greyhat: So, everyone can start focusing on the actual game now. :)
Mr_GeO: I just tried a Steam version (not mine) for an hour or so and to be frank it does not look good...
Primo: the kb+m controls are horrendous. OK, I was playing it on someone else PC, so part of this could be attributed to different mouse setings and so on, but even with this taking into account it was still like trying to drive a brick through the tank full of treacle. Maybe it's better with the controler, but I seriously doubt it - it feel really, really bad.
Secundo: AI controlled units (both friends and foes) are going full retard waaaay too often. I don't mind a small glitches now and then, but things like trying to continuously ram the hill for 20 minutes, while trying to go from point A to B with aforementioned hill in the way or going into mexican standoff
every time when encountering the enemy is a bit too much.
Tertio: during the campaign the "level" or rather battlefield construction is full of blockades/walls/forcefields that are restricting your movements to rather small area. While I can see logic behind it - it was done to make sure that you went the right way to progress - I can't shake the feeling that the way it was done is a worst possible one. Adding the borked controls to it, and it feel like realy badly made shooter on rails...
So, despite being a real sucker for underwater sim with shooting, I decided that I'll pass this title and wait for the big discount or serious patch, because right now I don't fell like it's worth the price tag slapped on it. :(
Hi Mr_Geo
thanks for the feedback, very interesting to hear from actual gameplay.
I have not played this yet so it is appreciated. I am waiting for a couple of clarifications on this game before buying (none of which involve your mini-review).
I realise it might not be your cup of tea, but I feel I must point out that in the previous versions, there was always a bit of what you may call "wallowing" due to the nature of moving through water. It was never meant to be instantaneous.
Of course this did improve as you advanced through previous games as you had access to faster ships etc.
I would urge people not to be put off by this feature. Of course with no real time play of my own, I cant comment on the ai. However the path/geography sounds very similar to previous titles.
Mr_Geo, I do not know if you have played the first two installments. I got the original Aquanox as a tech demo for an extremely old geforce card many years ago and it was a fantastic game. The skirmish mode in itself was amazing. I hope a skirmish mode is included in this release. Anyway, I am not recommending that you try the original as it very similar to the concerns you have raised but sounds very true to the original for fans. Also, the first game is a bit of a pain to map keys on modern systems.
Anyway, I hope to hear back soon from the devs as to whether or not I can buy this game direct. Long and short to other readers, do not be too put off. If it maintains the same mechanics as the other two releases and you enjoyed them, hopefully you will enjoy this too.
I hope so myself, even though I have not yet played it.