Interesting Review on ZAM

I don't mind them running away - they awlays come back for the final beat down

I think it was clear he was coming back to CoH, but, that it's been so long he might as well be a newb.


I felt frustrated that he kept applauding the RPG elements, while, at the same time, not getting that they're a main feature. E.g., when he said it was nice that the middle choice between hero and villains was 'Praetoria' and not 'grey.' Or fascinated by the moral choice at the end of the arc: Help the corrupt police distribute drugs or give it to the drug-using resistance. He like those things, and yet, it seemed that the most important thing was that GR be more like a FPS... huh? Where's the props for the role playing element?


I'm disappointed in his review of the costumes. It's true that the random button creates the most hideous costumes imaginable. If only he looked at the pre-made sets instead. In his review of All Points Bulletin, he gave them great reviews for their character creator (which is indeed awesome), but he didn't play with their randomizer and stop there like he did with CoH's randomizer.


Yes, the foes running so far away (to get a soda) and then forgetting we're right there is a valid criticism, yet, did you catch how he said 'runners' are common for MMO's? So, he was faulting how far they ran, not the fact that they ran.


He talks *fast*. I'm a New Yorker and he talks *fast*. I feel sorry for people who have English as a second language or Southerners listening to him.


The attempted suicide leaps were hysterical because I knew exactly what was going to happen.

As to the review itself... Well, nothing this person might think about just about anything would matter to me. Seemed more like whatever this guy thinks, the counter might very well be more likely to be true (Or, at least, my tastes might be the opposite).

The changing settings before entering the game is a HUGE issue though. I hadn't really thought about it for new players. That's really a bad impression to begin with.

Other than that... this guy was a complete git and didn't have a clue... Then again, that is probably true for the majority of potential customers so... I suppose it holds some interest in his accounts (minus the fact that he's some git that has this job... for some reason... who knows how/why).

Still... I thought his comments (Which, should have held a lot more weight in his overall review of them game) about how many moves and powers and how much action you get from this game at just level 10 were spot on and one of the greatest elements of this game.
How he just passes that off... you'll have to ask a moron for that answer, I suppose.

Yeah... seemed like a fool trying to look cool by being a jerk about some "game or whatever, meh". That sort of attitude seems to pass for cool in some circles.
Any time you try and make such a critical ascertainment based entirely on just a tiny bit of playing as a newcomer... you're proving yourself rather foolish. Sure, you can see if you enjoy it or not... But trying to poke fun or criticize it based on a few immediate things without learning more (The mission teleporter, saying there's nothing to do in the zones without visiting over 75% of the game's zones, downplaying the vast amounts of customization by hitting random a few times) just prove that you're not being realistic in giving the game a chance.
He was clearly just looking for an angle to sell and to promote his own gimmick.

So, yeah... I would imagine some people might see this rather poor review (If anyone actually watches it) and think differently than the reviewer, and actually find it interesting enough to try out... despite his overall impression.

Seriously, that's some lowbrow review right there.

Fairly accurate (give or take) and very funny. Some of the 'complaints' he made have been stated here numerous times and his take on it gives a good indicator on how word-of-mouth will be when newcomers are discussing CoX with their friends.

I loved that he tried to kill himself by jumping off a building... and couldn't.

--NT

It really was a low level "newb" review wasnt it. Quite a few things which he should of expanded on.

• Enhancements you get as you level up are more powerfull than lower level ones.
• The ease of which it is to get inspirations
• Power pool choices [obv picked flight but didnt mention the vast majority]
• Dont remember him saying about the colour customisation too
• The new zoning tech
• Difficulty level. Is it newb friendly?
• Pop up helps
• Loyalist/resistance does NOT make you a hero or villain. Thats a seperate choice you make at the end

A fairly entertaining and valid review. While I and maybe others have gotten used to the quirks of the game like heavy instancing and samey tilesets, it won't be the case for everyone new. It's easy to dismiss his criticisms as "dumb" and misinformed, but it'll serve everyone better if we try and figure out how those criticisms came about--especially the misinformed ones, and respond appropriately.

That said, that review really did not give the Praetoria arcs justice. They have been some of the best morally-grey depictions of two opposing sides in a game I have seen, unlike certain other games that make similar claims but falls flat *cough*JadeEmpire*cough*MassEffect*cough*.

<QR>

A fair enough review, despite some errors or misconceptions. Most of the comments were not fair, however.

He seemed a little hyper but it seemed like a valid review from someone who is new to the game. As far as tilesets, they all they really need is more small touches of uniqueness like the Council and Arachnos variants of the generic lab maps.

The running AI was modified a bit some time ago if I recall correctly...

Personally, I don't find anything wrong with the running itself as sometimes you forget yourself and run right into another group ^.^, but the side problems with it... Like I know the guy will be back so I can just wait...why don't they despawn or something? What about mission goals protected by MOBs... that drives me nuts when they run in those missions...


As far as the NPC chars not fighting back... from a mechanics point of view i get it, but it does look silly when a person is fighting another and then you run in and they just cheer you on... The mob should just not take damage till you get there in those situations and when you're going to save them they should look tied up or knocked out and you should have to click them.

It seemed fair and balanced to me.

Basically, it was "Look how fun this is! And here are a few flaws too. Now look how fun this is!"

I won't go into nit-picking his review, as that guy came off as a bran new player and his new-player concerns are something we should be trying to address. Any constructive criticism like his was is worth keeping in mind.

And, in fact, I'm going to latch onto something he said. "Now, you've seen mobs get low on health and run in other games, but you've never seen it like THIS! Where is he going?" This sucks. It sucks from a new player perspective, and it doesn't get better with age. I've been here for six years, and every year I hate it more and more.

The "running enemies" mechanic needs to die in a fire. Today. I don't want to see it reduced, I don't want to see it contained. I want it GONE. There is absolutely, positively no benefit whatsoever to having enemies running away and having to be chased because your mission is a kill-all, or because they're par of the spawn guarding a hostage. This needs to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.