I bought ModNation racers a while ago, completed most of the campaign but then held off completing it because of the impending update - I thought playing without such awful load times might be more enjoyable. Well, two days ago patch 1.02 went live.
How are the load times? Well, they are still long, but no longer unbearable. By Joystiq's calculations, the load times are 30% shorter than before, and this seems to tally with my experience. It's a small amount of time, but it makes a huge difference. What's better, is that during an online racing session the ModSpot no longer has to load after every race; meaning online racing is made a lot more enjoyable.
Other changes include an option to use "casual" difficulty during the campaign. I am divided on this. On the one hand, it's great that people who weren't able to complete the campaign mode now can. On the other hand, being someone who was perfectly able to complete the campaign mode as it was, even going so far as to complete some of the trickier challenges that got nerfed, I feel cheated out of reward for my ability. I would have prefered the new difficulty setting to disable trophies.
Another welcome addition was the fix of the glitch plaguing the hot lap, but come on UFG, using the reset button to glitch a best lap is one of the oldest tricks in the book; I easily worked it out without anyone telling me how it's done. This glitch should never have been in the game.
Now I want to say a few words about the game in general.
ModNation Racers is a fun, yet flawed kart racer. Drifting feels natural and online racing is exciting and fun. But, the weapons lack variety, and are overpowered (since you can charge any one of them up to become a weapon which attacks all opponents in front of you). The shield mechanic is inferior to other games where it takes the form of a weapon pickup - in MNR if you boost to get ahead, you are suddenly without a shield. This is a flawed mechanic. Couple this with the fact that every level-3 weapon will head towards you if you are in the lead, and you realise it should have been designed better.
ModNation Racers' creation tools are fantastic. I have seen all sorts of recreations, and most are of exceptional quality. The character and kart creation tools are incredibly deep and versatile. What a shame, then, that the track creation tools are pretty lacklustre. Other than the odd track where game objects are piled on top of each other to form the rough shape of something (I've seen a dinosaur and a tank), there is no variety in the levels. Sure, that dino level is great but it could never be themed with anything other than the default game objects. And with only 4 basic themes and objects which all appeared throughout the campaign, every race I play is as though I've played it before.
Other problems are functional - the track editor is a real pain to get working correctly - if you want to adjust where your track goes, you often can't without redoing it, if you want to change the position of your starting grid, you have to start again, and any kind of imaginative track layout is usually impossible without drastic workarounds which have limitations of their own.
Overall I'm enjoying ModNation Racers post-patch, and for me it's been a worthwhile purchase. But I think comparing it to the gem that is LBP puts it on a higher pedistal than it deserves. Its level editor is just that - a level editor that we've seen countless times before, frustrating and limited. LBP allows for a lot more creativity.
Tamagotchi Plaza debuts in a very low position while Death Stranding 2 soars in the UK games sales charts.
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"“launch sales were ~66% lower than Death Stranding 1"
Maybe he'll put this franchise to rest now and do something new (which I know he is thankfully)
Not to hate if you enjoy these games but they weren’t for everyone and it puzzles me that he did a sequel rather than doing Physint next or even an actual P.T like game.
I just feel he's trying to make Death Stranding a thing, like as big as Metal Gear Solid and it's just not going to happen.
“Maybe he'll put this franchise to rest now and do something new”
He is making new things, so I don’t see what the problem is. Game reviewed better than the first. It has its fans and served its purpose.
At its core, it’s just not a very commercial game. Takes work, which might turn off casuals.
Probably not, the sales won't be much lower than the first game. And its a critical success
Fox
It's selling well digitally you can't compare it to sales of ps4 game because even back than digital wasn't the be all end all like it is today now. With GTA6 delayed DS2 is the game to beat for GOTY
Split fiction and Clair Obscure already have it beat in critic scores.
So does Forza Horizon PS5 :/
Geoff Keighley basically sucks off Kojima and Sony - so yes, it’ll probably be GOTY even though Expedition 33 is better
Cant really compare those. Ones the best RPG since baldurs gate 3. Ones the next game from a game of the year studio and ones the best racing game on Xbox. To score 90 is still very, very good
This is the UK physical charts. This doesn't count digital at all which are the bulk of the sales and a much larger share than they would have been 6 years ago. For example, its the number one game on PSN.
I think he would be happy with your reaction. Remember, he stated that his goal was not to make a hit game loved by everyone. He would have been happy with 4/10 people liking it.
He is making what he wants to make... not what will be the biggest smash hit. He has stated this on MANY, MANY occations. And I think this is okay. I would rather people chase what they want to make as opposed to making money.
However, if you poke your head over on PSN... it looks like its selling just fine.
About the sequel, he ALREADY stated that even though he has a script for a potential DS3, it is not his intention to make another one directly.
Literally this. And its massively improved over the first part. And its not sold badly at all
If they released at the same time Im pretty sure Mario would still take number one.
At least get the statement right, physical sales were down 66%, not total.
https://xcancel.com/Chris_D...
Obviously, digital is bigger part of the landscape than it was on PS4.
Digitally on the PlayStation store it is and has been the best selling retail game since prior to release, and still is today.
Also, the digital edition came with early access.
TSA writes: General Burke wants Harding back for one last mission, but Harding doesn't want to go. I Am Your Beast is the rapid FPS that follows.
From NETK2GAMES out of Barcelona comes one of the most enjoyable arcade racing you’ll play: Rally Arcade Classics is no fluff, all fun.
