Gameplay Mechanics: Season 1 versus Season 2
Curious to how others felt about the changes to the controls, Action Sequences and QTE's from Season 1 & Season 2.
Personally, I felt that Season 2 was ridiculously easy compared to Season 1. Don't get me wrong there were some amazing QTE's/Action Sequences in Season 2 (e.g escaping the bandits, walker break-in with Mike & Kenny, walking through the herd just to name a few), but I felt that Season 1 had better events which were far more challenging (does anyone remember the Molly fight, geezzz...) and alot more of them in general.
I died a couple of times in my first playthrough of Season 1 (I can't remember but I believe it was the St John's hostage situation with Brenda, Bandit shoot-out and Veron hold up). Season 2 I didn't die once.
The new hold down [hand] + directional pad control was used perfectly in Bonnie's story during the 400days DLC, it worked so well to build suspense in exactly the right moment, but when Season 2 started asking you to use this to open a tent flap it became a frustrating addtion.
How did you all feel? Did you find season 2 easier than Season 1? Did you like the new controls? In Season 3 would you like to see an increase/decrease or the same amount of QTE/Action Sequences?
Comments
Season 2 was easier but it felt SO much better compared to Season 1's QTE's.
While I agree season 2 is easier than season 1, difficulty was never a problem for me in both of the seasons they were both extremely easy :P which isn't a problem since it's more of a cutscene kind of game.
The point of the QTE's really aren't to be a challenge. They are there to help you experience what the character is experiencing. The feeling you get when you panic and have to look around for something to grab, fast. The sense of urgency when you have to mash the button. I think they would be making a mistake if they turned QTE's into more of a skill game. Most people should be able to complete the story with zero or minimal deaths. Getting a re-do whenever you die also takes away from the ongoing feeling that your choices/actions have permanent consequences.
That said though, I am sure there are some improvements they could make. But the goal of the improvements should be to help make the experience more engaging, not more difficult to pass.
I prefer S2 mechanics I think, much smoother, the running QTEs are nice. I'd like if we could select things in our inventory to hold when we walk around, like equipping, and so those would be what we have during a QTE, It'd feel more personal imo. We kept the hatchet? We defend ourselves with that in a QTE. Instead of the PC having random guns without finding them on occasion
One thing I do miss is puzzles. Granted, they really wasn't that hard in Season 1, but when I did them, I felt pretty accomplished.
S2 is much easier, but I like it a lot more. Feels more cinematic IMO. I also like how they gave you options on how you fight the walkers (untangling leg from wire or grabbing screwdriver for example).
I like the new gameplay mechanics they introduced in s2 and in Wolf, I just wish they could introduce some more puzzles.
Well said, I wouldn't want to see this game turn into the difficulty level of the Dark Souls series and for me you hit the nail on the head, I felt Season 2 overall was lacking that element of imminent danger which I felt in Season 1.
In Season 1 I was happy that they gave us the option to turn off the higlighted hints throughout the game and by doing so this increased the sense of urgency during my playthrough.
I was also thinking maybe I thought Season 2 was easier because I was already familiar with how the game worked after playing Season 1. It would be nice to know if anyone on the forum played the series in reverse (I.e. Season 2 then 1) and how they felt.
Your right, I completely forgot about the puzzles. They were a wonderful addition in Season 1.
For the mechanics I must admit, I'm glad they fixed up Lee's gliding issue for Clem in Season 2.
The best puzzle in Season 1 was the motor inn, it was both a well designed stealth puzzle and it was a puzzle that made sense in the situation, really wished Telltale did more of those.
Was that the one with Glenn and Carley druing Ep1? I loved that, that was so clever!
Sure was, in fact, it reminds me of how TLOU gameplay works with sneaking around and such with enemies lurking around the area.