This is a fantastic wrap! Thanks for pulling it together.
Pumped for Dispatch, Split Fiction, Witcher 4 and the new Naughty Dog game -- though I am genuinely curious as to how many real-life brands will feature in it.
Uncharted 4 was fine, but I was over the series by that point. The Last of Us might be my choice for the single most overrated game of all time. I didn't care for it in 2013, and I still don't care for it today.
That’s so crazy because I think totally differently. The Last of Us (OG) is one of the best games ever. If not the best overall, the best regarding storytelling. And Uncharted 4 is by far the best one in the series. It’s so interesting we have such diverse views.
May I ask, are you more of a ludologist than a narrativist?
Yeah I acknowledge I'm in the minority with those views.
I don't know that I'm either explicitly, I just know when a game doesn't resonate with me personally. People forget that when Last of Us came out we had just been bombarded with zombies in media for the last decade. Shaun of the Dead, Walking Dead novels and show, Zombieland. Then Last of Us delivers spore zombies as the main enemies. So that's one issue, but also narratively, to me, the game presented little I hadn't seen before in other forms of media. It wasn't a poorly told story, but it was overly derivative and I took issue with the absurd amount of praise it received.
I don't think it's a bad game, just incredibly overrated.
I can see where you’re coming from, and understand your feelings towards it. However, I vastly disagree regarding your views on TLoU. Subjectively and objectively, I find the game astonishing and innovative. Sure it might have rooted itself within a culture that was highly saturated, but don’t you think there’s even more merit in managing to stand-out amongst the other derivative stuff so much that you are hailed as a masterpiece for many years after the zombie fad is dead underground?
I find that what TLoU did is particularly impressive, specially considering its context, but also impressive because it managed to evolve from and surpass its context. You see, a lot of critics like to praise stuff for being completely and utterly unique and I’m not saying that’s wrong, but I would also urge the average critic to consider the effort and genius required to make something new and fresh out of something old and tired.
From the little details, the seemingly meaningless pieces of interaction, to the grand way it ties its plot and themes together, everything about the game is perfectly in sync with its purpose. It is one of the rare pieces of media that I find to genuinely consider to be anywhere near “perfect.”
Sure, it’s plot might not have been anything revolutionary per se, but the way that it executed its plot is what makes TLoU so great and impactful, as millions of people around the world would testify.
I'm glad there are potentially good co-op games coming (assuming that means LOCAL co-op), but that's because gaming in our house is increasingly a family social activity. That's also where I agree with you on the new Ninja Gaiden. I don't mind the violence for myself, but that means it's not something I can take turns playing with the kids! Maybe they'll at least have the decency to have a no-gore setting.
As for co-op games, my wife and I played through "A Way Out" and had a great time, she still talks about that game and she's really not much of a gamer. But unfortunately that studio's follow-up, "It Takes Two", while not a bad game overall, was bad for us. Both because the story was way worse and because it kept asking more of her 3D platforming skills than she could deliver. These games need to be designed in a way that the stronger player can carry the weaker through the game without having to awkwardly and repeatedly hand over the controller, because I think it's pretty common than one of the two players is much more of a hardcore gamer than the other.
I love what you say about co-op games getting a lot of play in your house because gaming is a family activity. I think if I had kids, we would definitely play more co-op. Local, of course!
Shame about "It Takes Two," but I could see that being an issue in these mandatory co-op experiences. Hopefully something that will get resolved in the future.
I was stoked for all the platformers, classis beat em ups, slashers and overall just fun, less open world games this year. I actually felt excited that id be able to actually play a handful of them for that reason rather than every year watching all the trailers and feeling FOMO knowing ill never actually get to some of the bigger games
… but def witcher 4, and new naughty dog + team Ico game ftw. And lets not forget Okami!
I’ve been searching for a modern game I can stand to play. It’s difficult. Ghost of Tsushima was playable and enjoyable mostly because it was a damn movie. Any downgrade in graphics and I would have been bored to tears. I’ve heard good things about Elden Ring and that Chinese Monkey Warrior game, so I’ll try those. But I recall having a hard time keeping up with all the great games coming out in 90s/00s and now it’s all reboots and one good game every two years. Right?…
I suppose it depends on the style of game you're interested in. There are too many games to choose from now, IMO.
I think my favorite type of game falls somewhere between a low budget indie that's super short (1-2 hours long) and a AAA blockbuster that takes a million hours to complete.
That's one reason why I like Nintendo games, besides just my familiarity with the IPs. Zelda and Mario RPGs aside, most of their games are easily digestible 8-10 hour experiences that usually leave me feeling quite satisfied.
Thick as Thieves reminds me of that 8-bit Spy vs. Spy game.. and Shadow Labyrinth has the strangest incarnation of Pac-Man since his appearance in that one Adam Sandler movie.
This is a fantastic wrap! Thanks for pulling it together.
Pumped for Dispatch, Split Fiction, Witcher 4 and the new Naughty Dog game -- though I am genuinely curious as to how many real-life brands will feature in it.
Thanks for the kind words, Harrison!
If tasteful advertising can help offset some of the huge budgets for modern AAA games, I'm all for it.
So you’re telling me you didn’t like The Last of Us or Uncharted 4??? That’s crazy, bro.
Uncharted 4 was fine, but I was over the series by that point. The Last of Us might be my choice for the single most overrated game of all time. I didn't care for it in 2013, and I still don't care for it today.
That’s so crazy because I think totally differently. The Last of Us (OG) is one of the best games ever. If not the best overall, the best regarding storytelling. And Uncharted 4 is by far the best one in the series. It’s so interesting we have such diverse views.
May I ask, are you more of a ludologist than a narrativist?
Yeah I acknowledge I'm in the minority with those views.
I don't know that I'm either explicitly, I just know when a game doesn't resonate with me personally. People forget that when Last of Us came out we had just been bombarded with zombies in media for the last decade. Shaun of the Dead, Walking Dead novels and show, Zombieland. Then Last of Us delivers spore zombies as the main enemies. So that's one issue, but also narratively, to me, the game presented little I hadn't seen before in other forms of media. It wasn't a poorly told story, but it was overly derivative and I took issue with the absurd amount of praise it received.
I don't think it's a bad game, just incredibly overrated.
I can see where you’re coming from, and understand your feelings towards it. However, I vastly disagree regarding your views on TLoU. Subjectively and objectively, I find the game astonishing and innovative. Sure it might have rooted itself within a culture that was highly saturated, but don’t you think there’s even more merit in managing to stand-out amongst the other derivative stuff so much that you are hailed as a masterpiece for many years after the zombie fad is dead underground?
I find that what TLoU did is particularly impressive, specially considering its context, but also impressive because it managed to evolve from and surpass its context. You see, a lot of critics like to praise stuff for being completely and utterly unique and I’m not saying that’s wrong, but I would also urge the average critic to consider the effort and genius required to make something new and fresh out of something old and tired.
From the little details, the seemingly meaningless pieces of interaction, to the grand way it ties its plot and themes together, everything about the game is perfectly in sync with its purpose. It is one of the rare pieces of media that I find to genuinely consider to be anywhere near “perfect.”
Sure, it’s plot might not have been anything revolutionary per se, but the way that it executed its plot is what makes TLoU so great and impactful, as millions of people around the world would testify.
So yeah, let’s just just agree to disagree :)
I'm glad there are potentially good co-op games coming (assuming that means LOCAL co-op), but that's because gaming in our house is increasingly a family social activity. That's also where I agree with you on the new Ninja Gaiden. I don't mind the violence for myself, but that means it's not something I can take turns playing with the kids! Maybe they'll at least have the decency to have a no-gore setting.
As for co-op games, my wife and I played through "A Way Out" and had a great time, she still talks about that game and she's really not much of a gamer. But unfortunately that studio's follow-up, "It Takes Two", while not a bad game overall, was bad for us. Both because the story was way worse and because it kept asking more of her 3D platforming skills than she could deliver. These games need to be designed in a way that the stronger player can carry the weaker through the game without having to awkwardly and repeatedly hand over the controller, because I think it's pretty common than one of the two players is much more of a hardcore gamer than the other.
I love what you say about co-op games getting a lot of play in your house because gaming is a family activity. I think if I had kids, we would definitely play more co-op. Local, of course!
Shame about "It Takes Two," but I could see that being an issue in these mandatory co-op experiences. Hopefully something that will get resolved in the future.
I was stoked for all the platformers, classis beat em ups, slashers and overall just fun, less open world games this year. I actually felt excited that id be able to actually play a handful of them for that reason rather than every year watching all the trailers and feeling FOMO knowing ill never actually get to some of the bigger games
… but def witcher 4, and new naughty dog + team Ico game ftw. And lets not forget Okami!
That's a good point, a lot more easy to digest experiences coming soon. Except for Witcher 4 which I'm sure will be 300+hrs long, haha
I will let one pass becuz witcher 3 is one of my fave games, so I’ll def make time for it haha
I’ve been searching for a modern game I can stand to play. It’s difficult. Ghost of Tsushima was playable and enjoyable mostly because it was a damn movie. Any downgrade in graphics and I would have been bored to tears. I’ve heard good things about Elden Ring and that Chinese Monkey Warrior game, so I’ll try those. But I recall having a hard time keeping up with all the great games coming out in 90s/00s and now it’s all reboots and one good game every two years. Right?…
I suppose it depends on the style of game you're interested in. There are too many games to choose from now, IMO.
I think my favorite type of game falls somewhere between a low budget indie that's super short (1-2 hours long) and a AAA blockbuster that takes a million hours to complete.
That's one reason why I like Nintendo games, besides just my familiarity with the IPs. Zelda and Mario RPGs aside, most of their games are easily digestible 8-10 hour experiences that usually leave me feeling quite satisfied.
I can get into different kinds of games, but if it’s buggy or sloppy physics or not intuitive, then I hate it.
That's fair!
Thick as Thieves reminds me of that 8-bit Spy vs. Spy game.. and Shadow Labyrinth has the strangest incarnation of Pac-Man since his appearance in that one Adam Sandler movie.
Yes! I thought of Spy Vs. Spy as well. That game stressed me out too, haha.
Agree about Shadow Labyrinth, such a strange concept.