I am too constantly enjoying the immense beauty and all the detail. Last week I was playing AC Rogue and it is staggering hoe much progress UBI has made in world building since then, and how powerful PCs have become. When I see all these assets in the game... I am sometimes wondering how it is even possible to create all that.
I still remember being impressed by games on the Commodore 64, if they would've shown me pictures of some games these days I probably would've fainted or laughed at them in the face.
I realy enjoy a good looking game, like the latest Assassin's Creed games for instance.
The Hunter: Call of the Wild blew me off my feet, the landscape, forrests, etc. are fantastic!!
The upcoming MS FS 2020 will be incredible no doubt, it's screenshots look unreal, well really real actually.
Edit.
I just read that tomorow there will be the first reveal trailer of the new Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.
As of 1pm BST Wednesday 29 April Ubisoft have officially shown off artwork of the new Assassins Creed game on Facebook and confirmed that it does indeed centre on Vikings and called Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, with designer BossLogic drawing a live graphic on stream confirming as much. This...
Also for all you Odyssey fans, for those who don't know, the same team who developed Odyssey now works on a game called "Gods and Monsters".
It looks rather lovely, I have to say. It has a hand-drawn graphic style, it is also an open world set in ancient Greece, this time around it's a pure fantasy based on mythology, though. I suppose it will be filled with ideas that didn't make the cut for AC:O. It's planned for late 2020 release after a delay from February and I'm really looking forward to it.
Also for all you Odyssey fans, for those who don't know, the same team who developed Odyssey now works on a game called "Gods and Monsters".
It looks rather lovely, I have to say. It has a hand-drawn graphic style, it is also an open world set in ancient Greece, this time around it's a pure fantasy based on mythology, though. I suppose it will be filled with ideas that didn't make the cut for AC:O. It's planned for late 2020 release after a delay from February and I'm really looking forward to it.
I bought an artbook of AC Odyssey and beside being full of incredible artwork and design, they talk extensively about all the "footwork" they've done for the project. Every building, statue or artifact that survived to this day was photographed, measured by 3D scanning tools and modelled to the last detail. Details that were lost to time physically but survive in literature were also put to the game with utmost care. And it goes on. Things that they weren't able to replicate or just gamey things they needed to create were also created with care. Real architects designed the building with sty
As well as learning a lot about the game's development, I also learned a lot about the real history, from that artbook. Did you know, for example, that all ancient Greek statues were painted to look as real as possible? I didn't.
After reading the book, I enjoyed the game even more.
Sadly I haven't played Origins, because I dislike Egypt. Probably some sort of overexposure at younger age, but that setting is not appealing to me. But I can imagine it's the same deal and an awesome experience for people loving that place and era.
I liked Origins quite a bit...didn't identify with the main characters though which spoiled it a bit. The locations however were done with the same attention to detail as Odyssey, marvellous stuff for me since I fell in love with Egyptology after seeing Tutenkhamun's golden death mask in the real at the Glasgow museum of the arts when I was young.
Some of the mechanics were fun in game...one poison dart did this...
I still remember being impressed by games on the Commodore 64, if they would've shown me pictures of some games these days I probably would've fainted or laughed at them in the face.
I totally get you, I remember being in photorealism awe when some badly digitized, 16 colours, 320x200 image appeared on the TV, and I was all "look, my computer can do that?" kind of astonished. I'm still doing that mentally very often, as in trying to get in the point of view of small kid me when I play the stuff of today. A few years ago, when I had just started playing ED, I found myself dogfighting in an Eagle in some RES in Leesti when suddenly I had to stop and taking a screenshot, out of a simple realization.
A scene like that was the actual representation of how those Commodore and DOS games played out in my kid mind. I just had to stop for some minutes and slowly fly around, realizing that after a couple decades, I was playing something like that without the need to make it all up in my imagination. It was quite a moment.
I liked Origins quite a bit...didn't identify with the main characters though which spoiled it a bit. The locations however were done with the same attention to detail as Odyssey, marvellous stuff for me since I fell in love with Egyptology after seeing Tutenkhamun's golden death mask in the real at the Glasgow museum of the arts when I was young.
Some of the mechanics were fun in game...one poison dart did this...
Can't but agree, those two last AC titles are beyond gorgeous, whatever flaws the gameplay may or may not have, the artistic direction and efforts in the visual department are a solid 10/10. They could and should be used in school to teach some history lessons (I think they are, somewhere).
The Ubisoft's unrivalled 3D scanning tech and their attention to detail in all latest Assassins (including Syndicate, which I love dearly but most AC fans seem to hate, and Unity) has been used as a cross-reference for restoring old buildings.
Most notably as of late - the Notre Dame. Their 3D model of Notre Dame will be used to recreate some finer details of the interior and decor.
So yeah, I can see a teacher firing up Odyssey when the kids learn about Athens or Sparta.
I've dismissed the game in the past because I was led to believe it was "Space Engineers Lite", but recently it's been popping up in my YouTube feed due to an update, and now I'm beginning to think it's "Space Engineers With Everything I've Wanted But Don't Currently Have!"
Just from the few minutes of video I watched, it feels like it has a NMS vibe, from the sense of some life down on planets and more for "explorers" like me. I'm not talking about endless procgen planets, I don't care about that, but rather that the planets EGS has look more "alive" and fun to explore. I also get the sense there is more "survival" involved, including the need to eat, which I like. But can I also do cool design of machines? I do enjoy problem-solving in SE, building complex machines to do things like mining. Does EGS have this, or is it more along the lines of NMS base-building?
Anyway, I'd love your thoughts, especially regarding the state of EGS after this latest update. While I hate to walk away from SE after the huge learning curve mountain I had to climb, if EGS truly is a better SE, I'm willing to climb a new mountain (at least until Starbase or Dual Universe is finally released).
Ahhh, Traveller on Wednesday has everyone in the galaxy out to kill us, and most players backstabbing each other.
The use of tools like Microsoft Teams is making a great change in face-to-face roleplaying games. Three of our group were missing on Wednesday, due to the various conferencing issues. Naturally, they were the first three nearly killed in that session's encounter...
Another challenge for us is which version to use. Our referee (as the GM is called) uses the Mongoose system. Andy is forever searching for perfect game mechanics. I use Classic Traveller, with a few add on's. It's simpler.
Notably, "legs" takes preference over "space". Very little of the space-based portion of the game gets played. It's like Elite, versus so many other sci-fi games. Only a few of us really enjoy the cockpit time, compared to the first-person aspects of most games. Most of you are familiar with my opinion that you cannot do both, well.
I've dismissed the game in the past because I was led to believe it was "Space Engineers Lite", but recently it's been popping up in my YouTube feed due to an update, and now I'm beginning to think it's "Space Engineers With Everything I've Wanted But Don't Currently Have!"
Just from the few minutes of video I watched, it feels like it has a NMS vibe, from the sense of some life down on planets and more for "explorers" like me. I'm not talking about endless procgen planets, I don't care about that, but rather that the planets EGS has look more "alive" and fun to explore. I also get the sense there is more "survival" involved, including the need to eat, which I like. But can I also do cool design of machines? I do enjoy problem-solving in SE, building complex machines to do things like mining. Does EGS have this, or is it more along the lines of NMS base-building?
Anyway, I'd love your thoughts, especially regarding the state of EGS after this latest update. While I hate to walk away from SE after the huge learning curve mountain I had to climb, if EGS truly is a better SE, I'm willing to climb a new mountain (at least until Starbase or Dual Universe is finally released).
I wasn’t able to set aside any VR time yesterday, so I watched two hours of a Let’s Play. I like what I saw. As you said, it looks like Space Engineers+. Kind of reminds me how Timber and Stone (an abandoned Early Access management building game) was fun, but Stone Hearth (A Kickstarter that started around the same time as Star Citizen and Elite Dangerous) had everything T&S did, but much more. Including NPCs so well done, that I saw one run off in tears after another reminded them of their dead pet rabbit, who had been killed in a goblin raid!
edit: I’ll pick it up tonight. Space Engineers has reached the grindy stage again. I’m starting to look at starting a new Minecraft game.
Currently I am replaying Assassin's Creed Origins (just finished) and AC Odyssey.
The world building in these games is beyond beautiful and the game mechanics are really good too. These are such incredibly satisfying open world games.
I love the mercenaries that hunt you in these games. I love to see how they retrace your footsteps and search the area where you have just been. It adds a nice touch of tension.
On that note, AC Vahalla! looks EPIC based on the new trailer
but I got the same tingling down my spine and leg when AC 3 was adverstized. How it seemed UbiSoft had made revolutionary steps adding new crafting mechanics. Revamping and adapting the climbing system from a closed cell with walls to an open world space/forest with trees. The legendary new tomahawk. The list of promised new game play features was so wonderfully immersive and mind boggling. Then the game released. And all my expectations and hopes were cruelly dashed. Became a certified cynic until Black Flag which restored some fragments of my faith. Only to find myself once again losing my religion as Ubisoft descended along the Exceptional @.$.$.holes route to Purgatory. Transforming the franchise into an annual title with cancerous online live service micro transactions. By AC Origins, I'd given up all hope and retired to exclusively playing AC Brotherhood and Black Flag.
Then a miracle happened. Fortune had it that UbiSoft -- unlike the Exceptional @.$.$.holes -- actually possessed an amazing capacity for perception. And was intuitive enough to both LISTEN and LEARN from the disillusionment of its disenfranchised fan base. AC Odyssey was the result, which thankfully restored my faith in the franchise. This timely franchise reboot was still afflicted with the toxic online live service/macro transaction feature (which is unfortunately here to stay). But the store feature wasn't invasive or disruptive to game play. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they won't loose perspective this time around. Continue this middle ground with Vahalla and stay true to the story/RPG elements which made AC 2 Brotherhood and Blag Flag so great.
But the pragmatic cynic in me has braced me for the worst. In which case, que sera, sera. I'll stay just as happy immersing myself in the universe of CP 2077
How, how, HOW did I not know about Planetside 2? Downloading now. I still don't know much about it, but at first glance it sounds like a game I used to LOVE - MAG (Massive Action Game), except in the future! Considering this game has been out so long, I'm baffled I didn't know about it. It's even on PS4! [scratches head]
I also just grabbed Project Cars 2 on 80% sale. If nothing else, it should be a fun VR romp.
So yeah, New Era can wait - my Steam and PSN libraries are filling up with games faster than I can play them all!
I bought an artbook of AC Odyssey and beside being full of incredible artwork and design, they talk extensively about all the "footwork" they've done for the project. Every building, statue or artifact that survived to this day was photographed, measured by 3D scanning tools and modelled to the last detail. Details that were lost to time physically but survive in literature were also put to the game with utmost care. And it goes on. Things that they weren't able to replicate or just gamey things they needed to create were also created with care. Real architects designed the building with style appropriate for the period.
As well as learning a lot about the game's development, I also learned a lot about the real history, from that artbook. Did you know, for example, that all ancient Greek statues were painted to look as real as possible? I didn't.
After reading the book, I enjoyed the game even more.
Sadly I haven't played Origins, because I dislike Egypt. Probably some sort of overexposure at younger age, but that setting is not appealing to me. But I can imagine it's the same deal and an awesome experience for people loving that place and era.
I think you have missed out. It is worthwhile trying out AC Origins. The Egyptian ancient world is recreated in awesome and inspiring fashion. Experiencing Alexandria, Krokodilopolis, Thebes, etc., or the meticulous recreations of the Pyramids in all their stages of historic development... that alone is worth it.
Just wait for a sale and you will be able to buy Origins with expansions for about ten bucks.
I am a collector of concept art books myself, and I totally forgot about the Odyssey art book. I am going to put that on my list immediately.
I think you have missed out. It is worthwhile trying out AC Origins. The Egyptian ancient world is recreated in awesome and inspiring fashion. Experiencing Alexandria, Krokodilopolis, Thebes, etc., or the meticulous recreations of the Pyramids in all their stages of historic development... that alone is worth it.
Just wait for a sale and you will be able to buy Origins with expansions for about ten bucks.
I am a collector of concept art books myself, and I totally forgot about the Odyssey art book. I am going to put that on my list immediately.
Please do. I've only got a couple of artbooks. Mostly for my most favourite games or when they came with the collector's editions and Odyssey artbook is by far the best in my posession. I know there are even more impressive ones, out there, for example the Blizzard ones, but even then it's a must-buy.
As for the Origins, well, I've got Uplay+ so I don't even have to buy it. And maybe I'll get to it at some point. I know it's great and it's the stepping stone Odyssey built up upon (and also the only AC I haven't played so even from the completionist's standpoint I ought to. )
AC Valhalla will be an instant buy for me, I enjoyed Origins and Odyssey a lot, a Viking setting is a great change imho, I would've been slightly disappointed if they had chosen another Mediterranean setting like the Roman Empire.
By the time Valhalla comes out the Xbox series X will be out too I hope, this game will look awesome no doubt.
I bought an artbook of AC Odyssey and beside being full of incredible artwork and design, they talk extensively about all the "footwork" they've done for the project. Every building, statue or artifact that survived to this day was photographed, measured by 3D scanning tools and modelled to the last detail. Details that were lost to time physically but survive in literature were also put to the game with utmost care. And it goes on. Things that they weren't able to replicate or just gamey things they needed to create were also created with care.
This. My only regret is that Ubi was unable to go down the road Bethesda took in developing TES worlds (Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim). Both devs understand how to create beautiful and graphically immersive open world environments. But only Bethesda (and this is the only dev in the industry to date) truly understands how to make said open world completely interactive.
Where the hell am I? Must have passed out. My sword arm is crippled and my head's exploding. Damn it. WTH didn't I think to bring a mount before doing this crypt crawling side job? The loot wasn't even worth the damned risk. And WTH did I stop to scavenge these iron and silver ingots off that NPC miner corpse? Especially since the poor wretch got mauled by wolves back at that pass. They could've been lying around in wait. Don't even know where the nearest village or town is. WTH was I thinking?? Anyhow, there's no way I'm dragging this heavy junk all over Skyrim thanks to my injured shield arm. It's probably damned broke as well. And feels like it's about to fall off my torso if my bloody head doesn't first...wait--what's that smoke? Is that a cottage?! With a forge?? Yes! Off to make my backpack positively love meee....
Hey there Mr. blacksmith NPC, can I use your forge? Don't mind the blood and gore all over my armor and body. Or that open festering wound on my head. Was adventuring and had a bit of a nasty run in with some hostile undead denizens in a crypt---I mean got hit in the head by falling debris in a dungeon nearby. Barely escaped with my life and must have blacked out shortly afterwards outside the entrance. Was lucky to find everything was still reattached like they should when I came to. Nasty business that. Rather not discuss it. So this is your cottage and you're heading off to the inn for a bite of dinner? And I can use your forge for free eh? Why thank you! And no, I'm afraid I can't accompany you to see the healer on the way. No, don't need to see the priestess about last rites either. I'm not dead yet. But will check in with them later. Got to repair all my broken gear and weapons you see. It's a thief I mean warrior thing. Thanks for the invite and permission to use your forge btw!
several hrs later after robbing smith's house blind
Finally got those gear repairs out the way. Now better do something about my head wound before brain rot sets in. Where the heck am I? Looks like I'm at the outskirts of a good sized town. And what's that building over there? Oooh. What luck! It's the town bank! Let's go rob it in the after hours. But first, need stop by the healer to patch up the diseased hole in my head. Then go mingle with the good towns folk. Really need to stock up on adventuring supplies at the local general store. Get some fresh provisions in the marketplace. Check out the latest fashions at the tailor and other stores. Good opportunity for lots of trading here. Need to pick some job leads/quests from NPCs and pick even more pockets while at it. Preferably the latter as I'm really low on coin. Or better yet, help myself to some discreet 5 finger discounts in locked homes, stores and buildings around town. Sell whatever stolen goods to local town fence. Next, drop by the local chapel to petition the Divines and be absolved of all sins.
And now that we're redeemed by the Divines, time to do some sightseeing before dinner at the inn. Ooooh look. See that luxurious looking mansion on the outskirts of town over there? It's clearly owned by a really wealthy town noble. Well I'm going to have to rob that before hitting the road again. No wait.....can't. Hang on...memory suddenly came back. Shades of the Nocturnal. I already own it as a Thane of the realm! Plus dozens of other more or less impressive domiciles ranging in social stature from from fully fortified NPC castles to a few lowly cottages. That knock upside the head from that irate, mace wielding Dragur must have really rearranged my noggin more than that healer let on....
The point of that rambling is Bethesda designed the Elder Scrolls universe to be a 100% interactive, structured and sandbox experience for the player. This INSANE level of interactivity has been the case ever since Morrowind came out back in 2002. Some 99.999% of every buildings have accessible and fully interactive interiors. Over 90% of the items inside interiors (furniture, equipment, weapons, food, things like clothing etc etc) can be interacted with and/or added to your inventory. Even dead bodies depending on their size and weight. Both human and animal NPCs have daily schedules, routines and behaviors which make the world feel alive and immersive.
From the varied ways in which your character can interact and engage human/humanoid, flora and fauna assets. In the above wall of text, my character not only owns these residences (with guild memberships) throughout Skyrim, but can eat, sleep, drink, cook/brew food items, get married, have/adopt children, give his children gifts, play with his children,buy/adopt pets and have them as non human companions, hangout/adventure with his human companions, and even romance/have sex with his spouse or significant other. He can craft/repair his own armor/weapons for personal use or for trade. He can aspire to be an enchanter, or skilled alchemist who sell his glyphs and potions to guilds and townsfolk alike. Or join a guild and sell exclusively to his guild members around Skyrim. He can be a skilled Dark Brotherhood assassin who specializes in murdering Thalmor racial supremacists on the side. Or, he can retreat to one of his many manor sauna baths. Where he can read in game books for simple pleasure of it. Or catch up reading news from notes, documents, and other literature he picked up on his adventures in the world. Or depending on his wealth and financial status, can employ NPC vendors to open shops on his lands and sell/trade merchandise (if he's too lazy to ride/walk to the nearest city hold). He can craft weapons/armor other equipment and gear in his manor if space constraints permit it. Or made separate service areas the likes of a smithy etc. to accommodate said crafting activities. He can be one of the wealthiest nobles in the realm. Or a humble farmer peasant who struggles to make a living running a farm to grow/sell produce to neighboring towns/cities. Or take out bank loans to hire NPCs and operate a mine, run a restaurant, brewery, simple shop vendor. Or be a museum curator who explores the world for ancient artifacts, be a sea faring scurvy pirate etc etc. The world design is flexible to allow for a wide range of immersive sandbox/role playing and structured MQ activities. And that's before adding the supernatural elements the likes of playing the game as a werewolf, vampire, undead liche etc etc.
However, games like AC were made with the Unity engine. Which while creating some of the most breath taking environments, is one of the most challenging engines to use in developing open world design. In contrast, Bethesda has used a Frankenstein monster iteration of the same engine since Morrowind. With special adjustments like Havok physics and other resources ducked taped onto it. Making it extremely moddable and player friendly. And ironically, as outdated and buggy as this duck taped engine is, its mod friendly capabilities are what have made Bethesda a household name long after Skyrim's release to date. It would be extremely challenging for the formidable Unity/Ureal engine to achieve the degree of mod friendly capability Bethesda's Creation Engine has achieved to date.
I'm hoping for the implausible with how UbiSoft developed the latest Scandinavian inspired AC title.
This. My only regret is that Ubi was unable to go down the road Bethesda took in developing TES worlds (Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim). Both devs understand how to create beautiful and graphically immersive open world environments. But only Bethesda (and this is the only dev in the industry to date) truly understands how to make said open world completely interactive.
Where the hell am I? Must have passed out. My sword arm is crippled and my head's exploding. Damn it. WTH didn't I think to bring a mount before doing this crypt crawling side job? The loot wasn't even worth the damned risk. And WTH did I stop to scavenge these iron and silver ingots off that NPC miner corpse? Especially since the poor wretch got mauled by wolves back at that pass. They could've been lying around in wait. Don't even know where the nearest village or town is. WTH was I thinking?? Anyhow, there's no way I'm dragging this heavy junk all over Skyrim thanks to my injured shield arm. It's probably damned broke as well. And feels like it's about to fall off my torso if my bloody head doesn't first...wait--what's that smoke? Is that a cottage?! With a forge?? Yes! Off to make my backpack positively love meee....
Hey there Mr. blacksmith NPC, can I use your forge? Don't mind the blood and gore all over my armor and body. Or that open festering wound on my head. Was adventuring and had a bit of a nasty run in with some hostile undead denizens in a crypt---I mean got hit in the head by falling debris in a dungeon nearby. Barely escaped with my life and must have blacked out shortly afterwards outside the entrance. Was lucky to find everything was still reattached like they should when I came to. Nasty business that. Rather not discuss it. So this is your cottage and you're heading off to the inn for a bite of dinner? And I can use your forge for free eh? Why thank you! And no, I'm afraid I can't accompany you to see the healer on the way. No, don't need to see the priestess about last rites either. I'm not dead yet. But will check in with them later. Got to repair all my broken gear and weapons you see. It's a thief I mean warrior thing. Thanks for the invite and permission to use your forge btw!
several hrs later after robbing smith's house blind
Finally got those gear repairs out the way. Now better do something about my head wound before brain rot sets in. Where the heck am I? Looks like I'm at the outskirts of a good sized town. And what's that building over there? Oooh. What luck! It's the town bank! Let's go rob it in the after hours. But first, need stop by the healer to patch up the diseased hole in my head. Then go mingle with the good towns folk. Really need to stock up on adventuring supplies at the local general store. Get some fresh provisions in the marketplace. Check out the latest fashions at the tailor and other stores. Good opportunity for lots of trading here. Need to pick some job leads/quests from NPCs and pick even more pockets while at it. Preferably the latter as I'm really low on coin. Or better yet, help myself to some discreet 5 finger discounts in locked homes, stores and buildings around town. Sell whatever stolen goods to local town fence. Next, drop by the local chapel to petition the Divines and be absolved of all sins.
And now that we're redeemed by the Divines, time to do some sightseeing before dinner at the inn. Ooooh look. See that luxurious looking mansion on the outskirts of town over there? It's clearly owned by a really wealthy town noble. Well I'm going to have to rob that before hitting the road again. No wait.....can't. Hang on...memory suddenly came back. Shades of the Nocturnal. I already own it as a Thane of the realm! Plus dozens of other more or less impressive domiciles ranging in social stature from from fully fortified NPC castles to a few lowly cottages. That knock upside the head from that irate, mace wielding Dragur must have really rearranged my noggin more than that healer let on....
The point of that rambling is Bethesda designed the Elder Scrolls universe to be a 100% interactive, structured and sandbox experience for the player. This INSANE level of interactivity has been the case ever since Morrowind came out back in 2002. Some 99.999% of every buildings have accessible and fully interactive interiors. Over 90% of the items inside interiors (furniture, equipment, weapons, food, things like clothing etc etc) can be interacted with and/or added to your inventory. Even dead bodies depending on their size and weight. Both human and animal NPCs have daily schedules, routines and behaviors which make the world feel alive and immersive.
From the varied ways in which your character can interact and engage human/humanoid, flora and fauna assets. In the above wall of text, my character not only owns these residences (with guild memberships) throughout Skyrim, but can eat, sleep, drink, cook/brew food items, get married, have/adopt children, give his children gifts, play with his children,buy/adopt pets and have them as non human companions, hangout/adventure with his human companions, and even romance/have sex with his spouse or significant other. He can craft/repair his own armor/weapons for personal use or for trade. He can aspire to be an enchanter, or skilled alchemist who sell his glyphs and potions to guilds and townsfolk alike. Or join a guild and sell exclusively to his guild members around Skyrim. He can be a skilled Dark Brotherhood assassin who specializes in murdering Thalmor racial supremacists on the side. Or, he can retreat to one of his many manor sauna baths. Where he can read in game books for simple pleasure of it. Or catch up reading news from notes, documents, and other literature he picked up on his adventures in the world. Or depending on his wealth and financial status, can employ NPC vendors to open shops on his lands and sell/trade merchandise (if he's too lazy to ride/walk to the nearest city hold). He can craft weapons/armor other equipment and gear in his manor if space constraints permit it. Or made separate service areas the likes of a smithy etc. to accommodate said crafting activities. He can be one of the wealthiest nobles in the realm. Or a humble farmer peasant who struggles to make a living running a farm to grow/sell produce to neighboring towns/cities. Or take out bank loans to hire NPCs and operate a mine, run a restaurant, brewery, simple shop vendor. Or be a museum curator who explores the world for ancient artifacts, be a sea faring scurvy pirate etc etc. The world design is flexible to allow for a wide range of immersive sandbox/role playing and structured MQ activities. And that's before adding the supernatural elements the likes of playing the game as a werewolf, vampire, undead liche etc etc.
However, games like AC were made with the Unity engine. Which while creating some of the most breath taking environments, is one of the most challenging engines to use in developing open world design. In contrast, Bethesda has used a Frankenstein monster iteration of the same engine since Morrowind. With special adjustments like Havok physics and other resources ducked taped onto it. Making it extremely moddable and player friendly. And ironically, as outdated and buggy as this duck taped engine is, its mod friendly capabilities are what have made Bethesda a household name long after Skyrim's release to date. It would be extremely challenging for the formidable Unity/Ureal engine to achieve the degree of mod friendly capability Bethesda's Creation Engine has achieved to date.
I'm hoping for the implausible with how UbiSoft developed the latest Scandinavian inspired AC title.
Yeah, I think it's mostly about drawing the line somewhere reasonable and setting up priorities.
For example, I think that Odyssey's characters, missions and stories are vastly superior to anything Bethesda could have come up with. And on the other hand, Bethesda sanboxy approach to open world feels 100% free. Both are great open world games but for completely different reasons. But I don't think it's humanely possible to have both things in one game. There is surely a middle ground, but middle ground sound awfully lot like compromise and compromises don't make great games.
It just comes down to what each one of us prefer, I guess.
For example I've never really gotten into Skyrim. Yes, I can appreciate all the freedom and excellent content on every step, but it's the excessive reliance on player himself making a game out of it that never sat with me.
On the other hand, Odyssey is leading the player from one piece of content to another very closely. I can clearly see why exactly that would be a problem for somebody who played Skyrim last nine years. But it's my prefered model. Enough freedom when I need it, but otherwise tight, story-driven "corridor".
The one thing that I think people have a problem with in Odyssey (and it was the same with The Witcher) is that many open world RPG players really rely on RP and the connection with the character. In TES games, that is easy because you can be whoever you want and that is seen as true open world and true freedom. But The Witcher and AC games will shove you into a pre-built character. That is a big risk.
Because if you are playing "yourself", it's easy to connect with the game world, but if you're playing as Geralt or Kassandra, your entire experience depends on how well you can connect with THEM. That by definition means a portion of the playerbase is automatically excluded.
But again, as above, I prefer this method over Bethesda's simply because if it works, it's MUCH better. In Skyrim I play myself. Or a character I've come up with. He/she has as much depth as I have imagination. Which isn't much, I have to admit.
The reason I love Odyssey as much is precisely that I love Kassandra, her character, her manners, her dry humour. She's a real person in the real (albeit gamey) world. You might argue that it means the game can't immerse you as much as if you were playing yourself and that is probably true. But it works for me.
Plus TES games have their own immersion-reducing... uhm.. devices.
But overall I do agree with you in all points, of course. It would be great if now, that Ubi has nailed the open-world-ness itself, they would focus on interactivity and freedom within the world. But IMO that would have merit only if it doesn't interfere with storytelling and characters. Because ultimately, I hope Valhalla will still be at least remotely an Assassin's Creed, rather than a sandbox.
thisgengaming.com
