If you’ve seen my evaluation of The First Descendant, you’ll know I’ve some grievances with the sport’s fundamentals. Conform to disagree, however the story, mission design, characterization and whatnot simply don’t reduce it. On the plus aspect, no less than the gunplay and intensive customization are stable, whereas the visuals look sharp.
Opinions apart, nevertheless, there’s no denying that Nexon’s free-to-play shooter has many points, starting from irritating to irritating, that it must kind out and repair instantly. Let’s check out ten such issues right here.
Matchmaking in Exhausting Mode
As you correctly dive into the tip sport, Exhausting mode turns into out there for a lot of actions. Infiltration Operations, for instance, have extra modifiers to up the issue, and you’ll tack on some extra for an elevated Kill Rating (which raises the possibility of sure rewards). The identical goes for Particular Operations and Void Intercepts, the latter required to open completely different Amorphous Supplies. In idea, it’s not a horrible option to repurpose plenty of present content material. The issue is the shortage of matchmaking, making issues far more difficult than they have to be and successfully handicapping solo gamers, particularly since it’s essential to redo segments like bosses for those who die earlier than they’re slain (that too with restricted lives).
On the lookout for Group
The one choice then is to play with buddies, however what if (no offense) you don’t have any, or no less than any on-line on the time? Why isn’t there a On the lookout for Group software? Even Bungie finally smartened up and added the Fireteam Finder, permitting gamers to create listings in-game and search out others to assist them in group actions. Your choices in The First Descendant embrace going to Albion HQ and messaging random gamers (like many have been wont to do in Future 1). Possibly they’ll be a part of you for the exercise in query. Possibly they’ll instantly depart and flame you for the undesirable invitations – roll the cube and discover out. If Nexon is deadset on no matchmaking for its Exhausting mode content material, then an in-game LFG software is the least it may provide.
Kicking AFK Gamers
I really feel like I’m in a time machine, studying among the complaints for this sport since they mirror lots of the points that Future 1 had at launch. That features the shortage of choices to kick AFK gamers. Say you’re on a mission, whether or not it’s a Void Intercept or a very tough Infiltration Operation. The help of your crew is paramount, however you get that one participant who idles round and does nothing. You possibly can’t kick them, and the sport itself lacks something to detect their AFK habits, so you are able to do nothing however watch as they leech off of arduous work and reap the rewards. It’s 2024 – the truth that that is nonetheless one thing that occurs in a looter shooter is baffling.
Drop Charges
There are combined opinions about drop charges presently. Some really feel that the most effective gadgets and supplies ought to be uncommon and that’s honest. Others suppose that abysmally low drop charges that run within the single digits are simply straight-up unfun and that’s additionally honest. Contemplating what number of rewards are tied to a low drop price, I’m inclined to agree – some extra assured sources could be ultimate.
Additionally, increase the drop charges or implement strategies like a knockout system in tougher actions the place gamers have an escalating probability to obtain the rarest merchandise with every completion. Possibly there’s some concern that gamers will run out of issues to grind for, however the larger subject is grinding for hours and never getting what they need, doubtlessly inflicting them to depart and never return. It’s occurred earlier than in different loot video games and it may completely occur right here.
Encrypted Vaults
The idea of Encrypted Vaults isn’t dangerous – discover some holographic doodads, ping them and comply with the sounds to search out the Vault, “???”, revenue. It’s the third step the place the issues start and seemingly by no means finish. First, you want a Code Analyzer to open it. Subsequent, you should full a timed-button press mini-game. Miss the inputs throughout the given time, thus failing to open it, and the Vault gained’t open.
Additionally, your Code Analyzer is consumed. Higher get one other one (and hopefully it wasn’t a Precision Code Analyzer, which is rarer). The extra annoying factor is that even for those who efficiently hit the various inputs, you don’t barely lengthen the time (and the timing is iffy). I get it – Nexon wished to tear off the lockpicking mini-game from Warframe. Sadly, it’s one of many few copied mechanics that feels considerably worse than its inspiration.
Caliber Buy Points
Caliber is the premium foreign money, that means must pay actual cash for it. Used for immediately buying Descendants, accelerating analysis and whatnot, it’s fairly essential. If gamers aren’t receiving Caliber after buying it, that’s a giant drawback, but one way or the other it’s occurred a few occasions throughout the first few days of launch. Maybe will probably be resolved sooner moderately than later, however no matter the way you or I really feel concerning the monetization, there’s nothing worse than paying for one thing in a sport and never getting it.
Consumable Paint Jobs
Talking of horrible monetization, why the heck are paint jobs consumable? Why do gamers solely get one use out of paint colours after which must spend the money for extra? Has Nexon not discovered from Future 2, which acquired backlash for this at launch? Warframe has you pay for complete units of coloration palettes, however they’ve limitless makes use of. It’s one factor to promote Final Descendants at absurd costs to skip the grind, however shaking down gamers for paint? Absurd.
Boss Design
A brand new hotfix is accessible and nerfed Eterllick the Tracker’s use of defend abilities per part. That’s good. Bosses like Devourer nonetheless don’t scale properly for 4 gamers, resulting in countless frustration. That one boss in that story mission can simply chunk down your well being with hearth injury, even you probably have Hearth Resist Modules. Then there’s the Useless Bride together with her annoying immunity phases, particularly in case your teammates don’t prioritize breaking her components. Ordinarily, a difficult boss could be good, however this isn’t a Souls-like. There are a lot in The First Descendant that want a couple of stability passes to scale back their extra annoying traits.
HUD Customization
For those who’ve seen any gameplay, particularly on consoles, the heads-up show can get somewhat…busy. Between displaying aims, gadgets you’re monitoring, the map, your skills and so forth, there might be some muddle. Whereas the HUD might be turned off for a extra immersive expertise, it could be good to take away some data for a cleaner look. Add a dynamic choice as properly, turning the HUD invisible after a while for good measure.
Melee Fight
Other than absolutely the lack of melee weapons, melee fight simply lacks punch total. Whether or not you’re initiating a grapple strike, utilizing a charged or uncharged melee or skills like Sharen’s electrical slash, all of them lack affect. The primary order of enterprise is to revamp the system to be much less clunky, then add some greatswords, lances and whatnot into the combo. Flip them into heavy ammo weapons if needed, however they’re a should.
