Boogie With Stu
Novice
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2003
- Messages
- 8
Well, I've played through most of the demo of Prelude and let me preface this by saying I really enjoyed it overall. It looks to have great potential beyond what I've played so I will be making a purchase. From what I've read this was developed by two people? How long did it take to get it to the state it is in? I'm pretty amazed. I love the combat. Turn based is the way to go. The quests I've completed were well done. I don't recall any fed-ex type quests and the plot is intriguing (aren't they always when there has been a murder <g>). While the graphics are certainly not AAA title quality, they are very well done considering the low-poly count. The character models must only have about 100 or 150 polys and they look nice. I find it pleasing when I equip some new armor and the character model displays this. The music was OK. It is different than the usual lute type found in most rpgs and I kept it on so far. I wish I could turn it down just a bit more (I have it on 1, but it is still a bit too distracting). The objects found in houses are detailed and look well done. The in game help is very handy. Love it. I think the guys did a fantastic job overall and they will get my 25 bucks.
Now to the suggestions, feedback, and minor griping (I only gripe when I like the game).
The mouse interface needs some work. Half the time I am fighting to get the mouse pointer on the right spot to pick anything up. After combat I hold down the alt key and all the items are listed in one big blob. It would be nice to have the names spread out (like Diablo does) in order to make it easier to pick up just the things I want. Many times when I try to pick up an item the whole party walks on over and stands on what I need so I have to move them away then try the click again - frustrating. Thank God I can at least hold down the alt key or I would never be able to grab anything! Also, when the alt key is down how about making any movement (other then to move over to an object when you pick it up) impossible. Any while we're at it maybe make mousing over one of your group do nothing while the alt key is down as I seem to highlight them a lot when they are standing over their loot.
A small onscreen map would sure be great. Something like Divine Divinity has. I get lost easily in any rpg unless I have a minimap on the screen to keep me oriented. Add the option to turn it on or off (by pressing M or whatnot).
Ack! Let me assign keys! I hate where the screen rotation keys are located and would much rather define the keyboard to suit myself. Also, are there hot-keys for attacks? It would be nice to just press a few keys for the different attacks.
And keep the last target selected. When it is a characters turn the default target is the last one they had attacked so all I need to do is press one of the hot-keys for attacking (you are adding those, right? <g>). I would love to just use the tab key to cycle through the enemies in order to change my target. In addition to the menu that pops up when attacking it would be nice to have information appear above the head of the selected target. I like the health vial that is already there, but I would like to see my attack options and the AP cost, the AP cost to move to the target, and (for us detail oriented folks) my chance to hit for each attack type.
When I have a character screen up I can't seem to figure out how to switch to another character without closing it and right-clicking on a different portrait. Maybe some arrow icons that let me cycle through the characters when I am adjusting skills or equipping.
I can equip multiple items in one slot!!!??? My thief is wearing 3 gloves! Is one a condom? I also equipped two bows in one hand.
I would love to have my party member block the shots of my archers. Right now the arrows go right through my character if he is between my bow wielder and the enemy. I think the arrows should damage the character in the way which would make me have to position my group a bit better.
The journal could be so much better. Maybe add bookmarks that correspond to each town and each quest is placed in the proper section by town. Also, scratch through a quest when completed or have a completed section of the journal and move the finished quests there. My biggest gripe with rpgs has always been the damn journal organization.
Are the arrows on the interface screen necessary? I never used them as I always scrolled with the mouse. I think you could widen the text area (or add a minimap!!!) in this area. Also, can I scroll the screen with the keyboard? Those arrow keys on my keyboard look like the perfect match for some scrolling code.
Had a few bugs - but what can you do when you don't have the QA of Electronic Arts at your disposal? Let's see...the old man in Kellan wanted me to fix his fence and all I could answer was No. He still said, "Then go do it!" I crash to desktop at least once every two hours. I'm running Win2K/GeForce3/Athlon rig with DX 8.1b. Sometimes right before a battle all the textures start flickering and I know I will see my desktop in a few seconds. Also, I had the strangest bug I've seen in a game. When I started up the game and loaded a save the top half of the screen had corrupt graphics while the bottom half kept repeating the saved game selection I had picked. Another words, the bottom half acted like a movie of me clicking the load selection then the saved game button. At first I thought, "Oh God, I have a trojan on my system!". Then I realized it was some weird loop in the game.
Well, that's all I can think of off the top of my head - I'll be back once I purchase and play more. Again, great game and I am purchasing it. I hope you guys keep making improvements and more games like this. It seems the game companies have forgotten what is fun about an rpg and they churn out the same things all the time (except Black Isle, of course).
-Dan
Now to the suggestions, feedback, and minor griping (I only gripe when I like the game).
The mouse interface needs some work. Half the time I am fighting to get the mouse pointer on the right spot to pick anything up. After combat I hold down the alt key and all the items are listed in one big blob. It would be nice to have the names spread out (like Diablo does) in order to make it easier to pick up just the things I want. Many times when I try to pick up an item the whole party walks on over and stands on what I need so I have to move them away then try the click again - frustrating. Thank God I can at least hold down the alt key or I would never be able to grab anything! Also, when the alt key is down how about making any movement (other then to move over to an object when you pick it up) impossible. Any while we're at it maybe make mousing over one of your group do nothing while the alt key is down as I seem to highlight them a lot when they are standing over their loot.
A small onscreen map would sure be great. Something like Divine Divinity has. I get lost easily in any rpg unless I have a minimap on the screen to keep me oriented. Add the option to turn it on or off (by pressing M or whatnot).
Ack! Let me assign keys! I hate where the screen rotation keys are located and would much rather define the keyboard to suit myself. Also, are there hot-keys for attacks? It would be nice to just press a few keys for the different attacks.
And keep the last target selected. When it is a characters turn the default target is the last one they had attacked so all I need to do is press one of the hot-keys for attacking (you are adding those, right? <g>). I would love to just use the tab key to cycle through the enemies in order to change my target. In addition to the menu that pops up when attacking it would be nice to have information appear above the head of the selected target. I like the health vial that is already there, but I would like to see my attack options and the AP cost, the AP cost to move to the target, and (for us detail oriented folks) my chance to hit for each attack type.
When I have a character screen up I can't seem to figure out how to switch to another character without closing it and right-clicking on a different portrait. Maybe some arrow icons that let me cycle through the characters when I am adjusting skills or equipping.
I can equip multiple items in one slot!!!??? My thief is wearing 3 gloves! Is one a condom? I also equipped two bows in one hand.
I would love to have my party member block the shots of my archers. Right now the arrows go right through my character if he is between my bow wielder and the enemy. I think the arrows should damage the character in the way which would make me have to position my group a bit better.
The journal could be so much better. Maybe add bookmarks that correspond to each town and each quest is placed in the proper section by town. Also, scratch through a quest when completed or have a completed section of the journal and move the finished quests there. My biggest gripe with rpgs has always been the damn journal organization.
Are the arrows on the interface screen necessary? I never used them as I always scrolled with the mouse. I think you could widen the text area (or add a minimap!!!) in this area. Also, can I scroll the screen with the keyboard? Those arrow keys on my keyboard look like the perfect match for some scrolling code.
Had a few bugs - but what can you do when you don't have the QA of Electronic Arts at your disposal? Let's see...the old man in Kellan wanted me to fix his fence and all I could answer was No. He still said, "Then go do it!" I crash to desktop at least once every two hours. I'm running Win2K/GeForce3/Athlon rig with DX 8.1b. Sometimes right before a battle all the textures start flickering and I know I will see my desktop in a few seconds. Also, I had the strangest bug I've seen in a game. When I started up the game and loaded a save the top half of the screen had corrupt graphics while the bottom half kept repeating the saved game selection I had picked. Another words, the bottom half acted like a movie of me clicking the load selection then the saved game button. At first I thought, "Oh God, I have a trojan on my system!". Then I realized it was some weird loop in the game.
Well, that's all I can think of off the top of my head - I'll be back once I purchase and play more. Again, great game and I am purchasing it. I hope you guys keep making improvements and more games like this. It seems the game companies have forgotten what is fun about an rpg and they churn out the same things all the time (except Black Isle, of course).
-Dan