|
Post by ausdoerrt on Jan 9, 2010 6:19:06 GMT -5
Reviews are overall pretty useless. Especially videogame reviews. Ahem... I especially loathe random videoreviews by random people on youtube, not only because they usually are just obnoxious and unprofessional, but also because they have NO idea wtf they're talking about. I do come across well-written reviews once in a while, but I tend to rely on personal experiences more than anything. In terms of anime, ANN has well-written on-the-spot review once in a while. I feel like sth strange has infiltrated my post >__<
|
|
|
Post by Yakra on Jan 9, 2010 16:19:10 GMT -5
I just tried watching through a few more of his stuffs that you linked to, a while back. :'D I kind of hoped that perhaps I was wrong? Writing him off (and all video reviews in general) just because of one ranty review seemed kind of... wrong. And, in the beginning, he wasn't really all that bad. :'D Not exactly to my tastes, but nooooot bad. But then curiosity got the better of me and I decided to go search out a game that I'd actually played, and he'd reviewed - the FFVII review you like so much. Aaaaaand... well... I don't think anything or any person has irked me off as much as he did at that point. :'D The game is hardly a masterpiece, and even I found it terribly painful at many points, but the things he choses to gripe about..... it's almost silly. Like the magic drawing system he went on about in one whole segment. Ai mister! Ye don't have to draw that many! D: He almost made me love that system! X'D Mweh~ Basically, he's made me very wary of video reviews now. Good old written reviews, I stick to ye! (Atleast they won't give me ulcers! :'D)
|
|
|
Post by Ascended Mermaid on Jan 9, 2010 16:25:11 GMT -5
I honestly wouldn't care to watch his VIII review -- I loved VIII, Spoony doesn't, the only opinion that should matter to anyone, is their own. Therefore, I don't give a rat's what he thinks about VIII -- if he hates it until his balls turn black and drop, that's his beef, not mine.
|
|
|
Post by schlagwerk on Jan 9, 2010 17:33:43 GMT -5
AVGN is like Happy Tree Friends. Watch one episode and you get the entire idea. Maybe you watch a second to see if it'll be the same thing always.. but by the third it's pretty well cemented how all the reviews are gonna to be.
The Spoony One was pretty damned amusing. He does a good mad scientist. I think I'll check out that FFVIII 11-parter
Yahtzee over at Zero Punctuation is my favorite video game reviewer, though he only handles new stuff. His vids are always quick as to not get boring, his opinions on games I've played pretty well matches up with mine (though a bit harsher) to the point that I've been likened to Yahtzee a few times.
|
|
|
Post by ausdoerrt on Jan 9, 2010 17:46:07 GMT -5
I personally don't get the point of watching an incompetent review just for an amusing rant, especially since most aren't that funny anyway.
I also don't get why we're talking about game reviews in an anime/manga thread >____<
FFVIII junction system criticism is a perfect example of how when someone among critics says something and then everyone else picks it up just cause it seems popular and they're too lazy to pick up their ass to play the game they're supposed to review and form their own opinion. Some one guy didn't like the system and then everyone else jumped on the wagon for the lack of desire to contradict, hence all the rants. It works both ways - like if one major publication says the game is a masterpiece even if it's a load of stinking crap, every single blogger is going to jump at it just to say how lovely it is. I think I watched some of that long FFVIII review but stopped once the gu ystarted bulshitting his way through it.
|
|
|
Post by ausdoerrt on Jan 10, 2010 2:15:27 GMT -5
Well, while we're talking about FFVIII story, it wasn't much of a gem (no FF story is anyway), but at least it wasn't as horrid as FFVII's. It did mediocre on the story but did well on characters.
Also, everyone keeps screaming "junction system is bad!" but I am yet to see a single person to put a reasoning behind it. In that case one should just say "I don't like it" and stop stating opinion as fact. IMCO, that was one of the best parts of the game.
|
|
|
Post by ausdoerrt on Jan 10, 2010 2:50:23 GMT -5
Well, I found the things that you think annoying about Junctioning actually entertaining. There's actually enough variation in magic that you don't really HAVE to use the same stuff you equip. Plus, it's a sci-fi game anyway, should have too much magic in it It's not the greatest of systems, but it works just fine. I don't think the design is really that flawed, it's not really the only instance where using certain abilities has drawbacks. It's a possible style of gameplay. You can use it or ignore it completely and play as a "warrior". You could also use the magic you draw directly from the enemy and not what you have stocked, thus not lower your stats. Or, sometimes casting a powerful spell is worth the drawbacks in power it brings. Think black cards in Magic, or blood magic in Vampire, or spells with drawbacks in D&D, or something. Also, since most magic is extremely easy to come by/transmute, one would rarely even have a problem FFVII's story would maybe have some value if the characters weren't so horribly done. Cat Sith may have logic, but it's one of those boring but complicated stories you don't really care about. Also, let me quote one of my favourite reviews: "Cloud acts like a spoiled child, Aeris is simply useless, Cait Sith is a joke and Barret is the stereotypical angry black man, which can make Square seem almost racist. Even some of the Shinra enemies also took away from the enjoyment of the game." (http://warmech.fantasyworldxd.co.uk/warmechsmall.html) The story itself isn't that bad (albeit pretty cheesy), but without proper actors to act it out it falls short. Personally, Cloud has got to be one of the worst protagonists I've seen; he doesn't even HAVE a personality. Even if the game did have the most stellar characterizations, I doubt it would come close to competing with the truly well-written titles, so "best story ever written" is more than a simple overstatement, it almost rings of fanboyism. I guess that's understandable given it was FFVII that brought about all the FF hype in the US, but I can't really take statements like that seriously.
|
|
|
Post by Ascended Mermaid on Jan 10, 2010 14:49:26 GMT -5
Exactly. Not to mention I hate them so much for turning FF7 into FF8 -- too much more modernized in Dirge of Cerberus. The techno-goth look of the game felt incredibly dirty. FF7 has more nature, and it has relatively less technology -- I mean Golden Saucer was a futuristic Disneyland and they did have Mako Reactors, but they never once really crossed the line. Everything in FF7 was probable to a tee, minus the fantasy elements... but in just a couple of years between FF7 and DoC, everything is THAT much different?! Somehow they have more *improbable* technology, which somehow only a "technopath" (I hate technopaths -- they're by far the WORST fantasy element to have been created!!) can use?! Uploading and downloading memories?! ...and how the HELL did Hojo have time to experiment with Zack and Cloud, create Sephiroth, and Seph's 43-ish test-tube clones, AND an entire underground army, AND its base, AND the Tsviets?! The whole thing was cheap, dirty, poorly executed, and highly improbable. I still play it. Why? Because it's a game, and regardless of its choplogic plot and setting, I still have fun shooting stuff. Even if it is mediocre. Even the MUSIC is mediocre, sans Gackt at the end! The BEST part of the game is the conclusion! Infact, if the whole game played EXACTLY like the conclusion did, I don't think I would've written a freakin' novel about how lousy it is. // I also LOVED The Spirits Within! Which, by the way, doesn't have any stupid lines like "Dilly dally shilly shally... DILLY DALLY SHILLY SHALLY!!! " I mean... what the FUCK was that?! It sounded incredibly immature and unnatural! A part of me died right around then.
|
|
|
Post by schlagwerk on Jan 10, 2010 15:06:53 GMT -5
Suggested proper viewing of Advent Children: 1) start watching from the line "hisashiburi da na, Cloud" 2) switch off brain 3) watch until the end of the song "One-Winged Angel -Advent-" 4) enjoy the awesome
you don't need to see anything else from that movie...
|
|
|
Post by Incog Neato on Jan 10, 2010 15:20:10 GMT -5
There was no point to Advent Children other than to milk money off of FFVII.
The fight scenes were confusing, there was like a tiny thin plot ... it contributed nothing of importance to the whole Final Fantasy VII story. In fact, it felt more like a fanfic or an unneeded sidestory/epilogue to the game.
I completely prefer Crisis Core over AC. :P
|
|
|
Post by Incog Neato on Jan 10, 2010 15:22:53 GMT -5
Yeah, that was okei but the forest one was ... oog. .__.
|
|
|
Post by schlagwerk on Jan 10, 2010 15:50:38 GMT -5
The first Higurashi series was pretty cool if you view it as a study on horror sub-genres. I hate moe, I hated the character designs of Higurashi, I hate most visual novels, I hate the fanboys of most visual novels, and yet I found the premise of Higurashi to be intriguing enough to watch all of it.
And then I watched the second season as it descended into loli-power and friendship will save the universe! Wow, it's like Gundam Seed Destiny or Code Geass R2 all over again where the second season betrays all that I liked about the first season.
|
|
|
Post by Red Hairdo on Jan 10, 2010 16:03:46 GMT -5
*recalls Advent Children*
*pukes*
|
|
|
Post by schlagwerk on Jan 10, 2010 16:39:47 GMT -5
You weren't impressed by how all the pieces came together so naturally? Nope. Because I never cared how things were resolved. I thought the real underlying plot was trite. Like I said, I liked how the first season was directed like a study on horror movies. They covered psychotic small town villagers, murder mystery, vengeful ghost, alien invasion, body horror, etc, etc in each of the individual arcs. That was brilliant to me. The story about how a bunch of kids beat the curse and break the loop.. not so much. Oh god, Code Geass. That series was awesome in the 1st season, every chapter was exciting (even the dumbest ones). But the ending of the 1st season is awful, i'm mean what we're they thinking!? The series could have finished even better than Gurren-Lagann. Well to me Code Geass was pretty dead after ep. 13 or 14 in the first season. The best emotional part of the series was when Lelouche uses his Geass on Shirley and everything leading up to that. Though I have to credit one thing to the second season. One of the most entertaining moments of the entire series occurred when Shirley remembered everything, including that Lelouche was Zero. I turned to my roommate and said "she's taking this too well, too quickly. I beat you she's dead in an episode or two." I've never laughed so hard during a death scene before... Also, my idea on how Gundam SEED Destiny could've been infinitely awesome: Stick with the new cast longer and develop them instead of giving into fans complaining and bringing back the old cast too soon. They just stole the spotlight. Have Shin actually kill Kira when he takes down the Freedom. I liked Kira, but this opens up new possibilities like having Lacus actually use her SEED powers to lead the good guys and pilot the Strike Freedom to avenge Kira and bring about peace.. you know,instead of just using it to um.. give very good speeches? Also make Shin the ultimate berserker weapon of ZAFT. In battle they pull back their troops so they won't get in the way, send Shin in, Shin goes all SEED berserk and wrecks the opponent, then Lunamaria risks her life to calm him down never knowing if there'll be a time she can reach him before he destroys her in her mobile suit. Now that would've been a good basis for the second half of Destiny...
|
|
|
Post by Red Hairdo on Jan 10, 2010 16:40:41 GMT -5
Actually, I wasn't really too fond of the ending of the first season as well, and I also didn't like the first few episodes of the 2nd season, but... I waited a bit longer and watched until episode 12 or so, and I have to say, it returns to being incredible once again, in my opinion. Unless they screwed things up on the final episodes. xD I plan to watch the rest sometime.
|
|
|
Post by Varion on Jan 10, 2010 16:50:25 GMT -5
Code Geass R2 is the best trainwreck anime I've ever seen. I'd lost any faith in it actually being *good* since before it even started, and literally kept watching just to see what completely illogical twist or stupid plot device they'd throw in next. It was entertaining in aaalll the wrong ways. You weren't impressed by how all the pieces came together so naturally? I think the thing I liked best about Higurashi Kai was that it seriously DID answer every question I had. You know, the funny thing is a decent number of people in Japan actually weren't. Ryuukishi basically set out to answer every question people could have wondered by the end, and the reaction of a lot of people was 'Well you shouldn't have spelled it all out!' as if it should've just ended after Minagoroshi revealed the culprit, or something. The worst thing is he seems to have taken this to heart, and so apparently isn't going to spell everything out in Umineko, just giving the culprit and such and letting everyone go wild over the rest. There's even a new character in Episode 6 that very occasionally pokes at readers who're just reading and not thinking of their own ideas. Who seems to be based loosely off Hanyuu, judging by the horns and her middle and surname starting with 'Au'. As if having Bernkastel and Lambdadelta around wasn't bad enough already...
|
|
|
Post by Varion on Jan 10, 2010 17:15:03 GMT -5
So was I... Well, I still am hoping he'll go back on it, or make it so obvious any fool can figure it out themselves. I'm starting to doubt he'll take the time to explain every single closed room, though. Which is a shame, because I'm terrible at those at the best times, never mind having to work around a gigantic net of red text Looking back on Higurashi now, it seems so much simpler to solve by comparison, except for the obvious supernatural elements. Funnily enough he's also said he'd love to do something else like Higurashi and Umineko, but doubts he will as people will have become too used to his style and be able to work out everything by the end of the first game, heh.
|
|
|
Post by Varion on Jan 10, 2010 17:40:47 GMT -5
I'm curious to see what happens with Ookamikakushi, another mystery anime that just started airing with him as the writer. It's supposedly a LOT different than Higurashi and Umineko - though I wouldn't know, as the one episode I downloaded has video corruption when I try to play it, thanks to that retarded MKV format. -Tom From what I've heard it's not that great in comparison, and takes a lot of cues for Higurashi. I'm also kind of unsure on just how much involvement he had in it. A lot of places seem to list him as the guy who dreamed up the idea and supervised, rather than actually doing all the writing. More complaints actually seem to centre around the writing than the actual content though - loads of repeated lines and stuff to fill out the text, so these will likely be non-issues in the anime. We'll see. At least it's not Deen. Haven't personally read it myself though, as the idea of reading a whole VN on the PSP is... sorry, no thanks. Maybe I'll watch the anime too, it's hard to motivate myself to watch one these days.
|
|
|
Post by ausdoerrt on Jan 11, 2010 3:29:06 GMT -5
I'm curious to see what happens with Ookamikakushi, another mystery anime that just started airing with him as the writer. It's supposedly a LOT different than Higurashi and Umineko - though I wouldn't know, as the one episode I downloaded has video corruption when I try to play it, thanks to that retarded MKV format. -Tom Well, I haven't seen higurashi, but the first ep of Ookamikakushi felt really poorly directed: the pacing was off, the characters generic and the "hooks" not really that interesting. I'm not exactly sure if I should blame the source material for that, or the way the animation studio handled it, but I was basically yawning my head off towards the middle of the ep. It might get better, but I'm not sure I'm interested enough to find out. Also, more FF offtop to follow: Well, it's all opinionated after all. And as I said, it's understandable from the fanboy perspective that a lot of American JRPG fans seem to share about FF7, but I frankly am pretty skeptical about how overrated the game itself it. It IS nice so see someone who can actually articulate that opinion well enough and make me at least partially understand where it comes from. I could sort of agree on Tifa; Sephiroth is a decent villain character, not that original but well fleshed-out. But I can't agree on the rest of them; particularly Cloud - what you described smells like "complicated for the sake of complicated" similar to Cat Sith, while coming off being pretty random with little thought put in. But once again, pure opinions are hard to argue. Still, "you just don't get it" isn't really a good discussion tool because it can be reflected back just as easily and makes the discussion pointless. Storywise, maybe it does do well for a JRPG, but frankly most of those aren't really known for thoughtful well-written stories anyway. I would suggest you try games like Planescape: Torment, Fallout, Arcanum, The Witcher before we talk any more about RPG writing. Hopefully you'll see that FFVII has no chance to compare, not just subjectively but objectively as well. Gameplay-wise, I just feel like most of the critique for FFVIII is just people jumping on a bandwagon. You may understandably diss the lack of explanations given you don't like the story (and it really isn't that stellar), but it plays out just fine. I can also hardly call the battle system complicated, even if it's more complex than other FF series (but then I'm also a guy who learned most of the D&D rulebook just to play that one cRPG I really like). If there's one concern I personally had while playing, it was the long summoning times and having to sit through the cutscene every damn time. But then again, FFVIII wasn't the only game to do that either. If you want to talk comparisons, FFVII was a big disappointment over FFVI as well. Materia is fine, but ATB got a bit dumbed down, and pretty much kept exactly the same. As far as "games as art" claim goes, I doubt FFVII will ever qualify because of how lacking the visual component was. And frankly, it was horrible even for the time it came out. Even the music is nothing special, although not bad at all. Despite me defending FFVIII like this, it's not even my favourite FF main series game, that one being a tie between IX and III, both for the decent story, and interesting gameplay with the much appreciated Job System. And frankly, FF does best with a fantasy setting than it does with sci-fi, partly because they do, indeed, do a pretty poor job of blending magic into their sci-fi works. Nor am I a huuuge fan of JRPGs overall, although there are some decent titles. (uuh, the forum needs spoiler tags for these kinds of things)
|
|
|
Post by ausdoerrt on Jan 11, 2010 5:08:51 GMT -5
Well, "stupidest game ever" isn't much of a critique I would agree to, and while the game has shortcomings and even the story is inferior to the book, it is still one of the best-written games of late. (I meant objective, as in quality of writing itself, how well the main plot is constructed, the dialogue written etc, the rest IS pretty subj.) Also has a pretty unique setting. Among the 4 I mentioned, only one bases itself on D&D and isn't even a "standard setting". But I guess, sadly, you will never experience those to the fullest since you seem to be a fan of a very different genre. I tend to despise JRPGs for their linearity, overly simplified and repetitive combat and mediocre storytelling (with exceptions, of course), and tend to enjoy some despite those issues. Especially the FF games, for story-driven titles they require a bit too much attention to the lacking gameplay. A game like Last Remnant is a step in the right direction for making a better TB system (minus the randomosity) out of something that's otherwise pretty stale (J-style TB). ATB was a weak attempt to introduce "speed/initiative" to the gameplay - not great, but frankly better than nothing. A fixed Speed stat would probably improve it by a lot (or any other fixed "timing" system for that matter), and actually introduce some sort of strategy to the battles beyond choosing the right skill to use on a specific enemy. I don't mind anime-style fantasy as long as it isn't a moe blob (say, Mushishi qualifies but Shana doesn't), but usually dislike anime-style sci-fi with a certain amount of passion, probably because I'm somewhat of a classic sci-fi fan. Anime so-called sci-fi with school kids and special powers and giant humanoid robots just doesn't do it for me compared to classic "hard" sci-fi that draws both on hard scientific knowledge and complex psychological and philosophical allegories. Again, best overall Uematsu FF soundtrack is between I and VIII. My personal favourite overall is the Guin Saga OST. With this, I should probably stop moving the thread off-topic; while this was a great discussion, trying to argue with a fan of the game that his game isn't good is as pointless as it is time-consuming Moving back on-topic, anyone heard of that "Seikon no Qwaser " joke of an anime? I think the writers must be seeeeriosly running out of good ideas for shows if they use sth like THAT.
|
|