Said before, and I do again: The Unity Version is incomparably better than the old version. Easily mops the ground with its Java face!
However, there are a few great features from the old game that are yet to come back to the new one, and would surely make it even greater. There is the list:
- With the many more cooking options we have now, two great items to have back are the grill and the smoker. They are must-haves for the perfect barbecue! The latter being a top gear. One of the few high points of the Java Version was using the smoker, completed with an interactable lid that we could close and see the smoke coming from the pipe. We could almost smell the sweet cooking meat!
- On combat, Java Version also topped. We already got almost every sword and one morningstar, but with the many beasts, enemies and monsters we already have, there is more than enough reasons for all the weapons of the previous game to come back. For this, I mean from the wooden club to the many axes, battle axes, maces, and battle hammers we had! They are just too epic to skip! And let's not forget the other two bows. Naturally, the uncraftable ones should be kept this way, so then we would have even more reasons to hunt for POIs, as well as venturing into the upcoming dungeons. Maybe this all have already been confirmed to come back in a Combat Update of sorts, but just in case...
- When it comes to exploring, the flare from the old game would be extremely useful! Imagine how easier it would be to check unexplored caves, in special those deep, water-flooded ones, with this tool at hand!
- Java Version used to have some nice clothing as well. We already have some nice armour options, but getting the military set back would be good for some modern fashion option. Other item that would help a lot now is the Heat Protection suit, once we now have have reasons to explore the underworld, and its heat is a pain to endure. Other vests that could return are the Hazmat, cool by itself and useful in case we eventually get nuclear power (or some sort of radioactive biomes or ruins one day, which would not be a bad idea), as well as the "camuflage" vest, aka the plant suit, that was fun to wear, but could be turned into something useful in Unity Version, such as providing concealment against animals and enemies.
- At the subject of decoring, Java Version yet has some advantages. But one of the most notable aspects is the presence of indoor lamp options. There were many nice lights available, such as long ceiling lamps, hanging bulbs, table lamps of many kinds, even a golden chandeleir! At the new version, on the other hand, we have mostly flame-based light sources, with only two or three Electric light around. So, re-introducing these items is a welcome even of options.
- Speaking of light, the torch holders, both wood and metal, were a great tool for ilumination and cave mapping at the old game. The garden torches work fine, but those holders were a lot more practical to use, as any surface held them. As of now, we only have a "pre-made" holder, that even forces us to spend a torch permanently on it, preventing further reuse, and can only be made of metal, instead of both metal or wood. So, it would be very helpful if such items were brought back, just like they used to be.
- A small feature, but the traffic cones, boom barriers and road delineadora would be great items to have again in the game. At least, when cars get introduced, so then we would have a more meaningful use for these.
- Now, on mobs. The Unity Version already beats Java Version when it comes to wildlife, in both especies and behavior. However, there are some good mobs that are still missing: Giraffes, tigers and leopards. I know the hot region already has its fair share of mobs, and more work should be put into the cold region instead, as it's the "deadest" we have so far. But still, these were nice touches to the scenery of the legacy game, and would bring even more life and excitement to the savannas of the new version. Or, in the tigers case, maybe to the jungles of it, as these are the most common habitat for these animals.
- For last, despite of all the many POIs we have now, something I still miss a lot are the abandoned cabins of the Java Version. The devs should bring these back at a later patch as a new POI (not as a dungeon), as such constructions fit perfectly with the somewhat post-apocalyptic game world we now have. Moreover, they had a whole charm of their own, with the decaying furniture we could only find in them, featuring even a still playable piano! So please, bring these back! Excluding them from the new game would be a crime.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list. There are surely some other features, mostly furniture, that would also be nice to get back, but I am not going after each one. If you feel there is something else missing, feel free to list on the comments.
I also skipped features whose return has already been confirmed by the devs, such as the other firearms.
That's all I can tell by now. Hope this reminder helps making the game even better. And as was said, if you miss something else from the old game that has not been listed, please contribute.
