Huge fan of the franchise from the very first movie. Also, sorry for any bad grammar, not my native tongue so lets get that out of the way first. [yesnod]
First impression:
Few hours in. Some frustrating issues later.....
And that is what i feel about the game so far, do i enjoy it, yes! [up] And hope to do so for the remaining game. Would i recommend it to friends, it depends. But one thing is clear, this game have great potential and i hope the development team take advantage of that.
How have your experience been, do you agree or disagree to anything I've written . Lets have a healthy discussion.
This is just my honest opinion and if you feel different then that is cool also. [up]
First impression:
To be honest i really did not have any expectations about this game at all, which usually is a good thing. (overhype and what you got).
I've enjoyed the game a great deal thus far, played for about 12-14h and im well into Isla Muerta and already unlocked Nublar (Sandbox). The graphics and sound/ music are beautiful and rich. The animals are well made, and feels alive. The game certainly give, at least for me a very nice Jurassic Park'ish vibe to it all as I explore my options with the different animals, their genome and the park management tools, all the while im building and creating what in my mind (not bragging) starts to become a beautiful and somewhat functioning park.
On the first island things start out pretty easy, which i personally enjoy while learning the ropes. I like taking time exploring and getting down to the nitty-gritty of games before i move on, doing so I was able to unlock Nublar from quite early on (Not sure exactly how) So had a look at that island before i moved on to Isla Muerta.
There I were thrown into a storm straight away, and got a feel for a more challenging gameplay which was nice. Shortly there after ran the park to bankruptcy due to poor investments and research.
That pretty much sum up my experience so far, and will continue my adventure later this evening which im looking forward to.
I've enjoyed the game a great deal thus far, played for about 12-14h and im well into Isla Muerta and already unlocked Nublar (Sandbox). The graphics and sound/ music are beautiful and rich. The animals are well made, and feels alive. The game certainly give, at least for me a very nice Jurassic Park'ish vibe to it all as I explore my options with the different animals, their genome and the park management tools, all the while im building and creating what in my mind (not bragging) starts to become a beautiful and somewhat functioning park.
On the first island things start out pretty easy, which i personally enjoy while learning the ropes. I like taking time exploring and getting down to the nitty-gritty of games before i move on, doing so I was able to unlock Nublar from quite early on (Not sure exactly how) So had a look at that island before i moved on to Isla Muerta.
There I were thrown into a storm straight away, and got a feel for a more challenging gameplay which was nice. Shortly there after ran the park to bankruptcy due to poor investments and research.
That pretty much sum up my experience so far, and will continue my adventure later this evening which im looking forward to.
Few hours in. Some frustrating issues later.....
While the game looks very nice, and runs (at least for my part, playing on xbox one) great, I can't help but be a little frustrated at times. I like to have lots of options, and although i think the game got good options for macroplay it lacks in the micro department. It's easily to get a quick overview of the park, how its running, it's finances, what animals are happy and which ones are sick or worse.
The overview map show buildings that are damage and anything not connected ie. roads or builds. The animals are easily tracked and counted for also and thats all good.
But that's where it stops. At least for my part.
There is few options for micro-managing the park. Buildings have few options for how you would run them. There is no automation. The rangerteam must be selected for each and every task, which can get a bit tedious at times. The technology building ie. research center, fossile center and so on have quite boring interface and there are little to do in them other then just research genes and tech that take a few minutes interval before its unlocked and then your done. No animations to speak of and minor or no visible changes to buildings you've upgraded at all.
The islands (play area) are to small, at least I would expect there to be and option for buying more land and making the park bigger. I do see how the "story islands" can benefit from this as you have to take more care in planing the layout. But when I got to Nublar, the sandbox island, and saw the small size of the map there also it was disheartening to say the least.
Speaking of the islands, the terra forming tools are very lacking, this is in my personal view a big one. The tools are very rudimentary and offers just the most basic. When playing through the first map i tried
making a river with waterfalls, "but no can do". If you try making water on sloped terrain it simply flattens everything or won't work at all. There is no models for rock or waterfalls in the game either.
I would very much want more options in this department as I in my humble opinion believe it can make or break this type of game.
Adding more brush options, flowing water, waterfalls, rocks and cliffs, and more types of vegetation and textures would greatly improve the game.
Facilities. There's the view platforms and the gyrosphere. (Not unlocked yet, so hopes up [smile]) But I feel something is missing and would at least hope for more attractions in the future.
Rafting (riverboats) through enclosures, bridges for traversing terrain and water (also into enclosures. As seen in JW Rex enclosure), playground with small dinos, stairs, etc. would make the
game feel more alive.
I also think roaming hero-characters like Dr. Ian Malcolm, Dr. Henry Wu, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing to mention a few, or even maybe some of the characters for the original cast would make for a great addition to game. They could have different attributes both pros and cons boosting park tech, animal welfare etc. Maybe a few lines of dialog if zoomed into. Which takes me to my last issue.
The camera is lacking, the game have few ways of showing of the park other with the rangerteam/ Acu and the overview camera. At the very least there should be a building view options. From the platforms the guest can use etc.
The overview map show buildings that are damage and anything not connected ie. roads or builds. The animals are easily tracked and counted for also and thats all good.
But that's where it stops. At least for my part.
There is few options for micro-managing the park. Buildings have few options for how you would run them. There is no automation. The rangerteam must be selected for each and every task, which can get a bit tedious at times. The technology building ie. research center, fossile center and so on have quite boring interface and there are little to do in them other then just research genes and tech that take a few minutes interval before its unlocked and then your done. No animations to speak of and minor or no visible changes to buildings you've upgraded at all.
The islands (play area) are to small, at least I would expect there to be and option for buying more land and making the park bigger. I do see how the "story islands" can benefit from this as you have to take more care in planing the layout. But when I got to Nublar, the sandbox island, and saw the small size of the map there also it was disheartening to say the least.
Speaking of the islands, the terra forming tools are very lacking, this is in my personal view a big one. The tools are very rudimentary and offers just the most basic. When playing through the first map i tried
making a river with waterfalls, "but no can do". If you try making water on sloped terrain it simply flattens everything or won't work at all. There is no models for rock or waterfalls in the game either.
I would very much want more options in this department as I in my humble opinion believe it can make or break this type of game.
Adding more brush options, flowing water, waterfalls, rocks and cliffs, and more types of vegetation and textures would greatly improve the game.
Facilities. There's the view platforms and the gyrosphere. (Not unlocked yet, so hopes up [smile]) But I feel something is missing and would at least hope for more attractions in the future.
Rafting (riverboats) through enclosures, bridges for traversing terrain and water (also into enclosures. As seen in JW Rex enclosure), playground with small dinos, stairs, etc. would make the
game feel more alive.
I also think roaming hero-characters like Dr. Ian Malcolm, Dr. Henry Wu, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing to mention a few, or even maybe some of the characters for the original cast would make for a great addition to game. They could have different attributes both pros and cons boosting park tech, animal welfare etc. Maybe a few lines of dialog if zoomed into. Which takes me to my last issue.
The camera is lacking, the game have few ways of showing of the park other with the rangerteam/ Acu and the overview camera. At the very least there should be a building view options. From the platforms the guest can use etc.
And that is what i feel about the game so far, do i enjoy it, yes! [up] And hope to do so for the remaining game. Would i recommend it to friends, it depends. But one thing is clear, this game have great potential and i hope the development team take advantage of that.
How have your experience been, do you agree or disagree to anything I've written . Lets have a healthy discussion.
This is just my honest opinion and if you feel different then that is cool also. [up]