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a few words about "UFO: Alien Invasion"

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sruf:
Hey all,



one week ago i've downloaded ufo alien invasion and this is a hell of a game: absolutely astounding what
you guys made! :)

i play it almost every day and i really love the maps and they way they have been created; some are small,
some are very big with a wide view so i have to use different tactics to win against the bad, bad aliens!  :P





but in my opinion there is room for improvement improvement for the following things:

- why isn't there an "ufopedia"-entry in the options or menu-list? i always go to the ufopedia via research-screen! am i doing something wrong or is this intended?

- i have absolutely no idea why the IR-goggles aren't working yet. if the function is not implemented yet, why not taking them out until they are working?

- i've played about 5-10 missions and none of my soldies got a higher rank; so i have no idea when this will happen or if any of my soldies improved his skills.
why not showing a "improvement-screen" after each mission so i can see which skill or which soldier improved?

- like some users posted before, it has no consequences to fly to a mission, wait until sun is shining and avoid doing the mission in the night. that unrealistic for me (in a game where i kill aliens ;))

- the equip-screen for my planes is very, very uncomfortable. there is no need to display the spaceships in that huge size. if the ship would be smaller, it would be easier to organize all ships in a list.

- i would prefer to see an equipment-screen for all my soldiers right before the mission starts!

- spaceship fights are kind of boring. also i _always_ lose a spaceship when fighting an UFO, even if i send 4-5 of these...well ...more expensive spaceships (sorry, forgot the name ;))




well i'm also i musician and i could produce some songs for UFO: A.I. if there's a need of music for the game! ;)

last words: keep up the good work, i am enjoying this game every day since i've downloaded it and sorry for my bad english!





Sebastian

BTAxis:
If you want to contribute, read and post in the artwork forum. We can always use more stuff.

Doctor J:

--- Quote from: sruf on May 13, 2008, 03:28:58 pm ---- i've played about 5-10 missions and none of my soldies got a higher rank; so i have no idea when this will happen or if any of my soldies improved his skills.
why not showing a "improvement-screen" after each mission so i can see which skill or which soldier improved?

--- End quote ---

* The ranks are considered to be a 'medal' and have no effect on game play - it's window dressing, not like leveling up in an RPG.

* Missions completed have no direct bearing in promotion. While kills are technically checked as a condition for being promoted, the relatively low number of kills needed for promotion (3) is insignificant compared to the relatively high MIND stat needed for promotion (50).  In practical terms, you need to get enough experience to get MIND up to 50 - it surely helps if you start out with a high MIND stat.  Yes, you get experience by completing missions.  Typically i only get one soldier promoted before the current campaign ends.

* It would be absolutely wonderful if we could have that improvement screen you mentioned.  I don't see anybody volunteering to write it, though.

Nevasith:

--- Quote ---- like some users posted before, it has no consequences to fly to a mission, wait until sun is shining and avoid doing the mission in the night. that unrealistic for me (in a game where i kill aliens Wink)
--- End quote ---

I think it's good as it is now. I don't know if the low light condition has any effect upon my soldiers, but it is really annoying to alter gamma when I enter night mission. It ruins all the fun, when it takes more concentration to look at the screen and wonder what is that thing my soldier see, than thinking about the best tactic. Also, normally special forces use IR goggles, night visors, perhaps motion trackers[?] and tactical light-placed most often under the barrel of rifle.
To sum up- the night is not a problem for the soldiers, as it is for the player, and the eyes are quickly tired from that strain.

Aiki-Knight:
I have to say, this game is phenomenal. The latest in-mission music is just outstanding. Why, one track has whispering voices in it, and it's downright terrifying. I don't generally find horror movies scary at all, but UFO:AI with its scary music turned up loud is real terror. Aliens pop out and there are spiders hiding all over the place... This is a magic game.

I was remarking to a learned friend about the intense psychological pressure the game exerts on the player. The aliens kill civilians every chance they get. They're cruel and ruthless about it. I really do want to save civilians, but I don't want to stumble into alien traps and lose the squad, either. That conflict of motives makes the game incredibly intense and has me on the edge of my seat. Where are the aliens? Have I covered all possible enemy approaches? Who are the aliens shooting at out of sight? How many civilians are dead? How many can I save? The player wants, needs, to save civilians, and yet must accept that the player will watch some die. Every time.

The aliens aren't cartoons, and they aren't dumb. They're dangerous, and far more dangerous to us up close than our agents are to them. They're monsters, and they mean business. A stupid tactical mistake usually means a dead agent. This game really forces the player to take the game seriously, every single moment. It's an experience I haven't felt since the game that got this entire genre started. I for one think that UFO:AI has taken the entire genre to a much higher level. The writing, the planning, the detail, the tension - this is what gaming for adults is all about. A story, a real story.

Bravo, everyone, bravo. Even in beta, this game is the one I've been waiting for.

I'd like to say how sensible and smart this game is. I have a friend who likes to play Gears of War on his XBox, and loves chess. But he doesn't try this game simply because it's too hard for him. You can't charge in and take everyone out because you're good with the controller. He asked me to play Gears of War with him, and his play-style was to charge in, and die, and charge in, and die, endlessly. I don't play XBox, but I told him, "Look man, that's not how this is done. If you want my help, we do it right." And so, using only my tactics from years of XCOM and now UFO:AI, we went right through the campaign. Cover each other, move carefully, always use cover, watch arcs of fire, cover choke-points, wait, win the firefight, move, repeat. Maybe two or three scenes of Gears of War are hard because the missions rely on just reactions. The rest of the game, an XCOM / UFO:AI player can walk right through. UFO:AI is a game for the thinking player. And it's so rewarding.

I'm bowled over by the realism and details of the maps. I love the snow effect in the winter maps. I tell you, this game has detail and love in it that no commercial venture has.

It's simply brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Thank you.

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