Thoughts on the Demo versus Playtest 1, 2, 3?

[RisK]

What do people think of the changes with the demo?

I feel like there's a reduced power variety, but I'm not really sure as I don't have lists to compare. I also really, really don't like the change to the spear-dodge-spin attack where the speed is now separated from dodge speed - it feels awful.

I'm still split on the Owlitzer changes. On one hand, it feels easier to dodge attacks - but on the other Owlitzer feels more tanky, which I feel like removes some of her unique-ness. I'm not sure whether this is me misremembering or whether there have been changes in this direction.

What are your thoughts?

[ADM]

My favorite change so far is the first power upgrade from Alki being free, going through this room really makes it worthwhile even when we are cheap at the start, it was always awful just go there and oh well I can't afford anything...

Another and similar thing I thought I'd like was the free potion sample at the doc room. But I don't know if it's a bug or intentional but I it refills at multiple occasions in the same run and that really makes everything waaay too easy to my taste. It should be a one time thing per run. Or at least remove it based on frenzy levels since that would be past the point of discovering the dangers of an area.

[BezKa]

I'm not sure I like removal of Teffra as an option instead of a power. They said on stream no one ever chose it, but I used to quite a lot- now I will think twice about choosing a power or teffra room tho so maybe it's a good thing.

The intense jealousy over your friends power options being multiplied by being able to come up to their selection and sadly click at them is great.

The indicator on Owlitzer attacks is pretty cool but it does make dodging super easy. Maybe they should disappear in phase two? Except for the long swoop attack in multiplayer, that would be a nightmare to get out of the way.

[ADM]

1 hour ago, BezKa said:

They said on stream no one ever chose it

Wow really ? Yeah I've been using it a lot too and I got very confused about where it went. Although since some rooms got free options now it probably wouldn't be great to have both, the value of Teffra seems just fine now.

 

Also, unrelated but I kinda dislike how themed powers spawn now. I had moments where a Shield power stone would break into... a summon and charge power ? It seems like the pool is no longer related to the stone appearance but that might be a bug in multiplayer as I've not managed to replicate it on solo but verifying odds is not my thing.

[Szczuku]

I think on higher frenzy leves there should be a cap on infused Bulbins and Treeks cuz like holy crap trying to solo dodge like 4+ Bulbins all spinning is a nightmare. That and trying to get even 1 hit on one of the two infused treeks sitting next to each other

[Pumking7]

I enjoy some of the Owlitzer changes like how some of its attacks have a longer cooldown in-between making the fight a lot more fair (I remember on playtest 3 Owlitzer would practically stun-lock you later in the fight if you got hit once). I think the crosshair, for when Owlitzer is about to hit you from off-screen, is amazing for multiplayer for there was absolutely no way to tell who it was going to hit, but a bit unnecessary for solo. I think the cross-hair makes the solo fight a bit predictable, so maybe it could be removed for solo, but if it remains I would totally be fine with it. 

I am also in love with the changes to the potion seller and the upgrader, I'm super happy they were buffed instead of the shop being nerfed.

I played a lot more with different armor sets, weapons, and weight classes in this demo than I did in playtest three and I found the agile and normal weight classes great for all the weapons, I could easily see myself switching between them depending on the weapons and strategy. The only weight class I wasn't a huge fan of was the power class, for the dodge itself is fun to work around but the lack of dodge cancel makes using certain weapons, like the striker and spear, very annoying. I also hope the current weapons could be a bit more diversified rather than just their slightly higher damage than starter weapons and different weight class. Maybe higher weighted weapons could have higher damage due to the power class's more tank/melee playstyle, and lighter weapons could do the opposite.

5 hours ago, Szczuku said:

like holy crap trying to solo dodge like 4+ Bulbins all spinning is a nightmare

Literally this was the main thing holding me back from collecting the lvl 4 Heartstones, having to solo 9 Elite Bulbins at once in Nocturnal Grove is actual insanity. I wouldn't really want a cap on Elite mobs, for the chaos of them is super fun, I would just like a bit of tuning instead. For Elite Treeks just making their projectile fire a little bit slower would make it sooo much more bearable. For Elite Bulbins... uhhhhhh make it so their spin-roll attack doesn't have the range of the entire level for its a little unfair.

[RisK]

Thanks for the discussion guys. I agree with pretty much all the comments.

• First upgrade being free actually makes Alki's clearing worth choosing now.
• Infused Bulbins not having the entire map range would be nice, as sometimes they hit you from way off when it wasn't clear they were still targeting you - especially considering they have a semi-homing missile effect.
• Not getting Teffra/Konjur when rejecting a power... I miss it. I used to pick it fairly often when I thought both powers were a bit naff; I'd like it back. At the very least, they should prevent you from moving to the next clearing before selecting a power if they intend to keep the change though.
• The Heavy class does feel a little bit better in the demo, I think, but I feel like it isn't tanky enough considering its very poor mobility. I like your idea @Pumking7 of heavy weapons having higher damage too.