Episode 1: Feedback and Thoughts

[LordBT]

You'd never see Dana Scully, for example, pointing a gun at Mulder and telling him to "step the f*** back!" no matter what kind of tense situation they were in.  For me it broke the believability of her as an actual law enforcement professional, and made her sound more like a petulant, troubled teen.

I reacted to this as well, because it seemed completely out of line pulling a gun at a partner and friend like that (Unless you are a troubled teen agent).

(Posted on: November 11, 2012, 11:40:17 AM)

I really enjoyed the first episode. Especially investigating the Goodman-case, pondering what might have happened, finding the evidence and uncovering the whole story.

The feel and mood is great, the story and puzzles are exciting and well integrated into each other, and the music and graphics works out fine.

At first i didn't care much for the graphics, but they really grew on me, and now I am enjoying the style. It didn't take long getting used to. The only thing I want to complain about now, like some prevous posters, is the spinning circle during cut scenes.

I agree that Sully seemed lame and one dimensional at first, but he became more normal towards the end of the episode, so I think he will work out fine.

The cut-scene with Davies where she tells Erca she is off the case just seemed completely unnecessary. It was telling not showing, and everyone got the point before it even started. Some of the dialogue with Rose also was a bit slow.

[inm8#2]

I love the map music. It kind of reminds me of the map music from GK3.

I think the first episode was mainly about getting to know Erica and setting up future stories. I'm sure Sully, John, and others will be integral parts of what happens!

[KatieHal]

We wanted to have at least ONE scene where Davies was on-screen, alive, and not being a hard-ass. She does come off pretty harsh at the crime scene (even when you do a good job!).

[Jack Stryker]

First of all, I want to say that I had a great time with this game, both as a beta tester and as a player.  I wasn't able to beta test some of the latest builds, due to some trouble getting them to download, so when I played the official release version I was completely blown away by how vastly improved it was over the betas.  Almost as blown away as I was when I saw Wreck-It Ralph.  ...But that's another story.  Anyway...

Most of the things I didn't like were pretty minor things, like subtitles appearing when Erica reads- ...okay, that was awkward- when she reads an email.  Probably not necessary, because I can read what's on the computer screen.  That and too many typing sounds in the background; when she wouldn't be expected to be typing at the time.

But I think what disappointed me most was this:

Spoiler (mouse over to reveal):

After finding out the identity of the hanging victim, you find that he was a serial killer and the one who killed Sarah.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm glad that scumbag got what he had coming, but I hate how I'm supposed to bring *his* killer to justice; when I would've preferred to be the one to avenge Sarah and all those other victims.  

Also, there's something about it that I don't get.  If Anthony was a murderer and his killer wanted to punish him for all the murders he committed, then why would they want to cover up Anthony's identity and hide all that evidence linking him to those crimes?

Other than that though, I think it's an outstanding game and I'm proud to have contributed to it.  Like everyone else here, I will of course be looking forward to episode 2.

*salutes*

[Blackthorne]

Spoiler (mouse over to reveal):

Bringing his killer to justice is what Law Enforcement (and being an FBI agent) is all about.  I really like that element, and kudos with them going for that hard-edged truth there.  Sometimes "policework" isn't all about vigilantism and revenge.

Bt

[Jack Stryker]

Spoiler (mouse over to reveal):

I know.  But still, while I would still do my job at that point, I'd be feeling a bit reluctant if not for Davies being in danger.  But that's me.

[waltzdancing]

I just finished Cognition and I must say, when I started playing it I was struggling to just play. It was so different from what I am use to playing that I really needed to warm up to this game. As I played, and the pace of the game picked up I really enjoyed it and was shocked by the ending! It really makes me curious about Episode 2 and I will be the first in line to make sure I get it. Awesome job, you made a person who normally wouldn't play a game like this, and hooked her at the end. BRAVO!

[Blowfish64]

I played the demo... then I got to the part where Scott collapses and dies like in every predictably timed B-rate movie.  I was actually going to buy it up until that point.  Now I'll spend my money on better written games.

[KatieHal]

Sorry to hear it wasn't to your liking, Blowfish--the demo is only about 1/10th of the total game. But, thanks for playing the demo and if you ever do change your mind, it'll still be here.

[Zinfandel]

Hello Katie, César and the Phoenix team!

I simply wanted to share, like many others before me, some feedback about the first episode. I'm about halfway through and so far I've been enjoying it greatly. I particularly like the thick atmosphere, the very beautiful and stylish backgrounds, the tightly-edited cutscenes, the haunting soundtrack, and last but certainly not least, the quality of the writing and voice acting.

The puzzles are enjoyable and make sense to me, and I appreciate the effort that went into things such as the flashlight flares in the opening scene, the polished interface for the FBI's computers and the smooth screen scrolling.

Considering you made this with a fraction of the budget used in this product range is nothing short of astonishing. Seriously guys, this is amazing! Cognition is awesome!

Don't let anyone stand in your way!

Cheers!

[KatieHal]

Thank you so much Zinfandel! And welcome to the forums, too

[jfrisby]

Only a little way into Episode 1, but loving the atmosphere/everything so far.  

Worlds ahead of Silver Lining all around.

My only thought is that there's a bit of excessively long animations thing going on (like, too many frames or whatever for some basic movements) -- felt a bit slow, and drawn-out transitions between modes / viewing a memory.  Don't know if that's an engine thing, or my computer?  Seems like some of those things could use streamlining.  

Edit to add:
Seems like a few other people have mentioned the wait icon/animation nit-picks.  (Sorry animation-team 

[Darkpulse]

Just finished Episode 1 and BOY .. I .. LOVE....IT!!!!.. ofcourse there are some minor details which could use some polishing but overall.. the storytelling, story, graphics mood, music.. it is spot on!

I love adventures ever since Collossal Adventure, time and magik, return to eden (and even Zakil Wood on the MSX) and after that Gabriel Knight and well all Sierra stuff...This game brings me back to that time!

Thank you for this game!

BTW I have a question, what is the planning on episode 2.. is it like monthly, 2 monthly.. half year or year release planning? :-)

[Zinfandel]

Thank you so much Zinfandel! And welcome to the forums, too

Thanks, and you are welcome, Katie. I finished the episode last night and am even more blown away than I was when I wrote that post. I love the end credits song; I didn't suspect that Raleigh had such a broad vocal range. What a superb game!

[Say]

I played the demo... then I got to the part where Scott collapses and dies like in every predictably timed B-rate movie.  I was actually going to buy it up until that point.  Now I'll spend my money on better written games.

Why didn't you like it, Blowfish? I'm curious what your expectations were regarding that story line.

I think it's subjective to say whether it's good or bad so early in the game (specially just by playing the demo), but personally I think it's part of what gives Erica character and that edgy obsessive part of her into finding the killer. Had Scott lived and he had been part of what episode 1 was, I dont think Erica may have been who she was. I don't want to spoil much, but I think in a way that had to happen in order for things to happen the way they did in the game.

[Lambonius]

I played the demo... then I got to the part where Scott collapses and dies like in every predictably timed B-rate movie.  I was actually going to buy it up until that point.  Now I'll spend my money on better written games.

Why didn't you like it, Blowfish? I'm curious what your expectations were regarding that story line.

I think it's subjective to say whether it's good or bad so early in the game (specially just by playing the demo), but personally I think it's part of what gives Erica character and that edgy obsessive part of her into finding the killer. Had Scott lived and he had been part of what episode 1 was, I dont think Erica may have been who she was. I don't want to spoil much, but I think in a way that had to happen in order for things to happen the way they did in the game.

It's not that it wasn't an important part of defining her character, it's that in order to define that aspect of her character, the writers had to resort to a fairly cliched trope of B crime movies.  Really, pretty much all the major characters in the game, especially Erica, are very cliched, and most are fairly one-dimensional (though I suspect that will change somewhat as the season goes on.)  You've got Hard-Edged Boss (who in my opinion is obnoxiously over-the-top in this game, though that is partly due to bad voice acting), Gruff Everyman Sidekick, Whiny Jilted Ex-Lover, Mysterious Old Woman, Nerdy Tech Guy, and the piece de resistance, Erica, aka Strong-Willed-Woman-In-A-Man's-World Female Lead.  It's all very cheesy, frankly, though I think that's also part of its charm.  It reads to me more like a conscious attempt to evoke B crime thrillers, which typically have all of the same cliches.

[KatieHal]

There are some cliches--but really, when aren't there? But moreover, yes, I'd say just about all of the characters get a chance (in Ep 1 or later) to develop past that. Some, of course, don't really get that chance since we only see so much of them.

I don't think Erica's all that cliched. She fits a certain mold, yes, but there's far more to her than that which we see even in the first Episode. And I wouldn't even say "in a Man's World" because that never comes up. At no point does anyone call her out for being a woman in this game. It's not a plot point, it's never brought up, it's not used against her (or for her, for that matter). Hell, it wouldn't be all that hard to make Erica into an Eric, quite honestly. I love that she's this kind of character and also a woman, personally, but her gender has little to do with who she is or what she does.

And yes, there is some intentional parallels to noir and crime thriller tropes. That is our genre here, after all.

Also--the moment of Scott's death isn't all there is to the game, either. There are tons of puzzles and twists that come long after that moment, most of which are unrelated to it. So I do think it's a shame that someone would judge the whole game on that one moment.

I won't say there aren't some cliches in the game, there are. But there's also a lot more to it and I think we rise above the cliches that are there as well.

[Cez]

They are comic book characters. Erica is in a way more developed than the rest, since she's our main character, but everyone else tends to be more the comic book version of what that character would be in real life. Some of them will see more development over the story, however.

The most conventional way to develop characters is to spend more time with them. To talk about their personal lives, to show the side beyond the cliché. We didn't want to add tons of dialog (maybe a reaction to TSL ), so we kept it simple.

[Lambonius]

Yeah, it's just episode 1.  If the characters still seemed one-dimensional by the last episode, it'd be a different story.  Like I said, I noticed the cliches, but they came off as intentional nods rather than just hackneyed writing.  That's my backhanded way of saying they worked for me, by the way. 

[KatieHal]

LOL, we'll take it. Maybe use it as a selling point. "Even Lamb likes it!"