My Thoughts On Ns
Jiriki
retired ns1 player Join Date: 2003-01-04 Member: 11780Members, NS1 Playtester, Squad Five Silver
retired ns1 player Join Date: 2003-01-04 Member: 11780Members, NS1 Playtester, Squad Five Silver
<div class="IPBDescription">Only my...</div> First i have to say thanks to whole ns dev team for great work and dont forget it <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
And now to business. I've been playing ns long time, from the autumn '02 or so. NS has got a lot better step by step in all possible ways(especially balance), except one. And it's the fun and excitement of the game. (Dont get me wrong, ns is awesome game now) Lemme give you an example.
It was the time of 1.04 and I was playing as gorge in Port Engine(you know what map, dont you <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->) I builded a hive there. Suddenly someone said: "i think they got jp-hmgs" I got all nervous and started asking ppl to lerk and I had my hands full of building oc's. Hive was scanned. Minute or two passed. Then I heard the sound of jetpacks flying in the ducts. Sounds got louder. A marine carrying hmg appeared from the top duct. A second passed and then it started loading his bullets to my lil' hive. "help, please!" Skulk came out from nowhere and eated the marine. But before I could say anything, another jp dude was there. It was flying all over the place and shooted the hive as much as possible. Lerk and skulk were trying to kill it and i was praying and i was very sweaty... Soon marine is no more - hive is no more. Crap. Then we complained about the overpowered jp hmgs and so on. But it was fun, wasnt it ? Anyways, before i explain this i will tell another story.
I was marine in marinebase (ns_caged). Background music wasnt playing and all I could hear was the low hum of buildings. Base was shining in the darkness and then i walked off. We builded some res towers. Even we had troubles getting anywhere we were quite ok. Base wasnt attacked nor rt's were eated. Later I was soloing to the ventilation to see what were those aliens up to. I was trying to walk to the hive but invisible things was blocking my way. I shoot it. It moves. It's ... (my heart bumped atleast 200 times in sec or it was stopped) ONOS. I die... And then I keep telling its not possible. When i respawn i can hear the roar of 3 onoses coming(no coming, they were Charging) to our base. We lost in that minute. But it was funny, yeah.
This all is possible in v2 but not its not so exciting. There're many reasons why things turned up like this (this all is my opinion only) First, maps. I know how hard it's to make maps, so I'll give a credit to map makers. Anyways, i find maps too bright. I prefer dark maps where buildings can shine (and skulks can pop your heart off) But generally maps give more reality and they look way better, as dark And yes, I know. We are not making scary movie. And ns doesnt have to get (maybe it'd like it, but no) like avp's. Just a bit darker texutres and small colorful lights. Nancy and bast are good examples. Second thing is the balance between two teams. Now game is really(almost) balanced but there're no really great unit differences between kharaa and frontiersmen. Onos can beat ha guy or not. It's just your luck. In v2 when i saw a lerk next to my legs, i said "holy s..." but now i'm just happy to get a kill. (even they shouldnt matter <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->) And onoses. When you see one in the mid game you'll propably attack it hoping it'd die. In old days, you couldnt believe to see onos walking there. Then you could think "there's time to win, to be defeated and to RUN !" There should be more differences between these two teams. Marines should be dogfood alone but powerful in team and aliens should be terminators as units. It's very much like this now but somehow its mixed up. (my opinion, dont burn me for this) Everything is dogfood now i think. Anyways there're lots of other things. NS is great game now, but i must admit i get bored easier than old days. Anyways, I have said my message, whats yours ?
Flame me if you want but, I'm just giving feedback. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
And subject is the feel of game (did it get worse v1 -> v2 or backwards?) <b>not</b> the balance. Plase no off-topic. Thanks.
Ps. sorry for grammar and typos, im not talking enligsh as my mother tongue and im very sleepy now (and sweaty too)
And now to business. I've been playing ns long time, from the autumn '02 or so. NS has got a lot better step by step in all possible ways(especially balance), except one. And it's the fun and excitement of the game. (Dont get me wrong, ns is awesome game now) Lemme give you an example.
It was the time of 1.04 and I was playing as gorge in Port Engine(you know what map, dont you <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->) I builded a hive there. Suddenly someone said: "i think they got jp-hmgs" I got all nervous and started asking ppl to lerk and I had my hands full of building oc's. Hive was scanned. Minute or two passed. Then I heard the sound of jetpacks flying in the ducts. Sounds got louder. A marine carrying hmg appeared from the top duct. A second passed and then it started loading his bullets to my lil' hive. "help, please!" Skulk came out from nowhere and eated the marine. But before I could say anything, another jp dude was there. It was flying all over the place and shooted the hive as much as possible. Lerk and skulk were trying to kill it and i was praying and i was very sweaty... Soon marine is no more - hive is no more. Crap. Then we complained about the overpowered jp hmgs and so on. But it was fun, wasnt it ? Anyways, before i explain this i will tell another story.
I was marine in marinebase (ns_caged). Background music wasnt playing and all I could hear was the low hum of buildings. Base was shining in the darkness and then i walked off. We builded some res towers. Even we had troubles getting anywhere we were quite ok. Base wasnt attacked nor rt's were eated. Later I was soloing to the ventilation to see what were those aliens up to. I was trying to walk to the hive but invisible things was blocking my way. I shoot it. It moves. It's ... (my heart bumped atleast 200 times in sec or it was stopped) ONOS. I die... And then I keep telling its not possible. When i respawn i can hear the roar of 3 onoses coming(no coming, they were Charging) to our base. We lost in that minute. But it was funny, yeah.
This all is possible in v2 but not its not so exciting. There're many reasons why things turned up like this (this all is my opinion only) First, maps. I know how hard it's to make maps, so I'll give a credit to map makers. Anyways, i find maps too bright. I prefer dark maps where buildings can shine (and skulks can pop your heart off) But generally maps give more reality and they look way better, as dark And yes, I know. We are not making scary movie. And ns doesnt have to get (maybe it'd like it, but no) like avp's. Just a bit darker texutres and small colorful lights. Nancy and bast are good examples. Second thing is the balance between two teams. Now game is really(almost) balanced but there're no really great unit differences between kharaa and frontiersmen. Onos can beat ha guy or not. It's just your luck. In v2 when i saw a lerk next to my legs, i said "holy s..." but now i'm just happy to get a kill. (even they shouldnt matter <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->) And onoses. When you see one in the mid game you'll propably attack it hoping it'd die. In old days, you couldnt believe to see onos walking there. Then you could think "there's time to win, to be defeated and to RUN !" There should be more differences between these two teams. Marines should be dogfood alone but powerful in team and aliens should be terminators as units. It's very much like this now but somehow its mixed up. (my opinion, dont burn me for this) Everything is dogfood now i think. Anyways there're lots of other things. NS is great game now, but i must admit i get bored easier than old days. Anyways, I have said my message, whats yours ?
Flame me if you want but, I'm just giving feedback. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
And subject is the feel of game (did it get worse v1 -> v2 or backwards?) <b>not</b> the balance. Plase no off-topic. Thanks.
Ps. sorry for grammar and typos, im not talking enligsh as my mother tongue and im very sleepy now (and sweaty too)
Comments
I think the game is at a reasonable balance ATM (2.01 Final) the problem to me seems to be people are just better players as marines (due to other FPS games acting as training games) and people just are not used to the stealf + meele class of the aliens. Its really a matter of skill (IMHO) right now. Onos are more common now that is for sure, for that reason they must be blanced based on when they can enter the game. An uber onos that insights fear late in the game cant apear 8 minutes into the game if there is to be any sence of blance.
Wait for the new version, It should help refresh that feel in NS.
BTW: Your second story you say NS_cadged but then you go to Viaduct (NS_nothing)
And whoops, you got me. I surrender. I meant to say Ventilation. I sometimes mess those two, learning too much names isnt good for your health <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
I just want to give you all my opinion about NS.
I have played almost all HL mod's I could find.
Everything from Counter-Strike to Digetal Paintball.
To many to count.
But NS is nothing like any mod I have ever seen.
My first server was a veterens server, believe it or not thats where I learned to play and never once got banned ! (Lucky me <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> )
At first the game was a little intimidating (spelling?) but after a few weeks I forgot my Counter-Strike and AVP2 and went hardcore with NS !
The maps are unbelievible !
After a wile the game can get...dare I say it boring.
But then all games get boring after time right ?
I still play NS and will probably never stop playing it !
Another good point is the hole idea about the game.
It is so origenal !
AVP2 was great, but you must admit, only to kill things.
No team work or stratigy really involved.
You could not build either and I think that is one of the best idea's in NS.
There are to many times that I really 'felt' the game but if I had to give you a few times it would have to be :
(As rine) When I was the only one following orders and proseded to way point I walked into a dark hallway and heard that chuckle sound.
I turned around and turned my flash light on only to see nothing when I turned back a skulk was looking me straight in the face !
(As alien) Hiding above the door entrense and a rine (rambo) walked out I fell to the floor and before I touched it the rine was killed. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
There are many times in the game that I have felt this.
And in my opinion (not that it meens anything) this mod was/is the best one I have ever played.
Good bye Tfc,Cs,Ts,Dp,Dc,Vs its NS now and im never looking back... <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::onos::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tiny.gif'><!--endemo-->
.. I kind of miss that <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->