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PayPalARC Raiders just launched the major Flashpoint update and it includes a whole bunch of new content, along with long-requested additions. This might actually be the best update for the game so far, on top of the pleasing news recently about some AI voices getting replaced.
Firstly, it should address a long-standing complaint about entering matches half-way through. Now, if you have a custom loadout, you're more likely to enter in near the start. A nice balancing act with free loadouts that makes sense. Key rooms are better now too and actually scale depending on the key rarity, and some much needed crafting improvements to stop you having to constantly swap between screens. Scrappy also got an update and can be fed various fruits, to increase what loot they'll be able to get you.
That's on top of all the new content including a new flying ARC that's quite menacing and powerful with a laser very similar to the Queen, there's a new map condition, two new weapons, those pesky Shredders can now appear on all maps, all party members can now see and ping the map while in the lobby and much much more.
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This patch goes to show Embark are really listening to a lot of complaints, and actually addressing them to improve the game as a whole for all types of players. See the full patch notes for more.
The biggest problem for ARC Raiders still remains though - there's basically no end-game to it. Once you've unlocked all the blueprints and played a fair bit of it, there's not much that actually keeps you going. Apart from the fun factor of course, but live games like this need something for you to continue to work towards. There's no loop at the end, apart from expeditions but those reset most of your character. I'm hoping this is something they'll work towards eventually.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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mr-victory 8 hours ago
The biggest problem for ARC Raiders still remains though - there's basically no end-game to it. Once you've unlocked all the blueprints and played a fair bit of it, there's not much that actually keeps you going. Apart from the fun factor of courseIs this really a problem though? If you could "beat" the game would you still want to play it after beating it? I'm saying this as someone with 160h on Embark's other game which is pvp and naturally doesn't have an end game, just new rewards with every season (3.5 months)
Quoting: mr-victoryIs this really a problem though? If you could "beat" the game would you still want to play it after beating it? I'm saying this as someone with 160h on Embark's other game which is pvp and naturally doesn't have an end game, just new rewards with every season (3.5 months)For me, yes. Last I played was up until they added the bird event on Buried City… got all lvl 3 workbenches, tons of blueprints, and the quests that the Speranza NPCs were giving me were starting to become very repetitive and way behind my characters power level (many epic gun blueprints, almost all good grenades, and I get “kill a Leaper” 60h in). I wish there was a more structured quest line so I have something to grind towards. This is coming from the perspective of a mainly friendly solo player, by the way. Multiplayer with friends is still fun but ruins my “trust factor” :)
Liam Dawe 6 hours ago
Quoting: mr-victoryYeah, here it does matter. It is a *very* different game to THE FINALS or any other CoD-like. Extraction shooters live and die by their end game a lot of the time. It is a problem here, and something that has been pointed out to them a lot of times recently.The biggest problem for ARC Raiders still remains though - there's basically no end-game to it. Once you've unlocked all the blueprints and played a fair bit of it, there's not much that actually keeps you going. Apart from the fun factor of courseIs this really a problem though? If you could "beat" the game would you still want to play it after beating it? I'm saying this as someone with 160h on Embark's other game which is pvp and naturally doesn't have an end game, just new rewards with every season (3.5 months)
mr-victory 6 hours ago
Quoting: Liam DaweExtraction shooters live and die by their end game a lot of the time.I'll admit I didn't know that.
Liam Dawe 6 hours ago
Quoting: mr-victoryIn something like THE FINALS or CoD, you're just jumping into rounds trying to be the best, trying to score as many kills as you can or against objectives. Those targets keep the fun, and keep you playing. An extraction shooter has basically none of that. Once you've unlocked everything, and got all the blueprints there's not much left. Don't get me wrong, the gameplay in ARC Raiders is excellent - but it needs something once you've finished the main bits to keep you looping.Quoting: Liam DaweExtraction shooters live and die by their end game a lot of the time.I'll admit I didn't know that.
Caldathras 2 hours ago
Once you've finished the endgame, what is there left to do?
Quoting: CaldathrasBeing that I am not a fan of MMOs (or any online games, really), it would seem to me that the most important aspect of an online game would be replayability. Wouldn't an endgame scenario interfere with that?A good endgame has no end. Consider a game like Path of Exile: over a decade of endgame expansions, consistent large playerbase every update, emphasizes player interactions but allows you to do everything on your own at the same time if you'd like. It has perfected the infinite grind.
Once you've finished the endgame, what is there left to do?
To be fair, Arc Raiders is a baby in comparison to PoE, and in a different genre, but can learn from its success: if players already enjoy the core gameplay loop, Embark can't just pump out new content, but also has to to give players different ways to interact with existing content to keep stuff fresh even years down the line... assuming the game is still popular by then.
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