Satellite Reign - Syndicates new successor

[undercovergeek]

some vids,and destructable enviroments is in as a stretch goal

scenery (awesome) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mub2lKel9JE#at=205

augmentations - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4r-SqhLt0s#at=114

[RooksBailey]

Spelk reminded me to check in on this game again.   It was last year when I last checked it out. The game was then in alpha and very buggy.  It looked very stylish, but the actual gameplay was WIP.  Now that it is in beta, there is more to see.  Here is a LP that was recorded when the game went into beta at v.80 (I skipped the first vid because it was tutorial stuff).

This might be a pre-order for me.  Early access buzz is good.  I just hope it has lots of replayability. 

Release is expected late this month!

[Jarhead0331]

I like it a lot, but it has not grabbed me the way the original titles did. The missions I have played feel much more like a puzzle than a top down corporate espionage/combat simulator. Additionally, they seem to have created a storyline where your team is more like the underdog rebel group fighting the big mega corps. I liked it much better when the story was shameless about your men working for the evil mega corps. Still, it's the closest we are going to come to a modern syndicate.

[RooksBailey]

I like it a lot, but it has not grabbed me the way the original titles did. The missions I have played feel much more like a puzzle than a top down corporate espionage/combat simulator. Additionally, they seem to have created a storyline where your team is more like the underdog rebel group fighting the big mega corps. I liked it much better when the story was shameless about your men working for the evil mega corps. Still, it's the closest we are going to come to a modern syndicate.

Thanks for your impressions.  I played Syndicate, but don't recall much about it.  I really wasn't into cyberpunk back then so it didn't grab me.  How does it feel more like a puzzle game then a espionage-combat game?  I would prefer the latter, too. 

Does it seem like there will be a lot of replayability?  Also, can you pause the game and give orders? 

[Jarhead0331]

I like it a lot, but it has not grabbed me the way the original titles did. The missions I have played feel much more like a puzzle than a top down corporate espionage/combat simulator. Additionally, they seem to have created a storyline where your team is more like the underdog rebel group fighting the big mega corps. I liked it much better when the story was shameless about your men working for the evil mega corps. Still, it's the closest we are going to come to a modern syndicate.

Thanks for your impressions.  I played Syndicate, but don't recall much about it.  I really wasn't into cyberpunk back then so it didn't grab me.  How does it feel more like a puzzle game then a espionage-combat game?  I would prefer the latter, too. 

Does it seem like there will be a lot of replayability?  Also, can you pause the game and give orders?

There is no pause mode per se. However, one of the support class team members has a "bullet time" ability that serves this purpose, but you don't start the game with this.

The missions feel puzzle based because many of them involve infiltrating fortified positions which is usually done by avoiding patrols on a set repeating path while finding a way to open locked doors and staying outside the line of sight of cctv cameras. There are several alternate routes in than the direct obvious approach, so finding these also feels a little gamey. It doesn't kill it for me, but I just feel like I'm solving a puzzle.

They say there will be ongoing random missions for replayability, but I do see it getting old eventually like anything else. Still, replayability will be fair I think. There is a lot to do and a lot going on in the city. They did a great job with the look of the environment.

[RooksBailey]

There is no pause mode per se. However, one of the support class team members has a "bullet time" ability that serves this purpose, but you don't start the game with this.

That's an interesting way of working bullet-time into the game.  Well, it's something. 

The missions feel puzzle based because many of them involve infiltrating fortified positions which is usually done by avoiding patrols on a set repeating path while finding a way to open locked doors and staying outside the line of sight of cctv cameras. There are several alternate routes in than the direct obvious approach, so finding these also feels a little gamey. It doesn't kill it for me, but I just feel like I'm solving a puzzle.

Ah, I understand.  I noticed that too in the LP vids I watched.  SR reminds me of Deus EX in that regard.

They say there will be ongoing random missions for replayability, but I do see it getting old eventually like anything else. Still, replayability will be fair I think. There is a lot to do and a lot going on in the city. They did a great job with the look of the environment.

Didn't hear about the random missions!  That is a big plus for me!  Nice to hear.  And, yes, the look is really fantastic!  Still wish the combat was turn-based, though.  Eh, can't have everything.  This will probably be a week one buy for me if the reviews are good.

[RooksBailey]

The game has launched!

Here's hoping it is as good as we all hoped it would be!

[Jarhead0331]

It's not. As I've already stated, it is good, but it is not great. There are a number of design decisions that really detract from the game, starting with the camera controls. There is no full control of the camera. Rotation is restricted...why? This is really frustrating...let he player control the damn camera and all aspects of the view angle. Especially in a city with high buildings and a lot of objects that block the view.

Weapons, gear and augmentation. These all have to be found in the field and unlocked by completing missions. Why is a simple laser pistol a prototype weapon that needs to be researched? Are the only two weapons your agents can choose from without finding and researching prototypes a pistol and a submachine gun? Same thing with augmentations. Although several augments are acquired simply by leveling up your agents, many of them also need to be stolen or recovered in the field and then researched. Meanwhile, the interfaces for install other augments and purchasing the weapons are pretty basic. They missed an opportunity to really make it immersive. For instance, when installing augmentations like skin that permits cloaking, there is no down time for the agent. You just click a button and viola, skin is installed. It doesn't feel like they are Ina lab or undergoing surgery or anything, no strategic decision as to when to install an augmentation or even who to install it to. It's all class based, as opposed to agent based which is another stupid design decision and lost opportunity.

I'm still working my way through the missions in the second district, but they all still feel very puzzle like. Additionally, beyond a few easy opening missions, most the missions involve infiltrating a heavily fortified position and sneaking in into a facility to steal information, technology, equipment or money. It gets old. No kidnapping, no assassination or execution, no destruction with explosives, which reminds me...terrain does not seem to be destructible. In syndicate wars, I used to love using nuclear munitions and leveling cities. Nothing like that here yet.

My final critique for the time being is the whole storyline. There is no choice in corporations to work for and only two seem to exist in the game so far. The one you are fighting that controls the city and the one you are working for that starts with no influence in the city whatsoever. Basically, your corporation sucks, and the the one you are fighting is all powerful. This is another missed opportunity and bizarre design decision. There should be several corporations fighting for control over the city and running the same missions. It would present more combat opportunities and more action. It would also give the player more choice and add to the immersion factor. As it is, you have mindless civilians walking around, the bad guys and your agents. Very little variety.

Anyway, I am enjoying the game, but it has been a let down compared to the original games...but then again, they were consistent in saying that this Is satellite reign and not syndicate and that players shouldn't expect just a rehash of the originals. It is a different game. Just about the only thing I cannot criticize is the look of the environment...they really nailed it.

[spelk]

"Commando's rather than Syndicate".

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/08/28/satellite-reign-review