re: command and conquer
other than that, Generals is extremely more my speed
the training mission has you sending tanks to fight neon-green terrorists who are harboring some kind of blue goop without cracking a single joke about it. So I think there is some emphasis on the absurd.
30 fps is kind of a bummer (jagged scrolling) but it seems like a good strategy game for building a bunch of stuff and watching explosions
command and conquer -
Wow the intro to C&C Generals is some real dated War on Terror shit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8G74VTpxas
command and conquer -
I've been trying to figure out what command and conquer games hold up to scrutiny and I can't tell if they are infuriating or I just suck? Played Red Alert 1 tonight.
clear positives:
* global build menu is a kinda cool idea
* sweet music
* 90s FMVs
* sprite art is kinda neat
* some creative mission designs
* apparently no unit supply cap
* dogs that instantly kill capitalists
* exploding barrels help remind you it's the 90s
obvious flaws:
* right click to deselect instead of left click to deselect
* can't quickly select all units of a given type
* can't (maybe?) move units in formation
* can't set rally points
* can't distinguish units by sound alone
* can't jump around minimap until you've built radar
* can't queue multiple build orders
* poor use of screen space in UI; only shows four building types and unit types at once
* no "move to this location but stop to fight stuff you see along the way" aka attack move
* when you are notified that you're getting attacked there's no visual telling you where
* most missions have a boring cleanup phase where you must destroy every single remaining building (or maybe I'm sloppy?)
subjective flaws:
* the fog of war system is... well, it's something
* every building is nigh-invincible for some reason? this includes towers
* you start with a lot of capital but it takes a long time for income to ramp up. This kinda gives it a fast-then-slow pace that's a little weird (or at least unfamiliar to me)
* every explosive has a ton of splash damage that can hurt your own units and buildings. There's no "fight safely" mode
* infantry units get instantly killed by any vehicle, but only if you are manually controlling it to do so
* units using projectile attacks don't lead their targets (e.g. submarines can't hit moving ships)
* tanks have a VERY bad turning radius
* you get warned about power limits after violating them, rather than when you are about to build a thing that will break them
* the dogs get shot at :(
prey mooncrash spoiler
the custodian character is a great example of designing a UI smartly so as to hide a plot twist
before the character is unlocked you see a silhouette of a woman with a mop and an empty ability tree, so you think "oh heck this is going to be a challenge character who I have to rescue without any neuromod skills"
then afterwards they're like "ACTUALLY she has a psychostatic cutter and hacking skills"
Maybe I am taking popcorn movies a little too seriously but this feels like a domain where I can actually affect things, hahaha
pop culture -
It’s also why I like the film version of Wonder Woman more than Black Widow. Black Widow has tiny guns, witty quips, and kick ass spy stuff, which is fun, but WW stands for stuff like Truth and Love that’s easy for masculinity to brush aside. Those feminine qualities are not weakness, they are strength.
pop culture -
I think what I mean to say is that good representation isn’t about high power levels. T’challa isn’t interesting because he can keep up with Captain America in a fistfight, he’s interesting because he affirms the values of African traditions, earnestly, with human flaws. His portrayal says “hey: you exist and you deserve to play in this fantasy, too.”
https://www.twitch.tv/commachameleon/ It's time to finish Jak 3. For real this time.
Furry hermit and small game developer. Likes chubby guys with tails and/or superpowers. Friendly as anything! https://www.patreon.com/kommagames