Your video game hot take(s) thread

[BrawlMan]

> There's always something to play. Even have to get off their butts and actually look, not just wait for the next AAA game on a constant basis

Yes of course- my whole point is that right now, in this moment, you don't even have to look, you can just wait for next AAA games. That is a rare moment and one I wanted to call attention to, and I haven't seen observed. I mean of course you got gaming podcasters and reviewers talking about their busy schedule of reviews but that just means "a lot of games." Where now we have "a lot of good games." And a "a lot of games expected to be actually good." And that has not been noticed or appreciated because of Gollumfallspoken.

The talking heads are always going to be talking heads. They just follow whatever trend is hot, regardless if it's positive or negative. It's why we have important people like Maximilian Dood and his crew. They try not to focus too much on the negative, unless it's necessary. Right now he's having the time of his life with Street Fighter 6 and spreading the word. The last time anybody talk about Forspoken, was back in mid April. Redfall has already become yesterday's news, with Gullen being the new punching bag.

Also, you underestimate how some people don't really look. There can literally be a bunch of popular good games out, and either that person's not interested, or they think the game won't be good, or have some type of insecurity about playing it. Not every person like this, but I've met quite a few.

 

[BrawlMan]

This is another hot take against Yahtzee with his current video. Fighting game characters can be taken seriously. It doesn't matter how expressive or lack of expression there is. Hell, while the end goal is to have fun, most people can take a fighting game character seriously, if they're written, voice acted, or just play well. Look at games like Bloody Roat 2 and Primal Fury, Fatal Fury, Street Fighter, and even Mortal Kombat when it tries, etc. I know not all these games have the greatest stories, or have had some low points (some really low points on MK's case part), but give credit where credit is due man! This take doesn't surprise me, as yachty has admitted that he doesn't like fighting games, so I expect nothing less from a take like this.

 

[BrawlMan]

​

 

[BrawlMan]

I showed my older brother the new Alan Wake II trailer last night. He likes what he sees, but he feels the camera is too zoomed in. Obviously this game is taking more inspiration from the Resident Evil remake games, but I don't think it's that zoomed in. Odds are that's on PC and current generation consoles, there will be an FOV slider. I get preferring the camera from the first game, but I understand why Remedy did this. They want the horror to be more in your face.

 

[BrawlMan]

​

 

[BrawlMan]

It depends on the gaming franchise in question.

​

 

[Old_Hunter_77]

I dunno if this is a hot take, I just watched a bunch of the showcase streams and with XBox being the most interesting/anticipated one, I have some thoughts:

The reaction to the XBox showcase has been positive, because it was indeed an excellent showcase. Therefore, my reaction is kind of.. negative?
They showed a lot of awesome potential. But.. we've been here before, right? Are half these games coming out?

The Fable trailer was delightful. Is this even an actual game though?

The Hellblade trailer made me lol.. my problem with the first game was its lack of actually enjoyable actual gameplay, and this trailer had ZERO game. I get the themes and look of Hellblade but it's driving me nuts that people saw that trailer and are like COOL. Why cool- it's a sad lady walking slowly and getting wet and hearing annoying voices. What is games?!

Avowed, South of Midnight, Path of the Goddess.. sure, maybe. At least Avowed had some gameplay but the other two, I dunno. I am annoyed when people say "cool art style" because everything has a cool art style. What has a "bad" art style? Art style is something the gaming industry has nailed down. That is good! Now they just have to figure out:
- Actually good gameplay
- It working
- On all the machines it's supposed to

Honestly, Starfield was the best showing, and not just because it got the most time. I like how they kept saying "it's still a Bethesda RPG." They are leaning into who they are and we know what to expect. Yes, the mouths don't move right and it will be locked at 30 FPS. Great. I know what I'm getting when I start this game, and I'm getting a fun time with some jank and stupidness. I never expected it to be the graphical/immersive action showpiece (I have Spiderman 2 and Armored Core for that). They simply confirmed it's Skyrim/Fallout in space. We know what we're getting and I'm down for it.

 

[BrawlMan]

I dunno if this is a hot take, I just watched a bunch of the showcase streams and with XBox being the most interesting/anticipated one, I have some thoughts:

The reaction to the XBox showcase has been positive, because it was indeed an excellent showcase. Therefore, my reaction is kind of.. negative?
They showed a lot of awesome potential. But.. we've been here before, right? Are half these games coming out?

The Fable trailer was delightful. Is this even an actual game though?

The Hellblade trailer made me lol.. my problem with the first game was its lack of actually enjoyable actual gameplay, and this trailer had ZERO game. I get the themes and look of Hellblade but it's driving me nuts that people saw that trailer and are like COOL. Why cool- it's a sad lady walking slowly and getting wet and hearing annoying voices. What is games?!

Avowed, South of Midnight, Path of the Goddess.. sure, maybe. At least Avowed had some gameplay but the other two, I dunno. I am annoyed when people say "cool art style" because everything has a cool art style. What has a "bad" art style? Art style is something the gaming industry has nailed down. That is good! Now they just have to figure out:
- Actually good gameplay
- It working
- On all the machines it's supposed to

Honestly, Starfield was the best showing, and not just because it got the most time. I like how they kept saying "it's still a Bethesda RPG." They are leaning into who they are and we know what to expect. Yes, the mouths don't move right and it will be locked at 30 FPS. Great. I know what I'm getting when I start this game, and I'm getting a fun time with some jank and stupidness. I never expected it to be the graphical/immersive action showpiece (I have Spiderman 2 and Armored Core for that). They simply confirmed it's Skyrim/Fallout in space. We know what we're getting and I'm down for it.

Path of the Goddess (it will be on PS5 BTW) has actual gameplay. It's pretty clear that it's a hack n slash game with summoning elements, from the looks of it. Starfield I wouldn't exactly give all that praise, cuz it's crap we've seen before with the previous fallout games. More than likely, that game is going to be broken at launch; glitchy as fuck. I hate to say it Hunter, but you're kind of falling into that same trap you're knocking people against for doing with other games. Regardless if they have actual game play or not.

 

[Old_Hunter_77]

Path of the Goddess (it will be on PS5 BTW) has actual gameplay. It's pretty clear that it's a hack n slash game with summoning elements, from the looks of it. Starfield I wouldn't exactly give all that praise, cuz it's crap we've seen before with the previous fallout games. More than likely, that game is going to be broken at launch; glitchy as fuck. I hate to say it bob, but you're kind of falling into that same trap you're knocking people against for doing with other games. Regardless if they have actual game play or not.

What trap? You cannot know how broken or glitchy it will be. Assuming that because of Bethesda history doesn't make sense because we have seen studios change, because developers within them change. As for fallout- yeah, I'm saying exactly that a lot of it isn't "new," and my point is that's fine for what it is. If it seems like I'm defending the game it's because the game didn't even come out and it's already hated and that's weird.

 

[BrawlMan]

What trap?

The fact that you even have to ask, kind of shows you're already in the hype trap. There's nothing wrong with being excited for a game, but take precautions and standards dude. At the game turns out to be good or great, or you enjoy it, then I have no problem with that. If the game turns out to be bad, disappoints you, or does it fulfill one of your expectation was, then all I can give you is a told you so and move on.

change, because developers within them change. As for fallout- yeah, I'm saying exactly that a lot of it isn't "new," and my point is that's fine for what it is. If it seems like I'm defending the game it's because the game didn't even come out and it's already hated and that's weird.

There's a reason why so many people are hostile to the game. I'm in different, but I definitely don't trust him. All I'm seeing is No Man's Sky 3.0. You'd be better off this playing with that instead. Not to mention all of the lies and many false promises from Bethesda & especially Todd Howard. I'm not just talking about Fallout either. Not to mention the broken state of too many AAA games. Those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Again and again.

Did you already forget what happened with Cyberpunk? So many on the old Escapist forum going like "it'll be great! CD Projekt Red can do no wrong! It will defy all expectations!'.

 

[Old_Hunter_77]

It'll be on Gamepass. It's like the least-risk-for-hype AAA game. I'm not paying a single cent for it, and neither are- I presume- most of us.
Honestly if there's one game I fell for the hype trap it's Street Fighter 6, which I actually paid full price for.

Edited to clarify that I'm not paying a single EXTRA cent for it before I get lecture about how I'm actually paying for Gamepass, yes I know I'm paying for Gamepass, but the point I'll already be paying for Gamepass so I'm not paying anything for Starfield. The danger of hype is preordering shit and whatever, which I don't do, except technically SF6 but that was only 1 day before release.

 

[Gordon_4]

What trap? You cannot know how broken or glitchy it will be. Assuming that because of Bethesda history doesn't make sense because we have seen studios change, because developers within them change. As for fallout- yeah, I'm saying exactly that a lot of it isn't "new," and my point is that's fine for what it is. If it seems like I'm defending the game it's because the game didn't even come out and it's already hated and that's weird.

While I agree developer teams can change and improve, I think StarField being buggy is a fair assumption to make about Bethesda based on previous releases. To say nothing of the overall trend towards AAA screwing it’s release pooch from the past five or so years.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

While I agree developer teams can change and improve, I think StarField being buggy is a fair assumption to make about Bethesda based on previous releases.

"Modders can't fix a release day clusterfuck, Todd."

 

[BrawlMan]

I know the Streets of Rage movie is still in development, but Paul Walker would have been a great Axel Stone in the early 2000s. Actually my first pick to play the character.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

While I agree developer teams can change and improve, I think StarField being buggy is a fair assumption to make about Bethesda based on previous releases. To say nothing of the overall trend towards AAA screwing it’s release pooch from the past five or so years.

A HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARYDOOS?!?!?! For the base game on Steam... Get, and I cannot stress this enough, FUCKED.

Oh, AU$99 at JB... they can still get fucked but less vigorously than previously.

 

[Old_Hunter_77]

A HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARYDOOS?!?!?! For the base game on Steam... Get, and I cannot stress this enough, FUCKED.

Oh, AU$99 at JB... they can still get fucked but less vigorously than previously.

I absolutely would never recommend actually buying Starfield before like... 2025, lol. It's a Gamepass game! I cannot stress this enough- that is totally the foundational basis for any hype. If it's buggy it'll be funny. If I don't like it I won't care. That and understanding that it's not some ground breaking creative genius, and it's not even presenting itself as such any more. Seriously even that big showcase- they only thing they promised in terms of "new" was scale and technological wizzbangery.

I really hope actual sales for this game are crap and player count on Gamepass is high, then XBox and MS have to explain how they gonna make money not selling games. Honestly I'm more fascinated by the business side of it at this point.

Ok, enough Starfield, all these posts making it seem like I care more than I do about this one game, here's another hot take:

Did y'all watch the cozy game showcase, the PC game showcase, all the new indy stuff coming out? Ok so be honest and tell me how many games actually looked cool. Like for real cool.
2? And even those are more for the lulz: Baby Steps and the scrooge game. Maybe they're "good" and yes of course I'm sure some of the others are fun to play and that's fine.
But watching the trailers and marketing for AAA and indy reminded me of how tired I am of the rhetoric around AAA sucks and indies are where it's at and all this snobbery. Indies are like: roguelikes, metroidvania, choose your own adventure novels, and porn.
Yes, a lot of the AAA stuff was creatively bankrupt to and I'm not defending that. Blue Far Cray and Star Wars GTA especially were rather disheartening, tbh. But indies showcases were just.. dull. At least blue Far Cry is pretty.

 

[BrawlMan]

Indies are like: roguelikes, metroidvania, choose your own adventure novels, and porn.

​

You don't look hard enough. We've had this little discussion already, and no one bought it the first time. Reminds me of the stereotype back in the XBLA/XBLI days where indies were "too artsy, and made the player think too much!". That was bullshit then, and it's bullshit now.

Yes, a lot of the AAA stuff was creatively bankrupt to and I'm not defending that. Blue Far Cray and Star Wars GTA especially were rather disheartening, tbh. But indies showcases were just.. dull. At least blue Far Cry is pretty.

I didn't see the PC gaming showcase (with good reason), but even if it the indie side was weak, it doesn't represent nor indicative of what Indie games are. Hello, GDC didn't happen not too long ago, and they had plenty of great indie and AA offerings. Playstation Showcase had plenty of good Indie and AAA games less than a week and half ago, and we got the Grasshopper Showcase later this evening. Nintendo probably has showcase coming up as well.

 

[Dalisclock]

"Modders can't fix a release day clusterfuck, Todd."

*Looks at Fallout 76*

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

*Looks at Fallout 76*

Modders also can't fix dodgy merch scams.

 

[BrawlMan]

Dunkey complains about the lack of traditional endings in SF6's Arcade mode for each character. While it is somewhat disappointing, I don't see it as a big deal, because the arcade mode is still fun, and give you the option to fight 5 or 12 opponents total. Also, it still fleshes out some story or character motivations (I have not played all of the characters yet). Yes, most of their stories and personalities are fleshed out further in the World Tour Mode, so at least Capcom tried being ambitious in another way and mostly succeeding. Ironically, enough SFV has 6 different arcade modes with the traditional endings. All of the endings are re-done in comic book form, so it's not like Capcom quickly abandoned. It's true a lot of fighting games don't do traditional arcade mode endings, because they've been done to death, and MK9 changed the game. At least MK games kept seperate arcade modes with their own endings, so at least it's something.