What If Melee Had A "just Attack" Mechanic, Similar To Pso2?

[ShibuyaESPer]

I'm crossposting this from /r/Warframe (since that's where I tend to hang out more) so more people can see it and contribute their opinions!

 

Melee 2.0 is fun and learning the combos in each new stance is great, but right now it's confusing and requires a bit of dissection when you're learning the timing for the combos. I was thinking "What could be improved to help make learning stance combos easier for everyone?" Flickering when the animation for the combo step is ending came to mind right away. Then this idea occurred to me.

 

I would like to see DE implement a form of a "Just Attack" system into the game, something similar to Phantasy Star Online 2's implementation. Having a Just Attack system in Warframe accomplishes two things: It further rewards players for timed precise E presses and it signifies when exactly to press E for combo steps. I remember DE said they wanted to encourage more timed E presses, as opposed to just mashing E all day like in the days of Melee 1.0.

 

If you're unfamiliar with PSO2, here's how the system works: At the end of each attack, a bubble appears that starts off large and blue and contracts until it reaches a certain point in the animation, where it turns red for a second until it disappears. Timing your swings when the bubble is red executes a Just Attack, which grants that attack a considerable damage boost. Every attack has a Just Attack window, so skillful timed swings result in constant Just Attack bonuses which yield significantly more damage as the player keeps stringing them together. If my explanation comes off as a little bit confusing, pull up any PSO2 gameplay video (or check out this one I picked out: 

) and watch the player character attack. When the character shines, the player timed a Just Attack correcly.

 

Right now, there is no clear indicator when we're supposed to time our E presses. Currently, when I'm (re)learning a stance's combos I have to go into a solo mission and examine the combos one E at a time. Sometimes one step of a combo swings once, sometimes it swings twice (like in Grim Fury's second E); it's unclear when exactly to press E. If a player wanted to time that right they would have to tear apart the stance timing and examine it step by step like I am, which is a bit convoluted and potentially frustrating. Having visible timing windows streamlines the learning experience and gives visual feedback as to how you're timing your melee swings. Pressed E while the bubble is blue? You did it too early. Didn't press E before the bubble disappeared? You did it late. Your character shined? You did it! Good job! (Cute bonus: Maybe our Frames can shine the color of our energy?)

 

Implementation of a system like this would not make Melee 2.0 more difficult by any means. Just Attacks would also only reward, never punish. Pressing E early would still make the attack come out; you'll only just miss out on the bonus. Pressing E late would do what Warframe already does: Reset the combo string back to the first step.

What do you guys think?

Edited July 2, 2014 by ShibuyaESPer

[TenshuYuusha]

PSO2's JA system I think would better mesh here with a different bonus (still means more damage but more in tune with the faster paced WF) JAs can perhaps change the combo a bit, with added hits, make a JA kill count as two kills to the multiplier, and/or give a small speed boost upon a successful JA Crit.

On a sidenote, don't remind me about the Err.107 problems >.>

[ShibuyaESPer]

I think a speed boost wouldn't be a good idea. It ruins the rhythm of the combo.

 

I like the idea of adding a multihit to reinforce DE's combo hit bonus, though!

[TenshuYuusha]

I think a speed boost wouldn't be a good idea. It ruins the rhythm of the combo.

 

I like the idea of adding a multihit to reinforce DE's combo hit bonus, though!

*points to Knuckle Gear* it works the same way except ANY hit speeds it up :v

[ShibuyaESPer]

(Whiffs speed it up too.)

 

Sorry, you made it sound like a speed boost would only be granted on a particular segment of a Just Attack, not like Knuckle Gear.