Redmask wrote on Dec 21, 2013, 11:52:
I've been playing Grim Dawn early access lately and feel like its the most promising ARPG yet, it hits all the right notes. It is far from completion unfortunately, at least a year or two off at this rate. Have you been playing it at all?

I haven't checked out Grim Dawn yet as I've sworn off those early access games but I hear mostly good things about it so that's encouraging at least.

Wow, yet another bad design decision by Acti-Blizz for D3. Why would you not go with a split-screen for this type of game? They have a blind captain at the helm of their ship...

Nah you're off base here. Split screen would really make no sense for the game type, you have too many moments of fast movement and the perspective is all wrong that small of a resolution. The implementation just needs a better warning before it ports people, it did happen to me a few times but like Krovven said you just talk to your partner or try to stay closer together. It's only a small issue when you're dealing with the affix packs and get split up.

And yeah, Krovven and I don't agree on much but we're on the same page here. Diablo 3 has many faults but it has very fun, well implemented combat with a great physics system, fantastic animations and awesome feedback. Other ARPGs could stand to take a page from it the same way Diablo 3 has to take a hard look at its subsystems and what other ARPGs are doing there.

Undocumented Alien wrote on Dec 21, 2013, 14:57:

You didn't mention the weird leashing that goes on with the coop, you get too far from another player and you're teleported over to them which is really jarring. I wish it had more leeway, my fiance was having a lot of trouble with that.

Wow, yet another bad design decision by Acti-Blizz for D3. Why would you not go with a split-screen for this type of game? They have a blind captain at the helm of their ship...

I've been playing Grim Dawn early access lately and feel like its the most promising ARPG yet, it hits all the right notes. It is far from completion unfortunately, at least a year or two off at this rate.

We should be getting Act 2 of GD within a month.

Because splitting the screen 4 times would be a retarded way to play. From videos I've seen the warping when coop people get separated is easily dealt with by staying together, which you are supposed to do anyways. And if you are playing local coop, you can simply talk to the person if you need to go back to pick something up, etc. This is a non-issue if you are playing online.

While I had hoped Grim Dawn ($35 pledge) wouldn't suffer from the same problems that Titan Quest did, it does. The combat is stiff and rather bland. I've shelved it for now and will give it another chance when Act 2 comes out.

I've installed PoE to give it another chance, as it's been a long time (a year or two) since I tried it. I found the combat to be even worse than Grim Dawn. I don't like the skill tree and I don't like all the currency types that take up inventory slots. I'll give it another go, as combat look a lot better, but I'm skeptical.

I've been trying the Van Helsing game lately, and it plays fairly well, but there seems to be zero variation in combat. I didn't appreciate that the Arcane Mage and Thaumaturge class gear was dropping when I didn't own the the DLC for those classes. I had intended to buy them during the Autumn Sale (or the week before when they had a sale on the game), but they screwed the pooch both times and did not discount the DLC. Now that the DLC is on sale, after a lot of people complaining to them, I really don't care and have uninstalled the game.

Torchlight 2...I can't get into it for some reason. I can't explain why. I really enjoyed Torchlight...but was it because there was absolutely no competition at the time?

D3 combat is still the best of all the ARPG's I've played in recent years. High difficulty random coop games have been excellent, when most online games these days are just filled with assholes.

I've been playing D3 again with a friend in Hardcore and having a blast. Just finished Normal...on to Nightmare. I've also checked out the D3 2.0 PTR patch, and it's looking good. I'll be all over Reaper of Souls....now if only they'd send me a beta invite.

You didn't mention the weird leashing that goes on with the coop, you get too far from another player and you're teleported over to them which is really jarring. I wish it had more leeway, my fiance was having a lot of trouble with that.

Wow, yet another bad design decision by Acti-Blizz for D3. Why would you not go with a split-screen for this type of game? They have a blind captain at the helm of their ship...

I've been playing Grim Dawn early access lately and feel like its the most promising ARPG yet, it hits all the right notes. It is far from completion unfortunately, at least a year or two off at this rate.

We should be getting Act 2 of GD within a month.

Verno wrote on Dec 21, 2013, 11:28:
The console version has on screen co-op which is really nice for playing with family and friends. If its on sale its not a bad deal at all, they made some solid improvements to the UI and underlying loot system. There are a few specific types of skills that don't work well with a gamepad but everything else is pretty solid and it's really fun to sit on the couch with your significant other and play.

I was really annoyed that they added a dodge roll move that doesn't seem to do anything. If you use it the animation fires correctly but you always take damage. The load times on the PS3 version really suck. I can't play a Demon Hunter on the PS3 version, too many of the skills don't translate well to the PS3 controller. You didn't mention the weird leashing that goes on with the coop, you get too far from another player and you're teleported over to them which is really jarring. I wish it had more leeway, my fiance was having a lot of trouble with that.

People should probably just wait for the PS4 version if they're interested in picking it up on the consoles, the PS3 version has too many small annoyances and the PS4 copy will include the expansion. I wouldn't pay more than $40 for it on principle after the initial PC release debacle. I'm glad I got that as a gift and didn't pay for it myself.

I've been playing Grim Dawn early access lately and feel like its the most promising ARPG yet, it hits all the right notes. It is far from completion unfortunately, at least a year or two off at this rate. Have you been playing it at all?

Yeah that's exactly what I meant obviously. My horse is in the barn but I'll go fetch him shortly

Verno wrote on Dec 21, 2013, 11:28:
Hahah whatever, waste of time.

Getting back on topic hopefully without interruption this time

Yes people, DO NOT INTERRUPT VERNO! Get off your high horse man.

Hahah whatever, waste of time.

Getting back on topic hopefully without interruption this time, the console version has on screen co-op which is really nice for playing with family and friends. If its on sale its not a bad deal at all, they made some solid improvements to the UI and underlying loot system. There are a few specific types of skills that don't work well with a gamepad but everything else is pretty solid and it's really fun to sit on the couch with your significant other and play. It helps that Normal in Diablo 3 is a huge joke so there isn't a massive learning curve for the non-gamer types too. I'd still like to see them go back to the drawing board with character customization and the over emphasis on main stat in item distro.

I'd like to see the PC version be pulled out a bit more, I always felt like they never hit the right zoom level but I think that would require too much reworking from the artists. Jay Wilson really fucked up many aspects of this but I think many are fixable and I like the direction they've been going in.

This comment was edited on Dec 21, 2013, 11:34.

Verno wrote on Dec 21, 2013, 11:09:

Axis wrote on Dec 21, 2013, 10:49:
PoE has nothing to learn from Diablo 3 short of screwing people over so they can make a ton more money. D3 is not a role model to any ARPG in any aspect except the 'throw money at it' one.

Nah you're just super defensive about POE related.

I like certain aspects of both games and have enjoyed both for different reasons. It's not a holy war or something.

Nah, I'm just critical of the shit they call D3 cause they are fuckovers of gamers.

I couldn't care less if people like the games I do. Some like it, some don't. You state your opinion, I state mine.

People will decide on their own.

This comment was edited on Dec 21, 2013, 11:26.

Axis wrote on Dec 21, 2013, 10:49:
PoE has nothing to learn from Diablo 3 short of screwing people over so they can make a ton more money. D3 is not a role model to any ARPG in any aspect except the 'throw money at it' one.

Nah you're just super defensive about POE related.

I like certain aspects of both games and have enjoyed both for different reasons. It's not a holy war or something.

PoE learned from Diablo 2 and they learned damn well.

PoE learned from existing F2P models, and they learned damn well.

PoE will continue to improve based on what they've learned and will learn.

PoE has nothing to learn from Diablo 3 short of screwing people over so they can make a ton more money. D3 is not a role model to any ARPG in any aspect except the 'throw money at it' one.

Nah I don't agree with you. Just like Diablo 3 can take some cues from it, POE can take some cues from other games and could stand some improvements. Both games do some things well and others poorly, Diablo 3's heritage and asking price certainly don't help with expectations.

This comment was edited on Dec 21, 2013, 00:11.

I've lost four characters in the last two years in PoE. Two were the specific targeting desync (only in PoE) before I know how to deal with it properly, other two were just bonehead moves on my part.

Currently have about 10 fully leveled in Nemesis/HC that haven't died since open character wipe - desync is not a problem once you know the game and how to avoid it.

However normal desync/rubberbanding will pop up on both PoE and D3 like in any game occasionally.

As for combat / animations... each to their own. D3 is just over the top physics, smash/hit shit over and over with bodies flying, nothing special. PoE combat isn't as flashy, more straight forward due to the vast amount of mob possibilities and affixes which can kill you the second you don't pay attention, which makes it much more enjoyable due to the sheer amount of character skill choices and consequences of those in a specific situation.

PoE combat enters unknown territory once you get to endgame. If you play even one map you'll be on your toes the entire time even if you are highly overleveled - all kinds of random mobs, affixes and possible ways to get destroyed very easily - no walk in the park, completely dependent on your choices.

POE has a much deeper customization system than Diablo 3 and has actual options for people who want to make unique builds through tree/item/gem combos. Diablo 3 has a much better combat model than POE. Diablo 3 has a terrible story. POE effectively has no story worth mentioning.

My main dislike of Diablo 3 is the MMO-style stat system emphasis and inability to make unique, interesting builds. My main dislike of POE is that the systems are deep and great but the combat bores me to tears and I can't play hardcore due to the desyncs.

So it's really a pick your poison thing IMO. I do think that Diablo's problems are fixable though whereas I don't see POE getting better animations and so on any time soon.

rist3903 wrote on Dec 20, 2013, 04:57:
Axis wrote on Dec 19, 2013, 21:39:

built upon a character 'customization' that is full-on laughably restricted... unlike PoE.

MattyC wrote on Dec 19, 2013, 23:14:

Do you mean unrestricted? You can play around with all kinds of builds and get the one that works for you. It is PoE that locks you in and forces you to relevel another character to try something different. I don't mean that to dump on PoE, I just don't see any reason for every ARPG to lock you in, variety is good.

When you can respec your character on the fly like you can in Diablo III, the only thing that differentiates you from anyone else playing your class is your gear. That just isn't enough for me.

In both you can customize. To each their own though.

To me, the only difference is in PoE when you want to customize you have to do some busy work first. Otherwise it is the same, I mean anyone can level up a character.

Seems like a personal preference kind of thing.

Poe is damn excellent too.

Yes, PoE is a very good game. My big complaint is the Online Only DRM (much like D3), just NOT a big fan of this current trend of the ARPG's being locked to online only. Grim Dawn is old School, OFFLINE, LAN, Direct IP... how it used to be. I'd also be fine if GD offered an OPTIONAL Secure Online Mode. I did give GGG some $$$ for making a very good ARPG, however, I'm more inclined to support Crate for making an excellent ARPG (so far), and providing a spectrum of game modes.

Sorry inblack, wrong quote, didn't mean to add you -I blame the Christmas crazinessblitz!

CJ_Parker wrote on Dec 19, 2013, 21:47:
The regular edition should be $29.99 and the CE $49.99. The prices they are asking are insane and just prove how detached from reality Blizzard have become. If you have a main game that is considered a fail by many people then you don't usually try to rip off people with an expansion. Unless you're Blizzard I guess.

On the other hand... there are tards paying hundreds of $$$ for attending the advertising show that is called Blizzcon so it's hard to blame Blizz for taking advantage of the fucktards of this planet. In the end the dumbasses are getting what they deserve if they pay what Blizzard is demanding.

I don't know specifics, because it's way too far for me to travel, but I believe Blizzcon admission has always been cheap, relatively... Travel/hotel sucks, but in that case, it's a vacation like any other, and hopefully, non-stereotypical gamers, get some time out in the sun : )

I'm looking forward to the expansion, and will likely delete the characters I like to level them up again (I like to level, so the new (as in D3's unlock style) system provides some annoyances/conflicts). On the plus side, this may let me put off getting Dark Souls 2 until it's out for XBONE/PS4/PC.

-Alamar

Ward wrote on Dec 20, 2013, 02:51:
The Diablo universe is dead, Diablo WAS Blizzard north, period. When multi billion dollar Blizzard got rid of them they thought they could do it better and this pile of flaming dung is what we got.

Chris Metzen couldn't write a story to save his life, putting Jay Wilson in charge of making the game destroyed it as well. The entire concept could not of been more poorly designed and executed. Loot 2.0, getting rid of the AH, all of it is perfume on a pig, doesn't change what is fundamentally wrong with the game.

I really don't care and don't support Blizzard as a company anymore.

I Have Grim Dawn now and the alpha alone is as close to the fun i have had to Diablo 2 as i am going to get from any ARPG and I have tried them all.

+1

Poe is damn excellent too. To those who say combat is stiff, the variety and atmosphere and game changing progress tree totally overshadows this minor shortcoming. add to the fact that I am having MORE fun than I ever did in the dismal experience that was Diablo3.

PoE, have singlehandedly dethroned the new Diablo iteration. Well done GGG.

History in the making: My first ever AAA Blizzard title that I will ignore since D3 release, on out.

/Happy Holidays GGG, PoE, and to Bluesnews.

I Have Grim Dawn now and the alpha alone is as close to the fun i have had to Diablo 2 as i am going to get from any ARPG and I have tried them all.

+1