WHAT is the deal with Kenshi?

[Quertee]

On 5/18/2020 at 2:14 PM, TommyTheWiseGuy said:

I've been trying to play Kenshi off and on for the past six months and I REALLY don't get it.

Every time I've checked online for other peoples opinions, the game gets insanely praised.

 

It's not that I have a problem with the difficulty of the game, but from what I've played it just feels so empty. The map is huge and content is so thinly spread, which wouldn't be a problem if each location felt truly unique, which it doesn't. Locations seem copy and pasted, you see the same pub and store layout in just about every city. The description of the game makes out like you're just another person in the land and the world will live around you, which now reads like total baloney considering 90% of the inhabitants won't even talk to you.

 

It doesn't feel (to me) like there is any incentive to play on into the game. While leveling up your character(s) is satisfying, when you think about why you're leveling up your character(s) you find you don't have much reason.

 

Within the first few hours of my most recent play through, I had managed to get enough cats to get (seemingly) some of the best armor and weapons purchasable, after which I found myself stuck on the question, what do I do. 

 

It doesn't feel like the game offers any real customization of ones characters aside from them just being skilled at tasks. It just seems like everyone online is using their imagination to impose personality on these empty husks (which is fine but this is a video game and you could do that with rocks).

 

The game misses so many opportunists to let the player express who they want they're characters to be, when raiders chase after you, there should be many ways to resolve the encounter. You could have an option to persuade/intimidate your way out based on a skill, they could demand a certain amount of valuables from you, they could keep a party member hostage and force you to complete a mission for them, depending on your race and gender you could persuade them in other ways... you know what I mean). Instead they hit you with sticks until you fall down and then they leave all your gear.

 

I DON'T GET IT.

well, as they say

beauty is in the eye of the beholder ; everyone's opinion is always different no matter how many people think that the answer is "obvious"

[Shiggles&Gits]

On 5/18/2020 at 1:14 AM, TommyTheWiseGuy said:

I've been trying to play Kenshi off and on for the past six months and I REALLY don't get it.

Every time I've checked online for other peoples opinions, the game gets insanely praised.

 

It's not that I have a problem with the difficulty of the game, but from what I've played it just feels so empty. The map is huge and content is so thinly spread, which wouldn't be a problem if each location felt truly unique, which it doesn't. Locations seem copy and pasted, you see the same pub and store layout in just about every city. The description of the game makes out like you're just another person in the land and the world will live around you, which now reads like total baloney considering 90% of the inhabitants won't even talk to you.

 

It doesn't feel (to me) like there is any incentive to play on into the game. While leveling up your character(s) is satisfying, when you think about why you're leveling up your character(s) you find you don't have much reason.

 

Within the first few hours of my most recent play through, I had managed to get enough cats to get (seemingly) some of the best armor and weapons purchasable, after which I found myself stuck on the question, what do I do. 

 

It doesn't feel like the game offers any real customization of ones characters aside from them just being skilled at tasks. It just seems like everyone online is using their imagination to impose personality on these empty husks (which is fine but this is a video game and you could do that with rocks).

 

The game misses so many opportunists to let the player express who they want they're characters to be, when raiders chase after you, there should be many ways to resolve the encounter. You could have an option to persuade/intimidate your way out based on a skill, they could demand a certain amount of valuables from you, they could keep a party member hostage and force you to complete a mission for them, depending on your race and gender you could persuade them in other ways... you know what I mean). Instead they hit you with sticks until you fall down and then they leave all your gear.

 

I DON'T GET IT.

The answer is simple, you're wanting a hold your hand game that has a plot, and a final boss. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just, Kenshi isn't a hold your hand game. It's a sandbox game with ninjas/samurai. And what you're describing is better found in Bethesda's games.

 

I know you might not like that, but this game isn't for you. Dark Souls has a plot, Mario Bros has a plot. however, Kenshi is an elaborate Lego game with simplified pieces. If you want to build up a squad of super solders and destroy a town you can. If you want to have a Harem of women at your disposal then you can. If you want to mod the heck out of this game to do pretty much anything you want... you guessed it. you can. but a major plot it does not have, and if making your own plots for the game isn't your desire than I don't know what to tell you.

 

I can't make you like a game that has no plot, but has so much to offer in the way of personal story telling.

 

I honestly have turned some of my friends away from playing this game because I knew they didn't have the personality to play it. Some gamers are balls to the walls completionist, and others are chill and thrill players. once again there's nothing wrong with either type of gamers, but it can get frustrating when a person buys a game that doesn't fit their playstyle but has a cool concept.

 

Know this. I use to be a completionist in games, but as I've grown older I've just found goofing off in games to be more relaxing. maybe that's the reason I like Kenshi. I can just mess around for hours doing stupid crap in a pseudo world of my design. Without the hassle of a game timer telling me I have to get something done before the time runs out.

 

Who knows, Kenshi 2 might have what you want, but from what I've seen as far as its development it's going to be just a better version of the first Kenshi.

 

Hopefully this answers something for you. 

[FauxFurry]

That is the deal with Kenshi.

[plasticfuzzball9]

On 6/3/2020 at 5:20 PM, TommyTheWiseGuy said:

Not saying the game needs a story or anything, but I think it leaves too much to the imagination. If it's really going to put all it's eggs into the Sandbox basket, then I think it should have some more systems.

 

I think it's cool that you're finding ways to enjoy the game more, but I feel like a game shouldn't need you to deliberately restrict yourself for you to find new ways to enjoy it. I don't know why all role playing games don't have a system where you can be talented at one thing, but then be heavily penalized at another, sort of like the quirks in Fallout New Vegas but more major.

 

Like I said, I think people like making up personalities and relations between their characters in these kind of games, but I don't think that's good enough. In a world that is supposed to be an RPG, your characters personality and relations should be a huge aspect of the game at all times, in Kenshi it just kind of determines whether or not people attack you.

>I feel like a game shouldn't need you to deliberately restrict yourself for you to find new ways to enjoy it
i fail to see the argument here, its the same as removing difficulty modes in doom, yeah its hard, thats the point, its a challenge to progress in that world let alone survive, its the same as kenshi in concept, just instead of shooting demons and dodging shots youre picking your battles carefully and selling the spoils without getting caught by bandits while youre wounded or cargo laden.
thats what people get from the game more often than not, to see the god theyve made out of a weakling through genuine hard work and strategy

[Agent_Smith]

Well, Kenshi is on sale on Steam for $15.00, but so is the entire Dead Space franchise. Also for $15.00. I'm torn between which to get. I've never played Kenshi or any of the Dead Space games. My horror-loving gut is telling me to go with Dead Space, but my Empire At War/Age of Empires-loving brain says to go with Kenshi. Any advice?

[Nexussuckstwice]

Play Dead Space.

[27X]

On 2/2/2022 at 1:23 AM, Agent_Smith said:

 Any advice?