How can From Dust be improved?

[Move127]

I have really enjoyed playing From Dust, but there are a few things that I feel would make the game better.

First off, the game seems so short. Going through all the maps and getting all of the memories took no time at all. I'm still playing around on origins a lot, but I've actually put in more time playing around than I did going through all the maps.

Secondly, I wish there was more to play around with. This includes more space for messing around on origins. Other things I would like to play around with are earthquakes and snow/ice.

When I first saw this game I thought it was going to have a more natural aspect to the humans, where they might move around and try to survive on their own instead of only staying around the villages and moving when you tell them to. However, I feel that this gets away from the puzzleish aspect of the game and is therefore asking too much.

What do you think would make this game better? Also, only mention things pertaining to the game content and not the bugs and drm. There is enough talk of that stuff already.

 

[GothmogII]

Well, for one thing, even with the challenges it's far too short. And I mean even shorter than Portal. Granted, From Dust -is- a budget title, so it may be unfair to have expected it to have a grand storyline and a 5-6+ hours of gameplay.

But honestly, length wouldn't have really mattered if the writing was up to scratch. I haven't played many of Éric Chahi's other games (besides the brilliant Heart of Darkness), but from what I've gleaned from the internets, he's something of an Auteur. It's why I felt FD was a bit of a let down, I was expecting something profound and engaging storywise, but all I really got was an interesting set of game mechanics and the slightest of twist endings.

Added to which, you have no real connection with your villagers. Sure, you need them to survive to win, but if you've got four villages on a map and two get destroyed, my first thought wasn't: Oh no, those poor little guys, but: meh, least I still have enough to re-populate. This could have been solved somewhat by giving some of the villagers a little character. The Shaman seemed like he would have been perfect for this, as a go between between The Breath and the Tribe.

All in all...it's a good game, just not a great game, nor the game that it should have been. Really hope to see Chahi do more with the setting, as it does seem to have a lot of potential. Gameplay wise, there isn't really much they could have added, and I get the feeling they were working off the 'A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.' adage.

 

[octafish]

Give graphic options, remove the FPS cap and remove the DRM.

It could do with a decent control scheme too. There is a reason all RTSs have similar controls and not a counter-intuitive piece of garbage like From Dust.

 

[No-one Special]

I agree with what's been said. Feeling a little more connected with you villages would be a very good thing.

Also even the ability to control your villages somewhat. I've seriously never sworn so much at a games as I have when trying to get villagers to go and populate a new totem, only for them to get stuck on a long ass path that you wouldn't send them on because you built a shorter, clear path. Or they keep going along a path and you can see lava coming and theres no way of telling them to stop and all you can do is watch them die and have to wait for next time.

Have the computer AI be less picky about setting up a new village. As Yahtzee said if there's even so much as a teaspoon of water it will be like 'the hell is that?!'. Or even the level or the ground. I had so many instances where I extended a new island with lava and then because it wasn't level I couldn't populate it. You're going to cover it with dirt anyway you stupid game! Just fill that hole.

Also the story mode was waaaaaay too short. As compaired with Portal, while they're both short games, Portal was a short game that FELT long. I seriously finished it in one sitting and said 'wait that was it?'.

 

[Seishisha]

Clearly what this game needs is DLC maps with extra challenges and patch fixes, after all isnt it standard to produce things unfished that nickle & dime your honest consumers for content that should have been included. /satire

 

[NinjaDuckie]

Unlock the sandbox mode from the start. I don't want to go through an entire story mode to get to the sandbox. Why can't I just start and build whatever world I want? That's how it appeared to be showcased with all the youtube-released tech demos and things.

 

[Move127]

Unlock the sandbox mode from the start. I don't want to go through an entire story mode to get to the sandbox. Why can't I just start and build whatever world I want? That's how it appeared to be showcased with all the youtube-released tech demos and things.

Yeah, I actually bought the game for the sandbox mode. With that regard at least the game is short and not impossible to beat.