DISCUSSIONS

Continuing from my post in the Graphics Overhaul thread I want to give my 2 cents on the game.

So far I've found that MH2 is in terms of reliability, graphics and enjoyability inferior to its predecessor. I will not continue on the matter of graphics as my opinion has not change from the post found in the graphics thread, but I will go on to say that the interface is lousy as well. There is still considerable lag and the interface directly violates some of the basic principles in UI design. The left hand menu in particular covers to much of the usable screen and displays only a modicum of information. The tech tree page is unpleasant and I don't understand why the tech tree couldn't be shone on one page. Words next to many of the interface icons would also have been appreciated, but all in all I believe the whole interface should be overhauled.

I completely understand that graphics were not the main point of this game, although a sequel with poorer graphics then its predecessor is truly a stretch. However, the user interface is a core part of any grand strategy game and a poor interface can be a game breaker. Still, so far all of these things can be overlooked, albeit with difficulty.

I quite enjoy the additions of experience and moral to units along side health. It adds a whole new dimension to the game and are welcome additions. However these become irrelevant when faced with the regular battle bugs the game throws at you. A few times I have had entire armies disappear having only taken a few points of damage and having been attacked by a vastly inferior force. This simple bug ruins the enjoyment of the military side of the game.

Splitting production and research is something I definitely appreciate and the general overhaul of the industrial side of the game is done well. However the game scenario's require significant rebalancing. Industrialization is much to dependent on time (IPUs) when it should be affected primarily by the presence of sufficient manpower and resources. The number of resource slots present are ridiculously high, so much so that some countries have no need to go on wars for economic expansion. Even worse, the high number of slots means the economic system is gravely unbalanced were as in early scenarios there is a lack of everything and in later times there is an abundance of everything.

The next complaint I have is the tech tree. It gives me the sensation that a bunch of techy names were chosen for the various sides of the game and then placed in a tree that would theoretically be useful in terms of gameplay but makes little sense in a historical sense. I just don't feel that x leads to y. Perhaps I haven't looked deep enough into it, but it would certainly be better if the tech tree and it's associated texts would give the user a feel that the various techs are connected to each other in a meaningful way. Of course this complaint is related once again with the presentation side of the game which has been the worse part.

Even the launcher is something that takes points away from the game as it does not give the player a sense of a true game, but more like an amateurish application.

Still, I haven't abandoned all hope. I will continue to test the game a few times and perhaps if the right tools are placed at my disposal I will try to make a mod which overhauls the economic and technological side of the game.

Input on this matter is most welcome.

Best regards, Radu