Arcen Games
Other => Off Topic => Topic started by: WolfWhiteFire on October 27, 2016, 07:14:11 pm
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I just felt like making this poll so I put this here, the games are in no particular order. I decided to include Release Raptor because even though they had to abandon it, they still had a game and left it for people to download if they wish. An explanation of why you chose what you did would be appreciated, but not necessary. Lastly you don't need to have played them all to vote, just vote out of what you have played in that case. I myself have only played The Last Federation and AI War, please let me know if I missed a game. Also if this poll sees some activity I will probably add new games as they are released.
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Personally I chose The Last Federation, for the reasons that though I have many hours in AI War and have beaten it a couple times, and I have only played the Last Federation about half the time of AI War, with TLF I never really have a boring moment where I am just waiting, I like the gameplay more, and there are 2 very different modes and then one slightly different mode. With many options on how to beat the game.
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for me it was tlf that game just freaking rocks so hard even though it can be a bit grindy at times engineering races into starting wars with each other among other things is such a great trip betrayal has always felt to easy.
and I've never really played much of invasion mode (but I do think its as good as standard) it also helps that its got (in my opinion obviously) Pablo's best score in it.
also because its the game that got me introduced to this forum and in turn a lot of other games so I have it to thank for that.
I saw the news about stars around the time it was still a new exiting thing and it was the mention that tlf races were going to be in it which was got me excited enough to jump head first into testing it and it just went on from there really.
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Starward Rogue for me.
From the moment TLF changed its combat system, I was excited to see the game that would be born from the previous system. But despite all the hype I build up, SR still managed to far exceed my expectations. It successfully combined everything I liked about Binding of Isaac and bullethell games. I consider the result as nothing short of amazing. It's a shame the game didn't sell.
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I really don't know what to choose here.
On one hand there's Starward. But for obvious reasons I'm super biased towards that one... I'll not vote for that one for the same reasons that I cannot write up a review for it on Steam.
....but then I cant decide on the others, either.
I have a few choices here....
1. Valley Without Wind #1. This is the game that brought me here in the first place, and it's one of those games that has that intangible "special something" about it, to me. It's really hard to explain but the whole feel of the game, every part of it, has always worked for me, and been something really special. My problem with it though has always been some balance issues, and the fact that the world map mechanics were never entirely completed.
2. AI War. It's freaking AI War. I love strategy games, but it's sooooooooo rare that I find ones that can fully hold my attention. They need to be A: procedural (because non-procedural strategy games tend to have no replay value outside of multiplayer, which I don't care about), and constantly CHALLENGING. I expect great difficulty out of strategy titles. And while big games like the Civ series may be high quality... they don't offer that very much. The AI in so many strategy games is dumber than a stump, which is one reason why I vastly prefer asymmetrical design. Right now, the one and only other strategy game that I think is on the same level as AI War in terms of awesomeness is Creeper World 3 (seriously, everyone needs to play that). Particle Fleet and Infested Planet are also pretty close. With AI War in particular though... I never know what to expect. The game can have it's dull moments at times, but even during those it produces tension, since you just KNOW the AI is up to something, and you know that it'll very abruptly show you what that something is at some point. And when it suddenly does that (which is always, ALWAYS at the worst possible freaking moment) you know you're going to get tons of exciting stuff happening. Also the game has no dull "cleanup" phase to it since the AI gets stronger and more berserk as you progress.
3. Skyward Collapse. There's seriously nothing else like this. Nothing. I've always really enjoyed this one... all of the game mechanics really mesh well for me, and having to constantly deal with an ever-changing situation while strategizing around loopy things that aren't under your control gets very interesting, particularly since even seemingly small moves by the player can have large effects. The game makes me really think about each little move that I might make. I love that.
4. Bionic Dues. I *really* wish this had sold better, so that it could be expanded upon. There's soooooo many good things going on with this one. When it comes to turn-based roguelikes, this is probably my favorite. I've ranted about this game a lot on these forums, so I wont do so here.
Starward Rogue for me.
From the moment TLF changed its combat system, I was excited to see the game that would be born from the previous system. But despite all the hype I build up, SR still managed to far exceed my expectations. It successfully combined everything I liked about Binding of Isaac and bullethell games. I consider the result as nothing short of amazing. It's a shame the game didn't sell.
As always the comments on this are appreciated.... glad you enjoy the game that much.
By the way, we should have a playable build of the Perk Overhaul update available really darn soon here (as in, nearly ready to go). The new perks and such and altered balance really fix up a lot of problems. Also I made things more murderous. Because of course I did. Killing the player is my role here.
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I bought AI War in college and bounced off hard. Picked up TLF on a whim two and a half years ago and LOVED it, tracked down the developer and was shocked, shocked to find it was the AI War company (once I figured it out, that is).
Still think it needs work to reach AIW levels of engrossing, but it's still my favorite Arcen game.
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Definitely a tossup between Tidalis and AI War for me. Tidalis doesn't get the love it deserves but it is brilliant and infinitely repeatable.
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I voted for AI War, but that isn't to say I haven't enjoyed others.
I've beaten every level of Tidalas except one because the time limit on it is like 10 seconds.
I certainly do enjoy Starward Rogue.
I couldn't get into Bionic Dues, but I certainly respect it.
Skyward I think had issues keeping me engaged. Otherwise neat idea.
Haven't played enough Release Raptor.
TLF just sort of drags after a while.
Never played AVWW or Shattered Haven.
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I cannot decide between AI War and Starward Rogue. I think I like them both equally. Or let me say it in another way.
I think they are my favourites but for different reasons. AI War because it keeps my brain busy, i like to think my way around, I prefer games that challange me mentally, not my reflexes. That's why I avoid shooters mostly, they simply suck when it comes to thinking.
Starward rogue on the other hand... I don't even know why. It fits into a grenre that I really avoided as much as possible. As somoneone who really HATES Isaac, I didn't except it to be my kind of thing. It disappointed my exceptions and showed to be a very good game. Maybe it's the flashy graphics. Maybe it's the awesome techno soundtrack. Maybe it's the different mechs with their individual attributes. or maybe it's just the fact that game does not consist of shit, blood and more shit. seriously, what teh hell is wrong with the designer of Isaac?
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Stars Beyond Reach!
What?
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I cannot decide between AI War and Starward Rogue. I think I like them both equally. Or let me say it in another way.
I think they are my favourites but for different reasons. AI War because it keeps my brain busy, i like to think my way around, I prefer games that challange me mentally, not my reflexes. That's why I avoid shooters mostly, they simply suck when it comes to thinking.
Starward rogue on the other hand... I don't even know why. It fits into a grenre that I really avoided as much as possible. As somoneone who really HATES Isaac, I didn't except it to be my kind of thing. It disappointed my exceptions and showed to be a very good game. Maybe it's the flashy graphics. Maybe it's the awesome techno soundtrack. Maybe it's the different mechs with their individual attributes. or maybe it's just the fact that game does not consist of shit, blood and more shit. seriously, what teh hell is wrong with the designer of Isaac?
Just out of curiosity: Have you tried other games in the same genre as Isaac/Starward? There's quite a lot of them now, most of them don't do giant poo monsters and whatever. Only Isaac really does that. It rather sounds like the biggest issue with Isaac was the themes and Edmund's general gross-out sort of artstyle. Or were there other things you didn't like about Isaac?
As it is, many bits of Starward were very, very inspired by Isaac. So the contrast here is interesting.
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Stars Beyond Reach!
What?
XD but seriously what's your favourite (that's finished and probably not completely unrecognizable by now from what it was)
arcen game? since stars isn't an option.
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Extremely close between AI War and Starward Rogue for me. Completely different games but I enjoy both immensly.
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Just out of curiosity: Have you tried other games in the same genre as Isaac/Starward? There's quite a lot of them now, most of them don't do giant poo monsters and whatever. Only Isaac really does that. It rather sounds like the biggest issue with Isaac was the themes and Edmund's general gross-out sort of artstyle. Or were there other things you didn't like about Isaac?
As it is, many bits of Starward were very, very inspired by Isaac. So the contrast here is interesting.
For me it's absolutely the theme and art style of Isaac that puts me off. Also the seemingly floaty controls.
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AI War was my first and remains my favorite. Despite the dated graphics and clunky UI, it has a charm to it that really appeals to me. Strategy games are also one of my favorite genres, so I naturally liked it a little more than some of the others. A lot of it's probably nostalgia, but it just seems like a really solid and unique game in which a win feels really deserved when I finally pull it off. The huge number of options is also a big plus.
AVWW 1 is a close second. I could say many of the same things I said about AI War here too - it's not particularly pretty, but it is charming. The exploration was something I loved and felt was lacking in the sequel, and I had a lot of great experiences with tough boss fights. Helped that for a long while I was just playing the demo which was capped at level 6, and fought my first lieutenant in a Level 12 area, so that made the fight really tough and rewarding when I beat it. Lost my first character to that tower - RIP Derrek Shrine.
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Wow. this is still pretty early, but I wasn't expecting this poll to do so well,so many responses for something that was posted less than a day ago, a shame there isn't a pie chart to go with the votes however.
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Wow. this is still pretty early, but I wasn't expecting this poll to do so well,so many responses for something that was posted less than a day ago, a shame there isn't a pie chart to go with the votes however.
doesn't surprise me a thread in the same jist it made a long time ago(basicly asking people to share how they got introduced to arcen) got a lot of attention pretty quickly.
but ai war seems to be leading a decisive victory with tlf and sr at a perfect draw with bionic dues sitting contently in last place also with stars having an unofficial vote from ptarth
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doesn't surprise me a thread in the same jist it made a long time ago(basicly asking people to share how they got introduced to arcen) got a lot of attention pretty quickly.
but ai war seems to be leading a decisive victory with tlf and sr at a perfect draw with bionic dues sitting contently in last place also with stars having an unofficial vote from ptarth
Well there is only 13 votes so far, so it is hardly likely to be very accurate, with polls to my knowledge, the more votes the more accurate. Kind of odd that it has so many views but so few votes though, with posts not everyone would feel like making one, but a vote takes a few seconds. Oh well, I guess the views could very well mostly be a few people who have voted like me and who are curious checking constantly. Though on that other part, can someone technically have an official vote on a non-official poll?
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Just out of curiosity: Have you tried other games in the same genre as Isaac/Starward? There's quite a lot of them now, most of them don't do giant poo monsters and whatever. Only Isaac really does that. It rather sounds like the biggest issue with Isaac was the themes and Edmund's general gross-out sort of artstyle. Or were there other things you didn't like about Isaac?
As it is, many bits of Starward were very, very inspired by Isaac. So the contrast here is interesting.
For me it's absolutely the theme and art style of Isaac that puts me off. Also the seemingly floaty controls.
Aye, it DOES have rather floaty controls, doesn't it? Particularly when moving at higher speeds... all that sliding around.
That's part of why Starward ended up with the "shmup mode" option for it's controls. Which is to say, I complained and ranted until Chris agreed to add it. Not to mention the basic movement... if you got to try the game back when the player controlled a "ship" instead of a mech you might remember what I mean. I'm glad that got changed.
As for the poll here I'm not surprised that AI War is in the #1 spot. That's just what I'd expect.
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Stars Beyond Reach!
What?
Really? I can't tell if there's sarcasm here.
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I cannot decide between AI War and Starward Rogue. I think I like them both equally. Or let me say it in another way.
I think they are my favourites but for different reasons. AI War because it keeps my brain busy, i like to think my way around, I prefer games that challange me mentally, not my reflexes. That's why I avoid shooters mostly, they simply suck when it comes to thinking.
Starward rogue on the other hand... I don't even know why. It fits into a grenre that I really avoided as much as possible. As somoneone who really HATES Isaac, I didn't except it to be my kind of thing. It disappointed my exceptions and showed to be a very good game. Maybe it's the flashy graphics. Maybe it's the awesome techno soundtrack. Maybe it's the different mechs with their individual attributes. or maybe it's just the fact that game does not consist of shit, blood and more shit. seriously, what teh hell is wrong with the designer of Isaac?
Just out of curiosity: Have you tried other games in the same genre as Isaac/Starward? There's quite a lot of them now, most of them don't do giant poo monsters and whatever. Only Isaac really does that. It rather sounds like the biggest issue with Isaac was the themes and Edmund's general gross-out sort of artstyle. Or were there other things you didn't like about Isaac?
As it is, many bits of Starward were very, very inspired by Isaac. So the contrast here is interesting.
I think Teleglitch would be the closes thing to these games that I have. I played it some time and it was actually better than Isaac but it did some stuff very differently. However, I lost interest in that as well.
The theme in itself is a great turn off for me. But also the gameplay or maybe it's simply the RNG that is too big in this game. Isaac has trillion of items but a lot of them share actually their benefits with other items. They are simply there to say "There are so many items in this game with so many possibilites". However, that many items also can screw you over with the RNG and I get screwed over many times. Also the lack information.
Now that I think about it, the last point might be the most important: The game simply does not tell you what any item does except some very vague information. You have to search the wiki yourself for any item you find because the creator thought it would be a good idea not to show waht items do in game. Not even when you pick them up. Probably the worst design decision I've ever seen (actually, not the worst, but very close to it). This kills the game for me. I don't want to spend my time searching the wiki on every run, wasting a lot of game time.
Starward Rogue however tells you what you get (except the mystery circuits which are basically the equivalent of potions in traditional rogue-likes so this is tolerable). Plus, you can simply test and switch out stuff like weapon systems. If it does not suit you, you can pick your old stuff up again. This is not possible in Isaac and you are stuck with your decision, ruining your run (which makes the design decision of not adding information even worse).
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Mine is Tidalis.
This is the only one where I don't need to consider it is an indie game to evaluate it. All other lacks something (mostly in the presentation) but then I say, hey! this is an indie game, it is okay. But Tidalis is already in a genre with minimalistic genre, and it does an amazing job conveying its mechanics.