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The True Ending:

Spoiler

After narrowly escaping a sultry femme fatale in a cave, Sam and Frodo make their way through Mordor and chuck the ring into Mount Doom. Sauron is defeated forever.

 

[nynt9]

Clearly unless a reviewer platinums a game on every platform it's available their opinion is worthless.

Sure, that's a straw man, but I don't think reviewers need to get the "true ending" of a game to be valid. Games, by their nature, have lots of optional content and thus their reviews are not comparable to other non-interactive media.

 

[brickarts295]

Yes, but the inevitable GOTY Edition with all DLC included and then physical used version of that. If I do get this game, that's my plan. Lots of games are releasing and I have a back log.

This. WB likes doing this too.

 

[m_dorian]

That is not true. If you look at playstion trophies usually less then 50% of people actually finish the game they were playing. Its actually crazy to see how many people drop out of games before the first level/chapter is even finished.

It is true even woth your PS numbers. Less than 50% is still a good number of people that deserve to know how they ll access the game's story.
Else, why games have a story and why the the reviewers review it?

 

[m_dorian]

Clearly unless a reviewer platinums a game on every platform it's available their opinion is worthless.

Sure, that's a straw man, but I don't think reviewers need to get the "true ending" of a game to be valid. Games, by their nature, have lots of optional content and thus their reviews are not comparable to other non-interactive media.

The true ending of a game is not optional content. People should know how to access it.

 

[sgjackson]

prefacing this post with the fact that i loved shadow of mordor and would have thought a fleshed out sequel would be a no-brainer

this post did a very effective job in convincing me that getting the true ending of this game is total horseshit designed to extract people of more money and i am not buying this game now.

 

[Jangowuzhere]

It is true even woth your PS numbers. Less than 50% is still a good number of people that deserve to know how they ll access the game's story.
Else, why games have a story and why the the reviewers review it?

We're not even talking about a 50% scenario in this case.

Arkham Knight has a 39.1% completion rate on Steam. Technically, the story isn't totally finished, there are a couple more scenes that happen after you completely 100% the game. Only 9.2% of players did everything and got the "true" ending.

Those few extra scenes aren't going to change your opinion on the game's story or overall experience. Shadow of War is in a similar situation.

 

[m_dorian]

We're not even talking about a 50% scenario in this case.

Arkham Knight has a 39.1% completion rate on Steam. Technically, the story isn't totally finished, there are a couple more scenes that happen after you completely 100% the game. Only 9.2% of players did everything and got the "true" ending.

Those few extra scenes aren't going to change your opinion on the game's story or overall experience. Shadow of War is in a similar situation.

Arkham Knight's players were -i believe- informed beforehand on the stupid way to access the final cutscene and, most importantly, that game does not have loot boxes that -as some reviewers claim about SoW- speed up the grind to this ending.

 

[jett]

This sounds like garbage.

I'm out. I'm not rewarding this shit with a purchase.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

But let's not forget that Dark Souls is a game that isn't particulary focused on telling you a story, whereas games with a lot of dialogue, cutscenes, character expositions etc. actually are.

In this particular example I'd say that SoW wants to tell you a story, though from what I've read it's a bad one, with last 2 pages seemingly being pinned on the mount everest of bullshit - so I'm not blaming reviewers for not wanting to do that, however what I don't agree with is not putting up a disclaimer or a mention in most reviews that true ending exists and they didn't do it because of this or that, seems really unprofessional.

is anyone really going to Shadow of War for the story tho

or for the sick as fuck nemesis system

I would say Dark Souls and Wardor are similar in that you go in for the gameplay. Story is secondary. Also Dark Souls is thick with story.

 

[Sir Doom]

Good thing there's a lot of games coming out

 

[LegitMcfalls]

Arkham Knight's players were -i believe- informed beforehand on the stupid way to access the final cutscene and, most importantly, that game does not have loot boxes that -as some reviewers claim about SoW- speed up the grind to this ending.

But even if this true ending is real, Lootboxes can only potentially speed up the grind to get to the true ending. It doesnt lock people out of it and if the gameplay loop is good then you will want to grind.

Its all about how you wanna play. If you want to cultivate the strongest army you can to partake in end game activities then go for it. If you dont want to grind and just want a strong army asap then there is the lootboxes.

 

[Crossing Eden]

is anyone really going to Shadow of War for the story tho

or for the sick as fuck nemesis system

I would say Dark Souls and Wardor are similar in that you go in for the gameplay. Story is secondary. Also Dark Souls is thick with story.

Eh, Dark Souls is thick with backstory, not actual storytelling in the modern context of videogames.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

Eh, Dark Souls is thick with backstory, not actual storytelling in the modern context of videogames.

Very true, and likewise I would say Shadow of Mordors strengths were the emergent storytelling that happened through the Nemesis system, not the actual story itself.

 

[Brad Grenz]

Arkham Knight's players were -i believe- informed beforehand on the stupid way to access the final cutscene and, most importantly, that game does not have loot boxes that -as some reviewers claim about SoW- speed up the grind to this ending.

All these strawmen you keep tossing around are a real fire hazard.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

er

how else would you expect them to be found? If the best gear and best orcs are behind RNG.....

....how different is that from any other game that employs RNG to get the best gear? Some games like Ratchet and Clank have a path towards the best weapon(IE RYNO in this case), others force you to grind out bosses until it drops(IE raid bosses in Borderlands/Borderlands 2).

Which makes loot boxes really negligible. I've played RPGS where you have to grind randomly dropped parts(IE getting the ultimate weapons in FFVIII), and as long as the game is fun, it's enjoyable. Having locks behind RNG is really nothing new. Selling loot boxes to speed that up is kinda new, and it's optional at best but not completely locked behind it.

Uhhhhh Borderlands' true ending isn't locked behind a rare RNG drop from its raid boss. What the hell kind of bogus comparison is that? lol

The problem isn't the idea of RNG drops themselves, it's the mix of that with their need to unlock the real ending (bad) and the inclusion of microtransaction lootboxes to bypass this RND grind (worse).

 

[2blackcats]

Uhhhhh Borderlands' true ending isn't locked behind a rare RNG drop from its raid boss. What the hell kind of bogus comparison is that? lol

Neither is it in this.

The end game sounds great.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

Uhhhhh Borderlands' true ending isn't locked behind a rare RNG drop from its raid boss. What the hell kind of bogus comparison is that? lol

The problem isn't the idea of RNG drops themselves, it's the mix of that with their need to unlock the real ending (bad) and the inclusion of microtransaction lootboxes to bypass this RND grind (worse).

We don't know how long the final grind is

Or if it's impossible to recruit high level orcs to get to it

From the sounds of it

You CAN get legendary orcs in the wild
You CAN get legendary orcs in free chests

Yeah. If there's some grinding needed for the true ending, that's alright. Some games require multiple playthroughs or grinding to get to the real ending(If it's a multiple ending game). And that's ok too.

So you get an ending by playing the campaign, and then you can get a bonus ending from the sounds of it by continuing to play.

Loot boxes speed that up, but well...it's no different from buying the shortcuts in Assassins Creed 3? And that's all it is, a shortcut.

 

[Lord of Castamere]

Arkham Knight's players were -i believe- informed beforehand on the stupid way to access the final cutscene and, most importantly, that game does not have loot boxes that -as some reviewers claim about SoW- speed up the grind to this ending.

? Shadow wars and the extra cutscene was announced weeks ago.

 

[Skux]

Seems like GAF making another mountain of a molehill.

From what I've read, these are about as harmless as the microtransactions in the Assassin's Creed games, which can be completely ignored and still get the full experience of the game.

 

[arturo2666]

Seems like GAF making another mountain of a molehill.

From what I've read, these are about as harmless as the microtransactions in the Assassin's Creed games, which can be completely ignored and still get the full experience of the game.

The entire point of the topic is that part of the core experience is locked behind this.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

Seems like GAF making another mountain of a molehill.

From what I've read, these are about as harmless as the microtransactions in the Assassin's Creed games, which can be completely ignored and still get the full experience of the game.

Yup

What was it, AC 3 that started with the 'paying real money to bypass resource grind'? You could still enjoy the game despite that.

The entire point of the topic is that part of the core experience is locked behind this.

Nothing is fully locked behind loot boxes? What is locked behind the loot boxes, that you can't earn in game? Because you can earn everything in game.

 

[2blackcats]

The entire point of the topic is that part of the core experience is locked behind this.

No it's not.

 

[ViviOggi]

You people honestly don't deserve better with this relentless goalpost moving

 

[Kintaro]

As someone that's actually playing it, it actually does bother me. The circle indicator in the pause menu trying to pull my attention to the market after getting a box from an activity. Picking up Mirian that has almost no other use (other that unlocking gem slots or upgrading gear). You're reminded of it pretty often. I see that as a negative.

Are you undercutting the importance of Mirian or what? Upgrading gear and adding gem slots sound important. Are they?

 

[dragonflys545]

I wonder which one of these triple A titles will do terrible or can't make even on the game development $$, because of these shitty practices... I hope all of them does TBH,perhaps a Mass Effect Andromeda type of bomba, that would be a sight to behold. I don't need more sequels for titles being ruined by this shit.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

Are you undercutting the importance of Mirian or what? Upgrading gear and adding gem slots sound important. Are they?

Thats sounds like a major mechanic to the gear?

"Mirian that has no use(Other than upgrading gear and gems)"

Like uh, what? Then it does have use..?

 

[Maximus P]

You people honestly don't deserve better with this relentless goalpost moving

Both sides are side stepping from what I can see.

I wonder which one of these triple A titles will do terrible or can't make even on the game development $$, because of these shitty practices... I hope all of them does Tbh.

The best selling game of 2018 will make a shit tonne of money from microtransactions.

 

[Super Stardust]

Too bad the game looks great, guess I’ll wait for the goty edition.

 

[CecilRousso]

Too bad the game looks great, guess I’ll wait for the goty edition.

What issues with the game would that fix?

 

[unpurposed]

Lot of WB dick riders in here. Surprised how willingly yall are defending a company with awful practices.

Any way you look at this, it's indefensible.

 

[Poster#1]

Why do we have to "grind" to get to some the game content? It's there to bloat the game with a meaningless grind so we have to pay to bypass it.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

What issues with the game would that fix?

Sexy spider lady thong armor.

Share the load.

 

[2blackcats]

Lot of WB dick riders in here. Surprised how willingly yall are defending a company with awful practices.

Any way you look at this, it's indefensible.

Lots of people are just trying to point that the game isn't ruined or anything.

I think everyone in here agrees loot boxes are shit.

 

[Maximus P]

Lot of WB dick riders in here. Surprised how willingly yall are defending a company with awful practices.

Any way you look at this, it's indefensible.

Defending?

I've not seen a single post in here that has defended WB over their choice to add these. Some people are just willing to play them game and ignore them based on the reviews, which most of them say they can be ignored.

 

[Super Stardust]

What issues with the game would that fix?

None, I’ll buy it cheaper by waiting for a complete version of the game.

 

[LegitMcfalls]

Lot of WB dick riders in here. Surprised how willingly yall are defending a company with awful practices.

Any way you look at this, it's indefensible.

Nice alt

 

[oti]

Lot of WB dick riders in here. Surprised how willingly yall are defending a company with awful practices.

Any way you look at this, it's indefensible.

Read what people are actually saying and contribute something worthwhile or go back to your favourite angry youtubers shouting the same arguments into their cameras time after time.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

Why do we have to "grind" to get to some the game content? It's there to bloat the game with a meaningless grind so we have to pay to bypass it.

why do you grind in old school jrpgs

I don't know

 

[Deleted member 10571]

So you're saying most reviewers played the game like a normal person and not someone obsessed with grinding out a completionist run? You know, like 95% of the audience?

In many, many cases like thes, reviewers or youtubers/magazines covering the game will get tons of bonus loot chests and unlocked content to "help" them get a "complete" view of the game without spending money (actually, to make the game appear more customer friendly than it actually is). Some outlets add this to their coverage - Giantbomb mostly does - some don't.

As long as we don't know about the review version additions on this game, it's very hard to make a definitive statement, but if there's at least a few professional reviewers mentioning there's a ton of MTA/grinding involved, I'd rather trust those than the usual 10/10 crew.

 

[shimon]

I think cheats would be a very good alternative for these loot boxes, yes.

Nah,you're gonna get banned.

 

[2blackcats]

In many, many cases like thes, reviewers or youtubers/magazines covering the game will get tons of bonus loot chests and unlocked content to "help" them get a "complete" view of the game without spending money (actually, to make the game appear more customer friendly than it actually is). Some outlets add this to their coverage - Giantbomb mostly does - some don't.

As long as we don't know about the review version additions on this game, it's very hard to make a definitive statement, but if there's at least a few professional reviewers mentioning there's a ton of MTA/grinding involved, I'd rather trust those than the usual 10/10 crew.

We know at least some of them are are reviewing the gold edition because they've told us. So they got 1 premium loot crate.

 

[Jangowuzhere]

Why do we have to "grind" to get to some the game content? It's there to bloat the game with a meaningless grind so we have to pay to bypass it.

We don't know if it actually is a grind. All we have is the word of a couple of people that weren't super hot on the game to begin with.

This whole grinding complaint is super over blown, at least at the moment. Maybe it is a tedious grind to unlock the true ending, but I'm not willing to believe that until I see more complaints.

 

[mazillion]

How do people feel about cracks/hacks/cheats to circumvent the lootboxes/grinding? On one hand i feel like it's kind of creeping up the line that leads into piracy. On the other hand, why the fuck would i pay for something that is essentially a cheat code?

Personally, in single player games on PC, I often enjoy downloading a trainer and having some fun after I've finished enjoying the vanilla experience. It's usually a power trip that gets old quickly but it's fun to me and gives me something to do with the game when I otherwise would have stopped playing it.

Like hell I'm going to let WB take that away from me.

 

[Jamiaro]

None, I’ll buy it cheaper by waiting for a complete version of the game.

Even better: Buy it used. No money for WB.

 

[Mr. PlayStation]

Stupid question, can someone explain to me what are lootboxes in video games?

 

[EvB]

Why do we have to "grind" to get to some the game content? It's there to bloat the game with a meaningless grind so we have to pay to bypass it.

What they should do is just make everything accessible at the start, so everything is easy and their is no sense of achievement or progression.

I mean, super Metroid would have been much better if they had just you have all of yours powers from the beginning.

Dark Souls would also be much better if you started the game with a load of souls and awesome weapons

 

[watdaeff4]

What they should do is just make everything accessible at the start, so everything is easy and their is no sense of achievement or progression.

I mean, super Metroid would have been much better if they had just you have all of yours powers from the beginning.

Dark Souls would also be much better if you started the game with a load of souls and awesome weapons

It's been awhile since I played Super Metroid but did Nintendo give the option when I was stuck to spend $5 on a crate that may or may not contain the item I need to progress instead of me trying to find it on my own? But don't worry if I don't get it the first time, I can buy another chance. Or......in order to "save me money" instead of buying one at a time at $5 each - I can buy 20 crates for only $85.

And if we want to be cynical in this hypothetical, they would make said item extremely hard to obtain either via crate or thru gameplay. Because that's the root of the concern

 

[KyanMehwulfe]

Stupid question, can someone explain to me what are lootboxes in video games?

Any chance you're old enough to have collected sports trading cards, or trading card games like Magic?

Basically imagine features or content, sometimes that feel like they should be part of the game or perhaps even previously were, turned into trading cards. And some of the better stuff are now very rare cards, and may not even appear in trading card packs but only boxsets.

I never played trading card games, but every loot box game I've played there will always be an item, mod, reward, etc that makes me feel like I'm buying packs and packs of hockey cards again just hoping to get my favorite player...

Feel like I should rename my first legendary orc Pavel Bure just for old time's sake