Monster design.

[Trex_Crazy]

So this is more a feedback thing but obviously interested in others opinions as well. I absolutely love the monster design, from their look (mostly, well get to that in a second) to noises, etc. 

So starting with their graphic design I love the rusty/grey molted flesh thing they have going on. the only enemy I am not gushing over its design is the regular surface drifter, I don't think its bad because while it is very basic it does make the other variations more visually impactful and easier to discern. (sometimes I mistake a deep bowtorn for a surface bowtorn)

Onto the, in my opinion, more important things I like about them. Firstly is sound design, I enjoy that every type of monster sounds different and that there are specific audio cues for them as well (I immediately jump into alert mode once I hear the spotted/aiming noise of the bowtorn) I also enjoy that their design is very unique and unnatural and not too loud. For example in minecraft unless youve got a xylophone mod its pretty clear when there's a skeleton about. But with VS you'll tune out crickets/water/wind/etc but then youll hear a faint noise, usually too quiet do discern what exactly made the noise but it just sounds off and puts you into defense mode. 

I always keep my chestplate in my hotbar because of the severe (its bronze plate) hunger penalty (considering making a plate and chain set, despite the high resource cost, and switching to plate when I know theres a fight and the chain being emergency if I get caught off guard) so the second I hear something I put it on. Which eventually, because of the good sound design means I am sometimes jumping at shadows. because youll be listening for the noise youll either mishear something or your brain will just say "uhh you definitely heard a noise" even if you didnt.

But the sound design extends further. So I was mining iron, hematite to be exact, and I was about Y 3 or 4 and I (unwisely) don't use torches because they burn out and it is a waste of resources. now idk what it is and am not keen on finding out any time soon but some thing started making an awful noise, in a good way that the noise was something that immediately said "you're screwed", then followed by like 4 nightmare drifters (and a little spider? idk whats up with him) rocking up and killing me

But by far my absolute favorite thing about the enemies (including bears/wolves) is that they have behaviors besides "wander" and "kill". I enjoy when the world feels like it doesn't revolve around me. seeing a shiver baning his head inti the floor (idk what he's tring to accomplish with that though) or seeing a drifter cowering in a corner, etc. I like that the enemies feel like they're just doing their own thing going about their day (or night as it were). I also enjoy that mid combat enemies will start fighting eachother if they accident hit the other. during a temporal storm had a deep drifter throw a rock and hit a drifter with lots of metal coming out of him and immediately turn around and murder him instantly. 

All in all my point is I love the monsters designs, good work and I am excited to see whats next. Its clear this ganr is made with passion.

[FemboyDominator]

12 hours ago, Trex_Crazy said:

seeing a shiver baning his head inti the floor (idk what he's tring to accomplish with that though)

I reckon it's a result of them becoming self aware for a second. I mean, I sure wouldn't like it if I realized I'm a mangled shell of a man walking on all fours lol

[Maelstrom]

On 5/27/2025 at 4:04 AM, Trex_Crazy said:

But the sound design extends further. So I was mining iron, hematite to be exact, and I was about Y 3 or 4 and I (unwisely) don't use torches because they burn out and it is a waste of resources. now idk what it is and am not keen on finding out any time soon but some thing started making an awful noise, in a good way that the noise was something that immediately said "you're screwed", then followed by like 4 nightmare drifters (and a little spider? idk whats up with him) rocking up and killing me

But by far my absolute favorite thing about the enemies (including bears/wolves) is that they have behaviors besides "wander" and "kill". I enjoy when the world feels like it doesn't revolve around me. seeing a shiver baning his head inti the floor (idk what he's tring to accomplish with that though) or seeing a drifter cowering in a corner, etc. I like that the enemies feel like they're just doing their own thing going about their day (or night as it were). I also enjoy that mid combat enemies will start fighting eachother if they accident hit the other. during a temporal storm had a deep drifter throw a rock and hit a drifter with lots of metal coming out of him and immediately turn around and murder him instantly. 

All in all my point is I love the monsters designs, good work and I am excited to see whats next. Its clear this ganr is made with passion.

Yeah.  After playing this game for 4 years those bells still elicit a panicked quickening of the heart rate as fight or flight mode engages in -0.25 seconds!

I love the little things Tyron throws in the game.  Like drifters occassionally stopping their meandering and bowing on the ground.  The shivers doing something similar.  There's also skipping stones on water, playing a resonator near a rift (or during a storm) and other little easter eggs.

[MagpieOAO]

I also like the variation in the critters too! Seeing some crawl and some walk and some run and even ran into some variation of surface shiver, some with face like an alligator and some the 4 way splitjaw was very spooky (Then I killed it with one rock from a sling, wat). 

I hope they continue to expand but especially into water critters. The lakes and rivers feel far too safe... >_>

 

[Maelstrom]

1.20 was supposed to have coral reefs and more, but the dramatic increase in sales diverted some of the development to performance based efforts.  Expect livelier water environs in 1.21.