Poll: Do you have problems with taking down non-anthropomorphic (not human shaped) enemies in shooters?

[Spectrum_Prez]

Pretty simple question which I've search-barred.

For me, growing up playing shooters like counter-strike, getting a quick fix on a non-human shaped target always wildly throws me off my game. You get used to aiming for the head and aren't sure what to do when the critter's weak area is located on its chin, its feet, its antannae, or even on its backside (thanks Borderlands). Clearly, its a matter of skill at adaptation, many shooters will add non-human shaped enemies in to change things up or to challenge the player. My extended question is, I guess, does this frustrate you and turn you off a game, or do you welcome it as a breath of fresh air?

I almost gave up on Halo when the 'other aliens' (do we really need spoiler tags for this?) were introduced halfway through the game. It contributed to me giving up on both Far Cry and Half Life 2, and is annoying the hell out of me on Borderlands (midgets, while technically anthropomorphic, aren't great either). Any other quitting stories akin to these?

 

[Aunel]

nope,
alien shotgun-check
no aiming skills needed-check

I'm good.

 

[link141]

No not really.

 

[madman485]

not really. the different creatures made me love borderlands even more and encouraged me to strategize.

 

[walls of cetepedes]

The Headcrabs in HL2 were a pain in the arse.

Oh, and after just finishing playing L4D2, I have to mention those bloody Jockeys.
If they count, of course.

 

[Mushroomfreak111]

usually you get a unusually large magazine for killing aliens, so just spray and pray^^

 

[hopeneverdies]

No, it's the other way around. Unless it's multiplayer, the fact that I'm shooting humanoid like creatures does something to me.

If they don't look at all human, they get mowed down pretty fast.

 

[cantthinkofausername]

I personally never paid much attention to aiming unless it was extremely difficult to take something down without shooting somewhere specific, so I never had problems addapting between games. Fallout 3 was the shooter I spent the most time on, and since it half the game is watching a cinematic of you shooting (Thanks auto-aim system), it didn't matter that much. Also don't you shoot the Half-Life aliens in the head? Except the insects, but I thought those were in episode 1 or 2.

But in conclusion - No.

 

[God's Clown]

Like most things in life, if you shoot it enough it will die.

 

[necromanzer52]

You know I've never really thought about that. I find it equally easy to shoot whatever turns my crosshairs red no matter what shape it is.

 

[Optimus Hagrid]

I see where you are coming from, but in my experience I just spam bullets at moving things until they stop moving.

 

[Space Spoons]

If my aiming reticule turns red when I'm aiming at it, it gets shot. I'm an SMG user by nature, so I never really give much consideration to what enemies are shaped like. I just aim in their general direction and spray.

 

[Ganthrinor]

Nah. The head is almost always a weak spot. Look for the bits with all the pointy teeth or tentacles.

All else fails, burn it with fire.

 

[Owlslayer]

Most of the time definitely no, cause humans are far too skinny for my liking to be a target.

alien shotgun-check
no aiming skills needed-check

I'm good.

Shotguns ftw indeed. In Half life 2 i equally love taking down those runner zombies and the combine with a double shotgun shot.

The Headcrabs in HL2 were a pain in the arse.

For me, shotgun was the primary weapon in that game, and it worked on those headhumpers good, too. Unless i missed. But even from medium range a small hit from the shotgun took those little bastards down!

... .You get used to aiming for the head and aren't sure what to do when the critter's weak area is located on its chin, its feet, its antannae, or even on its backside (thanks Borderlands). ...

I'm not that sure, but i have heard that in L4D2 there are some zombies that can only be killed by shooting it's back. That, i imagine, is indeed a pain in the arse.

 

[walls of cetepedes]

For me, shotgun was the primary weapon in that game, and it worked on those headhumpers good, too. Unless i missed. But even from medium range a small hit from the shotgun took those little bastards down!

But I ran out of Shotgun ammo in Ravenholme.
In fact, I ended up using my Crowbar because I had no ammo whatsoever.

... .You get used to aiming for the head and aren't sure what to do when the critter's weak area is located on its chin, its feet, its antannae, or even on its backside (thanks Borderlands). ...

I'm not that sure, but i have heard that in L4D2 there are some zombies that can only be killed by shooting it's back. That, i imagine, is indeed a pain in the arse.

Indeed it is.
But, they burn just as well as the rest of them.

 

[DazZ.]

Nope, I love me some Quake.
But play with forced models now so there aren't any eyeball things or weird shapes running around.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

I only like human shaped enemies. It's not a strategic thing, they're just more fun.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Spectrum_Prez]

I personally never paid much attention to aiming unless it was extremely difficult to take something down without shooting somewhere specific, so I never had problems addapting between games. Fallout 3 was the shooter I spent the most time on, and since it half the game is watching a cinematic of you shooting (Thanks auto-aim system), it didn't matter that much. Also don't you shoot the Half-Life aliens in the head? Except the insects, but I thought those were in episode 1 or 2.

Well, sweeping up the headcrabs and the dangly tongue things annoyed the crap out of me because suddenly you had to look both up and down as well as around.

I'm surprised so few people are bothered by this. I guess its more of a problem when throughout a game most of the enemies are shaped like humans, but then the game will toss something entirely different in for laughs. In Far Cry, for example, it was hard enough seeing enemies amongst the foliage, but when they added those new beasts with a low profile I just gave up on it.

Even in games where shooting a particular body-part doesn't effect hit-damage, like in Mass Effect, I enjoyed fighting humanoids (Geth included) much more than the rachni and other beasties. I don't know why this is, I guess its just familiarity.

 

[Hyperone]

Doesn't really bother me.