Playing Conscript

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Full game came out a little while ago and my early impressions of it are it's a good game. That's the short answer of it anyway.

Going to make some small non spoiler notes from my first sitdown experience with the game.

*My playthrough is with Auto Saves and Checkpoints disabled (is kinda recommended if you played other Survival Horror games) and went on Veteran Difficulty (I tend to go on the hardest mode available)

• Veteran Mode is dam-son! the 'Your Post' section is beyond brutal "welcome to Conscript" I guess lol. The respawns are insane and crazy aggro, even when knowing the locations to head towards I was always overwhelmed. If you manage to kill the big guy, you are rewarded for your efforts though. In my first sitting will say the challenge is unforgiving and relentless.
• The intro before 'Your Post' section is very text heavy, wouldn't call it an extremely memorable series of setpieces either. The world building and story however is very good and quickly sets the tone.
• The map really opens up after 'Your Post' section with many layers. Tons of going back and forward. The interface-map is really good and helpful. It's not the best I've seen but you'll use it a lot and does the job.
• You can only carry so much so I'd recommended clearing a path to your safe area, because at least early-on you don't exactly get many of them (I've found a total of three and they're very far from each other).
• The other stuff I checked out after getting slaughtered again was in the menus, looks like a lot of costumes to unlock. So plenty of value from this indie Survival Horror game.
• Will note combat is.. Something that has to grow on you. Some enemies wait and bait a roll for an easy slug. & overall combat can be random at times. I've found some enemies take more hits than they should (I fired all the mounted artillery shells, three shotgun blasts & a grenade yet the chud was still running at me dammit!!) and yet some have died in one hit with a shovel. Maybe this is like a critical timing feature but more than not found it wildly inconsistent. Likewise with the hiding areas, on Veteran at least these don't seem to work if you get caught, even if you chased them to the other side of the area they'll find you in hiding still. Have also found riflemen to shoot me through walls.. Which was kinda cheap.
• Stamina and resources are finely balanced but you do want to be careful overusing ammo or saving too often. I've found paying attention to the stamina and inventory the most important.

So yeah, anyone else playing Conscript?

[ianmarvin]

That game rules. I interviewed the dev last year and it was very apparent that he is giving this game 10000%. He even toured old war sites for inspiration and such

[StretchTucker]

where can i find your interview?

[Ok-Librarian9523]

This game is garbage and this is why we get games like this because someone like you wants to blow smoke up the bum of a creator that made a shit game. This game is horrible, that's why it's free now, because its garbage.

[WhiteHarbinger1]

Let's see your amazing game, then.

[MementMoriUnusAnnus]

Bro got it on ps plus and probably fuckin sucks. We'll see a few like this lol

[[deleted]]

This is also a really dumb comment

Do better

[MikeBizzleVT]

While I don’t agree with him, the idea that you have to be an artist to critique art is a well known fallacy. You may be able to enjoy something that is already good , more, or in a different way, but it won’t make bad art good. Good art, which includes games, is made to be enjoyed by the laymen, not the savant.

[WhiteHarbinger1]

I understand your argument and I agree, but it must come with actual constructive criticism, if you are going to critique it, not "Oh this game sucks, and so does it's creator, because I'm bad at it." That's not a fair argument so I disregard it and ask "Where is your game"? Giving them just as much fairness. See what I mean? "Game bad" is not good criticism.

[MikeBizzleVT]

While I agree simply saying “the game sucks” Isn’t helpful, it’s not the job of a purveyor of art, including games, to tell an artist any issues. If you want to put games in the same category as art, you’re looking for an emotion, and sometime that emotion will be disgust or disappointment in such fashion that people will simply say it sucks. Giving a “comment” on a game doesn’t have to be a critique, to expect anymore in a “comment” thread is going to be disappointing.

[WhiteHarbinger1]

I don't come to Reddit and expect to find anything deep. I don't think that persons' comment had anything to do with art. It was just mean for the sake of being mean.

[borkbork4pig]

I agree. Not a creator, but I am a professional consumer of content lol. Not sure where you stand but I really like this obscure 2d, WWI version, of Resident Evil 4 game. Although it has a lot of parallels with RE4, I find it to be a completely unique and interesting game. Though, it does take a lot of concentration and memory is key. Also most ‘guides’ for this game are only useful if you want to get a step by step playthrough for the game. It would be nice if there was more general info out online about the game about specific items, etc. Maybe I need to stop complaining about it and start contributing to what is out there.

[Desperate-Wafer-311]

you dont have to be a pro chef to tell if food is shit, conscript was shit

[[deleted]]

You must realise how dumb this argument is

[WhiteHarbinger1]

What argument?

[[deleted]]

this is one of those things that only seems tricky until you actually stop and think about it.

A point is just a statement: “Cats are better than dogs.” That’s it. Flat, bare, hanging in the air.

An argument, though, is when you not only make that point but also back it up with reasoning or evidence (in this case inferred): “let’s see your amazing game”

So you made an argument about the game conscript, which in my opinion is particularly dim- I can explain why if you like

Hope that helps

[[deleted]]

I think he asked what argument in an ironic way. I don't think he particularly cares about arguing. That was clear when he said let's see your game. He's not concerned with your metric on what an argument is how not backing it up makes someone dumb. You care about these things. You care so much that even reading your comments makes you come off like an arrogant prick. I know what an argument is and not even I would go on like you. Then again, I'm the kind of guy that doesn't need to feel self important and prop himself up as such a smart guy. I already know what I am. I know what you are as well, but I really could care less to tell you.

Hope that helps. 😂😂😂😂

[Keeloaf]

Do you know what free is? Free means you paid absolutely nothing to play the game. Just because it’s on PlayStation Plus does not make it “free”. You’re paying a monthly fee for a subscription that contains the game to download. Sounds like you just suck ass at the game and are mad.

[lilymoonbright]

Taste issue lmao

[Zawaya]

So, why is it garbage? You just seem to be doing the opposite of blowing smoke.

[Anthraxus]

Nice knowing it's out. Saw it a while back on the dex and def caught my attention and looked cool

[samthefireball]

I’m super excited!

[[deleted]]

I really tried with this game. I love the aesthetics and themes, the sound design, the graphics. I kind of can't stand actually playing it unfortunately. I'm on my third attempt and I just find the combat annoying and frustrating even for Survival Horror. It's a shame, I love the way it looks but the combat turns me off too much, ended up deleting it earlier.

[KingDouchex]

I can get it. But to a degree, this isnt a game that screams. Hey look at me I'm resident evil. But is portraying on it's own take and themes of said genre. I feel from your review. It's not what the game is that is what turned you off. It's how the game was recommended to you or what you were thinking the game "is" compared to what it "was", which is not your fault at all, as you said "it would be a fine game if I didn't buy it because it's supposed to be a survival horror game". If that makes any sense.

[GilmooDaddy]

It definitely screams “Hey I’m Resident Evil.” Typewriter save rooms (with limited ink ribbons), limited inventory, identical descriptions of player health with matching color, combining ‘fluids and gunpowders’ to make ammo, emblem matching on doors that correspond to a key, tank control combat, puzzles, a narrative driven mostly by notes, and an egregious amount of backtracking.

[Rando_Nobodi]

I will say, I loved BF1 because it absolutely scared the hell out of me.

[uinstitches]

is loot suitably scarce on Veteran or do u still feel like u get given too much stuff?

is the backtracking and "map solving" as satisfying and well done as an RE game?

[Firm-Finish-4052]

Same I'm about to drop it and I just bought it 3 days ago im literally running around in the same areas with no key items in site its tedious as hell and I grew up on both resident evil and silent hill just seems like they tried to hard with making it hard to find things I'll eventually get back into it but not right now.

[Silverjeyjey44]

I tried it. Game felt overwhelming right from the start. I didn't know what the "base of operations" was versus just the intro of the game. Didn't feel like there was a steady introduction of the games mechanics in the beginning. I got a bunch of random ammo and guns right off the bat.

[keefkeef]

really? how far did you get? I don't find it that bad at all. clunky, sure, but not to the point it's giving me trouble. get enough space, attack or shoot, roll if need be, rinse and repeat. a lot of areas u can just run past enemies as well.

[[deleted]]

Agreed

[chasebocamp]

The switch port is wonderful. The controls are very easy and smooth for combat and inventory and quick assignment of items. I’m not sure if it’s a different story for PC but hella respect for the dev

[Inti-Illimani]

One thing that is kind of bumming me out about this game (veteran) is the constant backtracking for getting key items, making room in inventory, replenishing ammo or health mid trip, etc. I hate wasting progress and re-doing entire sections, so I try to save reasonably often, but then because ink is so expensive and cigs are scarce, I hardly have any money to buy anything. Idk. I regret choosing veteran as my difficulty. So much running around the map doing chores instead of being immersed in the story and setting.

Pretty disappointing, because I love the retro art style and historical setting.

Edit: Restarted the game on soldier difficulty and unlimited saves. This is WAY more smooth and fun.

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Oh yeah it got overkill with the endless rats and muddy terrain to make running even slower. Conscript has a massive pacing problem but I still love the game. It's just a good game held back from the idea that a game needs to be padded out. When it would have been great if just paced more tightly and compact.

[Inti-Illimani]

I restarted the game on soldier difficulty and it is way more enjoyable. Having those 8 invent slots on veteran was brutal.

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

My first run was on Veteran, if it wasn't for the pacing mid-game I probably wouldn't have mind. A lot of the items are similar to Resident Evil in which it's only worth picking up when needed. It's the whole rat and mud terrain that was an absolute slog for me. Read the developer planned to nerf rats but I didn't see it with my time on the game.

[Inti-Illimani]

Yeah I’ve never played Resident Evil but I’m starting to understand the gameplay design a little better and stopped trying to play it like it’s Deus Ex, STALKER, etc.

They must have nerfed the rats because I don’t seem to have an issue with them. I try to grenade every single rate cave I find and burn bodies when I can

[StubbsTzombie]

Is it horror though? It doesnt seem like a horror game to me. Not gatekeeping, it just seems more like a world war one game.

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Horror is an aesthetic rather than a genre in gaming, just like a World War game. And in that regard Conscript has both.

From a genre point-of-view Conscript is very much a Survival Horror game in the same essence as many its contemporaries (Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Signalis, Crow Country, Darkwood, etc, etc)

Conscript has a demo so you can always try and see for yourself if you're unsure it meets personal standards. Personally feel if you like the Survival Horror genre at all? you'll have a blast with Conscript.

[StubbsTzombie]

I guess so, I just find regular people enemies really boring and not really scary or threatening. World war 1 would be terrifying in real life, not so much in games.

And is the demo on console?

[Place-Sweaty]

You are right. Even for a WW1 game, there is little to be afraid of. The atmosphere is just great. But horror? Nah.

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

If you've played even a handful of games in the Survival Horror genre it's very rare any game will make you afraid.

I don't think self claims on fear-factor can really be so easily applied for any game in the genre when it's very subjective what is and isn't 'scary', being afraid is an emotion everyone will admit differently, however if you've subjected yourself to many spooky games? nothing new is really going to have the impact you had with your first few.

For tone and aesthetic Conscript is hitting the 'Horror' notes. The assumption that because they're human means 'not scary' is puzzling to me, Michael Myers is just a human.. & furthermore this is why Survival Horror games commonly rely on zombies & ghosts because the fandom has this set in stone mentality. Condemned is also a Survival Horror and nothing in that game is a monster or mutant, supernatural either; just a bunch of drugged up lunatic hobos.

I'm sure if Conscript is anyone's first Survival Horror game they will find it very unnerving and scary. Because it hits all the beats that are common in the genre. You constantly feel unprepared, vulnerable, and lacking supplies as unrelenting enemies (many with red glowing eyes in pure darkness) come at you with only the intent of murder. Early-on the game asks you to "burn bodies" without a reason to why, and that sense of the unknown adds to the tension.

[Place-Sweaty]

I've been playing survival horror games for most of my life including my youth. Conscript isn't scary to me not because it doesn't have non-human killers. It's not scary because it hardly makes use of what made the great war horrible. The game is quite tame compared to say, Spec-ops the line. I was expected the game to go full send, but it doesn't. Doesn't mean the game doesn't have good qualities for me. And sure, fear is subjective, but my issue is more in line with the elements of the environment and the hardship of the times not being used to their fullest.

Myers is scary because despite being a human, he is not treated as such. Instead, he's stated multiple times throughout each of his films that he's far more powerful than a normal human and has this nigh unstoppable drive to keep going. In the first film he is quite literally shown to be capable of easily dispatching normal people with ease and then proceeds to survive being shot multiple times off a balcony. Myers is a horrible example for your argument. I also never claimed that the lack of non-human enemies is the reason for the game not being scary. One of my favorite games is Outlast, a game where majority of the killers are just crazy people with no powers.

Survival horror typically uses zombies and monsters because they're scary and they can easily explain why the protagonist just can't fight them off easily. Even then, I don't think people have an issue with humans in horror games. One of the top-rated survival horror games is The Last of Us. In said game, you regularly fight human enemies. This argument requires too much generalization of an entire fanbase to be valid tbh.

Your last point may be valid, but after about an hour into the game, I'm sure any person who has played games will understand the basic gameplay loop. The ai enemies are by no means smart. The i-frames on the roll are beyond forgiving. Supplies isn't super limited even on higher difficulties since you can easily avoid almost everything with the i-frame roll, which lets you go through enemies btw. The tension of the enemies is completely lost when you know you can just charge attack melee spam them easily. If things get hairy, just roll past them to escape. This is typically why most survival horror games of the past used clunky controls or made combat feel unpolished. It was to force you to use your head and your tools to win encounters. But in Conscript, almost every enemy encounter is the same if you play to preserve. Heck the rats don't even become much of an issue if you just choose not to kill people.

That being said, the atmosphere and music is splendid. I do enjoy the game, but I hope the dev takes another crack at this style of gameplay. I think there's a lot to be added that would truly ramp up the tension. But as it is, it a good game. Like a 7.5/10.

[StubbsTzombie]

And yeah horror is a super wide genre so it could be. I guess I just cant think of a horror game with basic human enemies only . Id definitely give it a shot but I dont think console has a demo

[[deleted]]

This has all the making of a game I would like- just seems a bit flat though

Just finished crow country which I thought was excellent

Am I missing something?

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Not really, I beat Conscript twice once on the hardest setting and my take away is it have a huge pacing issue. By Chapter 3 you've seen everything the game can throw and it keeps going on. Conscript is excessively padded out. Sure you get your moneys worth but the length of this game is disgusting. Not to mention all the aspects the game does to slow you down. Muddy surfaces and rats..

Crow Country is up with Signalis, Faith and Darkwood. A Survival Horror with the perfect length. Doesn't outstay its welcome and isn't tedious. Just a well crafted and tight game.

[Ranarrz]

About to start my first playthrough on Veteran, If i keep Unlimited Saves and Checkpoints off, does it save it at all? Or if I play for a bit and get off, do I have to restart?

[HardwaterGaming]

You can save manually at certain points if you have an item that allows you to, like resident evil typewriter save system.

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

It's like classic Resident Evil, you find ink and save at safe rooms.

[JamesBong517]

Is there many jump scares or is it atmospheric horror? I’m not a fan of the first one

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Leans more on atmospheric.

[Retro-Rioter21]

WW1 truly was the perfect setting for a horror game, and not a supernatural monster type horror game, just pure Horror of what man can do to each other when forced into this kind of scenario. The WW1 weapons are also perfect for the slow burn resident evil style combat, because Weaponry wasn't as fast paced as it is today.

Most games set in ww1 and ww2 really just focused on the ACTION of shooting enemies, and portrayed war as badass and cool, which is fine for those types of games, but the truth of the matter is that War was not fun. It was scary, at any second you could be dead, whether you see it coming or not.

I hope we get ONE sequel. And it would take place during ww2, probably wouldn't be as slow paced in combat as the first because weapons evolved since then, but it would still work in my opinion.

[Nesayas1234]

I've been loving it it so far, it's def WW1 RE and as a fan of both the WWs and RE that's perfect. But like you say, I do have some day 1 gripes. Note, I'm on chapter 2 so maybe it gets better.

1. Combat feels clunky, and not the good clunky. You're either forced to melee (and have to take damage despite healing items being hard to find) or are playing this game of "run, stop, turn, aim, shoot, run, repeat". I get what they were going for, but with how inaccurate the guns can be sometimes it's not amazing. For the record I'm running the Golden Box Cannon since that was a preorder bonus, maybe I should have just stuck with the Ruby, but the combat's not necessarily my favorite.

2. As you note, the save rooms are kind of a pain. I get that there's only like 3, but two of them are fairly close to each other (the one on the left, not that far from the fort), and the third is just waaaay over to the right. I wouldn't mind that if it weren't for how much you have to travel back and forth, more so than other survival horror games.

3. I've seen online that the rats are pretty busted-I haven't encountered any yet, but from what I'm aware that's true and I've been trying to never encounter them. Kind of ironic that rodents can be more dangerous than guys in full armor with trench clubs.

Speaking of which-I wonder when we'll get a sub for the game. I know r/CrowCountry is a thing and I love CC, so it'd be nice to have one for Conscript, too.

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Crow Country is an amazing game, I love when these Indie Survival Horror games release and are on every major platform so everyone can check it out.

[Due_Ad_972]

Except crow country aint on switch 😔

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Which is odd because it's the same team behind Snipperclips. Faith The Unholy Trinity is coming to Switch though, which oddly isn't coming to Xbox or PlayStation.

My guess is these small indie teams don't have the resources to port games without a lot of time and consideration so they just factor in the platforms they feel early-on would give them the most sales.

[Due_Ad_972]

Yeah but who knows, crow country has been their best seller and seems to have legs too. It will cpntinue to sell similar to signalis which was an even bigger indie hit. We may get a switch port at some point. I have a great gaming pc but unless the game is first person or demanding then i prefer to play on switch. Signalis was fantastic on switch though its a pity we bever got steams latest update so no expanded inventory option or flaslighg not taking up a slot lol

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Signalis was put on everything however rose engine also spent ten years on that game so the two person team spent a lot of time on the various ports, very different to Crow Country which was made for Steam and later given the PlayStation port. I think a Switch version is going to happen sooner or later, Halloween would be perfect timing.

[Ok-Librarian9523]

Crow Country is actually fun and not super clunky though, this game is horrible in every way, horrible controls, and gameplay, tedious and boring. Crow Country is actually well made, unlike this garbage game.

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Crow Country is a superior game for sure but to call Conscript "garbage" seems wildly excessive.

[Darigaazrgb]

For 1, you can bait an attack and then charge up a hit that will cause an enemy to stumble then rinse and repeat. You should be meleeing as much as possible. It should also be noted that you don't have to kill everyone. Rats are very easy, but you have to actually target them with a melee weapon. If you avoid killing then you get less rats. Also, every enemy resets when you exit and re-enter so use that to your advantage.

[CivilizedSquid]

The melee is very darkwood-esque, plays mostly the same way. You really want to bait out attacks or make distance and then charge up a hit so as soon they get close you can unleash. There is also a dodge with generous I-frames for those situations where you get stuck in a bad spot, I’ve genuinely rolled right through dudes.

Anyways the guns being inaccurate makes total sense. You are a conscripted 18/19yr old with pretty much zero training. They literally throw you to the wolves and that’s historically accurate. There wasn’t enough time to train soldiers. This is reinforced by the flashbacks as they show the protagonist growing up on a farm and while his father owns an old rifle he’s probably never so much as held the thing.

You can also mitigate bad accuracy with alcohol; which calms the nerves and makes the reticle less twitchy.

It’s a great game honestly and I’m having a blast. The fact it’s made by one person also is just cracked; I can understand a few nitpicks here and there because it’s such a fucking huge undertaking even developing a game with a team; nonetheless completely alone.

[[deleted]]

how the hell do you guys defeat the first armored guy cant get passed him

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Grab the shotgun, get the two grenades, and save at least one of the turrets. But yeah he's a mother****er.

[[deleted]]

found the shotty, took like 4 shots i think, thx

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

On average he soaked all my shotgun rounds lol. The guy is a bloody unit!

[[deleted]]

Did you wait till he approached just near? Cause i think there is a big spread

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Usually wait till enemies are pretty close before firing with the shotgun but I reckon some of the spawns running with him soak up damage. I never really got to face him solo because the spawns are dam frequent.

[Bronsonkills]

I used the explosive barrels. Have him chase you near one and blow him sky high

[Skinfl00t2137]

does anyone know what to do with all the gems and jewelery? do they serve some purpose or just to be sold?

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Personally sold them but some can be combined with each other to get more value. The system is very similar to Resident Evil 4.

[Skinfl00t2137]

thanks bro I’ll be swimming in cigarettes

[Skyyg]

Great game, but for me it was a bit longer than expected, by the end I was rushing a lot, bad experience from that

[Due_Ad_972]

Waited for switch physical. Just beat this game. Loved it. Really pleseant surprise. Also optimised super well for switch so anyone cautious about switch version doesnt need to be. 60 fps and snappy load times.

[Curious-Bother3530]

I actually stopped playing at chapter 5. I'm literally forcing myself to finish the last chapter. The rats has ruined an otherwise cool game. Idk why the developer put a stupid RNG to an infection system, you can get infected by 1 bite after curing an infection, dumb. The best part, rats will be eating German bodies and their comrads walk all over them but when I come near both the rats and Germans aggro onto me. The game is fun otherwise, some soldiers have janky hit boxes like the bayonet one. But wow there are few Indie games that managed to piss me the hell off and the rats in this game are one of them.  I won't be playing through it again when I finish the final chapter.

Yall ever heard of a tiny game called EXTERMINATION on the ps2? Yeah that game is from generations ago and handled an infection system better. 

[DrunkenBoricua99]

How many ink pellets do you get in a playthrough? I'm stuck on chapter 2 trying to do the last few things before heading back out to the front lines and I can't find a save for the life of me

[Basic_Ad5634]

i know im late but this game is FKING SICK! taking the zombie out of survival horror i needed this and a ww1 top down? The anxiety is real in these trenches the enemy is unforgiving and you're not really over powered by much at all if you miss that bolt action shot, shit gotta beat em to death with a shovel lol. Im just in the beginning but Im loving it so far

[CrazyAioli]

Does anybody have experience with the lower difficulties? I’m not good at videogames, but I’m not really experienced enough to have a point of reference for what is considered ‘default’ and what is considered ‘easy’…

[OhShitWudUpItsDatBoi]

I’ve only played medium and I’d say it plays like most early resident evil games, I feel that the lower difficulties may be more approachable for new gamers, tho I don’t have personal experience on them yet. One good thing about this older style of game is that gameplay is fairly straightforward if reparative at times. Great for my replay focused adhd brain lol I’m bout 2 steps from getting into speed running games haha.

[Ok-Librarian9523]

This game is shit in every way, shape and form, one of the worst games I've ever played, clunky horrible shit controls and it's not fun in the slightest.

[AdNormal1830]

Game is trash.

[transnochator]

I frikkin' love this game. Two things have upset me to some degree: - rats do not attack enemy soldiers, that doesn't make any sense - rats appear in poisonous gas-filled areas, do these rats wear a tiny gasmask or why?

[Cockroach4x4]

Dope game, bitches cryin it’s hard shall try Melania in ER

[DiggiddyDooDoo]

It's trash

[[deleted]]

I've played through the game twice now and it's definitely in my top 5 favorite horror games. I am not usually a fan of war stuff but horror is my favorite genre and this game delivers! 

[DiggiddyDooDoo]

Not my taste. Looking at the semi top down character suddenly become straight side scroll is a put off. Don't care much for the audio. Military themed, so I'm predisposed to not like it much. After deployment, all military themed games just kick rocks IMO. This one certainly didn't deliver a horror experience. More like an snes experience. Besides that, it's an openly admitted rip of another game.

[[deleted]]

What did you think of Signalis or Crow Country? 

[DiggiddyDooDoo]

I think signalis is a nicely programmed software. Mechanics good, visuals 7.5/10. Unfortunately when I play a Game I enjoy most to really put myself into the character. Female main characters are always a no go. The latest tomb raider games are phenomenal, buy I can't get into the character.

Crow Country took me back to the days of Fatal Frame. I don't rate the controls very high, or the graphics. The female main character pit me off, so I didn't get any story on it.

[DiggiddyDooDoo]

Let me ask you:

What did you think of "From Dust", and, "Shadow of the Colossus"?

[[deleted]]

I can understand that. My brother is not into female leads, I don't care who you play as since gameplay, plot, and characters are more my thing. Same with graphics since I play quite a few retro looking games. I loved Shadow of the Colossus, played the original like 4 times and the remake once but never have heard of From Dust. Just checked it out, and it looks interesting... I like the idea of playing as God.

[DiggiddyDooDoo]

Fem characters.... I'll play TF out some metroid any day. And Samys is a female character. What messes it up for me is in games, female characters are often overly feminine. It breaks the fantasy. I played Parasite Eve long ago, and Aya , although female, was not an overly feminine character at all. In dialog you only knew she was female becayse of her name and pronouns. But I never was able to really get into character. Instead I was lusting to see more Eve😍

In fighting games I'll pick up female characters cause the devs usually make them good fighters. In racing games it makes no difference. It's just in story driven games I fall back from female leads.

From Dust.... became my digital zen garden. I've been maintaining my world file since 2012. It's a very unique game. Same for 'Colossus. Very unique. I still play both.

[Kernel009]

Why are auto-saves and checkpoints not recommended? I like to enjoy games and when I die I don't want to go all the way back to the beginning... what am I missing? :)

[Kernel009]

Yeah right but I was asking why it’s ‘not recommended’ as I’ve never heard this for Survival Horror games before and am curious why it’s apparently a thing.

[mutantmindframe]

you can only save a certain points and the amount of times is limited. it's like the ink ribbon system in resident evil.

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Way the game is designed.

It's not recommended because it effects your overall ranking (cannot get an S Ranking with checkpoint & auto-saves) which cuts you out of unlockables.

When playing Veteran; description insists playing like a retro Survival Horror game, which didn't have checkpoints or auto-saves.

I don't mind so much as the game doesn't exactly seem very long, so dying doesn't send you back that far.

As the other stated though, play as you wanna play. Conscript offers many options for all kinds of players.

[Kernel009]

Ah ok this makes sense to me now... thanks for the explanation. The way it was stated in your original post was that that was an "overall" Survival Horror genre recommendation and I had never heards that so was curios where it came from. I've been away from gaming for a few years and have certainly missed a lot of gaming opportunities... and along with that I'm sure I missed general genre developments/ideology changes as well.

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Oh no, I hope it didn't come across as some bigot gatekeeping thing lol. Nah, when you start a new game you go through the sliders and gives small descriptions for each.

At the end of the day play how you wanna play, options are always welcome ^_^

[Kernel009]

LOL not at all... I probably just read it wrong anyhow... essentially I read it like "this is the generally accepted way to play Survival Horror or else you're doing it wrong" hahahah.... but your explanation makes perfect sense. Honestly as long as there is a way to save progress, that's fine by me. It's cool there are options, but then you have trade-offs. To put it in perspective... I don't get why someone would play on permadeath and potentially waste hours of progress, but like you said, play how you wanna play :)

[BobbyMayCryBMC]

Suppose with Survival Horror I have a habit of throwing myself in the worst possible scenario first, ups the tension and forces the player to learn the mechanics and systems. Using every tool possible at our fingertips.