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Firefall
posted in Other Games
1
#1
0 Frags +

Firefall finally released a couple days ago. F2P on Steam, all that jazz. Wondering if anyone else here plays it/has interest.

Played the beta a few years back because it was one of the few FPS/MMO games out, but mainly because it copied the medic healing leash mechanic from TF2. They cut that, the gameplay was pretty bland, and so I stopped playing pretty quickly. Downloaded it from steam recently because I was interested in seeing how it had changed/if it was any good now. Here are my impressions:

Terrible voice acting. It's godawful, I appreciate that they tried to use voice acting instead of text for the missions, but I could do better myself.
Really easy at low levels. Haven't progressed too far, but I think I went to level 10 or so without ever taking damage. Plus all the quests are level locked, so you can't play higher level quests to get more of a challenge.
AI is abysmal. They try to counter that by flooding you with enemies. Not my favorite way to balance a game.
Minimal tutorial. I still have no idea how crafting functions, and I have a strong feeling I'm missing out on some core game mechanics that I simply do not know exist. Plus I can't seem to operate the interface very well at all. That could just be me, I can be rather dumb at times.
From what I've heard, there's no point in crafting anyways as the better weapons are easier to find with drops. So no grinding for resources and such, but I don't know if I can call a pointless crafting system a positive.
Lower level weapons are boring and bland.
PvP is missing???? Possibly to be added soon? I really don't know.
Graphics look like ass. Fortunately, I'm an ass man myself, and since most of us here probably mod TF2 to look as much like Minecraft as possible, I don't think that's a huge issue.
Art style is actually kind of nice. Bright colours, none of that grey/brown bullshit that most games seem to have. Reminds me more of an arena shooter with neon lights and stuff than most modern shooters.
Jetpack is lovely. Strong verticality in map and combat, characters move quickly, gliders are a ton of fun to fly across the map. While some quests (especially earlier on) have a lot of pointless padding (run here, talk to him, run back), the movement is fast enough that it's not a huge detriment.
Higher level weapons are more fun. I've only taken the biotech frame (healer class) up too far, but it has a needler (plasma gun/syringe gun, basically), a grenade launcher, and a shotgun from what I've seen. The shotgun coupled with the jetpack and constant jumping reminds me a little of scout play.
At higher levels the quest chains are actually moderately interesting, and I hear the plot is as well. The characters aren't going to win any awards and there are way too many of the "sophisticated" villain archetypes, but it's a little better than your standard fantasy MMO fare.
F2P is... absent? This is where I think I'm missing out on some game mechanic, as there currently seems to be no point in buying the game currency. I guess you can get a cosmetic item or a pet or something, but I haven't noticed any other things you can actually buy with real money.

If the impressions seem conflicted, that's because I am. I still don't know if I like the game or not. I think I do, probably because the weapons are more akin to TF2/arena shooters than the alternative, but I'm still not sure.
I'd call it surprisingly pleasant, maybe at a stretch a 7/10 if you insist on numbers. It's not going to suck you in like other MMOs or shooters might, but it's good way to waste an hour or two with braindead entertainment.

Firefall finally released a couple days ago. F2P on Steam, all that jazz. Wondering if anyone else here plays it/has interest.

Played the beta a few years back because it was one of the few FPS/MMO games out, but mainly because it copied the medic healing leash mechanic from TF2. They cut that, the gameplay was pretty bland, and so I stopped playing pretty quickly. Downloaded it from steam recently because I was interested in seeing how it had changed/if it was any good now. Here are my impressions:

Terrible voice acting. It's godawful, I appreciate that they tried to use voice acting instead of text for the missions, but I could do better myself.
Really easy at low levels. Haven't progressed too far, but I think I went to level 10 or so without ever taking damage. Plus all the quests are level locked, so you can't play higher level quests to get more of a challenge.
AI is abysmal. They try to counter that by flooding you with enemies. Not my favorite way to balance a game.
Minimal tutorial. I still have no idea how crafting functions, and I have a strong feeling I'm missing out on some core game mechanics that I simply do not know exist. Plus I can't seem to operate the interface very well at all. That could just be me, I can be rather dumb at times.
From what I've heard, there's no point in crafting anyways as the better weapons are easier to find with drops. So no grinding for resources and such, but I don't know if I can call a pointless crafting system a positive.
Lower level weapons are boring and bland.
PvP is missing???? Possibly to be added soon? I really don't know.
Graphics look like ass. Fortunately, I'm an ass man myself, and since most of us here probably mod TF2 to look as much like Minecraft as possible, I don't think that's a huge issue.
Art style is actually kind of nice. Bright colours, none of that grey/brown bullshit that most games seem to have. Reminds me more of an arena shooter with neon lights and stuff than most modern shooters.
Jetpack is lovely. Strong verticality in map and combat, characters move quickly, gliders are a ton of fun to fly across the map. While some quests (especially earlier on) have a lot of pointless padding (run here, talk to him, run back), the movement is fast enough that it's not a huge detriment.
Higher level weapons are more fun. I've only taken the biotech frame (healer class) up too far, but it has a needler (plasma gun/syringe gun, basically), a grenade launcher, and a shotgun from what I've seen. The shotgun coupled with the jetpack and constant jumping reminds me a little of scout play.
At higher levels the quest chains are actually moderately interesting, and I hear the plot is as well. The characters aren't going to win any awards and there are way too many of the "sophisticated" villain archetypes, but it's a little better than your standard fantasy MMO fare.
F2P is... absent? This is where I think I'm missing out on some game mechanic, as there currently seems to be no point in buying the game currency. I guess you can get a cosmetic item or a pet or something, but I haven't noticed any other things you can actually buy with real money.

If the impressions seem conflicted, that's because I am. I still don't know if I like the game or not. I think I do, probably because the weapons are more akin to TF2/arena shooters than the alternative, but I'm still not sure.
I'd call it surprisingly pleasant, maybe at a stretch a 7/10 if you insist on numbers. It's not going to suck you in like other MMOs or shooters might, but it's good way to waste an hour or two with braindead entertainment.
2
#2
-4 Frags +

u dont honestly expect someone to read all that right

u dont honestly expect someone to read all that right
3
#3
5 Frags +
milou dont honestly expect someone to read all that right

Not really, but if someone does I'd be pleasantly surprised.

[quote=milo]u dont honestly expect someone to read all that right[/quote]

Not really, but if someone does I'd be pleasantly surprised.
4
#4
5 Frags +

Sounds fun, might give it a try later this week.

Sounds fun, might give it a try later this week.
5
#5
12 Frags +
Maplemilou dont honestly expect someone to read all that right
Not really, but if someone does I'd be pleasantly surprised.

I read every single word dont worry bro.
also, I read a book yesterday. *gasp*

[quote=Maple][quote=milo]u dont honestly expect someone to read all that right[/quote]

Not really, but if someone does I'd be pleasantly surprised.[/quote]
I read every single word dont worry bro.
also, I read a book yesterday. *gasp*
6
#6
6 Frags +

i can't read

i can't read
7
#7
1 Frags +

Played the beta also...

from what I remember:

I still have no idea how crafting functions

You use machines to craft parts, then you use the machine again to put together the parts to make anything from medpacks to new frame parts.

From what I've heard, there's no point in crafting anyways as the better weapons are easier to find with drops. So no grinding for resources and such, but I don't know if I can call a pointless crafting system a positive.

As usual, crafting allows for targeting a specific item to get. And the way you get resources, drilling, also nets you a "defend the vip" minigame where you defend the drill against a horde of creatures, resulting in more exp and other drops on top of the exp the drill gives you

F2P is... absent? This is where I think I'm missing out on some game mechanic, as there currently seems to be no point in buying the game currency. I guess you can get a cosmetic item or a pet or something, but I haven't noticed any other things you can actually buy with real money.

You can buy frame parts and upgrade paths for that frame with money

PvP is missing???? Possibly to be added soon? I really don't know.

PvP exists, at least it did in beta. Just take your typical gameplay, stick several other players on the same semi-small map, and you kill each other.

---
Also, gliding is fucking fun. Too bad there's no easy way to gain height outside of the jump pads (which are craftable by the way)

Played the beta also...

from what I remember:

[quote]I still have no idea how crafting functions[/quote]

You use machines to craft parts, then you use the machine again to put together the parts to make anything from medpacks to new frame parts.

[quote]From what I've heard, there's no point in crafting anyways as the better weapons are easier to find with drops. So no grinding for resources and such, but I don't know if I can call a pointless crafting system a positive.[/quote]

As usual, crafting allows for targeting a specific item to get. And the way you get resources, drilling, also nets you a "defend the vip" minigame where you defend the drill against a horde of creatures, resulting in more exp and other drops on top of the exp the drill gives you

[quote]F2P is... absent? This is where I think I'm missing out on some game mechanic, as there currently seems to be no point in buying the game currency. I guess you can get a cosmetic item or a pet or something, but I haven't noticed any other things you can actually buy with real money.[/quote]

You can buy frame parts and upgrade paths for that frame with money

[quote]PvP is missing???? Possibly to be added soon? I really don't know.[/quote]

PvP exists, at least it did in beta. Just take your typical gameplay, stick several other players on the same semi-small map, and you kill each other.

---
Also, gliding is fucking fun. Too bad there's no easy way to gain height outside of the jump pads (which are craftable by the way)
8
#8
1 Frags +

Played it a few years back in beta but I lost interest in it and I've heard it's a completely different game now than it was then

Played it a few years back in beta but I lost interest in it and I've heard it's a completely different game now than it was then
9
#9
8 Frags +

you guys want to know some cool facts about firefall?

their developers are completely incapable of balancing the game when it came to PvP (yes, it did exist once upon a time. more on that later). I know it'll be a bit hard without understanding game mechanics, but here is a video we made on Shockwave. Shockwave was the assault's "ultimate" ability that you had to charge up over a few minutes. The width of it was literally the size of a hallway, and the range you can see in the vid. It will do 5/6 of your (and anyone else hit by it) health, and when confronted about it the community manager said to "just dodge it" (that's whose face you see in the end of the video 'dodging' the spirit bomb). he got reaally mad at this video, he ended up rage posting 4-5 times in the thread within an hour, which is by far the most developer feedback this game has ever witnessed. He was also told by the company to stop interacting with the community, which is hilarious because his sole job was being a community manager. just know that shockwave was a braindead ability that literally won people games, including each weekends final worth $6k (3 for us/eu i think).

They also have absolute shit money management. They spent 3 million dollars on a fucking LAN bus that isn't even legal to be driven. They then spent 1million on a statue, but it's okay guys because IT MOVES! Oh, I believe they also sponsored the Chinese soccer team. their chinese sugardaddy company was understandably in the red at the end of the year.

That's not even the best part about Firefall, though. They promised a 1million dollar tournament, which got indefinitely postponed a few months later. Now here was the legit coolest part about firefall, they setup a contract with ESL to do two weekly 10,000 tournaments (NA/EU but you could sign up for both). These attracted well known players like strenx, but because the game was entirely about focus fire and not about individual aim, he and his team were both pretty damn awful and placed 8th or 11th or something.

I get that things in this post may sound like exaggerations, but they absolutely are not. You could have a team composed of the best players in the world, but it simply wouldn't matter whatsoever if you didn't have perfect focus fire. Individual skill meant nothing in this game due to how long it took to kill.

PvP is missing???? Possibly to be added soon? I really don't know.

Because of all the drama PVP was producing, they announced during one of the tournaments that it will be shut down, and boy they weren't kidding. They literally pressed the button to completely remove PvP from the game one minute after the finals ended, they were done with it ahahaha.

(yes yes I know that there are two zone PVP areas in the world, not talking about those. i'm talking about when you used to join a queue and be put into 5v5 pvp games)

sorry for the rant, aha :d

you guys want to know some cool facts about firefall?

their developers are completely incapable of balancing the game when it came to PvP (yes, it did exist once upon a time. more on that later). I know it'll be a bit hard without understanding game mechanics, but here is a video we made on [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJOqnrLvLbE]Shockwave[/url]. Shockwave was the assault's "ultimate" ability that you had to charge up over a few minutes. The width of it was literally the size of a hallway, and the range you can see in the vid. It will do 5/6 of your (and anyone else hit by it) health, and when confronted about it the community manager said to "just dodge it" (that's whose face you see in the end of the video 'dodging' the spirit bomb). he got reaally mad at this video, he ended up rage posting 4-5 times in the thread within an hour, which is by far the most developer feedback this game has ever witnessed. He was also told by the company to stop interacting with the community, which is hilarious because his sole job was being a [i]community manager[/i]. just know that shockwave was a braindead ability that [b]literally[/b] won people games, including each weekends final worth $6k (3 for us/eu i think).

They also have absolute shit money management. They spent [b][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=816Yt27aDog]3 million dollars[/url][/b] on a fucking LAN bus that isn't even legal to be driven. They then spent 1million on a [url=http://files.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/281247_S/firefall.jpg]statue[/url], but it's okay guys because IT MOVES! Oh, I believe they also sponsored the Chinese soccer team. their chinese sugardaddy company was understandably in the red at the end of the year.

That's not even the best part about Firefall, though. They promised a 1million dollar tournament, which got indefinitely postponed a few months later. Now here was the legit coolest part about firefall, they setup a contract with ESL to do two weekly 10,000 tournaments (NA/EU but you could sign up for both). These attracted well known players like strenx, but because the game was [b]entirely[/b] about focus fire and not about individual aim, he and his team were both pretty damn awful and placed 8th or 11th or something.

I get that things in this post may sound like exaggerations, but they absolutely are not. You could have a team composed of the best players in the world, but it simply wouldn't matter whatsoever if you didn't have perfect focus fire. Individual skill meant nothing in this game due to how long it took to kill.

[quote]PvP is missing???? Possibly to be added soon? I really don't know.[/quote]

Because of all the drama PVP was producing, they announced during one of the tournaments that it will be shut down, and boy they weren't kidding. They literally pressed the button to [b]completely[/b] remove PvP from the game [i]one minute[/i] after the finals ended, they were done with it ahahaha.

(yes yes I know that there are two zone PVP areas in the world, not talking about those. i'm talking about when you used to join a queue and be put into 5v5 pvp games)

sorry for the rant, aha :d
10
#10
-2 Frags +

If you're looking for someone to play with, I've played my fair share in the closed beta, and know my way around the old system quite well (not too much of the core functions of the game must have changed) so add me if you wanna play cuz I actually want to get back into it, really liked it

If you're looking for someone to play with, I've played my fair share in the closed beta, and know my way around the old system quite well (not too much of the core functions of the game must have changed) so add me if you wanna play cuz I actually want to get back into it, really liked it
11
#11
0 Frags +
turtsmcgurtsyou guys want to know some cool facts about firefall?

I had heard some of those stories, didn't the CEO get forced out because of issues like those?

[quote=turtsmcgurts]you guys want to know some cool facts about firefall?
[/quote]

I had heard some of those stories, didn't the CEO get forced out because of issues like those?
12
#12
0 Frags +
Mapleturtsmcgurtsyou guys want to know some cool facts about firefall?
I had heard some of those stories, didn't the CEO get forced out because of issues like those?

yes. he was also known for never being at the office except for when he decides to completely change the focus of the developers, and being incredibly biased. as long you got him to like you, you could do anything you wanted. i believe red5 blamed him (mark kern) for the state of the game when they fired him, while he blamed their chinese sugardaddy company for whatever reason.

edit: here's a nice reddit post from an employee at the red5 explaining why Kern was fired. extremely likely that you heard about this fiasco when it happened because it was all over popular gaming websites due to the amount of drama.

Red 5 staff was informed about PvP being cut through the same forum thread the players were.

the entire removal of a game mode and thousands of man hours because the CEO was pissed at the negative attention it was getting (likely) due to him preventing his programmers from fixing key problems such as shockwave.

[quote=Maple][quote=turtsmcgurts]you guys want to know some cool facts about firefall?
[/quote]

I had heard some of those stories, didn't the CEO get forced out because of issues like those?[/quote]

yes. he was also known for never being at the office except for when he decides to completely change the focus of the developers, and being incredibly biased. as long you got him to like you, you could do anything you wanted. i believe red5 blamed him (mark kern) for the state of the game when they fired him, while he blamed their chinese sugardaddy company for whatever reason.

edit: here's a nice [url=http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1tuf3c/this_is_why_mark_kern_was_removed_as_ceo_by_red_5/]reddit post[/url] from an employee at the red5 explaining why Kern was fired. extremely likely that you heard about this fiasco when it happened because it was all over popular gaming websites due to the amount of drama.

[quote]Red 5 staff was informed about PvP being cut through the same forum thread the players were.[/quote]
the entire removal of a game mode and thousands of man hours because the CEO was pissed at the negative attention it was getting (likely) due to him preventing his programmers from fixing key problems such as shockwave.
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