[UbiSoft] You've reached a crossroad in the Wildlands | Forums

[SoonerOX]

That would be a big YES for me too, as an Ex-serviceman with Sniper /Recon Experience I was also a little baffled by the some of the choices which on most part I put aside as I really enjoy the open world shooter aspect albeit with some of the quirky mechanics.

I can only put it down to the fact that they cannot mirror or resemble current tactics for opsec reasons obviously, which makes it clunky to a degree but still fun. More control is needed with out taking away face paced reactiveness needed as a FPS in an open world. Would be nice to be able to create your own SOP's that the AI respond to in a given situation ie you want an action to happen you have a programed response ie Breach, Man Down, Break Contact etc which are predefined on you AI control Wheel a which you select and it happens similar to now but in the way you want it to happen. This may also be partially configured in options ie if engaged withdraw or Attack options, if seen not engaged - respond defensively (hide) or Engage. The should be pre defined based on your play style and changeable in game as your situational awareness changes or from mission to mission give some require aggression and some stealth.

AI Team mates need to be more configurable or roles assigned Ie Sniper, Assaulter, etc with a load out that suits the role, ie select Breach on the AI control Wheel the team stacks up the assaulter steps up places the charge, detonates and breaches the room etc etc. AI team mates should be able to drive so you cam shoot etc with a AI control wheel that is contextual to the vehicle or situation your in, basically you set a waypoint they get you there in the chosen method of transport in general play excluding certain timed missions requiring you operate the vehicle.

All in all still enjoyed the open freedom and choice to carry out a mission however I want either Loud or soft or any combination therin, and the graphics are great but really hope they refine control of vehicles and Ai a bit more. Would be nice if more attention to detail in Textures ands accessories was updated but at the end of the day there not game breakers.

As for Narco Road the less said the better, but in short, Great idea horribly implemented on the whole it was reused content that was standalone and did nt fell like it added to the main game and more importantly did not benefit you in the main game, was far to quickly finished for a DLC and really wasn't replayable to any degree making you feel you didn't get your monies worth.

Your SOP idea is awesome. I would love to see something like that implemented!

[SGTR0CK117]

That is a great idea! I could spend hours and hours with a feature like that, and the Tactical depth is as deep as the player wanted to make it. Something like this with squad load and individual control as well would be absolutely fantastic.

Thanks the idea was that it doesn't slow the game down and uses the same control wheel which you configure, not as granular as earlier GR series games but you shouldn't need to stop and start and predefine tactical options in the heat of the moment which remove any resemblance of realism.

[Snoopfighter2]

I can only put it down to the fact that they cannot mirror or resemble current tactics for opsec reasons obviously.

so what infantry FMs are classified? you':re full of it....

[TaxingUnicorn]

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All in all Wildlands didn't deliver on every aspect we requested, but in my opinion it is what the community generally wanted and but for three obvious shortfalls (Narco Road excepted) - AI control, AI customisation with meaningful load out choices with consequences and flying - it would be much better, in my view, than the original. It is much closer to the true roots of GR than FS, GRAW and GR2, none of which had much better team AI control in my opinion. For the GR brand it is closer than it is far, but all the attention, understandably, is on the distance to go not the distance travelled.

Liked what you said here. While I agree with the OP in how I feel about this game, I do think it's closer in many ways to OGR albeit far inferior. I think the most frustrating thing is that the potential was, in many ways, wasted by trying to please everyone (Narco Road, regen health, bright blue tiger stripe camouflage etc.).

The original ghost recon had a brilliant formula of sand-boxy maps and deep tactics against an enemy that was deadly (arguably too deadly -hit scan). The disappointing bit about what you said regarding distance traveled is that if feels like we haven't come far at all since 2001, many steps backwards sure, but how far forward have we really traveled? It seemed so simple to take the 2001 game, improve animations/graphics/customization options/AI and craft a new story; at the very least for me, that game would have been a great improvement over this one.

[zoog.tangodown]

I think the most frustrating thing is that the potential was, in many ways, wasted by trying to please everyone (Narco Road, regen health, bright blue tiger stripe camouflage etc.)

Most things are up to the players choice though. Health regeneration? I don't have it (maybe because of higher difficulty?). Blue tiger stripe camouflage? Don't equip it. Enemy markers? Turn them off in the HUD etc. etc.

GR was quite ground braking at its time, and I played it to death. But we're also looking through nostalgia glasses. Maps were max 400m x 400m. No day/night time cycle. No dynamic weather. No vehicles. Pre defined weapon kits. Small amount of content (about a dozen missions per game/expansion?). No randomization I believe. Awful CQB experience.

Of course, I would also die for an original GR updated to the modern gaming standard with all the cool stuff we are able to do now with modern technology. But it's also like, that's such a niche nowadays, a big publisher like Ubi would never do this anymore. Budgets and team sizes have skyrocketed, and accessible games sell the most. So it's simply not something we should expect from Ubi anymore. Smaller scale studios might try it though (Takedown, Ground Branch, Ready or Not etc).

So I mean, of course Ubi tries to please everyone! But I'm glad they left room to shape your own experience by customizing the HUD to your liking, not upgrading better health skills etc, playing the way YOU want, tactical, Rambo, stealth etc. I think it's great they've tried to accommodate all play styles, so those of us who don't really like the easy accessible games can still have fun.

[RHAIN07]

I find this genuinely interesting. Isn't playing the game, shooting up hostiles and infiltrating bases, the reward? Like, a decade ago you never received any artificial rewards for playing, hell, game achievements or unlocking gear wasn't even invented yet. So I'm seriously wondering why simply playing the game, redoing missions etc, is not a reward in itself? I must've re-played the first Rainbow sixes and Ghost Recons at least a dozen times if not much more.

It is all psychological. If you are engaged in an activity that presents an "award" (even virtual) over an extended period, then the desire and expectation is there. One basically feels "unfulfilled" if there is nothing left to chase. I am willing to bet that if one was to poll gamers by age group, they would find the younger of the group, would fall into this category based on how games have been designed over the last 15 yrs.

[TaxingUnicorn]

GR was quite ground braking at its time, and I played it to death. But we're also looking through nostalgia glasses. Maps were max 400m x 400m. No day/night time cycle. No dynamic weather. No vehicles. Pre defined weapon kits. Small amount of content (about a dozen missions per game/expansion?). No randomization I believe. Awful CQB experience.

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Maybe you're right about nostalgia glasses but honestly have you played OGR recently? I still think it holds up in many ways. There was always randomization of enemy placement in firefight/recon etc (not in the main story).

The sand box levels were still quite big and to be frank, I'm sort of over massive open-worlds, they often feel lifeless and since I am playing this game for a tactical shooter itch, it isn't really necessary.

Limited weapon selection kits makes sense in a military context (though certain mods fleshed this out further than the base game).

There were enemy vehicles and a long range reconnaissance team in a heavily wooded or jungle area would not often make use of vehicles with the exception of insertion/extraction, which was done in cut scenes.

CQC was certainly a short coming, but I don't think it is done significantly better here. However, it has been done well in other games like Rainbow Six 3 and the SWAT series, both much older games.

Maybe it is a niche nowadays, but if UBI put it out, I bet it would sell. If people gave it a chance, there may be resurgence in the genre. As much as Ground Branch and Ready or Not/Squad/Epsilon etc. are filling that niche, they are strictly PC and for console gamers such as myself, there are few options in this area. Anyway, its all in hindsight at this point, what we have is what we get; still though, I can't help feeling disappointment when there was such a great model within their own franchise (IMO)

[quad.syber]

Need PVP! Need Ghost Recon!! Need this game back!!! I forgot.. YES SIR !! YES!!! Perfect point of view!!! Ubisoft! Did you read this?

[zoog.tangodown]

Oh yes, GR still holds up pretty well. Been a while since I last played it, last time the immersion factor got lost on me because of the limited maps and truthfully the dated graphics (like not so much detail on rocks etc). I might give it yet another go with one of those AI mods and the first person weapon view by Burner I believe. Never really played any mods so there is so much content still to be explored

Maybe it is a niche nowadays, but if UBI put it out, I bet it would sell. If people gave it a chance, there may be resurgence in the genre. As much as Ground Branch and Ready or Not/Squad/Epsilon etc. are filling that niche, they are strictly PC and for console gamers such as myself, there are few options in this area. Anyway, its all in hindsight at this point, what we have is what we get; still though, I can't help feeling disappointment when there was such a great model within their own franchise (IMO)

It would definitely sell, but from a business perspective it's still not viable enough for Ubi (or at least they're making much more money with their current business practice). Unless they create some sort of "experimental" label which gets the funds and freedom to work on more niche products with a smaller team and budget, to still be able to produce something viable. That's the only way I see Ubi ever doing something like this. That would actually be really cool. Because I don't think they will ever do this in their "main" lineup or best selling IP's like Tom Clancy titles at this point. They've just gone too main stream to pull that off without alienating the majority of players who want something "accessible" so to speak.

By the way, if Ground Branch ever comes out, they've stated before they would very much love to get it on PS4 without any dumbing down the hardcore features (they actually are an authorized PLayStation developer). However, PC first and foremost, the rest is nice to have, that's basically their approach as far as I know. But they would definitely like to do it, especially because there is nothing like it on consoles. In addition: if the games you love or only on PC it might be an idea to move over to PC. Just as when games you love are console exclusives, it might be an idea to buy a console. Not meant specifically to you, just in general. If it's only on a specific platform, it might be wise to switch to or add that platform to your inventory

[GiveMeTactical]

I don't think the issue or problem is UBI trying to appease everybody and failing or falling short, well, it is part of it but not the whole issue. I said before and I will say it again...

1.- They made this huge, beautiful and vast open world, bigger than anything else we have seen so far in their games and other competitors... Check

2.- Open World is been done to death and perhaps this was/will be the last (one can only hope!) so many people felt like they were playing other games, genres but was one of the visions UBI had when making the game so it will sell well with the masses... Check

3.- All the eloquent and beautiful feedback that has already been given about the world and systemic changes, etc... Check

Now the failing or falling short... at least for me and things I would have done instead.

1.- No Full support for PC controls, not on Beta and not on Release, Minimalist effort at best... Un-Check

2.- Betas that were more Demos than real betas so feedback was not taken into consideration. Betas should be done at least 1 year in advance... Un-Check

3.- Minimalist Effort on AI and enemy AI, driving/flying controls. After all, this is what the game is all about and the major failed part... Un-Check

4.- Gimmicky & Arcade-ish stuff for the 1st or even 2nd Mode level so people who don't want to be bothered much can do the game with all the trimmings in place, finish it and enjoy it for what it is. Paint Galore for customization (AI, Gear & Weapons), Health Regen, Vehicles dropping from the sky left and right, up and down, Rebels everywhere.

5.- Advance Mode Level... for those wanting to play a little more slow, cautious but still don't feel like taking on the world. A bit smarter AI and command control over them, smarter enemy AI, 50% less health Regen, 50% less Rebels and vehicles. All or some HUD Options if one wants.

6.- Extreme/Ghost Mode Level... Option for Full FPV/TPV,/Hybrid ADS, Full command of Ghost Squad (see OGR), Advanced Ghost Squad AI behavior (something better can be done 17 years later and with next gen tech, let alone, less than OGR). No God-Like & No zombie AI behavior enemy or ghost, No sync-Shot w/o real LoS, Full command of Rebel for diversion purposes, Whole Map 5 Skull threat, No Health Regen, HUD options... plus all the awesome and eloquent feedback that has already been given multiple times before and from a long time ago.

All of these could have been done and they would now have less people angry, pissed off or whining (as some of you call it) about the game. This could have given EVERYBODY something to chew on and the OGR Vets the real GR experience we were all looking for. so, What Happened? well... your miles may vary here!