Zero Punctuation: Mailbag Showdown

[Jer-oh-me]

Personally I found this ZP to be amusing, not exactly titilating, but amusing none the less. I found it hard to read all those self righteous defenses of SSBB and am glad to see Yahtzee punishing those who made them for not being careful enough to watch their spelling. If I remember correctly he at one point did make an off hand remark about what he'd majored in in college/university, I think it was something 'Media Studies' although I don't remember exactly, I'll have to go back and rewatch his Condemned 2 review.

Agreed that a number system is ridiculously subjective quantifying in the pretentious intent of appearing objective in their use. Thank you Yahtzee for bucking games reviewing tradition.

Am I the only one who has felt as though their skills in this language go up as they enjoy these videos? Please tell me I'm not, I'll feel so very much alone. I'm wondering if these letters he's referencing in the video were posts here on his message board or actual emails. I only ask because there seemed to be an awful lot of posts that looked just like the ones he tore to shreds in the video. Personally I prefer to acknowledge Yahtzee's wish that we not fill his inbox with hate and dross so I suppose I'm in a distinct minority considering how often he blathers on about being annoyed by his 'fans'

I don't believe this video was great, it was merely average. To quote Yatzhee himself "Boiler-plate, Run of the mill." And despite the fact that he obviously doesn't intend to review Mario Kart Wii, which I won't ask that he do as I happen to like the game inspite and sometimes because of what are considered its faults I really don't expect him to comment. More I'm interested in hearing his opinion of GTAIV mostly because I'm not particularly into that series.

Thus far, when I've had the advantage of playing the games he's reviewed myself I have a consistant tendancy to absolutely agree.

Brawl is pathetic, the only thing I like about it is the niceness of the character models. And besides I'm told that everyone hates my favourite characters for being clones so bugger off.

 

[shre123]

Best Review ever, even though it wasnt a review. I hate how ppl are talking about SSBB as if its god. Its been done before it was just revamped. Im not saying it isnt a good game, it's just that if ur gonna make a sequel, make it VASTLY different.

 

[Mythbhavd]

I am surprised at the amount of vitriol on both sides of the arguments being posted here. For those who believe Yahtzee was being a troll this week, I must ask, "why?" Why is it considered being a troll to respond to those who have sent him hate mail? Even more, why is it considered to be a troll to take a humorous look at the mail he receives. Very early on in the forum, a couple of people said that it was a generally accepted rule not to make fun of your own fans. However, the emails that he quoted here were truly ridiculous. None of them were well reasoned arguments against his review. And, as it has so often been pointed out, a review is a subjective statement of opinion by one person who played the game. It should be noted that most (not all) of the objections in the SSBB forum could be summed up in the emails he reviewed here. It should also be noted that the two emails in which there was anything close to a reasoned argument, he did take the time to give an equally reasoned response.

To those who disagree with those who don't like a review posted by Yahtzee, I must ask, "Why are these people considered to be retards?" They, like Yahtzee, are more than welcome to post their subjective opinion on each video. That's one of the reasons this forum exists. Each person who comes to Zero Punctuation to watch these videos comes for a reason. Some, like me, come to enjoy a good laugh. Some come with the intention of being insulted. Some come with the intention of insulting others. However, because a person disagrees with you, your view, or the view of Yahtzee, this does not make them a retard or whatever other derogative term that could be chosen. It is possible to enjoy or dislike these videos and discuss them without a war being opened in the forums.

Let's get back to the good old weeks when we could watch a review, laugh about it, and discuss it like the reasonably well-adjusted crazy people we are.

 

[Blayze]

Hah. What were these people expecting from Yahtzee, of all people? They must be the sort of people who watch Top Gear and expect serious discussion, or at least Jeremy Clarkson not acting like a twat.

Then again, I'm so white I bleed middle class, so it stands to reason that I'm a PC gamer first and foremost, which lets me avoid the pesky little console children laying into one another like religious fundamentalists screaming at each other over who has the best imaginary friend.

 

[Russian Redneck]

I must say, that was an excellent review, Yahtzee! I can't say anything that wouldn't be reiterating what you've already said, so I'm just going to say that this video review was by far one of my favorites, right up there with your Devil May Cry 4, Super Paper Mario, and Assassin's Creed reviews. About half the e-mails you responded to weren't even Brawl related; just e-mailers raging against your reviewing style. I love how you responded to some of them and you even did it with your usual "zero punctuation" speech. I can't really think of anything critical to say because you have your right to speak your voice and defend your beliefs, and to that I say, "Bravo!"

Great job! Keep up the good work.

 

[Sammich]

Wow, these just keep getting better and better. It's a shame to see how retarded some viewers/e mailers/trolls/whiners get actually, they don't seem to realize the whole point of reviews in general. Plus so far I think Yahtzee has been pretty damn good at explaining WHAT is bad or good about a game instead of just mindlessly praising or bashing it like the majority of game reviewers do.
What saddens me most about this whole thing is that even in this thread the fanboying goes on. Come on, if you like SSBB so much, go play it instead of attentionwhoring and/or feeling violated by another person's opinion.
Also, yay to spelling correction.

 

[Jarmanator]

Loved the ending, with the 360 dying and pissing over itself, but I'm pretty sure they don't really do that as much nowadays to be fair?

Whatever, A+ for this video Mr Croshaw, I well and truly laughed my ass off.

 

[A Username Not In Use]

Agreed that a number system is ridiculously subjective quantifying in the pretentious intent of appearing objective in their use. Thank you Yahtzee for bucking games reviewing tradition.

Another major problem with the number system when used as a percent is you can alway tell when the person reviewing the game is either an idiot or board as they will give a score of 69% which I don't know about you irritates me as I want an opinion, not a giggle.

 

[Gutterpunk]

Funny how the comments on anything that Yatzee says about SSB always degenerate into something that looks like the retards comments on YouTube.
He says anything bad about games on the PS3 and 360 and you get some rational rebuttal, but when it comes to a Wii game it's like all the fanboys were retards.

Just saying...

 

[AtxAxLoss]

I was looking forward to seeing this week's review, but this was a pretty satisfying substitute. Your responses reflected a lot I like about your approach: Detailed comments instead of simple rating systems, not aligning yourself with an "objective" opinion. With the Internet full as it is of people reviewing decade old games with not much more than a string of jokes about shit, it's nice to know someone's providing an insightful commentary.


Personally, I enjoyed the older Smash Brothers games I played if I was ever in the position to play them. Nothing I'd pay for myself, but it's good fun in the groups I've played it with. Spot on with the button-mashers criticism, though.

 

[Sermon_expert]

Hey Yahtzee,





Cheers, mate. Paul here. Originally from Belgium, studied in London and now live in the Los Angeles. One of the things about getting fan mail is that you occasionally have to deal with people whose IQ is questionable; you know, like the rest of USA. Not anti-USA completely but I have lived here long enough to unfortunately smell the pseudo loyalist BS miles away. Anyone ever questions their taste and they will immediately attack you because in their eyes no one should question their poor taste or choices, you know, like any typical fascist society. Frankly I think your reviews are stellar, mate. Finally someone who can review games without the precarious sponsoring of retard game developers whose only concern is "MAKE ME MORE MONEY". I look forward to watching your reviews and giving the business to the manginas of Nintendo followers.

 

[Kaos Incarnate]

To be honest, looking at the controls of Melee if it is similar, with the gamecube controller I don't think you can button mash on Brawl

And to Sermon- I don't really think one reviewer's opinion will stop people from buying a game

 

[BrunDeign]

Leave then. Why do people on the internet act as if their mere presence on a site is something to be worshipped and cherished?

If you don't like what Yahtzee is doing, or think it "used to be better", don't ***** and rant about it endlessly on the forum, just leave.

I wasn't RANTING. I was stating my opinion in a calm and collected manner. Seems to me YOU have the rant going.

 

[Kazooie959]

The only and I repeat the ONLY flaw that I have found in anything Yahtzee has said in the 2 things about Brawl is that he praises Nintendo about including Lucas but yell at them about Marth. WTF they both have about the same Japan only story line behind them yet he can be perfectly happy about one and complain about the other. Overall I have to say his review made sense and I enjoyed it but that one line just made me mad enough to join this forum and complain about it

 

[Flaming-Gerbil]

Same could be said for the Playstation and X-box side aswell, but then again most people are biased to certain consoles, that they don't admit it.

Care to name a few titles? Will be happy to agree/disagree with you. I might be a little biased, as I only own the xbox 360, but I still can't think of a game that is just a recycle of the same old bull.

With the exceptions of all sport games, but that goes for all consoles, and the PC.

Well considering the guy says three games in a series is "recycling" I would say

Halo
GTA
Final Fantasy
Kingdom Hearts

and many more for any console, i'm not saying these out of spite, I do own a 360 as well as a Wii, but people can be a little short sighted to a console they love.

At least Halo progresses a storyline (albeit a piss weak one), since when has a game involving Mario or in fact any of the other annoyingly recycled characters done that?

 

[Krishaaan]

OK, that was seriously the best ZP you have done yet. I was pissing myself laughing the whole way through. Most notably, I liked the Gamespot reference but I would have to say my favourite bit was the number 4. The 360 joke hit particularly close to home seeing as mine bricked just last week.

FYI Spell-checker, 'favourite' is spelled with a 'u' and there is no 'z' in 'customise'

Err... there is in the British spelling of those words. Just FYI.

AAActually here in Britain, we don't have a 'z' in customise and there is a 'u' in favourite. Just FYI

 

[cmdr_zoom]

That was excellent. Especially the proofreading.

 

[Flaming-Gerbil]

Leave then. Why do people on the internet act as if their mere presence on a site is something to be worshipped and cherished?

If you don't like what Yahtzee is doing, or think it "used to be better", don't ***** and rant about it endlessly on the forum, just leave.

I wasn't RANTING. I was stating my opinion in a calm and collected manner. Seems to me YOU have the rant going.

At least he's not using CAPS to EMPHASIZE his points POINTLESSLY. The internet is serious business.