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 On 11/04/2016 at 08:50 PM by asrealasitgets See More From This User » |
I finally made time to play VTM:Bloodlines on PC and it is one of my favorite games of all time now. I've complained about my distaste for open world designs in the past, but what it really comes down to is atmosphere for me. Bloodlines isn't a huge world. I can get around from spot to spot in a few seconds on the map and it's divided between 4 main areas, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Hollywood and Chinatown so every new area feels exciting to explore. Also, I like the gritty vampire vs werewolf sub culture storyline. I guess it just matters what the subject matter of the open world is going to be. I honestly enjoyed finishing up sub quests and exploring every little corner of each area before moving on. 
I watched the first episode of West World and didn't really enjoy it very much at first. I didn't like the dissonance between the Western setting and the Tech world. I would have preferred just a great story within the western world. This is an issue I had with Mr. Robot too. I liked the depressive creepiness of the main character, Elliot, but then I didn't like all the hacking scenes which I thought were very cliched and boring. 
However, I rewatched WW pilot and up to 3 episodes and now I can appreciate what it's doing a bit more. I got turned off by the video game design angle, but on it's own, the Western stories are pulling me in like the sidequests of a good RPG. I'll keep watching, but I find the programming gimmick more annoying than fresh or novel.
Thoughts on Vampire or WestWorld?
-asreal
I bought Vampire: The Last Masquerade on Steam but I haven't downloaded it yet. It certainly looks interesting.
No time for TV, but I watched the second episode; I thought it was pretty chilling when Thandie Newton's character woke up while the Techs were working on her.
I specifically enjoy the stories within Vampire. Combat is a bit dated. You have to spec out your character sheet for things like lockpicking, hacking, etc. and you have to decide what kind of combat you want to specialize in. It's umm...an RPG.
I started liking the WW world a lot more after a few more re-viewings. I like how visitors interact with the theme park and how they affect/change the NPC routines. I also like how the androids are becoming more self aware and having their memories resurface, and Thandie awakening was pretty creepy and sad. I just don't really like the techie part, all the technicians babbling about upgrades and the like. They established that already in the pilot, but I feel like it interferes with the flow too much. A bit like Star Trek and the holodeck. There will be an inevitable rebellion if all the androids start waking up. I wonder if they'll stretch out the series before this happens? I like the short stories every episode anyway, so it don't matter if the rebellion comes sooner or later. The fan theories are pretty annoying too. I just want to see how it all plays out at the end of the season. I like Thandie's performance more than Dolores. I think she conveyed her awakening a bit more believably than Evan Rachel.
I don't think Westworld would work without the tech angle. The whole point is the moral quandry of creating life to abuse it, so without us seeing those pulling the strings that dillemma wouldn't be nearly as intriguing. I've only watched the first 2 eps though. Need to watch more soon.
Vampire is one of my favs too. I love how many of the opening quests can be solved by talking and basic detective work. It's one of those games that with the way I play the violent moments happen more rarely and make those times much more impactful.
Funny you mention it, because I'm writing my top 100 games of all time list and I just finished writing about V:TM-B.
My issue w/ WW is more that the tech world bits are boring compared to the Western town. Maybe I just get drawn into Teddy/Dolores, Thandie back stories and then they get pulled out of the game/world for maintenance or whatever. Ford is great and I like Bernard, but seems a bit dry. The relationships get more interesting as the show progresses especially Ford/Bernard, Man in Black. Im up to ep5. Its all like Assasins Creed animus or whatever.
I loved VTM. The soundtrack, world, NPCs. Its fantastic!
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