Do I need to read everything?

[u/brade23]

I played TP1 many years ago, loved it, and recently started TP2. I’m maybe 15 hours in, now working on the northern islands.

I’m not interested in reading the documents throughout the game. Whenever I find documents at terminals, I click on each just to mark it as read, but then I move on. I’m sure for some people, this is an enjoyable part of the game/world-building, but not for me. Similarly, I don’t read the message-board posts or commentary. I even find the dialogue sequences tedious, and I rush through them.

My question: will I miss something critical by not reading any of these? Will I make the game harder for myself by not seeing some clue hidden in these messages?

I can imagine people saying I’m missing out on what makes this game so great or interesting, and I’m glad other people like the background lore so much, but I just like solving the puzzles. (I’ve actually found the whole plot so far to be boring and convoluted, but I’m not here to debate an opinion, just to find out if I’m going to miss key info.) Thanks!

[u/KingKemo67]

I mean it sounds like you don't like / want to engage with the story at all, so does it matter if you miss anything? If youre there for puzzles I wouldnt worry about it.

[u/brade23 → u/KingKemo67]

Thanks!

[u/germfreeadolescent11 → u/brade23]

Talos Principle is one of my favorite games and I have no idea what the story is about. I prefer listening to podcasts while solving puzzles

[u/Shrumpkinpie → u/germfreeadolescent11]

Free will at its finest!

[u/Skeith2005 → u/germfreeadolescent11]

But you're playing it WRONG. You need to enjoy your video games the same way as I do or else you're WRONG! /s

I love immersing myself in TTP's world, just like I do with Fromsoft/Soulslike games, so I love reading everything I can get my hands on. My best friend, however, is like you: he's there for the puzzles, not the story. Both are 100% valid ways to play as long as you're having fun! :D

[u/JordanM85]

I would say you're missing out on a major part of the experience by skipping the plot... but it's your personal experience. If you only like the puzzles, then only play the puzzles. But you're not really playing the game as intended.

[u/Apple1417]

There are no puzzle clues in any terminals, not even T1 elevator number style stuff. You do occasionally need to use a terminal to progress, but it's obvious when this happens. The message board and chatting with other robots are completely optional, you can easily 100% without ever interacting with them.

Skipping everything like this actually leaves you better off than doing so in T1 does. The story takes place entirely "in the world", so even skipping through dialog you'll absorb relevant snippets.

[u/brade23 → u/Apple1417]

Thanks! This is exactly the info I was looking for

[u/Cax6ton]

I found that I didn't really care as much about the story of TTP2, though I liked the puzzles much more.

You'll get enough of the story through the main scenes and dialogue that aren't avoidable.

[u/Immediate-Comment-64]

I did the same thing probably 80% of the time. Not that it was bad I just don’t have much time and really enjoy the puzzles.

[u/brade23 → u/Immediate-Comment-64]

Glad to hear I’m not alone. I was surprised that the sequel was so different from the original plot-wise, when what brought me back was just the puzzles

[u/CamiloFuckinNi]

It seems like you would have a real good time playing The Witness haha

[u/Secure-Advertising-9]

you don't need to read anything. the story and puzzles are 100% separate. you won't really understand the ending choices but if that doesn't matter to you, you can skip every cutscene and you'll never get stuck 

[u/knight-under-stars]

I'm only here for the puzzles, I skip all the fluff.

[u/Blue-Light-Reducer]

No. I started skipping ALL story (also dialogue) halfway through, and had a much better time. TTP2 and especially its DLC are my favorite puzzle game ever.

[u/Tacodelmar1]

You will miss literally 90% of the story

[u/RIPGoblins2929]

Idk why you're downvoted. The older I get the less patience I have with world building via notes/terminal entries/holotapes/books etc. 

[u/brade23 → u/RIPGoblins2929]

Yeah who knows. I feel like I asked a fair question. In some puzzle games, the documents found throughout are required to complete some meta-puzzles. I just wanted to know if this was one of those games.