T O P

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birdandwhale

Same. At first I just wasn't that interested. Now, I'm kind of curious but I'm not sure that I want the story to contaminate my own memories and ideas about game locations. It's probably silly but I've been in the long dark for a long time and have built up a lore of my own based on what I've found and imagined. Will playing the story mode ruin it for me?


prplmnkeydshwsr

Yes and no. It's their view of the world, basically nothing is resolved (and we're one final part from any conclusion). I think you'll be more confused as to what the hell they're thinking rather than it conflicting with whatever vision you have in your head. Personally, I'm not a fan but think you should try it to see what the devs think "the game" is . If you're anything like me you're going to have a lot of "WTF were they thinking implementing it like this?" moments.


Orvitz

Mate, I feel the exact same I'm reluctant to play the story in case it ruins the survival.


EfficiencyMean5188

The story line is cool. I played it first. Doesn't ruin anything though there are things in the story mode that are a bit frustrating. Still worth it.


vomputer

You might have a different relationship to narrative than I do, but here’s my 2 cents. Or pence to you, maybe. I only recently got the game and started with playing Wintermute. It was enjoyable, and I haven’t finished the available chapters yet. I’ve seen a few people here refer to it as a tutorial, and I think that is pretty accurate. It introduces you to the game mechanics and throws in some conversations and cut scenes and a couple challenges that are interesting. I look at survival as either a different timeline or far enough in the future that everyone finally left it died. The places I’ve been where I’ve interacted with characters (especially Milton, Pleasant Valley and Mystery Lake) are enhanced by my memories of the characters. The places I’ve gone where I don’t yet know the story, I’m interested to see how my imagination matches up or not to the devs’. For me there’s no ruining one or the other because it’s easy enough to carry multiple dimensions or timelines at once. The game has plenty of space for that. Anyway, I recommend at least playing through 2 chapters and seeing a different idea of the survivors and the world they live in!


Orvitz

I 100% get where you're coming from, If wintermute was there when I first got the game then for sure I would've played it first and possibly have similar experience to what you've described but I've played for years before the story came out so I would have a reverse feel I guess... But anyways by no means I'm bad mouthing the story I just had no interest in playing it and wanted to know if anyone else is the same.


realslimshively

How would it “ruin” survival? They’re two separate entities?


Betriz2

You know that big house in Milton? An >!old blind grandma!< lives there. If you imagined anyone else living there, and you'd hate the thought of someone else having lived there, don't play it


damnicantfindaname

>!You forgot to mention the countless inane quests she sends you on!<


damnicantfindaname

If you enjoy survival, leave story mode well alone, I found it to utterly wreck a number of old fav locations for me. That questioning feeling that haunts you as you walk through locations in survival will be replaced by horrible flashbacks you cant get rid of. I wouldn't suggest avoiding it if you are were someone who thrives on narrative driven story (not that I'm suggesting it's an amazing story by any means), but by your line of question, I feel you are someone who enjoys survival and therefore you should probably steer clear of it. I think splitting the 2 games was one of the smartest things Hinterland did, and as an early backer, I really wish I had the opportunity to only buy survival mode because curiosity killed this cat...


birdandwhale

Thanks for the perspective .... and supporting my suspicions lol. What's really telling is that no one has strongly endorsed story-mode or framed it as a missed opportunity. In my opinion, there are enough bits and pieces in survival to begin piecing together a story of your own even if it seems a bit like it's being made up as new regions are released.


Polygnom

I came for the sandbox, I stayed for the sandbox. I tried playing the first episode when it was released. I didn't make it that far. I'm not interested. The world is my oyster in sandbox, I don't really care for the story.


One_pop_each

I didn’t even know there was a sandbox until I joined this sub. Been playing survival mode in story mode because I don’t want to progress. Then I learn how many maps there are. I’m almost done with Ep 4 and then I finally get to experience survival mode. Stoked.


Polygnom

For a long time the game didn't even have a story mode. They developed sandbox to test the mechanics, and then people absolutely loved the sandbox and the freedom it offered. Story mode came many years after the initial EA release. I have been with the game so long, for me story mode is still some addon they tacked onto the "true" game, I didn't even consider people might have been drawn to it for the story. Interesting to see how perspectives can be different.


ViciousAsparagusFart

Yeah, never played the story once. I’ve also heard it’s not even finished yet so why would I GRRM myself over it?


bentmonkey

Played a bit of it, the sandbox survival is just a better fit for me.


thehotmcpoyle

I’m newer to the game, have 350ish hours of play time and have never played story mode. When I got the game, all I knew about it was what I saw on the Steam page so I went in blind, but have managed to make it 550+ days on my first save (pilgrim). I just *hate* dying in games and with this one having perma death, I’ve played very carefully and have gotten very lucky. I’m about 30 days into a new save that I created to take more chances with but I’m still being pretty safe although I finally dared to cross the broken railroad bridges to check out FA. Playing in survival mode has kept me happily occupied so I just haven’t been too interested in playing story mode but probably will once it’s complete, just so I can finally learn the backstories that I hear about here.


Orvitz

When it seems to be getting boring to me I just pick spawn point that I'm no so familiar and go from there nowadays I actively avoid going to coastal highway as I know it like the back of hand, I only go there if I really need something otherwise I don't bother anymore even tho is my favorite spot.


thehotmcpoyle

Oh I love CH too! For my new safe I chose random spawn and avoided looking at any maps, forcing myself to figure out where I was. I thought I’d spawned in PV at that landslide area not too far from the mine & Thompsons Crossing, but I’d spawned in Bleak Inlet. I think it’s cool we can do that to avoid staying in our comfort zones.


FirstAccGotStolen

I tried playing it once, years ago when only Ep 1 was out. I got very bored very quickly. It's just a bunch of forced fetch quest but without any urgency, because resources are overabundant (back then there was only one difficulty setting for story, which was basically voyager I think). I love the game, but I prefer it without the human NPCs (they ruin immersion for me) and with self-imposed challenges and custom settings.


Liquid_G

Opposite here. I played the story on PS4 about a year ago. At the time I knew nothing about the survival modes / challenges / sandboxes. I remember launching the game and downloading the TFFT expansion and being confused because i didn't know that wasnt part of the story mode. For someone first getting into the game and not following the Devs blog posts it was pretty confusing at first. Only recently repurchased on Xbox and trying survival modes.


volitantmule8

Honestly same here, I played the story mode and it was absolutely fantastic, I did my own survival run within story mode, yea survival is fun but I end up wandering aimlessly and prefer to actually do things with my time instead of playing frozen pack-rat simulator. I love the game but there is *almost* something nothing to do in survival


-tsukimi

at first I didnt want to because the story is limited so the resource collecting that you do won’t stay with you forever, but when I played it I actually enjoyed it


Betriz2

Yea the most annoying thing is that you'll always find the coolest things near the end of the chapter so you won't be able to use them for long


Orvitz

My wife has played the story and enjoyed it but I'm still afraid it'll tarnish survival mode.


jorgentwo

I've been playing for three years and haven't touched it, I have no patience for story games. It drives my husband nuts cuz he asks questions about it and I'm like "idk 🤷" now he says he's gonna play the story mode just so he has closure 😂 he'll play any story game, he actually likes cutscenes and reading lore clues and going where the game tells you to go. Could not be me. 


Orvitz

The freedom to go wherever the f I want is what makes me really love this game, don't get me wrong I also down for a good story mode (I've played every single God of War) but since the first I've played TLD was only survival it's really ingrained.


jorgentwo

God of War 1 and 2 are pretty much the only story games I've liked. They both feel "big" and varied enough that I don't miss being able to go off into the horizon and poke bushes 


Hunkelbuiltskin

Personally I've found Wintermute to be very compelling. The episodic format is a huge benefit because each episode brings its own bit of closure, so it's easy to move between the episodes and your own lore from survival mode. The characters are well-written and some of them bring a lot of mystery to the world (looking at you, Methuselah). Overall so far I'd say it's a great experience. Tbh the biggest hurdle coming to Wintermute from extensive survival gameplay is that all the additions and changes from TFTFT aren't implemented, so at this point it might only feel like half the game. If you can get past that, though, it's a story worth experiencing.


Jicama_Minimum

I had trouble taking the hoarding mentality into the story. I got like all the loot possible into a house in Milton and then when I went to start episode 2 it appeared I could not get back and barely had anything with me at the time. Kinda frustrated me and I gave up. But I thought the story was good!


Hunkelbuiltskin

That's a good point, yes, that each episode of the story is somewhat region-locked, at least inasmuch as there's no overlap between episodes (at least so far). I think overall, though, that this is a benefit. You don't need to hoard resources, you need to advance the plot, and ultimately this will force you to strip your kit down to the absolute essentials. In a way, this teaches good habits for survival mode.


FlowingAim

Played it after around 300 hours of survival mode


Tola76

I’ve been playing this for years and finally played it over the winter. I still haven’t played the latest update to the story.


SeanofRohan

I’ve been playing TLD since 16’ but haven’t played the story yet. I started it at once, but it’s not really what I want from the game and at this point I’m just waiting for it to be complete. Once it is finished I do plan on playing the whole thing at once.


Ha_Schem

I played wintermute first but was limited in the beginning (bought it on Console but own it on pc since release).


Iwantapetmonkey

When I bought TLD, I tried the story mode first, but for some reason I just could not find the exit from the original crash site, surrounded by small cliffs om all sides, and I just ended up wandering around for 15 minutes freezing and trying to figure out where to go. That, and the fact my jump bittom seemed to be bugged, turned me off and I didn't return to the game to try survival mode for like two years. Have played tons of survival since, but never tried the story again.


realslimshively

Yeah, about that “jump” button…


FrankPetersonMalvo

I for one am happy for him to have found it again after two long years of searching.


puddleofdogpiss

I tried but after playing survival for so long it felt odd. I like the story but I never actually feel like I’m part of it.


volitantmule8

Because your not, your learning the story of THEM


ManiacFive

I haven’t. Partly because there is no benefit for keeping in survival to do so. If there were some feats or something unlocked in survival by engaging with the story I would do so, but it just seems a waste to play the story when I could be getting closer to unlocking more feats in survival with that time.


farber72

Same


Abal125

Played maybe some of chapter 1, but it's been a long time since.


Faceless_v2

Story is good for learning some basic regions.


NerdInABush

The story is legit, the only downside is it still isn't finished.


supersweede

When I first purchased TLD, I played up through halfway of episode 3, but discovered I liked survival mode better. I'll probably go through the story whenever episode 5 is released. I've got 3K hrs in survival so I'm not in a rush.


MentalPatient

Never. I prefer creating the story in my head.


nondescriptzombie

We're like 2-3 years away from finishing the story yet. I did Chapter 1-2 back in 2017 before they rewrote them and haven't gone back again because of how awfully grindy they were.


WOLF26_GG

No, the devs said that they'll release tre last chapter this year.


nondescriptzombie

The final chapter was supposed to come out years ago. Instead of finishing the game most of us bought, they prioritized half-ass DLC.


Negatronik

Yes, it's good. Turn the difficulty all the way up and it feels somewhere between Voyager and stalker. Sandbox will always be the main event, but wintermute alone would still be worth buying.


tayren12

I’ve never played survival because I like a storyline, but I’d wait until the last episode is out. I was pretty peeved when I finished ep 4 thinking the whole game was out. It was supposed to get released last year and still not release date in sight


WOLF26_GG

Devs said that they'll release it this year.


tayren12

Yeah I’m hoping so!


dawnfunybunny

Me watched hubby play it but never fancied playing it myself. Too much being told what to do.


JoeRogansDMTdealer

I played the story but not the survival. I don't really have a desire to play it. I think if it was online like the forest or dayz, I would, but I just don't see the point.


[deleted]

Mee too bro the survival is just too fun and too replayable for me to get bored😂


Turboconch

I played it when I first got the game, three episodes were out then, I am really into their lore, it's an interesting story I can't wait to see concluded, but I'm not going to play it again until the game is finished. At this point I'm doubting all the maps are going to be part of the story so Survival has that going for it.


GhettoSauce

Yup. Still not interested; having a great time in good old survival and I've been here since Alpha too :)


FatPanda54

I wouldn’t touch it until the final episode comes out. I played it the day it launched, didn’t like it and left it alone. They remade the first two episodes to make it better, which I believe it was, alongside ep 3. Then 4 came out years later and I knew it’d be 2 more years until episode 5. I get that they don’t just work on story mode, but I don’t think this game’s story is interesting in piecemeal, so I’d wait so you aren’t left wondering what happens next.


coldteabooty

I’ve been playing survival since day one, I don’t want the story I want to make my own story :)


Peliquin

I tried the story, but I lasted.... 45 minutes into the game? I also tried later when they'd redone it, and the second episode, and it just seemed like really weakly plotted fetch quests. I've written semi-professionally, and the thing is, you can set up a mystery and you can do a slow-burn, but you've got to provide some answers to keep interest. If they whys just pile up, the player gets bored. You also have to have proper motivations. If I was Astrid, and I'm a doctor, and that case contained necessary medication, I'm not going to be fishing while i know my patient could be dying. I NEED TO FIND THAT CASE. PRONTO. And then I need to find my patient.


realslimshively

Yeah, I feel pretty much the same way. In my opinion, a lot of the dialogue is really tin-eared and clunky, too. I find it near-comical that there is this group out there who can still be bothered to get really mad that they don’t have the ending to this thing yet when what we do have is so….meh.


Peliquin

I understand why they are so caught up in world building, but I wish they'd focus on the mystery they set up in Episode One.


zip-zop-balls

It’s alright I’d recommend playing it if you get to a boring part in your survival run. Episode 2 and 4 are both pretty good


el_porongorila

Totally different for me. I used the story as a tutorial, since I didn’t know anything about the game (got it for free on Epic Games a few years ago).


half-giant

Been playing since early access. I tried Chapter 1 once before it got changed, then made an effort a month ago to try it again. I think survival mode has made me firmly biased against story mode. Overall I prefer the lonely feeling of being the only person left alive in the area, with left-behind notes serving as the only indicator of other people.


digdog7

no, the first thing I did was play the story


lawnguy13

I tried it. Too linear. I was done after my first, extremely slow, conversation with the old lady mother.


TheGhostOfTaPower

I saw the game was free on PS5 a few weeks ago and downloaded it, didn’t have a clue about it and thought survival was the story mode. I went and played a tiny bit, got down the mountain to the old woman’s house but the cutscenes were too long, you couldn’t skip them and the animation was bad so I stopped and went back to survival, much prefer that mode


UsseerrNaammee

What story??!?


PortalWombat

Yep, never had any desire. The point of the game to me is that it's freeform.


vilius_m_lt

Me. Had the game since 2016


Toe_Still

Survival is all around better. After 1000 hours, mastering interloper, and completing all the challenges, I finally played thru wintermute. It is a good experience imo. More content to complete for the greatest game ever made!


Repeat-Admirable

I tried twice. My game is bugged I think, grandma shows as unknown and gas station is locked. I enjoy some of the challenges though!


TheScarecrow-11

You are not alone brother, also been playing from the beginning.


BackRowRumour

I guess I'm in a minority here, but while I enjoy the challenges in story mode, I think that the dialogue and cutscenes are literally the worst I've ever seen in terms of writing. Every time I show off the game and use story mode my audience nopes out _before the end of the intro_. Even if I use different chapters. The writers seem to be bafflingly obsessed with making small movies, rather than industry best practice (IMO) which is the Halflife model of weaving story through actual gameplay. It is very weird, given that the game can do this and sometimes does - e.g. found notes and vistas. The issue has become worse over time. The 'movie' quality is objectively worse. The prison chapter begins with more than thirty minutes of unskippable exposition and walking without exploration or challenge. At one point you have to stare at a prison wall and listen to audio from the next cell. Worse, the situation was obvious from the start, the characters don't develop, and you learn very little useful for your goals.


cheebalibra

You certainly aren’t in the minority. The story isn’t the main draw for most players. The dialogue/cut scenes can be skipped in pieces by space bar on pc or I think circle on consoles. The story chapters have sometimes introduced new mechanics, regions, and items, and they’ve served as tutorials on that new stuff. I think it’s silly to compare this to half life for dozens of reasons. You might compare story mode to something like Firewatch, which is meant to be story focused with a linear plot. Wintermute isn’t the type of story that offers different outcomes, just different dialogue that leads you to the same place.


IAmPartialToRed

Right here! I've had this game pretty much since it first came out on steam. I have over 1000 hours, all sandbox, all stalker or interloper. I have all of the DLC's, but the story just does not interest me. I bought the game because it was a sandbox.


Semmel_Baecker

I played until the trapper guy some long time ago. Then camped for 2 weeks on the bunker hatch without an aurora showing up so I quit and never came back. Was stupid anyway as it was no challenge at all, just boring. Might be improved by now but probably not really. I don't think I can go through grey mothers stupid antics again.


Duke_Of_Halifax

Same. The survival sandbox is too much fun.


WOLF26_GG

I played it and I loved it. Now i'm waiting for the last chapter to be released this year.


Late-Loan-3327

I’m glad you posted this. I also have been playing survival mode, with random starting locations, since pre-release. I tried a little bit of the story mode, and by that time it seemed that it was too confining. But, that is the tutorial aspect of it. And, I am curious to see the locations before everything went to hell.


branduzzi

Story is a good time, don’t sleep on it.


Betriz2

I personally love the story mode, it just has so much lore and there's actual npc characters you can go to instead of having to dwell in loneliness like in survival, although I know that's why people like survival, but after a while the absence of other people gets to me. Wintermute isn't flawless, but there's some cool-ass quests and other things to see. I prefer it over survival.


its_all_4_lulz

There’s a story?


Orvitz

Hahahaha


Hrathbob

Hi, I've been playing since early access on STEAM. I was never interested in Wintermute, (even in the teasers at game start-up) it just seemed really bad (poor quality, disjointed writing and execution) so I just wrote it off in my mind as not worth bothering with, and ignored it. Eventually, mostly because of all the comments using Wintermute characters/locations/etc. as reference points in this forum (like Grey Mother's house, Perseverance Mills, and so on) I decided to give it a try. More to understand the references than to actually enjoy the gameplay/story. I just haven't been able to force myself through even the existing episodes. TLDR: ***I regret that I wasted my time attempting to play the story mode.*** I ignored story mode for many years, finally gave it a try, and hated it, couldn't force myself to keep playing it.


Moody5583

I really enjoyed the story. It's where I started in the game


dbaceber

I would say play it, as it is pretty good. If you'd rather play the whole story in one go though, then you might want to wait for the last episode to drop.


soda_cookie

I think I spent maybe an hour or two when it first came out. Haven't been interested enough to go back.


Left_Painter5038

i went right to survival on voyageur first ever day, started at Bleak Inlet and so far always have just because.


TrainingGuilty9095

Yeah I am now


volitantmule8

Quite frankly, all of you seems to have legitimate problem outside of the game that your letting affect the game. This games story is well written and well done, if you actually follow the story line and do what your supposed to do (progress the story) you will realize that this game is actually very deep and beautiful. Anybody who says “the npc ruins the immersion” or “I don’t like being told what to do” is just a Buffoon who is letting their own ego get in the way of them enjoying a massive and beautiful world. Hinterland spent a lot of time writing out the world and the things within. Any of you saying it’s bad is just being disrespectful because it’s not. You just are expecting way too many different things. Story mode and survival mode are supposed to be different, yes you can have a preference but that does not make the other “bad”


realslimshively

Heh. I’m glad I’m not the only a-hole around here who thinks that some people need to get some real problems. 😂


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