Should "Fast Traverse" become the standard speed?

[Dingaling]

Using the Anni. controls, "Fast Traverse" is when you press Triangle (PS2)/Square (PSP)/Y (Xbox 360)/E (PC) when you're shimmying around ledges, climbing up columns, poles and ladders to move faster.

I usually always use "Fast Traverse" nowadays except for the times when I'm wanting to take in all the environment and just have a slow ride through the level. What's the positives and negatives of having "Fast Traverse" as the 'standard speed'? Would you get annoyed having to press the appropriate button to slow her down or do you think the game would benefit from it? Would the developers make the game bigger and longer because the standard speed is faster? How many of you use "Fast Traverse" the majority of the time? (Could that question be made a poll if possible?) Do you like the idea of "Fast Traverse" in the first place or do you think it should be scrapped?

I'm thinking some of you will say people that use FT are rushing through the game and I don't think that's necessarily the point. They've gave the option, why force yourself not to use it to make the experience longer? If you don't use it are you deliberately trying to make the game longer?

In Anni. using FT or not, the game still clocks in a good 10 hours first time through (more probably if you use the standard speed and not FT).

Questions, questions. I want answers, answers :D.

[silver_wolf]

nah. if it was you could overshoot it and traverse right into some dart or blade trap.

[fondantcookie]

NO !!

IMO they should get rid of 'fast-traverse' alltogether...

Theres nothing wrong with the usual speed of traversal !

:wve:

Nothing at all !!!

[Limblifter]

Keep it. It involves the player more than if it was just holding the analog stick/arrow key to the side for x amount of time.

[Sir Croft]

Not as the standart speed, but I'd say to keep it. I can't see any reason to take it, you use it only if you want.

[hollowkatt]

I think the only reason that they put that into the game in the first place is so that the player would feel rushed when they were traversing collapsable ledges.
I don't think it really adds anything to the game other than a forced sense of urgency.
They could have accomplished that in different ways I think

[Twilight]

Keep it. It involves the player more than if it was just holding the analog stick/arrow key to the side for x amount of time.

in some commentary thing for TRL, they said that it would feel more interactive and less tedious. and if u've been to an area before, u can use it to speed it up a bit.

they should keep it, but change the animation. she looks like a monkey.

[MiCkiZ88]

I'd like it to be limited. Just like the sprint in the classics. You can only sprint for a limited time, or, like in tr iv you can sprint and then do short spurts if the cauge hasn't filled. Would make it more interesting imo.

[domina]

No, I don't think it should become the standard. Like others have mentioned, I do think actually pressing the button repeatedly feels more interactive and in a sort of way, mimics the efforts that Lara herself is taking to move quicker.

[Jin Uzuki]

I think "Fast Traverse" offers quite some variety in environmental puzzles, especially those which are timed. In cases such as the timed puzzle in the Great Pyramid in TRA, you'll really have to resort to "Fast Traverse", but then, in other more ordinary yet mind-boggling puzzles, you CAN opt NOT to use it. Its being optional is variety enough, I think, and the fact that there's more interactivity (pressing a button repeatedly to make her move faster) and that it adds more variety to puzzles make me really want to keep it for future installments. Who knows, there might be "Fast Traverse" not only for shimmying but also running in TR8 which will be accordingly called sprint? :whi:

[Mona Sax]

I think it's perfect the way it is now. You can always speed it up when Lara's moving too slow for your taste, and the FT controls are comfortable enough to not be an unnecessary pain in the ass. We have a choice, and IMO that's always a good thing. Personally I think Lara is already a bit too fast and strong, especially when climbing, which causes the infamous 'Monkey Lara' appearance. Making FT her normal speed would make that even worse.
I'd like it to be limited. Just like the sprint in the classics. You can only sprint for a limited time, or, like in tr iv you can sprint and then do short spurts if the cauge hasn't filled. Would make it more interesting imo.
That's a good idea, it would add a strategic element (especially if combined with sprinting - Do you hurry up all the time and risk running out of breath in a heated battle or do you play it safe, conserving your energy?). Personally I'd do it without a special meter, just by Lara breathing more heavily and slowing down as she's more and more exhausted. Meters make a game less realistic and disturb the feeling of immersion.

[BlackGrey]

I think Mickiz's idea is good :tmb:

[Encore]

I'd like it to be limited. Just like the sprint in the classics. You can only sprint for a limited time, or, like in tr iv you can sprint and then do short spurts if the cauge hasn't filled. Would make it more interesting imo.

What a great idea!

[Alex Fly]

I like the system how it is in Legend and Anniversary, sometimes I use it, and sometimes not, I like having this option and they should keep it. Replacing the normal movements by these would make her moving too fast, that would look weird IMO. It's better to keep the original and the possibility to go faster if you want by pressing a button.

It's always good to have the choice but anyway MiCkiZ's idea is very interesting. :tmb:

[Laras Backpack]

I think "Fast Traverse" offers quite some variety in environmental puzzles, especially those which are timed. In cases such as the timed puzzle in the Great Pyramid in TRA, you'll really have to resort to "Fast Traverse", but then, in other more ordinary yet mind-boggling puzzles, you CAN opt NOT to use it.
I agree with you. Though I'd like some of Lara's animations to be improved, I do like the optional aspect of the FT. It can be useful when the game involves a lot of trial and error with regards to Lara's acrobatics. :)

I'd like it to be limited. Just like the sprint in the classics. You can only sprint for a limited time, or, like in tr iv you can sprint and then do short spurts if the cauge hasn't filled. Would make it more interesting imo.

Personally I'd do it without a special meter, just by Lara breathing more heavily and slowing down as she's more and more exhausted. Meters make a game less realistic and disturb the feeling of immersion.
^ I like these ideas. :tmb: I feel the same way with Lara's 'last minute grab'. The big triangle button indicator often got on my nerves because I could clearly see from Lara's movements that she was about to fall. So a limited allowance for speed that can be used strategically and the use of Lara's animations and breathing to show how much energy she has for such excersions is a great idea IMO.

[MiCkiZ88]

That's a good idea, it would add a strategic element (especially if combined with sprinting - Do you hurry up all the time and risk running out of breath in a heated battle or do you play it safe, conserving your energy?). Personally I'd do it without a special meter, just by Lara breathing more heavily and slowing down as she's more and more exhausted. Meters make a game less realistic and disturb the feeling of immersion.That's an even better idea. True, dozens of gauges make the game feel more arcady (which I hate in a game like tomb raider). Maybe if you continue pushing her over the limit like sprinting and fast traversing even after when she has slowed down, she would eventually start to drag. The screen could go
slightly blurry and you would hear her breathing heavily. And since the game is going to be next gen, why not sweat? She could wipe the sweat off her forehead.

I have way too many ideas now.. I just wish Eidos/Crystal would make the game harder somehow. Limit the usage of the fast traverse and other sprinting abilities.

[RAID]

Should "Fast Traverse" become the standard speed?

Absolutely NOT!!!

It's welcome to stay, as long as optional.

[Cochrane]

In my personal opinion, it needs to be changed, because it's pointless to have two different speeds without any penalty for using the faster one. Having only limited fast-traversal (as with sprint in the classics) might be a good idea.

[illuminati30]

No! :p

With the Wii version, you have to shake the nunchuck from side to side. This is how it should be! If you want Lara to move through the environment quicker than she already does, you should at least be prepared to expend some energy! Have we become so lazy, we can not be bothered to press a button?

This feature needs to go for the swimming though, it is already hard enough, and the breathe time needs expanded!

[KIKO]

I don't agree, taking the faster travessing move would take interactivity and that isn't welcome. The faster travessing should be in the game. First it is good for the time trials and second because again it gives more interactivity. So if you somebody doesn't want to shimmy faster just don't press the E button.

[AODdigger]

Leave fast traverse as it is... Pressing rappidly ;) Same with Swimming ;)

[Blackmoor]

Absolutely no way should fast traverse become normal speed. She goes too fast as it now.

I want to feel like I'm walking (or running) through an environment. In the real world it takes time and effort to do these things... they should honour that fact in the game.

[the hooliganz]

I'd like it to be limited. Just like the sprint in the classics. You can only sprint for a limited time, or, like in tr iv you can sprint and then do short spurts if the cauge hasn't filled. Would make it more interesting imo.

Great idea!