All Things Video Games & Game Reviews Part II

[Gonzo]

Hey all, you know the deal...
The other thread hit over 1,000 posts and we have server issues when that shit happens so here she be, a fancy new mega thread.

Anyway, just a quick rundown.

Post anything and everything gaming in here. Console games, handheld/mobile games or PC.

Playing something you love or maybe hate? Find a hidden gem on Steam? Let us know via a review. Try to make sure you give a good rundown on it. Graphics, sound, storyline, overall gameplay and replayability. Let's keep it at a 1-10 scale.

Thanks to all that left me awesome rep comments/posts and even pm's thanking me for the many reviews I wrote.
Just an FYI, developers do read our comments in here I guess. CD Projekt Red (of Witcher 3) was one that stopped by.

Anyway, thanks all for your input and as always, no griefing.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by Bump

I saw that, you'd have to be the biggest dumb**** on earth to buy anything from them or try to fund any projects of theirs.

But I do find something interesting about this. People obviously want the type of game that they advertised with the day before or whatever it was called. They want to play a game like that, other companies had to have noticed that because it was one of the biggest wishlisted items I believe for steam. But nobody is willing to make games like that even though there is a strong market for it.

I like how he pointed out that the same number of backers are the same number of devs on the project. We're sorry for scamming you but a few months later we're back to be totally honest. sure sure...

[Imon Yourside]

[Otter]

Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Plus Edition is available on Steam for $3.99. Well worth it if you're a Baldur's Gate fan.


100+ hours of game play plus 3 DLCs.


Offer expires Oct 7th.

[Fishpicker]

Originally Posted by Canofbier

Video games are my biggest hobby by far, I frequently read news about them, and I never hear about "controversies" like this until I see them posted here. YouTubers like this are SO desperate to find "politics" in things just so they can make shitty rage-bait fluff and grift ad revenue from other chronically online idiots. It's ****ing pathetic.

I feel the same way about knights, samurai, monks and Jedi. I have been reading about them since I was a kid. Despite that, I had never heard of Yasuke until 2020 or so. He is now a historical figure, supposedly. Thomas Lockley is the scholar that discovered the obscure historical records of a black man in Edo era Japan. there's no problem there. but I believe Lockley embellished some of that story to proclaim that Yasuke was a samurai, and was on the verge of becoming a feudal lord. nevermind that samurai is/was a inheritable title. Yasuke is a legend that fought with the strength of ten men and took 20 wives, according to Lockley. I recognize that as woke tripe because it involves race essentialism which is a component of critical race theory. and thats just one scholars opinion. Ubisoft isnt constrained by history in a game setting. The game is fantasy and further engages in the fetishization of a black man, a slave, then a hired hand, then a bodygaurd, samurai, vassal, general, lord.

it is all kind of silly and overhyped. I dont care much about the culture war/controversy. I posted that video to show that the controversy exists and it is hurting Ubisoft stock because they are picking a fight with their own already-shrinking-fanbase.

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by Fishpicker

I feel the same way about knights, samurai, monks and Jedi. I have been reading about them since I was a kid. Despite that, I had never heard of Yasuke until 2020 or so. He is now a historical figure, supposedly. Thomas Lockley is the scholar that discovered the obscure historical records of a black man in Edo era Japan. there's no problem there. but I believe Lockley embellished some of that story to proclaim that Yasuke was a samurai, and was on the verge of becoming a feudal lord. nevermind that samurai is/was a inheritable title. Yasuke is a legend that fought with the strength of ten men and took 20 wives, according to Lockley. I recognize that as woke tripe because it involves race essentialism which is a component of critical race theory. and thats just one scholars opinion. Ubisoft isnt constrained by history in a game setting. The game is fantasy and further engages in the fetishization of a black man, a slave, then a hired hand, then a bodygaurd, samurai, vassal, general, lord.

it is all kind of silly and overhyped. I dont care much about the culture war/controversy. I posted that video to show that the controversy exists and it is hurting Ubisoft stock because they are picking a fight with their own already-shrinking-fanbase.

I don't think you're wrong that popular media focusing on non-white people is a lot more prevalent than it was 10 or even 5 years ago. But rather than an insidious social engineering scheme, as these types of creators like to imply, I suspect it's more "free-market reactions" changing, and media companies shifting to accommodate that to maximize their revenue.

There are times where that comes across as a little forced, I admit - studio executives forcing things into an existing script or setting, attempting to reach more consumers and generate more profit - but I think audiences (and ticket sales) usually react accordingly when the material feels inauthentic as a result.

Going with the samurai theme, Yasuke's story - however it might differ from true history - sounds pretty similar to plenty of other rags-to-riches samurai legends. The Shogun book & shows are a similar historical-fiction embellishment of a real non-Japanese historical figure in feudal Japan and those have been around for almost 50 years, and so I'm not sure I buy that it's "fetishization" just because the character is Black. Focusing on him rather than a native Japanese character (or even a white one, thanks to Shogun) gives the chance to do something that isn't just a repetition of other popular samurai games and movies that already exist, and I think audiences are more open to that than they used to be.

What annoys me about "influencers" like that guy is that they never really talk about the quality of the story, they just express outrage that it's not the same one they've already been told and were expecting. Everyone's entitled to their preferences, of course, but these assholes are just riding the coattails of political unrest to get clicks, and in the process are using the worst of cash-grab-diverse media to dissuade people from checking out other things that could be interesting or good. If good games or movies fail as a result, it's not a good thing for audiences.

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by Imon Yourside

I'll be bummed if Ubisoft's failures mean there isn't a Division 3. I like that sort of game and have been keeping my eye on D3.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Canofbier

I'll be bummed if Ubisoft's failures mean there isn't a Division 3. I like that sort of game and have been keeping my eye on D3.

Even if Ubisoft has to declare bankruptcy, they've got too many big IPs to just disappear. I'm guessing they will be an acquisition target soon.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Even if Ubisoft has to declare bankruptcy, they've got too many big IPs to just disappear. I'm guessing they will be an acquisition target soon.

This is what I'm actually hoping for, a company that will do better than Ubi buys the franchise and continues it.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Imon Yourside

This is what I'm actually hoping for, a company that will do better than Ubi buys the franchise and continues it.

Me too. I'm a big AC/FC fan. Would love to see them infused with new ideas.

[Gravedigger]

Been playing Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, been having fun with it. Exploration, bigger map than I thought it would be, takes elements from all the games so far it seems; Links Awakening for the art style, Link to the Past for the map, Wind Waker for the enemy design, Ocarina for some of the bosses, Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom for the crafting and item selection, but so far I've had fun using the echoes to reach new areas, it's pretty clever. So far I'd recommend it, haven't really gotten far in the storyline because I'm wondering around so much.

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

Been playing Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, been having fun with it. Exploration, bigger map than I thought it would be, takes elements from all the games so far it seems; Links Awakening for the art style, Link to the Past for the map, Wind Waker for the enemy design, Ocarina for some of the bosses, Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom for the crafting and item selection, but so far I've had fun using the echoes to reach new areas, it's pretty clever. So far I'd recommend it, haven't really gotten far in the storyline because I'm wondering around so much.

I’m excited to try it! Nintendo doesn’t often miss on new entries to their main series.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by Imon Yourside

This is what I'm actually hoping for, a company that will do better than Ubi buys the franchise and continues it.

Curious of who out there is big enough to acquire them and if they are any better at this point than Ubisoft.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by tredadda

Curious of who out there is big enough to acquire them and if they are any better at this point than Ubisoft.

Sony certainly has the ability. It would make for an interesting counterpunch to MS' Activision acquisition.