Unpopular Opinions about Video Games

[Ibanez RG 350EX]

The story, the lore, the characters, and the visuals that were great back in 2003. It sure as fuck looked better than Morrowind, which looked like a PS1 game. KOTOR would've been a forgettable game if it didn't have those. The DnD system was just something I used to play; but it was hardly the focus. I wasn't loving it because it was SW DnD, but rather, because the story, world, and characters hit it out of the park. Mostly because Bioware put up their A-game after seeing FF7 and realizing the need to get better.

You're wrong about all of this. I know because I watched someone play a little bit of KOTOR and FF7 once 20 year ago.

 

[LORD IMPERATOR]

You're wrong about all of this. I know because I watched someone play a little bit of KOTOR and FF7 once 20 year ago.

I suppose you did.

I wouldn't say it was overpowered at all. PSVita used the same SoC CPU & GPU as the then-year old iPad 2, which of course would come down in price throughout the life of the console.

It just seemed that Playstation and Xbox eventually focused on power, which led to the PS Vita being abandoned as the DS and Switch ate its lunch on the mobile gaming department.

That of course, led to them being more like glorified PC substitutes, which is kind of asinine in a world where gaming PCs and laptops are a thing. I mean, at this point, a high-powered gaming laptop or rig can offer you the same thing a PS5 or an Xbox Series X/S can. And with a drought of viable exclusives, these consoles aren't doing a good job convincing the average pleb to break the piggy bank. Especially when game prices keep going up as costs of development keep going up.

 

[Pissmaster]

I mean, at this point, a high-powered gaming laptop or rig can offer you the same thing a PS5 or an Xbox Series X/S can.

I've been thinking about writing an extensive post about my experiences trying to use my old desktop as a game console hooked up to my TV. It's almost as good as one, but still has a few fairly major issues that keep it from being as slick as a console.

 

[LORD IMPERATOR]

I've been thinking about writing an extensive post about my experiences trying to use my old desktop as a game console hooked up to my TV. It's almost as good as one, but still has a few fairly major issues that keep it from being as slick as a console.

Exactly. Being more flexible and convenient is what endeared people to consoles in the first place, as opposed to just having gaming PCs or desktops all the time. But the fact is, modern consoles outside of Nintendo are having a harder time selling since they're just copying the PC's shtick of being an overpowered machine, then there's the lack of exclusives which usually sell consoles. FF7 and Metal Gear Solid sold the PS1. Ocarina of Time and Mario 64 sold the N64. Halo sold the Xbox while Smash Bros. Melee and Luigi's Mansion sold the Gamecube. The Wii and 360 dominated early sales with Wii Sports and Halo 3. But the PS5 and the Xbox Series X/S don't really have much in terms of games that can justify a purchase over a PC. Especially with more former console exclusives showing up on the PC.

At that point, why buy those consoles, when their exclusives will eventually just show up on the PC later on anyways?

 

[Calandrino]

The only real challenge in most CRPGs is trying not to become so bored while grinding XP/loot that you quit the game.

Well I thought we were contrasting crpgs and jrpgs here, and they seem pretty similar on that point. Lots of rpg derivatives are Literally Progress Quest: crpgs, jrpgs, mmorpgs, roguelites, Dark Souls, gacha games, etc.

The horrible truth is that deep down everybody likes getting xp and stat boosts, and no matter how many theorycraft consortiums are held on internet forums proving that they are Objectively Bad Design, that stuff's not going anywhere. At least in a decently-designed rpg, grind is more the fallback option than the default and obligatory way of doing anything.

I've been thinking about writing an extensive post about my experiences trying to use my old desktop as a game console hooked up to my TV. It's almost as good as one, but still has a few fairly major issues that keep it from being as slick as a console.

I had a few misadventures with that before I decided to pay the retard tax and just buy a Switch already. UNPOPULAR OPINION: there's nothing wrong with being stupid, sometimes you just gotta throw in the towel.

 

[LORD IMPERATOR]

Well I thought we were contrasting crpgs and jrpgs here, and they seem pretty similar on that point. Lots of rpg derivatives are Literally Progress Quest: crpgs, jrpgs, mmorpgs, roguelites, Dark Souls, gacha games, etc.

The horrible truth is that deep down everybody likes getting xp and stat boosts, and no matter how many theorycraft consortiums are held on internet forums proving that they are Objectively Bad Design, that stuff's not going anywhere. At least in a decently-designed rpg, grind is more the fallback option than the default and obligatory way of doing anything.

Getting xp and stat boosts are a dopamine hit for gamers. Especially in a long campaign where that would pay off. And later game designers figured they can wring money out of that. I'd say that it's as early as the World of Warcraft days, they realized they could get more money by charging you to keep playing.

I had a few misadventures with that before I decided to pay the retard tax and just buy a Switch already. UNPOPULAR OPINION: there's nothing wrong with being stupid, sometimes you just gotta throw in the towel.

 

[GunCar Gary]

But going back to my ever-hard boner for KOTOR, it wasn't the DnD aspects that endeared that game to me, but rather, damn near everything else.

KOTOR would be the #2 perfect game if it had gameplay similar to Jedi Outcast. KOTOR 2 would be the #1 perfect game if it had gameplay similar to Jedi Outcast

both western and japanese RPGs always have terrible gameplay because nerds can't accept that D&D mechanics barely work on their own and definitely don't translate to video games

 

[Ibanez RG 350EX]

I had a few misadventures with that before I decided to pay the retard tax and just buy a Switch already. UNPOPULAR OPINION: there's nothing wrong with being stupid, sometimes you just gotta throw in the towel.

But I can only play Switch games on a Switch. There are annoyances when it comes to trying to use a PC as a console replacement, but the console also can't do 1/10th of what the PC can.

As soon as you start factoring in all the fiddle-fucking needed to swap between multiple devices, the PC suddenly seems like a convenient alternative.

 

[LORD IMPERATOR]

KOTOR would be the #2 perfect game if it had gameplay similar to Jedi Outcast. KOTOR 2 would be the #1 perfect game if it had gameplay similar to Jedi Outcast

That can go both ways. Jedi Outcast's dueling is more random, more Samurai-ish, whereas KOTOR's dueling is based on stats and arithmetic. You're less likely to fuck up with the latter if you get all the right skills, but the former can make for some very pulse-pounding action that can get the dopamine rush going. Especially since by the end of Jedi Outcast, every single Dark Jedi scumbag can kill Kyle Katarn in a 1v1, whereas the only way Darth Malak's goons can kill the player in the final level is if they dogpile 'em.

But it pretty much shows that DnD isn't what made KOTOR the memorable hit that it was. Replacing the DnD system would still keep 90 percent of what made that game great.

both western and japanese RPGs always have terrible gameplay because nerds can't accept that D&D mechanics barely work on their own and definitely don't translate to video games

It basically becomes a glorified math game. But hey, I suppose it teaches mathematics to people who probably flunked at math class, so there is some value there.

As soon as you start factoring in all the fiddle-fucking needed to swap between multiple devices, the PC suddenly seems like a convenient alternative.

The fact that many non-Nintendo exclusives eventually show up on the PC makes it more than a convenient alternative. It's the inevitable replacement.

Eventually, you'll just end up with Nintendo and PC as the only choices, while Xbox and Playstation fully transition into gaming PCs or laptops a la Alienware.

 

[Megaton Punch]

I don't understand the Divinity Original Sin series and why it's so praised.

I guess being able to interact with every fork and knife on every dinner table or set a puddle of oil ablaze with fire spells and put it out with water (among other similar environment-based interactions) were killer features audiences had been dying for in turn-based isometric RPGs, but it does nothing for me. And it comes at the cost of those unique mechanics being implemented in such kludgy, unclear ways that I often didn't know if I was playing the game as intended or cheesing my way through it.

I also would swear that quests, the journal function, and party management were designed by the Antichrist to make gameplay as tedious as possible. I might be able to understand it better if the games were dungeon-crawlers with those complex combat systems as the primary focus and everything else being ancillary, but that's not really the case and you spend plenty of time dealing with the frustrating, unpolished RPG elements.

I love the '90s isometric D&D games and usually love tactical turn-based combat (XCOM, the 2010s Shadowrun games, etc), so this stuff should be right up my alley but I've rage-quit (bored-quit?) both DOS 1 and 2 multiple times over the years. Clearly a ton of people enjoy them, but I'll be damned if I can figure out why.

I actually really like DOS2 but I totally agree. I don't want to set up a Rube Goldberg machine of oil puddles every time I enter combat. It's fun, but not when I have to do it constantly. I usually get bored pretty early into the game. And by "pretty early" I mean like 30 hours, because the game is so insanely slow that is takes that long to get through one chapter.

 

[Mega Black]

some digital DnD games that were barely a blip on the radar

Hilarious that you consider BG1-3 'barely a blip'. How many copies did BG3 sell, exactly? Which IP is still extremely successful and widely talked about? How'd that KOTOR remake turn out?

 

[LORD IMPERATOR]

Going back to what I said about consoles and gaming, what made the console a more successful beast over a PC rig is because it's easier to set up. But the PC is catching up, especially with Steam making PC game far easier, and now, former console exclusives are popping up on PC. When I saw the Halo MCC show up on the PC, I recognized that the Xbox's days are numbered. Halo sold Xboxes and got people into the brand. But now, all past Halo games are available on the PC. It won't be long until all Xbox exclusives are on the PC, negating the need for the console outside of being a PC with a controller, which I suspect is its eventual fate.

Playstation's not doing so well, either. They have exclusives, but nothing's stopping said exclusives from being published down the line on the PC. So gamers with PCs would just have to wait instead of buying a PS5.

Hilarious that you consider BG1-3 'barely a blip'.

I was talking about 90s CRPGs, not BG3. BG3 sold 15 million copies, whereas your run-of-the-mill CRPG from the 90s barely cracked a few hundred thousand sales.

How many copies did BG3 sell, exactly? Which IP is still extremely successful and widely talked about? How'd that KOTOR remake turn out?

KOTOR remake's still up in the air, but SWTOR sold rather well and lasted throughout the decade since it launched in 2011. Also, my condolences to Larian Studios leaving after BG3's success. I wonder why they had to leave so soon despite selling over 15 million copies........ You'd think its success would mean Larian would stay around for a while.

I mean, fuck me, if someone makes a game that successful, I'd keep them on contract to make Baldur's Gate 4, 5, and 6 at least. I'd make whatever compromises necessary to keep them around. Give them full creative control, that kind of shit.

https://www.polygon.com/24107939/baldurs-gate-3-larian-studios-no-more-dnd-wizards-of-the-coast

https://www.ign.com/articles/wizards-of-the-coast-not-to-blame-for-larian-leaving-baldurs-gate-3-and-dd-behind-swen-vincke-insists

You're a BG fan, obviously. Care to shed the light on why Larian's decided to leave? Is it down to just Hasbro and WOTC being dicks, or is it something else? I've heard a lot of DnD fans are complaining all the time about Hasbro and WOTC's buffoonery, but little else.

Also, I wouldn't be so sure of using sales as a measure stick of good gameplay if I were you. Otherwise, that means Skyrim is four times as good as BG3 given that it sold 60 million copies. And I highly doubt you'd agree with that statement. Some might, but I highly doubt you're one of them.

 

[Ibanez RG 350EX]

I kept hearing it was really good, but I'm pretty disappointed by Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. I get the whole psychosis angle, but that's just not a good combination with puzzles. Puzzles require logical consistency to feel good to solve and this game is the antithesis of "logical consistency".

There's no way to anticipate how anything will function at any given moment. There's no way to work out a solution in your head and then execute it. You could never "get good" at the game beyond rote memorization because, other than the combat, there's no skill or deeper understanding being developed.

You basically just wander around manipulating the few kinds of interact-able objects available in each area and hope the random shit you're doing is all part of the developer's master plan. It's just another generic audio-visual cinematic experience where you just let it wash over you rather than engaging with it as a game.

 

[The Last Stand]

Microsoft is really dropping the ball this console generation. Game Pass isn't bringing any must have titles for their subscription. Their enforcement policy is vulnerable to misuse and exploit. The Series X is becoming a vanity item because of their proprietary storage system and sporadic price drops through third party resellers.

Sony? Enough said. I'm more disappointed at MS than Sony. Sony had already dropped the ball and more with their PS5.

 

[Scarthew]

Microsoft is really dropping the ball this console generation. Game Pass isn't bringing any must have titles for their subscription. Their enforcement policy is vulnerable to misuse and exploit. The Series X is becoming a vanity item because of their proprietary storage system and sporadic price drops through third party resellers.

Sony? Enough said. I'm more disappointed at MS than Sony. Sony had already dropped the ball and more with their PS5.

Non-nintendo Consoles have been irrelevant for a very long time, the ps4 is a bloodborne machine the ps5 has nothing and the only games xbox has after the original xbox is ninja gaiden black and tenchu z. There's more reason to own a dreamcast than any xbox console.

 

[The Last Stand]

Non-nintendo Consoles have been irrelevant for a very long time, the ps4 is a bloodborne machine the ps5 has nothing and the only games xbox has after the original xbox is ninja gaiden black and tenchu z. There's more reason to own a dreamcast than any xbox console.

Incorrect. The PS4 was the dominant console for the 8th generation because of its exclusives. If anything, Nintendo was irrelevant for a time because of the Wii U. Nobody even mentioned the 3DS.

 

[Drag-on Knight 91873]

Non-nintendo Consoles have been irrelevant for a very long time, the ps4 is a bloodborne machine the ps5 has nothing and the only games xbox has after the original xbox is ninja gaiden black and tenchu z. There's more reason to own a dreamcast than any xbox console.

Well, the PS5 has FFVII remake and its sequels and Stellar Blade. Still, as much as people don't like agreeing @LORD IMPERATOR, he is right that the market for consoles has fundamentally changed in the past 20 years. People were willing to tolerate these proprietary computers because of ease of use and smooth handling, which a typical PC of the 90s could not do. Now, gaming PCs are more flexible version of consoles because they have almost as much power, or can exceed it if you're willing to spend 4 figures, and not have to deal with proprietary limitations. So now consoles have less going for them than PC gaming.

 

[LORD IMPERATOR]

Microsoft is really dropping the ball this console generation. Game Pass isn't bringing any must have titles for their subscription. Their enforcement policy is vulnerable to misuse and exploit. The Series X is becoming a vanity item because of their proprietary storage system and sporadic price drops through third party resellers.

Microsoft killed its console's life cycle when they chased away the dudebros. Dudebros made Xbox into the giant that it was; Nintendo was the family-friendly console you break out when mom and her friends show up, Playstation is the game console for weebs and people who like shiny graphics, Xbox was the console for the guys who yell ''NIGGER'' through the headset while no-scoping their foes and tea-bagging their virtual corpses. Chasing away that demographic caused the Xbox to fall in prestige, since no group calls the Xbox their prime console of choice.

Also, Microsoft did their console no favors when they put 360 exclusives on the PC. That just tells everyone to not buy the console and wait until the Xbone and Series X/S exclusives eventually show up for the PC.

Now, gaming PCs are more flexible version of consoles because they have almost as much power, or can exceed it if you're willing to spend 4 figures, and not have to deal with proprietary limitations. So now consoles have less going for them than PC gaming.

The matter of the fact is, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are less versatile than PCs, and have little to offer of their own. This isn't the 2000s when Halo 3, ODST and Reach were 360 exclusives, and MGS4 was a PS4 exclusive. A gaming PC that's well-built, logged on to Steam and several mod websites, can get damn everything the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S has, along with some other things the latter two cannot.

 

[Ibanez RG 350EX]

Xbox was the console for the guys who yell ''NIGGER'' through the headset while no-scoping their foes and tea-bagging their virtual corpses.

I never thought I'd miss dudebros and their dudebro games, but here we are.

A gaming PC that's well-built, logged on to Steam and several mod websites, can get damn everything the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S has, along with some other things the latter two cannot.

Off the top of my head I can't think of a game besides Bloodborne I'd like to play that I'm unable to play on my PC, whether natively or through emulation. One game out of nearly half a century of video games.

 

[LORD IMPERATOR]

I never thought I'd miss dudebros and their dudebro games, but here we are.

I never thought I'd miss them too. Back then I saw them as a nuisance to be tolerated, now, they're like a distant memory of better years gone by.

Off the top of my head I can't think of a game besides Bloodborne I'd like to play that I'm unable to play on my PC, whether natively or through emulation. One game out of nearly half a century of video games.

Exactly. PCs becoming more tailored to gamers will render the Series X and PS5 obsolete, not only because of emulation, but because console exclusives will eventually show up on the PC.