Falling out with Fallen Earth
It took me a couple of months, but after the golly-gee-whiz fascination with Fallen Earth’s clever features wore off, I realized there just wasn’t enough fun factor to keep me happy.
It hasn’t helped that my guildmates have stopped logging in. It was a hard sell in the first place with the bleak landscape and hefty system requirements. On a daily basis it’s just been myself and Nelg for nearly the past month.
Scavenging was oddly addictive and compelling, but that’s not the same as fun. Roleplay-wise I actually felt I was doing what I could to survive in a post-apocalyptic world, but immersion alone isn’t enough for me. The shooting combat actually lets you aim (an absolutely must for guns IMHO), but it’s slower paced than even the most tactical FPS games. The AI on mobs is mostly about bobbing and weaving, which fits their combat, but feels like a sort of shooting gallery. There’s a bit too much MMO-me-too skill mashing that feels tacked on.
I’ll re-emphasize aiming: It’s a big plus to be able to pick targets by point and shoot. Headshots are satisfying. That’s the biggest thrill for me in Fallen Earth.
Apparently my theme today is this-but-that. For every cool thing about Fallen Earth I can think of a few negatives: Group combat lacks purpose and synergy. Melee is bringing a knife to a gunfight. The economy is messy, the auction house a detriment. Crafting lacks cooperative motivation. It’s sandboxy, but you have to quest to progress. Oh I could go on with the negatives, just as I could with the positives.
Fallen Earth is basically EVE Online in the Arizona desert, but it’s missing some key motivational parts of EVE. It needs something akin to capital ship construction to glue it all together. If it finds that motivation it can probably get by, but for myself I’d also need a significant change in the base gameplay and combat. For a shooter, it needs more visceral enjoyment.
There’s lots both good and bad to say about this game. I’ll expand if anyone wants me too, but meanwhile I’m just going to go play something else.
I get the same feelings myself with FE too. I have hardly played the game since renewing for a second month.
If your not having fun you should move on. For me though I still find FE a hell of a lot of fun to play. So much so that I find that I get to thinking about the game a little too much. A couple of books that have helped to immerse myself into this game has been The Postman and The Road. Both are fantastic.
Aaah, that’s too bad. Unfortunately, my experience with Fallen Earth was similar. I wish the game and it’s fan’s the best of luck, it is a solidly made indie game but it just wasn’t for me. I think it has a bright future and I am sure I will try it again after it gets a few patches under it’s belt.
I moved over to the OTHER indie game, Darkfall. Thus far I am enjoying it a whole lot, despite it’s rough edges. Have you tried it yet, Rog?
@Brannagar: I’ve been tempted to try Darkfall now and then, but the PvP focus and the antics of the devs are what keeps me away. That said, any sandbox style game is a temptation.
I like PvP, I just prefer my RPGs to be PvE driven. I usually get my PvP from FPS games where I find it more balanced.