I have four different issues with this mod. Only three I would classify as bugs. The fourth is more or less a design flaw in enemy behavior.K1n9_Duk3 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 23:21 I just added Mirror Menace and Underworld Ultimate.
Underworld Ultimate only had its crippling bugs fixed. The difficulty i still the same, although the changes I made to the scrolling while Keen is floating should make some areas a little less frustrating. I haven't actually finished my playthrough, so if anybody can point out specific areas and/or enemies that need to be changed to make this mod a bit more enjoyable, let me know!
By the way, the bugfixed version of Underworld Ultimate finally allows you to collect all the booze bottles. In the old version, you actually "lose" the bottle from level 3 once the base appears on the world map, and the final booze bottle can only be obtained after the base appears.
Keep in mind that old saved games are incompatible with this update!
1- You already fixed the booze bottle issue so I will move on.
2- For me the game completely locks up when I try to load in-level saved games after I have exited the game and reload it later to play again.
3- The Kreeg Base is supposed to be invisible and unreachable until Keen's second visit to Drea's Domain makes the base appear. For me the base seems to always be visible regardless of where I am at in the game.
4- When the Kreeg infantry shoot their lasers cover almost the entire screen! Add to that their behavior is so erratic and so unpredictable it makes it almost impossible to get past them. It seems to me only dumb luck is required to get past them. Also add to that they can only be briefly "stunned" makes them even more difficult.
My issues with this mod:K1n9_Duk3 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 23:21The Mirror Menace update is a bit unusual compared to the other updates in this thread. I actually broke my own rule here and changed the level designs a lot more in order to eliminate all parts that could lead to the player being stuck in an unwinnable state in the level. And I also changed a couple of other things in an attempt to make the levels a little less unfair to first-time players. I don't really consider myself a level designer, but I hope I didn't make things worse than they were before.
Again, old saved games are incompatible with this update!
1) The infamous elevator bug, nothing more needs to be said about this so I will move on.
2) The reason the mod is so unfair to first-time players is because after its initial release Szemi made several hazards harmless in order to make the mod "easier" but in reality it just added to the confusion. Toxic waste is a perfect example. Sometimes it's harmless, other times it kills Keen. Many hazards are like this. Since I haven't played this mod in over a year, possibly longer if I played it now I would probably be confused as to what kills Keen and what doesn't. Even several objects in the background strangely will kill Keen.
3) As Szemi did in The Grand Intelligence 4- Intelligent Intellect, out of left field with a hockey stick and at completely random he placed enemies from past games in his mod. First-time players would think they are deadly and would avoid them which causes issues in and of itself until you realize they are harmless. These characters are completely random and are unnecessary to be included in the game, especially when they cannot be touched. They are nothing more than moving background scenery. Taking them out would probably solve any memory issues.
4) When you say "Unwinnable states" you might be referring to required levels that have required areas within the level that can only be reached by secret areas or secret passages. For example if I remember correctly, there is a level where the blue gem is only reachable via a secret passage. If the player cannot find the passage, the level seems unsolvable.
5) Szemi seems unwilling to address not only issues with Mirror Menace and other past mods but also issues with newer mods as they are released. He seems to get defensive and act as if we're all haters when we critique his work. Sometimes I wonder if he doesn't know the distinction between constructive criticism and "being a hater". Granted, most of our critiques come down to personal tastes, but when there are actual issues and bugs that can deter the enjoyment of the game he created, refusing to address these issues can not only make us not want to play a specific mod but can also make us not want to play anything he might release in the future.
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People make mistakes and modders are no different. It isn't hateful to address these issues. Most modders seem to want to create games that the whole of the Keen community will play. Many even go as far as creating an open discussion here and allowing the rest of us to discuss how the mod should go. This is a discussion board after all!