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You know what I really hate seeing in games?
I hate, hate HATE when a game boasts creative customization so you can build your own character to look the way you want, but then they tie the pieces directly to your stats, causing your creativity to become stifled by the META.
I hate, hate HATE when a game boasts creative customization so you can build your own character to look the way you want, but then they tie the pieces directly to your stats, causing your creativity to become stifled by the META.
Monster Hunter World, as a quick example, has at least recognized this enough and taken some tiny steps to alleviate this problem by introducing layered armors, knowing full well that hardly anybody is going to be wearing a full set of ANYTHING.
Seriously, when the Smithy teaches you about layered armors he specifically comments about your "ugly monkey suit" and recommends you use a nice layered set to cover it up and "look nice for once". Capcom KNOWS.
And a friend of mine @PerfectRequiem has discovered that a game he's been playing recently (Gundam Battle: Gunpla Warfare) has this same issue, but no fancy "layered armor" mechanic to make up for it.
So while the game boasts the freedom to create any Gunpla you want, you still end up seeing a bunch of players using roughly all the same META gunpla parts. And in a PVP focused game you aren't serviced at all by deviating from it.
This is a problem that could have EASILY been solved by just making the fucking appearance separate from the character's actual performance. Games like Terraria and Starbound do this perfectly fine with no problems.
If I were to ever get into Game Design that is going to be my highest priority, making sure character appearance is in NO way chained to the META by completely separating appearance from stats.
It's a CRIME to do otherwise. An absolute crime.
It's a CRIME to do otherwise. An absolute crime.
I'm not saying a game shouldn't do this, but it shouldn't do this while boasting fashion. It can only serve to disappoint players who have to surrender the style of their dreams for the sake of just being able to compete.
Let the player look how they want. Always.
Let the player look how they want. Always.
This is why I'm so anal about the fact that High Metal Alpha got a layered set in World and not Beta, the one that's actually customizable.
It's like "Here you go, full customizabili-SIKE!".
For once, DON'T say sike right now. :C
It's like "Here you go, full customizabili-SIKE!".
For once, DON'T say sike right now. :C
