... but I can't just yet - so far the game has surprised me in how smooth the mechanics of running and fighting are. No more clunky slow feel-like-I'm fighting-through-molasses mechanics. Smooth, efficient, don't fall off roofs, out of trees, etc. Very much an open world feel.
I'm waiting for the hammer to come down with races and bosses ????
..and LOTS of extremely tightly timed events.
:-D
I hooked the console to my pc monitor, so I can now play a bit at night
Quote from: PZ on October 30, 2013, 08:38:03 AM
I hooked the console to my pc monitor, so I can now play a bit at night
You sir, have more balls than I do, I can't even get the power cord attached to my console :angry-new:
BTW, how open is AC now days, last time I tried it, it was claustrophobic, running along corridors and jumping on rooftops.
Quote from: Stiku on October 30, 2013, 08:54:54 AM
You sir, have more balls than I do, I can't even get the power cord attached to my console :angry-new:
:laugh: I know just how you feel - happens to me at times, especially with non-electronic items
I really like how open it is. In fact, even in the prolog before you actually enter full free roam you have great freedom in what you do. For instance, my first task was to chase down an assassin and kill him, but instead I hunted down treasure chests, and other items of interest while I explored.
Ubi has improved the free run over what they did in AC3 - I ran the rooftops of Havana last night, and ran through the streets as well - the movement was very smooth and precise. In contrast, I always hated running in prior iterations of the game (on the console) because the response of the controller felt so slow in comparison to the same game on the PC. For instance, now I run rooftops and through streets without "accidentally" turning too sharply and running up a wall or fall off a rooftop.
In general everything feels more polished and smooth. However, I am still early into the game and perhaps have not encountered some of the things that I am sure sill annoy (races, timed events, etc)
Things I like so far:
- The world is huge, and feels very open
- Fighting mechanics - Ubi has greatly refined the stealth kills - whistle and someone comes to investigate - you can quickly dispatch your opponent with ease. Close quarters combat is also much improved - the controls feel much more comfortable to me in this game
- The observation towers where you reveal parts of the map have become fast travel stations
So far, I'm not disliking anything, so I am pessimistically optimistic. :-()
Quote from: PZ on October 30, 2013, 10:28:36 AMI am pessimistically optimistic. :-()
hehe, reminds me of something along the lines of:
"I used to be indecisive but nowadays I'm not so sure any more." :-D
:-X :laugh: exactly!
Looks like Ubi'd listened to fans' feedback
that would be a first -- I don't quite believe that. Not yet, that is.
You're so optimistically pessimistic :-()
:laugh: :-X
A few more things I like:
- At the end of each mission, you can rate it if you like on a scale 1 star to 5 - evidently they will use this information to fine tune their future games, else why bother asking
- Unlike prior games in which forts are locked until you get the mission to enter - I was able to enter a fort in Nassau by finding a pathway up at an obscure corner of the fort. This is one of those forts with really high walls that, when you are familiar with AC games, you cannot enter until the game deems you ready. It was very much in keeping with making the game more open world
- I see elements of AC3 and FC3 in the game - the hunting, gathering pelts to craft ammo belts or holsters, etc. Also the viewpoints remind me of the towers in FC3, yet maintain the AC series elements
- You can run at an opponent (with their back turned) and can still do a stealth kill - I had a cool moment when I ran at a guy near the wall of the fort intending to kill him, and instead of my blades, simply pushed him over the edge - I continue to be impressed with the fighting mechanics
Evidently if you purchase a PS4, for $10, you can get the HD digital version of the game, which requires you to use the PS3 disc in order to run. Not too unreasonable
Still nothing that I really dislike yet. Although there was a chase scene in which you needed to tackle an opponent, as I chased the guy, I kept thinking I was going to desynchronize at any moment because it was taking too long, and I had not found the precise path to intercept. I was pleasantly surprised that he eventually turned to confront me. Of course, I don't know if this was the intent of the game or if they have stopped the ridiculous desynchronization when running out of time - I don't know. However, I was pleasantly surprised to make it beyond that point in any case.
The environment continues to impress - the views are stunning, and I almost feel like being in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean.
More impressions:
I like the treasure maps - there are 22 in all and I've found 2 - they allow upgrades to your ship (at least so far). One map I obtained the location of from a tavern owner, and another I found by revealing the map of an island. Kind of cool; you find the map on parchment paper - you need to remember/recognize where you have seen the shape of the land before because "X" marks the spot where you dig up the plans, hidden in a chest.
Also very welcome to everyone who has played the game before - remember when running through crowds, if you did not crouch down you would fall down as you ran into people - that is no more - your character automatically pushes people out of the way.
I thought I would hate the ship missions, but Ubi has refined the ship mechanics so that it is actually fun in this game (so far) I have managed to upgrade my ship a couple of times, and there is tons more to do. I suspect that there will be even more to do than in any of the other games, maybe all of them combined. Everything feels so open.
As you are sailing along, you can use your spyglass to reveal items available on islands. You also use your spyglass to reveal details of ships you see on the horizon. When you disable ships (evidenced by fire), you can board, then subdue the crew, and steal the cargo - plus anything you need to repair your ship.
I'm glad that you're enjoying it, PZ :)
Quote from: PZ on October 30, 2013, 08:23:12 PMthe viewpoints remind me of the towers in FC3
Erm, towers in FC3? LOL scratch that, I got it, right after hitting the post button:
radio towers! :)
I was thinking medieval watch towers.
Quote from: Art Blade on October 31, 2013, 11:25:20 AM
I'm glad that you're enjoying it, PZ :)
Erm, towers in FC3? LOL scratch that, I got it, right after hitting the post button: radio towers! :)
I was thinking medieval watch towers.
Yeah, it has been so long since I opened FC3 for any length of time I forgot what they were called :-()
I managed to get in a couple of hours this morning and the game still has not disappointed.
There were two reasons I was not going to purchase AC4:
- I did not like AC3 that much
- I hated the idea that AC4 was so heavily ship-based
I am enjoying doing the naval missions because you have so many upgrades you can do - playing the role of a pirate is lots of fun. Once you incapacitate a ship, your guys will throw grappling hooks and haul the ships close enough so you can swing over to do in the crew. You get loot and new crew members as reward.
I also enjoyed doing a fort - you attack by ship, and when the fort weapons are destroyed, you dock your ship, then do close quarters combat with the foes - until you win, and then the fort is yours. You can fast travel to the location, and the fort will even defend you if you are being chased (and their guns are within range)
With that said, I'm sure the game will get to the point where it becomes unbearably difficult to overcome the bad guys, and then I'll be vehemently complaining again, about how much I hate the game :-()
I'm already rubbing my hands in anticipation and I'm eagerly waiting for that to happen. :-()
:laugh:
I'll then redirect to the RANT board
we might simply rename the RANT board to "UBI, EA, Atari." :-D
Don't get me started on EA \:/ >:D
I've continued the game for a few more hours, upgraded my ship some more, and am now able to take on frigates. The loot is much better 9of course), but significantly more difficult - but not too bad.
I've also continued the main missions which have now turned to more sea-based themes - the latest one is to tail a man 'o war (that thing looks scary) without being caught - the mini map shows the field of vision of the smaller ships patrolling in the area. The challenge was maintaining the tail without being seen in a slow to respond ship. Once the tail was successful, 8 ships magically appeared that you need to dispatch, but the difficulty was not too bad with the upgraded ship - kind of fun actually.
Unfortunately Ubi still has sectors of the map "Not available yet" - this is one area where Rockstar in GTAV beats the pants off Ubi - I just don't see why there should be areas that are off limits just because you have not progressed far enough into the game.
Although I like the repetitious nature of the ship warfare, I suspect that the monotony will bother some gamers
Still not disappointed, but I still prefer Italy.
... and still waiting for something to pi$$ me off with the game play
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Well, I'm still playing, and discovering new things. For those that played AC3, this game will seem quite familiar with the scope of the world, and how the characters interact within the game. Along the main mission line, you have a good blend of land-based versus sea-based tasks to complete. The usual tail, assassinate, and try to keep from being discovered things. It is fairly open world in nature at least in parts of each mission - you get to choose your approach, and mostly get plenty of time to decide where to attack from.
One thing adopted from FC3 is the alarm bell - like in the outposts, you can sneak up to disable the alarm to prevent reinforcements from arriving.
All in all, a fairly descent game, but like FC3, is unlikely to hold my interest, unless I purchase a PS4 and play the game in HD, which is said to be quite stunning.
Adter completing the game and discovering that there was still 51% of the game I'd not done, I started exploring and trying different things. First thing I did was engage larger ships to build cash, goods and ammunition - then upgraded quite a few things including the boat used for harpooning.
On a hunt for sharks I went - all you need do is go to a place on the map (like in FC3) and look around for the animals - once you sail into their sphere and engage, you switch to the boat and you are standing in front with a harpoon. If your throwing arm is good, you tag one, and it starts towing you around - keep throwing and you eventually bag the animal and you collect it's skin and bones which are used for selling or crafting, again much like in AC3, FC3.
Next I went after a whale >:D
...it's a good thing I upgraded the boat to the maximum because the whale smashed into the bow of my boat. A nice feature of this activity is that the animals disappear beneath the waves and will come attack you - however, you can sense their imminent eruption by series of bubbles almost like whitewater.
When swimming under water, eels, sharks, jellyfish, and other nasties will attack you. Some you need to button mash like you do when animals attack in AC3 and FC3.
I know that most of you are probably not interested, but for anyone that might be - AC4 is out for the PC
http://assassinscreed.ubi.com/en-us/purchase/index.aspx?utm_source=crm_ncsa&utm_medium=email&utm_content=header2&utm_campaign=F_ASS4BF_GL_US_131119#BlackFlag (http://assassinscreed.ubi.com/en-us/purchase/index.aspx?utm_source=crm_ncsa&utm_medium=email&utm_content=header2&utm_campaign=F_ASS4BF_GL_US_131119#BlackFlag)
Hehehehe... I knew I'd find someone playing AC4 around here as soon as I checked in again! 8)
Good to know you are enjoying, PZ. :-X Although I had tuned donw my expectations regardin AC4, I still believe this is a game worth playing... only not a game to be compared to the old iterations such as the Ezio saga - a masterpiece!
I am actually curious about the background story arc of Desmond knowing he died in the last game after opening the portal and giving his life to save mankind from that crazy ethereal bitch Minerva! My godson told me today the game has no Animus, no preset-day story arc, no Desmond.... so you simply start off as a pirate and that's it... deal with it, and I felt quite let down. Considering that they would somehow extend the present day arc was one thing that could light my enthusiasm for tis game on a end of the year sale but apparently, nah!
So is that true? No Animus? No present day story arc? :-(
He's back!! :)
Great to see you back, JRD! :-X
There actually is an animus, and there are activities to play while in the animus, although not as extensive as some of the prior iterations.
Now that I finished the game, and everything is fully open world, I'm finding tons to do including what feels like main story line missions. I'm actually impressed that Ubi seems to have favored the open world play with this version
Most recently I earned the Mayan outfit, which makes me impervious to bullets - quite the advantage. I also earned the Templar outfit which makes me more resistant to damage. I favor the former because there are quite often enemy on the ground and up high that fire at you, seriously depleting your health.
I also like that there are a large number of land-based activities, but when you get that urge to get back to sea, there is plenty to do there as well. I almost cannot believe that I like the sea adventures, but with my almost fully outfitted ship, it is rather easy to get one up on the enemy ships.
All in all, of all the AC series, this would be my second favorite after the Ezio series.
This is good news. I enjoyed the naval missions in AC3 but mostly because I've upgraded my ship as much as I could before taking those missions so I could go through them all with practically no death / reload.
I was reading the review you posted and it seems like good fun although not nearly as historically centered as the rest of the series. My godson calls it a "slot machine" as in designed to get you inserting money into it to do the same thing. He said something that got me thinking: this was probably rushed through development in order to have an AC game fresh out for the PS4 launch, which makes sense to me. Storywise there was no time to dig deep into an era and they just went with what was new and eye candy in AC3 - the naval battles. Anyway... as I'm a big fan of the series I may give it a try one day but the fact that the storyline is not as developed is a big turn off for me.
Quote from: PZ on November 24, 2013, 08:18:21 PM
All in all, of all the AC series, this would be my second favorite after the Ezio series.
Well...... after the Ezio series you are left with AC1, almost a beta for the whole series, and AC3 which is the worst of the series ever, so it seems like a no brainer! ^-^
Quote from: JRD on November 25, 2013, 05:56:53 AM
I was reading the review you posted and it seems like good fun although not nearly as historically centered as the rest of the series.
That about nails it - good fun, but not inspiring in a historical sense. AC2 was actually my favorite of them all, and I recall interesting historical facts about the places and people represented in the game. When you would come upon a new building, a historical data sheet came up giving you some of the back story. I may have missed it, but I do not recall anything like that in the current game.
One caution though, the naval battles are rather repetitious - the same cut scenes when the battle ends, and although the battles themselves are open world in nature, you end up doing the same thing repeatedly.
Liberating the forts are a challenge, but lots of fun.
Side missions also seem more fun to me than I've experienced in the past, but again, maybe that's just me.
As to rushing the production through to release in time for the PS4 - maybe... but you can't get a unit anyway :-()
Hey stranger. It's good to see you around. :-X
Like you I am very interested in the background story to this series. Specifically the hints and clues of the Precursor Race but I'm not willing to wallow through the pirate sea battle missions to get it though. ::)
Even though a lot of the land base missions and action portions of the game look really exciting I decided to find a walk through on youtube that I'll watch through to glean the storyline info. As far as regrets in making this choice I just wish the guy who recorded this walk through series had used a PC for better graphics and the controls I'm familiar with, was able to actually run in a straight line when a straight dash is most needed and would stop lunging the hell off of tall buildings (knocking a bloody gaping hole in his health) right before intensive fight sequences. If I could offer the producer of this video series one piece of advice it would be control, control and control. :D
One huge plus side to the series I've selected is that he has used zero voice over narration.
I haven't had to listen to some marginally post adolescent Brit prat (Shaun Hastings from AC:R/AC3 wannabe) natter on (like most of the game walk throughs out there) about his thoughts and opinions regarding life, the universe and everything as well as the game play I'm trying to extract.
From what I've seen so far of the graphics for AC4 on the PS4 I've been a little disillusioned thinking that the enemies once highlighted turn a bit cartoonish in appearance. Disappointing after viewing this PS3 prototype running and compiled in real time. I was hoping for better. :-\\
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhoYLp8CtXI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhoYLp8CtXI#ws)
I guess they failed to share the advanced rendering algorithms with UBI.
Hi there mandru!
Nice Rembrandt avatar!
The story line of AC has always been a high point of the series in my opinion. Gameplay, graphics and History merged almost to perfection in the first four titles of the series. Although the first game could have used some more w@&k on gameplay and mission design, the setting was simply perfect. XIIth century middle east, a muslim as main character, historical places like Jerusalem and Damascus... an Assassin! How revolutionary was that? 8) . Then the masterpiece on the first game on the Ezio series. So much improvement done, so many more options available... they took what was already a milestone in the gaming industry and presented it with a new design, adding so much to the franchise. No wonder they pulled three fantastic games in a row, aging the hero so well!
I have to admit I had some fun in AC3 and it was really nice to have the wilderness as my playground, but story wise... AC3 failed. Not being able to kill the main target in the end but instead being forced to watch a cutscene was the worst they could do. It was meant to be a game for the American masses but this is a period of little impact for those who are not Americans. No offense my American friends, but there are so many more interesting potential settings that could've prolonged the series so much. A feudal Japan during mid XIXth century was simply perfect. Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailing into Tokyo Bay in 1852, Ancient Japan is on the verge of entering the future but tradition clashes with progress.... I can see a whole new trilogy being played there.
And what about Desmond? We watched this character go through so much, suffer the leaking effect from the Animus and develop his ancestor's skills, become a modern day Assassin. Not only Desmond but the rest of the characters: Lucy, Rebecca, Desmond's dad... and Shawn... I always though he'd be a traitor, a snitch, a mole... I could see a plot twist coming that way.
The whole Minerva thing and the sun overheating is just an excuse to have the modern day levels and I was hoping for so much in this story arc. But it all ended so abruptly and felt rushed, undeveloped.
We could have Desmond and the other Assassins actually going through more action to prevent Minerva, now that her plan has been discovered, from anihilating Mankind.
It seems like all that character and story development was thrown in the garbage to pursuit a different audience with a completely different game... :-(
I'm not sure where to put this so I'll drop it here.
Spoiler
http://www.wimp.com/bestglitch/
??? ??? ??? ??? Holy Moses ??? ??? ???
:laugh:
The soundtrack fits perfectly! :-X
yep, Moses :laugh: :-X and the flying people.. and the Flying Dutch (ship) rising yet again :laugh:
This youtube walk through I'm trying to follow. :D
The player takes the mission sync requirements "Reach the objective without being detected" to mean walk straight up to the big heavy axe wielding red coats and pee on their leg. ???
you should find a different playthrough. :)
:laugh:
OK, I watched all 46 episodes and the best belly laugh came from the line in the end credits that said "No real pirates were harmed in the making of this game". :laugh:
The story ending in the theater was a nice touch. If not for the fingernails on a chalk board way I feel about the mandatory sea battles I would absolutely love to dig into all the untouched side missions and treasure quests this walk through left completely untouched.
I can see that there is a race among gamers to be the fastest to post a walk through after a new game's release.
I'm sure the complaints I lodged in my posts above were due to the lack of finesse that can only come from many dozens of hours of controlling your game avatar in each of the varying activities and while reaching the 100% completion benchmarks for each and every goal is admirable the slow pace of skulking around to stealth kill every enemy would make for really poor video footage. The maker of the walk through i watched covered what was needed to convey the required actions to progress through the missions and give an overall feel for the game.
So I'll forgive the seemingly clueless lout for slamming through the project at breakneck speed. :-D
Quote from: mandru on November 26, 2013, 06:42:48 AM
I'm not sure where to put this so I'll drop it here.
Spoiler
http://www.wimp.com/bestglitch/
Ah, the mystery of the
Mary Celeste is solved! There's a glitch in the ocean! :-()
Quote from: mandru on November 26, 2013, 07:57:00 PM
... If not for the fingernails on a chalk board way I feel about the mandatory sea battles I would absolutely love to dig into all the untouched side missions and treasure quests this walk through left completely untouched.
Well, i can say that I have the same fingernails on the chalkboard feel about the naval battles in AC3, as does one of my sons. However, both of us do not have the same problem with the naval battles in AC4 - they just seem so much better developed - almost like the battles were in beta in AC3, and were perfected in this iteration.
I predict that you'll get the game one of these days, even if you wait until it reaches bargain basement - I can say that the side missions alone are worth the price of the game. I have to admit that the story line is the weakest link in the game, and the main missions, while entertaining, leave one unfulfilled, unlike prior versions of the game. It just feels like the main mission line stops leaving with you with the feeling "did I miss something?"
they probably got it all backwards, the main mission is actually a side mission while those side missions are actually the main mission. :-()
:laugh:
The main missions truly are little more than the side missions in my opinion - lots of fun, none the less!
Out of curiosity does AC4 have the animus DNA subscreen option to replay the different missions?
It was that ability that kept me in the earlier versions of the AC series giving me a lot of replay value.
Yes, it appears to w@&k much the same. I tried replaying a main mission after I had completed the game, and was able to get to 100% for that mission (accomplish the requisite side tasks like in prior games).
However, I reverted to my old outfit and weapons - couldn't keep my bullet proof Mayan outfit :'(
There are just as many methods of increasing the play time as in prior games.
I've now completed taking all the forts (like the Borgia tower missions) You start by taking out all the gun emplacements with your ship guns, mortars, etc., then you need to storm the fort and kill anywhere from 1-3 targets while working your way through fierce battle - I kind of like this the best out of all the games.
Besides, it is fun to go out to sea, fire at an enemy ship and lure them to my fort - my boys always gives them a serious thrashing >:D
:)
:-X