More good than bad.

[Kestril]

I'm so tired about all these negative threads. I thought I'd make a thread where people could share the good things, or things they found impressive about elite dangerous.

As a new player, two things really stand out for me:

1) A+++ Sound design. Give that team a cigar. Not only is it unique and stuff you haven't commonly heard before in sci-fi games, but it knocks it out of the park. The sounds make the spaceship way more "real" to me, and I still get goosebumps when I spool up the hyperdrive.

2) Well done dogfighting gameplay. Not only is the flight model responsive, but there are many options when two players decide to dogfight besides just "shoot the other guy" Try and stealth off the radar? Prep heatsinks and go in guns-blazing? Target specific components with your weaponry? Or how about just charge up the FSD to escape? All are viable options.

At it's core, the dogfighting gameplay's wealth of options and power management makes it more than just moving turrets in space. If there's one thing frontier needed to get right, it's this core gameplay. In my opinion, they NAILED it. Moreover, they do so while allowing the option for a simple, arcade-like flight model. As an avid flight-sim and flight-arcade player, that's something that's deceptively hard to do.

So, in your opinion, what does Elite: Dangerous do well?

 

[Tarman]

You are soooo right about the sound in this game, it is delicious. Some of the best and most engaging (and useful) sound effects I've heard in a game. They're IN the cockpit so to speak, and not just a disconnected overlay sound, which is a feel you can get from a less-integrated sound system. Their sound guys have paid much attention to detail.

 

[Cmdr Andy B]

when the canopy breaks and it all goes quiet while half the HUD disappears along with the glass.

the first time it happens is always a jaw dropping moment.

space station design also excels, from the old fashioned box stations to the newer type with the glass roofed rings - all of them look stunning.

 

[777Driver]

I'm so tired about all these negative threads. I thought I'd make a thread where people could share the good things, or things they found impressive about elite dangerous.

As a new player, two things really stand out for me:

1) A+++ Sound design. Give that team a cigar. Not only is it unique and stuff you haven't commonly heard before in sci-fi games, but it knocks it out of the park. The sounds make the spaceship way more "real" to me, and I still get goosebumps when I spool up the hyperdrive.

2) Well done dogfighting gameplay. Not only is the flight model responsive, but there are many options when two players decide to dogfight besides just "shoot the other guy" Try and stealth off the radar? Prep heatsinks and go in guns-blazing? Target specific components with your weaponry? Or how about just charge up the FSD to escape? All are viable options.

At it's core, the dogfighting gameplay's wealth of options and power management makes it more than just moving turrets in space. If there's one thing frontier needed to get right, it's this core gameplay. In my opinion, they NAILED it. Moreover, they do so while allowing the option for a simple, arcade-like flight model. As an avid flight-sim and flight-arcade player, that's something that's deceptively hard to do.

So, in your opinion, what does Elite: Dangerous do well?

Too many to list from me.. so just a few

1. The ships feel like actual machines, the fist time I loaded up my Eagle with powerful weapon's, jumped into a conflict zone, deployed weapons and then watched as much ship began to shut itself down The ships require energy management/heat management/weight management/components fail/screens crack etc etc.. pure bliss to hardcore sim geeks like me

2. Pure freedom, and I feel like I am learning about the universe and our galaxy. Spent a few hours just hunting Nebulae on the Gal map, asking A.S.T.R.A about different types of stars and Nebulae. Have always been interested in our little galaxy, but it feels different knowing I can actually visit Messier (600LY away) and not just read about it, or watch video's.

Those two reasons alone make the game worthwhile to me, and that is not even scratching the surface of what this game could be in 1 month,1 year, even 5 years down the line.

 

[atlas974]

This game is mind blowing ! I went to see interstellar and i must say that while watching it Elite came a lot to my mind

 

[xxThe_Dice_manxx]

I will NEVER forget the first time I played this game, it was just the first target practice scenario , the noise of the guns the explosions the way the bullets smacked across the surface of the asteroid behind the target, and then the noise of the thrusters as you rotate and pitch up and down to the bionic man sound of the engines throttling up.And then that first time you go into hyper space,what can I say....!

Incredible.

 

[flint read]

plus one here

 

[SuBSynk]

when the canopy breaks and it all goes quiet while half the HUD disappears along with the glass.

the first time it happens is always a jaw dropping moment.

space station design also excels, from the old fashioned box stations to the newer type with the glass roofed rings - all of them look stunning.

Yes!! i was in shock when this happened to me..the sudden lack of any sound, the visual elements of trying to navigate using one small shard of the remaining canopy to see the station info i was headed towards. Only having 5mins of oxygen left to dock before i died was a heart in mouth moment for me and an amazing experience.

There is so much to love in Elite, its difficult to know where to start. In my 25 years of gaming i'd easily say even beta is one of the most profound and enjoyable gaming experiences i have had.

 

[Sounder Deeps]

Oh boy the sound in this game is phenomenal really. Brilliant job FD!

 

[Ike Thermite]

Oh boy the sound in this game is phenomenal really. Brilliant job FD!

Absolutely agree. hearing the frame shudder under load when you hits the boost button is excellently done.

 

[mitth'raw'nuruodo]

Agree that dogfighting (& flying in general) in this game is superlative to such a degree that I simply can not enjoy any other space sim (including Far Citizen, X Series, Freelancer or anything else) anymore. Graphics and sound are also impeccable.

All the more painful if the rest of the game does not match up to the same standard. Regardless we can take comfort from the fact that the game will continue to evolve and improve for the foreseeable future.

 

[Zephyr]

I don't know if I agree that there is more good than bad. Do you simply rate the # of good things against the # of bad things? I hardly think sound design is of equal importance to say, the textures on asteroids. I think they have done a lot of things right. The sound design for example is outstanding. The flight model feels great and I do like combat. (It could be improved, but my complaints are mostly minor) I love how they implemented interdiction in a fair way for both the interdictor and the interdictee. At the same time, I think there are some very fundamental design issues that easily outweigh the good. For one thing, the professions are by and large very boring. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's very true for most MMOs. The problem is, most MMOs offer something besides those professions like raids, PvP, seiges, etc. The professions are merely a means to an end, but in this game the professions are both the means and the ends. The only reason to make money is to make more money, and making money isn't fun in the first place. This will cause the game to get stale VERY quickly. The careers are fine at first, but they all lack depth and get old quickly. There are a bunch of ways to fix this issue, but until I'm confident that there is a solution in the works, I can't confidently say that this game will be good.

 

[scrufferpops]

This is sounding familiar but yes the sound is phenomenal...Just incredible.
I also particularly like the concept of the frame shift drive and the way its implemented. A few have said its boring but I totally disagree
Escape vector fights are particularly engaging!!
Oh and the first time I engaged the hyperdrive and got up close to the systems local star ---- AMAZING!!!

Great game

 

[AndersonDG]

When I first started playing and as I progressively got more and more involved with the game there were three things that always stuck out for me, the sound design, cockpit design, and the way the developers have nailed the "feeling" of each ship. The first two speak for themselves but I'll elaborate on that third point.

No matter what ship you're flying you can always feel that a substantial amount of effort has gone into making each ship have its own unique feel. Going from a relatively speedy and maneuverable Sidewinder to a hulking and powerful Anaconda is very satisfying. The flight model obviously doesn't change but you're instantly able to feel what makes piloting each ship unique. Even if I don't think I'll be interested in piloting a particular ship because I'm not currently doing what it's used best for I'm always excited to try each and every one of them anyway because of this.

 

[Sarduca]

The things I love about elite dangerous is a lot of things but when you go to an asteroid field and see the ice asteroids in space half dark and half light and the way that little ice particles fly off as you blast them with your mining laser.... and when you turn of you shields the way your glass frosts up on the cockpit .... whooo ... good stuff

 

[Erna Jedermann]

The Sounds reminds me allways to the "New" Battlestar Galactica Series .... the only what I like in this "New Version" .....
I really like the feeling of flying a Space Ship around "Our" Galaxy ... and that there are NO GOALS from setting from the GAME, only your own.
You decided how you want to play it, and if you don´t need the biggest Credits/Ship/Equiment ect... you are welcome to find your own place in this Game.
And that what I call freedom in playing...

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

I don't know if I agree that there is more good than bad. Do you simply rate the # of good things against the # of bad things? I hardly think sound design is of equal importance to say, the textures on asteroids. I think they have done a lot of things right. The sound design for example is outstanding. The flight model feels great and I do like combat. (It could be improved, but my complaints are mostly minor) I love how they implemented interdiction in a fair way for both the interdictor and the interdictee. At the same time, I think there are some very fundamental design issues that easily outweigh the good. For one thing, the professions are by and large very boring. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's very true for most MMOs. The problem is, most MMOs offer something besides those professions like raids, PvP, seiges, etc. The professions are merely a means to an end, but in this game the professions are both the means and the ends. The only reason to make money is to make more money, and making money isn't fun in the first place. This will cause the game to get stale VERY quickly. The careers are fine at first, but they all lack depth and get old quickly. There are a bunch of ways to fix this issue, but until I'm confident that there is a solution in the works, I can't confidently say that this game will be good.

You are correct Zephyr - the game has width but no depth. However, there are plenty of things missing from the game that were discussed during the DDF so my assumption here is that post release development work of the game will continue and in due course Release v2, v3, v4, etc, will add more functionality to the game.

Long term goals will be realised in time - the issue is one of wealth. Once you have a lot of credits you're left wondering what to do with it. There was talk if you remember about helping stations build up from scratch; escorting important dignitaries around the galaxy; planetary relief operations; plus there's also the Elite Federation of Pilot interactions and missions to look forward to (available to Founders from the get go).

So yes - I completely agree that long term this game in its current incarnation lacks depth but that should come in time.

As it stand though - for the things you can do now - it's quite an enjoyable experience.

Finally : +1 to the sound engineers. It's very important to me (over graphics) and FD have done a grand job with this aspect..

 

[Tar Stone]

The combat, ship handling, audio and the depth of control you have over your ship are all absolutely outstanding and completely addictive.

They've nailed these elements so well I can't imagine anything else ever coming within a million miles of Elite Dangerous.

 

[DigiScot]

Agree with most, the game is beautiful in all aspects, the graphics are great, the sound is just utterly phenomenal, and the effects are fantastic. Huge props for getting the old classic music in there while in auto pilot too, that really did make me smile a lot!!

Now make the exit of super cruise less rubbish. It's such a jarring awful immersion killer.

 

[mojonaut]

I recall seeing my first approach to a Coriolis station, Port Zelada, as I neared and it got larger and larger and the detail just kept on coming, it was really a OMFG moment - this thing is huge. Entering the docking entrance for the first time with the music and Station announcers voice reverberating all around. Little vehicles going around the interior above my head, other ships landing and departing, little bits of debris floating around, too much to take in.

I think we become a bit blase about a lot of the visuals as they become so familiar and forget just how freaking good they really are.

As for the sound well in a game I've never heard anything better it's just the icing on the cake.