jt2
Posts: 7
2/2/2015
|
I just restarted a game after having taken a very long break from playing the game. This review is basically the view of a new player being introduced to the game.
I don't think this game is ready for release, as there does not appear to be any central, compelling storyline.
I started off running Intelligence reports for the Admirality, and this allowed me to explore the map and was interesting. However I am now dead-ended with having to get an intelligence report from the Empire of Hands, with no clear view of how to go about this. I have dabbled with the island exploration there, and made enough progress to be dead-ended at needing to translate monkey-ese. The kings court is dead ended, as I have no idea how much resources I have to waste on this story line, and why would I even care to waste all my resources helping a bunch of monkeys? Whats in it for me? The reward of getting some intelligence that won't compensate me for the resources I have lost? Sorry, not a compelling, involving storyline...
Ok, so what else is there to do? I gathered up enough scintilac for one of the quests, hoping that would present a story line, but he just asks for more. Boring.
I could run some more of the whatever-stone from the Sea Lions, but this is kinda boring too. Hmm, I could gather up a bunch of supplies to lose on transporting some tomb colonists around, for an unknown payback, but this isn't a very compelling activity.
I could try and find these 'colors', if I had any idea how to proceed.
So...
Where the heck is the storyline? Amazingly, I don't even feel the need to play the game, as there is almost nothing to do, as it seems that all of my story pursuits are dead-ended or just too cryptic to proceed.
Failbetter, you need a compelling storyline, or some in-game advisor that is able to drop hints as how to proceed. I don't want to have to read a wiki or forums in order to find out things to do in the game.
edited by jt2 on 2/2/2015
|
|
|
+2
link
|
babelfishwars
Administrator
Posts: 1152
2/2/2015
|
Fretling wrote:
I'm in my third decade of life and I've yet to find a compelling, coherent storyline either.
:P
Sorry about that, that's my bad. I'm afraid I'm the hero, you're merely background content and side-quest material. I'll deliver a letter to a tree for you, if you want, though.
--
Mars, God of Fish; Leaning Tower of Fish
|
|
|
+6
link
|
Fretling
Posts: 529
2/2/2015
|
I'm in my third decade of life and I've yet to find a compelling, coherent storyline either.
:P
edited by Fretling on 2/2/2015
|
|
|
+3
link
|
dismallyOriented
Posts: 215
2/2/2015
|
The thing about sunless sea is that you have to do return visits. The islands unfold slowly, and many of them have resource requirements that you need to unlock the story threads. Easiest one to pursue would be the tomb colonies, cavvies Vs Rats, and uttershroom. There is no main storyline, save for the ambition you choose at character creation. As for other stories, you could always speak with your officers and pursue their stories
|
|
|
+1
link
|
Fretling
Posts: 529
2/2/2015
|
Oh. I thought you were attempting to write a review, not that you were requesting information for real.
Like others have said, there is for the most part no central storyline. It's not that kind of game. And being close to release has nothing to do with whether content is unlocked for a new captain; it's not locked-due-to-nonexistence, it's locked because you haven't fulfilled whatever requirements there are.
|
|
|
+1
link
|
Fretling
Posts: 529
2/2/2015
|
If they're locked, you need to look at the requirements and figure out how to *unlock* them. They're not going to unlock by themselves.
edited by Fretling on 2/2/2015
|
|
|
+1
link
|
Fretling
Posts: 529
2/2/2015
|
Hm, maybe it's not the right fit for you if you need to ask "what's in it for me" and know the ROI ahead of time. The entire idea of an exploration game about flinging yourself into the cold embrace of the unforgiving, ever-changing unterzee is kind of predicated on the player/player-character being unhealthily inquisitive.
I think some people would be able to find a new kind of enjoyment if they adjusted their mindset going in, but others might not ever, or might just prefer to go with forms of entertainment that are more naturally suited to them -- who knows? In the end, it's up to you!
edited by Fretling on 2/2/2015
|
|
|
+1
link
|
dismallyOriented
Posts: 215
2/2/2015
|
Curiosity, mostly. But then again, I was already a fan of the FL/SS world. I'm not sure what other reason there would be. Exploration and the like is the entire point of the game. If you find yourself simply not caring at all about what's beyond the locked options, I'm not sure if I can do anything to help.
|
|
|
+1
link
|
FogChicken1
Posts: 29
2/3/2015
|
As others have said, if you're looking for an overarching storyline tying everything together then you'll probably be disappointed - it's not that kind of game. That said, there are longer, multi-stage stories of varying lengths and difficulties (that sometimes interlock) if you know where to look.
Hunter's Keep is probably the earliest example I can think of (it's a small one, but gives the general idea). Other (relatively accessible) ones include playing chess at the Principalities of Coral, and the various officer stories.
In response to your "what's in it for me?" question, I can answer with one word: knowledge. The more you know about the game, the more of the content you'll reveal, the more opportunities you will unlock, and the easier you will find it. Eventually you will reach a point where the early game survival grind is no longer an issue and you start looking for more to do. Be curious. Try things out, even if you think no good will come of it, just to see what happens. There is quite a lot of content out there, but most of the time it won't hit you over the head - you have to go out looking for it.
I used to describe Fallen London and Sunless Sea as "interactive stories", but I'm not sure that's entirely accurate. I think a better description is "story-based exploration games".
|
|
|
+1
link
|