HROT: Slavic baby of Dusk and Quake

[Jello]

15 hours ago, Daytime Waitress said:

I've been putting off finishing Ep 1 because I knew I'd be disappointed that I had to wait for the second. Guess I haven't got an excuse now.

I'm pretty much in the same boat. I did buy it awhile back, but never finished E1. Not because I didn't like it, but because it just wasn't close enough to being finished. I started E1 a few weeks ago and got to level... five I think, but decided to hold off until E2 came out.

 

I'm still deciding if I should play through E1 and 2 now, or wait until the whole thing is done. I've noticed an issue I'm having with EA games over the last few years: I play the EA content over and over, and by the time the final product is released I'm just kind of burnt out on the game. It happened with Ion Fury, Amid Evil, Dusk, and Postal 4 in particular.

 

Between Dusk episodes 1 and 2 I had over 40 hours before episode 3 came out. And I love Dusk, and episode 3 was amazing, but I think I would've rather waited to play episode 2 until 3 was done as well. 

 

We'll see though, just from what I've played of HROT recently, it's quite a bit better than it was the first time I played it. Seems to be shaping up nicely.

Edited June 24, 2022 by Jello

[mrthejoshmon]

I've played a fair bit of it, I really like how oppressive and dark it is yet also how absolutely goofy it is at the same time.

 

I originally blasted through when it was real early (I think back when the SMG had a reload?) and it was a rough old job, got absolutely railed, came back after a few updates and the game had gotten sooo much better, the gorilla boss absolutely railed me first run though. I'm excited to see how it plays now, still have it installed.

[Dusty_Rhodes]

21 minutes ago, mrthejoshmon said:

(I think back when the SMG had a reload?)

Oh you've been around as long as I have I see. Man the bleeding turrets and helicopters, reloading, RL being separate to the Hussite Hand Cannon, new soundtrack, so much is different now. I'm loving watching the game improve and grow. I remember when the SSG was added and I enjoyed the game ten fold when it was.

 

I liked the game when it just had a few maps but I love it now. It's been seriously fleshed out and every update makes it better. Sure has a lot of personality. I wonder if my Czech friends here are aware of Hrot?

[mrthejoshmon]

1 minute ago, Dusty_Rhodes said:

Oh you've been around as long as I have I see. Man the bleeding turrets and helicopters, reloading, RL being separate to the Hussite Hand Cannon, new soundtrack, so much is different now. I'm loving watching the game improve and grow. I remember when the SSG was added and I enjoyed the game ten fold when it was.

 

I liked the game when it just had a few maps but I love it now. It's been seriously fleshed out and every update makes it better. Sure has a lot of personality. I wonder if my Czech friends here are aware of Hrot?

It sounds like I really should give it another playthrough now, there's a few games like it that I've been watching the development of but a whole E2 and various improvements has indeed caught my attention.

[Jello]

1 hour ago, mrthejoshmon said:

It sounds like I really should give it another playthrough now, there's a few games like it that I've been watching the development of but a whole E2 and various improvements has indeed caught my attention.

I would recommend it, I'm pretty sure the first time I played it was probably around the same build that you played it. The SMG had reloading, and the whole thing felt really clunky and unfinished. When I went back and started playing it again not that long ago, it definitely felt better. Far smoother, more optimized, better balanced. I stopped thinking about it for quite a while, and I'm glad I did, because I was very pleasantly surprised when I went back to it.

Edited June 23, 2022 by Jello

[Biodegradable]

5 hours ago, Jello said:

I've noticed an issue I'm having with EA games over the last few years: I play the EA content over and over, and by the time the final product is released I'm just kind of burnt out on the game. It happened with Ion Fury, Amid Evil, Dusk, and Postal 4 in particular.

 

Between Dusk episodes 1 and 2 I had over 40 hours before episode 3 came out. And I love Dusk, and episode 3 was amazing, but I think I would've rather waited to play episode 2 until 3 was done as well. 

 

We'll see though, just from what I've played of HROT recently, it's quite a bit better than it was the first time I played it. Seems to be shaping up nicely.

 

I totally get where you're coming from, Jello. I remember having that same issue with a different game which is why I'd been deliberately avoiding playing HROT again for a pretty long time. I actually haven't replayed the game since before the first really significant update that @Spytihněv made to the game before E2 was even so much as hinted at, so the game and I have got a lot of catching up to do, which excites me. Personally, I think enough time has passed for a revisit this weekend. ;^)

[Dusty_Rhodes]

1 hour ago, Biodegradable said:

 

 @Spytihněv made to the game before E2 was even so much as hinted at,

The dev is on Doomworld? If so, the game is amazing and I'm loving it! Thanks for the great shooter, just unlocked the second recipe ;)

[Gibbon]

10 hours ago, Dusty_Rhodes said:

Oh you've been around as long as I have I see. Man the bleeding turrets and helicopters, reloading, RL being separate to the Hussite Hand Cannon, new soundtrack, so much is different now. I'm loving watching the game improve and grow. I remember when the SSG was added and I enjoyed the game ten fold when it was.

 

I liked the game when it just had a few maps but I love it now. It's been seriously fleshed out and every update makes it better. Sure has a lot of personality. I wonder if my Czech friends here are aware of Hrot?

It is quite popular amongst my Czech gaming friends.  A lot of folks know about it..  it is funny seeing all the original communist names of the Metro, Gottwaldova instead of Vysehrad..

[Daytime Waitress]

13 hours ago, Jello said:

Between Dusk episodes 1 and 2 I had over 40 hours before episode 3 came out. And I love Dusk, and episode 3 was amazing, but I think I would've rather waited to play episode 2 until 3 was done as well.

 

When you put it that way, you've nearly convinced me to keep it on the shelf after all lmao. I think I will dip in for a quick peek, though, because like others have said, it's always enjoyable to see how much is getting added to it.

[TheFocus]

been super interested in this game for a while. don't know if i'll enjoy it as much as Dusk or Project Warlock, but excited to finally play it this weekend nonetheless.

[Jello]

14 hours ago, Daytime Waitress said:

 

When you put it that way, you've nearly convinced me to keep it on the shelf after all lmao. I think I will dip in for a quick peek, though, because like others have said, it's always enjoyable to see how much is getting added to it.

Eh, I'd say go for it. As long as you aren't an idiot like me who just grinds it into the dirt before final release, you should be fine. I finally decided I was going to go through it again.

 

As long as it's just one go through it should be fine. I hope.

[OniriA]

How many episodes are to be expected for this before reaching 'full game' status?

 

I'm only interested in the complete pack(age).

Edited June 24, 2022 by OniriA

[Jello]

1 hour ago, OniriA said:

How many episodes are to be expected for this before reaching 'full game' status?

 

I'm only interested in the complete pack(age).

Three.

[Slipgate Tourist]

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/824600/view/3704817293707315809?l=english

 

Didn't expect the full release so soon.

 

Great retro FPS and also a rare case of Early Access done right.

I hope they still add multiplayer and mod support later down the line.

Edited May 10, 2023 by Slipgate Tourist

[Jello]

Yeah just wanted to bump this thread, HROT is officially out today. And it has a 15% discount, which is pretty cool for a new release. And what's even cooler, at least to me, is that the price isn't going to go up after it's left EA. It was 19.99 USD when it entered EA, and it will continue to be 19.99

 

I haven't had a chance to play the final release, the last I played it was, well, about a year ago and I really enjoyed it. When only the first two episodes were done. I've held off on trying the E3 levels as they've been trickling out, but the first two were really enjoyable. I'm sure the final release will be great.

[BGreener]

I only dipped into the demo for a bit a while ago. I must not have been in the mood for it at the time because I'm really liking this:

 

 

Weapons don't feel as punchy as Dusk's but are still up there and have been fun and satisfying to use, I love how they look all the way to the right. I really love the level details and enemy model quality, it's the standard I'd want to see from games like this. There's a great tone and mood as well.

 

Pretty happy with it so far!

[Rudolph]

I thought the demo was quite challenging, but from what I understand, the level featured is actually Level 6! :o

 

It is as the Doom shareware was limited to E1M6 on Pistol Start. Talk about not fucking around!

 

EDIT: Scratch that, I just went back and tried E1M6 on UV Pistol Start and it is nowhere near as hard as the HROT demo.

Edited May 18, 2023 by Rudolph

[Jello]

1 hour ago, Rudolph said:

I thought the demo was quite challenging, but from what I understand, the level featured is actually Level 6! :o

 

It is as the Doom shareware was limited to E1M6 on Pistol Start. Talk about not fucking around!

 

EDIT: Scratch that, I just went back and tried E1M6 on UV Pistol Start and it is nowhere near as hard as the HROT demo.

The original demo was the first level, and it wasn't really an accurate demonstration of what the game would become. So they re-did the demo, and it's much closer to what the actual game is, and it throws you into the thick of it. The game isn't that un-forgiving, but it is hard. And I think the new demo gives a person a good idea of what to expect.

 

It's not really Dusk, or Quake, or Blood, or Chasm, it is clearly it's own game. And it is hard, frustrating, charming, and loveable.

[Redneckerz]

I massively respect the fact that the developer crafted their own engine for this, similar to Cathedral 3D.

[Rudolph]

9 hours ago, Jello said:

The original demo was the first level, and it wasn't really an accurate demonstration of what the game would become. So they re-did the demo, and it's much closer to what the actual game is, and it throws you into the thick of it. The game isn't that un-forgiving, but it is hard. And I think the new demo gives a person a good idea of what to expect.

 

It's not really Dusk, or Quake, or Blood, or Chasm, it is clearly it's own game. And it is hard, frustrating, charming, and loveable.

I am pretty sure I played the demo back when it was first released and it already featured Vyšehrad Castle.

 

But if what you are saying is accurate, then what was the level?

Edited May 18, 2023 by Rudolph

[Jello]

3 hours ago, Rudolph said:

I am pretty sure I played the demo back when it was first released and it already featured Vyšehrad Castle.

 

But if what you are saying is accurate, then what was the level?

You know, I believe you're right. It's always been Vyšehrad Castle, I was getting it confused with the first level of the game after I bought it in very early EA. And then refunded it after two levels because it felt like a broken mess. And then I bought it again a year later and was pleasantly surprised with how well it had developed; and now I would highly recommend it. 

 

But yeah, having Vyšehrad Castle as the demo level is kind of a dick move. It's extremely punishing, but it does set a good example of what to expect from the game.

[Rudolph]

Personally, my only issue with the demo is some of the jump "puzzles" required to access certain secrets.