![]() ![]() In execution, almost every single native character we meet, right down to the companion Siora, is just a ‘ noble savage’ stereotype writ large and almost unabashed in comparison to the other groups. In concept, the druidic lore of the island natives seems unique. The worst offenders are perhaps the natives themselves. Most of the NPC and companions live comfortably within their own personal stereotypes. The distinct lack of characterization in GreedFall certainly doesn't help the narrative. This is a fifteen-hour game stretched over thirty hours and really overstays its welcome by trying to ramp up the drama with false endings and unique twists.Īt best, a hamfisted attempt to bring nuance. Its ultimate payoff came across as preachy and somewhat condescending in tone as well, making one of the major plot points fall incredibly flat. The search for the aforementioned Melichor cure, for example, ends abruptly a few hours before GreedFall's climax. It tries to throw in multiple twists and turns but ultimately comes across as a rushed, disjointed plot with no payoff whatsoever. On the flip side, the main questline comes across as a jumbled, confusing mess. Finding evidence of a lost saint for a religious Theocracy or uncovering a grand conspiracy within a mercenary guild really play to the strengths of GreedFall choices and consequences mixed with some intrigue. Some side quests have more unique elements than the main plot. This allows for mini-stories to develop as you keep progressing. The number of quests is quite small but each one chains together and usually ties into one of the five different factions. The rest just boils down to choosing which character or plot revelation to pursue. There are only a few instances where your choices affect the narrative in a significant way. By my measure, 90% of the quest design works around player choice rather than integrating it. The weakness of this how consequences matter in the grand scheme of things. While it doesn’t quite break that glass ceiling, it is certainly making a few cracks this time around. Yet, something is different with GreedFall, for unlike the monotonous slog of The Technomancer, or the broken mechanics of Bound by Flame, GreedFall seems to have overcome some of Spiders own deficiencies. A mid-budget RPG that hopes to emulate one of the most successful companies in the field is an easy sell, but rarely are they anywhere close to the quality of other companies. It is not hard to be somewhat trepidatious considering Spiders reputation. Ultimately, their games, either restrained by budget or by ambition, tend to fall short of the goals they set for themselves. Yet, for all of this, Spiders still struggles to break through the glass ceiling with a massive hit. ![]() Known for creating unique RPG games for a small budget, their reputation as an almost BioWare-esque studio has grown large enough to cement a loyal fanbase. GreedFall, the latest from French developer Spiders, is the type of game you can’t help but root for. ![]()
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