YaManSmevz Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 5 hours ago, GonzoWARgasm said: ?? This is The Witness in a microcosm! It is also my inner voice trying to make sense of any of my prior drafts of video game reviews, as well as what I look like when trying to explain LOST or Survivor or the history of Rock and Roll to Mrs Gonzo. Hahaha I just pictured y'all's living room with her seated on the couch and you wildly gesticulating with easels holding up pictures of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and a schematic for the electric guitar. That is a fun topic? 5 hours ago, GonzoWARgasm said: My favourite review from you, my guy. I'm so glad you liked it (...ish ?). Thanks bro? I'm really glad you enjoyed it. And I also appreciate the added -ish? 5 hours ago, GonzoWARgasm said: ... and the next step after that is Return of the Obra Dinn... I'll just leave my bank card here, y'all do your thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post YaManSmevz Posted January 4, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 4, 2022 (edited) Platinum #44: Dex I've become the volts to lead the revolt The first platinum of 2022! Ahh, breathe it in! Dex popped up on my radar when Mr. Clarke wrote a wonderful review for it not too long ago, and then the game went on sale shortly after, which sealed the deal nicely! When it was finally time to play it, I did my best to shove as much of that review as I could out of my head, as I wanted to go in nice and blind. Thankfully, the short-term memory loss my wild older life has afforded me made this very easy, and I walked in remembering only three things - cyberpunk, side-scroller, and lots of missable trophies. To get the trophy talk out of the way, there really should be one for reaching the ending, or maybe even one for each (there are three of them) - it just feels weird for the platinum to pop before the end! Platinum: Aayyyy great job buddy, you're finished! Me: But.. but there's still more story left, I wa- Platinum: Naaaahhhh, you don't need to worry about that! Look, it's complete! You can play something else now! Me: Well if it's all the same, I'd really like to see the conclusion to this sto- Platinum: I SAID... STOP.. PLAYING. The story is pretty derivative of a lot of genre tropes you've likely seen before - the plot is essentially that you wake up and get Neo'd into a battle with a big bad Replicant-ing corporation (unimaginatively named The Complex). What it lacks in originality though, it more than makes up with charm, as Dex rarely takes itself too seriously. You can go for the Tricks of the Trade trophy, where you look to "get that bam bam bam" with three prostitutes, or play mediator in a certain side quest and be treated to lines like "Hey Barbara, you're a god damn bitch fraud!" The writers have a great sense of humor and implement it well here, but keep it reeled in just enough so that they can keep the narrative rolling along. Dex's presentation grounds it nicely as well. It's got that 16-bit lookin retro style that I didn't know I loved until last year, and it's used to great effect. The map weirdly resembles the one from the SNES classic Final Fight, and the grimy, criminal-ridden city of Harbor Prime lives up to the comparison. The backgrounds are wonderfully shabby, and they vary from slums with collapsing infrastructure to glitzy red light districts to clean upper class neighborhoods. You can fast travel anywhere on the map, but surprisingly more often than not I preferred the scenic route, as it's such a treat to wander around the city. It's not so big that traversing through is a chore, but it's diverse enough that it's never boring. Gameplay-wise, It initially feels like a beat 'em up, but it's not that kind of a game. Combat requires a bit more strategy (i.e. a lot of timely blocking), and more often than not you'll end up waiting a few extra moments so you can sneak behind and get in some stealth kills instead. Which is not at all a bad thing of course, stealth kills are awesome. There is a hacking gameplay element as well, which gets even more fun as you level up. It's a Space Invaders-esque mini-game that can be challenging at times, until you max out your hacking and can just utterly destroy everything in your path. It can get a bit old after a while (particularly the very last segment kinda just keeps going) but I thought it was a smart addition. The music is great as well! It's extremely genre appropriate, very dark and synth-heavy, with swelling strings used on occasion. It caught my ear right away at an early point in the sewers - there's an oddly gloomy beauty to that particular piece that I fell in love with instantly - as well as some more upbeat fare, like this one that Mr. Clarke referenced in his previously mentioned review! The ending(s) let me down a bit, as one thing I really appreciated in this game was the finality of decisions - for the vast majority of this game, there is no chance to go back and change a dialogue choice, once you choose something, that's that, so you really have to be mindful of what you're saying and choices you're making. Thankfully, the saving system is exceedingly generous, so we can very much have our cake and eat it too where this is concerned! There are three endings, and while they're each fine, it feels there should have been at least one or two more. There's a choice you can make before the final final choice that seems fairly significant, yet doesn't affect the ending at all. It feels like they had more ideas to use, but ended up having to rush it a bit. I guess I had just come to expect something a bit deeper to the story. Again, this game bathes in clichés, but they're all so well done that it isn't long before you elect to let it go and hop along for the ride. It's not a major gripe though, I certainly didn't walk away unhappy or anything like that! I guess I just ended up wanting more. When this game goes on sale, and it will, snag this shit up. It is a lot of fun, it looks and sounds great, and it's so easy to find yourself lost in its world, cheesy as it can be at times. Plus, it's a super quick game to complete with a guide, you could easily complete it in a day or two. All love for Dex, and a big thank you to @rjkclarke for the rec! THAT Trophy: Out with the Old This is not a difficult trophy - in fact, none of them are. The only issue is that it, along with several other trophies for this game, is highly missable. Early in the game there's a fairly exact dialogue you need in order to set it up, which is then forgotten about until pretty much the end of the game when you find out if you did it right. But of course, if you're using a guide, you won't have any trouble! Again, peep out Dex - especially if you've got a cyberpunk itch that needs scratching. It started my gaming year off right - with a pleasant surprise? Edited November 10, 2022 by YaManSmevz 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post YaManSmevz Posted January 6, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 6, 2022 (edited) Hundo #12: Hitman 2 One cocksure fox in a house of hens To revive a franchise that appeared to have gone out on a less than stellar note is quite a feat, but to do so in such a way as to fully realize the potential said franchise had been flirting with for a decade and some change? Now that's a special accomplishment, one that any developer should be proud of, as it's not an achievement likely to be bested. Hold my beer, says Hitman 2. For whatever dumb reason, I initially dragged my feet playing Hitman 2016, only to have my love of the game explode last fall when I finally completed it. And there was its glorious sequel, waiting for me with open arms, ready to steal the last two months of the year from me. Hitman 2 pulls off a dope trick that you don't see very often - it doesn't try so hard to reinvent the wheel, rather it makes a remarkably organic progression that comes off as effortless, and yet feels like everything. Much like how when a mechanic does a good job, you initially don't actually notice anything, it all feels like business as usual... after a while though, it becomes evident how much smoother everything runs. We start off similarly enough to before with a tutorial level, except here it's a little more subtle. We're introduced to additions like grass patches for hiding and actual consequences to being seen on camera, and as subdued as the level is, it goes zero to one hundred fairly quickly, with its usual embarrassment of riches when it comes to ways to get the job done. Then a murderer's row of sprawling maps - Miami, Santa Fortuna, and Mumbai. Miami kicks it off with style, and drives home what Colorado first tried to tell us - that no one disguise will put the map into your back pocket for you, the game is gonna expect more creativity from you than that. Santa Fortuna goes from chill to terrifying with ease, with many opportunities but few where you can't be quickly made and shot to shit. And Mumbai brings back something from the old days - a target you can't identify on sight, like in Silent Assassin's first St. Petersburg mission. Whittleton Creek offers a new objective - gathering information alongside getting your requisite hits, and it feels surprisingly natural doing both concurrently while keeping a low profile in a small, Andy Griffith lookin suburb. The Isle of Sgail (aaAAHH!!) is a tad overwhelming, but looks so good and adds so much to the plot that you're just happy to be dropped off into 47's world, trying to figure it all out alongside him. Speaking of the plot, things take an interesting turn, and leads me to one of the few criticisms I have for Hitman 2. The sharp, cinematic cutscenes are sorely missed. The Max Payne style images we're treated to are not at all a bad thing, but the first game spoiled us - and as my wife would say, the story is gettin juicy!! I like how 47 has become more animated in this one. Watching him bartend on Haven Island, for example, just gave me unspeakable joy - not because I'm a bartender and I thought "WOW HE DOES THE THING I DO TOO" necessarily, but because it was one of the rare times he seemed to enjoy himself while doing something other than snapping someone's neck! The story keeps getting better too, as does the level design, and the depth of things you can do. Hitman 2 managed to top its predecessor with ease, which only makes me more excited for Hitman 3... ay dios! THAT Trophy: Capital Punishment The Sniper missions were the shit - and the idea of giving them a multi-player option?? Fuck yes!! Along with Rocket League, add Hitman 2 to the list of games where if anybody needs a helping hand, I'm on board. Shit was a blast! Shoutout to @Heather342 incidentally, we may have knocked those missions out in record time! The necessity of getting ALL achievements, however, did put a damper on things, and none exemplified this more than the Hold Your Fire challenge. It was the only time I spent playing this game not enjoying myself to an absurd degree. Most likely this was more a "me" problem, but it took quite a while for me to figure out how to knock this one out. The most embarrassing thing about it? Once I figured out how to go about it, I had it done inside of about five minutes. As if I just wanted to make myself feel dumb! Bruh. I legit can't wait to get into Hitman 3! Edited November 10, 2022 by YaManSmevz 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather342 Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 47 minutes ago, YaManSmevz said: The Sniper missions were the shit - and the idea of giving them a multi-player option?? Fuck yes!! Along with Rocket League, add Hitman 2 to the list of games where if anybody needs a helping hand, I'm on board. Shit was a blast! Shoutout to @Heather342 incidentally, we may have knocked those missions out in record time! That was a good time ?. It had been a while since I'd done the MP missions, and I'd forgotten how to mark targets ?. Would have been helpful as we weren't in voice chat lol. But hey, we still managed it without stepping on each others toes! I'd also forgotten that my MP character's sniper isn't levelled up as good as 47, so that wobbly rifle aim was challenging, especially on Hantu Port when I was trying to hide that guard behind the shutter door. That was some kick ass teamwork when you saw what I was trying to do and helped knock the guy into the hiding spot ? I'm pretty excited for you to play Hitman 3. Also there was good news that IOI are making new missions and levels for Hitman 3 (and hopefully new trophies! ?) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaManSmevz Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 8 hours ago, Heather342 said: That was a good time ?. It had been a while since I'd done the MP missions, and I'd forgotten how to mark targets ?. Would have been helpful as we weren't in voice chat lol. But hey, we still managed it without stepping on each others toes! I'd also forgotten that my MP character's sniper isn't levelled up as good as 47, so that wobbly rifle aim was challenging, especially on Hantu Port when I was trying to hide that guard behind the shutter door. That was some kick ass teamwork when you saw what I was trying to do and helped knock the guy into the hiding spot ? I like how the MP snipers aren't quite as slick as 47... he's just that good? And yes!! Dude I don't know if you felt it but I gave you an enthusiastic high five, that was such a cool moment! I remember being pressed for time and asking if we could knock it out in fifteen minutes or something like that, and we ended up finishing them with time to spare. I found myself wishing it had taken a little longer, it was indeed a good time! 8 hours ago, Heather342 said: I'm pretty excited for you to play Hitman 3. Also there was good news that IOI are making new missions and levels for Hitman 3 (and hopefully new trophies! ?) I'm trying to make myself finish a few other things before starting up Hitman 3... like eating your vegetables first as a kid. If I time it right, I'll finish it and be sad, then new DLC will come out and I'll be like ?☹️???????? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBloodmoney Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 10 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Hitman 2 pulls off a dope trick that you don't see very often - it doesn't try so hard to reinvent the wheel, rather it makes a remarkably organic progression that comes off as effortless, and yet feels like everything. Much like how when a mechanic does a good job, you initially don't actually notice anything, it all feels like business as usual... after a while though, it becomes evident how much smoother everything runs. That's totally true - of both the technical stuff, and the missions themselves! It's pretty remarkable how much H2 treats H1 as just the baseline, and immediately starts upping the ante with bigger maps, more targets, and just weird additions that felt so much more complex - like in Mumbai, having the other assassin there, or not knowing who then target is... or in Whittleton creek, having the whole evidence gathering part... it felt like they just slowly added stuff, to the extent that the initial missions (while still great) started to feel almost basic... I remember thinking as I went into the Bank level... oh, only one target, pffft. This'll be easy... then having to get that noisemaker out of the vault, and getting smoked like 15 times ? 10 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Speaking of the plot, things take an interesting turn, and leads me to one of the few criticisms I have for Hitman 2. The sharp, cinematic cutscenes are sorely missed. The Max Payne style images we're treated to are not at all a bad thing, but the first game spoiled us - and as my wife would say, the story is gettin juicy!! Yeah.. that was a shame. I mean, kudos to them for knowing which stuff to lose when they the studio got gutted - obviously I'd rather have less spent on cutscenes than the levels, but it was jarring after such high-quality cut scenes in H1.... luckily, they are back in H3! ? 10 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: I like how 47 has become more animated in this one. Watching him bartend on Haven Island, for example, just gave me unspeakable joy - not because I'm a bartender and I thought "WOW HE DOES THE THING I DO TOO" necessarily, but because it was one of the rare times he seemed to enjoy himself while doing something other than snapping someone's neck! Haha- my favourite "written" moment of all of the trilogy is in H@ - the Bank again, when you do the interview! He is the most deadpan sociopath you could ever meet, and yet the interviewers are just like... "O...Kay..." - they should be fleeing in terror from that dude! If I was giving that interview, I'd have immediately set the building on fire and been like "This Bank is forfeit! Run people!" 10 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Bruh. I legit can't wait to get into Hitman 3! ?? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather342 Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 14 minutes ago, DrBloodmoney said: Haha- my favourite "written" moment of all of the trilogy is in H@ - the Bank again, when you do the interview! He is the most deadpan sociopath you could ever meet, and yet the interviewers are just like... "O...Kay..." - they should be fleeing in terror from that dude! If I was giving that interview, I'd have immediately set the building on fire and been like "This Bank is forfeit! Run people!" My favourite one is when you're doing the real estate house tour in Whittleton Creek. Going round all the rooms giving the tour with generic boring descriptions, then unlock that bedroom where a murder took place and suddenly 47 is getting veeeeerrrrry detailed about the direction of blood splatter on the walls ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaManSmevz Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 (edited) 55 minutes ago, DrBloodmoney said: It's pretty remarkable how much H2 treats H1 as just the baseline, and immediately starts upping the ante with bigger maps, more targets, and just weird additions that felt so much more complex - like in Mumbai, having the other assassin there, or not knowing who then target is... or in Whittleton creek, having the whole evidence gathering part... it felt like they just slowly added stuff, to the extent that the initial missions (while still great) started to feel almost basic... Oh absolutely - even if I hadn't finished the Paris mission countless times, I feel I could do it with my eyes closed after mastering the missions in H2! I forgot to mention the other Assassin- what a great wrinkle that was, being able to outsource the gig? Quote I remember thinking as I went into the Bank level... oh, only one target, pffft. This'll be easy... then having to get that noisemaker out of the vault, and getting smoked like 15 times Broooo I had the exact same thought! Especially since it isn't a particularly large level, you feel like you're gonna breeze right through. I ended up really enjoying that one (well shit, which one didn't I enjoy)! Also I'd like to make a Chris Griffin-esque observation and blurt out "I liked running around in the bunny outfit!" Quote Yeah.. that was a shame. I mean, kudos to them for knowing which stuff to lose when they the studio got gutted - obviously I'd rather have less spent on cutscenes than the levels, but it was jarring after such high-quality cut scenes in H1.... luckily, they are back in H3! Well said! They definitely made the right decision, and with all the turmoil the studio experienced at the time, it's a wonder we got a game at all, much less such a good one! Haha I felt weird mentioning it, as it's very much like complaining that your butler doesn't smile enough or something like that, but I'm overjoyed to hear that H3 sees them return! Quote Haha- my favourite "written" moment of all of the trilogy is in H@ - the Bank again, when you do the interview! He is the most deadpan sociopath you could ever meet, and yet the interviewers are just like... "O...Kay..." - they should be fleeing in terror from that dude! If I was giving that interview, I'd have immediately set the building on fire and been like "This Bank is forfeit! Run people!" 36 minutes ago, Heather342 said: My favourite one is when you're doing the real estate house tour in Whittleton Creek. Going round all the rooms giving the tour with generic boring descriptions, then unlock that bedroom where a murder took place and suddenly 47 is getting veeeeerrrrry detailed about the direction of blood splatter on the walls Oh my God I can't believe I forgot to mention either of those... comedic gold!! I love how in the interview when you give the responses in the correct order they're like "You're hired!! Here's access to the entire bank!!" Even the generic room descriptions start off funny, like how a living room has easy to access exits? EDIT: In honor of this being my 444th post Edited January 6, 2022 by YaManSmevz 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post YaManSmevz Posted January 7, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 7, 2022 (edited) Platinum #27: The Suicide of Rachel Foster She was sixteen, another young angel with clipped wings I've been sitting on my thoughts on this one for some time. I'd really like to make clear from the jump that this is an excellent game, exceedingly well made and with a strong atmosphere game. Something in the twist didn't sit quite right with me though, and a few recent events have really made that something weigh a bit heavily on me. So without further ado, here's what I propose: Let's do the review as normal, with my usual death-to-spoilers approach. We'll do the THAT Trophy segment, and then I'll talk about that something, so that way it's out there, should anybody be curious. Deal? Cool? The Suicide of Rachel Foster is a game made for playing late at night with the lights out. A walking sim with atmosphere to spare and surprisingly solid Shining vibes, the developers masterfully take you on a trip that goes from casual to curious to utterly terrifying, with new information being thrown at you on the regular to shatter your notion of what exactly has been going on. The voice acting is on point - it's just the protagonist talking with someone on the phone the whole time, with the player exploring an abandoned hotel in the midst of a snowstorm, but both actors are excellent. Especially when the proverbial shit hits the fan, you find yourself just as shook as the characters are, and the voice acting is in no small part responsible for that! The story's pacing is on point - nothing feels rushed or dragged out, although I will say that the ending is a touch over the top. It is still devastating though - it's a strong reminder of how easily people's lives can destroyed by other people who simply lost control of themselves. THAT Trophy: N/A Yes... it's in very small company, but Suicide or Rachel Foster is an extremely easy game with very little to miss - just play this one and it's in the bag. Also, somehow they managed to have all gold trophies - for such an easy game??? JACKPOT, trophy hunters!! Okay... just us talkin now, right? A few months ago, it came to light that someone I considered a close friend had been involved in something horrible, which I'd rather not get into specifics about. I've known this guy for 24 years, we'd even lived together for a few years. I always thought it was an exaggeration when people learn something shockingly awful about a person they'd held near and dear and say that it turned their stomach, but I was wrong - that very much is the feeling. And there's no textbook on how to act after that - are we still friends? Do I cautiously support while calling him out behind closed doors, encourage him to get help, or cut him out entirely? I'm still at a loss - although far be it from me to act more damaged by his actions than his actual victims, of course. Not long after that, a regular at the bar I work at - who always seemed like a cool guy to me - started coming in with this really young girl - barely 21, a sharp contrast to his 45. Now this in and of itself is not that big of a deal, but I know he is a private instructor, and it became clear very quickly that this girl is a student of his, and their body language made it even clearer that he is taking full advantage of her admiration and trust. Okay, last chance to avoid spoilers! The twist in the game is that Rachel Foster did not commit suicide at all, rather it was the protagonist's mother - whose husband was having an affair with the very teenaged Ms. Foster. Now, people do awful things all the time in media, and that's perfectly fine - I'm not saying that this is off limits for games to touch on, far from it. But the language used to describe this tryst, and the failure to call it out for what it was, is what the problem is. "They were in love." "Everybody loved Rachel." "She was so mature for her age." This is language that almost defends what happened, which is exactly the wrong approach for the developers to take. Now, the man in question was disgraced, with this once mighty hotel he owned reduced to a tagged up squatters paradise, so it's not as though he got away with what he did. But why can't the characters talking about this incident just call it what it was? I felt odd about it initially, but I let it go, because again, it is a very good game. But when the incident with my friend came to light, this game was the first thing I thought of, and after seeing that regular's behavior, I decided I really wanted to write about this game and get all that out. These instances are far too common to treat with such leniency, and while again, sexual abuse and power dynamics are 100% fair game for any storyteller to tackle, there's a responsibility to avoid normalizing this behavior. There's no requisite to have everybody say the right thing and approach difficult topics "correctly," and I get that when you're telling a story, some perspectives are going to be deliberately flawed. But I just can't help taking issue with downplaying something of that kind of severity. At least one character gotta be like "yo, that's fucked up." That's all. I apologize for the rant, and hope I didn't bring anybody down! Most importantly, I hope I didn't make it look like enjoying this game is wrong or anything like that! I just wanted to share how it made me feel, and how recent events really magnified that. Anyway, thanks for reading y'all, I really appreciate it. Don't worry, this isn't the sort of thing I do very often? Edited November 10, 2022 by YaManSmevz 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjkclarke Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Damn Dude - you are really knocking it out of the park with these reviews...... ..... Every time I seem to turn my head to the side for a moment, the minute I turn back a new one seems to appear! I want to say thanks as well - because I've loved having something to come and have a read of after having to deal with something particularly frustrating in Yakuza 3 so having a welcome little break and an awesome review to read has absolutely helped! They've all been awesome - OBVIOUSLY- so it's definitely a nice reminder that I need to get my act together a bit and get writing again. Instead of just hanging around playing Koi-Koi in virtual Japan every single bit of allotted free time I have at the moment! On 02/01/2022 at 10:16 AM, YaManSmevz said: Platinum #14: Parappa the Rapper The rhythm is in sync, the rhymes are on time You have no idea how much I enjoyed reading that one - especially as I was absolute pigeons arse at that game (do they have arses?)...... Ahem maybe best not to dwell on that part. Long story short (for once ?,) I sucked at this game..... Like, really sucked. It's hard to even quantify the absolute sucktitude that I was capable of in this game - but I did enjoy playing it..... Reading about the other levels was a real joy though, because I never managed to get past even the second level, I had fun trying though..... And I will, as many others will always remember the whole "KICK, PUNCH, IT'S ALL IN THE MIND" from that opening level. I do think some of the hip-hop in this game is essentially what someone's Dad thinks hip-hop music is. That or someone just stumbled across a bunch of bootleg VHS tapes of GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) from the local flea market, heard some of the Glow girls doing their raps and thought that was what all Hip-Hop was On 01/01/2022 at 2:03 AM, YaManSmevz said: Oh I'm not opposed! That's just for fun. My favorite celebrity comparison I've gotten is as follows: "You look like Johnny Depp.. but not in a movie, like when he's at a gas station or something and lookin kinda busted, like a normal person." .....thanks, I guess.. I didn't have the camera one in mind, but the second I saw it I knew that was exactly the correct one. Almost as if Marty turned his head to me and started talking about Ogloc the Orc! I could think of worse comparisons than Johnny Depp I'd totally take that - even if it was Johnny Depp locked in The Viper Room at the height of the early 90's surrounded by nothing but white powder.... Still I thought I'd necro this specific reply of yours to show you the famous person most people seem to think I look like.... I guess there are worse options, but the one I get most often is Dan Hawkins from the band The Darkness..... Thank goodness it isn't his brother Justin though, I wouldn't take that well. Dan is the one on the right - and I can definitely see the similarity, to a point - if ever I post a picture of myself on the site (for whatever reason that might be,) then you can always do the whole comparison thing.... I mean that is literally exactly what my hair looks like right now same hair colour and everything, especially now that I've cut it a little shorter than it was, beef up that guys shoulders and yeah it wouldn't look too dissimilar to me at all..... I prefer the Michael J. Fox comparison though - just because I really like it, so let's go with that, and pretend you haven't seen this one.... Yes? ? On 03/01/2022 at 9:38 AM, YaManSmevz said: Platinum #41: The Witness You realize the sun doesn't go down, it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning 'round As tempting as it is to unpack every single thing you mentioned about The Witness.... Which was great by the way - and I really love that you loved it.... The thing that is really shouting out at me is...... "Why haven't I played this yet?" I know I'll like it - I love puzzle games - yet I just haven't committed to this one yet and I absolutely should. You have given it a huge lift up the waiting list though....... Yourself, Gonzo and Doc have done such a great job of selling the twists and turns of the adventure that you can have with this game! On 04/01/2022 at 11:29 PM, YaManSmevz said: Platinum #44: Dex I've become the volts to lead the revolt Another Awesome review with this one man! I'm glad that you and I seemed to be practically on the same page with this one..... I really loved the game for what it is.... I'm guessing you didn't feel the Strange Days vibe that I did though or you probably would have mentioned it.... I don't know why it specifically reminds me of that film but it does. I'm glad you mentioned the fact it's absolutely littered with cliched tropes and storytelling - yet it really kind of plays up to that - it knows it's not really doing something wholly original, but it really excel with what it does do. Those cliches don't really hamper the experience too much I don't think. At least you did bother to actually finish the game - a lot of trophy hunters wouldn't bother to, but it is very strange the way the platinum pops about ten minutes before the end and you kind of think..... Why not just delay a little bit further? Strange one that one. I do get what you mean about the endings too - I felt pretty similar myself, but as you alluded to in my thread, when that's one of your main gripes, the game probably has done something right, if all you want is more from it. If you dug that hacking mini-game by the way, you should have a fun time with bits of NieR:Automata, they have practically the same hacking system, so that bit will seem really familiar to you. On 06/01/2022 at 7:50 AM, YaManSmevz said: Hundo #12: Hitman 2 One cocksure fox in a house of hens B=but....... Smevz, why didn't you even once mention the gross naked man from Haven Island with his dangly minging skin tags and dangly coco pop moles.... I don't know if you have Coco Pops in the US, but they are just rice cereal with chocolate on them...... That dude was practically covered in them though - so gross.. Nah seriously though that was an absolute blast to read - I love how much fun you had with Hitman 2..... It's such a great game, and a pretty solid time commitment too, yet it doesn't really feel like a problem does it? You're just kind of happy to be along for the ride. I'm glad you had fun with the Sniper Maps.... Those can be really fun when you play through them with a friend.... Glad you and @Heather342 managed to have a pretty memorable time even if you didn't play it all that long. That's awesome! I remember when I loaded up The Last Yardbird one and my friend who'd already played them was like "Right, Rob are you listening?...... Now you just have to kill the targets...... " To which just as he was saying targets I'd shot a gardener in the face and sent him flying through a hedge to which he was like "I said the targets!" How was I to know who specifically was a target ?..... We had loads of fun on that, and it's a mode that really doesn't feel like a tacked on component it just feels like a worthy alternative to the main game which itself if awesome. So many great levels in Hitman 2 - I think Mumbai might take my favourite from that game, but like you alluded to, it isn't as if there are any that are bad or that you don't end up liking to some degree. For as much as I rag on Haven Island quite a lot(I think it's a bit too flat,) I love the fact it's got some huge underground part of the map that you could so easily miss seeing entirely, like a little mini Sapienza... I LOVE SAPIENZA..... SORRY NOT SORRY. 6 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Platinum #27: The Suicide of Rachel Foster She was sixteen, another young angel with clipped wings That is a tough one when real life experiences start to cloud how you think of a specific game - I did actually read the spoiler part for once, because I thought it was important to do so...... I'm sorry to hear about real life events being the thing that got you writing about this one. Even sorrier that you even have to experience them, nobody should have to find something like that about their friends.... I've gotta take my hat off to you for putting yourself on the line and bringing it up though - because it's obviously incredibly important in conveying exactly how you feel about this game. I've got a recommendation though - if you got enjoyment to a point (tough to say you love a game like this, isn't it) from The Suicide of Rachel Foster then you ought to take a look at The Town of Light if you get a chance, it's not dealing with a similar subject matter, but it does handle something you specially mentioned which is this...... Quote But I just can't help taking issue with downplaying something of that kind of severity. At least one character gotta be like "yo, that's fucked up." Although no character in that game really does that (there really are only one or two "characters" anyway).... It does make you, yourself do that, and the game is not afraid to go incredibly dark and in depth with it and make it abundantly clear that what went on in the real life Volterra Asylum that the game takes place in is absolutely abhorrently wrong.... I really gotta give that game credit for how certain aspects made me feel when I played through it. Oh and play it in Italian with subtitles for the best experience too. Great review of Rachel Foster though..... I'm still probably going to play it at some point even if I now know the twist - I might have forgotten some of the specifics of it by the time I get around to it too! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaManSmevz Posted January 7, 2022 Author Share Posted January 7, 2022 2 hours ago, rjkclarke said: Damn Dude - you are really knocking it out of the park with these reviews...... ..... Every time I seem to turn my head to the side for a moment, the minute I turn back a new one seems to appear! I want to say thanks as well - because I've loved having something to come and have a read of after having to deal with something particularly frustrating in Yakuza 3 so having a welcome little break and an awesome review to read has absolutely helped! They've all been awesome - OBVIOUSLY- so it's definitely a nice reminder that I need to get my act together a bit and get writing again. Thanks so much, man! After the Witness review, it kind of became a challenge I gave myself, to see how many days in a row I could write a review - the writing bug bit me, and I felt that I have so many reviews to get done that I may as well take advantage! This last one was a close call, as I posted it at literally 11:59pm my time, and my work week starts up today, so the run is likely over, but it's been fun! The only thing is that I didn't want to be annoying, like "okay we get it, enough already!" so I'm really glad to hear that you enjoyed them, that means a lot? Quote Instead of just hanging around playing Koi-Koi in virtual Japan every single bit of allotted free time I have at the moment! Hey. Virtual Japan needs you! Quote You have no idea how much I enjoyed reading that one - especially as I was absolute pigeons arse at that game (do they have arses?)...... Ahem maybe best not to dwell on that part. They have to have asses - have you seen the sidewalks and windshields that have fallen prey to pigeons? That certainly didn't come out of their mouths! Quote Long story short (for once ,) I sucked at this game..... Like, really sucked. It's hard to even quantify the absolute sucktitude that I was capable of in this game - but I did enjoy playing it..... Reading about the other levels was a real joy though, because I never managed to get past even the second level, I had fun trying though..... And I will, as many others will always remember the whole "KICK, PUNCH, IT'S ALL IN THE MIND" from that opening level. I do think some of the hip-hop in this game is essentially what someone's Dad thinks hip-hop music is. That or someone just stumbled across a bunch of bootleg VHS tapes of GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) from the local flea market, heard some of the Glow girls doing their raps and thought that was what all Hip-Hop was I LOVE GLOW. Thank you Netflix for making me aware of that gem! I wasn't very good at it either, and even though I managed to get the platinum I'm not convinced I mastered anything, or figured out how freestyling is supposed to work in that game! And definitely agreed, some of the beats have this Fisher Price baby's first sampler feel to them, and some of the raps were like Rappin' Rodney level of cheese (everybody thought they could be a rapper for a moment in the 80s?). For whatever reason though, it just made it all the more charming to me! Quote I could think of worse comparisons than Johnny Depp I'd totally take that - even if it was Johnny Depp locked in The Viper Room at the height of the early 90's surrounded by nothing but white powder.... Still I thought I'd necro this specific reply of yours to show you the famous person most people seem to think I look like.... I guess there are worse options, but the one I get most often is Dan Hawkins from the band The Darkness..... Thank goodness it isn't his brother Justin though, I wouldn't take that well. Dan is the one on the right - and I can definitely see the similarity, to a point - if ever I post a picture of myself on the site (for whatever reason that might be,) then you can always do the whole comparison thing.... I mean that is literally exactly what my hair looks like right now same hair colour and everything, especially now that I've cut it a little shorter than it was, beef up that guys shoulders and yeah it wouldn't look too dissimilar to me at all..... I prefer the Michael J. Fox comparison though - just because I really like it, so let's go with that, and pretend you haven't seen this one.... Yes? Holy shit you're Hyde!! I knew you were cool? Sorry though, the Marty McFly comparison stays - these things are non-returnable, non-refundable, all sales are final type deals! Quote As tempting as it is to unpack every single thing you mentioned about The Witness.... Which was great by the way - and I really love that you loved it.... The thing that is really shouting out at me is...... "Why haven't I played this yet?" I know I'll like it - I love puzzle games - yet I just haven't committed to this one yet and I absolutely should. You have given it a huge lift up the waiting list though....... Yourself, Gonzo and Doc have done such a great job of selling the twists and turns of the adventure that you can have with this game! I do hope you play it! I know you're a puzzle fan, but I myself am not and I still really enjoyed my time with The Witness. It's so well done, and the gradual shift over the course of the game that gets you like "the fuck is going on here??" plus the couple of twists you stumble upon makes for an incredible experience. Let me know when you play it! I'd be happy to be an ear for when you get frustrated and need to vent, or need to share something when the game fucks with your head? Quote I'm glad that you and I seemed to be practically on the same page with this one..... I really loved the game for what it is.... I'm guessing you didn't feel the Strange Days vibe that I did though or you probably would have mentioned it.... I don't know why it specifically reminds me of that film but it does. I'm glad you mentioned the fact it's absolutely littered with cliched tropes and storytelling - yet it really kind of plays up to that - it knows it's not really doing something wholly original, but it really excel with what it does do. Those cliches don't really hamper the experience too much I don't think. So I fibbed a bit when I referenced your review- I also remembered your Strange Days reference, which is why I left that out. I wanted to be as far away from unintentional plagiarism as possible! I get a lot of Strange Days, as well as Hackers - that 90s sci-fi boom is generally well represented in Dex... which is fine with me, cuz I love that stuff! It's definitely not the most original game you'll ever play, but it doesn't act like it is, which makes all the difference. It's just a good time? Quote At least you did bother to actually finish the game - a lot of trophy hunters wouldn't bother to, but it is very strange the way the platinum pops about ten minutes before the end and you kind of think..... Why not just delay a little bit further? Strange one that one. I do get what you mean about the endings too - I felt pretty similar myself, but as you alluded to in my thread, when that's one of your main gripes, the game probably has done something right, if all you want is more from it. If you dug that hacking mini-game by the way, you should have a fun time with bits of NieR:Automata, they have practically the same hacking system, so that bit will seem really familiar to you. I can't imagine not wanting to see this game through to its conclusion! I wonder why they didn't feel the need to add another trophy for finishing it... maybe it came down to that or the prostitute one, and they were like "well I guess there's no trophy for finishing the story then, the whole reason we made this game was so that you could bang a few prostitutes!" Ah, NieR... perhaps one day we shall meet. Quote B=but....... Smevz, why didn't you even once mention the gross naked man from Haven Island with his dangly minging skin tags and dangly coco pop moles.... I don't know if you have Coco Pops in the US, but they are just rice cereal with chocolate on them...... That dude was practically covered in them though - so gross.. Hahahaha and he's all walkin around with an open bathrobe! I wish I had given one of the maids emetic poison so I could pretend she was vomiting after having seen him walk by? We have Coco Pops! We call them Cocoa Krispies here though (the deliberate misspelling means that we're coooool). That reminds me, I had this regular who was a funny dude but totally racist, he was talking with somebody about Mexicans (which I don't think he realized that I am) and was saying "we have those back in New York, except we call them 'Puerto Ricans.' Have you ever laughed at something against your own will? I really hate how much that made me laugh! ...where was I? Oh yeah, Coco Pop skin boy! Yeah, bluh? Quote I'm glad you had fun with the Sniper Maps.... Those can be really fun when you play through them with a friend.... Glad you and @Heather342 managed to have a pretty memorable time even if you didn't play it all that long. That's awesome! I remember when I loaded up The Last Yardbird one and my friend who'd already played them was like "Right, Rob are you listening?...... Now you just have to kill the targets...... " To which just as he was saying targets I'd shot a gardener in the face and sent him flying through a hedge to which he was like "I said the targets!" How was I to know who specifically was a target ..... We had loads of fun on that, and it's a mode that really doesn't feel like a tacked on component it just feels like a worthy alternative to the main game which itself if awesome. How were you supposed to know the gardener wasn't another hitman in disguise??? He should have been thanking you, that gardener could've brought down the whole operation if you didn't intervene! Sheesh, the lack of appreciation with some people... I really liked it too! It had an almost arcadey feel with the points, and when I accidentally hid my first body?? Aw man, that was such a game changing moment! Quote So many great levels in Hitman 2 - I think Mumbai might take my favourite from that game, but like you alluded to, it isn't as if there are any that are bad or that you don't end up liking to some degree. For as much as I rag on Haven Island quite a lot(I think it's a bit too flat,) I love the fact it's got some huge underground part of the map that you could so easily miss seeing entirely, like a little mini Sapienza... I LOVE SAPIENZA..... SORRY NOT SORRY. Don't you ever apologize for lovin Sapienza! ?IF LOVIN SAPIENZA IS WROOOOONG? ?I DON'T WAANNA BEEE RIGHT? Interesting! I really liked Mumbai too, the city had such a cool look to it, and the isolated areas like the train yard and the movie set in that building were dope! Haven Island was really cool too I definitely got Sapienza vibes off of that one too - exotic locale with a mansion that has an underground lab... it's like Sapienza Redux! Quote That is a tough one when real life experiences start to cloud how you think of a specific game - I did actually read the spoiler part for once, because I thought it was important to do so...... I'm sorry to hear about real life events being the thing that got you writing about this one. Even sorrier that you even have to experience them, nobody should have to find something like that about their friends.... I've gotta take my hat off to you for putting yourself on the line and bringing it up though - because it's obviously incredibly important in conveying exactly how you feel about this game. Thank you! It was something I felt weirdly strongly about, though I'm sorry for spoiling the story - I wish I had thought of a way to describe what bothered me about it without revealing so much! Quote I've got a recommendation though - if you got enjoyment to a point (tough to say you love a game like this, isn't it) from The Suicide of Rachel Foster then you ought to take a look at The Town of Light if you get a chance, it's not dealing with a similar subject matter, but it does handle something you specially mentioned which is this...... Although no character in that game really does that (there really are only one or two "characters" anyway).... It does make you, yourself do that, and the game is not afraid to go incredibly dark and in depth with it and make it abundantly clear that what went on in the real life Volterra Asylum that the game takes place in is absolutely abhorrently wrong.... I really gotta give that game credit for how certain aspects made me feel when I played through it. Oh and play it in Italian with subtitles for the best experience too. Ooh... *makes note* Quote Great review of Rachel Foster though..... I'm still probably going to play it at some point even if I now know the twist - I might have forgotten some of the specifics of it by the time I get around to it too! I hope so, it's still a good game and worth your time! I feel bad now, I totally ruined it? Part of why I wanted to review this one, spoilers and all, is that you and Doc had voiced an interest, and I didn't like the idea of you guys playing it, and possibly having a similar reaction to mine, and having it reflect oddly on me. Does that make sense? Well, back to the box for me? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjkclarke Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 2 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Thanks so much, man! After the Witness review, it kind of became a challenge I gave myself, to see how many days in a row I could write a review - the writing bug bit me, and I felt that I have so many reviews to get done that I may as well take advantage! This last one was a close call, as I posted it at literally 11:59pm my time, and my work week starts up today, so the run is likely over, but it's been fun! The only thing is that I didn't want to be annoying, like "okay we get it, enough already!" so I'm really glad to hear that you enjoyed them, that means a lot That's a real hot streak! Wish I could borrow myself some of that motivation from you right now - I have loads of things I want and need to write, and zero motivation..... I can't even face writing a review of The Wolf Among Us (I'll go force myself after writing this post,) Copanele got one out faster than me, and I finished it all the way back in 2021...So I need to get my pigeon ass in gear ? ^^ That bit I put in bold - I can fully identify with that one - that's usually something I worry about too if I am on a bit of a run of releasing a lot of reviews which admittedly hasn't been for quite some time now, then I usually try and leave a day between them.... In all honesty though, I don't think you or I have to worry about an overabundance (or what we think is an overabundance) of reviews being annoying for people. It certainly wasn't for me, like I said I loved having those as a welcome distraction to take the edge off. So I was incredibly grateful for your awesome hot streak. 2 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: I LOVE GLOW. Thank you Netflix for making me aware of that gem! I wasn't very good at it either, and even though I managed to get the platinum I'm not convinced I mastered anything, or figured out how freestyling is supposed to work in that game! And definitely agreed, some of the beats have this Fisher Price baby's first sampler feel to them, and some of the raps were like Rappin' Rodney level of cheese (everybody thought they could be a rapper for a moment in the 80s). For whatever reason though, it just made it all the more charming to me! I was really gutted when they cancelled Season 4 of GLOW on Netflix - I've never really dabbled too much with the actual wrestling show that GLOW is inspired by outside of watching a documentary about it..... It's funny really because womens wrestling has really taken off in a huge way in the last few years, so a show like that might have done better in the current climate. I'm more than a little convinced that Parapper is actually Poochie...... But when he was a child (puppy I guess) .... Would certainly make a few things make a bit more sense. 2 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Hahahaha and he's all walkin around with an open bathrobe! I wish I had given one of the maids emetic poison so I could pretend she was vomiting after having seen him walk by? Oh man! That would made such a funny video - and then just slowly zoomed in on one of the little danglies as it cut to a shot of her throwing her guts up. Yeah that guy really takes it for gross Hitman characters, he's right up there with the Meat King from Hitman:Contracts ? 2 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: We have Coco Pops! We call them Cocoa Krispies here though (the deliberate misspelling means that we're coooool). That reminds me, I had this regular who was a funny dude but totally racist, he was talking with somebody about Mexicans (which I don't think he realized that I am) and was saying "we have those back in New York, except we call them 'Puerto Ricans.' Have you ever laughed at something against your own will? I really hate how much that made me laugh! That's pretty tone deaf of them to not be able to kind of notice that the people around him might not take that wisecrack too well....... ...... Although saying that - yes, I do know exactly what you mean about laughing against your will. My friend Paul makes me laugh like that far too often - he's the kind that in the pursuit of a laugh will usually go too far, and sometimes what he says is just really tough to not laugh at even when you know you shouldn't, which usually makes you laugh harder..... 2 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Sorry though, the Marty McFly comparison stays - these things are non-returnable, non-refundable, all sales are final type deals! That can stay - I like it anyway, so I wouldn't be scrabbling around asking for a refund.... Even if there was one available. 2 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Interesting! I really liked Mumbai too, the city had such a cool look to it, and the isolated areas like the train yard and the movie set in that building were dope! Haven Island was really cool too I definitely got Sapienza vibes off of that one too - exotic locale with a mansion that has an underground lab... it's like Sapienza Redux! If you ever play Blood Money, then you'll see the level that heavily inspired Whittleton Creek (another one I really like) and also I believe one of the Sniper missions The Last Yardbird, heavily reminded me of the wedding level in Mississippi - that's another great level in that game. 2 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Thank you! It was something I felt weirdly strongly about, though I'm sorry for spoiling the story - I wish I had thought of a way to describe what bothered me about it without revealing so much! Don't be..... I chose to read them after all, so it isn't like you didn't give a spoiler warning so I'm perfectly cool with it. ..... which leads me to this.... 2 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Part of why I wanted to review this one, spoilers and all, is that you and Doc had voiced an interest, and I didn't like the idea of you guys playing it, and possibly having a similar reaction to mine, and having it reflect oddly on me. Does that make sense? I know exactly what you mean - that's why I was a little anxious to hear your thoughts on Dex as well.... Whilst I can't speak for Doc.... I'm fairly sure that I would have had some of the same issues that you did with how Rachel Foster handles some of its plot, knowing what I know now about it. I could probably see past it, but it definitely wouldn't be something I could ignore. I will play it at some point though - so we'll have to see how I actually end up reacting to it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaManSmevz Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 (edited) On 1/7/2022 at 1:46 PM, rjkclarke said: That's a real hot streak! Wish I could borrow myself some of that motivation from you right now - I have loads of things I want and need to write, and zero motivation..... I can't even face writing a review of The Wolf Among Us (I'll go force myself after writing this post,) Copanele got one out faster than me, and I finished it all the way back in 2021...So I need to get my pigeon ass in gear Thanks! Bruh if only we could bottle the feeling of motivation... I've been dragging my feet on reviewing that game as well - I don't know why, I really liked the game, but was never driven to write about it I guess. With Copanele writing a great one, then you with one waiting in the wings, I might end up waiting on that one a little longer?? Edit: Welp, guess I changed my mind on that one... Quote ^^ That bit I put in bold - I can fully identify with that one - that's usually something I worry about too if I am on a bit of a run of releasing a lot of reviews which admittedly hasn't been for quite some time now, then I usually try and leave a day between them.... In all honesty though, I don't think you or I have to worry about an overabundance (or what we think is an overabundance) of reviews being annoying for people. It certainly wasn't for me, like I said I loved having those as a welcome distraction to take the edge off. So I was incredibly grateful for your awesome hot streak. Thanks man.. I guess people like us need to hear that. There's always gonna be that annoying Wormhorn voice telling you all these negative things that aren't true (and then probably being like BYYYEEEEEEEEEEEE), it's just a matter of learning to consistently be like "Oh shut up Wormhorn, you always say stuff like that." Makes me very happy to hear that you enjoyed the output though, so thanks very much for that! Quote I was really gutted when they cancelled Season 4 of GLOW on Netflix - I've never really dabbled too much with the actual wrestling show that GLOW is inspired by outside of watching a documentary about it..... It's funny really because womens wrestling has really taken off in a huge way in the last few years, so a show like that might have done better in the current climate. Same. I really enjoyed that show, and before seeing that on Netflix I had no idea it existed- once I knew of it though, I was fascinated. Also Marc Maron's character's daughter is the voice of Tifa in the FFVII remake, how cool is that? Quote I'm more than a little convinced that Parapper is actually Poochie...... But when he was a child (puppy I guess) .... Would certainly make a few things make a bit more sense. What a fall, man.. he was so positive and hopeful in his youth, always talkin about how you "gotta believe," then he grew up to have this... attitude, and always bein in people's faces. A damn shame. Quote If you ever play Blood Money, then you'll see the level that heavily inspired Whittleton Creek (another one I really like) and also I believe one of the Sniper missions The Last Yardbird, heavily reminded me of the wedding level in Mississippi - that's another great level in that game. One of the first thoughts I had playing The Last Yardbird was that it looked like it would've been such a cool level to be able to run around in. I was more than consoled by the fact that I could shoot people in the head and watch their bodies fly completely out of view, while people standing right next to them remained none the wiser. Quote Don't be..... I chose to read them after all, so it isn't like you didn't give a spoiler warning so I'm perfectly cool with it. ..... which leads me to this.... I know exactly what you mean - that's why I was a little anxious to hear your thoughts on Dex as well.... Whilst I can't speak for Doc.... I'm fairly sure that I would have had some of the same issues that you did with how Rachel Foster handles some of its plot, knowing what I know now about it. I could probably see past it, but it definitely wouldn't be something I could ignore. I will play it at some point though - so we'll have to see how I actually end up reacting to it. That's a good point, and thank you for pointing that out, but upon re-reading I kind of cringed over how many spoilers I blurted out. That's something I never do, and I know you're the same way. Oh well, what can you do? Whenever you do get around to it, I'd be very curious to see what you think! Edited January 8, 2022 by YaManSmevz Because I'm indecisive 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBloodmoney Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 3 minutes ago, YaManSmevz said: That's a good point, and thank you for pointing that out, but upon re-reading I kind of cringed over how many spoilers I blurted out. That's something I never do, and I know you're the same way. Oh well, what can you do? Funny you should say that - that one was one of the few I did stop reading at the ‘warning point’ ? I’m not particularly sensitive to spoilers in most games (a lot of the time, I find I can enjoy a game more if it’s been spoiled, weirdly!)… but walking Sims pretty much live and die on the narratives, and since I have that one ready to start soonish, I did try to steer clear of them there! 6 minutes ago, YaManSmevz said: One of the first thoughts I had playing The Last Yardbird was that it looked like it would've been such a cool level to be able to run around in. I was more than consoled by the fact that I could shoot people in the head and watch their bodies fly completely out of view, while people standing right next to them remained none the wiser. That Last Yardbird one made me feel the same - I love the sniper levels, but would be cool to run around in them too! Don’t know if you played the “Patient Zero” campaign in the first game, but they actually did a sniper mission in that - of the Colorado map - and it totally proved the viability of having a level work as both a Sniper level, and a standard level! Of course, the true curse of Hitman, is that for every level, you end up thinking of 3 that you’d like to see… I still live in hope that, someday, we’ll see an “airport” map… think about it - the shops, the hangers, the baggage areas, security… Just think what 47 could do as a TSA security guard… I shudder to think what a ‘body cavity search’ would end up being in his hands…? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaManSmevz Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 12 minutes ago, DrBloodmoney said: Funny you should say that - that one was one of the few I did stop reading at the ‘warning point’ I’m not particularly sensitive to spoilers in most games (a lot of the time, I find I can enjoy a game more if it’s been spoiled, weirdly!)… but walking Sims pretty much live and die on the narratives, and since I have that one ready to start soonish, I did try to steer clear of them there! Whew! Okay, good.. I'm glad to hear the warnings were sufficient, I would feel terrible about just ruining it for everybody! 12 minutes ago, DrBloodmoney said: That Last Yardbird one made me feel the same - I love the sniper levels, but would be cool to run around in them too! Don’t know if you played the “Patient Zero” campaign in the first game, but they actually did a sniper mission in that - of the Colorado map - and it totally proved the viability of having a level work as both a Sniper level, and a standard level! Y'know, I started the Patient Zero campaign but ended up more engrossed in the main story and forgot about it... I think I'll be remedying that with 3. I'm still flabbergasted at how much content 3 has, incidentally! 12 minutes ago, DrBloodmoney said: Of course, the true curse of Hitman, is that for every level, you end up thinking of 3 that you’d like to see… I still live in hope that, someday, we’ll see an “airport” map… think about it - the shops, the hangers, the baggage areas, security… Just think what 47 could do as a TSA security guard… I shudder to think what a ‘body cavity search’ would end up being in his hands… Funny story - the last time my wife and I traveled, I saw this weird looking bald dude walking between offices. I was in the midst of finishing HM 2016 and my first impulse was to yell out something like "somebody's doing something!!" then grab my wife and get the hell out of there? I'd fuck with an airport level mad heavy! Word is there's a DLC in the works, so you never know... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather342 Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 21 minutes ago, YaManSmevz said: Y'know, I started the Patient Zero campaign but ended up more engrossed in the main story and forgot about it... I think I'll be remedying that with 3. I'm still flabbergasted at how much content 3 has, incidentally! The Patient Zero campaign is actually really good, but playing that last level now.... during pandemic times.....hits a little bit too close to home lol! ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post YaManSmevz Posted January 8, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2022 (edited) Platinum #39: The Wolf Among Us Along came the wolf on his big bad Harley I've been putting this one off for a while, I think it just got lost in a sea of other games I was trying to write about when I was finished following Bigby around. Gotta give a shout to @Copanele and his awesome review of this game, it gave me the inspiration to wrap this one up! My only experience with Telltale was with Back to the Future, which I liked, but must acknowledge that it could be frustrating with the litany of missable trophies as well as its lengthy problem solving process - you have to do this, but first do that, make sure not to do this but that and do it before you do this and then don't forget to look at that, talk about this, then do that, and... wait, did you do that?? Now you have to start all over! Luckily, they dialed that back considerably here. Like, all the way back. The only gameplay to speak of here is response selection and a long series of QTEs, and while how you feel about those may make your enjoyment of the game vary, what absolutely will not are two things that Telltale utterly knocks out of the park - the graphics and the story. Wolf Among Us looks so. Fucking. Cool. Telltale's cartoonish look is a brilliant fit for the noir-heavy Fabletown - the city is beautifully lit but also wonderfully seedy, with more dive bars and dark alleys than you could shake a pack of cigarettes at. The direction is so stylish, too. Sure, you're not really in control of much, which often could be to a game's detriment, but here you're just happy to be along for the ride. And it is quite a ride. The story twists and turns with one uncomfortable revelation after another, yet nothing ever feels forced or like it's trying too hard to get a cheap shock out of you. The narrative flows very nicely, and when you get to the Usual Suspects-esque cliffhanger ending, you're genuinely still hungry for more! Something else I liked was how at the end of each episode, you'd learn how common the choices you made were. It gave me a lot of "whoops" moments - like how uncommon it was to interrupt Snow White (it was an accident!), or how truly lousy of a gamer I am in that I'm in the vast minority of people who lost the fight to Beast. That's right, I got my ass kicked in a Telltale game! Actually you know what?? I didn't like the choice percentages being revealed, I changed my mind! I kid, I kid. I liked the amount of choices - granted, the game is far too linear for anything to make a particularly dramatic impact, but the novelty of them being there still added to my overall enjoyment of the game. I probably would've explored more of the options if you could save mid-episode - missed opportunity there, I feel. I was unaware of the Fables comics until playing this game, and while im not a big comic guy, i gotta say I'm interested! It's a really creative concept, and I love the characterization and different kinds of rapport everybody has with one another. Except Beast. Sorry Beauty doesn't like you bro... maybe it's cuz you're a little bitch, ever think of that?? I never thought I'd end up with more than one Telltale game in the collection, but I'm really glad I got this one. I'm starting to second guess my reluctance to play The Walking Dead.. and also have I heard correctly that The Wolf Among Us 2 is in the works?? Count me in? THAT Trophy: N/A Two in a row, whaddayaknow? Literally once you start playing this game, you're a day or two away from a platinum. Sure, in some cases you'll have to go back for Book of Fables entries, but Super Meat Boy this is not! Edited November 10, 2022 by YaManSmevz 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kopite Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/8/2022 at 10:08 PM, YaManSmevz said: xcept Beast. Sorry Beauty doesn't like you bro... maybe it's cuz you're a little bitch, ever think of that?? I never thought I'd end up with more than one Telltale game in the collection, but I'm really glad I got this one. I'm starting to second guess my reluctance to play The Walking Dead.. and also have I heard correctly that The Wolf Among Us 2 is in the works?? Count me in? Hahah not a fan of ol' Beasty eh? Play TWD man, you won't regret it (unless you don't like games with zombies in and people dying all the time, in which case you'll totally regret it) Sold that one didn't I lol Looking forward to TWAU 2 too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaManSmevz Posted January 12, 2022 Author Share Posted January 12, 2022 18 minutes ago, The_Kopite said: Hahah not a fan of ol' Beasty eh? Haha I hadn't thought about it since I'd played it, but I remember Clarkie mentioning it in his thread and I was like "ooh yeeaah, that's right... yeah, fuck that guy!" Nothing like the dude bein like "Where's my chick? You seen my chick?? TELL ME IF YOU SEE HER, OKAY??" and the girl bein like "yeah could you not tell him, please?" to make you think "wow, this is super healthy..." 18 minutes ago, The_Kopite said: Play TWD man, you won't regret it (unless you don't like games with zombies in and people dying all the time, in which case you'll totally regret it) Sold that one didn't I lol Looking forward to TWAU 2 too! Wait... Zombies? People dying?? That's hardly the image I have for The Walking Dead!! *storms out* Seriously though, you're probably right. To the PS Store!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kopite Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 4 minutes ago, YaManSmevz said: Haha I hadn't thought about it since I'd played it, but I remember Clarkie mentioning it in his thread and I was like "ooh yeeaah, that's right... yeah, fuck that guy!" Nothing like the dude bein like "Where's my chick? You seen my chick?? TELL ME IF YOU SEE HER, OKAY??" and the girl bein like "yeah could you not tell him, please?" to make you think "wow, this is super healthy..." Haha yes indeed, not the healthiest relationship in the world. It was an interesting interpretation of all those characters though, and I believe you said that you hadn't heard of Fables the comic before? I hadn't either tbh, thought it was just an original idea they'd come up with. 5 minutes ago, YaManSmevz said: Wait... Zombies? People dying?? That's hardly the image I have for The Walking Dead!! *storms out* Seriously though, you're probably right. To the PS Store!! I know right?! I went into TWD thinking it was going to be about rainbows, bunnies and daffodils so imagine my surprise! lol Whenever there is a great deal, get them. You'll enjoy them. (2 and 3 were free with PS Plus I think btw) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post YaManSmevz Posted January 16, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) Platinum #45: Grim Fandango Todo llevamos dentro un muerto que acompaña/Que aparece cuando la noche llega y el sol se apaga A game I put off for quite a while, and I'm so happy to have finally played it, because this thing has charm for days! First of all, anything with a día de los muertos flavor will grab my attention - I blame the combination of my Mexican heritage and the fact that I'm nearly forty years old and still think skulls look cool. Seriously though, the culture means a lot to me, and the fact that Grim Fandango manages to embrace it so genuinely yet playfully is huge. Being an afterlife travel agent in the land of the living is such a novel idea, and just the way protagonist Manuel Calavera talks made me feel right at home. Manny and Glottis are a great duo, and while I could see some people finding Glottis to be a bit much, his relentless goofiness cracked me up. As did most of the story - how he's suddenly Rick from Casablanca in year two, the bit with Meche's stockings, Carla's rant while holding the metal detector, and near the end when you're talking to a certain severed head, there's so many moments that got an unexpected laugh out of me. As far as flaws go, the graphics are very much of their era. They scream that garish blocky look with tacky colors that 90s games are now famous for, and then when you throw in the tank controls (necessary for a trophy), it's very much a trip to 1998. It's not that big of a deal though, really. The story is so charming that it's hard to care what it looks like. The major issue is how impregnable this thing can feel without a guide, and it quickly becomes a hindrance. Most games I feel like it's only right to play through blindly, and then afterwards consult a guide for what was missed, and sometimes when I just go straight to the guide I feel disappointed in myself, and that I'd denied myself an experience. Let me use The Witness, particularly the Jungle, as an example. I found myself exhausting possibilities and essentially brute-forcing my way through many puzzles, because I wanted so badly to figure it out. Which makes sense, as this is a puzzle game. Painstaking? Frustrating? Mos fucking def. But satisfying, and more importantly, an expected part of the journey. Whenever I went to a guide, I knew it was in a desperate attempt to understand something rather than to get an easy solution, but I loathed having done so. With Grim Fandango on the other hand, there wasn't much satisfaction to be had in solving things myself, and I didn’t feel the least bit badly about following a guide. I don't want to walk around a large area trying to find the exact right spot to post up a sign. Or scour the game for cryptic clues to determine the correct information for printing out the right betting ticket. It's a point and click game, I want to see what happens in the story. When I figured out that wheelbarrow deal legit, I didn't feel any sense of accomplishment - I just felt happy I didn't have to do something stupid anymore, and could just get back to a story that I was enjoying. I'm not decrying challenge, but rather how out of place, overly opaque, and genuinely unrewarding it is here. So yeah, use a guide if you play this! It may seem as though all that soured the experience given all I had to say about it, but actually nah - I found the story so funny, and such a joy to follow along, that even the occasional annoyances were really quite trivial. With a guide (can't stress that enough with this one), it's a quick, and more importantly fun, trip to a platinum. THAT Trophy: The Right Way I mean... why? I really don't understand why this was necessary. Maybe Tim Schafer was like "nah fam, I know how many guides are out there for this game now. If you want the platinum, you're gonna have to earn it - by dealing with clunky controls!" Maybe there's some inside joke I'm not privy to? Who knows. Either way, it's only awkward at first, it doesn't take long to get used to. I just think it's weird that somebody demanded this trophy! Edited November 10, 2022 by YaManSmevz 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjkclarke Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 6 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Platinum #45: Grim Fandango Todo llevamos dentro un muerto que acompaña/Que aparece cuando la noche llega y el sol se apaga That was a real treat to read.... Thank you for that! Reading that you loved this game made me so happy! Especially how much you liked Glottis. Glottis made me quite literally laugh out loud so many times throughout the times I've played this game. The bit near the end with the whole "MANNNY.......... I'M FRIGHTENED" never fails to bring a smile to my face. Curse of Monkey Island was the first time I ever heard of Grim Fandango, when I was younger. A skeleton (although it's actually Manny,) appears in that game sat at a table wearing a badge saying "Ask me about Grim Fandango" I thought that was such a cool little thing to pique someone's interest in another game. I love that you love this game....... If you want a more modern Tim Schafer point-and-click game at some point in the future, check out Broken Age, it's really good too, and check out the documentary about it, after you've played it. He put a whole lot of love into that game. It does have some really obtuse puzzles in it though, and a speedrun trophy for completing the game in an hour. Aside from that though - I absolutely love that one. Your guess is as good as mine, as far as why they felt the need to have tank controls through the whole game for a trophy though. 6 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: I'm not decrying challenge, but rather how out of place, overly opaque, and genuinely unrewarding it is here. Spare a thought for those of us who played these sorts of games before we had access to the internet - I'm surprised I don't have nightmares about that damn evil goat from Broken Sword to this day Although saying that, all of those weird and opaque puzzle solutions are something hat I usually tend to really like, as modern point-and-click games do have a habit of really oversimplifying things more than I think they need to sometimes. I'm really happy that even almost twenty-five years later people can still have a wonderful time with a game like this! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBloodmoney Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 12 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: Platinum #45: Grim Fandango Todo llevamos dentro un muerto que acompaña/Que aparece cuando la noche llega y el sol se apaga Nice! Glad you enjoyed Grim Fandango - that's a game I hold in very high regard, but being a white kid from Scotland, I'd really have no idea if it was culturally iffy - it's nice to know it isn't, even this many years later, when the spinning blades of the "problematic-seeking-juggernaut" are so much sharper and more deadly! There's something I'd be genuinely interesting in asking you now, as a new player who has only just finished the game, and didn't have the legacy nostalgia as baggage, actually, (and it's something where I suspect I am something of a heretic, as far as fans of the original goes...) ...you mentioned the two main issues with the game: 12 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: As far as flaws go, the graphics are very much of their era. They scream that garish blocky look with tacky colors that 90s games are now famous for, and then when you throw in the tank controls (necessary for a trophy), it's very much a trip to 1998. The early 3D graphics, and the tank controls. I, agree, those are the two biggest hinderances to the game nowadays - I think most people would agree... why they added that trophy I'll never know, but tip-top trolling Tim Schafer) - however, I would actually go a little further, and would say I thought they were a hinderance even back then. While I agree that: 12 hours ago, YaManSmevz said: The story is so charming that it's hard to care what it looks like. I do wonder... ...do you reckon if Grim Fandango had exactly the same story / puzzles / writing/ gameplay... i.e. was exactly the same game, but was not 3D - if it was pixel-art, like Day of the Tentacle, with a more traditional click-to-walk-to and interact interface do you think it would be better? The thing is... as much as I love it, I kind of do. I actually think Day of the Tentacle has aged a lot better than Grim (or Full Throttle, for that matter) has, despite being older, simply because that style is perennial, whereas the early 3D Grim had, or the weird faux-3D parts of Full Throttle - which might have seemed more impressive at the time, actually makes them less approachable now? I kind of feel like Grim, as compared to Date of the Tentacle, has the same issue Final Fantasy VII does, as compared to Final Fantasy VI... ...VII was mad impressive at the time of release because it was using the latest tech, but because it was an early adoption of it, the visuals had a shelf-life of five minutes. Now, it survives on the strength of the other aspects - in spite of its visuals, rather than as a result of them, if that makes sense? Just interested whether a new player feels the same! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaManSmevz Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 Thanks guys! On 1/16/2022 at 6:13 PM, rjkclarke said: Especially how much you liked Glottis. Glottis made me quite literally laugh out loud so many times throughout the times I've played this game. The bit near the end with the whole "MANNNY.......... I'M FRIGHTENED" never fails to bring a smile to my face. MAAAANNYYY YOOOUUU PROOOMIISED!! On 1/16/2022 at 6:13 PM, rjkclarke said: I love that you love this game....... If you want a more modern Tim Schafer point-and-click game at some point in the future, check out Broken Age, it's really good too, and check out the documentary about it, after you've played it. He put a whole lot of love into that game. It does have some really obtuse puzzles in it though, and a speedrun trophy for completing the game in an hour. Aside from that though - I absolutely love that one. Hmm... *takes note On 1/16/2022 at 6:13 PM, rjkclarke said: Spare a thought for those of us who played these sorts of games before we had access to the internet - I'm surprised I don't have nightmares about that damn evil goat from Broken Sword to this day Although saying that, all of those weird and opaque puzzle solutions are something hat I usually tend to really like, as modern point-and-click games do have a habit of really oversimplifying things more than I think they need to sometimes. I could only imagine! There were so many moments where I know if I had played back then, I would've been stuck on for quite a while. That's not at all to say that I wouldn't prefer this over something with a difficulty easy enough to feel insulting, of course. I wish I could explain the sentiment better, it could well just be me but there were some things that felt excessive rather than difficult - like I shudder to think how long I would've been trying to figure out where that sign was supposed to go! On 1/17/2022 at 0:45 AM, DrBloodmoney said: There's something I'd be genuinely interesting in asking you now, as a new player who has only just finished the game, and didn't have the legacy nostalgia as baggage, actually, (and it's something where I suspect I am something of a heretic, as far as fans of the original goes...) ...you mentioned the two main issues with the game: The early 3D graphics, and the tank controls. I, agree, those are the two biggest hinderances to the game nowadays - I think most people would agree... why they added that trophy I'll never know, but tip-top trolling Tim Schafer) - however, I would actually go a little further, and would say I thought they were a hinderance even back then. Hmm! I can't disagree with that sentiment, tank controls have always been kinda weird. I remember it taking a bit for me to get the hang of the controls in the OG Resident Evil games, and it certainly wasn't because tank controls felt ahead of their time or anything like that? On 1/17/2022 at 0:45 AM, DrBloodmoney said: I do wonder... ...do you reckon if Grim Fandango had exactly the same story / puzzles / writing/ gameplay... i.e. was exactly the same game, but was not 3D - if it was pixel-art, like Day of the Tentacle, with a more traditional click-to-walk-to and interact interface do you think it would be better? The thing is... as much as I love it, I kind of do. I actually think Day of the Tentacle has aged a lot better than Grim (or Full Throttle, for that matter) has, despite being older, simply because that style is perennial, whereas the early 3D Grim had, or the weird faux-3D parts of Full Throttle - which might have seemed more impressive at the time, actually makes them less approachable now? I do think it would've been better off with a more simple art style, but I did get a fair bit of nostalgia from its 90s computer game look, in spite of not having played it before! It really took me back to the mid to late 90s, but objectively speaking? I think GF definitely would've maintained that much more charm with pixel art. On 1/17/2022 at 0:45 AM, DrBloodmoney said: I kind of feel like Grim, as compared to Date of the Tentacle, has the same issue Final Fantasy VII does, as compared to Final Fantasy VI... ...VII was mad impressive at the time of release because it was using the latest tech, but because it was an early adoption of it, the visuals had a shelf-life of five minutes. Now, it survives on the strength of the other aspects - in spite of its visuals, rather than as a result of them, if that makes sense? Yes, this makes perfect sense, and is a great observation! VI was 16-bit at the peak of its powers, so it was unquestionably better at mastering its look than VII was. I remember reading about how the 80s and 90s had such loud colors and tacky designs because there was such a boom in the technology for printers and stuff like that, and designers were drunk on these new looks that they were suddenly capable of harnessing.. which then proceeded to be dated with the quickness! I wonder if it's just a natural thing for creators to concern themselves with being the first to come out utilizing the new tech as opposed to the best. How I wish I could see the look of FFVII through the eyes of someone who hadn't been there - would they be like "How cool, this is what games looked like then" or "Get the fuck out of here with your goofy ass blocks..." 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrooba Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Funny you just wrote a review on Grim Fandango, I just finished DrBloodMoney's review on a similar game, Flipping Death! ? It's always fantastic to play a game where you've lived with the culture the game presents. I mean, I bloody loved Dingodile's Aussie antics in Crash 4! I've looked at the gameplay and I can see what you mean with the dated graphics, being from 1998 and all. At the same time though, it does give it that nostalgic charm; I actually played some point and click games when I was really young on the family computer, man these types of game just have that 'charm' to them. I best describe it as something that can be played at your own pace. With point and click games, you decide how fast to go, where to go, and when to do things. I suppose this is true for ANY game where you have control, but it feels different; with other games, usually you have linear levels to traverse with a clear goal. I suppose then that perhaps an open-world game would fit this category, I mean you can technically do things at your own pace there, but point and click games are like the middle-ground of these two things; they're linear, and there isn't always a clear goal. Because of this, I always felt like you can just appreciate each room and environment a lot more. Ironically enough, with open world games, there's SO much to see that sometimes it's hard to appreciate details unless you really look hard. I will say though, Fallout has managed to grasp me in an open-world setting due to some incredible lore... but I digress! ? May I also suggest the Pixar film Coco, a story about the Day of the Dead, it seems to have taken a lot of inspiration that this game did, you might like it a lot! And also I'm really late to this, but Australia also has Coco Pops. ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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