Thoughts on SSA 2 Episode 1?

Running through it and its definitely a blast from the past with the enemy groups. I haven't done Villain side yet.

Its pretty neat so far though. I know some people probably played it in beta but its new to me.

I played it on beta and had... rather a lot to say about it. (About one thing in particular, actually, though I liked the rest of the arc just fine! ESPECIALLY moving camera angles in cutscenes! WOO! *dork videographer here, cut me some slack*)

Now that it's live, I want to try it again to see if anything might be different about it.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

I haven't been able to play it yet...

Got distracted by some water in beta...

It's the next chapter in the Rainbow Penny Yin Happy Fun Action Show - what's not to like?

I enjoyed them both. The redside one is a little better, just because, well, it starts out as your plan. Seriously, you have no contact for the prologue mission because the contact is you. And even then, your first contact is more or less a Minion. Well, maybe a Henchman. You've got a scheme, and they're working for you.

And you make it work! At the end of the first redside arc, you're in a stronger position than you were before.

I liked that they're parallel stories, in that they end up with the same situation at the end, but got there in very different ways.

And I admit, since I've always really enjoyed the Clockwork King and his bizarre relationship with Penny, I find that bit fun. Just that he's not so much evil as dangerous, unstable, and tragic, but there's hope for him yet.

My thoughts? Congealed AWESOME SPEWING FORTH. SPEWING FORTH FROM MY MONITOR.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golden Girl It's the next chapter in the Rainbow Penny Yin Happy Fun Action Show - what's not to like?

That actually sounds like the (poorly translated) name of a Japanese Children's show:

ペニちゃんの幸せで楽しいアクションショー!!

I've only run heroside so far, but I rather enjoyed it. I agree that it was cool seeing 'new' Clockwork and Trolls. I've been enjoying all the upgrade makeovers to enemy groups since Dark Astoria started handing out Incarnate upgrades.

The level range is nice too. I was expecting to drop to 40, here I am still a 50, which honestly felt just fine given the trolls getting empowered and I had to step in to save Posi and Numina.

Getting to pick my ally was a nice touch too. I went with Penny because honestly I'm liking her as a hero. Heck her pet made Clamor a breeze. I was a bit disappointed to see the Talons show up though, but eh.

Not a bad little opener. Really nice looking cutscenes.

I like the foes, the content, the levels. I did not like the arduously and capriciously contrived use of a zone door for a mission door, like a train station entrance except no listed options for destinations. First, I was knocked out of the game by zoning, then we fought in Fort Trident which was weird because I was dorking around waiting for the team leader to talk to the contact when we were ambushed. The whole flow was contemptuously pancakingly inept.

I bet 20 Inf that my villain's supposed lackey tries to betray me at some point. She seems the type.

Thumbs up!

I'm a big fan of the SSA's and this one does not disappoint.

For anyone who can't wait until next month, SSA2.2 is up on beta right now

Only played Red Side version of SSA 2, storywise it's okay. Nice that it haves you wanting to expand your powerbase but can't help that it's going to have that predictable 'Ha Ha Sucker, thanks for doing all the work for us, going to backstab you now' moment later in the arc.

Honestly you have a up and coming new group that wants to rival Arachnos in controlling the Rogue Isles and as soon as you meet someone within that organization they propose a team up, and the way they propose it is by trying to massage your villain's ego mixed with the theme of 'we have a common goal' Sorry but warning bells would be going off in my head.

While some kind of achievement/level recognition text option would have been cool, don't forget that this is a 30-40 mission that can be played by any VIP or purchaser, and doesn't require SSA1 to unlock it - so it's quite possible that while long-term players with +3 Incarnates are playing it, there are also new players who have only just hit 30 on their first avatar who decide to try it out.

My first thought on finishing the villain side version? ... "Kestrel's really going to hate giving up her new toy when this plan ultimately goes south."

("That's CAPTAIN Kestrel to you!" she says, putting on her pirate hat. )

Short and sweet and full of CRIME FIGHTING AWESOME.

Was on a full RP team on Virtue, and we really enjoyed the interaction with the Freedom Phalanx and witnessing the interaction between Penny and Clocky. It was awesome how the Freedom Phalanx genuinely needed our help and worked with us to figure things out.

The only snag we hit was when BAB got stuck inside the geometry of a hill in Atlas Park. Everyone was bummed, until I enabled Super Speed and pressed F for follow at full speed and super-twirled around him until he came unstuck.

Hey. It's what I do. I'm a super hero.

Two REALLY BIG THUMBS UP!!

Best SSA so far, by a long shot! Instead of soap opera stuff, it was witty and clever. All the FP were in character, but they were ALSO likeable! Well, except Manticore, who was still an ***, but made me laugh instead of want to slug him this time around.

Russell.

RUSSELL?!! HAHAHAHAA!

Cutscenes were well done, interesting and entertaining. (WOW!) They advanced the plot while being enjoyable - really well done! For example, when you got to Atta, becoming "under the influence", it was interesting to watch that he didn't just get stronger, but he got smarter, too. No one mentioned this in dialogue, no one beat you over the head with this info, you just watch it. Also, enjoyed the use of our new aura, from the Statesman loyalty thing. Comic-bookish, at the same time being visually informative.

I liked getting to choose a partner to take down the big bad at the end. (Clamor, wow, she was so well done, too!) Though I have done this on 4 of my toons, choosing a new partner each time, I have yet to have any of them show up to actually help! But so far, the 4 choices have been pretty entertaining. (Manti is my favorite, though - he whinged and whinged at me for not beating up Russell... WHADDANASS!!)

My only complaint (and it's minor) was that there too much running around for no real reason (bunch of "talk-to's). Maybe for next time, try to streamline for a better flow?

Thanks to all who were involved in this - you all did a FABULOUS job. Fun ride all the way through!

I liked the writing, the banter had a genuinely comic book feel to it.