Hood's Game Mode is Really Poorly Designed

[BrokenG3ars]

Stealth doesn't matter. The AI are stupid, slow and utterly non threatening. There are 3 phases but the last phase is 80% of the matches reward. There is no incentive to engage with any part of the match outside of fighting over spawn points and the winch at the end. Combat is just a mess of players crouch circling eachother spamming E. Each match plays out almost identical because there's no actual variation in gameplay mechanics or player interactions. Complete lack of any emergent gameplay which in a game with PvP is just insane.

Hood had SO MUCH promise as a stealth focused PvPvE heist game with a robin hood theme and they've completely wasted it.

And the game is clearly unfinished on top of everything else.

I'd really love this game to hang on and actually become what it was in the marketing and pre-launch material but considering how hard the playerbase has jumped off a cliff in just a few days, I can't see this lasting long. By the end of next week the game will be down to barely a few hundred players.

Seriously, so much potential, completely wasted.

Game looks great at least?

(Bought on Epic but obviously can't talk about it there)

[Raptor]

Originally posted by BrokenG3ars:

Stealth doesn't matter. The AI are stupid, slow and utterly non threatening. There are 3 phases but the last phase is 80% of the matches reward. There is no incentive to engage with any part of the match outside of fighting over spawn points and the winch at the end. Combat is just a mess of players crouch circling eachother spamming E. Each match plays out almost identical because there's no actual variation in gameplay mechanics or player interactions. Complete lack of any emergent gameplay which in a game with PvP is just insane.

Hood had SO MUCH promise as a stealth focused PvPvE heist game with a robin hood theme and they've completely wasted it.

And the game is clearly unfinished on top of everything else.

I'd really love this game to hang on and actually become what it was in the marketing and pre-launch material but considering how hard the playerbase has jumped off a cliff in just a few days, I can't see this lasting long. By the end of next week the game will be down to barely a few hundred players.

Seriously, so much potential, completely wasted.

Game looks great at least?

(Bought on Epic but obviously can't talk about it there)

Stealth does matter to an extent but its entirely based on how much info you are willing to give to the enemy team.

I agree for the most part the AI isn't a problem unless its a bunch of armored guards and you are playing a ranged class which can't do anything except assassinate against them.

People seem to overlook the fact that you can choose where to extract which makes a huge difference. Depending on the map and spawn locations it can entirely shift the game in your or the enemy team's favor. You can bring it right next to your spawn or depending on the teams comp take it to a wide open spot or entirely enclosed area. Yes it is entirely possible to steal the very last winch node and snag the match but that was because the enemy team gave room for counter play or your team made a mistake.

The circle E spam that is prevalent in low level lobbies is getting an update according to the devs with the ability to interrupt assassinations with a hit. I really never saw it as much of a problem and more of a you were overwhelmed and got 2vs1 but thats just how I feel.

There honestly isn't much variation in any games in terms of efficient gameplay choices. If I go hop on COD or any other big game most of the people are going to be using what gives them the best chances of winning so I don't see how that differs in anyway. Depends on what your definition of emergent gameplay is. Aim then shoot seems incredibly popular despite how simplistic it is and this game has plenty of that.

I don't agree with the wasted theme but I don't see the same problems you see for the most part.


It feels pretty finished for a half price game but thats just me. Its also getting free content for atleast a year or more.

I myself am not too worried about the player numbers for the simple fact that it has crossplay. If it didn't I might be worried but I am sure at some point it will probably be free on either of those systems and get a large influx of new players. That along with consistent updates will keep it steady enough.

Honestly the most baffling part of your entire post is buying the game on Epic. If you think Hood has so much wasted potential or problems and you use Epic it just seems ironic. You even have to post here instead because Epic is so far behind as a usable platform. Anyway just a funny observation.

[Lyedar.gif]

Stealth matters. It's about using that stealth that is the key. Very often I've found that stealth kills can change the tide of a match. Not knowing where your enemy is in a match is a dangerous thing, and knowing that you have the element of surprise is powerful.

The State should not be "smart" they should be predictable. I think a lot of people imagine them to be a threat in in reality they are another tool/weapon that can also be used against you. If you understand the patterns of the State and how they react you can direct them at your enemy and use the State to fight them for you. The Sheriff can be lead around to the winch so they enemy has to waste resources downing him, like a Robin Arrow, John Bomb, or Marianne Smoke for example. Ring the alarm to lower palisade to cut routes off and flow your enemy into ambushes. They are to be used, and thus must be simple enough to understand. I personally think they have enough complexity to be a challenge at times, but enough simplicity to understand how to wield against your enemy. They could use a few tweaks but that's just how a game like this goes.

A lot of people talk about the assassinations being an issue but again this is understanding how to fight. Tooke and John should try to gain the focus of the enemy so Robin can have a clean shot or Marianne can get that assassination. It's a tool. Besides in the Dev Update they will be working on making them a bit more balanced as they are hard to cancel someone out of when you clearly have the advantage.

Most games I play don't usually play out exactly the same. The Sheriff spawns closer to the enemy, while the vault closer to us. Or the opposite. Worse could all be spawning on the enemies side. Changes how the battle then flows.

The game as I've told multiple people has a high floor and a higher ceiling. But give it it's dues and it can be a damn fun delight. You just have to be willing to think in a different way.

[Nomad]

Originally posted by Raptor:

... I agree for the most part the AI isn't a problem unless its a bunch of armored guards and you are playing a ranged class which can't do anything except assassinate against them ...

Dooood... Exactly, that's the problem! The AI is dumb as bricks and doesn't fulfill its fantasy or gameplay element of being someone to avoid. They're too easy to evade when spotted and too easy to simply take out.

Originally posted by Raptor:

... It feels pretty finished for a half price game but thats just me. Its also getting free content for atleast a year or more ...

No it's not a half price game. It's a full price release for the little content you get. Anything higher would've killed the game even before release.

Also can't agree with the game feeling finished. It feels like a very good looking proof of concept right now with the blaring issues ruining the game.

This game is honestly doomed to fail with the huge amount of issues it suffers from, unless these average devs turn into great devs overnight. It's also a VERY CLEAR console port, something I hoped we had distanced ourselves from in 2021, but alas.