Civvie 11 - Retro FPS Boomer

[BrunoMattei]

It could be interesting to see him playing the old 2D Prince of Persia games first, then having the final part of the video be a quick bit on just what the Zorro game got wrong.

He still needs to do Witchaven 2. I played a little bit of it and it was better than the first game but still jank.

Save 50% on Witchaven on Steam

Witchaven is a first-person fantasy slasher set in a dark medieval times. Dare to enter this 3D Hell... Dare to enter Witchaven!

store.steampowered.com

Suddenly more and more Capstone games are getting re-released. No real info is known about Witchaven if it's just using Dosbox or it's a source port.

Edit: I played this POS one and a half times. That was more than enough. It has interesting ideas especially considering when it came out but horrifically bad hit-detection, glitches and tedium killed it. I doubt this re-release will fix any of that because, if so, they would call it Witchaven Remastered or some shit.

Update. This release is an updated version of the game that fixes tons of obnoxious problems (such as walls shutting you inside and you're permanently trapped) as per the description:

You're getting two builds: patched (Enhanced) and retail (Original) for those of you who prefer an unaltered experience as a bonus. Both builds are running on DOSBox with a custom configuration tool. The Enhanced build features fixes introduced in EGwhaven, a must-have community project, which addresses an array of bugs and issues with the game (we'd like to thank ETTiNGRiNDER for the contribution to this release). Additionally, the controls are re-mapped to what you'd expect to see as a default in a first-person game nowadays.

 

[Dagon Lovecraft]

is hexen that bad that it can break civvie?

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

There was multiplayer though, as evidenced by this Youtube video from 2006:

Honestly shocked.

Don't you remember the horrible, horrible past? Many games were required to have a competitive multiplayer mode during a certain period in time, releasing a purely single player game wasn't something publishers liked. That's why the multiplayer mode in some games* of that era** might have been developed by one or two people or everything got handed over to junior devs and interns. Some games were never intended to have competitive multiplayer and if the devs actually cared they would put a bigger team on it and give it more time.

*some games meaning games you won't even remember having multiplayer, like Prey.

**2005-2008 maybe


I also really, really hate Hexen.

 

[The Penultimate Warrior]

Being a console peasant at the time, I had Hexen on the Saturn. The only things I remember about it was never getting far as I had no clue where to go, the save file taking up a ridiculous amount of space, and one of the music tracks sounding just like the theme song to popular UK hospital drama Casualty.

 

[BrunoMattei]

Update. This release is an updated version of the game that fixes tons of obnoxious problems (such as walls shutting you inside and you're permanently trapped) as per the description:

You're getting two builds: patched (Enhanced) and retail (Original) for those of you who prefer an unaltered experience as a bonus. Both builds are running on DOSBox with a custom configuration tool. The Enhanced build features fixes introduced in EGwhaven, a must-have community project, which addresses an array of bugs and issues with the game (we'd like to thank ETTiNGRiNDER for the contribution to this release). Additionally, the controls are re-mapped to what you'd expect to see as a default in a first-person game nowadays.

I played a little bit of the Enhanced version of Witchaven 1. I've yet to try the Enhanced version of 2. All it really does is fix game-breaking bugs like walls not opening and sealing you inside forever. It still doesn't address fundamental problems that Civvie highlighted like bad hit-detection, the morning star being worthless, glitchy flying, the rest of the spells are useless until you're at max level, only sword weapons and the bow are worth a damn, etc.

Is it a "good" game? Fuck no. It is fascinating and kind of forgivable considering it was using the Build engine and what the devs were going for was interesting. But it's just a mediocre curio from an ancient era of the FPS back when they were still referred to as Doom Clones. I will slightly defend it in saying that games like Witchaven crawled so games like Elderborn could run.

 

[Brain Problems]

is hexen that bad that it can break civvie?

It's the definition of tedious and confusing. Like everyone is saying in here, the atmosphere is top-notch, it's just a confusing sloggy disaster that maybe if you were 10 or something when it came out and had limitless time to throw at it you'd have fonder memories but all I recall is getting lost and frustrated.

Hexen 2 has similar problems but the quake engine is kinder and makes getting lost and confused slightly less tedious.

If we could get Raven out of the CoD mines to make Hexen 3 I would be very, very happy.

 

[Coolio55]

one of the music tracks sounding just like the theme song to popular UK hospital drama Casualty.

Possibly intentional considering that the saturn port was made by Software Creations.

 

[NoonmanR]

**2005-2008 maybe

This lasted well beyond that. For example, 2010's Bioshock 2 and 2012's Spec Ops the Line also had forced as fuck multiplayer. Frankly, i don't even know when it stopped, last i checked they might've just mandated every game be multiplayer only and not bother with Singleplayer anymore..

 

[BrunoMattei]

This lasted well beyond that. For example, 2010's Bioshock 2 and 2012's Spec Ops the Line also had forced as fuck multiplayer. Frankly, i don't even know when it stopped, last i checked they might've just mandated every game be multiplayer only and not bother with Singleplayer anymore..

The Soy Raider series had multiplayer too.

 

[Corn Flakes]

This lasted well beyond that. For example, 2010's Bioshock 2 and 2012's Spec Ops the Line also had forced as fuck multiplayer. Frankly, i don't even know when it stopped, last i checked they might've just mandated every game be multiplayer only and not bother with Singleplayer anymore..

Meanwhile, games that should by all rights be fantastic in multiplayer if a little bit of thought was put into it, like Republic Commando, were stuck with tacked-on deathmatch multiplayer.

If only that game had co-op multiplayer. It could have been so much fun.

 

[BrunoMattei]

I played a little bit of the Enhanced version of Witchaven 1. I've yet to try the Enhanced version of 2. All it really does is fix game-breaking bugs like walls not opening and sealing you inside forever. It still doesn't address fundamental problems that Civvie highlighted like bad hit-detection, the morning star being worthless, glitchy flying, the rest of the spells are useless until you're at max level, only sword weapons and the bow are worth a damn, etc.

Is it a "good" game? Fuck no. It is fascinating and kind of forgivable considering it was using the Build engine and what the devs were going for was interesting. But it's just a mediocre curio from an ancient era of the FPS back when they were still referred to as Doom Clones. I will slightly defend it in saying that games like Witchaven crawled so games like Elderborn could run.

Update 3 for my ongoing Witchaven series review/rant/whatever...

Almost done with the Enhanced version using BuildGDX and haven't had a single issue with the game glitching or locking me inside rooms. There is an issue in map 5 where a key will not spawn so if you do not have the door open spell you're fucked but you should have plenty of door open spells by this point.

I'm at level 20 and the game has gotten better. Level design is better and not as random although they still remember to throw in some dickish instant death spikes. As soon as you get that magic sword it's smooth sailing and -I hate to say it- the level design is better than Hexen. That's my Boomer Shooter hot take. Hexen is better in every other way except in the most important aspect: level design. Even if Doom had shitty level design it wouldn't be as fondly remembered.

I can see why Witchaven has some ( perhaps misguided) fans aside from blind nostalgia. There's some things that work in its favor and some things excusable for when it came out.

Edit: So, I'm a stupid asshole. As soon as I post this I continue playing. I'm having fun. Then I get sealed in a room. No way out. No pressure spot to open a wall. No switch. Nothing. You're fucked. And my cat stepped on the quicksave as soon as I entered that room... Thankfully, the author of BuildGDX added a noclip option in the command. Thank you god. And the same issue happened again in the next level. WTF? I was giving this game the benefit of the doubt. I wanted to like it. But then it fucked me.

 

[The Penultimate Warrior]

The Soy Raider series had multiplayer too.

Only the first game.

 

[BrunoMattei]

I tried this supposed "enhanced" version of Witchaven 2 and almost immediately got trapped in a room with a door that would not open and there was no switch and no nothing to let me back out. Immediately deleted that shit and glad I did not purchase either game. I would recommend maybe the 1st game as a drunk or prank purchase for a friend if it was on sale for $1. Otherwise, no.

 

[Dojima's Dragon]

Word of advice : turok is a infinitely better at the whole hub world design than hexen

 

[FunPosting101]

Hexen isn't as bad as it's made out to be provided that you have a guide of some sort handy. If you don't though? Stay well the fuck away.

 

[Kane Lives]

Hexen isn't as bad as it's made out to be provided that you have a guide of some sort handy. If you don't though? Stay well the fuck away.

Having a game that needs a guide to have fun is already bad. I'm glad Civvie sacrificed his boomer sanity to play this because I sure as hell won't be bothering now.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

I played a little bit of the Enhanced version of Witchaven 1. I've yet to try the Enhanced version of 2. All it really does is fix game-breaking bugs like walls not opening and sealing you inside forever. It still doesn't address fundamental problems that Civvie highlighted like bad hit-detection, the morning star being worthless, glitchy flying, the rest of the spells are useless until you're at max level, only sword weapons and the bow are worth a damn, etc.

Is it a "good" game? Fuck no. It is fascinating and kind of forgivable considering it was using the Build engine and what the devs were going for was interesting. But it's just a mediocre curio from an ancient era of the FPS back when they were still referred to as Doom Clones. I will slightly defend it in saying that games like Witchaven crawled so games like Elderborn could run.

One thing Witchaven did that left a bad impression(and a vicious headache) for me was that it started in 640x480 or 800x600 by default, I can't remember which one. It made it look sharp as hell but it did not run well on a P90. It seemed like the devs wanted it to be played that way so ok. After all, the sprites for enemies were pretty high resolution compared to other Build games.

For comparison.

 

[Brain Problems]

One thing Witchaven did that left a bad impression(and a vicious headache) for me was that it started in 640x480 or 800x600 by default, I can't remember which one. It made it look sharp as hell but it did not run well on a P90. It seemed like the devs wanted it to be played that way so ok. After all, the sprites for enemies were pretty high resolution compared to other Build games.

For comparison.
View attachment 2324409View attachment 2324410

Never played Witchhaven but I always hated the "realistic" look to the sprites and textures on top of how fucking bland the environments looked compared to the excitement you felt when you saw every level in Duke, Blood, SW...

This may be heresy but I felt the same way about the enemies in Doom that were modelled versus drawn. Just look ugly and weirdly detailed.

EDIT: System Shock 2 even has multiplayer! Supposedly that's what the highest difficulty is intended for. I had a friend who tried it with another buddy and said he liked it but it never appealed to me in the slightest.

 

[Notgoodwithusernames]

This lasted well beyond that. For example, 2010's Bioshock 2 and 2012's Spec Ops the Line also had forced as fuck multiplayer. Frankly, i don't even know when it stopped, last i checked they might've just mandated every game be multiplayer only and not bother with Singleplayer anymore..

far as I know this goes back to at least 2000. Deus Ex had a multiplayer component which apparently still has a very very small community

 

[Korpon]

Been playing through Ultrakill, and noticed they added an easter egg of Cancer Mouse as a hidden boss fight:


And here's a video of the fight: