WRATH: AEON OF RUIN - FULL RELEASE Review - The Long-Awaited Release. But is it Good?

[@ShadesMan]

I love me some Wrath! Gotta make maps for this, as well as Quake 2 remaster!

[@SaltyOctopus]

Heck yeah!

[@CatsOverdrive]

Am just relieved this turned out alright. With what's happening with 3DRealms as of late, i've been nervous at what's going to happen at the games i'm looking forward to there; Wrath, Tempest Rising, and Phantom Fury.

[@SaltyOctopus]

Agreed!!

[@AndroidFerret]

What's happening with 3drealms?

[@SaltyOctopus]

@@AndroidFerret making some good games it would seem!

[@CatsOverdrive]

@@AndroidFerret not really their fault. But unfortunate nonetheless. Embracer Group is currently going through a bad financial "slump"(to put it lightly), started hacking off limbs from their many smaller companies. They start axing stuff from Saber Interactive, which in turn, started axing on even smaller groups under THEIR umbrella, which also includes 3DRealms. From what i know, 3DRealms decided to drop development support of Core Decay and Combustion, and this is why Graven and the Kingpin remaster came out at such rushed state; push their works out of the market now, rather than negotiate some extension on their dev time, which could further risk their project getting outright halted.

[@rosfell00]

​@@CatsOverdrive well hopefully this is some good news as of today Saber Interactive bought their independence from Embracer, that includes some of their smaller studios, 3DRealms among them, but who knows whar to expect at this point

[@rolfvansoelen8916]

Really good review, with positive critiques that are motivated very well . The game definitely has my interest now. Thanks for the upload!

[@spartanezleonid3972]

I think this is the best retro shooter ever. Thanks for the review!

[@SaltyOctopus]

Thanks for watching and the comment!

[@metalliqaz]

Good review. This echoes many of my own feelings on Wrath.

[@SaltyOctopus]

Appreciate it

[@varyagace]

Oh this is great news! I was afraid this one was gonna end up like Graven, or just die in dev hell. Now that i know the boomshoot made in the Quake (Darkplaces) engine is GOOD, I am definitely going to buy it and support these devs. Hopefully the game is as moddable as the engine it's built on?

[@SaltyOctopus]

Yeah it's awesome news. Because the dev team are modders and it's a quake engine, I assume it's moddable, but I can't speak to it as I don't know for sure. Pretty sure the devs said in the past they want it to be moddable as well.

[@stormthesource]

Spot on review man, I agree with most you have said

[@Anuskasv0]

What a delightful surprise, definitely buying this.

[@SaltyOctopus]

Awesome! Enjoy and if you wanna report back, I would love to hear about it. :D

[@Stefan-1978]

Bought it 5 years ago..... its in early access since 2019 and delayed since 2021.

[@SaltyOctopus]

@@Stefan-1978 are you going to play it now?

[@Stefan-1978]

@@SaltyOctopus If its really released? Of course.

[@SaltyOctopus]

@@Stefan-1978 it is my friend. Promise.

[@MarioSMB]

Here's hoping they release the source code for the modern version as they did with early access!

[@SaltyOctopus]

I hope so! You have any mods in mind?

[@MarioSMB]

The freedom and ability to make mods in the first place would be a huge boon to the community. But yeah, I'd love to make some of their fancier features work in Xonotic/Quake!

[@MarioSMB]

They removed their public repositories for the old versions of the game, I hope that isn't a bad omen!

[@astrochicken2551]

Good game, literally unplayable console port due to softlocks (among other bugs). 3D Realms are aware of the situation but do not plan on releasing a patch, so this faulty product will continue being sold to unsuspecting PSN consumers with no recourse for a refund. Buyer beware would be an understatement.

[@Always.Smarter]

I was skeptical about this one, but now I'm glad to hear people are liking it. will be picking this one up, and eagerly awaiting that interview you mentioned p.s. any plans on covering Turbo Overkill or Dread Templar?

[@SaltyOctopus]

I want to play and cover them both, I just need to find the time heh. Appreciate your comment and time watching the vid!

[@Deadforge]

Good video

[@SaltyOctopus]

Appreciate it

[@thewhyzer]

"Like Quake or Amid Evil before it, the Hub level.." OG Quake didn't have a Hub level, unless you count the Episode Selection "level". The levels within each episode were as linear as Doom - finish one, get sent to the next, until you beat the boss levels of the episode. Dimensions of the Machine has a hub, but it's was an episode created specifically for the 25th anniversary Quake Remaster. Regarded the limited saves system - you can actually enable unlimited saves in the options (if yer yellow).

[@SaltyOctopus]

The start level in quake is a hub level. Just a small one. You use it to get to all the other areas, that is a hub.

[@thewhyzer]

@@SaltyOctopus Yes, but it's used to select episodes to enter, not levels/maps. Each episode itself is a linear progression of 1 level after the next (with the occasional secret level if you find it).

[@SaltyOctopus]

@@thewhyzer my point still stands, it's a hub level

[@thewhyzer]

@@SaltyOctopus nothing "like" the hub in this game, or Amid Evil.

[@MarshCreature]

@@thewhyzer 🤡🤡🤡

[@HexenStar]

They could've skipped the boring desert theme and done more ideas in the key of dark fantasy instead. That would've been much more enticing to try. Otherwise, it seems indeed like Daikatana: in order to get to its best 2 episodes - you need to pass the awful first one. And regarding Daikatana, - in the later versions of the game, the save crystals system was reworked and made optional, with traditional save system incorporated into the game as well, and the player can choose either one. I think Wrath has both options, in the same manner. As for the texture artists (since that point was mentioned), have outdone themselves in "Incision", but clearly not here. Even though the texture work is mostly ok, but nowhere near the Incision's level. The deal breaker to me is the design where enemies spawn out of thin air, reminiscent of mediocre PS2-era slashers. Too much pixel-hunting at sniper range, and the bland looking episode 2. I'll stick to Arcane Dimensions and the official expansion for both Quake games. Especially for the second.

[@SaltyOctopus]

Good points. I have not tried incision yet but I'll have to check it out. I was not as big of a fan of the spawning enemies either... Arcand dimensions was made by many of the people that worked on this game, from what I've heard. Thanks for the comment.

[@HexenStar]

@@SaltyOctopus That's the main difference between an actual retro-shooter and the modern "boomer-shooter" ones: classic shooters were very thorough in their approach to design. "Boomer-shooters" take shortcuts whenever possible.

[@SaltyOctopus]

@@HexenStar what shortcut in wrath bothered you the most?

[@HexenStar]

@@SaltyOctopus The absence of battle design - takes the number one spot.

[@ExValeFor]

bruh the desert parts are the only good levels in Wrath. everythign else is the same grimdark slop that's gotten old with Quake 1

[@peacefuled5363]

Honey get the popcorn, another Salty video just dropped

[@SaltyOctopus]

😘

[@Stefan-1978]

I thought its a scam. In early access since 5 years ,set for full release in February 2021 and since then delayed...... and now released ? Really ? Can't believe.

[@SaltyOctopus]

Play it! Haha

[@Stefan-1978]

@@SaltyOctopus Its like a Joke. A game with Quake 1 engine for 5 years in early access.....

[@MasterSoto]

Good things sometimes take time. I am glad thus game turned out great and is a big middle finger in the face of those entitled manchildren throwing a fit every time the dev had the decency to share updates every two weeks.

@@Stefan-1978 Probably 5 years is a bit too much but also the even the Darkplaces engine has been modified for this game. Also they added many small things that needed extra work. I'm sure there was some issue during the development but still, I think it ended up being pretty good! I wonder what happened in the background. I'm glad it's out, I'm glad I'm having lots of fun with it but I agree, it took them lots of time and there are plenty of things they could have done better.

[@Stefan-1978]

@ It took much too long. As early access started, the game felt very good and i thought release would be in 2020. I was surprised about the release date for February 2021 and the many delays. Now it's here and it's good, but it's years too late and i can't undestand why.

[@jacksheldon8566]

looks great. but the design choice on saves is surprising. i do not like it.

[@SaltyOctopus]

It's easily the most controversial part of the game for sure. You'll either like it or hate it.

[@superfightman2053]

The fact that the player character is given the insanely overpowered ability of unlimited time travel as a standard is pretty much my pet peeve with these kinds of games and is often a deal breaker altogether. Like imagine if one of the two players in a chess match got that ability. Ooooh I wonder who's gonna win, lmao.

[@hatem8orab13]

there is an option for infinite saves

[@borealisaristocles4825]

Porfin

[@RejectAllCookies13]

It looks good, not very good not great. Maybe I will take a look at it one day. I grew up on so called boomer shooters so I am not that hyped about new ones. I liked DUSK and HROT but Blood Fresh Supply is a better game.

[@SaltyOctopus]

I can respect that opinion. I'd put Wrath right up there with Dusk, if not better. But to each their own!

[@RejectAllCookies13]

@@SaltyOctopus whoa, you are fast on the trigger mate ;) Doesn't look as good as DUSK but who I am to junge when I haven't played WRATH. Cheers :)

[@HexenStar]

Dread Templar is the superior game. The action and levels are just top notch. Whoever designed these parts of the game deserves all the laurels. However, whoever was responsible for the art direction there...deserves nothing but a good old medieval flogging. Repeatedly.

[@SaltyOctopus]

@@HexenStar lol! I'm excited to check out dread templar for sure.

[@RejectAllCookies13]

@@HexenStar Dread Templar, hmmmmm. I finished it and the AI was awful, had lot of bugs and the levels were bit hit or miss. Level design was similar to Ion Fury, some very good level design in closed spaces but the open spaces were awful. Long story short, I don't think Dread Templar and Ion Fury should be mentioned in the same conversation with DUSK and Blood.

[@forasago]

Watching this made me nauseous. Animation framerate mis-match perhaps.

[@chaser1254]

Finished it on saturday and... it was let down by strange level desing. Maps are huge and second act, being the worst imho, was such a drag. Im not replaying these 3 episodes. Great weapons and movement didnt help. Wasted potential.

[@Benieg83]

Not enough ammo or it takes too many shots to kill an enemy. Balance is way off.

[@bioshock6935]

When will these developers learn to make these classic style game with proper modern visuals instead of making them look old and sprites blocky look from the past maybe then i would play them but looking like this is just painfully to look at. I played these type looking visuals back in the 90's and i dont what to play them if they look like this in 2024 when we have pc with graphics card that can play 4k games with ray tracing like the modern doom games and that's what i want some classic doom game to look stunning classic gameplay like this but not looking like this crappy visuals