After playing through some hours of this game, I think it could benefit enormously from a slightly undefinable thing called character.
I mean this in a constructive way - people are willing to forgive and overlook so much more if a game has a little frisson, je ne sais quoi; a twist of humour, quirky actions - things that stick in the mind.
In Elemental, I feel the elements are there, but that magic spark is yet to emerge. Bugs and mechanics aside, here are a couple of thoughts:
- Factions. There is relatively little in the dialogue to give you a sense of what you are up against, and why you hate it/love it/fear it/admire it. Ignore that the AI doesn't really bother to play for the moment, what I am after here is more sass, more bravado, more villainy or uprighteous irritation. Ie I would feel much more invested in the game if I felt a little more connection with my opponents.
- Quests, locations etc. Atm it reaches the level where all those locations and quests and so on feel like a meaningless chore. There is no there there. Click goodie hut, it gives you a prize, tells you to find another goodie hut, or a tactical battle ensues. This whole section of the game would benefit enormously from cut scenes, music, voiceovers - any kind of atmosphere builder other than a pop up screen, and 'you got a +8 tome'. If I get a tome , I want to see and hear its pages creak open by candlelight etc. I want a sense of anticipation - is it cursed? What ghastly weird-ass curse will it give me? Will all my children be born with no eyes?
- Cities are cute in their way, but nothing says 'Mine!'. No customization, no unique giant buildings. I want my dark tower! My glittering palace! My personal dungeon!
- Battles… yikes. Enough has been said about this, but seriously. You can almost watch the spreadsheets unfolding before your eyes. If I face a dragon, give me a little to tremble before! If I face a sovereign, would a little taunting be too much to ask?
- Adviser. This guy is dull! Some games are famous for their witty advisers, can we make this fellow a wee bit better company? I hang out with him all game, give him a few laugh lines. Make him mischievous; a few crazy pranks - you know, spiking your potions with tabasco kind of thing.
- My people! I mean, do they even know who I am? Where are my supporters, detractors, where are the pageants and riots? If I spend too long battling and not enough time farming, shouldn't I hear some grumbling from hungry farmers? If I spend my life building caravans, won't the barbarians in the ale house start muttering that I've gone soft? Where are they all?
- The kids and in-laws... Currently worth a couple of lines and an incomplete mechanic, these are fertile territory for laugh lines. Half the fun of dynasties is watching your back for your eldest son' dagger, or cracking archaic mother in law jokes down at the necronmacer's guild. Give me a family I hate! Let me consider my agonising death a blessed distraction from my spouse's nagging!
These are just a couple of thoughts. I may add more later. Let's give this skeleton some flesh!
