IGN Hands-On:Stranger

[Cavalry]

http://pc.ign.com/articles/850/850257p1.html

et to release this March in the United States, Stranger is an odd mix of real-time strategy and role-playing elements. After a few hours of playing through the opening sections, the game feels more like an action-RPG than an RTS, but perhaps the strategic elements play a stronger role as the game progresses. What you may notice from the screenshots is this title isn't the prettiest title out there, and we can tell you its overly complicated interface doesn't help things all that much, but the gameplay seems interesting after a cursory play session.

looks meh but interesting, I can see some potential.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Looks potentially pretty cool, but further reviews will be necessary.

And I don't mind the graphics at all. Frankly, graphics don't even need to get any better than what is currently out there imho--gameplay just needs to make sure it stays intact at all times though and is as thoroughly entertaining and engaging as possible!!

 

[CptStern]

Looks potentially pretty cool, but further reviews will be necessary.

And I don't mind the graphics at all. Frankly, graphics don't even need to get any better than what is currently out there imho--gameplay just needs to make sure it stays intact at all times though and is as thoroughly entertaining and engaging as possible!!

I agree that graphics dont need to get better in terms of more realisim but I wish they would get better ..only in the sense that I dont want background or textures popping in, I dont want a character with a hand that looks like two triangles melded together or stretched floor/wall textures that ruin the look of a scene ..I just want current graphics level but better ..if you know what I mean ..and would it kill them to give us some variety in character models? sheesh not everyone is 6" 180 pounds ..I'm 6' 1" 3/4, 175 lbs


the game looks like a balancing nightmare ..could be good if they pull it off ..but seems a bit bogged down in micromanaging for an rpg

 

[VictimOfScience]

I agree that graphics dont need to get better in terms of more realisim but I wish they would get better ..only in the sense that I dont want background or textures popping in, I dont want a character with a hand that looks like two triangles melded together or stretched floor/wall textures that ruin the look of a scene ..I just want current graphics level but better ..if you know what I mean ..and would it kill them to give us some variety in character models? sheesh not everyone is 6" 180 pounds ..I'm 6' 1" 3/4, 175 lbs

I hear what you are saying. Texture pop-in just requires some better optimized code. And I don't think we need any more polygons for our models. If games forever on only look as good as Crysis on Very High settings, then I would say we are going to be ok.

I do agree about character models though. Assassin's Creed had a huge number of NPCs populating its towns, but there just was not much difference between anyone at all. The thugs were the same model, the lepers were the same model, the beggar women were the same model. I suppose one could argue that this is done to make things easier for the player to comprehend visually, but it smacks of dumbing-down imho. Perhaps in the next title there will be more variety.

GTA IV will hopefully be the next great example of an open and well-populated world full of loads of diverse character models and behaviors. We will see though....

the game looks like a balancing nightmare ..could be good if they pull it off ..but seems a bit bogged down in micromanaging for an rpg

Yeah, the interface does look a little sh1t, but maybe they will streamline it before release. The use of color is terrific though.

 

[CptStern]

I hear what you are saying. Texture pop-in just requires some better optimized code. And I don't think we need any more polygons for our models. If games forever on only look as good as Crysis on Very High settings, then I would say we are going to be ok.

I do agree about character models though. Assassin's Creed had a huge number of NPCs populating its towns, but there just was not much difference between anyone at all. The thugs were the same model, the lepers were the same model, the beggar women were the same model. I suppose one could argue that this is done to make things easier for the player to comprehend visually, but it smacks of dumbing-down imho. Perhaps in the next title there will be more variety.

GTA IV will hopefully be the next great example of an open and well-populated world full of loads of diverse character models and behaviors. We will see though....

ya the gta games while better than most in making a living world still falls very short of making it anything more than a dollhouse extended over a city ..very little interaction with the city itself ..but leaps and bounds better than most ..In crackdown for example I feel the people in the streets although plentifyl are mostly window dressing ..they might as well just be static images

Yeah, the interface does look a little sh1t, but maybe they will streamline it before release. The use of color is terrific though.

heh I'm on a worksafe browser that displays all images in black and white ..will look later