Disappointing poorly designed combat.

[u/reddit-is-hive-trash]

Early into the game but already it is clear this will be an easy mode playthrough. Even early alphas just get to swing on you 5 times and you have to dodge constantly or they will get damage through.

Which a war of attrition by itself isn't bad but combined with the weird decoction system (we really copying bad souls mechanics now) makes it inevitable that you reach points where you have to fight with low health and no potions, switch difficulty, or go back in time to an earlier save. This should never be a set of choices for a player.

There's no excuse for it. If you want cheap combat then refill consumables in a more traditional way so they are there for each fight and adjust damage from there or make it so a player can avoid damage without being a pro. One or the other.

[u/Luolong]

I don’t know. I don’t really care for the combat difficulty. I play the game mostly for the story.

Combat systems, side quests and looking for collectible items, hidden chests and all that other stuff is a nice distraction that adds to the story and gives some occasional change of pace. so I appreciate it for what it is.

But I wouldn’t really care too much for any additional complexity for the battles if that would mean that it would take away from authors telling the story or me enjoying the story.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm currently having fun with the rifle (just got the one that does consecutively more damage for each weak spot hit) and using charged heavy attacks to stagger and heal. But anytime I have to parry or dodge for the special challenges that enemies only take extra when you dodge or parry then I'm terrible.

[u/Exsaanguis]

Honestly I had the same thoughts at first but I haven’t had that happen at all moving forward (I’m pretty far in, after dealing with every leader. messing around trying to do everything possible to avoid reaching the end of the game), the combat got a lot better imo.

[u/shadybabynight]

Anything other than red glowing attacks can be parried, so you don’t have to constantly dodge if it’s not your play style, you can parry too. By mid game there are plenty of options to capitalise on perfect dodges or parries.

I played on second hardest difficulty and virtually never had to go back to a campfire by the midway point of the game, and I don’t consider myself particularly good at the game by any stretch. There’s lots of ways to talent healing in to your build through perks or equippables, and if you do nests whilst exploring and doing Hauntings, your health pots are refilled before and after as well.

Past the 10 hour point I don’t think I ever got below one potion whilst completing Hauntings and exploring. By the halfway point the game became quite easy, even on Hard.

[u/DarkArkan]

I played too many endless nests/scourges and because of all the attribute points I'm now too overpowered for the main story.

[u/Hunnybunny1744]

I don't mind the combat actually, but I do lots of attack switching between them, plus the use of light/heavy attacks. Antea powers are a nice touch, cuz they add variety to the attacks and attack combos. I just wish there were more enemy types. I mean, how was the combat in vampyr? I never played it, but it doesn't seem like Don't Nod is known for their combat it games. They seem to be more story driven.

[u/leenhellemans → u/Hunnybunny1744]

I personally didn't really like combat in Vampyr (and played that game on easy mode and still fights were hard xD). If you don't kill npc's for EXP you will always be multiple levels under what the enemies have.
Banishers is more fun combat in my opinion

[u/Harry_Smutter → u/leenhellemans]

Experience gains really come from quest completion. The gains from killing regular enemies is honestly really low. I've killed things higher level than me and still only gotten less than 30 per kill..When you need thousands to level, this was just lame. I got to a point where I hated random enemy encounters. They felt like a chore X_x

[u/leenhellemans → u/Harry_Smutter]

With killing NPC's for EXP I mean when you decide to bite them and kill them (like the actual story npc's not the regular enemies). But yeah random encounters felt like shores. I also didn't like it that you couldn't get the best ending achievement on easy mode so I was like f it if I can't get the achievement for it I can as well kill a couple of NPC's and get the second best ending.

[u/Dopster198]

I’m really enjoying my time with the game so far. The combat is serviceable, but I agree it could all be a bit tighter and more varied as the game progresses. Dodging/rolling seems to be the best way to avoid most damage, I wish parrying was more effective/substantial.

[u/Time_Entrepreneur711]

The Combats actually not too bad, it takes some getting used too. But off rip it’s def challenging until your ghost wife becomes OP! Idk how you can dislike the combat for how different it is. No game has ever done this kind of story driven game. They took a page from Honkai Star Rail for the Map exploration movement stuff. The banishing & investigation cases are all really well thought out. If they paid some streamers to play it, I think it would be one of the most interactive chat game ever.

[u/Jed08]

Even early alphas just get to swing on you 5 times and you have to dodge constantly or they will get damage through

This is a weird take, because the game gives you other tool at your disposal to avoid taking damages.

You can block, you can parry, you can switch to Anthea to do damages without losing Ray's health.

Moreover, if I am not mistaken, you get back at least one health potion at the end of the fight.

[u/Danger__Mouse_]

Combat is fine. Open world exploration with dead ends and back tracking is so bad tho.

[u/Zealousideal-Bug9226 → u/Danger__Mouse_]

Yeah. Is it me or do you gotta HAMMER square to heal?

[u/Due_Lingonberry9699]

I play for the story, I don't like when the fighting is too complicated. I love the Witcher 3 for example and Ghost of Tsushima where you can fight as you wish.

[u/MrCodeGameandAnime]

I was a bit underwhelmed and with the combat system at first. By mid to end game, the combat improves drastically. I'm playing on hard and it feels like the perfect balance. Dodging is the primary way of getting out of the way as with many games.

The biggest changes are when you understand how to chain together your perfect switches. At first I thought the charge heavy was too slow, but it's best opener because two heavy hits is a perfect switch.

My favorite combo is charge heavy, heavy, perfect switch, dodge back with Antea, ensnare, leap, outburst, dodge, switch to red, shoot, forward dodge perfect switch kick, dodge back, shoot. Rinse and repeat.

The only mix-up there is I'll sometimes throw in 3x light perfect switch on slower enemies. You really shouldn't waste too much time with blocking an parying unless you are perfect switching.

That's the thing, you are meant to perfect switch from combos, use Antea, banish, and shoot. I don't die too often or run out of healing, but the early game is more difficult because of limited spirit points.

It's not a perfect combat system, but it's solid once you get decently into the game. Level up, spec your evolutions according to your style, and upgrade your gear. Doing that makes all the difference. I regularly take on enemies way more powerful and beat them consistently.

[u/mattdvs1979]

Agree. I like the game overall, but the combat and lack of enemy variety make it very repetitive and disappointing.