» Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:32 pm Intro (if you are going to read this, read past first sentence)
Spoiler
Why I'm doing this?
(@Bethesda) Well it's because Bethesda didn't want to put Fallout: New Vegas on sale during steam's winter sale. The other reason is that I think these issues are something that needs to be fixed if Bethesda wants to see me (and maybe some other people too) buying their games. The goal is post a new thread every day about something that is relevant to the game (so you ain't gonna see "there isn't enough nice looking clothes for mages") and is something that isn't criticised every week (hopefully). I will try to continue this untill there is a sale on new vegas (+all dlc, it's the dlc I really want).
Who am I?
The most accurate description people have called me would be "pc elitist troll". I like playing good games (and I don't just limit myself to one game or genre). I have been playing games since DOOM (although I was very young back then). Also I'm not a native english speaker so if something is confusing or has spelling mistakes I would be happy to hear your feedback.
Why I'm doing this?
(@Bethesda) Well it's because Bethesda didn't want to put Fallout: New Vegas on sale during steam's winter sale. The other reason is that I think these issues are something that needs to be fixed if Bethesda wants to see me (and maybe some other people too) buying their games. The goal is post a new thread every day about something that is relevant to the game (so you ain't gonna see "there isn't enough nice looking clothes for mages") and is something that isn't criticised every week (hopefully). I will try to continue this untill there is a sale on new vegas (+all dlc, it's the dlc I really want).
Who am I?
The most accurate description people have called me would be "pc elitist troll". I like playing good games (and I don't just limit myself to one game or genre). I have been playing games since DOOM (although I was very young back then). Also I'm not a native english speaker so if something is confusing or has spelling mistakes I would be happy to hear your feedback.
earlier topics:
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1435408-my-playthrough-of-skyrim-complaints-day-1/ -day 1 horseriding
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1435637-my-playthrough-of-skyrim-complaints-day-2/ -day 2 sneak perks
today's topic is:
Sneaking gameplay
Yesterday I spoke about perks related to sneaking. Today I'm going to talk about sneaking in general. I like sneaking in games and because of that I have played bunch of sneaking games. I always try to create a sneaky character in rpgs and in multiplayer games I use various sneaky methods to defeat my opponents.
Sneaking consists of three major areas. Method of staying hidden, the AI and level design are very important when creating a good sneaking experience.
Skyrim is very traditional with the way sneaking works. Stick to the shadows and you'll be fine. The addition of dynamic shadows makes the experience more interesting from a gameplay and visual standpoint. This method work great and there is nothing wrong it when a game does it right. Skyrim unfortunately misses with it's execution. The problem is with motion detection. The likes to think that the better your character in sneak the stealthier he is. As if stealth is some sort of linear x,y graph which it isn't. Motion plays a big role here. I've stayed countless times hidden in situations where my enemy looking straight at me in an online game. How is this possible? Well it's easy if you got corpses of your friends around you and simply don't move not even your gun. Enemies will just think you are just another corpse. The game has way too small penalties for sneaking. Movement should atleast make detection twise as easy.
The AI. There has been a lot of talk on the ai as far as I know everybody seems agree it's horrible or atleast demented. Cmon bethesda you have over 200 workers and the best you can come up is this?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHbF9ynGZV0
Lastly there is level design. You might wonder what has level design to do with Skyrim as the game is open world? While most the game world is quite open a large time is spent of dungeons (if not majority of play time). The dungeons in Skyrim are just too linear. While linearity itself isn't a bad thing (nobody likes back tracking anyway) but the dungeons doesn't offer any new situations. Everytime I have to deal with some enemy I have to wait when they turn their backs so that I can go stabby stabby. Lack of alternate routes and methods of dealing with enemies makes sneaking boring fast. There are few exceptions like Broken Oar Grotto. The level design on that dungeon made skyrim feel like a totally different game.
A little bit of environmetal interaction (trap damage scaling with pc level, more removeable torches) and more alternate routes (stuff like a second hallway or support beam in the ceiling which you can walk over) would greatly help dungeon level design.
Lastly I want to mention holds. Holds are much more varied in their design than dungeons but can't sneak about inside a hold. Why? Because you are allowed to wonder around with anybody stopping you. Atleast in oblivion castales had few forbidden areas with actual guards guarding them.
