Warning, this comment may spoil the early game.
Hello there,
I didn't go really far in the game (just few step in the open world after meeting james), but there are already lots to say. The idea by itself sounds interesting, but improving the basis would lead to a better game. (v0.19)
- Cinematics:
- The script is good, but voice and acting aren't in sync. But well, this is quite a common issue in games.
- First cinematic. You just killed the guy and... you're free. Broke up the cuff? Took possession of body? Why is there no body behind you? Who is this ghost you kill right after?
- Have you tried cinematic in ultra low? Welcome to yellow fluorescent land. It was quite fun when turning James into a vamp, and him shining, quite a reminder to Twillight maybe?
- Dialogue:
- Again, the script is nice. But the camera is doing everything but looking at the char. Try to speak with your demon follower at random place, and you'll be looking at doors, ceiling, everywhere but at her. And please add her another dialogue once she's out of her cell.
- Shouldn't the skip button skip the whole dialogue, and just but spacebar to a step-by-step chat ?
- Inventory:
- Chest and inventory. You open up a chest. You pick up some loot. You click on back. You change up your gear. Well done, you've filled the chest again. This is quite bothering.
- Equipement color. Ideally, when I see some equipement ranking (white>green>blue>purple>Gold), I assume a gold equipement has better stats than a white one. This is not the case here, when a gold equipment take 2 slots for a +5 armor, when you can have way more boots with the others slot in white. Maybe is there some sets item, but hidden ?
- Weapon:
- Help on X. This help doesn't change even if you change your sword for a bow. Parrying with a bow sounds cool though.
- Range and attack speed. Maybe is it just because I'm blind, but it's pretty hard to know if it's worth wearing an estoc at 10 damage rather than a claymore because the estoc would attack faster, with less energy, and more accuratly.
- Friendly fire. You have a follower. You summon your pet (which kinda just sleep at your feet, AI there). You pick up your bow. You aim, shoot... and kill your own follower.
- Combo ? With a claymore, I ended up being able to do some interraction jumping with it. Was pretty nice, unless I don't know how I did it, and it didn't happen again when I tried it later on.
- Offhand. Should a torch be a weapon, and not something in second hand to have light? Having shield would give more advantage taking a sword than a claymore as well.
- Skills:
- Why is there a "double jump" that ask me to pick up a skill not related to it?
- How does the blood rush works? It's nice knowing I have some life steal, but it's not an active, and it doesn't appear in the passive list.
- Should vampire vision be a permanent skill ? It remind me the vision in Lara Croft, but this vision was only available standing, not moving. Here I don't see any interest not keeping it active 24/7 (brighter, chest through wall...). Also, you can improve its range with skill point... but as it always cover up all the screen, it's pretty hard to tell where is the range limit.
- What does the "clean up" skill is useful for? You get it pretty early, but without knowing what to do with it. Same with the telekinesis, you have it since the start, never used it.
- Gameplay and bugs:
- Buggy quest. You explore the dungeon, pick up everything inside, mostly keys. You pick up the key to open the cellar, even before knowing which cellar to open. You go meet your follower-to-be. You open the door.... and the quest is still "pick up the key". Luckily it can be solved by dropping the key in a chest, picking it up again, and opening an empty cell, but still.
- Buggy jump. When you end up your travel in the sewer, you're supposed to jump on the bridge. But this would be easier if the jump sometimes just stuck itself in "dash back" even with the weapon in stealth
- Buggy loading. Right after the cinematic discovering the mountain, Kalyskah saying this isn't right and.... black screen. Had to reboot to get back some vision.
- Follower stuff. I mean, maybe does she leave us right after. But not being able to change her weapon or armor, when you collect 35 differents things, this is quite sad. What the uses of having 5 panties if I can't make my follower wear them?
- Quests direction. I do like having a journal to tell me what to do. But why does a skeleton key, which is a key item to unlock the first door, become a common item to open every other door (and break up everytime)?
- Chest quantity. There is way too many chest in the early game (mob loot included). My inventory was full of stuff even before killing my pet, because I don't know what is the value of money, so I picked up everything (and most of useless things).
I do believe this game has some potential, even if I'm scared of open world usually. The story sound promising, the dynamic of a rpg is respected, even some strategies already showing up (only magic on your pet, pop add...). But I think there are still many things that should be improved to make it playable, and yet to make it a good game.
Hope this game will have a nice dev, to play it on 0.5 or 1.0 and give it a proper feedback!