Procedural generation taken too far?

[Boonshniggle]

I've thought about this for a long time, since AVWW1, and still unsure on how I feel. I totally 100% agree about Procedural Generation on the Strategic World Map. But, when it comes to the platforming I don't think I'm totally sold.

I think the variety in the platforming levels would be better if they had a big pool of well made maps with good platforming/puzzle design, and have scripted boss fights, personally.

I just don't think the procedural generation works when classic platforming gameplay elements/mechanics take such a hit.

[Misery]

I've thought about this for a long time, since AVWW1, and still unsure on how I feel. I totally 100% agree about Procedural Generation on the Strategic World Map. But, when it comes to the platforming I don't think I'm totally sold.

I think the variety in the platforming levels would be better if they had a big pool of well made maps with good platforming/puzzle design, and have scripted boss fights, personally.

I just don't think the procedural generation works when classic platforming gameplay elements/mechanics take such a hit.

Except that they're not really completely procedural.... every bit you see in there was built in the editor.  Similar to how buildings worked in the first game, except that all side-scrolling areas are like that this time, and made up of multiple "slices" (as opposed to the buildings in the first game, where the entire "chunk" was one editor-made area).   The game simply arranges the slices randomly (and they can be quite large), as opposed to actually creating the terrain from scratch.

Having the maps be COMPLETELY pre-made would eventually lead to extreme repetition, particularly considering the very high number of map tiles that you'll be playing through in side-scroller mode.  Actually, it probably would take very little time to get repetetive in that case.  Would likely just hurt more than help.