Zero Punctuation: Clive Barker's Jericho

[dr_pangloss]

simple little point: when he showed all those game "copying" the "simon says button mashing thing" and i saw indigo prophecy i was like sry but indigo prophecy NAILED that system, and its a GREAT game and it was BEFORE god of war so there....im done....have a good day!

God of War = March 2005
Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy) = Sept 2005

oh, and..

Dragon's Lair = June 1983

 

[hickwarrior]

Lemme just clear this up. (i think it's like this) with God of War, the QTE's(yes, i learned something from this site, who didn't?) became more popular. Thus the references to god of war.

oh, and good review yahtzee.

 

[Arbre]

I love these reviews, but what's with all the first person shooters? I count five that you've reviewed so far. I know you don't pick your games now, so it would be nice if The Escapist would hand you games from other genres more often.

This is an accusaiton that is often made, and I can see why its made, but I'm not sure it stands up to the facts:
1) Heavenly Sword: Action/Adventure Hack & Slash
2) Psychonauts: Plataformer (I think?)
3) Bioshock: FPS
4) Tomb Raider Anniversary: Action/Adventure.
5) Manhunt: FPS
6) Peggle: Puzzle game
7) Halo 3: FPS
8) Tabula Rasa: MMORPG
9) Orange Box: FPS
10) Super Paper Mario: Plataformer
11) MOH Airborne: FPS
12) Clive Barker's Jericho by Clive Barker (Clive Barker): FPS

If I'm doing my math right, FPS's are a little under 50% of his total reviews. Granted, they are the single largest single category, but that's not really all that strange, considering that more FPS's are released than most other genres, at the moment, and he's good a healthy dose of most of the other current major active genres (action adventure..). Certainly, I'd like to see him review a strategy or RPG game, but those come out at a somewhat slower pace, so I don't exactly attribute it to a conspiracy.

Certaintly, he mixes it up a good deal.

Even with the two games that you forgot, that's 50% for the FPS only.
The second genre is action/adventure, and comes with only two games. Tomb Raider (lots of guns) and Zelda.
I like FPS. But the subjects chosen for wit butchery might not fit with everyone's tastes.

That said, Jericho and the brown-green stuff... has anyone watched Avalon? Did anyone complain about the samey colour themes?
I didn't.
I don't see why this should be problematic for a game that would fully assume its mood.

I suppose this is Barker's first game, right? Well, it would just tend to verify the rule that your first game generally sucks to some extent.
That said, I'm probably missing things, but I hope he's realized that video games obey to certain rules, require certain gameplays mechanisms, and I hope he did learn a couple of them and saw what was missing. If anything, it shows a lack of experience in video games, and he may have foolishly thought that the transition would be easier, and gamers less demanding.
If anything, I'd rather see him continue, while looking at what other games did well.

 

[dr_pangloss]

I suppose this is Barker's first game, right?

Clive Barker's Undying (by Clive Barker) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Barker%27s_Undying]

 

[Kandiell]

simple little point: when he showed all those game "copying" the "simon says button mashing thing" and i saw indigo prophecy i was like sry but indigo prophecy NAILED that system, and its a GREAT game and it was BEFORE god of war so there....im done....have a good day!

God of War = March 2005
Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy) = Sept 2005

oh, and..

Dragon's Lair = June 1983

i admit you bested me right there, but i wont back down on the fact that indigo prophecy pushed that "system" to the brink of its awesomeness, i couldnt see that game done any other way, in all its glory

 

[Kieran-H [deprecated]]

Simply the best review you've done so far. Seriously, there will never be a game critic as witty and hilariously true as Yahtzee.

 

[Arbre]

I suppose this is Barker's first game, right?

Clive Barker's Undying (by Clive Barker) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Barker%27s_Undying]

Oh, yeah. And I thought he was behind a bit of the gameplay of Jericho, but it seems that again, Barker lays the plot's basics, a bit of background, and that's it.

So basically, it's double edged. When we see this, we think he's got a lot to do with how it sucks, while it seems to be the contrary. However, since he's "a man" with a name, this very same name is plastered upon each production by Barker.

So he's only thinking in terms of art, mood and eventually global plot (which may not be that special), and it pretty much ends there.

Then, surrounded by a bunch of yesmen who have never played a game in the last years, the thing finally goes gold.

 

[TheDarkArchon]

the characters were interesting,

I have to disagree on the strongest terms here. Out of all the games I've played or seen (as in video), there has only been one character that tops the Jericho squad for sheer bloody irritation, only losing out in that category to Amy Rose.

 

[Bfox]

it was linear but I don't see why that's a problem (do wee need only non-linear shooters? I don't think so.)

That's surprising to hear as all I see out there are non-linear shooters, the only thing I can find that isn't is Farcry and Deus ex (if you want to call it a shooter), everything else seems on rails.

 

[Kronopticon]

as a point, most people these days, are idiots, no offence to anyone who believes there isnt that many, but most of the world, are idiots, and anyone who disproves me is wrong.

this is why clive barkers jericho by clive barker might just scrape up enough money to make a sequel, or even a different game, or hopefully not, a remake (shudder). sorry yahtzee, i just had to say it.

anyway, yahtzee's review, as ive said before, is bang on, and that charismatic stallion has many more to review in the future, hopefully, assassins creed.

 

[Gnuzzk]

1:korn is not a goth band!!!
2:funny review
3:Im waiting for your super mario galaxy or call of duty 4 or crysis or assassin's creed or timeshift or mass effect or guitar hero 3 or kane and lynch or ratchet and clank review
4:Hmmm...

 

[Gnuzzk]

5r tony hawk proving ground

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

I suppose this is Barker's first game, right?

Clive Barker's Undying (by Clive Barker) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Barker%27s_Undying]

Oh, yeah. And I thought he was behind a bit of the gameplay of Jericho, but it seems that again, Barker lays the plot's basics, a bit of background, and that's it.

So basically, it's double edged. When we see this, we think he's got a lot to do with how it sucks, while it seems to be the contrary. However, since he's "a man" with a name, this very same name is plastered upon each production by Barker.

So he's only thinking in terms of art, mood and eventually global plot (which may not be that special), and it pretty much ends there.

Then, surrounded by a bunch of yesmen who have never played a game in the last years, the thing finally goes gold.

How many "Named" games (not series like tony hawk) have the person tis named on as part of the dev team, none if any, they create the charatcers,story and plot and then send it off to have a game built around it.

Thats the process 90% of the time I wager, and if they have their hands i the cookie jar it only means the jar will crash to the ground..unless they know what their doing.

Jericho is a train wreck only because they didn't care to do any better.

 

[Arbre]

How many "Named" games (not series like tony hawk) have the person tis named on as part of the dev team, none if any, they create the charatcers,story and plot and then send it off to have a game built around it.

Sid Meier.
Archer Maclean.

Thats the process 90% of the time I wager, and if they have their hands i the cookie jar it only means the jar will crash to the ground..unless they know what their doing.

Jericho is a train wreck only because they didn't care to do any better.

Only an interpretation of what happened. I would not be so categorical. Yahtzee's reviews are entertaining. I love them, but it's also superficial on several points.
I see them more as a one man show sort of comedy, rather than 100% honest analysises of a product.

 

[Geoffrey42]

as a point, most people these days, are idiots, no offence to anyone who believes there isnt that many, but most of the world, are idiots, and anyone who disproves me is wrong.

That line is just absolutely rife with the funny. It is both self-fulfilling, and self-destructive, all at the same time. So says the man who always lies, "I am telling a lie."

 

[Kell777]

Sadly it seems like all the games that have come out lately are focused on graphics rather then a good story line or fun gameplay. The shiny colours and realistic environments have taken over simple fun games with a good plot or decent (I?m not picky) story, The games that we find generally "Fun".

This has been true for several years now.
I once posted a poll on a mapping forum, asking "How do you spell good gameplay in 3 letters?" with multiple choice results such as CTF, TFC, GTA etc. Only one person chose "F U N" which, as far as I'm concerned, can be the only right answer.

This is what Valve take the time to resolve, and why - while other games with this heavyweight amateur-storytelling + 3D-up-the-arse combination have slopped out over recent years - Team Fortress 2 has taken almost 9 years. But it was obviously worth it.

The key is this: Valve do not assume that the first idea they come up with is the right one. And by 'right' I mean 'most fun'. Their audio commentaries bear this out splendidly.
No other game devs attempt this, or even seem to be aware that it might be a good design philosophy. FFS, some devs couldn't even spell "design philosophy"

 

[hickwarrior]

I guess it's true that gamnes are more graphics than gameplay wise, and for me it seems gameplay doesn't intrigue me(the fun part). Well, at least, i'm kind of beggar, so i cannot choose, which is... I dunno what you call it.

anyway, a game like mario&luigi is fun, cause of its battle system. I tried need for speed... on the NDS, which is a big failure on my part. Trying mario kart alone too, that's fun, but not for very long. Untill you got all the triple stars(which is pretty easy), and ge ta new game, you'll leave that game to dust.

The most fun i ever had... dunno, maybe it was with super mario 64 DS or something. And gaming does feel like a 2nd job after all. But i don't have a job anyway...

I think i'm digressing here, but hopefully i did get my point across.

 

[ShmenonPie]

I love these reviews, but what's with all the first person shooters? I count five that you've reviewed so far. I know you don't pick your games now, so it would be nice if The Escapist would hand you games from other genres more often.

This is an accusaiton that is often made, and I can see why its made, but I'm not sure it stands up to the facts:
1) Heavenly Sword: Action/Adventure Hack & Slash
2) Psychonauts: Plataformer (I think?)
3) Bioshock: FPS
4) Tomb Raider Anniversary: Action/Adventure.
5) Manhunt: FPS
6) Peggle: Puzzle game
7) Halo 3: FPS
8) Tabula Rasa: MMORPG
9) Orange Box: FPS
10) Super Paper Mario: Plataformer
11) MOH Airborne: FPS
12) Clive Barker's Jericho by Clive Barker (Clive Barker): FPS

If I'm doing my math right, FPS's are a little under 50% of his total reviews. Granted, they are the single largest single category, but that's not really all that strange, considering that more FPS's are released than most other genres, at the moment, and he's good a healthy dose of most of the other current major active genres (action adventure..). Certainly, I'd like to see him review a strategy or RPG game, but those come out at a somewhat slower pace, so I don't exactly attribute it to a conspiracy.

Certaintly, he mixes it up a good deal.

You're right about Psychonauts being a platformer, but Manhunt's more of a 3rd person stealth affair than an FPS, so that's only 5 out of 12.

I agree that he should do an RPG and a strategy. What about Empire Earth 3, that's supposed to be really crap, and he can rip that to shreds easily. Mass Effect (in all its overrated glory) should be good as well.

 

[hickwarrior]

he said he didn't like RPGs, it seems. Well, JRPGs cause of their dullness and slog(whatever slog means).

Do you know any RPG that might be worth it then? Cause all i see are turn-based ones. Kingdom hearts comes to my mind then. and what kind of strategy?

 

[ShmenonPie]

I love these reviews, but what's with all the first person shooters? I count five that you've reviewed so far. I know you don't pick your games now, so it would be nice if The Escapist would hand you games from other genres more often.

This is an accusaiton that is often made, and I can see why its made, but I'm not sure it stands up to the facts:
1) Heavenly Sword: Action/Adventure Hack & Slash
2) Psychonauts: Plataformer (I think?)
3) Bioshock: FPS
4) Tomb Raider Anniversary: Action/Adventure.
5) Manhunt: FPS
6) Peggle: Puzzle game
7) Halo 3: FPS
8) Tabula Rasa: MMORPG
9) Orange Box: FPS
10) Super Paper Mario: Plataformer
11) MOH Airborne: FPS
12) Clive Barker's Jericho by Clive Barker (Clive Barker): FPS

If I'm doing my math right, FPS's are a little under 50% of his total reviews. Granted, they are the single largest single category, but that's not really all that strange, considering that more FPS's are released than most other genres, at the moment, and he's good a healthy dose of most of the other current major active genres (action adventure..). Certainly, I'd like to see him review a strategy or RPG game, but those come out at a somewhat slower pace, so I don't exactly attribute it to a conspiracy.

Certaintly, he mixes it up a good deal.

You missed out Zeldahantom hourglass, and "the darkness" review, accuracy is a pride that you do not pride yourself upon

Ignorance and bile.

Well, you did ask!

I doubt you even read the comments people leave, and if you do, then you should know that I'm British too, and it's mainly your accent that makes it so funny, it would be crap if an American tried to pull it off. I still can't place your accent around the country, but I'm going to take a stab and say you're a Southener?

that is a very good point, yes, he does definately sound like a southerner, and since you used that term, im going to assume your from the north, or other part of british isles, anyway, its not just the voice, its the generel british cynicism you just cant get anywhere else, "british cynicism, best in the world", anyway, yes...im also british, and as such, i crave dissapointment, which is why yahtzee plays awful games, and i eat kinder-surprise, cheap-nasty chocolate, scummy little toy, a double-barrel! of disillusionment, which is why i call them "the eggs of numbing inevitability", and i always ask for them in the third person, "Richard Smith would like the eggs of numbing inevitability", once, the guy answered back saying "how many would you like?", i said 7, and he replied "thats a whole lot of cheap and nasty chocolate", and then we both laughed, as we both know there is hardly any chocolate anyway.

Yep, I'm from Leeds, which is reasonably north. I can understand craving disappointment, but of other people, not your own? You don't have to self harm by eating the eggs of numbing inevitability, to use your amusing phrase. You need to force them upon small children that don't know any better! (And no, before you call the NSPCC, I'm not serious.) I feel wholly privileged, as I just finished off the latter half of a bar of Galaxy. Mmmm...