Far Cry Review PC Zone

[Beertiger]

Unreal 2

please refrain from using that kind of language on the forums, i find it highly offensive.

[Sprite Machine]

Only if you let it.

Telling someone to not use a readily accessable feature in a game is like telling someone to play with only one hand. Sure, you could do it, but if the option is there, you're gonna take it.

Furthermore, games with quicksave, that have been designed around quicksave specifically tend to up the difficulty arbitrarily to compensate. See Tomb Raider 2 for evidence. Ones with a carefully considered save-point structure tend to have a better balance of difficulty and challenge.

However, I have no problem with you wanting a 'patch' to add a quick-save, just as I have no problem with people using cheat carts or whatever. S'up to you, whatever you enjoy really.

[Sng]

Telling someone to not use a readily accessable feature in a game is like telling someone to play with only one hand. Sure, you could do it, but if the option is there, you're gonna take it.

But does that mean if you find out you can type "godmode" into the console, you'll do that for infinite health?

[Sprite Machine]

But does that mean if you find out you can type "godmode" into the console, you'll do that for infinite health?

Actually.... I might do!!

Nah, I wouldn't. But F5 is one button, and when it's the only way to save, how are you not gonna use it?!

[Sng]

They Autosave at certain points as well. And you would use Quicksave, but just when you think you need it/deserved it.

Again, assuming you can use it properly. Those that have no willpower and keep hitting it every 2mins might as well just use godmode.

[sith]

So whats the min specs like?

Cause I have a feeling my Geforce MX 4 is gonna struggle

[Mogget]

Quicksave is a term that I don't really like to use when I play games. I never use a single key press to save my progress. I always exit to the save game screen. Consequently, I do not save the game every five seconds.........and this is exactly my point when "moaning" about the lack of a "save anywhere" feature. It should be up to the individual player when and where he/she saves.

[Mogget]

Because it can eliminate challenge.

Some people play for the experience, not the challenge.

Or, hey, maybe those scores reflect the reviewers opinions.

Strangely enough, a good reviewer needs to see beyond his/her own personal opinions. They need to ascertain whether the game is worthy of such a high score, based on various criteria (graphics, immersiveness, story, challenge, originality......). I fail to see how anyone could consider Unreal 2 to be anything other than an average game.

please refrain from using that kind of language on the forums, i find it highly offensive.

I apologise profusely. I only mentioned the U2 game to illustrate a point. Once again, my humblest apologies

[Disgraced Toblerone]

They Autosave at certain points as well. And you would use Quicksave, but just when you think you need it/deserved it.

Again, assuming you can use it properly. Those that have no willpower and keep hitting it every 2mins might as well just use godmode.

Somehow, you seem to miss the point.

You asked for a patch. You asked to be able to quicksave for a game that was, probably, designed for being played without.

So stop blaming our willpower. Mine is weak, but that's not the point.

[Sprite Machine]

They Autosave at certain points as well. And you would use Quicksave, but just when you think you need it/deserved it.

What specific games are we talking about here?

Games like Half-life and Tomb Raider relied on their quick-saves, and were concequently made unfairly skewed in the difficulty department.

Kinda reminds me of playing Chrono Trigger through ZSnes... I had to resist using the save state feature during boss fights because it was just too easy.

[Sprite Machine]

Some people play for the experience, not the challenge.

Which is exactly why I have no problem with people 'patching' quick-saves to their games.

What I do object to is games having unfair lazy death sections because of quick-save features.

Which is a bit different.

[Sng]

All I'm doing here is talking about how I'd like to play ANY game.

I'm mainly talking about FPS games cos those are the games I play most.

Heidi, I'm not missing the point. I can see why people prefer a game with decent checkpoints but I'm just hoping they'll include Quicksave cos it would make the game far more enjoyable for me. (and a lot of others I reckon).

That's all I mean.

I'm not saying you should all use it, or that it's better without checkpoints... just that Quicksaves are one of my favourite things about PC games.

[Mogget]

Soong,

I believe that some gamers will never understand why you and I need a "save anywhere" feature.

Sprite Machine,

I totally agree with your point about "lazy death sections" in games with a quicksave option. Trust me, I hate them just as much as you do......basically because they are not required or wanted.

[CouldBeWorse]

I would severely doubt that the Xbox could match these visuals..

yes and graphics make a great game not the gameplay.

I'm pretty sure the xbox version could have pretty good visuals but yes not matching the PC version on a top end machine. Plus my PC sucks so an xbox version would be the sensible choice for me.

[Systemshock]

yes and graphics make a great game not the gameplay.

I'm pretty sure the xbox version could have pretty good visuals but yes not matching the PC version on a top end machine. Plus my PC sucks so an xbox version would be the sensible choice for me.

Nice to hear 'I'll wait for the Xbox version because its got the worst visuals' every now and then though! B)

[Disgraced Toblerone]

Heidi, I'm not missing the point. I can see why people prefer a game with decent checkpoints but I'm just hoping they'll include Quicksave cos it would make the game far more enjoyable for me. (and a lot of others I reckon).

Fair enough.

Still, using quicksaves on certain games is like drinking a bottle of Château Montrose 1983 in one burp. You can do it if you want, but you somehow spoil the experience.

[Sng]

Whereas I think it's completely the opposite!

For me a good experience is being able to do whatever I want, try anything I want, knowing that if it all goes wrong I can just start again from wherever I want.

Freeeedom.

[CouldBeWorse]

Nice to hear 'I'll wait for the Xbox version because its got the worst visuals' every now and then though! B)

but seriously I'm buying a MAC so buying a shitload of PC games isn't very wise while I'll always have my xbox (for a good few years). The term 'worst' is unfair though, because if it was running on my current PC I can guarantee it will would look awful compared to the xbox version. But I could be wrong and ubisoft use spectrum style graphics for xbox version.

EDIT:Dam spelling mistakes.

[Sprite Machine]

Sprite Machine,

I totally agree with your point about "lazy death sections" in games with a quicksave option. Trust me, I hate them just as much as you do......basically because they are not required or wanted.

Then I trust that you understand the alternative is to have a virtually challenge-free game?:

1.) Fair-game-without-quicksave: Fair and balanced.

2.) Fair-game-with-quciksave: Lacking challenge.

3.) Unfair-death-game-without-quicksave: Virtually unplayable.

4.) Unfair-death-game-with-quicksave: Playable but constant dying and reloading small sections.

(A Clive-esque table/graph would do well here), but you can see that if you want a game with quicksave you're limited to either option 2 or option 4. Option 2 is fine if you're just "playing for the experience" but option 4 is terribly hap-hazard and lazy whatever way you play. A game without quicksave can either be terribly frustrating and unplayable if it falls into the unfair (option 3) camp (see Indiana Jones and the Something of Recent, or Buffy) or it can be beautifully balanced and pitched perfectly (see Halo, etc.).

So yes, I see and understand fully why you feel you need quicksave.

Unless your reasons are more to with "needing to leave the computer at any given time" in which case 'quicksave' (as you know it) is not a requirement, as you could impliment a perfectly functional 'interupt' save system that would prevent cheating as well as allow you to play and stop as often as you wanted.

[Sprite Machine]

For me a good experience is being able to do whatever I want, try anything I want, knowing that if it all goes wrong I can just start again from wherever I want.

Freeeedom.

Wow, you should just play around with tech demos rather than all this 'gameplay' lark.

[Sng]

Why, cos I like to have fun when playing a game?

Have you never played a game where you just do a section and it was so damn cool you wanted to do it again straight away?

[Sprite Machine]

Why, cos I like to have fun when playing a game?

Everyone likes to have fun whilst playing a game. If they didn't, they wouldn't be playing it.

Have you never played a game where you just do a section and it was so damn cool you wanted to do it again straight away?

Yes. And normally whenever I did it again, it was rubbish.

Live in the moment, fella.

[Pob]

Fair enough.

Still, using quicksaves on certain games is like drinking a bottle of Château Montrose 1983 in one burp. You can do it if you want, but you somehow spoil the experience.

This is an age old argument, and I think that basically the inclusion of a quick-save (or basing a game around the quick-save mentality) can ruin the game for some, whilst ommitting the quick-save can ruin the game for others.

The ideal solution is properly spaced checkpoints, with a quick-save option unlockable as a cheat, or perhaps available as an option before you start the game. Best of both worlds.

[Sng]

Everyone likes to have fun whilst playing a game. If they didn't, they wouldn't be playing it.

Exactly. So why should I be playing a tech demo? Quicksave changes nothing for me except adding the ability to be more adventurous. In turn that makes the game more fun, so don't question that...

[JoeK]

Nice to hear 'I'll wait for the Xbox version because its got the worst visuals' every now and then though! B)

Thing is though, that by and large most PC to Xbox conversions can end up looking/playing far better than usual, simply because you almost always have to down some of the graphic options to get the thing to run acceptably on the PC!

Whilst I haven't seen Deus Ex run on either the XBox or PC - I know for an absolute certainty that the Xbox version will be the better looking one in my household!

[Hawkeye]

Then I trust that you understand the alternative is to have a virtually challenge-free game?:

1.) Fair-game-without-quicksave: Fair and balanced.

2.) Fair-game-with-quciksave: Lacking challenge.

3.) Unfair-death-game-without-quicksave: Virtually unplayable.

4.) Unfair-death-game-with-quicksave: Playable but constant dying and reloading small sections.

(A Clive-esque table/graph would do well here), but you can see that if you want a game with quicksave you're limited to either option 2 or option 4. Option 2 is fine if you're just "playing for the experience" but option 4 is terribly hap-hazard and lazy whatever way you play. A game without quicksave can either be terribly frustrating and unplayable if it falls into the unfair (option 3) camp (see Indiana Jones and the Something of Recent, or Buffy) or it can be beautifully balanced and pitched perfectly (see Halo, etc.).

So yes, I see and understand fully why you feel you need quicksave.

Unless your reasons are more to with "needing to leave the computer at any given time" in which case 'quicksave' (as you know it) is not a requirement, as you could impliment a perfectly functional 'interupt' save system that would prevent cheating as well as allow you to play and stop as often as you wanted.

One easy way around that issue is to have quick save disabled and allow those who wish to use that option to enable it in the options.

So if you want to play the game with check points you can, or enable quick save if you wish.

I know one of my mates only plays PC games with quick save options these days not because he struggles with the difficulty, but due to limited time. He has a wife and kids and is lucky to get 30 minutes to play in any one session. For him quick saves are a must if he wishes to progress in a game, rather than play the same level over and over because he doesn't have time to reach the next check-point.

[Sprite Machine]

Exactly. So why should I be playing a tech demo?

"For me a good experience is being able to do whatever I want, try anything I want, knowing that if it all goes wrong I can just start again from wherever I want."

Sounds like a tech demo to me. You take out the challenge of the gameplay and the pacing of the encounters and you're left with a virtual world you can go around doing your own thing.

But that's fine, I have nothing against that.

I know one of my mates only plays PC games with quick save options these days not because he struggles with the difficulty, but due to limited time. He has a wife and kids and is lucky to get 30 minutes to play in any one session. For him quick saves are a must if he wishes to progress in a game, rather than play the same level over and over because he doesn't have time to reach the next check-point.

"Unless your reasons are more to with "needing to leave the computer at any given time" in which case 'quicksave' (as you know it) is not a requirement, as you could impliment a perfectly functional 'interupt' save system that would prevent cheating as well as allow you to play and stop as often as you wanted."

[Sng]

"For me a good experience is being able to do whatever I want, try anything I want, knowing that if it all goes wrong I can just start again from wherever I want."

Sounds like a tech demo to me. You take out the challenge of the gameplay and the pacing of the encounters and you're left with a virtual world you can go around doing your own thing.

But that's fine, I have nothing against that.

Who said games need to be challenging?

Infact who said I wasn't being challenged?

The pacing of the encounters is still there. You just get the chance to have another go if you feel you could make it more exciting on the second attempt.

Say without Quicksave you do a section, kill all these guys and then see a barrel of explosives in what looks like an amusing position. Without quicksave that is gone and you just have to carry on unless you wanna restart from the last section.

With quicksave you can just restart and do that part again with the explosions, seeing more of the game.

If you don't whore quicksave then it's still a challenge. It's just that in all FPS games you get to a section where you really wanna have a look around, see what's on offer. At least I do.

[Sprite Machine]

Who said games need to be challenging?

Technically speaking, a game without challenge isn't actually a 'game'.

If you don't whore quicksave then it's still a challenge. It's just that in all FPS games you get to a section where you really wanna have a look around, see what's on offer. At least I do.

I know you do. You like the freedom, you said. Fair enough. Go nuts!

[Sng]

Technically speaking, a game without challenge isn't actually a 'game'.

Please don't make me quote from Dictionary.com

Anyway, it looks like Crytek aren't completely dumb. You can quicksave by putting "\save_game XXX" into the console, and load with "\load_game XXX"

I hope I haven't just completely ruined the game for you