Author Topic: First Impressions of GH2  (Read 1026 times)

Offline JohnnyDmonic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
First Impressions of GH2
« on: March 08, 2010, 03:26:18 PM »
Since I haven't been playing for a while what with one thing and another (and shouldn't be now, but eh, needed a break from job hunting) I wanted to say I'm really liking GH2 so far.  It's pretty early in the game for me, because I've restarted several times after various disasters, one of the previous attempts I got a Wicked Cool Trailblazer and really loved the Spite Rifle.  This time through I got to the bottom of a derelict ship and found a computer console I couldn't do anything with and was all set to be disappointed but found a mecha bay nearby and got an Ultimate Trooper Haiho. Checked it out later and was like, "Eh...looks like a regular Haiho..oh, wait, got a claymore instead of a hammer, I guess?  wonder what the claymo..HOLY COW!"  Heh.  DC 24 Armorpiercing.   Unfortunately I'm having not much luck using melee with space missions, but I'm definitely keeping that sword just because.  Then afterwards my first lancemate asked me to go somewhere with him, and I was worried I was going to get betrayed *way* early in the game, but it ended up being the temple of the Prezero goddess of mecha warriors. lol.  And he learned initiative, which, I guess makes sense since he took the initiative to take me there.

Anyway, so far I'm having a lot of fun, although I think perhaps some sort of tutorial, perhaps as a seperate loadscreen option, might not go amiss.  Took me a while to get back into the flow of things.

Offline Joseph Hewitt

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2521
    • View Profile
    • http://www.gearheadrpg.com
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2010, 04:42:40 PM »
If you're just starting to get back into things, you might want to try a basic mode character. Yeah, I know, where's the fun in that? Well, it's a chance to play a character build that you otherwise might never have tried, and they're usually pretty well balanced.

A tutorial would be a good idea. What sort of topics should be covered?

Offline JohnnyDmonic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2010, 07:17:30 PM »
Typically when I think about tutorials I like them to be fairly inclusive, but with the less critical information skippable/skimmable.

Imagine anonymous child wakes up one morning and and the forced chat bubble tells him today is a school day, then walks him through movement, talking to people (a mother character to talk to or some such) and how to enter/exit buildings/find a place on a map to go to.  Once he eventually gets to school it walks him through how to find a specific person to talk to, the telephone, and interacting with objects (with nearby books going over less critical info like what the different stats do "Our Bodies, Our XP", lesser used menu options (menu vs roguelike, etc), how to save the game, etc)  Once the child talks to random friend and gets the rumor 'teacher wants to talk to you' it walks you through the rumor/memo menu, then talk to the teacher and it informs you that it's career day.  Head to the gym, booths with more interactive books on various skills and what they do/demonstration of how to use them (Use science on the Science Fair volcano!) and finally a 'VR-mecha simulator' that does some basics of combat, including at least some vague explaination of speed/initiative vs how often you can fire/move, running vs standing still for targetting bonuses, different movement modes, etc.

Basically, a tutorial, in my opinion, needs to cover in at least a cursory capacity, anything that could be confusing to a new player.  The biggest issues are:
Movement (space movement still confuses me.  Speaking of which, a Direction currently being faced arrow would be good for the lower left hand corner hud)
How to find places/people (still have some trouble with that myself)
How to follow the plot/find missions (I know this because I read along with the development and all that, but even so it took me a bit to figure out the rumors/memo thing that lets you call people directly)

Offline JohnnyDmonic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2010, 11:28:33 PM »
Restarting yet again.  I had a bit of a collection of special mecha going, mostly just sitting in storage, but got my ride shot out from under me twice by named pirate encounters, the first time I was in a so-so armed Galah, the second time I had sunk most everything I'd gotten so far into a Vadel and I just couldn't bear to rebuild again.

Also:  I recieved a promotion e-mail, but it was from Vini@Albion Hospital and for the life of me I couldn't figure out where the heck that was.

Offline IronJelly

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 35
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2010, 10:05:04 AM »
I like the tutorial idea, but... a school day implies that the character is young enough/lawful enough to attend, and your situation implied a parent (though an orphan could have a friend or robot sending him/her on their way to school).

Otherwise, that does sound like it would cover most of what you need.  The career day thing is great because you can skip booths if you want.  Of course, you should always have the option to skip school that day, and go over to the Cavalier Club first.

Yeah, I can agree the tutorial ought to cover the following:
Movement (particularly in space).  Maybe a flying and a non-flying mecha on the ground.  In fact, the simulator should be an obstacle course.  You could cover every skill needed that way.. go fast here, skim over the water, can you spot the stealthed target dummies?  Fire at them!  Jump to get over that obstacle! switch to flight mode.  This is how you would move in space...

Finding people and places using the phone, the [where are you?] option, and 'l'ooking for them.  Getting rumors, and recalling them.

personal scale combat training, and the importance of gear or ranged weapons or both.  Actually, this would be a good time to also work in "death," injury and hospitalization.   Maybe you have a martial arts class, and spar with two students: one is weak enough to beat, the other is a football player and a bully and knocks you out.  You can wake up in the nurse's office.

Food.  at lunch, you should have it explained to you why more interesting or exotic foods are better, and why a fresh steak is better than a military ration, regardless of how both do the same thing.

Cyberware.  Yeah, you aren't going to get any quite yet, but it might not be bad to learn about it.  How to tell what you need, a reminder that you can't ever go back once you have it.  A bit about trauma.

The whole game doesn't need to be covered, though everything you might do in the game could fit in if you wanted.  I guess the most important is things that otherwise aren't explained, like food.  When I started, I would stock up on cheap noodle cups, and eat when told I was hungry.  It took a while to find out that my stats wouldn't be red all the time if once in a while I treated myself to a steak.

Offline JohnnyDmonic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2010, 01:14:39 PM »
Anyone know where all the arenas are, btw?  Sometimes I like to start a game and just run the arena gauntlet in circles, but so far in GH2 I've found:
Maquise Spinner: Illegal Arena
Caylay Rock: Steelworkers Arena
Theles: Gladiator Arena
and another illegal arena that I forgot where is

Offline JohnnyDmonic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2010, 12:34:35 AM »
omg.  Assasin in theme Savin.  brb changing underwear.

Offline JohnnyDmonic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2010, 08:21:11 AM »
Okay, that's one for the tutorial.  Apparently, not all locations are available via shuttle from all other locations?  Spent a few minutes confusedly scrolling up and down looking for Galconde Spinner before going to somewhere else then checking again.

Offline JohnnyDmonic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2010, 06:39:14 AM »
For my second playthrough I've started a Knight named Dangerzone, and going for areo/hover fighters.  I'll probably leave my lancemates in ground pounders to distract the enemies.  Not being able to loot and no auto-pillage on most missions is a big pain.   If I could add an arm to my Shard I would, I'd even rename it Outlaw Shard if I could.

ETA: Character is abandoned already.  After defeating some guy in a duel for the first plot and then realizing I couldn't loot his mech for any theme weapons he might have dropped I cried a little then restarted.
« Last Edit: March 11, 2010, 08:15:27 AM by JohnnyDmonic »

Offline IronJelly

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 35
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2010, 11:17:30 AM »
It would be interesting to allow mecha (even ones with arms), the ability to tow things away.  it might take a certain skill, or maybe just a readily available part, but i can see small hoverfighters carrying on their back a giant bag of parts or something.

Another possiblity: If you could salvage things, but had no ability to do so, you ought to have maybe a day of game time to pay for someone to haul it back for you.  This opens up a few things such as missions (if you CAN haul stuff) to go get something for someone, and the option to steal some or all of that salvage without working for it.

It would be actually an interesting story piece: A friend notices you have a mecha with arms, and asks you to go and gather salvage for her from her last fight with the Red Mask Raiders in exchange for 10% of the cost of the salvage you bring back.  You go, but find more Red Mask Raiders also investigating the wreakage.  On dispatching them, you learn that your friend actually defeated an ace pilot, and the Raiders want answers.  Warning her of this when you get back, she offers to join you so she has an ally in case of an ambush.

Meh, just a thought.  More options are always good, and paying extra for getting your earned salvage seems like a fair trade for taking the likely cheaper mecha with no arms.

Offline Frumple

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 371
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2010, 04:21:45 PM »
It's another one of those ridiculously roundabout ways of doing things, but a thought: Could you, providing you have a lancemate, order the critter to do the looting for you via tactics mode? A quick test in SF:0 shows a resounding 'probably', but I haven't checked SF:2 yet. You'd have to get a lancie first (so no aerofighter to start with, I guess), but it might be a way to work around the current state of things.
Ask not!
What your country can hump for you.
Ask!
What you can hump for your country.

Offline JohnnyDmonic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #11 on: March 14, 2010, 11:53:16 PM »
The tactics thing does work, thanks.  Doesn't help with duels, but at least I'll have cash.  Started a new game with a new areofighter jock, my second or third mission my friend from the plot start showed up to help...in her Bloody Striker Savin.  Gotta say, that little Architect friend of mine has some serious firepower.

Offline Joseph Hewitt

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2521
    • View Profile
    • http://www.gearheadrpg.com
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #12 on: March 15, 2010, 12:03:06 AM »
Just to let you know, for the next version you'll be able to "pick up" things if you mecha has no hands, as long as it's a safe scene. The message printed in that case is "You strap the # to your mecha", and it takes 3x as long as a regular pick-up.

Offline JohnnyDmonic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
    • View Profile
Re: First Impressions of GH2
« Reply #13 on: March 15, 2010, 02:15:20 AM »
Just to let you know, for the next version you'll be able to "pick up" things if you mecha has no hands, as long as it's a safe scene. The message printed in that case is "You strap the # to your mecha", and it takes 3x as long as a regular pick-up.


Yay!  I probably shouldn't inflate my post count by posting something like that, but seriously, yay!