A pretty solid shooter, that nails the source materials style and atmosphere with a solid story to boot, with some easy fixes I think to be far more engaging and less hand holding.
Couple suggestions for the potential sequel ranked for easiest to hardest to improve:
Less indicators. Doesn't put faith in its own solid world design with cool visual cues, like Jessicas old home having the “Welcome! Beware” message and should remove the indicators at least for side quests so that players are again encouraged to explore more to find them.
Have the Computer Save System only be usable through findable floppy disks. It’d make more sense as to what it’s being “saved” one, it’d encourage exploration for more than just loot and you couldn’t just spam save over and over after every encounter. At least tie this into difficulty options (On the hardest removing checkpoints, during exploration levels at least since removing them from fight sequences might drag, so that computers are the only checkpoints).
Limit specific item space. I finished the game with over 94 Lockpicks. Have separate category's for backpack space upgrades.
Rework the Night Goggles. Introduce a battery system or an enemy that can blur them since they are overpowered generally in combat and especially during Outpost sections. It would also encourage the Flashlight to be used more, which is primarily useless throughout.
More weapon mods for both Normal & Skynet weapons. Chips are a good start but additional firing mods that completely alter the guns firing method is an obvious step up for variety. Adding mods to normal weapons would give them later spice opposed to becoming obsolete against the invulnerable Terminators.
More mini character story's in exploration. Most side quests don’t involve anyone during exploration levels and comprise of finding an object and then seeing it back at the hub which is fine but pale compared to my favourite side quest from late game. Seeing a woman and being told to go into the metro to retrieve her transmitter, only to then be caught in a Laser system puzzle. Then being shot down by that woman coming out of the metro before Terminators come and you have to fight your way out only to find the woman dead with a tragic note next to her. Probably the shortest yet most effective side quest in many ways emphasizing the other survivors out there, several gameplay phases to it and a short story with a good payoff that others lack until the end. Way more of these side quests.
This is the most extreme change in improving the AI. To be fair at its best in large groups towards the end their sheer amount and variety can be intimidating enough to still work but still would like to see it improved in the explorative scenes since they aren’t enough of a threat.
Lot of issues but again what I believe to be small but substantial fixes that would only add to a solid title.
Couple suggestions for the potential sequel ranked for easiest to hardest to improve:
Less indicators. Doesn't put faith in its own solid world design with cool visual cues, like Jessicas old home having the “Welcome! Beware” message and should remove the indicators at least for side quests so that players are again encouraged to explore more to find them.
Have the Computer Save System only be usable through findable floppy disks. It’d make more sense as to what it’s being “saved” one, it’d encourage exploration for more than just loot and you couldn’t just spam save over and over after every encounter. At least tie this into difficulty options (On the hardest removing checkpoints, during exploration levels at least since removing them from fight sequences might drag, so that computers are the only checkpoints).
Limit specific item space. I finished the game with over 94 Lockpicks. Have separate category's for backpack space upgrades.
Rework the Night Goggles. Introduce a battery system or an enemy that can blur them since they are overpowered generally in combat and especially during Outpost sections. It would also encourage the Flashlight to be used more, which is primarily useless throughout.
More weapon mods for both Normal & Skynet weapons. Chips are a good start but additional firing mods that completely alter the guns firing method is an obvious step up for variety. Adding mods to normal weapons would give them later spice opposed to becoming obsolete against the invulnerable Terminators.
More mini character story's in exploration. Most side quests don’t involve anyone during exploration levels and comprise of finding an object and then seeing it back at the hub which is fine but pale compared to my favourite side quest from late game. Seeing a woman and being told to go into the metro to retrieve her transmitter, only to then be caught in a Laser system puzzle. Then being shot down by that woman coming out of the metro before Terminators come and you have to fight your way out only to find the woman dead with a tragic note next to her. Probably the shortest yet most effective side quest in many ways emphasizing the other survivors out there, several gameplay phases to it and a short story with a good payoff that others lack until the end. Way more of these side quests.
This is the most extreme change in improving the AI. To be fair at its best in large groups towards the end their sheer amount and variety can be intimidating enough to still work but still would like to see it improved in the explorative scenes since they aren’t enough of a threat.
Lot of issues but again what I believe to be small but substantial fixes that would only add to a solid title.