nysis Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) I like the game and the story, but these are my issues. I'll try to speak as plainly as possible The planets feel like leveling hallways. There is no such thing as exploration. Every two steps in any direction is littered with enemy mobs. The landmarks and the codex entries are interesting, but they are undermined by each area being littered with similarly looking enemies. I would like to be able to explore planets, find villages and landmarks and just be able to absorb the atmosphere without having to fight a mob every step along the way. The single uneventful cantina on each planet is not enough Back to the hallways issue. Coruscant and Nar shadaa are the most obvious. Every section is just a box with mobs and objectives. Planets like Belsavis and Taris are less obvious, but its still there. Tatooine is probably the most *open world* and I would like something like that to be the template going forwards. Lastly control still feels disjointed. Not just the lag time between abilities registering on mobs, but the little things like the game freezing for a sec to load my companion every time I dismount, or the loading screens planet>ship>planet. Its very annoying. Edited July 28, 2012 by nysis
SithVeritas Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Tatooine is probably the most *open world* and I would like something like that to be the template going forwards. You're going to love exhaustion zones.
KeepMe Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 You're going to love exhaustion zones. LOL... yup the first time that happened to me I was like wth. Took me a bit to figure out what was going on.
Drudenfusz Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) Planets like Belsavis and Taris are less obvious For me Belsavis felt like one one the worst offenders on this, I really felt like being i a prison there with all the walls... the only world which I think is worse is Alderaan, because on Besavis it is at least clear that you cannot climb the walls, Alderaan with its mountains was just terrible (every time I tried a short cut there lead to being stuck, and following the pathes felt like huge detours). Edited July 28, 2012 by Drudenfusz
ProsaicProse Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) It's one of the things I dislike about the area designs - the fact that everywhere you go, you feel as if you are that lab rat running down an inescapable corridor with enemies every step of the way and an objective at the end. Turning back isn't much of an option, because the enemies you just fought already repopped. The only saving grace is the quicktravel button on a 30 minute cooldown. I don't explore much because it's just too much of a drag to have to fight everything to get anywhere and see stuff (not that there is much to see, except more enemies for RandomQuest and datacrons.) Edited July 28, 2012 by ProsaicProse
Rafaman Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Hmm... I don't agree. I see where leveling as the focus may take away from the exploring experience, but I've wandered around planets and found it enjoyable sometimes finding some pretty cool things. Just last night for example, I went to Quesh looking for the WB. I'm on the pub side and never saw a WB while leveling. I looked at my map and went to the unexplored areas. Next thing I know I'm flying around what was obviously the Imp side of things in the north. Surprisingly, I found some great chests as there were open areas meant for Imp leveling that I could loot with out fear mob aggro. One particular huge chest was guarded heavily by pub mobs. I just walked right up and helped myself. Lol! Anyway, I found new areas and loot on Quesh which I previously thought of as one of the worst planets in terms of exploration. Never did find the WB. I'll try again today. On Belsavis I had a very similar experience. The walls were a problem as previously pointed out, but once I understood that to get around I had to sometimes follow the road for a bit before cutting cross country, it became very enjoyable. The bridges over lava near the tombs were a nice surprise. But, what made it really great for me was that I discovered a datacron on my own. Found a cave not marked on the map. Went in and there were several elites wandering around. Obviously, they had to be there for a reason... I fought my way through to the back of the cave and found a Champ guarding the datacron. I took care of business and got the datacron very satisfied with what my exploration yielded. Alderann? Same type of thing. Found the MCSG vendor, bought the gun, grappled to the datacron at the dam. Found the Orokeet eggs etc. etc. Pretty cool! So i guess, it can be what you make it. What helped me discover planets as more than just leveling dungeons was looking for datacrons and exploring the opposing faction areas. I recommend you try that. Invariably you end up finding other things and or areas on the way including a little loot for your trouble. I do agree that city planets are pretty much leveling dungeons. Hard to explorer, and datacron hunting turns into Mario jumping, which I hate tbh.
bobmcbo Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 I agree. Also, you're pretty much forced to go to certain areas- everyone that is level w-x will be in area A; while everyone that is level y-z will be in area B. We should have option to where we want to be leveling. It all just feels like it's on rails.
Rafaman Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Hmm... I don't agree. I see where leveling as the focus may take away from the exploring experience, but I've wandered around planets and found it enjoyable sometimes finding some pretty cool things. Just last night for example, I went to Quesh looking for the WB. I'm on the pub side and never saw a WB while leveling. I looked at my map and went to the unexplored areas. Next thing I know I'm flying around what was obviously the Imp side of things in the north. Surprisingly, I found some great chests as there were open areas meant for Imp leveling that I could loot with out fear mob aggro. One particular huge chest was guarded heavily by pub mobs. I just walked right up and helped myself. Lol! Anyway, I found new areas and loot on Quesh which I previously thought of as one of the worst planets in terms of exploration. Never did find the WB. I'll try again today. On Belsavis I had a very similar experience. The walls were a problem as previously pointed out, but once I understood that to get around I had to sometimes follow the road for a bit before cutting cross country, it became very enjoyable. The bridges over lava near the tombs were a nice surprise. But, what made it really great for me was that I discovered a datacron on my own. Found a cave not marked on the map. Went in and there were several elites wandering around. Obviously, they had to be there for a reason... I fought my way through to the back of the cave and found a Champ guarding the datacron. I took care of business and got the datacron very satisfied with what my exploration yielded. Alderann? Same type of thing. Found the MCSG vendor, bought the gun, grappled to the datacron at the dam. Found the Orokeet eggs etc. etc. Pretty cool! So i guess, it can be what you make it. What helped me discover planets as more than just leveling dungeons was looking for datacrons and exploring the opposing faction areas. I recommend you try that. Invariably you end up finding other things and or areas on the way including a little loot for your trouble. I do agree that city planets are pretty much leveling dungeons. Hard to explorer, and datacron hunting turns into Mario jumping, which I hate tbh. BTW, I'm now on the Tauntlet hunt (the pet) on Hoth. I think I have what I need to lure out the little guy. Now I'm exploring the area where I think I can find him. We will see how it goes. I do try to discover things on my own as much as possible. However, I will use feedback from others when I get stuck or seemingly find something odd or interesting.
Jonoku Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 I feel like I'm playing in a tissue box, that's what it feels like when I'm on swtor planets, don't feel immersed at all.
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