The Armored Core Series: A Newcomers Journey Writing on Games 2023-03-22 | In this series retrospective/analysis (and my longest video to date), I discuss how Armored Core went from a franchise I, as a Dark Souls/Elden Ring fan, knew very little about in the wake of that Fires of Rubicon trailer, to becoming one of my all-time favourites.Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Ever since the Game Awards, I've seen a lot of people curious about how similar the recently revealed Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon was going to be to developer From Software's Souls games, mainly because Elden Ring was so successful, and partially because Armored Core has never quite reached that level of mainstream appeal. I was one of those curious people, and so I decided to play each numbered Armored Core entry as well as a few of the spin-offs, to get an idea of what this series is all about. With its weighty combat, extensive customisation options and compelling worldbuilding that I'm sure had an influence on the Souls games, it has been a while since a series has engrossed me quite like this. In this series retrospective/Armored Core analysis, let's talk about why you should be excited for Armored Core.0:00 - Intro Plug0:17 - The Rebirth of Armored Core and the Fires of Rubicon8:34 - Armored Core's Systemic Dystopia18:50 - Armored Core is really, really fun27:21 - Armored Core 236:10 - Armored Core 342:11 - Armored Core Nexus and Silent Line48:10 - Armored Core 455:40 - Armored Core For Answer1:05:56 - Armored Core V1:14:02 - Armored Core Verdict Day1:16:17 - Will Soulsborne Players Enjoy Fires of Rubicon?1:22:05 - Outro---Thumbnail by HotCyder - http://twitter.com/hotcyderIntro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Forspoken (Review): This is a MESS... and I cant tell if I like it Writing on Games 2023-01-23 | Forspoken review code provided by Square Enix PR. It took me a *long time* to not hate Forspoken. That said, does a game need to be perfect to have an impact? In this review, let's dig into why Forspoken has left me so conflicted. This video is spoiler-free (bar one very light plot point from the first twenty minutes briefly brought up at around the five minute mark, click to 5:21 to avoid it).Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Forspoken has so, so many problems. For so, so many hours, its characterisation and dialogue seems downright irredeemable. Its combat systems feature so much extraneous fluff, all hampered by an unhelpful camera. Protagonist Frey is occasionally finicky to control, and her incessant banter with her travel "buddy" Cuff is unbelievably cringey. But just leaving it at that isn't what we do here on this channel—is there anything to like about Forspoken? Maybe? I think? Even if the answer is yes, you sure have to dig through a lot of unnecessary nonsense to get to it. And that's what I'm attempting to do in this review of Forspoken. 0:00 - Intro0:12 - It took me a long time not to hate Forspoken1:28 - The problems with Forspoken's dialogue and characters5:30 - The gameplay6:55 - Endless systems7:48 - It's all needless fluff8:51 - Why I don't hate Forspoken anymore12:00 - Even Frey isn't all bad13:59 - Forspoken is Final Fantasy XV16:22 - Outro---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
The Writing on Games Top Five Games of 2022 List Writing on Games 2023-01-03 | A lot of good games came out in 2022. Let's talk about 'em. Elden Ring's gotta take Game of the Year, right? Right?!Get access to exclusive videos by supporting the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast (including our own twelve-hour GotY deliberations!) - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---2022 was the year I started living again—of course, this was always going to have an effect on how games as a whole resonated with me. As such, this list probably won't be structured how you expect, but that's the fun of this kinda thing, right? Will Elden Ring take the crown? Did God of War Ragnarok or Horizon Forbidden West impress me to the point that it made the list? What the hell is Vampire Survivors? Only one way to find out—join me as I list out the Writing on Games Top Five Games of 2022! Channels shouted out:@inframeout @LambHoot XCommanderless VODs - youtube.com/@tehstreamerer4895@Tehsnakerer @hotcyder @WebstersYouTube Bullet Time Podcast - youtube.com/watch?v=Vc-f2S12dG8@GMTK @VideoGameAnimationStudy @VideoGameStoryTime @ArtistMarkFlynn Also feel like I should credit Tom Scott for the line "history is fractal" I use when discussing Pentiment. Saw him use it in a couple of his vids and the phrasing really stuck with me.TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Intro6:24 - Game 511:22 - Game 417:27 - Game 322:03 - Game 227:57 - Honourable Mentions34:46 - Game of the Year 202245:03 - Creator Shoutouts50:11 - Outro---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
The Existential Nightmare of Fortnite Writing on Games 2022-12-13 | I don't understand Fortnite, and that's potentially thrilling.Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---I like to think of myself as pretty au fait with all things video games, but recently I watched something that truly reminded me of how I'm getting older; of how quickly time is marching forward, and how I'm losing touch with a medium I love. On a recent family trip, I watched my nephew play a match of Fortnite—a game that has changed so much in the years since I last played it, that I could barely tell what I was looking at. Rather than make me sad though, this got me thinking about all kinds of things—the potential for games to help people bond; the wild path of this industrial titan of a video game; how my parents felt watching me play games like Metal Gear Solid as a kid and the mechanical abstractions within; the dangers of growing up with games like Fortnite, hellbent on getting you to buy your way to popularity, and how my experience with similar crazes might help guide my nephew through the scarier aspects of this industry. Let's talk about how this daft game sent me into an existential spiral, and reminded me how much I love this medium.0:00 - Intro0:21 - Getting older and video games2:44 - The rapidly shifting nature of Fortnite3:48 - Old man can't make sense of Fortnite5:19 - Building in Fortnite is WILD now7:19 - The match's explosive finale8:36 - Old man is no match for John Wick9:40 - How did my parents feel watching me play games?11:03 - I don't understand, and why that's thrilling12:37 - What were the crazes of my own youth like?13:26 - The darker side of Fortnite15:31 - Conclusion16:18 - Outro---Thumbnail by hotcyder - http://twitter.com/hotcyderIntro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
God of War Ragnaroks Twist Changes Everything (Analysis) Writing on Games 2022-11-11 | God of War Ragnarok code provided by PlayStation. Potential spoiler warning: this God of War Ragnarok analysis is more specific than my pre-release review, and focuses on a particular (fairly early) reveal. If you wish to be totally surprised by said reveal, play the game at least up until you complete/return home from the mission "The Quest for Tyr". Viewer discretion is advised.Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---FEATURE REVEAL MENTIONED IN DESCRIPTION, DON'T READ IF YOU WANT TO FIND IT FOR YOURSELFPlaying as Atreus in God of War Ragnarok absolutely rules. Now that God of War Ragnarok has been released, I finally get to analyse/discuss a feature I couldn't talk about in my original review—analysing a reveal that not only surprises from a gameplay perspective, but ends up marrying Ragnarok's mechanics and narrative/story themes (especially to do with Atreus and his relationship to Kratos) in a way that elevates it above 2018's game for me—it's the fact that you now get to play as Atreus. Let's break it down why the ability to play as Atreus is so narratively important, in this story/spoiler analysis of God of War Ragnarok!---Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart Clank footage from Trophygamers - youtube.com/watch?v=G_d2QF4VpkYText intro animation by Isaac Holland - twitter.com/drazgames#godofwarragnarok #godofwar #atreus 0:00 - Intro/housekeeping0:09 - Dancing around Ragnarok's new secret0:31 - God of War Ragnarok's new gameplay feature1:24 - Playing the sidekick2:49 - Playing as Atreus kinda rules3:56 - Not just the sidekick anymore4:56 - The teenage experience as gameplay7:20 - Atreus and Kratos are lost without each other8:53 - In controlling Atreus, Kratos loses control10:00 - Outro
God of War Ragnarok (Review): The PS5s Biggest Epic to Date Writing on Games 2022-11-03 | Early review code provided by Playstation. This review/analysis of God of War Ragnarok is spoiler-free, but viewer discretion is advised.In this review/analysis of God of War Ragnarok, I discuss my previous, not-so-favourable biases towards the 2018 sad-dad continuation of the God of War timeline... which is why it's so surprising to me that, having spent dozens of hours with its sequel God of War Ragnarok, I've enjoyed said sequel a whole lot. In this review/analysis, let's break down some of the themes and characters (minus spoilers of course), the combat and the game's beautiful world that led me to this conclusion. God of War Ragnarok releases on November 9th for PS5 and PS4. Support the show on Patreon so I can keep making these videos - http://patreon.com/writingongames Podcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescast Second Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A 0:00 - Intro/housekeeping 0:24 - Acknowledging my negative biases1:40 - Why did I end up loving Ragnarok?2:34 - An evolved father son relationship6:41 - God of War Ragnarok is BEAUTIFUL7:37 - DualSense implementation8:34 - Combat10:11 - God of War Ragnarok isn't perfect10:37 - The RPG and stat game isn't great12:16 - Pacing issues14:19 - God of War Ragnarok is messy, like family is messy16:56 - So how did God of War Ragnarok win me over?17:50 - Outro--- Text intro by Isaac Holland - twitter.com/drazgames#godofwarragnarok #godofwar #ps5 #godofwarragnarokreview
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is a Big, Dumb Mess Writing on Games 2022-10-31 | Analysing the campaign of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2022's Modern Warfare 2, that is) - a game as nonsensical as it is hypocritical (this is just my opinion and if you liked the game that's fine!).Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is back, baby, and I'm here to talk about it. Despite a couple of missions that serve as series highlights thanks to their emphasis on flexible gameplay over its trite narrative, Modern Warfare 2's otherwise lacklustre campaign fails to sell a narrative that's as nonsensical as it is downright hypocritical. In this analysis/review of the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2022) campaign I discuss how, in the game's skewed view of what it means to be "critical of war," as with 2019's predecessor, the ends always (apparently) justify the means.0:00 - Intro plug0:11 - "De-escalation"2:33 - Don't worry, you're still the Good Guys3:53 - MW2 takes itself too seriously5:14 - Most missions are dull too6:44 - Breaking down the best mission in the game (Recon By Fire)9:19 - Actual, subtle storytelling11:21 - The other good mission in the game (Alone)12:50 - The worst mission in MW214:23 - MW2 is less gritty conflict, more Crash Bandicoot15:26 - Outro---Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames#callofdutymodernwarfare2
You Need To Play IMMORTALITY (Analysis) Writing on Games 2022-10-06 | A spiralling examination/interpretation of Sam Barlow/Half Mermaid's latest postmodern FMV mystery game, IMMORTALITY. I go in-depth with my interpretation at around 9:10 (with images of the game's hook being shown from around 6:10), so maybe stop there if you want to avoid anything remotely related to spoilers.Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---After playing through IMMORTALITY, trawling through and analysing its hours of filmed footage relating to the life and times of promising young actress Marissa Marcel, I'm not sure I'm any closer to answers to the questions it made me ask. As with Sam Barlow's other work, however, the answer is never the point—very few artistic works have gotten me to question the very nature of art itself like IMMORTALITY has. If that's not high praise, I don't know what is. It's short, amazing and on Game Pass—play it.Her Story was the game that ultimately started this channel back in 2015, so it feels nice to talk about Sam Barlow's latest release.0:00 - AN AUTEUR WARY OF AUTEURS2:57 - MECHANICAL STORYTELLING5:12 - DESTABILISING HORROR8:19 - AN IMPERFECT GAME9:10 - THE "CORRECT" REALITY11:20 - ART, CONTROL AND YOU14:33 - WHAT HAPPENED TO MARISSA MARCEL15:25 - A SINGULAR VISION COLLABORATED UPON---Thumbnail by Hotcyder - http://twitter.com/hotcyderText intro animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
The Last Of Us Part 1 (Review): Fundamentally Different Writing on Games 2022-08-31 | The Last of Us Part 1 review code provided by PlayStation.Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---This is a review/analysis of The Last of Us Part 1, the remake of the 2013 classic, is contentious not only for its high $70 price point for an already-remastered game released less than a decade ago, but developer remarks stating that the upgrades would merely be visual and technical in nature—its panicked stealth action gameplay would remain untouched. However, when so much of the original The Last of Us' narrative strengths lay in Naughty Dog's unparalleled technical prowess in facial animations and the like, with said technical upgrades being so substantial in nature, they fundamentally alter how you experience that still gripping narrative. If you can (and there are valid reasons why you might want to hold off), this is now the definitive way to play The Last of Us.0:00 - The Last of Us is defined by its tech1:25 - The $70 backlash2:31 - Next-level facial animation3:53 - Tech changes how you play4:48 - DualSense implementation6:21 - Graphical fidelity7:06 - No really, the facial animation is unbelievable8:25 - The personality of environments9:06 - Why you shouldn't buy The Last of Us Part 1---Extra footage from Marvelous Man - youtube.com/watch?v=yfgImAiCXdoIntro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
The Success (and Failure) of Tekken Bloodline Writing on Games 2022-08-29 | Tekken Bloodline is, uh... kind of fascinating.Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---For many reasons, the many attempts to adapt Tekken to another medium outside of games have ranged from boring to downright unwatchable. Enter Tekken Bloodline—a six episode anime recently released on Netflix that attempts to solve the franchise's key problems, and ends up being just as fascinating for its failings as it does its successes. In its telling of the Jin Kazama backstory and the King of Iron Fist Tournament of Tekken 3, Tekken Bloodline illustrates the potential for future iterations to bring life to the wild lore of this fighting game behemoth, but perhaps at the expense of actually realising that potential itself. 0:00 - There has never been a good Tekken adaptation1:30 - What is Tekken Bloodline?3:30 - What's up with Bloodline's shadows/visuals?!5:09 - The personality and storytelling of Bloodline's combat8:04 - Framing the tragedy of Jin Kazama10:54 - Tekken Bloodline's biggest problem12:38 - The wasted potential of Tekken Bloodline's other characters14:44 - Can there be a truly great Tekken adaptation?15:29 - Who is the intended audience of Tekken Bloodline?17:49 - Outro---Thumbnail by HotCyder - http://twitter.com/hotcyderIntro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames#tekkenbloodline #tekken8
Spider-Man Remastered (Analysis): The Best Marvel Release in Years Writing on Games 2022-08-11 | Thanks to PlayStation for the early Spider-Man Remastered review code.Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---I recently got the chance to play through and analyse Spider-Man Remastered on PC, four years after the original PS4 release in 2018 blew me away with the focus of its open world design—a rarity in the genre. Not only was it a blast to play, but this focus meant that every single element of the game was used to convey some element of Spider-Man/Peter Parker's character, right down to the load screens—which now, thanks to SSDs and the PC release, some players might never see. Thankfully, as this analysis/review will go into, Spider-Man Remastered is so mechanically and narratively robust that, even four years later, it remains a high watermark for not just open world design, but Spider-Man as a whole.A WORD ON SPOILERS: This Spider-Man Remastered analysis discusses certain plot points and characters (including DLC), so viewer discretion is advised. Maybe play the game then come back if you want to go in blind.0:00 - Intro2:40 - Spider-Man Remastered Absolutely Rules3:34 - Completion5:48 - Storytelling Through Combat8:57 - The Crushing Inevitability of Doctor Octopus11:22 - The Emotional Rollercoaster of Act 313:53 - Mary-Jane Watson14:25 - The Unbearable Stealth Missions15:46 - DLC: The Good!17:56 - DLC: The Bad!19:35 - Was Spider-Man Always Good?---Thumbnail by HotCyder - http://twitter.com/hotcyderIntro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Analysing Hitman GO: Incredible, Against All Odds Writing on Games 2022-07-26 | Get exclusive, ad-free videos on Patreon - patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Hitman GO is a game that, on paper, shouldn't work. It takes a series known for the freedom of approach it offers players, and instead opts for the rigidity of a grid-based board game format... on mobile no less! And yet, against all odds, Hitman GO manages to capture almost every aspect of what makes Hitman the series it is today—a fact made all the more impressive given the context of its production and release. Let's talk about why you should take this overlooked gem seriously!---Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
What Returning to Dark Souls Taught Me About Elden Ring Writing on Games 2022-05-29 | Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastTwitch - http://twitch.com/writingongamesSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Elden Ring is, deservedly, widely considered to be the peak of developer From Software's creative output—featuring the most fluid combat and the most densely packed, deeply interconnected world yet. This got me thinking—with these obvious refinements, wouldn't it be fairly difficult to go back to the early days of this franchise, with all the clunkiness (both technical and inherent to the game's design) that comes with it? Well, I decided to go back to 2011's Dark Souls—analysing boss and world design, levelling, combat mechanics, etc.—to find out. Interestingly, it turns out that while both games share obvious visual and mechanical DNA, they could not feel more different from one another—a revelation that has further complicated my views on both an old favourite, and a new classic. 0:00 - Intro0:22 - Context1:50 - Why I went back to Dark Souls4:51 - The evolution of speed and aggression7:43 - Stamina9:57 - Tactical play and i-frames11:33 - Boss battles13:28 - "Playing the right way" and exploits16:31 - My problems with Elden Ring's bosses20:17 - The problem with more options22:11 - Elden Ring's late game23:48 - Gaming the numbers27:11 - Exploration, world design and purpose34:50 - Bonfires and Lost Grace36:48 - Elden Ring is shockingly streamlined37:51 - Conclusion39:25 - Outro---Thumbnail by hotcyder - http://twitter.com/hotcyderhttp://youtube.com/hotcyderIntro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Why They Broke Gran Turismo 7 Writing on Games 2022-05-09 | Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastTwitch - http://twitch.tv/writingongamesSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---This video is a follow up on my initial review of Gran Turismo 7—what I initially thought of as one of the best racing games of all time, only for the game to actually release and suddenly its hellish microtransaction/always online nature was revealed to everyone (pre-release critics included), in a way that catapulted any goodwill they'd built up into the sun. That said, given the statements made by the game's director, combined with the game's obsessive dedication to every aspect of the car ownership experience, there is a throughline to be drawn to where the game currently is now. To be clear, this is not a defence of this exceedingly stupid, broken economy, but to say the situation emerged from sheer money-grabbing malice might not be telling the whole story. Review copy of Gran Turismo 7 provided for PS5 by PlayStation.---Thumbnail by hotcyder - http://twitter.com/hotcyderhttp://youtube.com/hotcyderIntro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Lost Judgment: The Kaito Files is a Must-Play (Analysis) Writing on Games 2022-04-22 | This video is sponsored by SEGA (who also provided code for the DLC), although their PR had zero input on the contents of the video, nor any influence on the opinions contained within. They just wanted me to check out the Kaito Files DLC and make a standard video about it, with me retaining 100% creative control over the end product. ---The original Judgment was my game of the year in 2019, but with its standalone nature largely solving the internal struggle of its protagonist Yagami, I felt like last year's Lost Judgment was left searching for that human anchor to ground the wild events of its plot. Well, after playing through the recently released Kaito Files DLC and becoming utterly engrossed with it, it's clear that the answer was staring us in the face all along—the titular Masaharu Kaito. In this analysis, let's talk about the hidden depths of this burly ex-yakuza's character, and why he may have been the series' biggest strength all along. ---Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---#sponsored #lostjudgment #kaitofiles #yakuza #sega
Why Exploring in Elden Ring Feels So Good (Analysis) Writing on Games 2022-03-14 | From Software's Dark Souls series is renowned for its ultra tense, weighty, pitch-perfect action where you bang your head for hours against seemingly immovable bosses until you triumphantly take them down. But in their latest game Elden Ring—an open world shift on the Soulsborne framework—I've been playing it more as if it were a sightseeing tour, mainly riding around and looking at all the grand majestic sights the game has to offer... and I've had an absolute blast doing it. Let's talk about how Elden Ring places more focus on exploration than any other Soulsborne game before it, and why exploring the staggeringly vast expanses of the Lands Between is so much fun. 0:00 - Intro plug0:22 - The Most Exciting Discovery in Elden Ring2:00 - The Interconnected Open World... but Massive4:19 - The Importance of the Erdtree6:04 - Elden Ring's Size Tells a Story6:51 - Exploration is Still Tense8:14 - The Sightseeing Tour of Elden Ring9:10 - Outro---Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Animated text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Gran Turismo 7 (Review): Truly Weird, Truly Wonderful Writing on Games 2022-03-02 | Early review code for Gran Turismo 7 provided by Playstation. Gran Turismo has had a pretty rocky go of it the last couple of console generations, going from racing powerhouse on the PS1/PS2 to fading curio on the PS3/PS4. Now the series is back with its first numbered entry in almost a decade on the PS5, and while it may not quite be the visual powerhouse you'd expect from a flagship console racing game, its still unbeatable sim-racing action combined with all the straight-faced zaniness you've come to expect from a GT experience. Let's talk about all this in my review/analysis of Gran Turismo 7! --- Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongames Podcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescast Second Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A --- Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Why Tekkens Story is Better Than You Might Think Writing on Games 2022-02-28 | Go to thld.co/geologie_WritingonGames_0222 to save 50% off on your 30 day trial. Thanks to Geologie for sponsoring today's video.Fighting game stories are immensely daft, none moreso than Tekken's—a decades-spanning spiral of Heihachi and Kazuya Mishima throwing each other into volcanoes, and bodyguard bears doting after pandas. But it's the dedication to its wild lore over seven numbered entries, the pace at which you uncover said lore in its amazing ending cutscenes, and the series' consistent willingness to mess with our ideas of canon, that all elevate Tekken's story above most other games in its genre—weaving a tapestry that's equal parts hilarious, campy, heartfelt and mysterious. Time to join the King of Iron Fist Tournament—enter the Tekken.---Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A0:00 - Intro1:19 - Explaining the Tekken timeline2:59 - How Tekken is different3:42 - What if Kuma wins the tournament?!4:59 - Tekken is a choose-your-own-adventure6:20 - The Paul timeline7:14 - The tragedy of Wang Jinrei8:14 - Tekken is far from perfect8:38 - The failure of Tekken 79:29 - The Mishimas are not sympathetic10:36 - Conclusion---Text intro animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgamesExtra footage from videogamedunkey, The Gaming Restoration and THE MXG PLAYER. Thanks a lot!#tekkenbloodline #tekken8
Horizon Forbidden West (Review): PS5s Breath of the Wild Writing on Games 2022-02-14 | Early review code provided by Playstation. This review/analysis of Horizon Forbidden West is spoiler-free, although viewer discretion is advised.Going into this review and analysis of Horizon Forbidden West I expected nothing from the upcoming open world game, having been so burned out on the genre and Sony's big budget prestige cinematic action titles in equal measure. At some point in the review process, however, something clicked and I had to make and abundant beauty, Horizon Forbidden West ended up rekindling my love of a genre—the most enthralling open world I've played since Breath of the Wild. Let's talk about it in this review/analysis!Horizon Forbidden West releases on 18th February for PS5 and PS4. 0:00 - Is it pointless to review Horizon Forbidden West?1:52 - The moment it clicked3:23 - Mechanical freedom and BotW influence4:28 - Forbidden West is jaw-droppingly gorgeous5:07 - The wonder of going off the beaten path6:14 - The beauty of getting lost7:23 - Worldbuilding through mechanics10:36 - The problems with HFW's story12:40 - Your own stories are more interesting13:45 - Conclusion/an astounding achievement15:09 - Outro---Support the show on Patreon so I can keep making these videos - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Analysing Hitman 3s Broken VR Mode Writing on Games 2022-02-01 | Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Hitman 3's VR mode is about as far from an ideal or even competent PCVR experience as you can possibly get, but despite its vast array of problems, it might very well be the most Hitman version of a virtual reality mode I could possibly imagine. In this analysis, let's talk about my love/hate relationship with Hitman's weird, fascinating virtual reality mode.Timestamps:0:00 - Hitman 3's second catastrophic launch2:35 - The many, many problems with Hitman VR7:42 - ...why I still enjoy Hitman VR---Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
An Examination of Not For Broadcast: Zany FMV Dystopia Writing on Games 2022-01-23 | Check out Not For Broadcast's full 1.0 release on Steam, coming January 25th: bit.ly/WritingOnGames_NFB #sponsored #adWhen PR for developer NotGames' Not For Broadcast reached out to see if I would make a dedicated paid video on their game, I was sceptical for a number of reasons. That is, until I realised they basically wanted me to check out the game and create a normal video. Not simply promotion, no pressure to spin anything, complete freedom of opinion—not only does this speak to a real confidence they have in their game, it's fitting for a title whose outward wackiness cloaks a much more measured examination of the insidious nature of dystopia and governmental control than you might expect.I say all this because, after playing, there's a part of me that wishes I wasn't being paid so I didn't have to couch my genuine positive opinion in all this disclosure stuff. Take this with whatever grain of salt you have to. I strongly encourage you to seek out other coverage of the game as well, or hell, try out the free prologue for yourself. Either way, I was not expecting to love Not For Broadcast quite like I ended up doing. Let's talk about why.---Timestamps:0:00 - Intro/disclosure1:19 - Mechanical storytelling4:03 - Story and tone6:59 - The nature of dystopia9:24 - OutroIntro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames---It didn't feel right plugging the Patreon at the end of a video like this, but if you do want to support my other work you can do so here: http://patreon.com/writingongames
How Red Dead Redemption 2 Makes Loss Matter Writing on Games 2022-01-20 | 🕹 Browser games FTW! Play more than 500 original games on GXC, like Table Tanks: https://opr.as/WritingonGames-TableTanks Thanks to GXC for sponsoring this video!In revisiting Red Dead Redemption 2 recently, I found myself shocked at how little I was following the main plot this time around. Instead, I found myself spending hours and hours just wandering the plains of this open world—immersing myself in the most minor of side missions, the smallest of tasks, gleefully seeking out any minor encounter I could and loving every minute of it. The reason? The stakes in these scenarios was usually so much higher than anything found on the critical path—massive amounts of effort could amount to nothing—and this ended up speaking to the absurdist brutality of this world in a way that I found incredibly compelling. That is to say, in order to win, sometimes you've gotta lose.TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Sponsor1:03 - A Story of a Bear3:03 - Losing a Winning Mission5:14 - Subverting Open World Mission Design6:27 - The Absurdist Chaos of RDR2's World8:24 - Is RDR2 Frustrating?9:03 - Sometimes to Win, You've Gotta Lose10:57 - Outro/Thank you!---Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Raz's video on frustration in RDR2 - youtube.com/watch?v=xMNTNDRcQJIText intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Im tired of YouTube (update) Writing on Games 2022-01-15 | I never feel comfortable so blatantly asking for assistance like this, but if you enjoy my work, want to see it continue and keep it sustainable/healthy, please consider supporting the show at http://patreon.com/writingongames. Your generous support is what keeps this channel going. I will never be able to thank you enough for that.An update reflecting on some of the most fun I've had making a video in ages, how it highlighted to me just how exhausted I am with the platform and the surrounding nonsense one has to deal with to keep the lights on (namely sponsors), if there is a future in all of this, the unhealthiness of working seven days a week, and how you can help things continue.TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Intro1:59 - Why I'm tired of YouTube/sponsors4:55 - Is there a future in this?6:46 - My vision for the channel7:20 - What's in it for you!---If you don't feel like pledging to me, here are a few other creators you might want to check out and support financially: HeavyEyed: youtube.com/channel/UCutGiN7c5-CEFwm_ccixR3g patreon.com/heavyeyed In/Frame/Out: youtube.com/channel/UCJxAk5DKwJFwaFGT1BY2V5w patreon.com/inframeout Lambhoot: youtube.com/user/LambHootpatreon.com/LambHoot Liam Triforce: youtube.com/user/Darkmario1LPspatreon.com/liamtriforce minimme: youtube.com/channel/UCPIBtu2SBuW_VFHwKwDOtYg patreon.com/minimme eurothug4000:youtube.com/c/eurothug4000patreon.com/eurothug4000There are plenty of others of course and I couldn't possibly fit them all here, apologies to those I missed!
The Writing on Games Top Five Games of 2021 List Writing on Games 2021-12-31 | The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/writingongames12211Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesCheck out the podcast where we just posted 10 hours of our own GotY deliberations! http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Well, another year, another Game of the Year roundup. Found it pretty difficult to get excited about many big releases this year, but the ones that did speak to me, really spoke to me. So prepare for twists and turns aplenty as we dive into the Writing on Games Top Five Games of 2021 List!TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Intro3:49 - Game 57:05 - Game 410:20 - Game 314:49 - Game 2/Runner Up18:00 - Honourable Mentions22:30 - Game 1/Game of the Year27:02 - Outro---Text into
The weird game of this CHEESE DRUM KIT Writing on Games 2021-12-22 | Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A ---My channel normally focuses on video game design and narrative. Today though, I want to talk to you about Dutch drummer Han Bennink giving it his all on a kit made of cheese and how that's like Resident Evil 2, improvisers being made to turn against each other by avant-garde saxophonist John Zorn and people hitting blocks of wood for several minutes at the behest of minimalist juggernaut Steve Reich. What do these weird and wild events have in common? Well, let me take this time to explain why they are all games in their own right—and how one might go about creating a game out of performing music. Thank you for indulging me in this experiment—it's the most fun I've had writing a video in a long time. Hopefully that comes through for you watching. Watch the Han Bennink performance here - youtube.com/watch?v=JL9BrZ-zUpQTIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Intro1:42 - The cheese kits3:33 - Some personal context6:53 - Bennink's absurd power7:44 - The game10:20 - It's kinda like Resident Evil 2, in a way...?11:10 - Bennink plays the game14:55 - John Zorn, Cobra, and power17:22 - Steve Reich and Music for Pieces of Wood20:40 - Outro/conclusion---Thumbnail photo credit - Camilla Singh (http://www.camillasingh.com) Thumbnail by HotCyder - http://twitter.com/hotcyder Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
A Personal Examination of Metal Gear Solid 2 Writing on Games 2021-11-30 | Join the millions of gamers optimising their setup with the Opera GX browser. Throw resource-hungry browsers away, and click with confidence with Opera GX: https://mtchm.de/9yd77Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---THIS VIDEO CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR METAL GEAR SOLID 2: SONS OF LIBERTY.Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a terrifying game to write about. It's been torn apart and looked at from every conceivable angle since it released 20 years ago, and with good reason. That said, I've decided to put my anxieties regarding reaching some kind of "profundity" with this to one side. I'm treating this as a love letter to one of my top three all-time favourite games (even if most seem to suggest that MGS3: Snake Eater is superior). Let's dig into why MGS2 is my favourite Metal Gear Solid game! 0:00 - Sponsor1:12 - Sons of Liberty is My Favourite Metal Gear Solid Game4:53 - The Mechanical Comfort of MGS27:26 - A Distant, Disquieting Story11:33 - How MGS2 Shaped Me---Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
The Hidden Potential of PS5s DualSense Writing on Games 2021-11-24 | The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/writingongames11211Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---The current generation of consoles—marked by the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X in 2020—is less about what games you're playing, and more to do with how you play them. In PlayStation's case, it's all about the tech—the SSD, 3D Audio and the like—all designed to get you more deeply invested in any given experience. The true game changer, however, has ended up being none other than the controller, the DualSense. One year post release, let's examine some of the games released on the system (including Returnal, Ratchet and Clank, and even Death Stranding) to see how developers have utilised the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of the DualSense, what could be improved, and if the tech's potential to shift our view of entire genres of game will be realised in the future. 0:00 - Intro and Context5:00 - Astro's Playroom8:12 - Returnal12:30 - Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart15:12 - Re-releases and Ghost of Tsushima20:50 - Death Stranding Director's Cut25:16 - Third parties26:22 - Demon's Souls Remake27:49 - Spider-Man Miles Morales30:09 - Hell Let Loose32:24 - Conclusions---For disclosure, Sony sent me a PS5 at launch back in November 2020. They then decided to send me two further DualSense controllers a few months later and a Pulse3D headset a few weeks ago. My policy with anything like this, whether it's hardware or a review code, remains the same—I do not feel in any way entitled to it, nor do I care if a company decides not to send me anything else in the future if they dislike my coverage. I don't let that cloud my judgment of something I'm covering. If my honesty covering something results in losing future access to a company's releases, so be it. With that said, Sony had zero influence in this video—this is not an ad. I just figured that given the high price and disappointing scarcity of some of this gear, you should absolutely bear in mind that I did not have to pay for it.---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgamesThis video is sponsored by Skillshare
Guardians of the Galaxy Disappointed Me (and Why Thats Fine) Writing on Games 2021-10-30 | The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/writingongames10211Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---The moment the embargo dropped for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and those 8s and 9s started rolling in, calling it the game Avengers should have been, my stomach dropped—my experience with the game was nowhere near as positive as that. Let's talk about why that was, why that's fine, as well as discuss the weird critical landscape games exist in, where going against popular opinion becomes such a nerve-racking prospect.Review code for Guardians of the Galaxy provided by Square Enix.0:00 - The Anxieties of Reviewing Popular Stuff1:43 - ...I Didn't Like Guardians of the Galaxy3:35 - Structural Issues4:11 - Combat5:42 - The Rest of the Gameplay7:34 - My Issues with Story and Characters12:08 - Does Guardians of the Galaxy Fix Avengers?12:52 - Conclusion/Critical Context---Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames---A Different View of Guardians of the Galaxy (Review)
The Weird Atmosphere of Twelve Minutes and Road 96 Writing on Games 2021-09-30 | The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/writingongames09211Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Review code for Road 96 provided by publisher PR. I've been playing Twelve Minutes and Road 96 lately, and both are incredibly odd. Road 96's stilted, robotic voice acting left me genuinely surprised it wasn't hastily stitched together by some AI, which should have left it in the dust of Twelve Minutes' Hollywood vocal talents of Willem Dafoe, James McAvoy and Daisy Ridley. But for some reason, I found the chaotic, less coherent atmosphere of Road 96 more compelling than 12 Minutes' rigidly trying to control everything as a director of a Hollywood film might. In this review/analysis/critique, let's talk about why atmosphere in games is such a different beast than in other media, and why nailing it is more complicated than you might think. #twelveminutes #road96---Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
A Review of Lost Judgment (PS5) Writing on Games 2021-09-16 | Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Spoiler-free. Review code provided by Sega PR. PS5 unit provided by Sony. Lost Judgment is the sequel to my favourite game of 2019—continuing the spin-off of the Yakuza franchise—and on the surface it may seem like a distinct improvement in almost every way to the original. And while its main narrative hits some stumbling blocks that just keep it from quite reaching those lofty highs of the original Judgment, fumbling some of its more delicate subject matter, the heart of the game still shines through.---Text intro animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames#lostjudgment #yakuza
A Personal Reflection on No Mans Sky, Five Years Later Writing on Games 2021-09-05 | Thanks to Core for sponsoring this video - Download Core to play and create PC games for FREE at bit.ly/Core-WoGSupport the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---It's hard to believe that No Man's Sky came out over half-a-decade ago now. After playing through the game multiple times, I thought I was done after my last video back in 2018. To mark the game's five year anniversary, however, I stepped back in for one more trip to the galactic core, and was very pleasantly surprised by what I found. In this retrospective critique/analysis, I discuss the frustrations I had had with the game up to this point, as well as the technical and artistic changes made to the game over numerous updates that have turned me into a full-blown fan of the game. No Man's Sky, after five long years, makes sense to me now. Thank you Hello Games for your dedication to such a special title.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro4:39 - My Frustrations Up to This Point9:39 - No Man's Sky is Really Good Now16:01 - The Real Game Changer is VR19:36 - The Metanarrative23:42 - Why No Man's Sky Makes Sense to Me Now33:00 - Conclusion/My Own Shortcomings#nomanssky #hellogames #frontiers---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgamesThe thumbnail for this video was inspired by/intended as tribute to the incredible mock-ups of retro-futurist paperback that circulated around the game's launch. I always had in my head that they were official art, but after making the thumbnail and trying to find the source for the paperback art, I found that they were actually fan-made! I'm not sure how to reach ichtyander, but I just wanted to thank them for making such cool, inspirational art, and apologise for unintentionally stepping on any toes. pushsquare.com/news/2016/07/these_alternate_no_mans_sky_ps4_covers_look_just_like_classic_sci-fi_booksAlso, if you want a truly amazing video about No Man's Sky, Noah Caldwell-Gervais' piece released a few years back remains the definitive piece about the game as I see it - youtube.com/watch?v=o0LJdhXr7L0
The State of Trackmania Writing on Games 2021-08-07 | The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/writingongames08211Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---This one takes a look at Trackmania 2020—a game I described last year as having all the potential to be the most successful racing game on the planet, that unfortunately keeps bumping up against some truly baffling business decisions. One year on, and the way this game has evolved has only complicated my views on it.---Text intro animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
What Makes DESCENDERS So Exhilarating? Writing on Games 2021-07-28 | The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/writingongames07211Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---This video takes a look at Descenders—a curious little title that I tried out on Game Pass on a whim. I'm so glad I did, because Descenders is quickly becoming a new favourite of mine that I'd highly recommend you try out if you have access to Microsoft's subscription platform. A delightfully pure mechanical core allowing for a procedural-but-structured experience that allows you to take things on your own terms; simultaneously deeply relaxing and utterly terrifying in its sheer speed. ---Text intro animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Examining Googles Anime Olympics Doodle Game (Champion Island) Writing on Games 2021-07-25 | Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---It's rare that I pay much attention to Google Doodles—the little panels that appear on the site's homepage to coincide with some event or anniversary. However, lining up with the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the site released a full blown game with several sport-adjacent minigames to try out and a full world to explore, topped off with gorgeous anime cutscenes from Studio 4°C that at least got me curious enough to check out the full thing. Let's analyse and discuss the games available, their novel use of Japanese folklore and their function as an advert for the larger Olympics!PLAY THE DOODLE - google.com/doodles/doodle-champion-island-games-july-24---Text intro animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Lego Builders Journey: An Unsung Visual Masterpiece Writing on Games 2021-07-01 | Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---In this review/analysis of Lego Builder's Journey (recently ported to PC and Nintendo Switch from Apple Arcade and perhaps the best looking game I've ever played) I discuss how it captures the joy of creativity and imagination I so closely associate with the toy from my youth, in a way that no other game bearing the brand name has been able to achieve... even if it does have its share of problems.This video just missed the 6 year anniversary of the channel—wild to think it's been that long. Thank you so much for your continued support over the years!---Thumbnail art by hotcyder - twitter.com/HotCyderyoutube.com/channel/UC_r8gFeezEBZVnazvbv75pQIntro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
E3 2021: The Strangest Year Yet Writing on Games 2021-06-26 | The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/writingongames06211Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---E3 2021 has been and gone, and in many ways it was weirder than ever! Let's discuss the press conferences of 2021's all-digital event, and why the weirdness was less in the meme-worthy moments of previous years, and more baked into the show's foundations. Further, let's talk about why, of all the big game reveals and release dates talked about during the conference, the show I enjoyed most of E3 2021 was none other than... wait, Intellivision?!Also, I became aware after this was uploaded that, when mentioning the Amico console, I call it the "Amica" a couple of times for some reason—sorry! ---Text intro animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
How Resident Evil Villages Scariest Level Works Writing on Games 2021-05-29 | The first 1000 people to use the link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: http://skl.sh/writingongames05211Resident Evil Village (or 8 I guess) is a grand, theatrical rollercoaster of scares, which makes it odd that its most memorable sequence is so comparatively understated, at least initially. House Beneviento is arguably one of the most terrifying levels I've ever played in a video game—in this analysis, lets break down how its visuals, sound design, mechanics and timing all contribute to making this dollhouse of horrors as unsettling as it is. Spoilers for House Beneviento—no other major story spoilers.PS5 code provided by Capcom. I also bought the PC version.---Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Here's a link to the excellent video I mentioned by Ben Plays Games, which I stumbled upon while editing this video - youtube.com/watch?v=BcIrXVDPczwText intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Analysing Every Mission from Hitman 3 Writing on Games 2021-05-20 | Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/games - Enter promo code GAMES for 83% off and 3 extra months for FREE!After months of requests, it's finally here—my in-depth analysis of every level/mission from Hitman 3 (2021), the thrilling conclusion of IO Interactive's World of Assassination trilogy. I go deep on each location's design, secrets and yes, the story (full spoilers). This is yet another big one—strap in. INTRO - 0:00DUBAI - 8:36DARTMOOR - 15:45BERLIN - 22:38CHONGQING - 31:33MENDOZA - 37:27CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS - 42:04STORY - 44:39---Link to the other videos in this series! bit.ly/3ALu1t7Support the show on Patreon for completely ad-free uploads - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Intro text animation by Draz - http://twitter.com/drazgames
A Critical Examination of Oddworld: Soulstorm Writing on Games 2021-05-05 | Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesIt's been a while since a game left me as conflicted as Oddworld: Soulstorm. With feelings ranging from intrigue and fascination to frustration and confusion, making me question my preconceived notions about an entire series and genre, I guess I just have to talk you through this journey to make sense of it myself. Strap in folks, this is going to be a long one.---Podcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastTwitch - http://twitch.tv/writingongamesSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Ars Technica interview with Lorne Lanning (three genuinely fascinating hours) - youtube.com/watch?v=BNgPNeCVo30---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
NieR Replicants New Secret is Truly Special (SPOILER/ENDING E ANALYSIS) Writing on Games 2021-04-29 | The first 1000 people to use the link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: https://skl.sh/writingongames04211---MAJOR SPOILERS for both NieR Replicant Ver.1.22474487139 and NieR: Automata ahead. You have been warned!When NieR Replicant Ver.1.22474487139... was announced last year, I don't think anyone could have foreseen that this rerelease of a decade-old cult classic would receive something as substantial as a whole new playable ending—especially not one as good as this. Let's take a look at how, through tying the events of the new Ending E so closely to the game's sequel, Automata, series creator Yoko Taro forces us to re-examine features and mechanics of this universe we previously thought to be true. In doing so, he creates what feels like the thematic conclusion of the entire series. Thank you to Square Enix PR for providing early review code!---Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastTwitch - http://twitch.tv/writingongamesSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgamesDrakengard footage from Game Archive - youtube.com/watch?v=6OPW-RdzStA
The Hidden Game Within Microsoft Flight Simulator Writing on Games 2021-03-30 | The first 1000 people to use the link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: https://skl.sh/writingongames03211 Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, played as intended, is absolutely fantastic—its 1:1 recreation of earth is a technical masterwork. That said, I was interested in actually exploring that world beneath its beautiful cloud formations—what I found was absolutely not what I expected. Here's the story of how I accidentally managed to turn Flight Simulator into a walking sim—how a seemingly simple shift in perspective led me on one of the wildest journeys I've had with a game in some time, uncovering things about Flight Simulator that I never thought I'd find. It also got me thinking about intended play, game preservation, speedrunning and, well... my own place in the universe.---Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesTwitch Channel - http://twitch.tv/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---The House on Blue Lick Road (Andy Baio, Waxy) - waxy.org/2020/10/the-house-on-blue-lick-roadPolice discover thousands of stolen items in former church (Ann Bowdan, WLKY) - wlky.com/article/police-discover-thousands-of-stolen-items-in-former-church/3752641DOOM speedrun footage from Games Done Quick - youtube.com/watch?v=T4j9RSNbssUyoutube.com/watch?v=ZDU7Lu6bbkEDeveloper interview footage from Noclip - youtube.com/watch?v=0w7q1ZFfsxs---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgamesThis video was sponsored by Skillshare
The Best Call of Duty Campaign No One Expected Writing on Games 2021-03-03 | Potential light spoilers for Black Ops Cold War and Modern Warfare (2019). Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---I went into the absurdly titled Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War with low expectations. Not only was 2019's reboot of Modern Warfare ultimately pretty forgettable but the talk I'd seen surrounding 2020's game was lukewarm at best. I certainly did not expect, then, to come away from Cold War thinking it was by far the most tightly-paced, varied and fun CoD campaign I've ever played. As a result, it also ends up becoming, however unintentionally, a far more convincing portrayal of the evils of conflict than its self-serious predecessor ever could. There's perhaps more to Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War than you might think.---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
An Analysis of Yakuza: Like a Dragon Writing on Games 2021-02-23 | The first 1000 people to use the link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: https://skl.sh/writingongames02211Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---I tend to bounce off of JRPGs for a number of reasons, so by all accounts I shouldn't adore Yakuza: Like a Dragon as much as I do. In this piece I break down why the shift from brawler to JRPG works so well, why new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga ends up so damn loveable, and why the genre might be the most effective means of presenting the game's themes of kinship, forgiveness and solidarity against a hypocritical and unfair society.Review code was provided at launch by SEGA PR.---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
Dishonored in 2021 is a Different Kind of Grim Writing on Games 2021-01-29 | The first 1000 people to use the link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: https://skl.sh/writingongames01211Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Dishonored (2012) by Arkane and Bethesda already makes walking its streets of Dunwall a pretty grim (if beautiful) experience, but despite still being a ton of fun mechanically, playing it in 2021 adds a whole other level of darkness to proceedings. ---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
The Writing on Games Top Five Games of 2020 List Writing on Games 2021-01-11 | 2020 has been rough in so, so many ways, but actually ended up being one of the more interesting years in gaming since I started this channel. Let's say goodbye to last year by listing out the best games of 2020 (with some honourable mentions thrown in for good measure)!---PlayStation 5 provided by Sony. Review copies for Game 5, Game 2 and Honourable Mentions 2, 3 and 5 provided by respective publishers.---Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast (including our separate 12-hour GotY deliberations!) - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Channels shouted out at the end:Games & Culture - youtube.com/channel/UCyJMscGeNMz-iCU8QqcQccwIn/Frame/Out - youtube.com/channel/UCJxAk5DKwJFwaFGT1BY2V5wFrameWork - youtube.com/channel/UCFvkUH06pQYxzt-VbBM0JAwLeonardo Da Sidci - youtube.com/channel/UCujjLOPLW92zVBlhaL8wxPgThorHighHeels - youtube.com/user/ThorHighHeelsAction Button - youtube.com/user/ActionButtonDotComLambHoot - youtube.com/user/LambHoot---TIMESTAMPS:Game 5 - 4:18Game 4 - 6:28Game 3 - 8:51Runner-up - 13:27Honourable Mentions - 16:48Game of the Year 2020 - 21:37---Text intro animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
How One Optional Quest Made Me Defend Cyberpunk 2077 (Mission Breakdown) Writing on Games 2020-12-23 | Spoilers for the side quest "Chippin' In" and related optional quests. Cyberpunk 2077 is kind of a mess. It's been on the receiving end of the internet's ire since its shambolic release—even on my beefy PC, the bugs and glitches put recent Fallout titles to shame, with developer CD Projekt Red's shenanigans with console review code just the cherry on top of this whole affair. People are rightly angry—and I still kinda had a blast with it. Breaking down one side mission in particular, I want to exemplify that while CDPR's business side might be in a turbulent state right now, the developers have lost none of the spark that made the side missions in The Witcher 3 so legendary.Review code was sent to me on launch day, but I'd already bought the game by that point and with CDPR's review tomfoolery, I figured I'd rather not accept it. Basically my money was on the line here.---Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesCheck out our bumper eleven-hour Game of the Year deliberations on the Writing on GamesCast! http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Text intro by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgames
A Personal Examination of Demons Souls (PS5) Writing on Games 2020-12-11 | The first 1000 people to use the link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: https://skl.sh/writingongames12201Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesCheck out the Writing on GamesCast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Bluepoint's remake of Demon's Souls on PS5 is, much like the decay and sorrow hanging over its world of Boletaria, a melancholic indicator of just how much time has passed since 2009, how dramatically the world of games has shifted in that period, and how the Souls series has become such a driving force of that change—and it all amounts to a truly staggering experience.PlayStation 5 and review copy provided by Sony.---Intro text animation by Isaac Holland - http://twitter.com/drazgamesThis video was sponsored by Skillshare
Why Astros Playroom (PS5) Is So Special Writing on Games 2020-11-24 | The first 1000 people to use the link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: https://skl.sh/writingongames11201Astro's Playroom is a joyously sincere celebration of all things PlayStation, with an oddly melancholic but comforting heart.---Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---PS5 and review copies provided by PlayStation.Astro's Playroom may not look like much on the surface—it's a fairly standard 3D platformer designed as a tech demo for the PlayStation 5's new DualSense controller. That said, despite enjoying my time with other next gen titles like Demon's Souls and Spider-Man Miles Morales, I've been utterly blown away by the joy, excitement and, oddly, melancholic nostalgia of this incredibly charming experience—fully convincing me of the power of the PS5's new features, as well as allowing me to reflect on the games of my youth and the people I played them with in a way I did not expect.---Intro text animation by Draz - http://twitter.com/drazgamesThis video was sponsored by Skillshare
Watch Dogs Legion: The Problem With Playing Anyone Writing on Games 2020-11-13 | Special Cyber deal! Go to https://NordVPN.com/writing and use code WRITING to get 68% off a 2 year plan plus 1 additional month free AND a surprise gift. It’s risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee!Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Review code provided by publisher.Watch Dogs Legion's most unique feature is arguably also the source of most of its problems. The much-touted recruitment feature, whereby you can recruit any NPC to the Dedsec cause as a playable character, should tie together every aspect of Legion's story and gameplay, but in actuality ends up doing the complete opposite thanks to its awkward implementation—shining a light on the most significant issues of both and, unwittingly, creating perhaps the most dystopian method of "fighting the power" I could possibly think of.---Text intro by Draz - http://twitter.com/drazgamesMore information about NordVPN youtube.com/nordvpn
How VR Transforms Star Wars: Squadrons (and Vice Versa) Writing on Games 2020-10-29 | Support the show on Patreon - http://patreon.com/writingongamesPodcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescastSecond Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A---Star Wars: Squadrons is a perfectly competent dogfighter on its own, that thanks to VR on my Oculus Quest via Link, has had me playing the campaign for weeks where most take hours. In this video I discuss how, despite its uneven nature, Squadrons' VR component has shown me some important things about how virtual reality might fit into people's gaming lives in the future—how it might not be an everyday thing for most, but that might make the experiences found on the platform vastly more meaningful. VR completely transforms how you play Star Wars: Squadrons—will Squadrons transform how we view VR?---Text intro by Draz - http://twitter.com/drazgames
