cubby
Full Member
doesn't get subtext
Posts: 6,368
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Post by cubby on Feb 17, 2024 23:33:34 GMT
I followed for years Richard Ham doing playthroughs of board games where he'd pretend to play with his wife, it's a great way to find out if a board game is any good, and during one of those videos he dropped a snippet about how he worked on Syphon Filter back in the day. I had no idea but it turns out he was the creator! And now he's quit the games industry, lives in Malta doing these videos and seems pretty happy.
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Post by FlexibleFeline on Feb 18, 2024 10:30:35 GMT
That was amazing. I think another part of the appeal of Syphon Filter in comparison to MGS was it had the whole military complex, espionage, cinematic quality plus ludicrous plotting but without lots of codec / cut scenes. It was fairly economical in terms of story-telling, to its benefit. That said, I tried it recently and - surprise - it plays terribly, whereas MGS I think for various reasons still works well enough in terms of gameplay. .... Syphon Filter does many things wrong, but the taser is not one of them  |
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Lizard
Junior Member
I love ploughmans
Posts: 4,485
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Post by Lizard on Feb 18, 2024 20:20:33 GMT
I remember enjoying Syphon Filter a lot more than MGS at the time. Even then I knew MGS was 'better', but SF had gleeful chaos.
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Tuffty
Junior Member
Posts: 3,618
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Post by Tuffty on Feb 19, 2024 6:56:35 GMT
I've seen some weird instances of water surfaces being paintings you find in Lara's home. Had to do a double take when I wanted to go back down into the water and saw The Girl With The Pear Earring staring back at me, which I had to dive into.
Also some weird cases where the camera would absolutely not shift for me at all, but switch it to classic mode and it corrects itself just fine.
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Post by FlexibleFeline on Feb 19, 2024 7:23:03 GMT
I remember enjoying Syphon Filter a lot more than MGS at the time. Even then I knew MGS was 'better', but SF had gleeful chaos. I know what you mean. It had a real scrappy charm to it. It's a shame it's nigh-on unplayable now, and I guess it just wasn't big enough to be considered for a revamp of some sort. |
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Post by zisssou on Feb 19, 2024 8:47:32 GMT
I remember enjoying Syphon Filter a lot more than MGS at the time. Even then I knew MGS was 'better', but SF had gleeful chaos. That's bullying at school talk. Meet me by the bins at 3pm and we'll settle this. |
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Lizard
Junior Member
I love ploughmans
Posts: 4,485
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Post by Lizard on Feb 19, 2024 9:45:02 GMT
I remember enjoying Syphon Filter a lot more than MGS at the time. Even then I knew MGS was 'better', but SF had gleeful chaos. That's bullying at school talk. Meet me by the bins at 3pm and we'll settle this. We'll see if your cardboard box is taser-proof. |
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Post by zisssou on Feb 19, 2024 10:29:29 GMT
That's bullying at school talk. Meet me by the bins at 3pm and we'll settle this. We'll see if your cardboard box is taser-proof. *Lies on the floor and applies ketchup* MISSSSSS HELLLLPPPP. Now who's going to get suspended! |
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wunty
Full Member
Pastry Forward
Posts: 6,673
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Post by wunty on Feb 19, 2024 10:33:43 GMT
I'm currently in the middle of Tomb Raider 1 and... It really is brilliant. Bloody difficult though. The amount of times poor Lara has fallen to her doom or been mauled by a lion is mental. I'm also ashamed to say I've killed her at least half a dozen times by diving off a small ledge instead of jumping. The horrible dull crunch of her crumpling to the ground with a broken neck from a five foot high ledge is ever so slightly traumatic. I tried and failed with the modern controls so using the tank controls which seem so much better suited.
Just making my way through Midas Palace and feel as though I've been playing the game forever. Every jump needs thought and consideration. The way forward is so obtuse at times as well.
Love it. The combat sucks though.
Also... There's fuck all shotgun ammo. Is that normal? I also keep picking up magnum clips but have no magnum...
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Post by Duffking on Feb 19, 2024 13:02:14 GMT
I'm actually at the same point, just got to Midas palace. Though tbh I'm finding the game a fair bit easier than I remember. Haven't died much and am swimming in med kits.
The magnums are first available in the previous level, the colosseum. It's a relatively well hidden secret though behind some timed jumps. Not sure when they're next available.
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Tuffty
Junior Member
Posts: 3,618
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Post by Tuffty on Feb 19, 2024 13:06:53 GMT
Yeh I just got them last night from the same secret area. Is it Pierre that uses them by any chance who you pick it up from? I forgot he was something of a persistent enemy. Though I dunno how he can have a lion beside him that doesn't attack him
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Post by Bill in the rain on Feb 19, 2024 13:16:47 GMT
I don't suppose the remaster has any difficulty options? I don't remember if the original did.
If I played it now I'd want to put it on the easiest difficulty, just to make the combat as short and painless as possible. Assuming it wouldn't affect any of the platforming, puzzles etc.
Alternatively, the remaster should just add an option to have all Lara's weapons do double damage or something.
It's weird, cos I'm replaying Sands of Time right now and it has the exact same problem of the combat getting in the way of the enjoyment.
The combat is much better than Tomb Raider 1-3, but there are just waaay too many enemies that keep spawning.
The #1 thing I'd want from a remake/remaster would be an option to halve the number of enemies in each area.
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Post by richyroo on Feb 19, 2024 13:23:43 GMT
OK, so the other night I got completely stuck on the Cistern level. I can always remember this level confusing me back in the day. So I decided to check a guide for the key that I was missing. It turns out that I had ran over the key at least 3 times already without even realizing it. The new graphics had made the key basically invisible, when switching back to the classic graphics it was plain to see. I had also turned off the exclamation mark indicators (true to the originals) so I had no way of knowing whatsoever. I hope that this gets patched soon. If you do get stuck in the Cistern level, chances are you just didn't see the bloody key!
This link shows the problem, although its from a different level.
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loto
Junior Member
Posts: 1,044
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Post by loto on Feb 19, 2024 13:46:04 GMT
Apparently the Devs are aware of the pickup visibility issue and it will be patched.
There’s no difficulty settings and I’ve struggled with the combat a fair bit too. I swear the enemies are a bit more tanky this time, but I was probably better at keeping mobile and airborne when I played it last time.
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Post by richyroo on Feb 19, 2024 13:57:20 GMT
I've never had an issue with the combat. Your health can go down quickly, but the trick is to just hit select to open up the menu and use a med kit before you run out.
You get plenty of med kits in the game, so just hit select in time and combat will be easy. Also timing the jump forward and twist in mid-air between shooting really helps.
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Post by Vandelay on Feb 19, 2024 14:35:22 GMT
Main issue with combat is that enemies with firearms are pretty much guaranteed to hit you. They also charge at your, sometimes getting so close that you can't hit them. You really have to just keep jumping about the place and shooting. As long as you have medkits (of which there are plenty) you should be fine though.
For those enjoying the first game, I found that the second game (when playing the original versions recently) was a big step up in quality, particularly the level design. Much more so than I remember. The levels are just a bit more intricately designed.
I understand why some might struggle playing these games nowadays with the tank controls, but if you can get over that they really are fantastic.
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wunty
Full Member
Pastry Forward
Posts: 6,673
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Post by wunty on Feb 19, 2024 15:05:56 GMT
Yeah the combat is the only weak point (although I too have a billion med kits still). But it's so satisfying just slowly and methodically working through these levels with even the bare minimum of ambient sounds. Just Lara in a big old tomb trying to figure out where the fuck to go. I don't even mind that she looks fucking ridiculous (which tbh was one of the things that always put me off playing them) and they've actually done a superb job with this remaster. It simultaneously looks both beautiful and retro.
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Post by Duffking on Feb 19, 2024 15:18:58 GMT
Ballache hitscan enemies was such a trope of the time back then. These days we're sensible enough to have simulated reaction times on enemies, reduced shot accuracy at the beginning of enemy attack bursts and accuracy modifiers based on if you're moving enough.
Back then though? Eat shit. Shout out to Blood and other Build Engine games for that.
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askew
Full Member
Posts: 6,804
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Post by askew on Feb 19, 2024 15:53:29 GMT
I wish there was a button to toggle control schemes. The Hori pad button sensitivity is a pain too. Really have to mash the button to ensure Lara jumps.
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Post by dangerousdave on Feb 19, 2024 17:20:06 GMT
That sounds Hori-ble.
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Post by Duffking on Feb 19, 2024 17:32:12 GMT
I wish there was a button to toggle control schemes. The Hori pad button sensitivity is a pain too. Really have to mash the button to ensure Lara jumps. I feel like the ideal would be to just have the modern controls be on the stick and the tank controls on the dpad. You can just easily zip about and then swap to the dpad for the tricky stuff.
For the sensitivity - you might actually just be coming up against how the game handles jumping, Lara simply doesn't jump unless she's taken 2 steps when moving. You can test it for yourself by coming to a standstill, pressing forward and then holding jump straight after. She'll go right foot, left foot, then jump after that second step. Which coincidentally covers exactly one tile of distance. If you're half way across a tile and start running and push jump, she'll always just run off the edge.
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Post by docrob on Feb 19, 2024 18:23:41 GMT
I was a genuine fan of the old control system. It meant that traversal was an actual puzzle. If you figured out the solution, it would work - it didn’t depend on you having to come at the jump from a particular angle.
There’s bits in TR2 where you have to climb up a shaft by jumping backward and flipping in mid-air, and also where you have to swan-dive into one tile of water in the middle of a lava pit. Used to love that.
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Post by dangerousdave on Feb 19, 2024 19:09:18 GMT
Am I a hypocrite for liking Tomb Taider’s tank controls, but hating Dark Souls stuff and clunky controls?
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Tuffty
Junior Member
Posts: 3,618
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Post by Tuffty on Feb 19, 2024 19:45:58 GMT
Am I a hypocrite for liking Tomb Taider’s tank controls, but hating Dark Souls stuff and clunky controls? Wonder if it's to do with different priorities? Souls is about mostly combat when TR is platforming done at your own pace. I think if they did a new game then yeh focus on the platforming and exploration, but Lara has 2 pistols so combat has to be part of it and you gotta do some cool action moments right? Instead I'd opt for something like boss fights and you put all the spectacle in that. Cut out all the small encounter stuff, just have the combat be part of the closing of a chapter. Not a lot but make them memorable and something to look forward to like an Eikon fight in FFXVI. |
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Post by Bill in the rain on Feb 20, 2024 1:53:56 GMT
iirc Tomb Raider's tank controls work pretty well for the platforming puzzle sections, as they're tied to the level design. It's when you're trying to turn around in a narrow corridor, or accidentally bump a wall at a very shallow angle that they're annoying.
Didn't it do a thing where even if you slightly scraped the wall with your shoulder Lara would go 'oof!' and bounce off at a really inconvenient angle?
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Post by dangerousdave on Feb 20, 2024 8:01:21 GMT
Could you imagine if Lara went rag doll in those moments? She clips a wall taking a corner and just spins out and falls to the floor, seemingly unconscious for moment.
Man. Somebody needs to make Tomb Raider 99. Just 99 Lara Crofts all trying to complete the same level as quickly as possible, getting in each others way. You could see all these ghosts of Lara falling into traps, being mauled by animals or just face planting walls.
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Post by zisssou on Feb 20, 2024 9:10:36 GMT
As I've got further into the first Tomb Raider, I've gone back to the tank controls, as I just find the camera goes absolutely mental with the modern control scheme.
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Tuffty
Junior Member
Posts: 3,618
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Post by Tuffty on Feb 20, 2024 9:24:48 GMT
Important news for everyone. If you press L1+R1 as a save is loading, Lara gets her glasses. Can confirm it works.
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Post by richyroo on Feb 20, 2024 9:31:41 GMT
As I've got further into the first Tomb Raider, I've gone back to the tank controls, as I just find the camera goes absolutely mental with the modern control scheme.
The great thing with the tank controls, it doesn't matter when the camera goes crazy or points the wrong way. Forward is STILL forward. Many a times I have lined up a jump, then the camera points completely the wrong way but you can still carry out the jump 100% safe in the knowledge that you will make it.
This can never work with modern controls.
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wunty
Full Member
Pastry Forward
Posts: 6,673
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Post by wunty on Feb 20, 2024 10:06:03 GMT
I'm finding it surprisingly therapeutic and satisfying when getting through a particularly ardous and precise set of jumps. It's funny as well how, in this day and age of video games trying to outdo each other in terms of visual bombast, I can enter into an area in this and briefly stop and think "now that, is pretty damn cool". Just had a moment like that in the cistern entering into the main area. It just looks quite beautiful in a way that easily equals any "modern" game. Absolutely superb remastering.
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