Posted May 30, 2010
First off your characters will have a very limited amount of the Action Points --- the points needed to do anything during battle --- walking, running, crouching, shooting, reloading etc. etc. etc. --- this will make even the most basic goals take 15.6 hours --- simple goals such as killing even one enemy.
This dynamic makes it quite difficult to get close enough to an enemy to actually hit him, let alone kill him. This, no doubt, helps create the challenge and strategy in the game that folks seem to like --- well, most folks anyway. But, really, it might have been reasonable to allow a little Action Point leeway on some tasks --- tasks such as reloading and crouching for example --- just to quicken things up a little if nothing else.
Sound like nitpicking?
Maybe, but it will get kind of old after a while be forced to take 229 Action Point replenishing turns to get near enough to actually fight an enemy --- then start the process all over for the next one.
Which brings up another criticism --- even on the novice/easiest setting --- even with a super high priced character geared to be a sharpshooting-marksman-superstar --- a 98 rated marksman --- even at point blank range --- he will sometimes miss his target --- and almost never kills him in one or even two shots --- WTF?
Meanwhile, these "easy setting" enemys will hit and hit you like it's going out of style --- even at fairly long range --- even when you are prone and appear to be safely behind cover.
This fairness problem when combined with the Action Point issue can make for a frustrating or at least tedious gaming session.
Of course, getting hit will necessitate the need for healing --- which is also a bit needlessly and painfully contrived for a game of this nature.
Other problems are mostly minor and due mainly to the age of the game these can be overlooked fairly easily.
To sum it up, strategy is a good thing --- and very satisfying when a difficult goal is achieved --- but, fairness, fun, and playability are also good things --- and little better balance between these things would have made this game much better. As it is, be fairly warned that it's not for everyone.
This dynamic makes it quite difficult to get close enough to an enemy to actually hit him, let alone kill him. This, no doubt, helps create the challenge and strategy in the game that folks seem to like --- well, most folks anyway. But, really, it might have been reasonable to allow a little Action Point leeway on some tasks --- tasks such as reloading and crouching for example --- just to quicken things up a little if nothing else.
Sound like nitpicking?
Maybe, but it will get kind of old after a while be forced to take 229 Action Point replenishing turns to get near enough to actually fight an enemy --- then start the process all over for the next one.
Which brings up another criticism --- even on the novice/easiest setting --- even with a super high priced character geared to be a sharpshooting-marksman-superstar --- a 98 rated marksman --- even at point blank range --- he will sometimes miss his target --- and almost never kills him in one or even two shots --- WTF?
Meanwhile, these "easy setting" enemys will hit and hit you like it's going out of style --- even at fairly long range --- even when you are prone and appear to be safely behind cover.
This fairness problem when combined with the Action Point issue can make for a frustrating or at least tedious gaming session.
Of course, getting hit will necessitate the need for healing --- which is also a bit needlessly and painfully contrived for a game of this nature.
Other problems are mostly minor and due mainly to the age of the game these can be overlooked fairly easily.
To sum it up, strategy is a good thing --- and very satisfying when a difficult goal is achieved --- but, fairness, fun, and playability are also good things --- and little better balance between these things would have made this game much better. As it is, be fairly warned that it's not for everyone.