Is that it?

[Sketchazoid]

Let me preface this by saying I love Grounded, it's a great game, and I've enjoyed my time. It's worth every penny and I do not regret my purchase.

With that out of the way...is that really it? Please tell me there is more?!

My wife and I just beat the Mantis a few times last night, got that sick new weapon and armor and all we have left is Javamatic and the Pond Castle, along with finishing up some MixRs and trinket hunting (primarily the elemental trinkets). However, we've tried our best to hold off on doing this content as much as possible because we're afraid that once it's complete there won't be any incentive to continue playing.

Once I've beaten all the bosses, completed the story, as well as the MixRs what else is there for me to do besides cleanup work? (i.e. achievement hunting, collecting missing Milk Molars, etc)

In other games there is generally a gameplay loop that keeps players invested. Diablo had it's Rifts, Dark Souls and many other games have New Game Plus, and then there is competitive multiplayer once you beat the game's campaign. I'm not saying Grounded needs any of these specific examples, but it does need an "end game". It has end game content, as in you're at the end of the game, but it doesn't have an end game content loop. Unless I am wrong, again I haven't beaten the game yet. But if building, collecting achievements/collectibles is all that is left then I am practically done with the game, figuratively and literally, once I beat what little is left.

The reason this is soul crushing is because I absolutely love and adore this game. I don't want it to end, but if there isn't any incentive to keep me engaged then I have no choice but to move on once I complete it, and God knows when a DLC will come out and even what they will entail.

This is another reason mod support is so desperately needed. It expands the life of so many games, and it's the number one reason I got into PC gaming.

Anyways, end of rant. This isn't a harp on the game but acknowledgment that the enjoyment I have with this game is finite, and it's me hoping that there is some secret content that I am clearly not aware of.

[Jaggid Edje]

I'm close to that same point, and have been putting off 'ending' the game myself. I know I've missed some Sca.b's as I just got the scanner that can detect them. I also still have a few places where raw science triggers the scanner that I don't even know where the heck it could be (north east corner of the sandbox, for example), so I'm going to spend time trying to get those things I missed before getting my report card.

Edit to add what I actually wanted to say in my reply. I totally agree regarding lack of an endgame game-loop, and regarding mod support.

[Sketchazoid]

I really hope no one takes this as me dissing on the game. Grounded has easily become one of my favorite games as of recent, and it's one of the few games I can bond with my wife over. So to realize that I'm at the end and that's that is honestly pretty deflating.

Yet I can't hold off on it forever. I have like 3-4 zipline towers on every corner of the map, about a dozen little outposts, a decently sized castle. I've ran out of things to prevent myself from moving forward.

I feel this is a bit of a plea to the developers to at minimum release official mod tools so that players can stay engaged in their games. Mod support would also bring in new players, so I see zero reason why they wouldn't do this.

[GAMING_Alligator]

All good things end, I guess.

I'm at a similar point too, and have got close to 100 hours game time out of it. Given what I paid for it (bought it just before release so avoided the price hike), that's a real bargain.

I did maybe feel like the game jumped from "early game" to "end game" a little too quickly. Some more mid game content would have been nice after getting all the super chips, but before finding Wendell and getting the endgame quest.

[blackphoenixx]

Nope, that's pretty much it, aside from base building or playing around with different loadouts.

And there's nothing wrong with that imo. Having a definite ending is fine, in fact more games should do it instead of trying to bind you with grindy endgame loops.
Better to end it on a high note than play until you get sick of it.

[Jaggid Edje]

Personally, I would rather play until I get sick of it. I have no problem moving on once I am tired of a game, and I still remember my time playing fondly when I do.
When a game I really enjoyed just ends, with nothing left to do, I get a bit morose, and have problems moving on to the 'next game' because I still want to play that one.

I read a lot (like..books), and I have the same morose feeling when a book series I like just ends. I guess I get attached to things that I really like.

[Sketchazoid]

I guess for me it feels a bit anti-climatic, it just...ends.

I don't even mean in terms of story, cause to be honest Grounded's story is probably the lowest thing on my list for reasons for playing this game. Not saying it's bad, it's just not the reason I play. I won't give a final verdict or opinion on story until I actually beat it of course, but thus far it's "meh". It's backdrop noise for me personally, and it's context at best. No different than Ark: Survival Evolved. There is a story but I couldn't careless about it and I have 7K+ hours in that game. Again, doesn't mean the story is bad but it's not my focus.

What is my focus is the world and progression, and I feel like I've built up to this big crescendo that I've either missed or isn't present. I guess that's suppose to be the Javamatic, and granted I haven't done that yet, but from what I have seen it's just a MixR on steroids, and honestly the MixRs are dog sh*t boring to me. That might be because I have no real use for science anymore unless I want a canteen upgrade I won't get any value out of or additional signs for my base. Yawn.

I have all this powerful weapons/armor and mutations but it feels like getting a new tool box after you've already put the majority of the desk together. It creates this weird paradox where you get the better weapons/armor from killing enemies so you can be better at killing those same enemies but you no longer really need to kill those enemies unless you're upgrading but that's only so you can be more efficient at killing those same enemies. It's a bizarre cycle that many games fall into and Grounded is no different.

I guess at the end of the day, what I am taking ages to get to (sorry), is that I am struggling to find justification to continue playing after these last few segments and I personally do not agree that a game like Grounded shouldn't have some replayability. Open World Survival Sandbox games are known for their replayability, but Grounded is very static in it's design, and while the point-to-point gameplay is phenomenal, it's over before you know it.

[GAMING_Alligator]

Sketchazoid původně napsal:

I guess for me it feels a bit anti-climatic, it just...ends.

I don't even mean in terms of story, cause to be honest Grounded's story is probably the lowest thing on my list for reasons for playing this game. Not saying it's bad, it's just not the reason I play. I won't give a final verdict or opinion on story until I actually beat it of course, but thus far it's "meh". It's backdrop noise for me personally, and it's context at best. No different than Ark: Survival Evolved. There is a story but I couldn't careless about it and I have 7K+ hours in that game. Again, doesn't mean the story is bad but it's not my focus.

What is my focus is the world and progression, and I feel like I've built up to this big crescendo that I've either missed or isn't present. I guess that's suppose to be the Javamatic, and granted I haven't done that yet, but from what I have seen it's just a MixR on steroids, and honestly the MixRs are dog sh*t boring to me. That might be because I have no real use for science anymore unless I want a canteen upgrade I won't get any value out of or additional signs for my base. Yawn.

I have all this powerful weapons/armor and mutations but it feels like getting a new tool box after you've already put the majority of the desk together. It creates this weird paradox where you get the better weapons/armor from killing enemies so you can be better at killing those same enemies but you no longer really need to kill those enemies unless you're upgrading but that's only so you can be more efficient at killing those same enemies. It's a bizarre cycle that many games fall into and Grounded is no different.

I guess at the end of the day, what I am taking ages to get to (sorry), is that I am struggling to find justification to continue playing after these last few segments and I personally do not agree that a game like Grounded shouldn't have some replayability. Open World Survival Sandbox games are known for their replayability, but Grounded is very static in it's design, and while the point-to-point gameplay is phenomenal, it's over before you know it.

I think what you're describing is more an issue with the upgrade and progression system in Grounded than any particular structural flaw with the story.

I would say the game isn't very good at rewarding upgrades in general. If you look at games that do this well, there are multiple distinct tiers of enemies and upgrading a weapon with which you were struggling against a tier suddenly lets you dominate that tier of enemy and it gives you a real sense of satisfaction. Grounded doesn't really do this and settles for incremental upgrades instead, which to me makes it feel like I'm constantly just grinding instead of moving forward. Then the game ends.

tl;dr I think with less nerfing and more rebalancing of weapon tiers the end game could be a much more rewarding experience..

[Sketchazoid]

Bookworm původně napsal:

I think what you're describing is more an issue with the upgrade and progression system in Grounded than any particular structural flaw with the story.

Perhaps I didn't articulate this part very well, but I have no issue with the story. It is not even on my radar when I play. Small kids, mad scientist, burger flipping robot, evil corporation...blah blah, couldn't care. It's a cute story, it's not a bad story, it's just not the reason I play the game, so it has no bearing on my opinion in regards to player progression.

I would say the game isn't very good at rewarding upgrades in general. If you look at games that do this well, there are multiple distinct tiers of enemies and upgrading a weapon with which you were struggling against a tier suddenly lets you dominate that tier of enemy and it gives you a real sense of satisfaction. Grounded doesn't really do this and settles for incremental upgrades instead, which to me makes it feel like I'm constantly just grinding instead of moving forward. Then the game ends.

tl;dr I think with less nerfing and more rebalancing of weapon tiers the end game could be a much more rewarding experience..

I think my overall issue is merely the lack of an end game loop. When you've created a world that people want to stay in you've done something good, but when there isn't a reason to stay in that world then it's hard to justify sticking around.

As someone earlier mentioned, it's fine that the game has a definitive end, and I'd agree to an extent that at least on the surface this isn't a negative thing. There is a fundamental difference between what is, and what I want. I'm also not so naive to believe that what I want is in align with what everyone else wants.

In the end, I just want a reason to continue existing in such a fantastically created world. There is very few games that come along that I have beaten and then think to myself "NO! No, I don't want it to end."

[CodyShaffer1025]

So grounded appears to be designed in with its end game loop built around a players creativity in making their own builds and bases, its not really designed with a large scale end game loop in the way say, monster hunter is.

Its just a really well done game that you can pickup and drop when you're done if you arent interested in sticking around and going wild with building after the main story.

It's not everyones cup of tea, i like it up to a point, but im sure after a while even i will grow out of it.

[Progje]

Story wise it's kinda boring. No need to defeat the broodmother and mantis to end the game. I pushed the button and was kinda dissapointed.
Pushing a button because Wendell won't shut up and that's it.

The story i actually don't care eighter. I knew it was going that way and therefore i didn't really felt i had to follow the story line.
Also having those awesome weapons and whatnot is cool and all, but there is nothing anymore to use them with.

But if we speak of multiplayer and have a fun experience together is what i like most.

That is how i felt about it and I am glad i am not alone :)
I also had that feeling like: "Is that it?"

[Sketchazoid]

Progje NL původně napsal:

Story wise it's kinda boring. No need to defeat the broodmother and mantis to end the game. I pushed the button and was kinda dissapointed.
Pushing a button because Wendell won't shut up and that's it.

The story i actually don't care eighter. I knew it was going that way and therefore i didn't really felt i had to follow the story line.
Also having those awesome weapons and whatnot is cool and all, but there is nothing anymore to use them with.

But if we speak of multiplayer and have a fun experience together is what i like most.

That is how i felt about it and I am glad i am not alone :)
I also had that feeling like: "Is that it?"

Yeah you're definitely not alone. I think a good majority of the content in the game is "optional". A good amount of my time in Grounded is spent building. Thing is building is not a requirement to complete the game whatsoever, and if you're smart on where you place your belongings you can pretty much ignore raids all together. That being said, if a game has base building then I am going to build a base, regardless if it's necessary or not.

I have a plethora of ideas of what I as an individual think would make the end-game content more fleshed out but what I want, what others want, and what is going to be delivered are all entirely different things.

In the end, Grounded is a good game. I have definitely got my money's worth and for my only true complaint with the game is that I can't stay longer is a pretty good complaint to have I suppose.

[Ǵ̶͓̂͑lí̴̤̀̄́tcĥ̸]

This is how most if not all survival games are. End-game is always after last boss, you just build stuff. Big difference is Ark, since that thing just kept adding chapters and now there's insane content creep there - but everything else from The Forest to even Valheim is essentially the same issue.

The end-game addition in terms of enemies is basically the ORC enemies, and the bosses you didn't finish. Grounded has 5 bosses, 2 of which are required and another of which affects the ending - that's already more bosses than many survivals.

That said, hopefully more is added (more bugs, bosses, etc). I personally want them to add a hot wheels track around the yard that you have to repair (not build, it's already built, but sections are broken and you need end-game stuff like repair glue to fix it to use it) and then make a car, and essentially ride it from "station to station" - all prefab, like a roller coaster that also works as fast travel. Cool thing about this is that people can build stuff around it to make it almost like a ride, and since it'd basically visit all biomes you could make each section (the track between stations/stops) thematic to its surroundings etc etc you get the picture.
Like these vids always make me think of Grounded and how cool it would be:
https://youtu.be/GXUU58dhDLg

[phadin]

Not every game needs some kind of post-game or end-game grind. That kind of mechanic is more common in ARPGs, where combat and incremental gear improvement is the focus of the game. Grounded is a survival and open-world crafting game, not an RPG. It's a different genre so you should have some slightly different expectations for it.

End-game or Post-game in survival crafting games like Grounded tends to revolve around building interesting or creative structures, buildings, or other such things. the combat, through much of the game, tends to be about survival and an obstacle to overcome to acquire crafting resources, rather then the objective of the game itself.

[Sketchazoid]

I do not have the energy to refute all of your guys points, but I respect the arguments being made, even if I somewhat disagree with portions of it.

[Godamnzilla]

I have 3 types of characters Im going to play and the first type took me two weeks complete. It really isn't the games fault when there are so many ways to play. You can play by a challenge that limits you next time, build in a whole new spot, upgrade and test each weapon to find a style you like, play like an rpg with a rogue and a warrior. There are so many ways to play that i'ts really hard to say it's the games fault at that point.