Holy shit...

   So, I'd pretty well abandoned the game, because it was clear the devs are idiots and sweat lords are running the show. However, I saw that the much discussed December update was out, and figured I'd check in on the Dark Angels cosmetics, see about this rebalance of weapons, as well as review the rework of the melee systems they're all ranting about on YouTube... What a fucking joke.

So, I had to PAY real money for Dark Angels cosmetics, and then I get the privilege of being forced to grind to access said content? Jesus fucking Christ....

To top that off, the new map is all gimmick, no fun. I ran it on substantial to try it out, I'm the only one that stuck around through the whole thing. The other players cycled at least five times per slot. All that drama was because no one understood the mechanics and endless spawn enemies with no reward isn't a great experience. Further, the parry windows are all fucked up again... I mean seriously, what the fuck is with the dev's obsession over trying to force people to use shitty weapons, by ruining the only functional ones they made? DEFINITELY do not try to make the whole gaming experience better by elevating the entire system... Block is so easy, make it stagger, bam. Balanced is so easy, increase criticals so that learning the more narrow parry windows results in burst damage potential... Then, you leave fencing the fuck alone, because the point should be that fencing weapons make it easier to counter multiple enemies and facilitate a play style that revolves around ripostes.

In essence, you get:

Block = CC 

Balanced = hard single target dps

Fencing = frenetic multi enemy management

It's that easy. Really, it is. I'm not implying that's the perfect answer, but it's a serviceable one that would get people using different tunings to match how they ultimately play the game...

It has never been so clear to me that through series of fortunate accidents, a bunch of incapable assholes managed to get just enough of a recipe right, that what works, primarily serves to illuminate just how incompetent that very same group is. 

I don't know what the rubric is to be a video game director, but I can only assume it's consisted of equal parts overly inflated ego and a general disconnect from what players actually want. This is all a result of the siloing effect that mega developers have facilitated with the game journalism and streaming markets. Like Veil Guard, despite incredibly negative feedback from your core audience, you guys keep yelling "we're giving them what they want!" as you drill holes in your own ship's hull. 

I'll never buy another focus/saber product. Well, I'll never preorder one again, at least. If I ever buy another one of your games, it'll be when there's a deep sale on the "game of the year" version.

I was rooting for you guys at the beginning, but forcing me to grind in order to access paid content is flat out insulting and constantly screwing with core mechanics, for the worse, is just a fucking turn off.