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Sunset Overdrive deserves another chance

HiiiLife said:
A lot of people said play till the double jump or some shit but the game could never hold my attention long enough.
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They say that because the gameplay opens up in an amazing way when you have all of the traversal options. You can just blaze across the map without a hitch in your momentum. It's super fun.
 
etta said:
Because it's becoming more and more common for people to pay less and less attention to the more intricate aspects of games. That's why the casual games market is expanding and every publisher wants to cater to the Call of Duty type of person who has a short attention span, the kind that skips tutorials just so they can get it over with, talks or texts on their phone instead of watching cutscenes or even worse skipping them all together because they need their gameplay fix immediately, has their game volume on low because they prefer to listen to the latest hot album instead of the game's audio narrative, character chatter, and sound cues...etc.
I remember Joe complaining to other Joe about how he couldn't climb up an unimportant dumpster or cars in QB while the story was unfolding in front of him, cutscene volume drowned out by his moans and cries. Or when Jeff trying to play it as a cover shooter in that famous gif when the game tells you in the first firefight you encounter that cover is only as a temporary stopgap to recharge abilities and heal. It even pauses the game for you to deliver the message if I remember correctly, but people like to insta-mash A to get rid of the prompt and get back to shooting.
How many times have I read on GAF people complaining that games are short when it turns out they just rushed to finish each level instead of paying attention to the environment narrative, skipping cutscenes, then complaining the story sucked and the game was short when they paid jack shit attention.
People not playing games properly is a real issue that exists. The attention afforded to games is diminishing all because they need that quick fix of action.
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TL;DR.

(joking - good post man)
 
I enjoyed it and got really competitive in trying to get the top spot in a few of the challenge leaderboards (and did become #1 for a bit in one IIRC and placed high in a few others).

That both showed me the games greatest strength and its weakness. It has a fantastic traversal system and the challenges really push it to the limit when you are trying to get your timings down and move up the leaderboards

However, the rest of the game, aside from a few scenarios, really fails to push the traversal system in a challenging and sometimes even unique way, opting instead I noticed to push the variety of weapons. Simply put, without the challenges, I do not think SO would be something I consider a great game. It lacks difficulty for one but what is more disappointing is that the main campaign (again, aside from a few instances) never really pushes you to delve deeply into the mechanics. You can pretty much coast through the main campaign with a basic understanding of the mechanics. The game never really feels confident enough in itself to challenge the player in ways you would expect out of a game that features such a traversal system, rather, it reverts to focusing more on the weapons, which while fine, absolutely cannot carry the game by themselves given the level and encounter design, not to mention story.

The game has a great traversal system but it is just surrounded by too many things that hold it back instead of propping it up. Had I not gotten into the challenges and pushed my self, I probably would not remotely appreciate the game as well as I do now.

I would absolutely be down for a sequel that addresses some of these concerns.
 
etta said:
Because it's becoming more and more common for people to pay less and less attention to the more intricate aspects of games. That's why the casual games market is expanding and every publisher wants to cater to the Call of Duty type of person who has a short attention span, the kind that skips tutorials just so they can get it over with, talks or texts on their phone instead of watching cutscenes or even worse skipping them all together because they need their gameplay fix immediately, has their game volume on low because they prefer to listen to the latest hot album instead of the game's audio narrative, character chatter, and sound cues...etc.
I remember Joe complaining to other Joe about how he couldn't climb up an unimportant dumpster or cars in QB while the story was unfolding in front of him, cutscene volume drowned out by his moans and cries. Or when Jeff trying to play it as a cover shooter in that famous gif when the game tells you in the first firefight you encounter that cover is only as a temporary stopgap to recharge abilities and heal. It even pauses the game for you to deliver the message if I remember correctly, but people like to insta-mash A to get rid of the prompt and get back to shooting.
How many times have I read on GAF people complaining that games are short when it turns out they just rushed to finish each level instead of paying attention to the environment narrative, skipping cutscenes, then complaining the story sucked and the game was short when they paid jack shit attention.
People not playing games properly is a real issue that exists. The attention afforded to games is diminishing all because they need that quick fix of action.
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Thank you!
 
Best game of this Gen, great Music, amazing gameplay, detail in the maddest of places (did anyone find all the graffiti's?

People don't like the godfather either, I don't sweat it, if putting it on multiple platforms helps people to see the game then that is cool.
 
jesu said:
obviously part of the deal they signed no?
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No idea. Business contracts usually aren't disclosed. I just know that Ted Price has wanted to own an IP for the longest time, and they finally owned two of them, and both of them under-performed. Fuse, because it was so-so game, and it's a complete mystery why Sunset Overdrive under-performed. I imagine they went with Microsoft because they were the only publisher that would let them keep the IP rights. It's certainly possible that part of the contract was timed exclusivity, but when the game didn't do so hot, they figured the IP wasn't worth pursuing further. Which is unfortunate, because I think it had potential. Perhaps the smaller install base of the Xbox ONE at the time really hurt it. It was getting kind of trounced by the PS4 during the early years. I do believe that the game would have done better as a multi-plat, even if it was just Xbox and PC, mainly because the install base just wasn't there, and perhaps interest in that type of game (for some inexplicable reason), wasn't very high.
 
I was really, really excited to play this game when it came with GWG, and then I found myself really confused by the traversal controls (ie, what you can and can't interact with. Crackdown spoiled me in this regard) and map navigation, baffled by the lack of ammo vs nearly endlessly spawning bad guys, and getting endlessly pummeled by one of the early escort missions with the guys who spit acid.

Haven't touched it in a few months, though I'd be willing to give it another shot.
 
I'm surprised there is no discussion about this, especially with what Insomniac said back in time about keeping the rights of the game. Two years later, the decision to bring Sunser Overdrive on PC is in fact still in Microsoft's court.
 
of course it deserves more sales, why at this point defend the exclusivity? I really think it could do much better and it should.
 
I realllllly want to like this game. I do. R&C is awesome. Resistance 3 is awesome. But something just doesn't click for me. The plot and characters? Setting? Controls maybe. Idk something is off.
 
etta said:
Because it's becoming more and more common for people to pay less and less attention to the more intricate aspects of games. That's why the casual games market is expanding and every publisher wants to cater to the Call of Duty type of person who has a short attention span, the kind that skips tutorials just so they can get it over with, talks or texts on their phone instead of watching cutscenes or even worse skipping them all together because they need their gameplay fix immediately, has their game volume on low because they prefer to listen to the latest hot album instead of the game's audio narrative, character chatter, and sound cues...etc.
I remember Joe complaining to other Joe about how he couldn't climb up an unimportant dumpster or cars in QB while the story was unfolding in front of him, cutscene volume drowned out by his moans and cries. Or when Jeff trying to play it as a cover shooter in that famous gif when the game tells you in the first firefight you encounter that cover is only as a temporary stopgap to recharge abilities and heal. It even pauses the game for you to deliver the message if I remember correctly, but people like to insta-mash A to get rid of the prompt and get back to shooting.
How many times have I read on GAF people complaining that games are short when it turns out they just rushed to finish each level instead of paying attention to the environment narrative, skipping cutscenes, then complaining the story sucked and the game was short when they paid jack shit attention.
People not playing games properly is a real issue that exists. The attention afforded to games is diminishing all because they need that quick fix of action.
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This is gold.
 
Sangetsu-II said:
Why even own the IP then?
smh
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IP rights and publishing rights are different.

So Insomniac could probably go release a sequel on whatever the hell the wanted but MS has that first game locked down for a number of years.

Sort of like Mass Effect 1 and how it took 5 years for it to finally pop up on PS3.
 
I would believe the IP is owned by Insomniac, but there must be some contractual subtleties about porting the first game ? Maybe J. Stevenson will be able to shed some light on this.
 
breakfuss said:
I realllllly want to like this game. I do. R&C is awesome. Resistance 3 is awesome. But something just doesn't click for me. The plot and characters? Setting? Controls maybe. Idk something is off.
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It will hopefully click once you've unlocked all the traversal abilities as it's a lot of fun once you get the air dash. It's not Insomniac's best game but it hasn't had the benefit of a sequel to build on what worked and what didn't.
 
Saw the thread getting bumped and hoped for new news!

In saying that if it does release on PC and garners good sales then that may make a sequel more likely. So start pestering Phil, Insomniac and get MS to give you the green light to release on PC.

W10 with 3 months exclusivity and then Steam release after that, everyone's happy?
 
etta said:
People not playing games properly is a real issue that exists. The attention afforded to games is diminishing all because they need that quick fix of action.
Click to expand...

This entire wall of text was hilariously crazy, but I absolutely lost my shit at the bolded.
 
Jarod McChicken said:
I'm surprised there is no discussion about this, especially with what Insomniac said back in time about keeping the rights of the game. Two years later, the decision to bring Sunser Overdrive on PC is in fact still in Microsoft's court.
Click to expand...

Keeping the rights to the game doesn't mean they can just go ahead and put SO1 on any platform they want, anyone that expected that was dreaming. All it means is it's their game and if they want to make a SO2 PS4 exclusive they can, they just need someone willing to fund it.

You think MS was just gonna pay for development then let Insomniac spend a few hundred thousand (or however much) porting it to PS4/PC/WiiU etc and reap in all the cash while MS gets nothing? C'mon..

etta said:
Because it's becoming more and more common for people to pay less and less attention to the more intricate aspects of games. That's why the casual games market is expanding and every publisher wants to cater to the Call of Duty type of person who has a short attention span, the kind that skips tutorials just so they can get it over with, talks or texts on their phone instead of watching cutscenes or even worse skipping them all together because they need their gameplay fix immediately, has their game volume on low because they prefer to listen to the latest hot album instead of the game's audio narrative, character chatter, and sound cues...etc.
I remember Joe complaining to other Joe about how he couldn't climb up an unimportant dumpster or cars in QB while the story was unfolding in front of him, cutscene volume drowned out by his moans and cries. Or when Jeff trying to play it as a cover shooter in that famous gif when the game tells you in the first firefight you encounter that cover is only as a temporary stopgap to recharge abilities and heal. It even pauses the game for you to deliver the message if I remember correctly, but people like to insta-mash A to get rid of the prompt and get back to shooting.
How many times have I read on GAF people complaining that games are short when it turns out they just rushed to finish each level instead of paying attention to the environment narrative, skipping cutscenes, then complaining the story sucked and the game was short when they paid jack shit attention.
People not playing games properly is a real issue that exists. The attention afforded to games is diminishing all because they need that quick fix of action.
Click to expand...

Amazing post. I'm not gonna sit here and claim SO or QB were a 10/10 but like you said people not playing properly is a real issue. If Jeff, a "professional" reviewer, playing QB doesn't highlight that then I don't know what will.
 
timberger said:
This entire wall of text was hilariously crazy, but I absolutely lost my shit at the bolded.
Click to expand...

He's not wrong tho. I know people who bitch endlessly about the story in games I know for a fact they barely paid any attention to. No shit it doesn't make any sense when you skip all the cutscenes, no shit the mechanics are obtuse when you skip all the tutorial prompts.
 
timberger said:
This entire wall of text was hilariously crazy, but I absolutely lost my shit at the bolded.
Click to expand...
Why? It's true. I mean, when you've got posters in action game threads saying "this game's combat sucks because I can mash my way through it," that really drives home how some people either want everything laid out on a silver platter, or they need to be forced not to play like a total putz.

It's an actual fact that putting zero effort or creativity into a game is going to give you worse returns than playing around, letting your curiosity guide you, and trying to get proficient at advanced skills.
 
Poodlestrike said:
He's not wrong tho. I know people who bitch endlessly about the story in games I know for a fact they barely paid any attention to. No shit it doesn't make any sense when you skip all the cutscenes, no shit the mechanics are obtuse when you skip all the tutorial prompts.
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It's just like people in TV threads complaining that the plot doesn't make sense, and later they admit they were "multitasking," i.e. focusing on something totally different and glancing at the screen every so often.

Derp.
 
Poodlestrike said:
He's not wrong tho. I know people who bitch endlessly about the story in games I know for a fact they barely paid any attention to. No shit it doesn't make any sense when you skip all the cutscenes, no shit the mechanics are obtuse when you skip all the tutorial prompts.
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Usually those people bitch about story being shoved in their faces again and again, not about the story being bad.
 
I bought this game but dropped it after the first ~1 - 1.5 hours. I didn't find anything about it enjoyable to play. The movement, the aiming, shooting and even the starting weapons that you got all felt off / not fun to use at all.
 
Game was amazing. I played it at a time when I was really feeling down but still managed to have a tonne of fun.

We might not get a sequel but I'm sure the best elements of SO will go into Spider-Man and hopefully a new R&C.

Insomniac really are one of the best devs out there.
 
KorrZ said:
I bought this game but dropped it after the first ~1 - 1.5 hours. I didn't find anything about it enjoyable to play. The movement, the aiming, shooting and even the starting weapons that you got all felt off / not fun to use at all.
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So you quit before getting the air dash?

Bro...

If it helps, the trick to maintaining your momentum is using roll into jump, divebomb into bounce jump, and air dash. Not necessarily in that order. Those are your tools for getting to the next spot where you can grind, wall run, or swing.

If want to travel really far without breaking your chain, use roll -> jump -> air dash -> repeat.

Dive bomb -> bounce jump -> air dash is your Hulk jump. It's a great way to start a traversal chain, and even better as a linking maneuver to get you across a street or onto the next building while keeping your chain going.
 
Just want to say if they ever did port to PC I'd buy it for sure.

One of the best games this gen IMO. It actually took me a little while to warm up to it, but once the gameplay clicked I loved it.

KorrZ said:
I bought this game but dropped it after the first ~1 - 1.5 hours. I didn't find anything about it enjoyable to play. The movement, the aiming, shooting and even the starting weapons that you got all felt off / not fun to use at all.
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Yeah, it didn't feel good to me at first either. Then after some time I went back to it, and it clicked. Then it became amazing. If you still have your copy, I urge you to give it another shot.
 
In my top 5 this gen. Loved it once I switched my protagonist from male to female. Don't even have an Xbox one anymore but I still own this game. Maybe I'll get a Scorpio
 
MCD said:
Steam, Win10 or whatever port. It's a crime Insomniac/MS basically abandoned the IP.

Doubt we will see a sequel. MS will probably settle with Crackdown as their sandbox game. Sadly, I don't like its aesthetics.

Tl;dr Insomniac if you can't make a sequel then get on the PC train already.
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It was successful on X1. I don't think they abandoned it at all. I would hope that they are just waiting until they have right idea for expanding the story. I know we had the cliffhanger ending and the expansion areas and those were fun. I think if they did have a sequel it would take place in a new city. Mmmmmm. The potential of a new city with all new types of architecture to traverse. Damn OP, now I gotta play some Sunset Overdrive when I get home. My backlog is gonna be mad at me.
 
Amazing game. I was initially turned off by the demo because I didn't get the full context until I started from the beginning. It's one of my favourite games thus far. I really wish there was a new game + as to level up all my weapons.

Also a customization to change eye brow colour. It's always brown.
 
On one hand it's a shame the air dash comes a way into the game. As it changes the way you play completely, as you almost don't have to touch the ground with it. And can transverse from wire to building to wall run and back.

On the other hand the game does that so you get used to normal movement first and builds on that. Giving the air dash from the beginning would spoil the game.


Monocle said:
It's just like people in TV threads complaining that the plot doesn't make sense, and later they admit they were "multitasking," i.e. focusing on something totally different and glancing at the screen every so often.

Derp.
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Haha perfect example. If youre writing on gaf while watching a show play live you're not really watching the show. Like you'd see people in the big tv show threads like GoT complaining about things while missing tons of subtle character movements and looks as they're busy writing on Gaf.
 
This game has the best style ever. I found a lot of the gripes about the mobility in the game to be ridiculous. I had no problem navigating the city even before I had the glide ability.
 
MCD said:
Steam, Win10 or whatever port. It's a crime Insomniac/MS basically abandoned the IP.

Doubt we will see a sequel. MS will probably settle with Crackdown as thier sandbox game. Sadly, I don't like its aesthetics.

Tl;dr Insomniac if you can't make a sequel then get on the PC train already.
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They released the first game last year. How long do you think sequels take to make?

Lots of assumptions, here.
 
qa_engineer said:
it should have been a pc/xbox one release day one.
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It should have also been released at a better time. Releasing that deep in Fall. Meant more bigger games would be brought before it for many people. I had it day one and loved it.

Doing this Xbox/PC day and date release is also good. As it means people who can't bring themselves to buy an Xbox for whatever reason can still buy the game. It's certainly why Forza Horizon 3 is being fully appreciated this time. Without fanboys fighting over it. People don't have to pretend they don't want to play it, or pixel count etc, because it's an Xbox One game. It's very,very noticeable the shift in tone this has garnered on gaf for instance.
 
To be honest, I love so many things about this game... but the base defense bits are so unfun for me that I stopped playing.

If it ever came out for the PC, I'd buy it again, though.
 
It deserves to remained buried. :P

I do wonder why they don't try to strike another deal with MS, and get a sequel out. Not many games like that in the market.
 
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