Best of 2009

[Telperion]

I am a little surprised he didn't mention Dragon Age: Origins. Oh, well...

Hm...yeah, now that I think about it, I remember Yahtzee saying that he was playing the game rather compulsively. Did he think that the game was too difficult to be fully enjoyed? Or, maybe he just didn't like the story? Probably the latter with a bit of the first mixed in.

 

[VonBrewskie]

I dig the honesty Mr. Croshaw. I work hard for the money. (So hard honey, honey.) I work hard for the money and I often wait to hear your reviews before plunking down green gods. I was a little surprised you gave Demon's Souls a pass-like review; I 'm addicted to Demon'ssss Souls. It's one of my "best of 2009" games. But your review of Demon'ssss Souls was hilariously on point. I got all six of the people I know that play the game to watch your review. We all agree that your final sentiment was perfect: "F$#@ you, Demon's Souls." We all feel the same way, but we cannot resit that fooking game...anyway, thanks for a great year of reviews. I appreciate your venom's tangy goodness.

 

[RagingScottsman]

Hey, people. Care to explain what does "tanking like a German military commander" even mean in this context?

The German Wehrmacht doctrine in WWII was focused on the use of tanks and mechanized units. It would stand to reason he was saying "To an extreme degree"

OT: Yahtzee, it may be time to hang up the Halo bashing. It's getting a tad bit stale.

Also, I'm going to have to disagree with you on the Uncharted 2 judgement: Yeah, some of the dialogue is rather stereotypical, but seriously- there were a few very funny moments, and more importantly, what sort of mood and dialogue would you expect in that sort of story? I just don't think an emo philosopher debating the morality of his actions in a introspective monologue while traipsing about with a sidekick who had lost her tongue in a tragic popsicle accident would FIT with what was going on in the game, do you? The truth is, it may be bad at times, but the characters' conversation and interactions were entirely appropriate for the mood and atmosphere of the game.

Just because something is appropriate, does not save it from being obnoxious. Children might be totally free to run and scream like prepubescent banshees at a play-ground, but it still makes me want to run through with a baseball bat like a GTA protagonist in a brothel.

 

[solidstatemind]

Just because something is appropriate, does not save it from being obnoxious. Children might be totally free to run and scream like prepubescent banshees at a play-ground, but it still makes me want to run through with a baseball bat like a GTA protagonist in a brothel.

True, true: but the reason I brought it up was specifically because he said " I have this overpowering hatred for Uncharted 2's style of writing - that awful Hollywood, Josh Whedon-y style, full of dull-witted heroes and snarky heroines, all acting as nothing but mouthpieces for agonizingly smug 'wit'." I was simply pointing out that while he might hate that style of writing/dialogue, it's a little ridiculous to expect differently from that sort of game, not necessarily that his dislike of the style was unreasonable. He can hate it all he wants, but to use your analogy, if you don't want to have to deal with screaming children running amok, you probably shouldn't go to the playground, rather than expecting to find a playground for deaf-mutes.

 

[Stabby Joe]

Surprised he didn't mention Dragon Age because it did seem like he was enjoying it. I mean sometimes it seems he's ripping on a game even if he likes it, for example he though Fallout 3 was "alright" but later in a live action interview he openly stated he did actually like it.

I know not to go on Yahtzee's every word and because of the comedic side I've never really disagreed with his reviews even if I liked the game. The only proper instance I disagreed was his Overlord 2 review and follow up article going on and on about how the game tries and fails to make you care when I can guarantee its really not (same can be said for Rebbecca's Muses for the same game).

Batman was one of if not the best game simply because it was the first game in a long time that delivered on the premise, Jesus Christ it's Batman... done well!

 

[Yahtzee Croshaw]

Fair overview, I happen to experience the same in my area, I am very critic with all those things I like, while I completely ignore all those I don't, and for that people says that I'm some sort of misanthropic bastard, when all I try is looking for new approaches to those things I like, so it's never gets old.
I watch your reviews for fun, and that's about it, the most productive thing ZP did for me besides the lulz is talking about titles that I wasn't even aware of, I can't conceive the idea of people buying or not games whether the reviews says it's good or crap; I can understand if someone says "oh, so this game it's a sandbox game, I'll buy it" but someone who says "ZP sez this game is shit, I won't buy it" which I have seen quite often, is beyond my understanding.
I hardly think that whatever any of us says, no matter how many times we say it, will change your rocking style, but I wanted to give my two cents about it. Best regards Yahtzee.

 

[Godhead]

No l4d2? And why didn't you say anything about Dragon Age. You did say you liked it. *confused face*

 

[Godhead]

No offense, Yahtzee old boy, but I've decided that I really need to stop listening to you.

If I keep listening to you, no matter if you like a game or not, you will still implant seeds of doubt in my brain.

Rest assured, I'll still watch your reviews for the comedy, but I think if I take them as reviews I'll end up hurting the game industry because I'll end up never buying another game again.

Note to mods: I did actually read it by the way, I read very fast.

Note to user: It doesn't matter when you post if you have something worthwhile or relevant to say.

I'm sorry but you made me chuckle when you said you'll hurt the game industry... Just how many games do you buy exactly???

Also I like the little conversation between you and the mods there, it's really scary the way they can implant into your comment. Makes you think, they could put anything into anyone's comments... I might not be typing this right now!!! Oh.. I .... Garghg,...


THE MODS ARE FANTASTIC... I LOVE THE MODS... ALL HAIL THE MODS...

John, he's onto us

 

[CriticalQuit]

Regarding your "on the other hand" of Screed 2, weren't you the one who said at the 2009 E3 that you wanted it to be about future desmond, then got uninterested when it was slightly further in history?

 

[Daubster]

Halo: ODST

Hahahahah. Nice one.

 

[GonzoGamer]

I feel like I can relate to Yahtzee.
I shred on almost every game I play (even the good ones) because I always end up thinking of how much better it could've been. Sure there are a couple of masterpieces that have come out in the last 10 years but those are very few.

Then there are the games where you can see the potential there but it's buried under laziness and tedium. Those are the worst.

 

[Chickenlittle]

I lol'd really hard at the Halo: ODST comment.

But I also like Desmond. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how they deal with the third game in the series.

 

[General Vagueness]

Halo: ODST

BAH ha ha ha ha. But seriously.

Are you ever going to give some actual thoughts of just keep using it as a punchline to a non-existent joke? I know even some people who like the other Halo games don't like ODST but this comes across as the kind of mindless bashing that you're trying to tell us you don't indulge in.
Also I like C-3PO and I don't get this thing you have against Joss Whedon.

 

[Chrysocollus]

There is a lot of wasted potential out there, but we can only find the good ones by sifting through them.

It's that spirit, I think, that spirit of looking for the best in a game, that I admire. Yahtzee's wit and sarcasm is good, but without that component, I don't think it would be the same. But on the other hand, we see more of that in his writing than ZP.

I'm glad Yahtzee's writing again. 8D

 

[RJ Dalton]

I've always understood Yahtzee's approach to game critique and it's one I greatly respect. To see someone making honest criticism is really refreshing to me. Especially since I live in a world that is increasingly being taught that having your opinion challenged in the slightest way - no matter how unimportant and utterly ridiculous said opinion is - is the worst thing that can happen to you (which I'll gleefully point out isn't by shoving red hot sewing needles under your fingernails for a demonstration if you really need one).
That said, I feel that this article might be saying something unflattering about we, the viewers of ZP. As his Psychonauts review proved, we really don't seem to enjoy ZP as much when he isn't being very cruel. So, out of a need to keep his job, he's merciless to a game, but when he does this to keep us happy and watching his reviews, we have the gall to say he doesn't like games. We apparently say this enough that he feels the need to explain himself in an article like this.
I genuinely wonder what kind of world we're living in when a man can give us exactly what we ask for (with us asking in a whiny and ungrateful voice, no less) and then still complain about it. Does that not seem a bit pathetic?

I personally enjoy the reviews where Yahtzee was going over games that he actually had fun playing. Silent Hill, Psychonauts, Arkham Asylum, for example. My least favorite review was for SSBB, not because I thought he was wrong (even finding SSBB a moderately amusing game, I have to admit that his gripes about it are quite accurate), but because the fact that he really didn't want to play the game leaked over into his review. He wasn't having fun doing it, so I didn't have fun watching it.

I've largely forgotten what my point was by now, but if I had to take a guess, it would be to ask why it was that people felt that criticism equals dislike?

 

[Tdc2182]

Whenever I share an opinion with Yahtzee I feel like a fanboy. But now that he has brought light on the subject the ending did make me mad. It just felt like it shunned Ezio out of the spotlight and he was all innocent looking. I hated Desmond. He was a whiny B**tch. I actually liked Ezio. More than Altair, too. God damn you Ubisoft.

Boom! How to counteract the Desmond problem. Make it so that he has another futuristic ancestor watching Desmond through the Animus. And make this guy Mexican or something else cool like brazilian or Jamaican. God that would be great.

 

[Tdc2182]

Actually, Yahtzee, C3PO is Darth Vader's son. He was built by him in his earlier happy days when he was still with his mother. (before all the angsty stuff)

Oh my god. You're rigt.

 

[Krelias]

why is yahtzee hatin' on joss wheadon ?

 

[WaderiAAA]

Personally it didn't take long until I figured out you were being constructive and not just bashing everything for humourus effect. I for one would like to see an industry where Quick Time Events were considered a mortal sin.