I never even considered playing online. Played offline all weekend and had a great time. I haven't enjoyed an ARPG this much in many years. No free-to-play garbage like POE, no replacing depth with cinematics like D4.
They have an expensive cash shop which only displays purchases in online mode. Offline mode doesn't get those as drops and any purchases made don't display in offline mode. It's exactly like a F2P, but with a box fee. They weren't always like this, but went all in on being a PoE clone when they shifted course and went for online (about 1.5 - 2 years ago).
And hey, guess what -- this does not affect my enjoyment of the game in any way. Not sure what your point was supposed to be, but I'm very happy with the game as presented in offline mode.
If they want to finance the online part of the game by offering online players cash shop cosmetics that I'll never see, more power to them.
I was just pointing out that they're chasing the PoE money train with a janky ass cash shop with weird rules about accessing the stuff you purchase.
Offline is much better than online imo as well. l've always played offline mode too. The online community has become pretty trashy so that's yet another reason to avoid the online mode.
I'm not sure why you got so defensive about pointing out facts, but hey, guess what, I'm very glad you're very happy.
Well the major difference is the additional masteries and updates to the Paladin heal and replacement of one of the primalist's abilities which open up new builds. They also added new mobs and changed the artwork on a lot of older mobs. I ran into some undead thing last night that floats in the air and continually summons piles of skeletons. I hadn't seen those before 1.0. Campaign wise you're absolutely correct in that they didn't advance the story at all, so it sill just ends suddenly without any resolution to the whole reason you're supposed to be playing which is to defeat the Immortal Emperor with the lance that now has blessings from 3 of the gods. Granted the story is so forgettable I doubt many even realize that's what is going on.
story isnt well written , i love traveling btw timelines , but u get lost with easy, and barely get attached to any npc...
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
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Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
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I was just pointing out that they're chasing the PoE money train with a janky ass cash shop with weird rules about accessing the stuff you purchase.
Offline is much better than online imo as well. l've always played offline mode too. The online community has become pretty trashy so that's yet another reason to avoid the online mode.
I'm not sure why you got so defensive about pointing out facts, but hey, guess what, I'm very glad you're very happy.
You weren't "just pointing out." It was your distinctly judgmental tone I took issue with. Since you and I both agree that the offline implementation is good, I don't see any reason to disparage the company over the monetization attached to a game mode you don't even participate in.
On the contrary, I'd say they should be applauded for finding a path that suits everyone's needs.
I was just pointing out that they're chasing the PoE money train with a janky ass cash shop with weird rules about accessing the stuff you purchase.
Offline is much better than online imo as well. l've always played offline mode too. The online community has become pretty trashy so that's yet another reason to avoid the online mode.
I'm not sure why you got so defensive about pointing out facts, but hey, guess what, I'm very glad you're very happy.
You weren't "just pointing out." It was your distinctly judgmental tone I took issue with. Since you and I both agree that the offline implementation is good, I don't see any reason to disparage the company over the monetization attached to a game mode you don't even participate in.
On the contrary, I'd say they should be applauded for finding a path that suits everyone's needs.
Why shouldn't I be judgemental and why would you want to defend sleazy gaas cash shop practices on a personal level? That's crazy to me. They're building a gaas service out of a single player game that wants to tap into my wallet. Everyone should be judgy and critical when a company wants our money, especially when it shifts focus like that late in development.
They're selling things in a cash shop that only work in one mode, for one. No other reason for this other than to force players into their gaas mode. This is for a game that was originally sold as a single player (with possible limited coop) game, that later kludged in an online mode and cash shop.
It's a sleazy and lazy way to implement a cash shop, all the while not really addressing some of the core issues the game has, like actually finishing the campaign and main narrative well, or making their game play seamless between single player and multiplayer.
How is pointing out the truth disparagement?
You originally said, "No free-to-play garbage like POE, no replacing depth with cinematics like D4.", which is arguably untrue. I pointed out they do all that F2P cash shop garbage, while also charging a box fee. Plus, they have more than enough cutscenes for what little story they're trying to pass off as a campaign.
I'm not really sorry if that bugs anyone and they aren't entitled to an appreciative 'tone' from me or anyone.
Everyone should be judgy and critical when a company wants our money,
Arguably the weirdest thing I've seen anyone say on these forums. Literally every for-profit company wants your money, all the time. It's expected, and it's perfectly normal. It's important to make good decisions as a consumer, and just say "no" when a company offers you something you don't need or want or at too high a price, but doing such things is not immoral on the company's part, especially if the company deals only in luxury goods like video games.
No one is being forced into GAAS mode. If you're so addicted to cosmetic items that you can't play without them, then GAAS mode is exactly what you need. I've played fully offline the whole time, and at no point did I ever feel like I needed to go online for any reason. As far as I'm concerned, they delivered on their goal to create a solid single-player game. The online parts are just "extras" that do not concern me in any way. I wouldn't even know they existed if I didn't read about them on sites like this.
A cash shop isn't "free-to-play garbage" unless it's aggressively advertised in-game, it sells pay-to-win items, or the game contains loot boxes that require a cash purchase to open. If you play offline, you experience none of those things, and online I'm guessing you may see only a tiny bit of the first one.
As for the cutscenes in the campaign, please. They are very few and very short. Nothing on the scale of D4, which contains literal hours of very lavishly produced, extremely expensive cutscenes. The substance of that game clearly takes a backseat to the style, and you cannot possibly claim that the same is true of Last Epoch.
Also, don't forget that there are ongoing costs associated with running public servers, and it's not cheap. I'm not sure how you'd expect the developer to cover those costs without either a cash shop or a subscription -- and we all know a sub is out of the question for a game like this.
Comments
The summary comes early I think.
"I see a game with potential, but that potential is buried beneath a lot of jank."
https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/27/not-so-massively-last-epoch-is-a-potential-gem-in-dire-need-of-polishing/
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon