Guild Wars 2

I guess they managed to capture that aspect of 8-bit gaming, so well done.

It’s instructive to compare SAB to Rayman Legends, which has plenty of tricky traps as well. The problem with instant-death traps is that, in a 2D game, the designer can guarantee the player can see the trap coming. I blew an entire continue coin dodging into traps I knew were there but couldn’t see at the time. (And another continue coin or so on traps that would activate underneath me but would still hit me, and a couple of memorable deaths where I got between dart traps with no way out.) It’s especially problematic given that GW2’s combat engine assumes mobility, and you need a certain amount of room to fight the assassins.

I’m particularly incensed because I didn’t have a lot of trouble spotting the dart traps, except for the one between two push blocks you can’t see from the angle it kills you at, but died anyway, over and over again. It killed a lot of the goodwill I had for SAB, although I’m told that now I have the glove I can skip two thirds of level 2 and cut it down it a sane size. But the same design sensibilities are making future levels, and I’d prefer it if it felt like one of the good platformers of the era rather than the ones that are only remembered due to shared trauma.

This is the first Living Story for me (Since Flame and Frost) where it’s been a week since the content was released and I have so far only completed one achievement in the new category. I don’t find it interesting at all (and I usually finish all doable achievements within 24 hrs of LS release). I might get around to doing it just for the achievement points but mostly I want this over and done with so we can move on.

Some people like it, I guess. It’s just not for me.

spalt.6938:

This is the first Living Story for me (Since Flame and Frost) where it’s been a week since the content was released and I have so far only completed one achievement in the new category.

I haven’t even set foot in Rata Sum since last Tuesday, so know (“no”?) you are not alone.

The dart traps aren’t invisible, nor hidden. They blend in the surroundings but will never escape to a keen eye. The whole point of the dart traps is for you to slow down and start analyzing your surroundings. You can’t dash through that section at full speed and come here calling it bad design when it kills you.

Not to mention that ninjas and dart traps rarely are present at the same time.

spalt.6938:

This is the first Living Story for me (Since Flame and Frost) where it’s been a week since the content was released and I have so far only completed one achievement in the new category. I don’t find it interesting at all (and I usually finish all doable achievements within 24 hrs of LS release). I might get around to doing it just for the achievement points but mostly I want this over and done with so we can move on.

Some people like it, I guess. It’s just not for me.

That’s how I feel about SAB. It’s cool and all (the concept) but I don’t find it enjoyable. I find it more annoying trying to get the different achievements done. That’s the reason why I didn’t bother doing the original LS for it back in April. I don’t find myself completing it now nor the Back to School portion either.

So until September 17th rolls around, playing this game isn’t something I’ll be doing much.

Traps are fun. I like it. Assassins are a bit annoying to fight, but other than that I have no complaints. Keep up the good work.

Wolfheart.1938:

The dart traps aren’t invisible, nor hidden. They blend in the surroundings but will never escape to a keen eye. The whole point of the dart traps is for you to slow down and start analyzing your surroundings. You can’t dash through that section at full speed and come here calling it bad design when it kills you.

Not to mention that ninjas and dart traps rarely are present at the same time.

You may have missed the bit where I noted that I saw them but they killed me anyway. They’re not hard to spot, though they make a long level even longer. It’s that they’re placed in ways that make them hard to avoid even if you know they’re there, and in the instances where enemies and dart traps are placed together the combat system is essentially built so the enemies will knock you into the dart trap.

Imo the dart traps are the most fun of the level when you are playing it for the first time. At some point I could not help but laugh my kitten of when another trap managed t kill me even when I was careful.

When you play it for a second time it is almost like the traps are not there anymore because you know where you have to go to avoid them.

Wolfheart.1938:

Not to mention that ninjas and dart traps rarely are present at the same time.

Except for the most annoying part of the level, the gong tower, where you get knocked back into dart traps if any of the (I think) 6 assassins hit you. Half the time you barely see them coming due to the camera acting up. I don’t mind the dart traps, but please don’t say stuff like this. It’s just not true.

Merus.9475:

ut the same design sensibilities are making future levels, and I’d prefer it if it felt like one of the good platformers of the era rather than the ones that are only remembered due to shared trauma.

Yep, I’d prefer it feel more like Mario instead of Ninja Gaiden too. World 1 got this right, World 2 was just filled with cheap deaths and a high learning curve. And I’m guessing the P2W coin had something to do with this…

I hope future content will be harder. Tribulation mode was fun but for me a bit too casual. We cleared TM on the first day and I don’t understand why it was nerfed.

Take a look at this:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/livingworld/sab-bts/It-was-too-easy-Tribulation-Mode-complete

Especially the first world is not that hard though there is a lot trial and error in it.

Raziel.9738:

Wolfheart.1938:

Not to mention that ninjas and dart traps rarely are present at the same time.

Except for the most annoying part of the level, the gong tower, where you get knocked back into dart traps if any of the (I think) 6 assassins hit you. Half the time you barely see them coming due to the camera acting up. I don’t mind the dart traps, but please don’t say stuff like this. It’s just not true.

I don’t see how this means that what I said isn’t true. I said that ninjas and dart traps are rarely present at the same time. You mentioned one part where they are. Cool?

Raziel.9738:

Wolfheart.1938:

Not to mention that ninjas and dart traps rarely are present at the same time.

Except for the most annoying part of the level, the gong tower, where you get knocked back into dart traps if any of the (I think) 6 assassins hit you. Half the time you barely see them coming due to the camera acting up. I don’t mind the dart traps, but please don’t say stuff like this. It’s just not true.

So you proved Wolfheart’s point that it is rare. I’m glad the content is challenging. ANet has nerfed so much GOOD challenging content after launch especially in dungeons thakittens refreshing to play this.

spalt.6938:

This is the first Living Story for me (Since Flame and Frost) where it’s been a week since the content was released and I have so far only completed one achievement in the new category. I don’t find it interesting at all (and I usually finish all doable achievements within 24 hrs of LS release). I might get around to doing it just for the achievement points but mostly I want this over and done with so we can move on.

Some people like it, I guess. It’s just not for me.

well it is skill not grind based

Wolfheart.1938:

I don’t see how this means that what I said isn’t true. I said that ninjas and dart traps are rarely present at the same time. You mentioned one part where they are. Cool?

First time you get dart traps, there are enemies. The second floor of the building where you obtain the glove, there are enemies and dart traps. The part where you have to push the blocks, they are not. Gong tower, dart traps and assassins. Outside the checkpoint room with the frogs in it, there’s an assassin by the dart traps.

There’s one place where there are no enemies and you can focus on just the dart traps. Every other place has assassins or toads along with the dart traps.

Liz.5921:

So until September 17th rolls around, playing this game isn’t something I’ll be doing much.

You’ve got nothing you can do outside the SAB? Dragons are attacking! Risen are attacking! Crazy plant lady is attacking! Enemy servers are attacking! Story! Mapping! Farming, if you’re into that!

Duke Darkwood.4237:

Liz.5921:

So until September 17th rolls around, playing this game isn’t something I’ll be doing much.

You’ve got nothing you can do outside the SAB? Dragons are attacking! Risen are attacking! Crazy plant lady is attacking! Enemy servers are attacking! Story! Mapping! Farming, if you’re into that!

I’m already leveling an alt lol … what I mean is, new content :-P

This isn’t as bad as learning the way through Ninja Gaiden for the NES back in the day. That was step-by-step brute force fail method of learning.

"Ok. So, half second pause, then jump or the bird bops you to doom..."
"Ok. So, pause, jump... and immediately jump again..."
"Ok. So, pause, jump, jump... and slash or die..."
etc etc etc

Odd thing is, I can’t remember getting angry at that back then.

WyldKat.4712:

Odd thing is, I can’t remember getting angry at that back then.

Because that’s what games were back then. Now 90% of the market is a 4-5 hour, 60 dollar ‘let me hold your hand and guide you through this’ adventure.

Raziel.9738:

Wolfheart.1938:

I don’t see how this means that what I said isn’t true. I said that ninjas and dart traps are rarely present at the same time. You mentioned one part where they are. Cool?

First time you get dart traps, there are enemies. The second floor of the building where you obtain the glove, there are enemies and dart traps. The part where you have to push the blocks, they are not. Gong tower, dart traps and assassins. Outside the checkpoint room with the frogs in it, there’s an assassin by the dart traps.

There’s one place where there are no enemies and you can focus on just the dart traps. Every other place has assassins or toads along with the dart traps.

then you try trib mode… and a wild trib cloud in the one place where there werent any enemies! pure frustration and useless deaths. at least you can skip the gong tower.

SAB is amazing. Frustrating, but amazing. Perhaps we can all learn a lesson in patience and determination.

WyldKat.4712:

This isn’t as bad as learning the way through Ninja Gaiden for the NES back in the day. That was step-by-step brute force fail method of learning.

“Ok. So, half second pause, then jump or the bird bops you to doom…”
“Ok. So, pause, jump… and immediately jump again…”
“Ok. So, pause, jump, jump… and slash or die…”
etc etc etc

Odd thing is, I can’t remember getting angry at that back then.

I think the difference is those games didn’t have latency issues. You never started bouncing on a mushroom bouncer to die mid-air because the game suddenly assumed your constant forward movement put you in the swamp water even though your screen shows you in the air.

Same goes for games like Super Meat Boy. I love me some SMB and it’s obviously superior because the controls are all about your timing, not your connection speed. That said I still play the hell out of SAB.

insanemaniac.2456

then you try trib mode… and a wild trib cloud in the one place where there werent any enemies! pure frustration and useless deaths. at least you can skip the gong tower.

Wait – you can skip the gong tower in trib (or normal) mode?

Day Trooper.3605:

insanemaniac.2456

then you try trib mode… and a wild trib cloud in the one place where there werent any enemies! pure frustration and useless deaths. at least you can skip the gong tower.

Wait – you can skip the gong tower in trib (or normal) mode?

How can you skip this piece of kitten in trib mode? It’s just plain boring to do it after first time. Normal mode I just get the eagle shortcut, doing daily for skins (less than 30 minutes for the 2 worlds anyway).

W2 Z2 was the most awful thing I’ve wasted my time doing, it was WAY too long and caused too much stress because of that.

Honestly, if we didn’t have to grind lives I would even do Trib mode, but screw that.

W2 Z1 was actually really fun IMO pre nerf, I enjoy pure jumping puzzle/platforming, Z2 was a joke though.

Try play with a friend or two… i find it more fun with friends.
bec ause… a lot of time, i would have quit the game but wheni see my friend die on traps, i laughed, and it also gives me more strength to continue. :P and there i finished all zones in w1 with a nice friend. done w2z1, and struggle with z2 final jump to boss due to latency issues.

Talindra.4958:

Try play with a friend or two… i find it more fun with friends.
bec ause… a lot of time, i would have quit the game but wheni see my friend die on traps, i laughed, and it also gives me more strength to continue. :P and there i finished all zones in w1 with a nice friend. done w2z1, and struggle with z2 final jump to boss due to latency issues.

Yeah, definitely more fun with friends, especially when you see them screw up. Like when my mate unsuspectingly walked into a flower and BOOM !

Day Trooper.3605:

insanemaniac.2456

then you try trib mode… and a wild trib cloud in the one place where there werent any enemies! pure frustration and useless deaths. at least you can skip the gong tower.

Wait – you can skip the gong tower in trib (or normal) mode?

yep

im a tease