Thank you, Ubisoft, for the GRB Open BETA Test; I enjoyed it!
GFX Settings: PC with M/KB for controls. GRB ran smoothly with no noticeable frame drops @ 2K rez @ 144Hz (27” G Sync display; V Sync turned off); @ Ultra settings with motion blur off, AF set to 16X; brightness reduced to 38%; with out of date Nvidia 431.60 drivers.
System Specs: Win 10 Home 64
i7 8700K OCed to 4.7GHz on turbo
240mm CPU AIO/4 120mm fans
ASUS Z370H MB
32GB DDR 4 3000 RAM
ASUS RTX 2080Ti (stock clocks)
Creative Sound Blaster Z into HT System
SATA 3 OS & Storage SSDs
GFX Suggestion: Please give us the option of turning off the DARN vignetting! It is REALLY annoying!
Settings & Difficulty: I played solo exclusively (Panther based character) on Extreme. I used a custom HUD with the vast majority of it turned off. NO enemy markers, incoming fire, tagging, detection meter etc. I used the Recon Drove extensively to identify features, ingress/egress points, external defensive positions, static and mobile enemy etc. Using terrain features to stalk and pounce, on small static positions/patrols, checkpoints, and small unknown structures. Using terrain features to approach camps/facilities, Recon Drone as noted above, “neutralization” of overwatch. I found Extreme to be challenging but doable; excepting Tiered Areas I was barred from due to “my level”.
Connectability: I experienced some “minor” connectability issues at Open BETA start up. In pleasant contrast to the Closed BETA—I DID NOT experience any loss of server connection through my three days of testing!
However, I remain totally unimpressed with the online always requirement.
Game World: Game GFX appeared to be further refined since the Closed BETA and looked very good on my system. I noticed more wild life in the OB; adding a more natural feel to Auroa. Ambient and positional sound over my system was excellent! I could hear footsteps approaching, and in several situations noticed shadows approaching corners; behind vehicles etc. +1 Vehicle sounds in most cases continue to be not so good.
Character: The new movement implementation was welcome; especially the reduction in character inertia. Stopping appeared more natural, and allowed me to more precisely position my character on ledges, roof edges, drop offs etc! +1
Character Requests: Please import the male and female faces and hairstyles from GRW and add them to the current GRB heads and faces to allow us more choice. Being able to use my character from GRW would give a bit more continuity to GRB as well! More colorful arm tattoos would be welcome; the current crop though well done; look like a bunch of dark brooding prison tats! -1
Please implement the character movement from GRW that allow us to
BACK OUR CHARACTER AWAY FROM THREATS WHILE STILL FACING THEM! Eating/Drinking & Injury/Healing Mechanisms: Considering the PR billing these features previously received they remain VERY POORLY implemented in game. I ate something ONCE in 3 days to recharge my stamina. Regenerating health mostly negates the injury/healing mechanism. These features are broken!
Azrael/QRF: Much improved from the CB! Out of 15-20 encounters: I avoided detection half the time, and was able to defeat the QRF once and nearly defeat it a second time! Much more realistic implementation; powerful and dangerous yet NOT omniscient. +1
Faction Missions: Good! +1 Excepting---the Hack the Computer; then defend against hordes of reinforcing enemies missions! -1
Bivouacs: Seemed to be up and running (had to activate them in the CB and last OTT) by default? I did not get any “activate bivouac” dialogue; nor was their any bivouac feature menu (crafting, sleeping, etc) available?
Weapons: Please fix the calibers listed for the weapons in the weapons shop.
Please list calibers correctly per weapon in game; i.e. FN FiveSeven is 5.7 x 28mm NOT 5.56. The FiveSeven should NOT sharing ammo with my 5.56 assault rifle! Jeez………………………
Please give us the real world muzzle velocities and ballistic drops your PR campaign said we’d have!
Please better balance weapon/calibers/barrel lengths vis a vis their real world counter parts!
Any weapon type firing the same cartridge from a similar barrel length should have virtually the same damage, penetration, and range!
Currently pistols, in general are OPed, assault rifle calibers are too close to the OPed pistols in damage, and the battle rifles/cartridges (7.62 x 51 NATO) have been nerfed to where there is no difference between them and their 5.56/5.45 little brothers. This stuff is easy to look up and calculate; please fix! TY!
Please give us more pistol (and submachine gun) type and caliber choice! How about some .40 S & W and 10mm auto chamberings? TY!
Please eliminate the nerf of any of GRB’s weapons when equipped with a suppressor! TY!
NPC Interaction: I may have missed this in the CB, or perhaps you improved this since then. Either way; I’m able to briefly question a fair few Auroa local NPCs about the location of bivouacs, sites, etc. This is a very welcome feature, and adds some immersion to GRB. +1
It would be nice if we could engage in similar interaction with more of the Skell Tech NPCs (I only noticed this capability with a couple that were germane to completing specific missions).
Erewhon: While it is well done and pretty—it remains a very poor design choice for solo players and runs totally counter to the game premise of very few survivors from the failed Ghost chopper insertion. -1
However, I remain totally unimpressed with the online always requirement.
