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Elex |OT| Gothic 5: Risen From Jank
- Thread starter Moff
- Start date
Played for 2 hours yesterday. I'm hooked but then again I'm a PB fanboy and knew I would love the game. Getting serious Gothic 3 vibes from this (which is a good thing as G3 was awesome, don't let anyone tell you otherwise).
Not completely sure about the combat yet. Taking on one enemy works fine, but I was completely overwhelmed when I was ambushed by a group. You can manually cycle through targets, right? Might have to try that, mouse-only targeting against a group didn't seem to work well.
Not completely sure about the combat yet. Taking on one enemy works fine, but I was completely overwhelmed when I was ambushed by a group. You can manually cycle through targets, right? Might have to try that, mouse-only targeting against a group didn't seem to work well.
Charlouie Jonesman
Banned
Please do, because that's the thing I wanna know. And how glitchy is the thing on PS4? Quest bugs and AI behaviour and whatnot I can live with, those were never fully fixed in the Gothic games of yore either, but if the game is prone to crashes and whatnot, (Another honored PB tradition.) I'd rather wait for a couple of fixes.
Also, I only have an american PSN account and if possible I don't want to handle two accounts. Does the US digital PS4 release let you play with german voices AND text and if so, can you set that in-game, or is it dependent on your console's language setting?
Sentenza
Member
I remember how this made alchemy fucking bonkers on both Gothic 2 and Risen 1.
Less clear memories of the other games.
Vlodril
Member
Can you play the game without joining a faction? None of them appeal to me (although i only played a couple of hours so i haven't meat any apart from the berserkers).
The game talks about making a choice which would kinda suck (weirdly enough i liked multiple faction in risen 3 so too bad for elex so far).
The game talks about making a choice which would kinda suck (weirdly enough i liked multiple faction in risen 3 so too bad for elex so far).
Corleth the Fey
Member
I won't be able to check the normal PS4 for a few hours yet.
But I've got nearly 5 hours on the Pro and I've had no crashes yet. I have noticed a few instances of the usual expected PB jank though.
Music very occasionally stopping or starting at cutscene / dialogue.
Occasional weird camera angle during dialogues.
Spoken dialogue very very rarely not matching the English subtitles.
I got stuck on the environment once and had to reload. I had been flying my jetpack up somewhere that looked like you really shouldn't go, so not surprising really. Auto saves every 3 minutes and it's very easy to quicksave console. (Option/Triangle/2-3 seconds save/Option) and you're back in the game.
Twice when closing the inventory menu the game world graphics kinda gliched for a fraction of second. Didn't crash it just looked like most of the world disappeared in from of you for a moment.
Can't think of anything else at the moment. Others have had a couple of quest bugs, and there is definitely an issue with your companions sometimes not joining you in fights.
None of this so far has stopped me having a really great time with this game.
If it is anything like past PB games, you have to make a choice to advance the story and unlock new abilities and gear. You can spend a lot of time with each faction before you have to make choice, however.
The jetpack is such a genuinely great addition and really helps make moving around a lot more fun. It never gets boring to jump from a high altitude and just start using your jets near the bottom of the fall. I love how everyone tells you off in the Berserker camp about using your technology, such a cool touch.
Plan is to level up for a bit with the Berserkers but not actually join them, do quests etc and then head off and look for the Outcasts.
So far I've found 2 trainers but not got the stats to improve yet. However it shouldn't take that long if you look at what the trainers improve/stats needed and then focus on those. You get 10 attribute points everytime you level up and if you dump those into the stats those trainers focus on it shouldn't take too long I reckon.
Also, went for a wee jaunt just outside the Berserker town and got completely wrecked
Plan is to level up for a bit with the Berserkers but not actually join them, do quests etc and then head off and look for the Outcasts.
So far I've found 2 trainers but not got the stats to improve yet. However it shouldn't take that long if you look at what the trainers improve/stats needed and then focus on those. You get 10 attribute points everytime you level up and if you dump those into the stats those trainers focus on it shouldn't take too long I reckon.
Also, went for a wee jaunt just outside the Berserker town and got completely wrecked
Corleth the Fey
Member
Looks like controller is the best way to play, unless that isn't really your thing. UI and inventory seems more designed for a controller as KB&M users in this thread are the ones having more issues.
I'm using controller on PS4 of course. No problems here but I did turn down the camera speed a couple of notches. Others in the thread have also done the same. It's just little too twitchy at default.
Honestly, play the game. Pick a faction which feels right to you.
Risen 3 was the most exploitable. It wasn't hard to obtain several +5 toughness potions, and combined with even a moderate investment in the toughness skill you would accidentally end up as an immortal demi-god.
I hope that they've put some reasonable caps on skills this time rather than allowing you to raise them to insane levels.
His Majesty
Banned
If it's anything like other PB games, no.
Pretty cool that accessing your iPad doesn't pause the game.
Rather positive review from Eurogamer: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-10-18-elex-review
Criticism for the combat, AI, technical issues, animation and the beginning of the game.
Damn, after you reach 30 Int, every point past that cost 2x amount of attribute points. It'd take more time to get 50 int for that Attribute skill than I initially thought.
After I finally get it, I'd be getting Charisma first, then Lock Picking and Hacking. Then I might try getting Picpocketing if I am able to survive with no combat skills or stats...
Man, I'd be a weakling for such a long time... and with Int/Cunning stats and no plans on becoming mage I might as well lvl-up my companions afterwards because I'd have pitiful melee stats (and I want to play as melee).
After I finally get it, I'd be getting Charisma first, then Lock Picking and Hacking. Then I might try getting Picpocketing if I am able to survive with no combat skills or stats...
Man, I'd be a weakling for such a long time... and with Int/Cunning stats and no plans on becoming mage I might as well lvl-up my companions afterwards because I'd have pitiful melee stats (and I want to play as melee).
Corleth the Fey
Member
So far, no. I've pocketed a load for forbidden items out of sight and sold them on and had no come back. The items aren't marked as stolen like Elder Scrolls games for example. Still, it's early days - it could come back and haunt me yet.
I did stand in someone's shed for a few seconds (I didn't touch a thing, honest guv) - got shouted at through the window - then just a few seconds later about 8 guards descended on me and I had to leg it. They were all upset and wouldn't talk to me after that. Reload!
One thing's for sure - the Berserkers are serious about sheds.
His Majesty
Banned
Trespassing is serious business in PB games. Even if you don't know you're trespassing.
Audioboxer
Member
Asking the important questions
arts&crafts
Member
I dont know if I want to go guns or magic (definitely not melee) but I am still in this damn Berzerker town. I dont want to allocate any skill points yet without trying all the combat types.
This is my problem. I believe there's no respec? So I don't want to delve down a path I find I won't end up enjoying. But then guns so far seem to require higher stats...goddamnit.
Sentenza
Member
My doubt as well.
I though ranged combat looked bad from pre-release footage, but after purchasing the game and playing a bit yesterday night I'm wondering how it could be worse than melee.
arts&crafts
Member
I played Risen 3 a few months ago and magic was so OP, I am wondering if this will be similar.
This is something that can't be said enough about PB games:
Don't wait to be guided, go where you want to go. The whole world is open for you to explore, there is nothing to keep you from just leaving the Berserkers and looking for the Outlaws and Clerics instead. You will find a lot of stuff that will kill you almost instantly, but that's fine since you can easily get away with your sprint and jet pack. There will be quests that will lead you around at some point, but these games' biggest strength is the focus on player agency. If you want to go somewhere, you can and are encouraged to go there. The clerics, outlaws and berserkers are all equally hard/easy to get into.
I just did all the quests I could at the Berserker's town and left those that seemed too hard for later. I then started exploring, found another, faction-less town where I leveled for a few hours, then stumbled upon the Clerics from there, then Tavar. Did all the quests I could in all the towns and then, after 20, 25 hours, joined a faction. You can really play however you want.
Also, don't stress too much about specs. Just look at what you want to use next and go for that. At some point every stat will take 3/5 points to upgrade even once and it makes sense to level each stat at least until the point where it starts taking 3 points to upgrade it. I mixed my states wildly and ended up being having a really strong melee weapon, plasma gun and PSI abilities. I even had a badass backup bow that could wreck monsters pretty fast by the end. I'd advise you not to try and specify on one thing, ignoring everything else.
arts&crafts
Member
Thanks for the tip, I am only 2 hours in so I have barely scratched the surface. I will just focus on non-combat skills at the start.
I did the same thing, it took me probably about 20 hours until I could really fight against monsters and other enemies without getting utterly wrecked if I didn't rely on my companions. I wanted to get all the bonus experience and ability point skills from the personality trainier first and focused almost completely on charisma and intelligence. Not sure that was really a great way to go since the experience bonus is pretty small (and you can get it also by finding/crafting certain rings and amulets) and Strength and Constitution make quite a difference even in small quantities.
At the end of the day, though, I'm happy I went that route because when I was finally able to get the awesome weapons and armor and started utterly wrecking enemies that were impossible for me to approach a dozen hours before I felt like seriously accomplished. Only because the beginning is so hard and at times, yes, frustrating, does this game manage to present such a unique journey from wimp to badass.
Imp the Dimp
Member
Man, I want this game really bad. As good or better than Risen 1? Dear god.
I hope so much that this game sells well enough to give Piranha Bytes abit more financial freedom for Elex 2 (which is more or less confirmed by recent grant/fund applications).
After they lost their big publishing deal with jowood after Gothic 3 and the detour that was Risen (especially 2 and 3), it feels they are finally back on track and considering their team is only about 25 people big, I feel they have so much room to slowly! grow and evolve.
Afaik recent steam statistics ( simultaneous players, charts) atleast suggest a positive trend from their recent releases.
First time since Gothic 3 Iam really hyped by one of their games, wishing they could explode with this series.
After they lost their big publishing deal with jowood after Gothic 3 and the detour that was Risen (especially 2 and 3), it feels they are finally back on track and considering their team is only about 25 people big, I feel they have so much room to slowly! grow and evolve.
Afaik recent steam statistics ( simultaneous players, charts) atleast suggest a positive trend from their recent releases.
First time since Gothic 3 Iam really hyped by one of their games, wishing they could explode with this series.
arts&crafts
Member
Quick question. Is there a rust lock spell like in Risen 3? Or can you "bash" locks open? Or must you get level 3 lockpicking to open level 3 chests.
Spent some time with the game. Some tips and comments:
IMPORTANT:
*Exhaust ALL topic conversations. A lot of quests appear or are completed in that way.
*Lock + Parry + Strafe. I'm playing in Hard, and blocking attacks makes things WAY easier. You get almost no damage, unless you are out of Stamina.
*So yes, Stamina is important, at least early on.
*Use Combos to trigger the "Special" attack. You can decimate stronger enemies with it.
*Use magnesium torchs to illuminate dark areas.
*You can only gather stuff until you sheath your weapon.
*Look for hidden areas. I found 3 weapons, 2 pants and 2 necklaces in my first hour (or so). Plus tons of money, different plants and trinkets. There is also a broadsword inside a house next to a large "tunnel" at East side of Goliet (the Berserker's town). Near a lake.
*The Bow is underpowered early on. But use it to kite enemies and identify them: If it's too strong for your level, it will briefly show a skull next to its health bar.
*Some quest items (like the "Cleric weapons" you find in the ruins), are involved in multiple quests. And you can only solve one by giving it away. So --in general--, if you find an important item, don't commit too early.
*Familiarize with the quest menu. You can only have 1 active quest, and only that one will appear in the map. So, it's important to "plan ahead" your routes, so you can tackle all the quests in the same area. But for that, you need to check where each is located. Some early ones require you to travel a bit far.
*You can get Companions, but you need to complete their quest first. Haven't unlocked my first yet (sort of like feeling underpowered).
The game looks sharper and less buggy than I expected. I arrived to Goliet town at night (it looks quite pretty, seriously), since I spent a lot of time searching around. The NPCs do have scheduled behavior. You can easily steal, while they are sleep. Have met 4 or so Trainers, but have not used any of the Learning points yet.
The jetpack is as good as I expected. You can climb pretty high with patience. PB games always rewards you for going out of the obvious path, and this is not the exception. The world design is pretty good. It gives you a "just another hill more" impulse. Combat is janky, specially when strafing/circle around animals. The GUI is ugly and not optimized for m/k. Voice is a mixed affair. Some dialogue lines are shoddy. There are other small thinks that I don't like, but it's a surprisingly solid game (at least on PC). Really love it, so far.
IMPORTANT:
*Exhaust ALL topic conversations. A lot of quests appear or are completed in that way.
*Lock + Parry + Strafe. I'm playing in Hard, and blocking attacks makes things WAY easier. You get almost no damage, unless you are out of Stamina.
*So yes, Stamina is important, at least early on.
*Use Combos to trigger the "Special" attack. You can decimate stronger enemies with it.
*Use magnesium torchs to illuminate dark areas.
*You can only gather stuff until you sheath your weapon.
*Look for hidden areas. I found 3 weapons, 2 pants and 2 necklaces in my first hour (or so). Plus tons of money, different plants and trinkets. There is also a broadsword inside a house next to a large "tunnel" at East side of Goliet (the Berserker's town). Near a lake.
*The Bow is underpowered early on. But use it to kite enemies and identify them: If it's too strong for your level, it will briefly show a skull next to its health bar.
*Some quest items (like the "Cleric weapons" you find in the ruins), are involved in multiple quests. And you can only solve one by giving it away. So --in general--, if you find an important item, don't commit too early.
*Familiarize with the quest menu. You can only have 1 active quest, and only that one will appear in the map. So, it's important to "plan ahead" your routes, so you can tackle all the quests in the same area. But for that, you need to check where each is located. Some early ones require you to travel a bit far.
*You can get Companions, but you need to complete their quest first. Haven't unlocked my first yet (sort of like feeling underpowered).
The game looks sharper and less buggy than I expected. I arrived to Goliet town at night (it looks quite pretty, seriously), since I spent a lot of time searching around. The NPCs do have scheduled behavior. You can easily steal, while they are sleep. Have met 4 or so Trainers, but have not used any of the Learning points yet.
The jetpack is as good as I expected. You can climb pretty high with patience. PB games always rewards you for going out of the obvious path, and this is not the exception. The world design is pretty good. It gives you a "just another hill more" impulse. Combat is janky, specially when strafing/circle around animals. The GUI is ugly and not optimized for m/k. Voice is a mixed affair. Some dialogue lines are shoddy. There are other small thinks that I don't like, but it's a surprisingly solid game (at least on PC). Really love it, so far.
Corleth the Fey
Member
5 hours in - it's as good. If not better. In a lot of ways this much more a Gothic successor than a Risen one.
There are parts that are worse - voice acting for example. The English voice over in Risen1 from Side was brilliant. We had Gimli and Cersei in the game for goodness sake.
There are parts that are better - larger game world - even more choices - more combat options - more factions - more consequences from your choices.
I loved Risen - so much so my first play throughs were on 360 and the issues with that version didn't dull my enjoyment. And Risen was my first PB game. I didn't play the Gothic games till after. This is definitely in my opinion the game I wanted after Risen.
I never found something along those lines but I also never tried magic since I joined the Clerics. If that skill isn't listed as a choice under the Berserker Skill menu, I wouldn't count on it.
Oh, also: I only found out about that about 15 hours into the game because I'm a fucking idiot, but you can scroll in the skill menu. There are more skills down there! And a few reaaally useful ones, too.
Stealthcobra
Member
So I just made it to Goliet.. What am I supposed to do?
arts&crafts
Member
Whatever you want.
SkywardBeam
Member
I'm also not sure how to develop my character exactly, but it certainly doesn't hurt to put a few attribute points into constitution and strength as well as leveling up the melee weapons skill to at least Lvl. 1 for the sake of surviving the initial phase of the game. I tried to avoid putting skill points into anything for quite some time, but finally gave in to not get slaughtered by every frickin' Critter that crossed my path. Doesn't make exploring enjoyable at all if you've got to reload every 2 minutes. I also strongly advise to take a companion with you, it makes life a lot easier when traveling. Also if you spend the first hours of the game with the Berserkers, as most people will certainly do, you can already take Duras with you for exploring the world, even if you didn't complete the murder investigation quest yet (you just have to do one of the interrogations alone, I suggest Geron). I also wouldn't have survived the first story encounter with the Albs without Duras, he was a massive help (as they were able to kill me with 2-3 hits and depleting their health takes like forever). I also strongly recommend to buy a piece of armor at the Berserk village (I've found trousers in the wild, but nothing for the upper body yet). It makes life a lot easier. My biggest problem so far (besides still being weak as f***) is that I'm constantly low on money, especially because I don't know what items can be sold safely and which ones I should keep (aside from the obvious forging materials and alchemy ingredients). Especially the vast amount of metal scrap one finds everywhere (it could serve some purpose later, who knows...). But all in all a great and extremely captivating game (so far). Can't wait to see the world outside Edan (if I'll ever manage to leave the former behind^^).
RealityPales
Member
It's hard to believe finding a copy of Gothic 1 in the bargain bin all those years ago led to this.
Otherwise, I'd never care to play a Piranha Bytes game.
Having a blast so far on PS4Pro.
Otherwise, I'd never care to play a Piranha Bytes game.
Having a blast so far on PS4Pro.
CrichtonKicks
Member
I poked my head into the OS2 thread there shortly after release. The results weren't....pretty. Then I had to take a shower because that place is just gross.
I agree, many if not all skills require two stats. And leveling at the start is really easy, you can quickly max 4/6 stats.
Jag
Member
I think it's funny that i'm doing quests to boost my Berserker reputation, but end up resolving them in ways that piss them off.
So far a bunch of quests have more than one way to finish and your choice doesn't guaranty that the faction will like it. So now i've done a bunch of rep quests, but many of them have just gotten the Chief guy mad at me. Which is actually pretty cool.
Also, gamepressure has a fantastic guide with maps. Sometimes I just want to know where things are.
So far a bunch of quests have more than one way to finish and your choice doesn't guaranty that the faction will like it. So now i've done a bunch of rep quests, but many of them have just gotten the Chief guy mad at me. Which is actually pretty cool.
Also, gamepressure has a fantastic guide with maps. Sometimes I just want to know where things are.
JustSomeone
Member
Really? That's strange to hear. I don't visit there frequently, but I remember they loved the first game and the second is an improvement in every way
So recently I've spotted the "Enhanced for PS4 Pro" logo on the game's box, but everywhere else I've read it doesn't support PS4 Pro from the get-go. What's the fuss about? Why is it then printed on the box?
Does it support PS4 Pro and if so what benefits can one expect from playing on Pro?
Does it support PS4 Pro and if so what benefits can one expect from playing on Pro?
Knuckle Sandwich
Member
Played about 3 hours last night. It's a PB game alright. FANTASTIC world to explore if you can get past the jank, bad combat & ui.