Final update here!
Update 2.2
Update 2.1
Update 1:
I'm planning to visit GameCity Vienna (convention akin to Gamescom though much smaller which is acutally an advantage) this Friday 09-24.
A lot of the X1 launch games are playable there including Ryse, Dead Rising, Forza and Killer Instinct. Don't know on what build these demos are based of but I've already contacted the Austrian Xbox Team for clarification.
I'm planning to give you very detailed first hand impressions - and I would like to use the time now to gather some questions that you would like to be answered.
I'll update this thread with my impressions as soon possible
Update 2.2
Update 2.1
Part II.1 (sorry too tired to finish - but there's yet a lot to come tomorrow for Forza, DR3 and KI)
Two pictures from the XO and PS4 (including the devilish wooden box) demo stations.
XO station (XDKs) - cordings visible and connected from actual hardware to TV
PS4 station - cords not visible, computer actually running games in wooden box?
Ryse
At Gamecity the colosseum multiplayer part was playable (Gamescom-Build).
The bad message is: Unfortunately it really is a bug-fest and I personally think it's a very bad idea to show such an obviously unfinished software to the public. I've seen an enemy freezing for about 5 seconds after defeat, clipping errors, stutter in the animation and disorientated AI.
The good message however is: The "press X to win" part is a myth and people stating over and over again that Ryse's gameplay is pure garbage will be delighted to hear that actually what THEY proclaim is pure garbage. Ryse's is really challenging and indeed shares a lot of similarities with games such as Batman. And by that I mean that there arn't combos to chain (so any God of War comparisons just proof a lack of understanding) but observing your surroundings and quickly/adequately reacting to it. Funny thing is: In contrast to popular internet-belief button-smashing won't help at all. Actually quite the opposite is true. Although I'm sure the Demo was on easy-mode enemies quickly responded to my unchanging attack pattern. To break their guard (there was a lot of blocking involved) I had to learn to vary my attacks, counter their attacks, use the special magic ability or work in tandem with my partner. The time frame for the executions (pressing B) felt very short - I often tried to activate this mode but was too late. If i wanted to I could have avoided them altogether however the point is they felt so rewarding that I didn't want to miss them. Plus: Bad players really don't help with good impressions. Watched a lot of people that obviously didn't know what they were doing and trust me - the offerings on my screen after a couple of tries were as different as night and day.
What I didn't like: Colored outlines - hope that at a higher difficulty they disappear entirely with only the sound cues guiding your actions. Slow motion in a multiplayer game is just silly. I'm no fan of unnecessary gore however the absence of blood didn't help the game's immersion at all. Cutting off an arm IS bloody business, there's definitely something missing .
While the MP trails behind the SP the visuals were great. There were a lot of small details I hadn't noticed in all the videos I've seen before. From the hairy back of a gladiator to the knobby palisade walls the texture work was really good. Plus the water-part of the level looked outstanding. Just forget people that tried to prove otherwise.
I also thought that lightning and particle effects were nice. You can see some nice fire effects in the video below (warning: what you see is a player with his first try with the game).
Bottom line: I had mixed feelings regarding Ryse. While I actually enjoyed the gameplay (and that's from a gamer that finished all the Ninja Gaiden's plus Dark Souls) I'm still worried regarding the myriads of small and big bugs that plague the multiplayer mode. Right now Ryse feels unfinished and rough. However if Crytek really manages to iron out these shortcomings (and I think that's possible) there's a foundation for a really entertaining new series.
Don't get me wrong: The MP mode is probably an afterthought - the real test will be in the SP (especially story, atmosphere, variety).
And whatever you say: This is a game that visually really screams next-gen.
Update 1:
GameCity 2013 impressions
As promised I'm giving you detailed impressions from my visit @GameCity Vienna. There's a lot to write and so little time so I've decided to update in two parts. Part I (below) is about my general feelings and the gamepad - in part II (hope i can finish it today) will be about my first hands impressions with Ryse, KI and Forza 5 plus I'm trying to answer all of your questions so stay tuned
Sony's and Microsoft's GameCity (next-gen) presentation performance
First of all some words regarding the platform maker's performances @GameCity. In my eyes the easy winner was Microsoft. Why? They were undoubtedly more dedicated in there overall presentation. Just to give you some examples:
* On Thursday there was a small press conference. Sony was absent.
* While the Xbox One stations were 60% ready at that time the Sony camp hadn't even started yet and that even showed on the first day of the convention. (former information gathered from different press folks who were there)
* On Friday (the first public day of GameCity) the only playable PS4 game was Knack - DriveClub stations didn't work at all (blue-screens) while Microsoft had Ryse and KI playable, the Kinect Sports Rivals station sadly wasn't working and a Dead Rising 3 demo every hour.
* The "running" PS4 consoles were most likely fake. What I heard: Various people (press, promoters) told me that PS4 demos were running on a hidden PC. What I observed first hand - while there was a feigned "PS4" on display (including blue lights) all the cords on the back were hidden and below the "hardware" there was a suspicious-looking wooden box. I actually asked a Sony promoter at that station and he (quite surprisingly) frankly told me that he too thinks that the PS4 consoles were fake. He told me that while he wasn't involved with the build-up he hold a "PS4" in hands for a short period of time and it was way too light to be actual hardware.
On the other hand it was quite apparent that the Xbox One stations were XDKs. All cordings could be seen. You could actually go into the XDK-menu with the press of a button.
However MS had their "shady" practices too: The supposed real-time Dead Rising 3 demo (they actually didn't say that but the promoter purported playing while commenting - he later told me that it would be too hard to speak and play at the same time because he didn't have much time to prepare) was fake too.
Regardless of MS's own shortcomings (non-functioning Kinect Sport Rivals station, fake DR3 demo) Sony's next-gen presentation was lackluster at best and if I was unsure which platform to get I would have definitely picked Xbox One from what was shown.
Next gen is here... and fanboy wars don't matter
I came away from GameCity with one major feeling - how ridiculous all the fanboy wars over next-gen really are. I've read dozens of pages full of heated discussions regarding XO's and PS4's hardware differences, 1080 p, 60 fps and the platform holders' software offerings. The truth is: Both platforms are good but if you think your head will be blown away by either one of them you will be disappointed (at least initially).
Both XO's and PS4's launch games look like current games on steroids and there is nothing there that warrants a supposed superiority. As always: Pick the games and ecosystem you like and just be happy with that.
But now to the actual software and hardware impressions...
Xbox One pad... feels like home (with a twist)
I've read so many things (good and bad) about Xbox One's pad that I was very eager to finally hold it in my own sweaty hands. And it feels like home - basically if you loved the 360 pad you will love this one even more. It's a little bit smaller but lies perfectly in your hands. The texture on the pad is very smooth and definitely feels high-quality. The D-Pad has a really nice klick as you sure have heard a lot of times already. The curved triggers feel great however the shoulder buttons take a little getting used to. The analog sticks felt very responsive and the extra ring-like texture should give it an even better grip. The most important thing I took away however was that all these nice little details should not be exaggerated - it's basically the 360 pad and for me that's actually the best résumé.
However there was ONE nice surprise. The rumble-triggers. I loved them. They were only activated in Forza 5 but man the feedback was awesome. I could basically feel the street in a way I havn't before and my only thought was: Why the hell has no one thought of that before? It's not only a nice gimmick it really adds to the experience because it adds immersion.
Part II up soon...
I'm planning to visit GameCity Vienna (convention akin to Gamescom though much smaller which is acutally an advantage) this Friday 09-24.
A lot of the X1 launch games are playable there including Ryse, Dead Rising, Forza and Killer Instinct. Don't know on what build these demos are based of but I've already contacted the Austrian Xbox Team for clarification.
I'm planning to give you very detailed first hand impressions - and I would like to use the time now to gather some questions that you would like to be answered.
I'll update this thread with my impressions as soon possible
Last edited:
