Determinance

[Hack McSlash]

Ok, the game "Determinance" has been name-dropped a few times in the forums. Up untill a few days ago I had forgotten about it, but I got an email from the developers telling me the demo (and bought game) were ready.

If you don't know what the game is, it is basically a sword-dueling game. The part that really got me hooked was the idea of a sword being able to guided by the mouse. In-game, this works out better than I could have imagine. The game uses flying as movement (360 movement) which seems kinda cheesy at first, but actually takes it to a diffrent level of fun. Angles and directions really start to come into play, that I couldn't really see effectively used in a walking-based game like this.

So yeah, download the demo and try it out. The servers are kinda barren (I'm guessing it hasn't been out for long), but that's part of the reason I thought to post here. More people playing means more people to kill. Huzzah!

http://www.mode7games.com/ for the game site, and the link to demo-download is there.

So...peoples thoughts?

 

[Sir Prince]

Downloading.

 

[Ingolifs]

Let's see if this control scheme is any good. If it is, it'll be a significant event for hack n' slash games like M&B.

 

[Sir Prince]

Hmm, I like it, though the AI is WAY better than me of course.

I was hoping for a  word duel on the ground, but the flying part adds another challenge.

 

[Bellum]

The demo was fun, but I found it to be a bit unwieldy.

 

[Ingolifs]

I've just tried it, it does the sword thing a damn site better than DBTS ever did it.

The wierd flying thing makes the game a bit dumb imho, it's pretty much a two dimensional battle with flying anyway, I don't see how it would affect the game much. I also don't feel immersed in the fighting; i'd rather see it from first person.

Even with the control and skill involved, the fights tend to degenerate into random weapon flinging anyway. Since both people tend to bounce away after a successful hit, larger, more powerful strikes are better than quicker weaker ones. I find an effective strike to be where you drag your sword to its right position and mousewheel your wrist as far as you can, and swing your sword across your body while rolling the mousewheel in the opposite direction. This produces a rather wide cut. Coupled with that power strike, it can be quite devastating.

 

[Hack McSlash]

I like the flight more for the spinning feature, you can skew yourself forward towards them (opening your head, but little else)...or you can turn to the side like a fencer...etc. It looks silly, like I said, but it still adds an element to play with.

The random weapon flinging is effective, but after awhile you get a better look for what your doing. When you actually move the sword accuratly to avoid the others blade and to hit them...Theres a certain sense of accomplishment that few games can recreate.

 

[Merentha]

The broad, powerslashes coupled with a head-to-head rush seemed unduly effective.  To really throw the bots through a loop, holding shift down after you slashed them causes you to tailspin.  I've rarely been hit by them after a rush, powerslash, followed by a steep dive down or up while holding shift.  The move editor seems interesting though, I might pay for the game after I get a paycheck

 

[Bellum]

I imagine that might not work as well against players.

 

[Merentha]

I imagine that might not work as well against players.

Having just checked it, its alright.  Blocking actually happens much more in PvP, if only because most people don't switch their blades off the default angle.  Moving the angle while swinging leads to more random swings, but also tends to get a hit more.  You'll also be followed much more readily than by the bots, so its not as effective.  One person was tearing through us for a while, but since he used the default name, I can't figure out who it was.

 

[Raz]

Goody goody goody, they finally released the demo.

 

[Tarrantmw]

So from those who played, is the game worth shelling out the 20 bucks?


I have the demo, so It won't let me play against other players, which is what I really wanted to try.



EDIT: Or there isn't anyone online currently : /

 

[Theo]

Pretty funny game, I'm just playing it. You can play online even with demo, it lets you play 10 minutes or something, and then disconnects you and you have to wait while before reconnecting. Thats why I am just writing this, I am waiting to connect back in server

Usually there is one server where you can find other players. Fighting against humans is fun. I might buy this game in next month, I have already spent this month budget to computer parts

I'm using name Steel in game in case I see some of you

 

[Sir Prince]

Yeah, I only played for a few minutes but the bloody hell comments seemed liek the ONLY thing they can say, and the flying definately doesn't help.

 

[Thingy Master]

I dont realy see anyworth in this game. They may be the first to try to make it where you controll the sword with the mouse but they do a poor job, all you do is swing wildly. Pitty realy, A good idea is ruined by crappy enginering.

Eh, I have to say I don't like it very much.

It doesn't simulate sword combat well at all and there's really not that much to it. Also, the endless "bloody hell" comments get annoying quite fast.

Agreed 

 

[Llew2]

The broad, powerslashes coupled with a head-to-head rush seemed unduly effective.  To really throw the bots through a loop, holding shift down after you slashed them causes you to tailspin.  I've rarely been hit by them after a rush, powerslash, followed by a steep dive down or up while holding shift.  The move editor seems interesting though, I might pay for the game after I get a paycheck

I'm getting it! 

 

[Gregor Eisenhorn]

The broad, powerslashes coupled with a head-to-head rush seemed unduly effective.  To really throw the bots through a loop, holding shift down after you slashed them causes you to tailspin.  I've rarely been hit by them after a rush, powerslash, followed by a steep dive down or up while holding shift.  The move editor seems interesting though, I might pay for the game after I get a paycheck

I have found that "thrusting" works best. The closest you can get to really thrusting is to roll the mousewheel as far as you can in one direction and make small, quick diagonal motions with the mouse. I switch between thrusting low (which is bearable to look at) and thrusting high over the character's shoulder (which looks horrible). Doing this repeatedly looks silly and feels noobish, but really messes the AI up.
Using the thrusting technique, I wait until the enemy pulls his sword over to the side or up for a power strike and then move in and thrust rapidly.

 

[Theo]

You can control your sword better with little practising, thing you can block and do freely different things with your sword is nice. Flying of course might not be everyones liking but least it lets you move freely, its not withoug problems though. I would like to see game with land combat and same style sword combat, but this is entertaining too.

First game I know which used free sword control with mouse was Die by the Sword, it was fun and brutal since you could dismember your opponents

I think in this game you have more control to your sword and it is better done, but of course that flying thing and other differences makes it feel different game.

Last server just emptied so nobody online right now.

 

[Raz]

What's keeping them from making the characters just walk and not wear stupid semi-modern suits? And combining the fantastic sword combat with shields and mounts?  Game developers sure know how to screw things up.

 

[Merlkir]

What's keeping them from making the characters just walk and not wear stupid semi-modern suits? And combining the fantastic sword combat with shields and mounts?  Game developers sure know how to screw things up.

that's what they call being 'original and inovative' I think )
can't help it, I hate the setting too.