TehStu

How do you really increase your wanted level? I can easily get it to half of the first circle, just doing anything in newer zones seems to trigger that now. But no matter how many new bad guys I instagib while still in their cars as they approach (Anubis), it stays at that 1 level. Do I need to be closer to the nicer parts of town?

I'm going to stop neglecting driving, I totally did in the first games. Tank sounds good.

I don't think you're qualified to comment on my personal enjoyment of this game, nor any metric of value for money, etc. God, I love this place at times. This is clearly the most I've enthused over a game recently, and some killjoy has to remark that it's probably because I got it on game pass.

Not yet.

That's quite cool. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to replay on legendary, I'm too crap to do anything on the hardest level, but starting out leveled up might make that a goer. So like, if you've collected say 500/750 in one game, there's less agility orbs in the new game? Or do you just start over and reach a cap on agility at some point?

It'll be a shame if the bean counters and analysts see this as a swing and a miss, because I haven't had such constant fun with a game in ages. It's just never dull. My new favorite shorter range weapon is the slug thrower. Oh my word, two delicate taps of the trigger and the bad guy ignites. Makes me feel like the SAS - lock, tap tap, lock next guy, tap tap, etc. I'm also using melee much more than the previous games, wonder if that's the shield charging mechanic.

I spent ages sat next to an ammo create before I realized the boulders take it out quickly. It should have resembled a seive with the number of bullets I put in it, up to that point.

There is no equivalent game, for me, than the feeling this one gives in exploring upward. I claimed a base on top of 3 circular towers, kinda due North of the start zone. My hands were sweaty, can't stand heights and somehow the sense of being high up is immense. Of course, I pan around triumphantly and realize that this building is small fry, and the ones toward the middle are at least twice as tall.

Is that how any other games do it? I didn't need that sort of intro to Crackdown 1. Or, honestly, any other game. It's quite logical to assume your character improves, unless it's purely twitch. It really didn't take long to get to the point where you're bounding around buildings.

I agree, although if that sets the tone, it does illustrate how far a player got before publishing their opinion. Edit- @footle

I did briefly think that, colored by the worry of seeing videos leading up to release. But once your head has been blown off, and you realize the cyberpunk type setting, the shitty starter area makes perfect sense. Maybe that's why the intro was bonkers.

I forget who mentioned draw distance, maybe in the X thread, but that's one of the key things for those not feeling it's much of a visual upgrade. Coupled with all the modem lighting and shadows, which work well throughout the daytime cycle, the draw distance is incredible. You've not experienced it even after entering the city from the starting shanty town, even if you think you have. No, the first time you're up near the elevated highway or monorail, and can both see down and realize how high you are and all the detail below you, AND how you're barely scratching the surface in terms of height to be achieved as well as how far you can see, it's just mind blowing. I mean, obviously either way it's through the lens of how much you're enjoying it, but it's an absolute marvel for the "on it's last legs for 1080p content" machine, which gets trotted out by some these days. Still perfectly capable of putting out extraordinary visuals, if done right.

How about this: if you loved exploring in the Mako, despite how awful the terrain could be, you'll have a bloody blast in the Nomad.

I forgot to mention last night, probably one of many things, but I love that feeling of Neo starting to believe, when you nail a big jump early on. Like, it looks massive, but jump, double jump, dash forward and .. just make it. Puts such a massive grin on my face. And then that realization that you can go anywhere, in all dimensions.

In the mall here, they've got a machine that'll stitch any pattern on to a cap for you. I did briefly consider it