The second Riftstorm pre-alpha playtest concluded on March 15, 2024, leaving players with a rollercoaster of emotions. While exciting new features were introduced, some balance issues and design choices left room for improvement. Let’s delve into the highs and lows of this playtest.
The Upsides: A Fresh Look
- Story Missions: Gone are the repetitive missions. Playtest 2 introduced a 3-level story arc, unlocking new content as players progress. This injects narrative and purpose into the gameplay loop.
- Mission Variety: Diversity is king! The singular challenge tower was replaced by many missions with unique maps and bosses, offering a breath of fresh air.
- Weapon Playground: This playground caters to different playstyles! The expanded weapon variety allows players to experiment and find their perfect gear combo.
- Friendlier Leaderboards: Adding separate solo and co-op leaderboards fosters a more collaborative environment, encouraging friendly competition.
- Endless Tower: Challenge accepted! Replacing the 15-floor tower, the endless tower provides a never-ending gauntlet for hardcore players to test their mettle.
The Downsides: A Few Stumbles
- FOMO Factor: “Fear of Missing Out” is real! Removing the “Ultimate Showdown” game mode disappointed some players, especially those who missed the achievement in Playtest 1.
- Random Weapon Woes: More guns, less satisfaction? While new weapons are great, the drop rate system left players unrewarded. Difficulty didn’t guarantee better gear, creating frustration.
- Leaderboard Controversy: The unsavory tactics used by a single player to dominate the leaderboard highlight the need for robust anti-cheating measures.
- Difficulty Curve Chaos: The revamped difficulty aimed to address player skill from Playtest 1, but it backfired. Uneven power jumps between tiers led to frustration for some players encountering sudden difficulty spikes.
Looking Ahead: A Brighter Future
Here are some suggestions to enhance the Riftstorm experience:
- Test Range: Before diving into missions, a testing area would allow players to experiment with different weapons and find the perfect fit for their playstyle.
- Vault System: Hoarders rejoice! A vault system would cater to players who like to collect and keep multiple weapons. It could even allow for internal weapon trading among friends.
- Balancing Hertz: While nerfs were implemented, Hertz remains dominant. His tool kit synergizes better than other operatives, making him the go-to choice. Adjusting his self-rez duration, passive resets, and crowd-surfing lython buff could even be the playing field.
- Lython Skill Order Revamp: The current order penalizes players with revive lythons. Reorganizing the skill order (Lythonic Restoration > Demonic Contract > Hertz Shredded Encore) would prevent frustrating self-revive loops.
- Settings for a Smoother Experience: Players requested a mouse lock option to prevent accidental clicks from the game window. Additionally, customizable keybinds would further personalize the gameplay experience.
These are just some suggestions based on the Playtest 2 experience. By addressing these points and incorporating player feedback, Mythic Protocol can ensure a more balanced, rewarding, and enjoyable experience for players in future tests and the final release.
