Forum Discussion

ASKE__101's avatar
4 years ago

New characters in Apex - in which direction the gameplay is moving?

Hello, by education and specialty, I am a graphic designer, I am from a family of artists, and my grandfather associate professor in the department of drawing.
As you already guessed, I like the Apex. I have no experience in the game industry, but I would like to raise one topic, and perhaps the developers will hear me.

I like the Apex perfectly made in terms of art. At the same time, it has the best gameplay in his class. (And by the way, it is my favorite game)
This is a very high bar, I think it is not easy to keep it, to improve or surpass it is a difficult task.


Until recently, I admired how well the characters were invented in the apex. They combine a unique idea based on which their history and gameplay are built.
I believe that the new characters do not correspond to the bar set by you. New characters are not created based on a simple and ingenious idea and copy the abilities of other characters (not unique).
From my point of view, as an artist, I will distinguish several characters (and I will add one word in brackets, which is, as it were, the original metaphor for their creation, as well as for all abilities)

  • Pathfinder (cable)
  • Caustic (gas)
  • Gibraltar (shield)
  • Wraith (portal)
  • Lifeline (treatment)
  • Bloodhound (sees through the walls)
  • Mirage (Hologram)
  • Valkyrie (flight)
  • Fuse (grenade launcher)

I am sure that these are very cool, quickly understandable, and memorable concepts.


Let the rest of the old characters may not have one metaphor, that they would describe all their abilities and history, but at least they have unique abilities:

  • Loba (thief, with a teleport)
  • Rampart (gunsmith - creator of fortifications, machine gunner)
  • Bangalore (soldier - smoke curtain, evades bullets)

Brevity is a sister of talent, and at least some old characters are not so "simple and ingenious" in their idea, but they have unique gameplay.
But new characters copy elements of gameplay (abilities) of old characters.

  • Newcastle - similar to Gibraltar and Rampart, (and lifeline to nerf)
  • Ash - similar to rave, teleport as Loba

I do not want to list everything, but you understand what I am for.

You have not come up with new simple and brilliant characters with new, unprecedented mechanics in the game. Instead, you used old abilities in different layouts.

I played games a lot during my life, and I liked the Apex that unique situations are being created in the game all the time. Unlike other games where you just remember actions by heart.
I think the game would much better if there were more unique gameplay, which would give more unexpected situations. And because the new characters are similar to the old ones - the game becomes predictable, routine, and bothering.

14 Replies

  • nebwise's avatar
    nebwise
    4 years ago
    @reconzero Yeah. The new legend is the Marquee draw every season. And Apex is all about making money. Still, there are different reasons people could/should want to play the new legends. Unique and interesting gameplay can be just as compelling as sheer power.

    Apex is a game, it's first priority should be fun experiences. Focusing on uniqueness in design reinforces that directive. If gamers are compelled to play a Legend because of power -- the desire to win -- it's no longer a game, it's a sport.
  • @ASKE__101 I agree. The core of the game is essentially "moving and shooting". To create the most variety, Legends' abilities wouldn't overlap with those fundamental mechanics, or duplicate each other.

    It's true that Vantage's abilities don't offer anything exceptionally new to the game, and crib directly from Octane (doublejump), Loba (movement), Crypto (drone), Seer (recon), and Rampart (damage multiplier).

    But, it's exceptionally hard to come up with compelling new mechanics that don't break the game, and Vantage is probably more balanced than a few OG legends were on release. There are pros and * to both approaches.
  • reconzero's avatar
    reconzero
    Seasoned Ace
    4 years ago

    @nebwise

    "Unique and interesting gameplay can be just as compelling as sheer power."

    Very true, and yet how many different gimmicks can they come up with for new legends? Apparently none, since the last quite-a-few have just been rehashes of abilities we already have. Take an old ability, maybe put a different visual on it, add in a double tactical, and boom! New (old) legend with extra stuff. I guess there really is nothing new under the sun.

  • It happens with me when I look at Ash, his ultimate is a combination of Pathfinder and wraith, I dont like It because It isnt unic or different enough. Also with Vantage jump.