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Two Humans' Hands On with Too Human
Posted by Brian Crecente at 5:00 AM on May 15, 2008
Denis Dyack kept things short and sweet at yesterday's Xbox 360 Spring Showcase event. He wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to play through some co-op on Too Human.
The game is releasing on August 19 in North America, but the once four-player co-op has been trimmed to two because, after play-testing it for awhile, he realised that there was too much going on with that many players.
Later, Dyack told me that the engine still supports four player co-op, but that things were getting too confusing on screen once you factored in the four players, their special attacks and spider-bots plus the army of creatures that would spawn to deal with them.
None of the game's maps are randomised, he told me, but the creatures that spawn in them are. The game will take a player about 15 hours to get to level 30 and 50 to 60 hours to get to level 50.
"I don't know how long it would take to see everything, I don't even know if that's possible," he said. "Too Human may look like an action game, but don't be fooled—it's actually a very, very deep role-playing title."
I did enjoy my time with the game, but still feel like I'm not quite getting it. G4's Adam Sessler and I worked through a chunk of co-op, playing through levels side-by-side and I could see how having two more players would make things unnecessarily convoluted.
What I couldn't see, in my short time with the game, was it's depth. There were hints that deep play was present, especially in the weapons upgrades and spells, but 20 minutes or so in a co-op match isn't the best way to explore that.
The action element of the game seemed to handle fine, though I never really got a sense of my character's power. Slapping the stick left to right to clear out robotic trolls and goblins was pretty slick, but it felt at times that the action on the screen was disconnected with my movement. I guess I didn't always feel like I was actually in control, it was almost as if the game was, at times, on auto pilot.
The sound, which was impossible to hear in yesterday's setting, could certainly help with some of that, but I think that either I need a better understanding of the nuance of the controls or that, perhaps, there is no nuance to the controls.
Too Human is certainly an interesting looking game, and the art design is slowly winning me over, but this is just going to have to be one of those titles I have to really sit down and play for quite awhile before I can figure out how into it I will be.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Zaos
Posted 6:22 AM 15/5/08
"The game will take a player about 15 hours to get to level 30 and 50 to 60 hours to get to level 50."
So you are looking at realistically 6 hours to get to level 30 and 15 hours to get to level 50?
Zaos
Sloopydrew
Posted 6:05 AM 15/5/08
The more I hear about this game the less interest I have in playing it. Nothing has grabbed me with this one. Not the graphics, not the gameplay, not previews, not interviews, not art design, not the "Geometry Wars"-like control scheme. Crecente's preview was the last nail.
At least there's still Fallout 3, Ninja Gaiden 2 and Gears of War 2 to make it feel like I'm getting good returns on my 360 investment. Gears 2 would be reason enough to hold onto the console.
It seems that 2008 isn't as exciting as '06 or '07. '06 it was all still new and "next-gen." '07 had the best line-up of games pretty much ever. I guess you can't hit them out of the park every time.
Sloopydrew
jaz
Posted 6:03 AM 15/5/08
If the co-op is local, I'll be into this (been looking for a good local co-op action RPG to play with my wife for a while).
jaz
stranger
Posted 6:01 AM 15/5/08
@vanderblade:
I'm sure you've put Dyack in tears, guy-who-has-never-actually-seen-the-game-for-himself. I'm cancelling my pre-order right now.
The reason Shadowrun never took off was because it was a multiplayer-only game with no real identity. This is an RPG with co-op multiplayer and a story steeped in Norse mythology. Those are two totally different gamer demographics to go after. How can you possibly compare the two? Sales figures? I guarantee you Too Human sells double what Shadowrun has sold to date before Christmas, even if it doesn't review well.
stranger
gwrrrk
Posted 6:00 AM 15/5/08
The name "Cresente" sounds like a delicious breakfast treat.
Anyways, yeah this news sucks.
I was part of the crowd expecting this game to be a console Diablo, hard to think how it can do that without massive multiplayer elements.
gwrrrk
excaliburps
Posted 6:00 AM 15/5/08
Off topic question:
Why did they pair you up with Sessler? (nothing against him or anything..just curious). Are you close game buddies? Or does this mean we're going to see you and the bird shirt more often on X-Play? Ah maybe that's it! That's why you've been away for so long!
excaliburps
ThisCharmingMan
Posted 5:58 AM 15/5/08
I kind of had a bad feeling the combat would be monotonous and a bit unsatisfying. Hopefully there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. The role playing elements have me a bit excited, but I was never a fan of using raw power to engulf hundreds of enemies...I'd rather strategically beat out fewer, stronger foes.
ThisCharmingMan
CarbonFalcon
Posted 5:55 AM 15/5/08
Nice try with the headline Crecente, but it has been done. The other one by Fahey was better (It was Fahey, right? I better not be mistaken.)
Although this one did give me a chuckle too.
CarbonFalcon
Gray665
Posted 5:52 AM 15/5/08
I dont expect the controls/interaction to be all that great. I mean, this is supposed to be Diablo-esue right? There really wasnt much to do in that besides click-click-click so here instead of clicking we are pushing the analogs in different directions. Ill give it a shot. Im expecting a good dungeon crawl/loot grabbing game, but not Ninja Gaiden controls thats for damn sure.
Gray665
vanderblade
Posted 5:33 AM 15/5/08
*Sorry for the double post, but I forgot:
I don't think Mark McDonald is going to eat his "Teerrriiibbllle" comment any time soon. Sorry, Dyack.
vanderblade
vanderblade
Posted 5:32 AM 15/5/08
Too Human is like seeing a girl for the first time. You know whether you want to fuck her in the first few minutes. Right now, I'm not feeling the energy.
Or in other words, perhaps we have another Shadowrun on our hands. It will have a loyal following but never really catch on.
vanderblade
skullivan
Posted 5:27 AM 15/5/08
@Sensai:
It's not the same game it was 10 years ago. In its current form it has probably been in development for less than 3 years.
The original PSX game was called Too Human but pretty much had nothing to do with what the game is now. I don't think it ever got that far into development on GameCube since SK were busy with Eternal Darkness and The Twin Snakes.
It's not like it has been in active development for 10 years.
skullivan
Schoolimangooli
Posted 5:26 AM 15/5/08
Did anyone else have to read the title twice?
Schoolimangooli
Xiedo
Posted 5:23 AM 15/5/08
I wish they'd date the demo. Screw the game, I need a demo first.
Xiedo
enewtabie
Posted 5:23 AM 15/5/08
I just can't get excited for this game.Dyack rubs me the wrong way I guess,but I will certainly give a try regardless.The gameplay I've seen looks good though.
enewtabie
DugDawg
Posted 5:19 AM 15/5/08
@karasu is my homeboy:
Agreed. Brian, can you add a bit more detail? How are the weapons? How is the gunplay versus the melee combat? How do the missions work? Is there room to freely explore, or are you on rails? Stuff like that I would like to know.
DugDawg
photoboy
Posted 5:19 AM 15/5/08
60 hours of levelling up? I'm out.
photoboy
OT79
Posted 5:19 AM 15/5/08
@LittleBigPlaneteer: That sounds a little like FF XII with all the gambits activated,not so bad for a RPG but Too Human is more Adventure/RPG,anyway I only hopes this meet the expectations because all the time and resources expended in the game,it's a shame when something looking good at first and get crap through the years and become sad at the end.
I believe this game would rock,perhaps not at size that many desires.
OT79
DeathBeforeDishonor
Posted 5:19 AM 15/5/08
I'm going to keep my eye on this one. I've been pretty skeptical from the start, but the latest videos and previews have sounded a bit more promising. I'm still weary of the combat though, I really hope that it comes together.
DeathBeforeDishonor
Billkwando
Posted 5:17 AM 15/5/08
They're getting a lot of milage out of that particular play on words. ;)
O the too humanity!
To me, it's just "that lawsuit game". Hoping to hear more about it.
Billkwando
excaliburps
Posted 5:16 AM 15/5/08
@LittleBigPlaneteer:
Hmm I think it's a bit like KOTOR 2 combat?!
It's an action-rpg with the fighting action oriented but the controls are rpg-ish.
I read the impression that 1up had (Shane,Garnet) Seems like they had some of the qualms Brian had as well. Albeit it looks like they enjoyed it a bit more.
I'm really really intrigued by this game. The graphics are definitely there. So is the production values. But the hands-on of most people are too diverse to be consistent.
I think for Diablo-type players who don't mind level-grinding that much, it's going to be a hit. But for the mainstream who wants to go in and wreck havoc instantly? I dunno...
Hey Brian, can we have a mini Q&A with you on this? =)
I read that the thumbsticks for melee is a good fit. While the R and L bumpers are used to switch to guns but the aiming and interactivity of the combat is a bit loose.
Maybe they'll add the 4 player coop as a DLC?
excaliburps
karasu is my homeboy
Posted 5:13 AM 15/5/08
@Sensai: Yeah, because making a game for one system, then having business force you to create the game over for another system two times makes the development time all about polish. You know, as opposed to, continually having to build the game from the ground up for 3 different consoles.
This "hands on" article didn't tell us much at all, I'm disappointed with it. After 20 minutes, all that can be said is the screen can look busy with the effects and the controls take getting used to?
How about some more information on how the game plays, as in structure of gameplay, mission goals, enemy types, special attacks, favorite class, setting impressions...
karasu is my homeboy
Thyrfing
Posted 5:13 AM 15/5/08
Ouch. 1up was gushing about it, saying that the half hour they played seemed to pass like it was nothing and "Silicon Knights employees had to wrest the controllers from our hands".
If there's that much going on with just 2 players, the 4 player coop getting nixed was probably the right call.
Thyrfing
invictus2006
Posted 5:11 AM 15/5/08
i cant wait to get back from holiday to play this
invictus2006
Seanchaen
Posted 5:10 AM 15/5/08
I'm with eville1, I'll give it a rental play through to see if it's worth actually picking up.
I could really go for another deep RPG, but I'm not holding my breath that this will be it.
Seanchaen
DaPress
Posted 5:10 AM 15/5/08
So far, it looks like Diablo May Cry.
I remain unsold on it, though I want it to work very very badly because the story looks interesting and we all know how thin the RPG crop is on the 360 right now.
DaPress
3inst3in
Posted 5:10 AM 15/5/08
I will wait for the Kotaku review before purchasing.
3inst3in
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 5:09 AM 15/5/08
@Sensai:
Over 10 years, lol
LittleBigPlaneteer
appaws
Posted 5:08 AM 15/5/08
This is a game that I have totally been looking forward to for a long time now, but also a bit worried that it will be a game that attempts to do just too much and does not get basic elements down. (Seeing the forest, missing the trees)
I always wonder about the development process for something like this, and how wedded some of the creative people get to things early in the process and refuse to give them up. Hearing that they junked the 4-player co-op is actually good news to me, because it shows that someone was willing to chop something that someone else had worked hard on getting going.
appaws
Sensai
Posted 5:08 AM 15/5/08
@Sensai: Figured it out cause I was actually curious. From Wikipedia:
"Too Human was originally in development for the PlayStation as a 5-disc action-adventure game. It was shown at E3 1999..."
Sensai
kipperminge
Posted 5:07 AM 15/5/08
i been following this game for ages and i am a bit pissed that the 4 player has been taken out. i will still be buying on day 1. i hope it all works out in the end.
kipperminge
demonknightinuyasha
Posted 5:07 AM 15/5/08
This seems like another one of those games that I would pick up if I had a 360 but I won't pick up a 360 for.
Even if the gameplay is kinda meh, the story sounds pretty awesome so if anything I would play it just for that.
demonknightinuyasha
DugDawg
Posted 5:07 AM 15/5/08
Yeah, I get the impression I'm going to need to sit down and play this game to figure out if it's worth a purchase as well. If it's just a button mashing fest with no real strategy or technique, then I don't think I'll be lasting to level 50 -- or even level 30.
DugDawg
Sensai
Posted 5:05 AM 15/5/08
How many years has this been in the making now? It's up there along with Duke Nukem Forever, and (pre-Orange Box) TF2, right?
Surely, it's bound to be good. They've had a decade or so to perfect it.
Sensai
phanstar70
Posted 5:05 AM 15/5/08
I'm definitely looking forward to this title. After Eternal Darkness, I've been itching for anything Silicon Knights that was original and not a remake. I think the setting of the game will get me. If the story and music are good, then I can get past any gameplay gripes personally.
phanstar70
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 5:05 AM 15/5/08
"I guess I didn't always feel like I was actually in control, it was almost as if the game was, at times, on auto pilot."
I was afraid of that. Hopefully it is as deep as Dyack claims
LittleBigPlaneteer
Eville1
Posted 5:04 AM 15/5/08
Hmm, I am sorta interested in this. Not to the degree everyone else seems to be though. I'll give it a rental shot.
Eville1
KingGorilla
Posted 6:50 AM 15/5/08
My interested level has been slowly raising for this title. Unfortunately, it has stalled at 2 person co-op. Still, I'll most likely rent it.
KingGorilla
Garo
Posted 6:47 AM 15/5/08
Hmm... Brian doesn't sound very enthusiastic. Well let's wait till it's out for the final judgement.
Garo
hk458
Posted 6:30 AM 15/5/08
Is Any One Else Getting Tired Of Seeing Too Human
They Keep Trotting It Out And Puting It On Display And I For One Am Burnt Out On Too Human
hk458
Katorok
Posted 6:30 AM 15/5/08
Co-op once again = massive win.. IF done right..
Katorok
skrame ☆
Posted 6:23 AM 15/5/08
@jaz: Same here. I could use a good co-op game for when my brother comes over. My wife, on the other hand, wouldn't try this. She prefers the games in which your controller is a musical instrument, which are the games I enjoy the least.
skrame ☆
CaptainSidekick
Posted 7:07 AM 15/5/08
Has anybody heard if it supports split-screen co-operative play?
CaptainSidekick
Xiedo
Posted 7:04 AM 15/5/08
@Sloopydrew: Fallout 3 is multi-plat... I thought.
Xiedo
Ehardergardens
Posted 7:46 AM 15/5/08
Much like the Kain series, I don't think anything they will talk about or will show of this game will entice me until(if) I play it.
Somehow even the rather cheesy plot and character designs of the Kain series did not stop them from being amazing games/stories. I don't even like vampire stories. It's tough (for me) to judge their games at all before actually experiencing them for myself.
I didn't get far in Eternal Darkness and honestly the style didn't appeal to me, but I've heard the story is equally good...
Ehardergardens
MeanMF
Posted 7:59 AM 15/5/08
Hey if the game supports 4-player coop then let me do 4-player coop. I can decide for myself if it sucks or not.
MeanMF
Cameroo
Posted 9:05 AM 15/5/08
Wow, I sad to hear they nixed the 4 player co-op. Still will probably check it out though. I'm just looking for anything to hold me over till Diablo 3 I guess. :P
Cameroo
enewtabie
Posted 9:18 AM 15/5/08
@Xiedo:
Yes,it is..
enewtabie
Fyren
Posted 12:31 PM 15/5/08
Ok. I totally mistook this game's direction.
I thought it was endless SoJ/Loot-runs game?.
Fyren
mcool93
Posted 12:48 PM 15/5/08
looks like it might have some potential...
mcool93
CarbonFalcon
Posted 1:23 PM 15/5/08
I must say I am dissapointed that co-op has been reduced to two people, but hey, there is always hope for the sequel! Anyway, I've had some of the best times ever offline on PSO with just a few buddies. A lot of the time it was only with one person, so if this game can capture some fragment of that feeling, I'm in. If it reviews well, I'll buy it, reviews mediocre, it's a rental, reviews poorly, I guess I'll wait for Diablo 3.
CarbonFalcon
Blind_Evil
Posted 1:11 PM 15/5/08
He mentioned on a podcast that the controls are the dual-stick equivalent of mouse clicks in a Diablo game. I haven't played it obviously, but if that helps you understand them better when you play it again, let us know! I'm really excited for this title.
Blind_Evil
Xiedo
Posted 1:27 PM 15/5/08
"Later, Dyack told me that the engine still supports four player co-op, but that things were getting too confusing on screen once you factored in the four players, their special attacks and spider-bots plus the army of creatures that would spawn to deal with them."
Wait, I missed this before. So S-K purposefully axed it? It would've worked, technically, but it was too "confusing"? More confusing than in the dozens of games that have successfully worked out 4P co-op before? Bullshit. Dyack is not the straight shooter I thought he was. If he is straight with us, then he's not made me happy.
Xiedo
edhe (xbl)
Posted 7:10 PM 15/5/08
Can't they bring back 4p coop and let the players decide?
edhe (xbl)
Duoae
Posted 10:14 PM 15/5/08
Still going to get this game. I think it looks really interesting and IMO even if the combat sounds a bit loose using those thumbsticks, it can't be worse than the clunky combat that we've all experienced in previous 'click-fest' action RPGs on the PS2 etc.
Duoae
EmeraldCockroach
Posted 11:21 PM 15/5/08
@vanderblade: shadowwhat?
EmeraldCockroach
captaindirtnap
Posted 11:38 PM 15/5/08
@hk458:
It Is Really Damn Annoying To Try And Read Posts With Every Word Capitalized And Not Even An Attempt At Punctuation I Dont Know Why But Its Kind Of Like sTuDLyCaPs
Back to sanity. To me, conflicting previews based on 20 minutes of a demo version of a game is nowhere near enough to convince me of anything. I just know that I'm more excited for this fall's lineup of first rate RPG's than I can remember.
captaindirtnap