Do you still base your game purchases on whether Yahtzee recommends it?
- Thread starter Buccura
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Zero Punctuation is mainly entertainment vs a real critique. However, if you read between the lines, you can gleam some pretty useful information from Yahtzee about the game. Most of the time when he doesn't criticize gameplay, the game is usually good. And, of course, if Yahtzee doesn't like something that doesn't bother you, then it's not a big deal.
Not completely, as I like several games and franchises he's slammed before. I mean, just look at my goddamn profile pic!
However, if he recommends something, that immediately catches my interest and makes me look more into it. I've bought a few things he recommended that I would have otherwise missed out on.
However, if he recommends something, that immediately catches my interest and makes me look more into it. I've bought a few things he recommended that I would have otherwise missed out on.
I take him into account sometimes. Certainly I'll watch his ZP on a game if I'm thinking of buying it. I got Shadow of Mordor and Just Cause 2 based on his recommendation, and enjoyed both.
Other times meh. Still don't see what's so great about the Souls games. They're...alright. But nothing to write home about.
Other times meh. Still don't see what's so great about the Souls games. They're...alright. But nothing to write home about.
Never did. I may have been influenced by him to give Painkiller a second shot but, otherwise, no. As it is, his schtick with the Wii and how he embraced backlash against "casuals" showed that he really wasn't a critic but an entertainer. Given that a lot of his gimmick goes along with what the Escapist community was already thinking, it is unsurprising that a number of people on the Escapist embraced him as their go-to guy for game opinions.
I watch him for laughs but yeah. he's a critic and his critique is based on his opinions and tastes. There are somethings he just doesn't like. I mean he dumps on Borderlands 1 & 2 but I thought those games were a great blast.Buccura said:
I used to, at least on a few occasions but not always. Let's Plays are my primary source of judgement now. I want/need to see the first ~15 minutes of a game to know if I'll like it or not. Many times, character creation is very important to me and I want to see if I can at least choose female. Not a dealbreaker, just a preference (example: I'll always buy an Assassin's Creed game).
Yahtzee started shortly before the LP craze really hit its stride but now I'm older, mature, and aware of the few facts on very specific Yahtzee-based opinions that completely counter my own. He loves Dark Souls, and I despise challenge. I prefer fun over challenge (and we both adore Saints Row).
Yahtzee started shortly before the LP craze really hit its stride but now I'm older, mature, and aware of the few facts on very specific Yahtzee-based opinions that completely counter my own. He loves Dark Souls, and I despise challenge. I prefer fun over challenge (and we both adore Saints Row).
Yes. I want someone able to tell me in a credible way whether something is worth buying, and Yahtzee does that better than most reviewers. I can't afford the time or money to play a lot of games, so I want someone able to clearly tell me what's worth it. As he's a solo reviewer, his own time matters to him a lot too, so he's going to behave like me as a consumer; pissed off if his time is wasted, and wanting stuff to stand out above the rest (this doesn't happen as much with review publications with teams of reviewers, who are given at least a little more time to work on stuff).
Also, he doesn't review in a conventional way, but that works better for me; if a mate was recommending a game to me, he wouldn't write a step by step 700 word review, going through graphics and replay-ability, he'd just mention the few main points that stick out in their mind and you'd probably would value what they have to say.
Also, he doesn't review in a conventional way, but that works better for me; if a mate was recommending a game to me, he wouldn't write a step by step 700 word review, going through graphics and replay-ability, he'd just mention the few main points that stick out in their mind and you'd probably would value what they have to say.
Yahtzee is much funnier than he is an analytical critic. In general I found that most game critics are rather poor at what they do; some sites have/had good ones that broke down the games and explained what you could expect from it, who would be interested in it. Now I go more by word of mouth.
Yeah but it rarely happens. I can only remember three times that I purchased a game based on yahtzee's recommendation and the last time was Elite Dangerous.
I don't think I've ever passed on a game based on Yathzee's criticisms of it.
I don't think I've ever passed on a game based on Yathzee's criticisms of it.
Ummm, does being an entertainer mean that your opinions on games are invalid or something? Because that seems to be a pretty commonly held opinion here.
OT: I don't generally play new games so not really. I have played some pretty good games on his recommendation though, like Psychonauts, Grim Fandango, FTL, Binding of Isaac, actually quite a lot now that I think about it.
OT: I don't generally play new games so not really. I have played some pretty good games on his recommendation though, like Psychonauts, Grim Fandango, FTL, Binding of Isaac, actually quite a lot now that I think about it.
It's kinda like listening to Sean Hannity. Both of them might have valid opinions on their subject manner but you need to be aware that they:Drathnoxis said:
1) are preaching to the choir
and
2) have bias that make their opinions less useful than someone who tries to come at the subject from a more neutral viewpoint.
Overall, if you were to listen to critics for your game purchasing, my advice would always be to read the top three and bottom three reviews on Metacritic (or Gamerankings).
Not invalid, but there is a difference between the two. Ideally, a critic should approach a work as objectively as possible, judging it on its own terms outside of personal preference or prejudice. That's not 100% possible, but in contrast, an entertainer's primary duty is to entertain. There's far less to be gained from being objective and impartial than taking the micky out of the subject. Yahtzee is one such example, Cinema Sins is another.Drathnoxis said:
Even if Yahtzee was trying to be impartial, at this point, I think most of us know his general preferences/dislikes. Off the top of my head, I can name:
-He generally dislikes JRPGs.
-He prefers Doom-esque shooters (emphasis on movement, weapon variety, lack of realism, etc.) and generally dislikes MMS shooters (a.k.a. "spunkgargleweewee")
-Generally prefers background storytelling rather than conventional storytelling in games (i.e. Half-Life and Dark Souls rather than Metal Gear)
-Has no interest in RTS games, but has some interest in turn-based strategy (e.g. XCOM)
-No interest in multiplayer.
That's off the top of my head, not even getting into specific series or companies.
Now, everyone has their own preferences, but the point is that if Yahtzee tried to objectively review a JRPG for instance, it's a given from the start that it's going to be an uphill battle, because it's a genre he generally dislikes, whereas a JRPG fan might see cons he lists as pros. As I stated, the ideal critic would try to be as impartial as possible, but Yahtzee not only has partiality, he makes no attempt to hide it. As I stated earlier, that's part of ZP's charm, but also why I wouldn't use it as a guide for purchases. Especially since, having just listed those above points, our tastes are pretty much opposites.
The only time I ever did was with Painkiller, other than that I never have.
I like his stuff (well his older stuff at least) but I often find my tastes don't align with his. If I went only by what games he liked I'd have nothing to play.
Typically I do my own research on a game and decide whether or not I would like it for myself.
I like his stuff (well his older stuff at least) but I often find my tastes don't align with his. If I went only by what games he liked I'd have nothing to play.
Typically I do my own research on a game and decide whether or not I would like it for myself.