Unpopular Opinions about Video Games

[Marissa Moira]

I'm guessing none at all based on his initial response to the reception.

Kojima gets butthurt but at the end of the day he doesn't give a shit about anyone but himself and will do whatever the fuck he wants. This has *always* been the case be it gameplay or story.

I'll never forget the story I heard where Big Boss suddenly idolized Che Guevere in Peace Walker because he saw some documentary on him during a flight. No idea if it's true but it sounds like Kojima.

Definitive Edition of Death Stranding added shit that people complained the game was lacking, so on some level he agreed with them.

Midnight Club series should do a comeback, but I fear it will be toned down severely in current day.

So then it would be called 9:30pm Club.

 

[Ughubughughughughughghlug]

Red Dead 2 isn't based at all.

I agree, but a lot of people thought that because it didn’t have overt chest thumping propaganda that meant it was based (despite its covert subtle propaganda)

 

[Matt Damon]

Assassins Creed is such a weird one when it comes to this because I've heard this said about Assassins Creed 3, Black Flag, Rogue, Origins, Odyssey and Valhalla.

Having seen some of the later Assassin's Creed games (I gave up on the series halfway though 3), I'm not sure there's ANY core concept that defines the series anymore.

They're all third-person action games where you kill enemies in some capacity? That's the only connecting thread that seems to run through all the games at this point.

 

[Milwaukee Macho Man]

They're all third-person action games where you kill enemies in some capacity?

The big thing now (based on what I've seen fans say at least) is that they have all these RPG elements, which is where people are like "Yeah, it'd be a nice Egyptian/Greek/Viking RPG but it's a bad Assassins Creed game!"

And at this point I'm just kind of like WTF even is an AC game anymore. Why is Ubisoft so fucking tied down to this weird Assassin storyline?

Actually, are they even tied to it? I've not played an AC since Black Flag so I honestly have no idea if it's just a "name" now. Like is the only connecting thing those weird artifacts or whatever now? Or are those even gone?

Edit: It actually really makes me wonder if most people even pay attention to the assassins stuff in these games at all. I wonder if it's like me where I like Far Cry games but I tend to just ignore the story and just have fun in the location.

 

[The Last Stand]

Gears of War should've ended after 3. Well, technically Judgment as that was the last Gears game on 360.

4 at best could've been an epilogue.

 

[Ughubughughughughughghlug]

Having seen some of the later Assassin's Creed games (I gave up on the series halfway though 3), I'm not sure there's ANY core concept that defines the series anymore.

They're all third-person action games where you kill enemies in some capacity? That's the only connecting thread that seems to run through all the games at this point.

They would be better games if they would just drop the whole assassin story entirely and made them historical games with gameplay based around their gimmick, whether that's being an Italian swashbuckler, Iroquois warrior, pirate, French swashbuckler, Victorian gangster, medjay (which weren't anything in real life like they are in the game, but oh well), Greek ship captain/warrior, etc.

One example is how weird Syndicate is, I like it, but they should have just gone full cover shooter with handguns AND kept the stealth elements. And the plots are convoluted, it's nice that they can tie it into major historical events but at least for me the older I get the less I enjoy the conspiracy theory and goofy black-and-white morality crap (compared to something like Kingdom Come: Deliverance).

Ghost of Tsushima is a fine example of what the Assassin's Creed formula can look like when it's not tied to all the Assassin-Templar silliness. I don't consider it a replacement for "Assassin's Creed: Japan" or whatever, because I'd like to see somebody make a depiction of the mainland with Kyoto/Tokyo and ships and broader subject matter (wokou, ninja, and ronin are all good subjects for a game), but you get what I mean, the gameplay revolves around cinematic samurai-style swordfighting and the story is like a war movie.

 

[Super Hans]

The big thing now (based on what I've seen fans say at least) is that they have all these RPG elements, which is where people are like "Yeah, it'd be a nice Egyptian/Greek/Viking RPG but it's a bad Assassins Creed game!"

And at this point I'm just kind of like WTF even is an AC game anymore. Why is Ubisoft so fucking tied down to this weird Assassin storyline?

Actually, are they even tied to it? I've not played an AC since Black Flag so I honestly have no idea if it's just a "name" now. Like is the only connecting thing those weird artifacts or whatever now? Or are those even gone?

Edit: It actually really makes me wonder if most people even pay attention to the assassins stuff in these games at all. I wonder if it's like me where I like Far Cry games but I tend to just ignore the story and just have fun in the location.

The reason that Ubisoft sticks with the overarching Templar-Assassin war plot is because it's a fun concept, the problem is that they don't fucking do anything with it. I'd 100% get it if it went in bad directions that had to be course corrected later since nothing was planned past Desmond's arc, but it's been in stasis since Black Flag, more than half the series ago.

 

[Scarlett Johansson]

Shame the LoH games are all turn based. I liked Tales being an action RPG.

Its not that bad. They give options all over like auto attacking, skipping animations, speeding up the combat etc.

 

[Level99Manchild]

I think Heavy Rain was a really interesting concept and would like to see that style done with a writer who isn't mentally retarded (so, not David Cage) and voice actors who can actually voice-act. The scene where the cops show up and you have to quickly remember what you touched in the room to wipe your fingerprints off was legitimately intense.

The game would have been the same without Cage's PS3 waifu Madison Page. She was the most useless and probably most unlikable character.

 

[LightDragonman1]

Honestly, the only thing I remember about Madison Paige was that she seemed to be shown naked at nearly every chance the game could take. So yeah, not exactly the "high art" that Cage likes to boast his games of being. That, and his downright insulting portrayal of the police force in it.

On a different note, I probably shared this opinion before, but I'm gonna repeat it. Having gone through Quake 4 again, I stand by it being my second favorite in the series, and a title that doesn't deserve any of the hate it gets.

Granted, yes the first third is rather slow and generic, but once you hit the Stroggification scene, it becomes one of the most enjoyable shooters of the 2000s, at least imo, thanks to the much faster movement speed, a harrowing Bio-Punk setting that gets introduced, and the much more fun and satisfying weapons and upgrades that get doled out quickly thereafter (the upgraded Nailgun, Hyperblaster, Railgun (which admittedly isn't quite as good as Quake II's), Lightning Gun, and Dark Matter Gun are some of my all time favorites in any shooter).

 

[Milwaukee Macho Man]

Definitive Edition of Death Stranding added shit that people complained the game was lacking, so on some level he agreed with them.

Kojima agreed? Or did Sony agree?

And even then, Kojima only "agrees" when he needs to sell another copy of his game. Just like with MGS 3 and the ridiculous fixed camera he replaced in the re-release a year later.

I'd bet money the real reason he scrapped Kingdom of the Flies in MGS V was so he could potentially sell it in a re-release a year later, but him getting shit canned ruined that idea.

 

[Scarlett Johansson]

I think Heavy Rain was a really interesting concept and would like to see that style done with a writer who isn't mentally retarded (so, not David Cage) and voice actors who can actually voice-act. The scene where the cops show up and you have to quickly remember what you touched in the room to wipe your fingerprints off was legitimately intense.

Dunno how they decided on the casting. To save money or what but they utilized both British and French actors which is why the kids sound awful. Not sure if it is a situation similar to Xenoblade 2 or not though. Ethan's actor is pretty chill.

 

[The Last Stand]

The reason that Ubisoft sticks with the overarching Templar-Assassin war plot is because it's a fun concept, the problem is that they don't fucking do anything with it. I'd 100% get it if it went in bad directions that had to be course corrected later since nothing was planned past Desmond's arc, but it's been in stasis since Black Flag, more than half the series ago.

At this point, Assassin's Creed is just "historical showcase stealth" simulator. That conflict is just background noise at this point.

I think Assassin's Creed should give you the choice to choose as a hack and slash or a stealth game.

 

[A Sentient Cloud]

The game would have been the same without Cage's PS3 waifu Madison Page. She was the most useless and probably most unlikable character.

To continue my sperg about dumb video game names, give me a fucking break with "Madison Paige." Would it surprise you to know that this character, with not one but two trendy, masculine-leaning names, has short brown hair and wears a leather jacket with a wifebeater underneath? We get it David, you're horny for tomboys. Aaron Sorkin is less obvious with his female characters.

 

[Red Hood]

It was false advertising effectively, the trailers showed the first 2 or so hours of gameplay where it seems like it'll be an open world action game, then you suddenly get this RTS mini game section which was kind of neat but then you realize that it is almost the entire game after that point. Tim said EA screwed him by lying in trailers to hide the truth about what the game was, but that's probably because advertisers know that metal heads aren't strategists.

I played Brutal Legend after it came out and I heard the controversy because I love trying out janky strategy games like this and it was okay, not amazing but it was fine. For the intended audience this is such a slap in the face though with all that advertising, and if you don't know what you're doing you'll take awhile in the RTS segments because they are not short. They take about I'd say 15 minutes unless you find a way to rush down the base successfully.

It was because of this and the various kick starter and early access fumbles after Brutal legend that Double Fine made that made me think Tim Schafer is an absolute retard with a fan cult that sucks his cock too much. That man may have some talent somewhere, but he's also a bumbling retard.

I think Brutal Legend had a neat world idea that would have better been served with like, a blend of Zelda and a God of War styled beat em up.

Honestly, the only thing I remember about Madison Paige was that she seemed to be shown naked at nearly every chance the game could take. So yeah, not exactly the "high art" that Cage likes to boast his games of being. That, and his downright insulting portrayal of the police force in it.

On a different note, I probably shared this opinion before, but I'm gonna repeat it. Having gone through Quake 4 again, I stand by it being my second favorite in the series, and a title that doesn't deserve any of the hate it gets.

Granted, yes the first third is rather slow and generic, but once you hit the Stroggification scene, it becomes one of the most enjoyable shooters of the 2000s, at least imo, thanks to the much faster movement speed, a harrowing Bio-Punk setting that gets introduced, and the much more fun and satisfying weapons and upgrades that get doled out quickly thereafter (the upgraded Nailgun, Hyperblaster, Railgun (which admittedly isn't quite as good as Quake II's), Lightning Gun, and Dark Matter Gun are some of my all time favorites in any shooter).

Quake 4 is a genuinely fun game.

At this point, Assassin's Creed is just "historical showcase stealth" simulator. That conflict is just background noise at this point.

I think Assassin's Creed should give you the choice to choose as a hack and slash or a stealth game.

Assassin's Creed has stealth?

 

[Neet Tokusatsu]

I think Brutal Legend had a neat world idea that would have better been served with like, a blend of Zelda and a God of War styled beat em up.

I have Brutal Legend on my Steam library because i think they gave it away a few years ago, and that's the kind of game i thought it was, a more cartoony Darksiders. What a surprise it was actually a RTS, it fells off, like the artstyle feels completely disconnected from the gameplay.

 

[Level99Manchild]

To continue my sperg about dumb video game names, give me a fucking break with "Madison Paige." Would it surprise you to know that this character, with not one but two masculine-leaning names, has short brown hair and wears a leather jacket with a wifebeater underneath? We get it David, you're horny for tomboys. Aaron Sorkin is less obvious with his female characters.

Honestly, the only thing I remember about Madison Paige was that she seemed to be shown naked at nearly every chance the game could take. So yeah, not exactly the "high art" that Cage likes to boast his games of being. That, and his downright insulting portrayal of the police force in it.

What's worse is she probaby has more game time than Ethan, Jayden, and Shelby combined. Her "nightmare" in the beginning is really pointless because it's nothing more than rape-snuff fantasy jerk-off material for David Cage (He loves his tomboys only wearing panties and short tops in rapey or dangerous situaitons).

 

[Seventh Star]

There are some other examples where it goes wrong in some almost equally funny ways (LA Noire if anything is lucky to be as good and sucessful as it was). Brutal Legend, which was advertised seemingly as a action adventure game set in a heavy metal world which sounded really awesome if you enjoy heavy metal as an look and genre, EA effectively let good ol' Tim Schaffer do what he wanted. He got all his licensed music like its a GTA game, he got Ozzy Osbourne of all people to voice in it among other figure heads in metal, he got his pretty good cutscenes for the time (this was late 2000s), he got basically everything and went over budget without his project getting canned. It was a disaster in the end, because the core gameplay made no sense for the look of the game and it was so obvious the suits didn't believe in this idea because it was stupid.

Now guess what genre the core gameplay was? A console RTS game ala Star Craft. That's right, let's make a heavy metal game where the main character has a big epic battle axe, demon wings, and a guitar that is basically a magic wand for how much it does and...make it an RTS...on the 360/PS3. Where the focus is on pvp and the single player is effectively a giant tutorial.

All because of "muh vision".

Balan Wonderworld was also an example as apparently no one told Yuji Naka that one button platformers went out of style about 20 years ago.

What I've learned from these stories is that creatives are almost more retarded at solely running huge AAA projects then the suits, the only reason we don't see these stories more is because suits naturally have final say in how much power creatives get and naturally they lean towards ensuring they have power more often then that.

I think it is only in 1 man or really small team projects that this works, because limitations puts a natural strain on creativity freedom that can (sometimes) cull out over ambition. Their are some quite good passion projects in that scope of game development, but when given AAA budgets these people suck at managing projects without suits. It is like they think money and project time is infinite.

Seems to me the biggest problem is getting the wrong kind of creative. When you get the equivalent of an austistic lorefag or a visual design sped to make games of course its going to go bad (in fact, I'd argue half the issue with any modern media is not restraining those types of creatives). You need to find someone who actually devours games and knows exactly what their vision is to actually get a gem.

 

[Cod of War]

To continue my sperg about dumb video game names, give me a fucking break with "Madison Paige." Would it surprise you to know that this character, with not one but two masculine-leaning names, has short brown hair and wears a leather jacket with a wifebeater underneath? We get it David, you're horny for tomboys. Aaron Sorkin is less obvious with his female characters.

How badly do you think Ellen's transition hurt him?

 

[Zeke Von Genbu]

Seems to me the biggest problem is getting the wrong kind of creative. When you get the equivalent of an austistic lorefag or a visual design sped to make games of course its going to go bad (in fact, I'd argue half the issue with any modern media is not restraining those types of creatives). You need to find someone who actually devours games and knows exactly what their vision is to actually get a gem.

The most fundamental problem with creatives being fully in charge with AAA budgets is the majority aren't project forerunners or production leaders, they are professional artists and designers. Many people are financially retarded, bad at running projects, or knowing how markets work which regardless of how much we as a consumer does fully care about these things it 100% does matter when you create a product with a colossal budget of 100-200M USD. A lot of people (especially artists) mostly just know how to be in their own head and make what is in their head, especially these days. That can be very useful as their are creatives who forerun their projects and make something worthwhile within that vision, but it has a tendency without some kind of leash to create retarded ideas in hindsight or go so radically out of scope that the project can't realistically succeed.

I'm sure somewhere in someone's head a RTS that is stylized as a "battle of the bands" with a heavy metal aesthetic design sounds like a great idea, and Tim Schafer did 100% create that vision. it is just a terrible thing to sell due to the average metal fan not wanting an RTS especially on fucking console which isn't designed for that genre very well.

I'm sure Square Enix thought bloating the fuck out of every FF since 14 1.0 with all this flash and arguably pointless bullshit was a great idea, but you take so long to produce a product that your project can't really succeed. FF15 took about a decade to come out, to make it a commercially success game would take an extremely good game financially, and that just wasn't happening.

In short, you don't want the video game equivalent of George Lucas to have an infinite amount of money or he'll create some insane nonsense project that at best gets a reasonable following but it isn't a following that can recoup 6 years of production of what was supposed to be a 4 year project and 300M dollars after they went overbudget twice and had to get more money because their project can't be finished without it (Or you rush some unfinished crap out the door ala No Man's Sky 1.0 for example).

Projects are hard, and the bigger they are the harder they get.