Board 8 > Signalis

(+) Yeah! (+)

It's a shame it's not more popular around here. It's an easy GotY 2022 for me...even if I didn't play it until 2023.

I didn't play it until last month so hey! Maybe it'll keep spreading. Although B8 has never been huge on horror outside of Resident Evil and sometimes Silent Hill.

I was preaching this game back in 2022 but nobody listened T_T

Honestly it was for the best. My enjoyment went up a lot after I switched to the Extended inventory and that was apparently a fairly recent patch addition.

KamikazePotato posted...

I didn't play it until last month so hey! Maybe it'll keep spreading. Although B8 has never been huge on horror outside of Resident Evil and sometimes Silent Hill.

This was always the stopping block for me because I also do not typically like horror in video games.

This game is so much more than the horror.

Also I probably picked the best possible time to get in because people started making shit like this basically the week I finished playing it.

https://twitter.com/MSEAdvanced1/status/1778005529228399040?t=ijMCKjz9O2tArr69ns0lVw&s=19

Its amazing how fanbases of dark media just turn to shitposting to numb the pain. Saw it happen to Fear and Hunger in real time when that blew up.

The Signalis fanbase has turned to just about everything to keep that same urge for more alive. You get the comedy, and there's plenty of true horror art and stories as well, but also the very understandable need for the what ifs and AUs.

https://twitter.com/yuulinshi/status/1749897169350336639?t=8e-aA67TZyY89pO2GKde5w&s=19

I'll have to keep looking deeper for the true horror art, cause the subreddit is currently...not focused much on that lol.

It's out there, but mostly on Twitter, which isn't exactly a great place to browse.

A LOT of the real visceral horror, especially the stuff I couldn't actually post here without being modded, is focused around Falke.

Just started the PS4 version last night.

Initial impressions:

• Interface is a little clunky. It took me like 30 minutes to leave the first ship because I didn't realize there was a south door leading to the cockpit. I've since adjusted, but there was also a shiny yellow object in one of the sleeping quarters that I thought was important but was just window dressing.
• Atmosphere is better than it has any business being. I had my doubts about the art style, but this game is totally immersive with headphones on.
• Worldbuilding is very cool and is itching my curiosity in a good way.
• The cosmic horror elements are fantastic. Love the Silent Hill 4-esque part where you crawl through a hole in the underground rock wall and end up in an office with a computer. Then the whole computer sequence cutting back to the gradually dying Replika--awesome title intro.
• Exploration is well-paced so far. Just wish the map were more accessible/flexible.
• 6 Item Slots + Lack of Item Boxes = Annoying
• Combat feels MGS1 clunky, but I'm adjusting to it.

Just took the elevator to the 3rd floor. Will pick it up again tonight.

plasmabeam posted...

6 Item Slots + Lack of Item Boxes = Annoying

If you're on Normal, I recommend no more than 1 gun + 1 ammo + 1 healing ammo. Remove the ammo and healing if you can get away with it. Don't hoard the items you have on-hand.

KamikazePotato posted...

If you're on Normal, I recommend no more than 1 gun + 1 ammo + 1 healing ammo. Remove the ammo and healing if you can get away with it. Don't hoard the items you have on-hand.

Yeah, I've been stashing healing items and healing whenever I reach the box. It's still annoying, but at least I've figured out a system that works.

Side note: the flashlight should absolutely not take up an item slot. It's rough when you can't even use a disposable electric rod in unlit rooms.

Me pitching Signalis to a friend of mine:

"Imagine if MGS1 fucked Silent Hill."

Really starting to dig this game's flow right now. I'm jumping between floors 5-8, and every time I find an item, it basically opens up the map like I'm playing a Metroid game. Signalis ain't perfect, but it's pretty damned special.

Silent Hill Solidvangelion.

Agreed on the flashlight, wish the console versions would get that patch.

Just started playing, havent read anything in this topic. Im at the save after getting a handgun, so Im barely into the game at all. Seems good so far.

Just got the false ending. So after 6 hours of MGS1 and Silent Hill vibes, they give us a SotN moment. Nice.

One major gripe I have with the game is the radio. Not sure if it was poorly explained or if I'm just an idiot, but most puzzles that involve the radio end up murdering the pacing for me.

Finished the game.

I need to sleep on it, but overall I found Signalis to be underwhelming given the hype. It's unique and weird (and impressive considering it was made by only two people), but the story didn't wow me as much as I'd hoped. There are plenty of cool ideas and worldbuilding nuggets, but the narrative itself didn't grip me.

Gameplay-wise, it was fine for survival horror. Aside from a couple radio headaches, I found the puzzles to be well-designed.

Biggest complaint overall is the controls/interface... Why must I look away from someone before I can talk to them twice? Why must I look away from a door sometimes before I can open it? Ugh.

plasmabeam posted...

Biggest complaint overall is the controls/interface... Why must I look away from someone before I can talk to them twice? Why must I look away from a door sometimes before I can open it? Ugh.

....This seems like a bug.

I didn't love it either (as you could assume) but I tend to stay quiet about that because the people who love it really love it and I feel bad bringing down their vibe.

But this style of storytelling isn't really my aesthetic anyway. I do appreciate what they were doing with the story. Most of my feelings are just gameplay-related where I didn't think the moment-to-moment gameplay was that interesting (because of lack of enemy variety and how most rooms felt very similar when it came to evading said enemies. ah, grey rectangular hallway. run around the edge here... another rectangular hallway, let's just swerve around past this enemy... repeat...)

I didn't look up any explainers of the story after beating it so I still have no clue what any of it means.