A Valley Without Wind

[VectorZero]

http://www.arcengames.com/w/index.php/g ... w-features

Anyone playing this? From the makers of AI War and Tidalis, a procedurally generated 2-D sidescroller. Reminiscent of Terraria but without the crafting, but perhaps more Metroidvania-RPG elements.

10% off for launch week.

I've just started the demo. Interesting premise: endless world, permadeath for the character but infinite characters. Haven't explored a lot yet but seems like it could be fun.

[Serrin]

I played a bit of it, because AI War was awesome. I don't think procedural generation lends itself as easily to platforming as it does to RTS, unfortunately. I see a lot of potential in the game, but right now it boils down to a) grind exploration in buildings b) grind exploring caves for gems c) grind missions for everything else. Don't get me wrong, the missions are fun, but the combat feels off. There's no hit invuln, there's a limited number of spells which largely do the same thing. The most interesting progression, the enchants, is hidden from the player. The enchants actually get better with successive drops of the same kind, but you have no idea how good your enchants are, or how far you are until they improve again. There's no way to know that there are 5 tiers, some of which have a rarer subtier.

Also, the best strategy for almost every fight is run backwards and shoot, or sit on a platform out of danger and shoot. It's the opposite of Terraria/Castlevania by making the player one of the most mobile things there is. That's why combat feels bad, I think.

I hope it gets better. AI War sure did.