X3 was a masterpiece of bad tutelage. Has somebody ping you with a “do you want a tutorial y/n”, while your cockpit is filled with a bazillion icons. After running through the “shoot the trash” routine, you’re then immediately tasked to patrol Pluto to do some… stuff? Fight? Chase a drone? Follow that up with a WTF cutscene and it’s no wonder X3 scared people off. Especially since it’s possible to killed during that first Pluto mission and no mention that there’s only autosaving at stations.
Remember when you had to buy “Insurance” to save in space for no reason? Good times.
Seriously though, the game seems super complex almost as much because of awful tutorials and questionable UI as it is any actual mechanical complexity. And like too many space games they have needless newbie-repelling mechanics like manual docking.
Yeah X4 has a tough learning curve. But thats because its a very rich and deep systems driven game.
I think I mentioned months ago, but the game isnt going to get easier to learn. It cant. The developers are adding depth and complexity, not taking away. I love that. But if you prefer a more elegant and focused experience then X4 just is never going to cut it.
@Mysterial completely agree re: manual docking in space games. Its up there with escort missions in my “most hated game design decisions” list :)
Was it X2 when Egosoft came up with brilliant idea of manually navigating like through the inside of a ship to dock (not the current X3/X4 method)? That was awful. And, I mean, the X games aren’t like Elite:Dangerous, where docking is half the gameplay.
Which is why I will never buy an X game until it is 50% off AND has been out for a year at least
The “jank tax”, if you will
So the game is currently on sale on steam and I’ve been trying to decide if I should try it or simply play Rebirth again.
Does X4 add anything of note over Rebirth other than being able to pilot different classes of ships? Anything tangible, not just a pure sandbox where you’re expected to come up with your own story and endlessly fiddle with the economy system?
Any kind of meaty campaign (not like the dumpster fire that was Rebirth’s campaign) or event driven system like CK2?
This is an X game. They’ve never come with those.
Thinking of getting back into this. Any recommendation for who has the best Youtube tutorials?
Nice X4 has tutorials now.
*starts tutorial. Hits bug that stops all progress *
Ahh well, maybe in another 6 months.
Also the beta for 3.0 is out now, i installed yesterday but didnt have time to try it yet.
Quite a few bugs but it looks really great, almost like a new game.
😀
Reminds me of X3 where if you picked the Trader start, you couldn’t complete the flight tutorial because your ship had no guns. Of course, it being X3, this information was extremely obfuscated to a new user, and it took me hours to figure out. Absolutely incandescent with rage by the end of that.
Ha! That was exactly my thought, too.
Anyone using the Mules Extension mod? I was going to add it but saw some posts at the Steam forum that it is messing up peoples games. Ships not flying and such. Thanks.
3.0 beta looking good. Changes:
Summary
- Improved graphics engine to support new visual effects
- Better sound effects
- Virtual seminars and quicker skill progression for crew training
- Configurable alert system
- Individual and group crew transfer
- Policing options for player-owned space
- Ability to dock using a spacesuit directly
- Improvements to menus including Map, Encyclopedia, Logical Station Overview and Logbook
- Improved target display and mission guidance
- More control over drones and turrets
- Alternative steering methods including head tracking systems and X3 retro mode
Some game play, best example is halfway through the video:
I had no idea it looked so beautiful! I had to double check that it was an X game. Thanks for posting
I hope this means they were able to get particle effects on the GPU. From what I understand, they’ve been doing them on the CPU which means shitty weapon effects and a total waste of CPU cycles, especially in a game like this. Do you happen to know if there’s more detailed info to be found on this bullet point?
3.0 and the new DLC containing the Split faction is out.
Sure is, and wow does this game feel better.
Can’t wait to finally dive in. With the DLC, too.