OS Neutral Game Stops me Playing

[Washac]

Well in all my years of game/RPG playing I have never had this happen, a game that has demoralized me in such a way that since stopping playing it a few days ago I just do not want to play games.

The game in question is/was Divinity Original Sin

I played in total for 40hrs on and off since release and it was 40hrs of pure frustration and it really has givne me the biggest downer ever on picking up on another game. Every RPG that pops into my head that maybe I could play I just think nope cannot be bothered.

I assume my keenest for an RPG will return but until then has anybody else ever had this happen ?

 

[Dirtyharry50]

Yes and in a recent case too, I made myself finish Jedi Outcast but by the time I was done I'd had more than enough. I'd still call it a good game overall but for me at least it went on too long, got started too slow and had too much puzzling and jumping in it to suit me but I think that stuff can be attributed to its age.

Anyway, I had been looking forward to playing KOTOR next but for about a week I just couldn't bring myself to bother playing anything. I guess sometimes we just need a break. I found mine in being a vegetable lying on my couch watching television - no brain cells needed for that. No frustration either except for the far too many commercials.

Some games are pretty hard or at least they are for me. I'll often play games in easy mode to find a balance of some challenge but not frustration and I don't feel bad about doing that at all. It works for me. Taking breaks sometimes works for me too. I'm a big WoW fan but I've been on a long break there, just logging in to sell stuff on my bank alt mostly. The good thing is though, after so much time the itch to play returns and it's fresh and fun after a break.

So I'd say don't let that game get you down. Take it easy for a few days doing something else and then take on something else that looks fun and you've been meaning to get to.

I haven't played Divinity myself but I've heard it is one of those games where you learn by trial and error where you can get away with going and where you need to return later which I suppose means there must be some level grinding involved. I'd like to try it sometime but at least I'd go in expecting that and take it slow. Maybe that would help make it more fun.

 

[Washac]

Nothing to do with level grinding, whatever others say the game to me is way out of balance as in if you are say level 5 then in fights with other level 5s they kick you all over the place, with both sides being level 5 you should at least have half a chance. One fight in the starting area has level 7 enemies and there are about I think 8 of them, there is/was four in my team all level 7s who all get roughly one action each per round they get two to 3 actions per round, balanced, I do not think so.

I have found out that this fight is deemed as one of the harder fights in the game and it is at level 7 in the starting area, now forgive me but again I call that not balanced.

Do not get wrong I do not want leading by the hand through the game but quests that just leave you clueless and wandering around areas wondering where to go and what to do are not good. The great Guido Henkel of many RPGs fame once said of a game he worked on ( Realm of Arkania Blade of Destiny ), we should not have left the player just wondering around trying to find out what to do, and that is exactly what Divinity Original Sin does.

There are three game modes:- Easy, Normal and Hard, my take on those after 40hrs playtime is - Easy is not that easy, Normal I gave up on pretty much within the first few fights and did not even think about Hard. People are saying that even on hard the game is easy, those people will always be there no matter what the game is, but if a game has been designed for the mass market which I assume this was then surely the masses should be given half a chance of a bit of fun with it. This game just drops you in the starting area and basically says, get on with it, you work it all out and that is at all three game levels.

I found nothing fun about this game, I found it a chore and really frustrating to play.

 

[saturnotaku]

I found nothing fun about this game, I found it a chore and really frustrating to play.

Between your problems getting games to work and apparent complaining about them when they do, I would seriously consider 1) switching to a console full-time or 2) packing it in all together.

 

[Dirtyharry50]

Between your problems getting games to work and apparent complaining about them when they do, I would seriously consider 1) switching to a console full-time or 2) packing it in all together.

I think you should seriously consider refraining from negative attacks like this. I don't think the mods are very tolerant of this kind of behavior around here.

We're all gamers. Let's play nice.

 

[GoldfishRT]

Original Sin is laughably easy. Especially compared with Baldur's Gate and such. Are you even trying to employ strategy?

 

[antonis]

The fights in this game can turn from "Are you kidding me ? This is impossible" to "Is that all ?" just by changing a small detail to your strategy (e.g. taking advantage of a terrain/environment detail, opening the fight differently etc). Having said that, there will be of course some tough battles, like any serious RPG has. It would be really boring and flat if there were not (e.g. knowing that if you battle with enemies at your level, you'll always wipe the floor with them).

As for the quests, there are no indicators on the map leading you where to go next, but that's the beauty of this game; you have to read the journal, speak to NPCs etc. in order to figure it out. In other words, pay attention to the story - RPGs are supposed to be all about a story being told to the player, and need effort to be unveiled. Baldur's Gate games were also like that, and they are considered the benchmark of the RPG genre (and very rightfully so, I might say).

 

[Washac]

The fights in this game can turn from "Are you kidding me ? This is impossible" to "Is that all ?" just by changing a small detail to your strategy (e.g. taking advantage of a terrain/environment detail, opening the fight differently etc). Having said that, there will be of course some tough battles, like any serious RPG has. It would be really boring and flat if there were not (e.g. knowing that if you battle with enemies at your level, you'll always wipe the floor with them).

As for the quests, there are no indicators on the map leading you where to go next, but that's the beauty of this game; you have to read the journal, speak to NPCs etc. in order to figure it out. In other words, pay attention to the story - RPGs are supposed to be all about a story being told to the player, and need effort to be unveiled. Baldur's Gate games were also like that, and they are considered the benchmark of the RPG genre (and very rightfully so, I might say).

I did say I do not want leading by the hand, and that I have played RPGs for years, also I do understand about using the terrain etc.

I was just finding the game not fun and a bit of a chore, I really believe what caused this was in the fact that modern day RPGs did start leading you through with everything and got spoilt and lazy by that. My RPGs/Adventure game playing background does go back to text adventures on the Spectrum, so I have come through old school and understand how old school works.

I will return to this game, I am winding myself up to start over, my orignal team was Cleric, Ranger, Mage (Johan) and Warrior ( Madora )

I was going to start over but after nearly completing Cyseal and getting to level 7 I may just carry on with those.

Sticking my nose into Divine Divinity by way of a break

 

[antonis]

I did say I do not want leading by the hand, and that I have played RPGs for years, also I do understand about using the terrain etc.

I was just finding the game not fun and a bit of a chore, I really believe what caused this was in the fact that modern day RPGs did start leading you through with everything and got spoilt and lazy by that. My RPGs/Adventure game playing background does go back to text adventures on the Spectrum, so I have come through old school and understand how old school works.

I will return to this game, I am winding myself up to start over, my orignal team was Cleric, Ranger, Mage (Johan) and Warrior ( Madora )

I was going to start over but after nearly completeng Cyseal and getting to level 7 I may just carry on with those.

Sticking my nose into Divine Divinity by way of a break

Yeah, that was my point. Modern RPGs are indeed far from being real RPGs and they've created a bad inheritance to the genre. Don't get me wrong, I was stating all of the above so you just might give this game one more chance. I believe it's the first real cRPG after a long time, and a story that seems worthy to be told (although I'm not yet far into the game). If you love RPGs, it'd be a shame to miss it.