Comments on: Knytt, and Atmospheric Games http://www.independentcreator.com/2007-04-11/knytt-and-atmospheric-games/ Diary of an Indie Game Developer Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Independent Creator » Blog Archive » Cave Story http://www.independentcreator.com/2007-04-11/knytt-and-atmospheric-games/comment-page-1/#comment-630 Independent Creator » Blog Archive » Cave Story Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:52:36 +0000 http://www.independentcreator.com/2007-04-11/knytt-and-atmospheric-games/#comment-630 [...] and perhaps because of that, Cave Story’s atmosphere isn’t quite as strong as Knytt.  If that sounds like your sort of thing, download the game first, then download the patch [...] [...] and perhaps because of that, Cave Story’s atmosphere isn’t quite as strong as Knytt.  If that sounds like your sort of thing, download the game first, then download the patch [...]

]]> By: Matt http://www.independentcreator.com/2007-04-11/knytt-and-atmospheric-games/comment-page-1/#comment-349 Matt Fri, 13 Apr 2007 03:37:46 +0000 http://www.independentcreator.com/2007-04-11/knytt-and-atmospheric-games/#comment-349 Interesting-- difficulty definitely does some good things for games. In Fallout 2, you're similarly crap at the beginning, and pretty much anything can kick your ass. The easiest way to get past that is to become scum of the earth. It's a lot harder to just be a hero solving everyone's problems, and it makes for a more realistic feeling. STALKER sounds awesome. I really need to get it.... Interesting– difficulty definitely does some good things for games. In Fallout 2, you’re similarly crap at the beginning, and pretty much anything can kick your ass. The easiest way to get past that is to become scum of the earth. It’s a lot harder to just be a hero solving everyone’s problems, and it makes for a more realistic feeling.

STALKER sounds awesome. I really need to get it….

]]> By: TheOtherErik http://www.independentcreator.com/2007-04-11/knytt-and-atmospheric-games/comment-page-1/#comment-348 TheOtherErik Fri, 13 Apr 2007 02:31:26 +0000 http://www.independentcreator.com/2007-04-11/knytt-and-atmospheric-games/#comment-348 What really impresses me with the atmosphere in STALKER is that it goes beyond aesthetics -- it's expressed in numerous other ways via actual gameplay. If you aren't able to be scared by horror games, you might be underwhelmed by the rough first quarter of the game, in which you're quite weak. -- BEGIN MINOR SPOILERS -- They really sell that this is a damaged world. There's a palpable selfishness that comes with fear for one's own survival, and it flows through every person and animal in the game. While I maintained my neutrality between the Duty and Freedom factions, I definitely grew an affection for the Freedom folks. They were easy-going and, perhaps more importantly, they actively offered me the benefits of membership (mainly protection in key areas) without requiring that I do anything but pitch in and do my part. So after a certain point in the game when all hell breaks loose I found myself in what had previously been a safe and well-protected Freedom outpost. Suddenly a malicious set of mutants (the most lethal sub-type in the game) ran through the camp and systematically slaughtered every man there. I was PISSED. I worked through the mutants with a vengeance. These guys had saved my life a dozen times and I'd just watched them all get killed off, because that's what happens in this fucking place. -- END MINOR SPOILERS -- It's been a long time since I've been drawn into a game this emotionally and viscerally. And I don't know why it works so well for me; it's not like the story or dialog are good (they're not). But somehow they really pull it off. What really impresses me with the atmosphere in STALKER is that it goes beyond aesthetics — it’s expressed in numerous other ways via actual gameplay. If you aren’t able to be scared by horror games, you might be underwhelmed by the rough first quarter of the game, in which you’re quite weak.

– BEGIN MINOR SPOILERS –

They really sell that this is a damaged world. There’s a palpable selfishness that comes with fear for one’s own survival, and it flows through every person and animal in the game. While I maintained my neutrality between the Duty and Freedom factions, I definitely grew an affection for the Freedom folks. They were easy-going and, perhaps more importantly, they actively offered me the benefits of membership (mainly protection in key areas) without requiring that I do anything but pitch in and do my part.

So after a certain point in the game when all hell breaks loose I found myself in what had previously been a safe and well-protected Freedom outpost. Suddenly a malicious set of mutants (the most lethal sub-type in the game) ran through the camp and systematically slaughtered every man there. I was PISSED. I worked through the mutants with a vengeance. These guys had saved my life a dozen times and I’d just watched them all get killed off, because that’s what happens in this fucking place.

– END MINOR SPOILERS –

It’s been a long time since I’ve been drawn into a game this emotionally and viscerally. And I don’t know why it works so well for me; it’s not like the story or dialog are good (they’re not). But somehow they really pull it off.

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