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What’s your least favourite water level?
It’sMario, isn’t it?
Whether two dimensions or three, Nintendo just can’t seem to get the plumber’s underwater escapades right.
That’s the case for me, anyway.
I’m sure some of you said theWater Temple in Ocarina of Time(not technically underwater).
If you saidTomb Raideror Sonic, I’ll allow it, but I maintain that Mario is consistently worse.
If you said Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you’re a lot older than me and are probably right.
The latest game with problematic water levels isThe Forever Winter, but not all is as it seems.
Someone get Mario Mario on the blower.
The Forever Winter has a water tank.
Or, more accurately, you do.
So far, so good.
However, it drains over time.
If you leave the game overnight?
Your water level drops by the time you sign on again the next morning.
Go a few days without playing?
I’m sorry kiddo, that water level has dropped to zero and your progress has been completely reset.
It’s infuriating, especially in what is otherwise an interesting (if slightly underbaked) game.
Tying your survival to real world timers is unfair and, more importantly, unfun.
It strikes you as a cheap trick to force engagement, to keep players coming back day after day.
If youre away from the game for a week, youll log into a weeks worth of earnings.
Players are clever enough to see through this kind of thing.
Why did I need to wash so many dishes?
Why did I sleep in?
Why did I offer the boiler repair man another coffee?
I want to manage my inventory, ensure I have enough food and ammunition.
Real life shouldn’t play any part in this world, they’re entirely separate entities.
So why should a timer tick over when we’re logged out?
The Forever Winter has launched to enough complaints that I think it will change this system.
That’s what early access is for, after all.
By this point, we’ve suffered through Jolly Roger Bay enough times that we’re practically plumbers ourselves.
This adorable adventure ticks so many of the right boxes, but deep down it is missing something.
