TSL Alive?

Started by elliot87, Fri 25/06/2010 18:56:49

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Takyon

Quote from: Gravity on Thu 15/07/2010 20:54:10
I tried to warn you. Oh wait, no I didn't. Well I guess I'm glad that I never really play fan games now.

My feelings exactly. Also are the character models from the Sims?
ghost.

Sslaxx

So, my understanding is that "Episode 1" is just the demo? Seems a bit lame really, almost contemptuous of the audience.
Stuart "Sslaxx" Moore.

Intense Degree

It does cover the same part of the game as the demo but it is not exactly the same by any means.

It looks better and there is more in the way of cutscenes (and thereby the story element), voice acting etc. (but not really gameplay) and most, if not all, of the bugs seem to have been sorted out!

As a KQ6 fan I greatly enjoyed wondering around the Isle of the Crown again but I have to agree that there wasn't really much in the way of gameplay in this episode, and I can see that this would be disappointing, esp. for those who haven't played KQ6 and therefore don't have the nostalgia plus point.

On the whole i'm impressed with the production values, from the point of view of a fangame, but reserving judgment on the game itself until I see more.

Dave Gilbert

I have to admit, I was pretty impressed with the game when I first booted it up.  Wandering around the lovingly rendered Green Isles of KQ6 (my personal fav of the bunch) was a wonderful nostalgic trip.  But once I got off the first isle, the gameplay took a backseat to 20 minutes of cutscenes and then it ended.  If that wasn't disappointing enough, it ended just when things started to get really interesting.  As for the voiceovers, Graham I liked a lot.  His gravelly voice really made be believe he was a middle-aged king who has lived a very full life.  The rest of the cast was okay, ranging from "meh" to "competent."  The narrator wasn't as bad as people say, but her corny jokes seemed very out of place in such a serious story.  

It's an easy game to criticize but it's hard to dislike.  The love that the team put into this game really shines.  I *did* enjoy the story a lot, and I'm eager to see where it goes.  As a game though, it's barely passable.  If this was just released as a stand-alone movie instead of a game, I would probably be much happier.  

Gravity

From what I've read it seems the view wasn't worth the climb.

JD

Quote from: Gravity on Fri 16/07/2010 19:08:41
From what I've read it seems the view wasn't worth the climb.

How about trying it yourself  ;D I downloaded it and before I played it I read that the developers designed this to be more of an introduction to the rest of the episodes. I too expected some (more) puzzles and I hope the next episodes will bring plenty of that. I loved seeing the Land of the Green Isles again and I think the voice acting is really good. I agree with Layabout on Graham's walkcycle though; it's a bit dodgy. But looking forward to seeing the next episode!

TerranRich

If Episode 2 is a fully playable game, then the series might be redeemed. But as it stands now, there isn't much there yet.
Status: Trying to come up with some ideas...

Zazzaro

I too feel it was too short and wished they released episode 2 along with it or shortly after. However, they didnt and I'm just glad the thing is being released. I think everyone should try it, or at least wait until episode 2 is released and try both of them together. Way too soon to write this off.

Charity

It's unfortunate.  Couldn't help nitpicking it to death when I played it, but I was really impressed with the cinematics, given that it was produced by a team of amateurs.  I think it was a bad move releasing this as a stand alone episode.  Makes a bad first impression, given the shortness, emptiness, and the fact that most of the content was already released years ago in the demo.  There were also a few moments that were just awkward or illogical, like
Spoiler
the fact that you couldn't interact with the obviously suspicious doomsayer, or that bit of foreshadowing when they Wing Queen jokes about the implausibility of a magical artifact that allows people to fly nudge wink boy yeah I'm sure there's nothing like THAT.
[close]

I kind of get the feeling that this game is one that has a story to tell (which is good--the main selling point, even) but that it is going to do everything in its power, no matter how contrived or illogical, to railroad the player through the intended narrative (which is less good).  Still, it obviously has a lot of work and thought put into it (probably more thought than most of the canon installments) and I can still see it being at the very least a moderately satisfying conclusion to the series, if they do end up telling the whole story.  This episode just got off on the wrong foot.

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens

#29
I appreciate some of the added work and detail they've put in since the demo but I can't help but wonder "Why?".  Why release an episode that has little to no gameplay to hook people into waiting for more?  Why put so much sheer effort into something you can never sell or really call your own (this is a separate argument and needs no reply)?  Some of the quirks with the models notwithstanding (their fingers tend to be way way too skinny and long, and aside from Graham and his children the rest of the people seem very simply designed) a full game designed in this manner would be sure to net some money even today.  These guys have enough talent to make a game that would sell so hopefully after they're done wasting effort on these 'episodes' they'll work on an original IP.  

I'd be curious to see the result.

CaptainD

It felt much more like a tech demo than anything.  There were some good things about it and some bad things... I think we'll have to wait until episode two for any real idea of how good it will be.

My thoughts on TSL

Dualnames - I got a press preview copy and didn't have to register, I'm not sure why everyone else has had to (even some who got a press copy?!)  ???
 

GarageGothic

Quote from: CaptainD on Thu 22/07/2010 18:56:34I'm not sure why everyone else has had to (even some who got a press copy?!)  ???

I'm guessing you asked for one in advance? I didn't bother since I wasn't reviewing it. The press release I got from Emily upon launch simply said "To download the episode, users will need to register a free account on The Silver Lining website", and as far as I could tell there was no direct download of the game available on their pressroom site.

CaptainD

Quote from: GarageGothic on Thu 22/07/2010 19:20:03
Quote from: CaptainD on Thu 22/07/2010 18:56:34I'm not sure why everyone else has had to (even some who got a press copy?!)  ???

I'm guessing you asked for one in advance? I didn't bother since I wasn't reviewing it. The press release I got from Emily upon launch simply said "To download the episode, users will need to register a free account on The Silver Lining website", and as far as I could tell there was no direct download of the game available on their pressroom site.

Yeah, when Emily first emailed asking who wanted a copy I said yes, so I guess that's why I got the ftp instructions with no registration required.  Mystery solved!  8)
 

Ozzie

Maybe Activision required the registration in the contract? I have no idea, but it annoyed me too.
Robot Porno,   Uh   Uh!

Radiant


Charity

Now THAT would be a beautiful plot twist.

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