Quick Look: The Signal from Tölva

The signal from Twëlve?

I'm not really sure what the name of this game is supposed to imply, because apparently "tölva" is just the Icelandic word for "computer"?

The combat seems pretty Stalker-ish. Might check this out.

I didn't know this already out. After watching Waypoint play a small section of this before it was released I thought it might be worth picking up. The lack of a interesting narrative is a bit disappointing though.

This gets repetitive and boring pretty fast. The main motivating factor being how small the map is so you keep on playing thinking "well maybe there's something interesting hidden here or at the end", but there's literally nothing.

Seems like it could have used more work to make the environment interesting and flesh a couple things out but it looks like it has some things going or it. I like the all robot vibe with this kind of open world game and there's cool stuff you can do with that. Maybe a sequel.

TØLVA

Tolva is also a cool sounding word.

It's sad that this is so barebones. If there was just a little more to it, it could be really cool. A little music, better traversal mechanics and just a bit more feedback to what you're doing would do a lot I think.

Austin tweeted recently about how even a bad story can provide important context and motivation to a game. I reckon that's where this game went wrong - not bothering even with that. Even if you're making something designed to be completely open ended having a point A and a point B to move between is key, because very few people are likely to find just your mechanics with an ultimately shallow aesthetic skin in isolation particularly interesting (unless you're making something solely to serve your own tastes, I guess). Context, theme and motivation matter even if your story is ultimately secondary (see Breath of the Wild as a recent good example of what I mean here).

I dunno, maybe I'm being too hard on it, but, based on everything I've seen, this game looks utterly dull.

Great now I'm imagining Master Chief's colostomy bag.

Didn't Austin say it slowly changes into a slightly supernatural game later on?

The visual filters and flashlight effects are quite striking.

Brad and Ben work really well together!

This seems like in Early Access, except polished.

not using shields enough, reloading too often.

I think this looks pretty cool, nice mood.

Huh, this was out a month ago right? I think I bought it, I should probably go play some more. I like weird, janky overambitious stuff like this.

I thought the open world was procedurally generated but I guess this isn't the case. The 'hand craftedness' of the world doesn't seem to show much so it would have probably been a bit more interesting to see more stuff procedually generated.

I'm as big a fan of picking on Brad's gameplay abilities as any other GB member but "reloading too often" is never a valid criticism.

sort of no man's sky but without the giant price tag to make everyone furious!

Is this the game Vinny talked about a while ago that went into some Lovecraft stuff later on? If so, I kinda want to play it someday just to see that. Not enough games try to go that route.

@quantical: If I remember correctly, he was talking about the factions and how they have a religious motivation, such as the zealots Brad scanned. I don't know if he specifically said the story goes in that direction more overtly.

Brad didn't mention it, but isn't this also a VR game? Maybe that's why the rest is so bare bones. All the cash went into the tech, none left over for the narrative.

this is soooooo pretty.

too bad about the game.

They both sound high... :)

I gotta say, I find Ben's quick dismassal of any game with specific systems (weapon durability etc.) a bit disheartening. A gamemechanic should be judged on how well it is implemented in a game, not by its mere presence.

Brad playing in quicklooks Jesus Christ

Fun fact, Icelandic language does not add words from its original dialect - even with advents of modern technology. "Tölva" actually directly translates to "Number Witch."

Boring.

@monkeyking1969: has to do more with brad playing than the actual game

God, Brad, please never do that "headbanging" bit around 35:10 again.

must be a slow week for games. I'd rather spend the night on the toilet puking.

I really like the vibe of this game, if I had a pc I'd check it out. Dont know how long it'd stay fun but it seems like a short enough game anyway.

Interested to see this, friend of mine did some of the concept art for it.

@bassman2112: That is a fun fact! You used your number witch to send that fact which I read on my number witch!

That is NOT a 50s sci-fi novel cover. That is a 70s sci-fi novel cover. Jeeze, come on Brad.

Master Chief has all sorts of cybernetics and shit, he's way more a robot than Iron Man. And they cover the poo-pee business in Fall of Reach, at least. Good book!

I like the style they are going for, but the gameplay seems pretty dull.

It's really odd to see Brad keep saying "and that's all to the game" and "I've basically seen everything" and yet every 5 minutes he's saying "ooh, now that's new!". Clearly there are things here with more depth than he knew.