Zero Punctuation: Scribblenauts

[Ramthundar]

I don't get the argument of "Helicopter + Rope" to win. The way I see it, he (Yathzee) is saying how he can just breeze through the game by doing the most simple and repetitive thing.

And?

Can't you just go to school and just sit in the classes, hand in the work, and ignore all the social interactions and extra curricular, whether they be drama or sports?

Can't you just find some decent-paying job, punch-in and punch-out, taking no interest or pride in your work or not even bothering to make your work worthwhile?

Can't you just hop in bed with some woman, have at it, and then pay child support, so that your genetic material is passed on?

Yes, you can, if you were a boring man who lives with Logic all his life. But if you just get a little wild and use your Imagination (yes, I did that little children's magician voice in my head when I typed Imagination), then you can have a good time discussing the latest games with your friends while pretending to do you math, you can enjoy your time at work, and you can light some candles up before slipping under the sheets and letting the donkey* in.

Scribblenauts is one of those few games that gives you almost as much choice as Life does. If you just chose the easy way out, that's your own fault, not the games.

Spoiler: *

Quick note: Make sure the donkey hasn't eaten for a while and hang some tarp or sheets on the walls, wax is a explicative to get out of the carpet.

 

[BrainWalker]

You're saying that you absolutely disagree with the review, but you really haven't stated why that's the case. After watching most of Yahtzee's videos, I can safely say that his resume consists mostly of "tearing games apart by picking out their flaws". In the viewer's case, the best way to enjoy his videos is to expect him to pick every game apart, and to not be optimistic of him praising the positive parts of a game. This aspect isn't consistent, though. I do agree that Scribblenauts is a new game with unique aspects to it (I've never played Drawn to Life), but one shouldn't expect him to give a bone to every game that he absolutely demolishes. In fact, when Yahtzee reviewed Portal, I half expected him to criticise the short length of the game and the fact that the game is about as challenging and innovative on the players' part as Super Mario.

I believe that Yahtzee is trying to say that the game doesn't really have challenges because there doesn't really seem to be any difficulty curve when you're allowed to just rumble through the game. Sure, a creative person could conjure up all sorts of stuff to complete a level, but it still doesn't change the fact that any variable between the beginning of the level to the end of the level can be replaced by a generic jet, or Cthulu. An analogy would be trying to "catch 'em all" in Pokemon Red as the motto of the game suggests, but no one's going to actually do that because you can just steamroll through the entire game with a Charizard that pretty much kills everything with Dragon Claw.

You're right about the fact that few have their own opinions here, though. Most people simply post with a "wow ur so right im not going to buy this game because u talk rly fast and i am convinced because talking rly fast makes you intelligent and therefore correct".

Well, I suppose "absolutely disagree" was perhaps the wrong way to phrase it. I mean, it's still a Zero Punctuation review, and I enjoyed the colorful turns of phrase contained within even if I disagreed with many of the actual opinions. I don't think I expected him to actually praise the game -- it certainly doesn't compare to Portal, Braid, or Psychonauts -- but I guess the one running thread of positivity throughout his reviews has been an appreciation for uniqueness, the flip-side of his absolute hatred of the samey "me too!" bullshit that permeates the industry, and I thought that might show up somewhere. Also, I did say that I was only a little surprised that he didn't throw it a bone. Such commentary is, after all, counter to his MO.

It is true that I said his arguments weren't especially compelling for me, personally, but I didn't actually say why I enjoy the game. I understand his criticism of Scribblenauts as a "non game" due to the lack of a concrete sense of progression and purpose, but I thought I addressed that by saying I treat the game more like a toy than a game in the traditional sense. It's like a bucket full of Lego, and every now and then I crack it open to see what my imagination feels like coming up with today. I solved a level where I had to get past some big scary thing by summoning Medusa, having her look at her reflection and turn herself to stone, and then using her disembodied head to turn my foe to stone. I could have just had Medusa do it for me, but that wouldn't have been as much fun. Once, on the playground, I was testing out how many different mythological creatures I could summon. I summoned a harpy, and then a Siren, and when the siren kicked the harpy's ass, it left behind a roast chicken, which Cerberus, who I forgot I had summoned, quickly came over to devour. I find that kind of thing incredibly entertaining, and well worth dealing with the game's inconsistencies.

I like your Pokémon analogy, though. Personally, I only ever played Emerald, and I never stuck with any one particular Pokéthing, and I didn't try to "catch 'em all," either. I made the Pokémon I liked most work for me, because the game allowed me to do so. But I suppose the series had evolved significantly since Red and Green. I guess for some games, how much you enjoy it depends on how you approach it in the first place.

 

[Radu889]

Wait... Running around with no legs?

 

[Ohlookit'sMatty]

WhyCthulhu thou? What made them add Cthulhu to the list of items you could spawn // It just seems random, so very random

-M

 

[MrPop]

Loved how it was the definition of "Fin" instead of "Fun" at the end =P

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

Ah yes, when in doubt, spawn Cthulu.
Unless you like the Baby, Glue, Manticore formula.

I love it when a new review comes out, especially when it's a game i've kept an eye on.

 

[IrrelevantTangent]

Theres a void here just before creed and modern warfare two,
... I guess just because the companies want to release closer to christmas?
more awesome stuff here yahtz

What is it with you people? I've been here for almost a year now, and every single time Yahtzee Croshaw makes a thread, people like you just HAVE to be first in line to post. You cannot possibly have watched the video that fast! It's impossible! You posted 60 seconds after he did, so how the hell can you say, 'awesome stuff as usual'? You didn't watch it!

I mean no disrespect, but honestly, just what do you get out of it? Do you have an orgasm every time you're the first to post in a thread? Do you realize that even if you did, and that's a big IF, you'll still be suspended or probated?

I just don't understand why.

 

[Timewave Zero]

The only reason I would buy a DS and this game is because you get to summon Cthulhu.
Every game needs that.

Also, 'Phn'glui mglaw'nafh Yahtzee R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn' made laugh so hard I died a few times. Somehow.

 

[Gabriel Yz]

3:27 Lol NEDM

 

[Captain Pancake]

It seems a moot point saying a DS game is bad, seeing as most of the people who have DS's are little brothers and geriartrics who can't remember what 2+2 equals.

See this is why Yahtzee should not review games on Nintendo systems if he's going to be negative about it: Because then I have to put up with dipshit comments like this plaguing the discussion thread.

In Closing: When are you going to review Dissidia, afraid you'll enjoy it?

Bad idea. Yahtzee's hatred of Final Fantasy + his hatred of fighting games = possibly enough hatred and flame wars to pretty much turn the forums into a raging inferno.

I've been over this about ten times already on this thread, would you people stop jumping down my throat and taking jabs at my self esteem?

 

[Captain Pancake]

It seems a moot point saying a DS game is bad, seeing as most of the people who have DS's are little brothers and geriartrics who can't remember what 2+2 equals.

The sum of 2+2 is four and geriatrics can remember that. As well as "little brothers."

Where the fuck are you getting this statistic, because most of the people I see with DS's are college students and people who don't have the money to plonk on a 360 or PSP.

Think for yourself and stop being Yahtzee's sheep.

Would you mind not trying to demean me? if I say i'm sorry, will you people stop trying to execute me over such a trivial thing? you know, it may be the internet, but words still hurt regardless.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

To think I actually wanted to buy this game. If it's that broken and boring, no thank you.

It's not. Yahtzee is just incapable of actually enjoying a game in these reviews because that's not what his fans want; they want him to take the most minute of errors in a game (Maxwell's control, for example, which I got a hang of about five levels in) and turn them into a dealbreaker.

@Yahtzee

The point of the game, you sorry excuse for a reviewer, is to give the gamer a sense of freedom, that feeling that he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants. Saying that the game boils down to "helicopter and rope" is idiocy, because you're missing the point of the entire game; Finding the wackiest solution to the puzzles. It's like playing through World of Warcraft and doing nothing but the collection quests; you're practically trying to miss out on the bits of the game that are actually fun.

You buy a game that is touted as promoting creativity and is advertised as "Do whatever you want!" and complain that you can just do the same thing over and over again? Your argument is flawed and idiotic, and I sincerely hope you regain the gland, artery, organ, cell, whatever it is that lets you enjoy something besides pandering to your cult-like following.

First of all, it's funny that you explain the point of the game to a professional reviewer and think you're 100% right. If a game should encourage different approaches and creativity, it at least shouldn't be broken. By the way, it's fucking irritating to hear the words "your argument is flawed and idiotic". I mean, I disagree with Yahtzee on a lot of games but I don't just outright say that he is wrong and I am right.
Yahtzee is a critic, it is his job to point out the flaws of the game he is reviewing. Still, he does enjoy games (Batman: Arkham Asylum, Cod 4, Portal, Burnout Paradise etc.) that suit him much better than an improperly functioning sandbox.

 

[Jay Cee]

I remember hearing Yahtzee and the gang conversing about this when it was first announced on the podcast, and I'm afraid to say I was genuinely intrigued.

Yet another example of exciting inventive ideas badly executed.

 

[Yersinia_pestis]

"In his house at R'lyeh dead Yahtzee waits dreaming"

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Yahtzee R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

 

[Lord_Seth]

It seems a moot point saying a DS game is bad, seeing as most of the people who have DS's are little brothers and geriartrics who can't remember what 2+2 equals.

The sum of 2+2 is four and geriatrics can remember that. As well as "little brothers."

Where the fuck are you getting this statistic, because most of the people I see with DS's are college students and people who don't have the money to plonk on a 360 or PSP.

Think for yourself and stop being Yahtzee's sheep.

Would you mind not trying to demean me? if I say i'm sorry, will you people stop trying to execute me over such a trivial thing? you know, it may be the internet, but words still hurt regardless.

If you're going to insult both a system and the people who play it, you shouldn't be surprised nor should you complain if you get insulted in return.

 

[The Cake Is Annoying]

Having read a comment from someone at E3 that made me sit up and take notice [http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=16184727&postcount=217]* I was giving serious thought to buying a second hand DS and getting a copy of this, but after Yahtzee's review I'm starting to think it does sound more like an unrefined Beta or just the same gimmick again and again (and again... and again... and...)

Its true that there is such a thing as too much choice and it sucks the fun out of games. Part of the reason Portal was so damn good was (1) you only had the same kit every level but you had to think harder and harder to get it to do what you needed to and (2) it was kept short so that it didn't overstretch itself to the point of tedium.

I supposed for a relatively inexperienced developer trying to put EVERYTHING IN THE DAMN DICTIONARY into your inventory was just too damn ambitious a concept to be executed smoothly.

Still, I might get that second hand DS anyways. It might not be a perfect game, but if it does try something completely original it has to be worth playing.

(Its hard not to sit up and notice when I'm being promised dinosaurs, time travel and killing zombies in the same game)

 

[katsabas]

I actually liked the premise of the game. Now I am confused. Quite a bit.

 

[Chariot238]

My dictionary says:
FUN. [fuhn]: A band formed by The Format's Nate Reuss, whose debut album, "Aim and Ignite", was released August 25, 2009.

Regardless, once again, a hilarious and telling review.

 

[Captain Pancake]

It seems a moot point saying a DS game is bad, seeing as most of the people who have DS's are little brothers and geriartrics who can't remember what 2+2 equals.

The sum of 2+2 is four and geriatrics can remember that. As well as "little brothers."

Where the fuck are you getting this statistic, because most of the people I see with DS's are college students and people who don't have the money to plonk on a 360 or PSP.

Think for yourself and stop being Yahtzee's sheep.

Would you mind not trying to demean me? if I say i'm sorry, will you people stop trying to execute me over such a trivial thing? you know, it may be the internet, but words still hurt regardless.

If you're going to insult both a system and the people who play it, you shouldn't be surprised nor should you complain if you get insulted in return.

Well, I'm sorry. I have been well and truly humbled. I won't voice my opinions again on a ZP review, that's for sure.

 

[Nautical Honors Society]

I totally agree with what he said about, when you have the ability to do/have anything from a large seemingly endless group of objects, you never know what to pick.

It's like having 4000 songs on your Ipod and having to only choose one to listen to before you have to shut it off and get to class, by the time you've decide the bell has rang and you're late.