasaKamov]

Originally posted by Y'allchemy:

Like, do you want players to spelunk, or do you want me to hustle? You can't do both.

And, yet, players have successfully been "doing both" across all three games since 2008.

[Bor]

Ahhh, the ultimate complaint. It's been 10 years now since it started. Still a thing though, huh? Mod your game if you can't keep up. It's a roguelike game, it's not meant to be easy. Even if you get rid of the ghost, there will be plenty of things to complain about if you're looking for an easy ride. I don't think this is a game you're looking for. It's not an exploration game per se. Sorry bud.

[H8TRED]

If you see the ghost more than once day you play spelunky(from time, not ghost pot), you are incredibly slow. You need to get good at the game. simple as.

[Yextiny]

God I hate every single one of you patronizing cu*ts & I wish you ill. Sending bad vibes your way. I hope you stub all of your toes.

[DasaKamov]

Sounds like you need to switch to decaf, OP.

[Yextiny]

Originally posted by DasaKamov:

Sounds like you need to switch to decaf, OP.

This is accurate, but, upon review of the condescending and self-gratifying comments made in response to my complaint, I stand by my statements re: bad vibes / stubbed toes. I also would like to add that I hope that they feel only emptiness and unfulfillment for the rest of their days.

[H8TRED]

Originally posted by Y'allchemy:

God I hate every single one of you patronizing cu*ts & I wish you ill. Sending bad vibes your way. I hope you stub all of your toes.

seeeeethe

[*]

Originally posted by Y'allchemy:

Like, do you want players to spelunk, or do you want me to hustle? You can't do both.

I can.

[Heru]

I feel like the best advice is:
getgood