Perfect Cha0s
Member
Not really instance based, but it does phase players in and out to maintain an ideal number of players.
Destiny Alpha Thread: Impressions from the wild [Code Begging=ban]
- Thread starter The Librarian
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Pai Pai Master
Banned
This is pretty polished for an Alpha. Is it the same vertical slice of content that's being played at E3?
The visuals and load times are the things I see improving the most but I hope a lot of the enemy AI is just placeholder for now. I'm fine with going into caves/towers/etc to clear a bunch of badguys but when I'm exploring out on the field, I want to see enemies do more than just stand around waiting to get shot. It doesn't feel like a living, breathing world this way.
The respawning is also pretty annoying and could use some tuning. Dunno if they should respawn less often or just have more variety to the packs of enemies that respawn. But it would be nice if they just weren't so static and instead enemies always had a base or something that they came out of and had to travel to their patrol points or whatever instead of just showing up or coming out of a dropship out of nowhere.
The visuals and load times are the things I see improving the most but I hope a lot of the enemy AI is just placeholder for now. I'm fine with going into caves/towers/etc to clear a bunch of badguys but when I'm exploring out on the field, I want to see enemies do more than just stand around waiting to get shot. It doesn't feel like a living, breathing world this way.
The respawning is also pretty annoying and could use some tuning. Dunno if they should respawn less often or just have more variety to the packs of enemies that respawn. But it would be nice if they just weren't so static and instead enemies always had a base or something that they came out of and had to travel to their patrol points or whatever instead of just showing up or coming out of a dropship out of nowhere.
I found a rocket launcher last night. Pressing triangle didn't switch to it, and shortly after, I went to bed.
I also had a problem with collectibles falling through the map.
I had that issue pop up last night too. It was kind of frustrating, but not surprising as part of an "alpha". Was expecting something much less polished coming in and am surprised as how far along these areas and mechanics seem.
QuantumBro
Banned
Played the alpha for a few hours last night and had a blast. It really reminds me of Phantasy Star Online, but with shooting.
I loved free roaming the first area and just having random people come in and out of my game. The coop mission was fun, but the two bosses were way too bullet spongy.
Are there any more missions after the coop one?
I loved free roaming the first area and just having random people come in and out of my game. The coop mission was fun, but the two bosses were way too bullet spongy.
Are there any more missions after the coop one?
The Librarian
Banned
Are you guys talking about the free-roam mode? Because the AI is plenty smart. They take cover and they react to what you're doing.
Yup, I feel like the most accurate description of this game so far is Phantasy Star Online and Halo fucked.
Actually, this game pretty much entirely kills any anticipation I had of a Western release of PSO2, I don't even care, anymore. Just give me Destiny.
I agree thought they were pretty smart too, they take cover well
Until they...stop and run out into the open, and stand there. Or when they clearly see you, and react by slowly walking towards you, but not firing.
If there are more styles of armor/clothing and transparent helmets, I'll agree with you.
The Librarian
Banned
Like when? In free-roam mode? Because in the missions, whether they be Strike/Story, they're pretty smart, especially on Legend difficulty.
Psychoward
Banned
Huh, so it looks like there's only 1 base ability, 1 melee attack, 1 supercharge ability and 1 movement ability that you can have at all times. That kinda sucks, was hoping for at least 2 base abilities at a time that you could choose from.... Why isn't melee locked to the right analog stick?
Stephen_drewz
Member
Got about another 45minutes in. I am enjoying myself but I constantly feel lost/dont know what I am doing. Right now I am just running around Earth Old Russia doing whatever missions show up. No idea how im progressing etc.
EDIT: I think I have missed something really obvious, how do I jump into multi?
EDIT: I think I have missed something really obvious, how do I jump into multi?
Can someone explain the skills screen to me? It seemed I could only select and use X going horizontal not vertical like if I just wanted to focus on a particular strength.
Are you suppose to just go horizontal and get everything as they unlock?
I get that the circle is filling up the more you use that ability or grenade or whatever but if I want to focus on grenades should I not be getting everything on the first row and waiting until my grenade second row one is filled up?
I thought I saw a video where the skill system was using a skill tree, where you get to select where you want to focus on and branch out. Not just unlock everything as you get them type of thing.
Are you suppose to just go horizontal and get everything as they unlock?
I get that the circle is filling up the more you use that ability or grenade or whatever but if I want to focus on grenades should I not be getting everything on the first row and waiting until my grenade second row one is filled up?
I thought I saw a video where the skill system was using a skill tree, where you get to select where you want to focus on and branch out. Not just unlock everything as you get them type of thing.
Free Roam, or in larger environments like that last room in the wizard mission. There was a point where I was in a room above an acolyte looking down on him through a window and he just seemed so confused about what to do. He started to run around to the stairs, but then stopped and ran back to the window and looked up, and just kept doing that. And of course, you can agro a group of enemies, double back to a hallway and shotgun them all to death. They don't learn.
It's an alpha. I get it. But the AI gets pretty dumb in open areas. And the free roam is all open areas so...::Shrugs::
Check the different controller configs. I could have sworn one had melee on the right stick.
Well, press the Touchpad in to bring up your Ghost thingy that will tell you where missions are. There is no sense of progression in this Alpha, the level cap is 8 and there isn't really that much area to explore. Just do what little they give you here and figure everything will be much more expansive in the full game.
I mean, there's only 1 story mission in this Alpha, so I'm not sure you far you're expecting to "progress".
At first I thought it was a narrator. Then when you find the hive I thought it was my own disinterested character.
I had no idea that little cube was talking. The cube sounds bored with life.
EDIT: I had no idea it was Dinklage until this thread. I thought for a while it was a developer's voice as a placeholder...
QuantumBro
Banned
There's a control setting for this in the options menu.
How do the difficulties work? Is it basically just better loot and XP? (and better AI I guess...)
toastyToast
Member
I think I started at -10% but then I levelled up midway so it should have worked out to normal damage. The two dudes I was playing with were levels 4 and 5 though
How do I switch to my heavy weapon anyway?
Another thing, with the skills/abilities, am I supposed to hold out until they get all their XP then upgrade? So far I've just chosen what's available as I level up.
Because it's a Bungie game.
I need to try the Strike on Legend. Anyone want to try with me?
Hold triangle.
Thanks. Didn't know about the DestinyGAF clan till now.
Might this be another case of never play a Bungie game on normal?
Halo started becoming fun on Heroic and up, so perhaps Destiny will be similar. At least for the story missions.
Nyteshade517
Member
I found a rocket launcher last night. Pressing triangle didn't switch to it, and shortly after, I went to bed.
I also had a problem with collectibles falling through the map.
To get to your heavy weapon (if you have one equipped) you have to press and hold the triangle button. Just pressing it switches to the secondary weapon.
I personally felt that the flying orb was easier to take out than the mech walker.
Shinigami no Mori
Member
Anywhere I can look to see what all the icons mean? I know cubes are the currency. What do the cards do?
I'm sure it will explain it late in the game...just curious.
I'm sure it will explain it late in the game...just curious.
This is super awesome. I just rekitted out my dude from the web. That's awesome.
The Librarian
Banned
There are still AI glitches to be worked out, sure, but I recall many AI taking cover in Old Russia, and I've played it a lot. Also, of course, they don't learn. They aren't a learning computer. And it's an Alpha.
Just because you encounter a few bad instances of AI doesn't mean it's bad. Besides, some AI stays still so they get hit by grenades and weapons fire. You don't want them to maneuver around too much.
Upping the difficulty makes the enemy AI harder. Loot I'm unsure, more XP, yes.
Tyrant Rave
Banned
I thought so too. It took the squad I was in two or three tries on the walker while the orb only took us one.
Game is a lot of fun so far. I really wasn't interested in it, but this alpha's making me want it. The competitive is pretty great too, really impressed overall.
Ascenion
Member
Put in about 2 hours last night. Level 5 female exo warlock. Like the aesthetics of the game. It feels massive in scope. Love that I can literally dance on the corpses of my enemies. Initial gameplay impressions are pretty good too. I expected the warlock to be like the siren from borderlands and it kinda is but she feels very glass cannonish. I always feel like I'm getting the brunt of damage in my group and even when I know I'm not I'm usually basically dead all the time compared to titans and hunters. Not sure how I feel about melee attacks or grenades either and competitive mp is a mixed bag for me so far. At this point I'm sold on the single player, and am confident I'll probably fall in love with it. Also Warlock4lyfe.
Nyteshade517
Member
I'm pretty sure it goes by he more you use certain skills the circle fills up then you can "upgrade" that skill. That's just from what I have noticed.
toastyToast
Member
funkystudent
Member
Super pissed at my ISP.
Sure there is a fault in my area that has no immediate ETA on being fixed so probably won't be fixed over the weekend.... But why did u let me download the entire alpha before crapping out on me. The icon is just their taunting me now.
Sure there is a fault in my area that has no immediate ETA on being fixed so probably won't be fixed over the weekend.... But why did u let me download the entire alpha before crapping out on me. The icon is just their taunting me now.
What I was saying last night about the game still having great level design and encounter design, despite being open and non-linear, was mostly about the AI and the way it adapts to the environment and uses cover smartly.
I thought the AI was more than enough to keep things interesting, as would be expected from a Bungie title.
RSB
Banned
The Jumper control scheme has melee mapped to RS.
Jumper is the best control scheme in the Alpha, but it is far from ideal. Bungie, please include some of the classic Halo control schemes in the final game. Or better yet, fully customizable controls.
psychotron
Member
Started playing last night and got almost all the way through the first mission they throw you in, and received a server error. Then it reconnected and presented me with the map to choose where to go, so I took a guess, and somehow ended up on the Citadel from Mass Effect, lol. I took the opportunity to upgrade some weapons and armor.
Then I figured out how to get back to where I was, which actually saved my checkpoint just before I fought the flood....I mean the hive. The awesome part was that I was in a huge gunfight and out of nowhere, I get a notification that my brother has joined the game and he starts helping me take down enemies. That was the moment that sold me on the game.
We then started mission hunting and came across a random boss fight that two other online players were battling. We helped them defeat him and all did victory dances, then climbed a hill and sat down together, taking in the view.
Day fucking one!
Then I figured out how to get back to where I was, which actually saved my checkpoint just before I fought the flood....I mean the hive. The awesome part was that I was in a huge gunfight and out of nowhere, I get a notification that my brother has joined the game and he starts helping me take down enemies. That was the moment that sold me on the game.
We then started mission hunting and came across a random boss fight that two other online players were battling. We helped them defeat him and all did victory dances, then climbed a hill and sat down together, taking in the view.
Day fucking one!
Nyteshade517
Member
if you login to your account on https://alpha.bungie.net/ and click "Grimoire" on the left side you can get to the cards you have unlocked. They are for lore and fleshing out the story.
Incandenza
Banned
How do I get a heavy weapon? Will they show up in shops, or as a quest reward, or something? I'm level 6 right now.
The lack of controls explanation put me off a bit. Until I started exploring.
Wow! I know it was a simple mission, but the fact that there was an underground map with impossible enemies told me about the possibilities, games like BL have a big map, yes, but the story is unfloding according to your level.
MP felt excellent, but it was wierd that there was no multi person vehicle.
Wow! I know it was a simple mission, but the fact that there was an underground map with impossible enemies told me about the possibilities, games like BL have a big map, yes, but the story is unfloding according to your level.
MP felt excellent, but it was wierd that there was no multi person vehicle.
Psychoward
Banned
No the setup is fine, but as it is right now RS isn't used for anything and I wish they would have put another power on R1. The skill tree isn't as customizable as I would have hoped either, seems every class will end up in basically the same spot by the end.
QuantumBro
Banned
The Destiny website is really neat, I'll probably waste a lot of time there once the game comes out.
How many free roam areas/planets are there going to be in the final version of the game?
Just buy one from the store on the moon, the seller is to the right of where you start. You can buy them at either of the two places I've circled.
How many free roam areas/planets are there going to be in the final version of the game?
Just buy one from the store on the moon, the seller is to the right of where you start. You can buy them at either of the two places I've circled.
The Librarian
Banned
Find it or buy it.
Audible Phonetics
Member
Has anyone tried to coop some missions with friends?
Am I the only one who finds it frustrating to locate them if they fall off your screen?
Am I the only one who finds it frustrating to locate them if they fall off your screen?
Pai Pai Master
Banned
This isn't going to be cross-play with PS3 is it?
Sorta, your radar will always indicate which direction they're in, but I wish you could pull out your Peter Dinklage and it will show an indicator for allies no matter how far out they are.
Sorta, your radar will always indicate which direction they're in, but I wish you could pull out your Peter Dinklage and it will show an indicator for allies no matter how far out they are.
Canis lupus
Member
Ok I joined the clan, but what is the "join Playstation clan" option?
Yeah me too. It went down faster than the Dead Walker.
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