I know lots of folks have chimed in, so I won't repeat much of what's already been posted. But I'm currently going back through all my old QFG games and I'm remembering just how much of a pain the old combat iterations became after a while. As the game play continued on through 3 and 4 I started going on auto pilot and eventually did just that for QFG 4. When the combat is just too clunky or requires constant grinding I eventually loose interest in fighting. By contrast I enjoyed the heck out of the Star Wars combat and I play the Modern Warfare series like it's my second job, so I do enjoy fighting games from time-to-time.
The reason I write all this, is that the combat here had (unfortunately) very much the same feel as the QFG 3 or 4 combat modules where I was either avoiding combat all together or would just let the computer handle the work so I could get back to adventuring. I never quite felt like I was in control of the fight, and the cramped screen space made it feel like I was playing an old Atari game with supremely good graphics. So far, the fighting goes something like this: cast spell(s) until the enemy closes the distance, run to opposite corer of the screen, cast spell(s) until the enemy closes the distance, lather, rinse, repeat..... Even with the larger group it all felt a little tedious.
I'll grant you, I'm probably part of the older generation of gamer, so I may not speak for the younger group that may not have a problem with the interface, but for my part it took away from what is otherwise a breathtakingly beautiful game. Even so, you could keep the combat the way it is currently and I'd still feel like I'd gotten more than my money's worth out of the game. The combat is my own little nitpick.
The reason I write all this, is that the combat here had (unfortunately) very much the same feel as the QFG 3 or 4 combat modules where I was either avoiding combat all together or would just let the computer handle the work so I could get back to adventuring. I never quite felt like I was in control of the fight, and the cramped screen space made it feel like I was playing an old Atari game with supremely good graphics. So far, the fighting goes something like this: cast spell(s) until the enemy closes the distance, run to opposite corer of the screen, cast spell(s) until the enemy closes the distance, lather, rinse, repeat..... Even with the larger group it all felt a little tedious.
I'll grant you, I'm probably part of the older generation of gamer, so I may not speak for the younger group that may not have a problem with the interface, but for my part it took away from what is otherwise a breathtakingly beautiful game. Even so, you could keep the combat the way it is currently and I'd still feel like I'd gotten more than my money's worth out of the game. The combat is my own little nitpick.