Game pretends that your choices matter but they don't

[Swayze]

was really disappointed when i found that they choices i made did not matter at all. Like you can choose to lie to people or become a literal criminal by using the unforgivables but nothing has any consequences. At the end, you can even say you want all the power for yourself but it does not matter at all.

[Freelancer]

Yep, there's only one quest where your choice actually matters which is at the end of Sebastian's quest where you *SPOILERS*

Choose if he either gets expelled or not. And you won't actually ever see him again if you choose the former.

[Hvandiir]

Originally posted by Freelancer:

Yep, there's only one quest where your choice actually matters which is at the end of Sebastian's quest where you *SPOILERS*

Choose if he either gets expelled or not. And you won't actually ever see him again if you choose the former.

That choice also affects true ending. Which some choices as well. SPOILER. Ending is not an actual ending there is also True ending whether you are on bad side or good side but it changes things.

Those choices you make changes house point ending.

[DistantReaper]

I beat it the other day and felt exactly the same way. Watching my evil character be cherished as a hero was just dumb.

All the devs needed to do was drop the House winning scene - give it someone else - and show Professor Weasley start an inquiry into our behaviour. She could even threaten us with expulsion and Askaban.

The lack of impactful decisions kills any chance of a repeat playthrough.

[mutantbeth]

it is a shame this game was marketed as an rpg but feels more like an action adventure

[Hvandiir]

Originally posted by mutantbeth:

it is a shame this game was marketed as an rpg but feels more like an action adventure

It is an RPG i mean you can choose not to give treasures you find on sidequest's and so on i just find it lacking actual RP elements. Its more like Assasins Creed level RPG.

[Truen]

Agreed. I really think they played it WAY too safe with the dialog and choices.

[stretch]

While I agree in general there are specific times where very minor things will be different depending on your choices. Nothing that matters but it's there.
For example: try solving a quest to return someones errant 'pet' and then keeping the pet.
/tip_hat to @Dankrat

[Moga CMDR]

There are certainly times when I felt they over-sold the decisions. Like when I chose to get cursed instead of doing it to my pal.

Was really a trivial thing, ultimately.

Originally posted by Dankrat:

That choice also affects true ending.

Which isn't enough and not everyone is going to notice. That's the issue.

[Hvandiir]

Originally posted by Moga CMDR:

There are certainly times when I felt they over-sold the decisions. Like when I chose to get cursed instead of doing it to my pal.

Was really a trivial thing, ultimately.

Originally posted by Dankrat:

That choice also affects true ending.

Which isn't enough and not everyone is going to notice. That's the issue.

I mean its still affects things so. Like i said its like AC level if anything. But we wont know until DLC's appear.

[Nepnep]

Yes. No point sugarcoating it. This game gives you the illusion of choice and lacks replayability.

I'm probably still going to play it 4 times though. Definitely not back to back but in between waiting for other things and when more mods comes out.

[alation13]

The problem is, that modern designers know that as much as player base screams that they want "Choices Matter", they are NEVER happy when they are locked out of potential outcomes based on their choice. Even just look at the backlash to this game about "missing" the ability to respec your character. The one single most important pillar of a Role Playing Game is character development. And look at the backlash when "choices matter" is actually implemented for the character development.

[Moga CMDR]

Originally posted by alation13:

Even just look at the backlash to this game about "missing" the ability to respec your character.

My thing about this is, this game isn't that hard and the combat isn't that serious. So you don't need to min-max at all. I ignored most of the talents. And was fine.

Most people basically say the same thing. But yet people say the lack of respec makes the game unplayable. I don't get it.

But maybe its because I'm the type that doesn't instantly spend talent points, or skill points, or whatever as soon as I get them. I don't do that in any game. It's a lot harder to make mistakes when you consider your options thoroughly before making decisions.

And I think it's hard to make a big enough mistake in this game to make it unplayable or unbeatable. And honestly, I think part of the fun is when you do make a mistake and have to live with it. It's part of what makes your play unique. Oh wells.

[FreshRevenge]

Originally posted by stretch:

While I agree in general there are specific times where very minor things will be different depending on your choices. Nothing that matters but it's there.
For example: try solving a quest to return someones errant 'pet' and then keeping the pet.
/tip_hat to @Dankrat

There was this one quest where this woman wanted a particular Diricrawl for feathers and to get out of the hands of the poachers. I first said I would return it to her but she seemed more interested in the feathers than the birds safety. She want the birds feathers for her clothing business.

She ended calling me something like foul snapper or something when I said I was going to keep it. I brought it back to the virarium and let it roam free with the unicorns that I collected.

[MugHug]

Originally posted by Freelancer:

Yep, there's only one quest where your choice actually matters which is at the end of Sebastian's quest where you *SPOILERS*

Choose if he either gets expelled or not. And you won't actually ever see him again if you choose the former.

Buying and Selling?

That matters. :)

[alation13]

Originally posted by Moga CMDR:

Originally posted by alation13:

Even just look at the backlash to this game about "missing" the ability to respec your character.

My thing about this is, this game isn't that hard and the combat isn't that serious. So you don't need to min-max at all. I ignored most of the talents. And was fine.

Most people basically say the same thing. But yet people say the lack of respec makes the game unplayable. I don't get it.

But maybe its because I'm the type that doesn't instantly spend talent points, or skill points, or whatever as soon as I get them. I don't do that in any game. It's a lot harder to make mistakes when you consider your options thoroughly before making decisions.

And I think it's hard to make a big enough mistake in this game to make it unplayable or unbeatable. And honestly, I think part of the fun is when you do make a mistake and have to live with it. It's part of what makes your play unique. Oh wells.

I am the same when it comes to character development. I like to save a few points to distribute later when I can make an informed decision as to what I want or need.

As much as I would love to think that I WANT "choices matter", when faced with locking me out of sections of the game or locking me out of other options, I find myself metagaming and reading about all my actions before I do them. Thus, I don't enjoy the game as much as I should. It is a very rare game that does "choices matter" well enough for me to just roll with my mistakes.