Has this game aged badly? I loved Bioshock and similar games. Not too sure about the RPG mechanics in this game and the actual FPS part seems awful nowadays.
Is it worth playing? Will I enjoy it even though I know the "twist" at the end?
Sure.
Also, that twist doesn't happen at the end. Although the ending has plenty problems of its own.
>>331686560
The actual FPS parts are pretty awful, but you enjoyed Bioshock so you'll probably be able to stomach these.
Just be aware that Standard guns are stupidly better than all the alternatives.
>>331686560
>Has this game aged badly?
Nope.
>Is it worth playing?
Absolutely. I first played it in 2007, thinking I'd "prepare" myself for the upcoming Bioshock, just so I'd know a little bit about the series.
What I did not expect was 10/10 atmosphere, super deep and varied gameplay with plenty of choices, and to find myself instantly replaying it when the credits had rolled. In short, it became one of my all time favorite games, ever!
Afterwards, Bioshock felt VERY watered down, streamlined console-shooter, with some SS2 inspired features in a minor role.
>Will I enjoy it even though I know the "twist" at the end?
I guess you mean THAT "twist", and you get there around 1/3th of the game. So yeah, it does not matter.
I'd recommend starting as Navy first.
Get some basic weapons, hacking, maintenance and research skills. Vola! You can beat the game now, and use most features there is!
Why don't you just fucking play it and see for yourself? Do you really need /v/'s approval before you play games?
Alright thanks for the help lads.
Should I go with the enhanced graphics mods or just go al naturale?
>>331687631
just up the resolution and you're good to go.
>>331687631
Don't care, as long as you don't get the one that turns the midwives into porn stars.
>>331687631
Vanilla first. Especially those 3D model "enhancement" mods (REBUILD) are awful. Think literal tits on zombie-like enemies, just for the sake of it.
FYI, the Steam and GOG versions are pre-patched with the just couple years ago released "NewDark" patch, which means native widescreen, 32-bit colors, AF + AA, and even option to enable Bloom if ya like that shit.
The ONLY visual mod I could recommend is the SHTUP hi-res textures, as it stays very faithful to the game's original art-style, and just ups the texture quality. Pic related.
One more thing:
If you got the game on Steam, or have installed the NewDark patch on your game in general, go to its root, find a file called "cam_ext.cfg". Open this up in Notepad and look for following line:
;d3d_disp_scaled_2d_overlay 64
REMOVE the ; -mark from the start of this line.
There you go, perfectly scaling HUD and fonts!
>>331686560
The gameplay and music are still GREAT.
The graphics have aged awfully like all 3D games, but you are not a graphic whore, right anon? Also there are mods that upgrade the graphics, just don't expect Crysis quality.
Overall is a wonderful FPS-ARPG and I recommend it wholeheartedly... or you can wait 2-3 years for the inevitable remake now that SS 1 is having one.
>>331687631
Don't forget that you can rebind the controls.
>>331687970
The gameplay is pretty shit though, let's not lie. It's worth playing for story/atmosphere/logs.
>>331688128
>The gameplay is pretty shit though
I contest that.
>>331686560
I think SS1 is a better game overall, but you can't go wrong with SS2. Despite some of its flaws it's still one of the best games ever.
>>331687631
I'd go al naturale first. The art-style is good, and the blocky visuals strangely fit the game's mood and rought, mechanical environments. Pic related is pretty much the worst you may have to deal with.
>>331687947
>;d3d_disp_scaled_2d_overlay 64
this is very handy! No more either having to squinch your eyes to read the HUD text on HD resolutions, or use 720p resolution to make it easier for yourself.
>>331688128
>he gameplay is pretty shit though, let's not lie
not him, and I don't need to lie to say that the gameplay's fucking fine. It's just not streamlined and consolized to hell and back, but instead utilizes your whole KB + M and basic knowledge of very basic PC GUI usage.
>>331688128
>The gameplay is pretty shit though
You point and you shoot
The movement feels right
You have a lot of weapons and psi powers to point and shoot with
The level design is great
The exploration is fun
The enemies have enough variety
The music makes all the experience feel like a macabre techno dance
The difficulty is good and you can personalize it with mods (I for example installed one that stop the enemy respawns because I hate that shit, and make the game harder)
The gameplay is great, pal.
The skills/abilities are varied, and the game gives you plenty of necessity to level some skills before others, can't say I've had that experience with other games
>>331686560
These games are leagues better than the Bioshock series. Better story, better RPG mechanics, better survival horror mechanics, better atmosphere. The only real downsides are worse voice acting and worse shooting mechanics (though Bioshock wasn't particularly great as a shooter anyway, so you aren't missing out on much).
Also, your weapons are supposed to degrade at the speed of sound. That's why you stock up on spare weapons, repair modules, and put a few points into your maintenance skill.
>>331687082
>Just be aware that Standard guns are stupidly better than all the alternatives.
This. It's unbalanced, but personally I think the game works better that way. You have the choice to put points into a combat style that's less effective, but functionally different, making the game more difficult and adding a ton of replay value.
MAX OUT THE HACKING SKILL ASAP
>>331688902
Melee enemies literally can't hit you if you move. Not just "run", move. Makes supposedly tough nuts like rumbers hilariously easy.
The skill balance is completely retarded. You pump exotics/heavy/energy, and your reward is a useless piece of shit.
The game throws too much resources at you past Deck 3 or 4. Deck 2 feels really tight, Deck 3 is easier but it still feels good, afterwards you just kind of drown in stuff - and yes, I did play on Impossible.
>>331689658
>worse voice acting
considering how little you even have any kind of character interaction (most of the VA job you hear are from the audio-logs, which almost benefit from the "bored average Joe" lines), I'd say that's not really a huge downside. It's also still miles above the silly acting we had to deal with around those years, like the original RE1 or House Of the Dead.
I'd also kinda argue that SS2 isn't really a shooter game. Rather, it works like an FP-RPG-Survival-horror, where guns and ammo are like these fancy rarities you only use when absolutely necessary, bit like Magnum ammo in RESI, or the Elixirs in any RPG ever made.
The good ol' Wrench gets you through most of the trouble, Rapier and the crystal level up your melee capabilities later on, and hacking those security panels really, REALLY make your life easier.
Youre right about the maintenance skill though. That, hacking and research are damn handy in the long run.
a lot of the animation have that signature late 90s jank, but it completely destroys 99% of games released today as far as actually being playable, interesting, and having sort of deep mechanics so that's saying something considering it's fucking 17 years old
>>331690147
seriously heavy weapons is just the grenade launcher which sucks anyways because the aoe is doodoo ass shit
Glory to The Many.I am a voice in their choir
You have to get into it and understand it, once you do you'll enjoy it a lot.
Don't expect much from the ending though
>>331691282
Actually GL is really good due to a glitch that increases its damage by 100% (instead of the usual 10) when you first modify it. Funnily enough, that doesn't work on those top tier grenades you'll find later, but it makes it really shine with most regular types. Fusion cannon is crap, though.
So how about that secmod?
>>331692851
Also, apparently Sharpshooter gives it +35% damage instead of +15%:
http://shodan.wikia.com/wiki/TC-11_%22Brick%22_Grenade_Launcher
Crazy stuff!
