Hey there, just wanted to add my grain of salt… Hope I will not being bashed to… well anyway.
I’ve played the game before hardcore got out, not my fault, well yes it is, but eh. Thing is I’ve learn the map and some of the things in the game just by playing, without really thinking about remembering it because, well because I’ve learn ? Thing is, I’ve started a new game in hardcore and was super eager to try all the new feature and mostly the without compass and waypoint thing, because that was advertised.
Thing is, yes I know the general map and some of the poi somewhere in my mind, not my fault I’ve played the game before. As much as I would want to experience the game for the first time and explore the wolrd, I can’t. I can’t forget everything in the game, at least I’ve did not explore every aspect of the game in my previous playthought so I can still explore some part of it.
If you, dear reader, have remarked the word “explore” was emphases, it’s because for me, what’s the most important is the exploration. One thing that I’ve tried to refrain me doing in my first playthought was to turn the game from an exploration game, to a fetch the next marker game. I did literally pass beside some superb landmark, encounter, or event POI by cutting in deep in the wood with my eye stick on the marker in the compass. Anyway.
Yes the “reveal the marker zone” is quite small, I did not experiment on the distance required to reveal it, but yeah about 2 meter seem somewhat right. But, I can see with my eye over 2 meter. It’s called exploration, you have to explore the game to find what you need, of course you’ll not find it in 30 second. Maybe 1h ? Maybe 5 min if you’re lucky. That’s what make the game. I mean you can see the bird nest in the tree on the other side of the road without “seeing” it with your compass. You can see the chest half hided in the ground if you stop 30 sec and look carefully. As for exploring the deed wooded area, it’s all about exploring slowly one part of the time until you know the forest by heart. Oh and yes it’s gonna be long, that why this feature is there, it to make the game longer.
Oh oh ! I’ve just remembered an anecdote ! You can pass this if you want as it’s not part of my point, but maybe to give an inside of how I feel. I remember in my first playthought I had to search for something, I don’t remember the specyfic object but it was for the accident of the cathedral, a skull I think. But thing is, the game did not gave me the exact marker, and instead game me the zone marker. Great, a bit of exploring I’ve said ! I’ve searched for like an hour or so until I’ve quit the game before I was angry of not finding it. Few day later I’ve returned playing the game with a peaceful mind and I could not find it again, so… yes… I’ve cheated and did go search on the internet… Eh I’m not perfect I admit it. Still… I can still say that the game was too easy. Now of course I was satisfy at the exact moment, but now… I’m sad I’ve passed beside a great challenge. So now the no compass point is like yeah, it force me to really explore the game (at least what I’ve not already found in previous playthought).
So thing is hardcore mode is, well yes for hardcore, making the game more difficult, less forgiving, and part of it is having to search literally for hours for one thing. And eh, it’s even written in the game itself : “More realistic. Recommended for players who are familiar with the essentials of combat and survival in the world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance.”. For me, exploring getting to know your barring and finding stuff is what make a “real” (for video game anyway) survival experience.
By the way I’ve complained before in another post (few month ago) about how the game is to easy and wanted to have a more challenging game, like not having marker and compass at all. (Will search for it after this comment: How to make KCD actually feel more realistic) I’ve suggested even more hardcore thing that I still wish in the game, but I know it would not be for everyone. I want my ass be beaten my way out. Even if I feel that the combat is more challenging now in hardcore I still found some way of beating everyone with a bit more patience than before…
The last bit could be a bit harsh, I’m sorry, but if the game actually is not enjoyable for you, dear reader, well… no one is forcing you to play. I mean, not go away and don’t try to make a better game for you. I know some of my wishlist I will try to mod it when mod will be officially supported to make my game. But sometime, a game is just not enough at our taste, and sadly, the last option we left is to say, well, maybe another game will. I know I’ve stopped playing some game because it wasn’t hardcore enough.
