I’ve finished the next day in Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit (Spry Fox), and I want to talk about it, and here is my post from yesterday that talks about it somewhat, but also about series in general. More specifically, how I think series go on for too long.
I want to talk about how sequels are in a no-win situation. I’ll start with Dark Souls II. It was destined to fail, really, because–hey, wait. I just did a quick Google, and while I can’t get an exact number for how many copies of Dark Souls II were sold, it’s at least several million (inclidng Scholar of the First Sin).
But, for many hardcore FromSoft fans, it’s the game not to be named. I, myself, enjoyed it a great deal as long as I didn’t think of it as a Dark Souls game, really, and I’ve certainly played it many more times than I’ve played the first game. It hasn’t aged the best, but I still go back to play it every now and again.
My point is that it’s really hard to make a sequel that pleases the people who love the first game. Why? Because it’s a no-win situation. If you stick too closely to the first game, then people are dissatisfied beacuse you’re not innovating (especially since the first game* was so different that the other games of that time), but if you change it too much, then people don’t like that it’s not like the first game.
This game is like my favorite hoodie that I wear constantly around the house. It’s worn in to fit my body, and it’s super comfortable. There are holes, yes, but I pay them no mind because they’re not showing anything inappropriate.
I really like wandering around and picking up resources all over the place. I can get lost in the little things, which is the joy of this game. I have to be careful, though, because it can become a burden if I allow myself to be dragged down by every little thing.
I think the point of giving the player so many things to do is to let the player pick and choose what they want to do. You’re not meant to do everything all at once, but that’s how my brain works. I want to do it all, and I want to do it all now. I am not good at delayed gratification, and I never have been. I mean, I can do it if I have rewards and such, but just for the sake of it? No.
I like the characters I’ve met so far–even the snooty one who speaks very formally. However, I don’t feel the pull towards any of them that I did in the first game. It’s early days, though, so I’m comfortable with waiting.
One interesting additino to this game is that the corporeal forms of my fellow Spirit Scouts appear to help me gather resources, but the conceit of the game is that there’s been a terrible accident, and you are all split up. So how they show up? I don’t know. I’m guessing it’s some kind of multiverse thing. I’m fine with it, but it confused me at first.
I think I’ve mentioned in posts before that one thing that indie devs need to do better are tutorials. Even though this is a sequel, there are some changes that could have done with some explanations. I will let that slide, though, because I can figure most of it out by myself. Also, the internet is very good at being the unofficial guide if needed.
I love the aesthetics as they are similar to the first game–which I loved. I love the meandering and the fact that there is no pressure to do anything at any particular time. Even if I feel compelled to do things, there is no external pressure to do it.
I have to say that I am feeling a bit ambivalent about this game. The first game was on my top five favorite non-From games of all time, number four. I loved it so much, and I played it every day for months. When I got back from the hospital, it was one of my comfort games.
This game is not quite there–not yet. As much as I like going around, chatting with the bears, and gathering my resources–there’s something missing. I can’t put my finger or it, though. Everything I liked about the last game is there. They have made some QOL changes that have made the game better. For example, they have made the skipping the stones game easier, which I appreciate. It’s still somewhat awkward, but it’s much better than it was in the first gmae. Honestly, I would be fine if it was gone completely. I don’t find that it really adds to the game because the rewards you get for getting the stones in the oysters are things you can easily get around the world.
I think one of the problems is that it really is just the same game with new bears. I’m not totally aganist it, but I find myself wanting something more. It’s hard to say because I don’t know exactly what it is I’m missing. I just get a faint sense of yearning as I’m playing the game.
I don’t want to be too hard on the game because it’s only been a few days. I want to give it a fair shot before I bring down the hammer. And, I want to be clear that it’s a good game. If you had not played the first game, this is a great place to start. You don’t need to play the first game in order to play this one. This is a sequel only in that it’s the second in the series, but it’s not directly related. It’s the same basis as the first game, yes, but it’s a totally different cast of characters.
More tomorrow.
*Yes, Demon’s Souls is the first game, technically. But Dark Souls is the one that took off and is considered the first game in the series. Demon’s Souls is like the prologue.