How Does the Blair Witch Game Compare to the Movies? [SPOILERS] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2019-11-01 | This is a video critique of the 2019 Blair Witch game. It looks at how it interacts with and draws from the trilogy of movies that came before it, and what the Blair Witch aesthetic might be all about. Full spoilers for all movies and the game itself. ========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Souls Inheritors: Bloodborne vs. Sekiro vs. Elden Ring [Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2022-06-29 | This is a comprehensive video retrospective and critique of the three follow-up games From Software did in the wake of their iconic Dark Souls trilogy-- Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring. It looks at each game through the lens of both how they construct their unique artistic identities and how they all connect back through the legacy of their inherited systems. FULL SPOILERS FOR ALL GAMES. This video made with production assistance from Nate Greene.___Table of Contents____Intro-- 00:00Bloodborne-- 00:15Sekiro-- 1:23:49Elden Ring-- 2:41:17Special Thanks-- 4:18:17========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
I Beat the Dark Souls Trilogy and All I Made Was This Lousy Video Essay Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2022-04-03 | This is a full spoilers critique and exploration of my quest to make it through all three of Dark Souls action role-playing games. The video focuses on how much more open, free, and fun these games are than I was led to believe based on everything I ever heard of 'Git Gud'. Over the course of five hours, the video tries to figure out how the games support or detract from one another, the ways they're connected, and how a clumsy fool like me can find not only victory but comfort in their strange, sad little worlds. This video made with production assistance from Nate Greene.___Table of Contents___Dark Souls 1 Remastered-- 00:40Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin-- 1:42:14DS2 Sunken Crown DLC-- 2:13:20DS2 Iron Crown DLC-- 2:33:15DS2 Ivory Crown DLC-- 2:45:42Dark Souls 3-- 3:05:05DS3 Ashes of Ariandel-- 4:00:14DS3 The Ringed City-- 4:10:08========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Gears Through the Years: A Gears of War Campaign Retrospective Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2022-01-01 | This is a video retrospective and critique of the Gears of War franchise, from its initial trilogy on the Xbox 360 to the latest DLC for Gears 5. The video tries to use a lot of fancy words to get to heart of why these straightforward and simple games are so creatively fascinating. Spoilers throughout.___Table of Contents___00:00 Intro00:14 Gears of War 1 (Ultimate Edition)30:17 Gears of War 252:02 Gears of War 31:14:37 Raam's Shadow1:21:33 Gears of War: Judgement1:39:33 Gears of War 42:11:30 Gears of War 52:45:41 Gears Tactics3:06:35 Hivebusters3:20:23 Patreon ThanksThis video made with production assistance from Nate Greene.========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Automotive Fantasyland: What Makes Forza Horizon 5 So Compelling? Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2021-12-01 | This is a video essay ruminating on why Forza Horizon 5 resonated with me so much, and speculates about how some of those things might have led to it being XBox Game Studio's biggest hit of 2021. This video made with production assistance from Nate Greene.========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
A Thorough Look At Resident Evil Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2021-08-09 | This is a video retrospective and critique of 18 different Resident Evil games and their DLCs, covering a span of twenty five years of game development. It tries to track the peaks and valleys of their triumphs and disappointments, through mainline and spinoff titles both. Full spoilers throughout._______TABLE OF CONTENTS______Intro-- 00:00Resident Evil 1-- 03:52Resident Evil 2-- 21:57Resident Evil 3: Nemesis-- 42:20Reisdent Evil: Code Veronica-- 1:02:09Resident Evil: Survivor-- 1:22:28Resident Evil (2002)-- 1:30:11Resident Evil 0-- 1:45:38Resident Evil: Outbreak-- 2:03:53Resident Evil: Outbreak File #2-- 2:16:07Resident Evil 4-- 2:23:11RE4: Seperate Ways-- 2:50:43Resident Evil 5-- 2:55:21RE5: Desperate Escape / Paul W.S. Anderson Movies-- 3:28:08RE5: Lost in Nightmares-- 3:32:03Resident Evil: Revelations-- 3:35:24Resident Evil 6-- 3:52:43Resident Evil: Revelations 2-- 4:32:19REV2: The Struggle-- 5:00:38REV2: Little Miss-- 5:04:49Resident Evil 7: Biohazard-- 5:10:36RE7: Not A Hero-- 5:41:34RE7: Banned Footage (21/Bedroom/Daughters)-- 5:45:39RE7: End of Zoe-- 5:51:10Resident Evil 2 (2019)-- 5:54:59Resident Evil 3 (2020)-- 6:16:38Resident Evil 8: Village-- 6:36:18Credits / Special Thanks-- 7:13:37========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 1 & 2 Vs. Joseph Campbell Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2021-05-04 | This is a focused retrospective and critique of both of the older Knights of the Old Republic CRPGs from Bioware and Obsidian. It looks to how they interface with the Monomyth template as originally laid down in 1949 by Joseph Campbell in The Hero With a Thousand Faces, one game conforming exactly to it and the next game violently rejecting the entire premise. It also discusses how Campbell's monomyth influenced the philosophies of the Jedi and Sith more than George Lucas might care to admit. Spoilers throughout. Knights of the Old Republic 1-- 00:15Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords-- 1:01:12========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
A Thorough Look at Star Wars: Dark Forces / Jedi Knight Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2021-04-26 | This is a video retrospective and critique about the five games of the Dark Forces / Jedi Knight series, released from 1995-2003. It looks at them as part of the broader legacy of the now-defunct Legends timeline, trying to hold on to what's meaningful about them in a time when Star Wars is so much more polished than it used to be. Spoilers throughout.___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Intro-- 00:00Star Wars: Dark Forces-- 00:42Star Wars: Dark Forces: Jedi Knight-- 18:47Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith-- 40:26Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Outcast-- 58:03Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy-- 1:22:30========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
2021 Patreon Update: Future Plans, Where Does the Money Go, An Enormous Bird Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2021-03-06 | This is an update to try and explain where the channel is going this next year as I prepare for a new slate of travel content involving a new vehicle.If you're interested in learning the Lincoln Highway route in advance, the planning tool I'm using to create my guide is this: lincolnhighwayassoc.org/map/. I'm hewing to the original 1918 route as much as possible, which is marked in blue.
What Kind Of Game Did Cyberpunk 2077 Turn Out To Be, Anyway? [SPOILERS] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2021-03-06 | This is a video review and critique of Cyberpunk 2077, one of the most infamous flops of recent years. A lot of what went into it flopping that way was impossible or misguided expectations of what the game actually was, what areas it would creatively focus on and even what genre it was. This video analysis attempts to see the game for what it is, good and bad, warts and all. Spoilers throughout including every individual ending.
A Thorough Look At Half-Life [Revised/Expanded/HD] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2021-01-31 | This is a full spoiler retrospective video review and critique of the industry-defining Half-Life franchise of games. It looks at the arc of development from 1998-2020 that took Gordon Freeman from the popularizer of mouselook to the herald of virtual reality. It also covers Half-Life associated and adjacent games, like Portal 1 and 2, Source Multiplayer titles, and some iconic single-player mods. This is a remake of a video I'd done in 2013. That video has now been delisted in favor of this updated, tidier edition. A link to it has been provided below for anyone still curious, as well as download links for mods. Again, spoilers throughout._______TABLE OF CONTENTS_______Half-Life-- 00:18Opposing Force-- 16:57Blue Shift-- 21:50Decay-- 25:43GoldSrc Multiplayer Mods-- 27:39They Hunger-- 29:50Half-Life 2-- 32:43Episode 1-- 54:41Episode 2-- 59:29Portal-- 1:06:56Source Multiplayer Mods-- 1:12:02MINERVA: METASTASIS-- 1:16:29Portal 2-- 1:18:30Black Mesa-- 1:28:52Long Time to Wait/Lost Coast-- 1:39:09Half-Life Alyx-- 1:41:01Credits/Special Thanks-- 2:09:12_______Changes From 2013 to 2020 Version_______-Edited the whole script for clarity, cohesion, and substance. Kept about 40%. Replaced a lot of the rest.-Added some extra paragraphs where I'd plain forgotten to put them before.-Added a section on Decay.-Did a Half-Life universe focused segment on Portal 2 from scratch.-Expanded the Black Mesa section.-Added a full-spoilers Half-Life Alyx section.-Slightly retooled the old Lost Coast transition paragraph but kept it, mostly.-Much greater clip density throughout.-New voice work.-Just tried to make it better. Make it, you know, less garbage to watch._______LINKS_______ They Hunger Mod for Half-Life 1:moddb.com/downloads/they-hunger-1-2-and-3Timeline Trilogy Mod for Half-Life 1:moddb.com/mods/timeline-series/downloads/timeline-complete-steam-compatibleMINERVA for Half-Life 2:store.steampowered.com/app/235780/MINERVAOriginal 2013 Version of This Video:youtube.com/watch?v=Ih1Q2DasYTQ========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
A Thorough Look At Watch Dogs Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2020-12-31 | This is a video critique and analysis of the Watch Dogs trilogy of open-world hacking-focused GTA-alikes. It looks at the how the extreme tonal changes each game goes through clash with its lack of interest in changing its mechanical structure from game to game. Spoilers throughout.____TABLE OF CONTENTS____Watch Dogs 1-- 00:13Bad Blood-- 32:10 Watch Dogs 2-- 35:38Watch Dogs Legion-- 1:06:21========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Judicial Opinions: What Makes Disco Elysium a Modern Classic? [Full Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2020-11-01 | This is a full-spoiler review, analysis, and critique of ZA/UM's triumphant and unforgettable experimental role-playing game Disco Elysium. It looks at what makes the game so unique and memorable while engaging with its politics and themes. Content warning for a discussion of suicide.___Articles Referenced___gamesradar.com/the-making-of-disco-elysium-how-zaum-created-one-of-the-most-original-rpgs-of-the-decadevice.com/en/article/7kpjzq/disco-elysium-was-too-afraid-of-sincerity-to-be-revolutionary========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Notes From Along Kentucky Route Zero [Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2020-09-09 | This is a video review and critique of Cardboard Computer's groundbreaking work of surrealist Americana, Kentucky Route Zero. It attempts to describe a game that makes a herculean effort to thwart description. To do so, I try to go through some of the main themes and artisitic methodologies present in the work and try to argue that even the weirdest things in this game deserve to be there. Maybe especially the weirdest things. Spoilers throughout.========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Revisiting Tom Clancys Ghost Recon Wildlands Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2020-07-04 | This is a lengthy deconstruction and critique of Wildlands, one of the most ambitious, beautiful, and deeply flawed games I've ever played. It contrasts the game's technical skill with its narrative shortcomings and includes the two major DLCs, Fallen Ghosts and Cartel Road, along with all the major post-release missions now that the game is no longer being currently supported.___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Wildlands Base Game-- 00:16Fallen Ghosts-- 52:43Cartel Road-- 59:26========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
How Does The Last of Us Part 2 Compare to the Last of Us Remastered? [Total Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2020-06-28 | This is a video critique, analysis, and review of the entire Last of Us series from Naughty Dog. It goes through each game to look at how the character work and worldbuilding done in Part 1 is woven into its sequel and how The Last of Us Part 2 creatively diverges from the original in many fascinating ways. There are total spoilers for all games and the majority of plot moments in them. Includes Left Behind.___TABLE OF CONTENTS___The Last of Us Part 1-- 00:15Left Behind-- 48:41The Last of Us Part 2-- 58:45========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
How Does Doom: Eternal Compare to Previous Dooms? (Feat. Doom 64) Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2020-04-02 | This is a full spoiler critique and review of Doom: Eternal, a soft remake of Doom 2 with more guts and guns than the '90s title dreamt of. It looks at how Doom: Eternal fits in with the rest of the franchise and the games landscape at large. Also features a full review of Doom 64.Doom Eternal-- 00:14Doom 64-- 48:20========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Elements of CONTROL [Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2020-03-15 | This is a video review and critique of CONTROL, a mind-bending third person action title from Remedy. It looks deep into the uniquely strange vibe of CONTROL's world, along with its uncanny similarities to Max Payne and F.E.A.R. Spoilers Throughout.========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
How Does Wolfenstein: Youngblood Compare to Previous Wolfensteins? [Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2020-03-13 | This is a video review and critique of Wolfenstein: Youngblood, a co-op spin-off from the main trilogy of modern Wolfensteins. It tries to look at whether it's gained more than it's lost when by pivoting from a linear, story-driven shooter to a nonlinear casual shooter with a social emphasis or whether that shift drags it all down. Spoilers throughout.========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
The Outer Worlds in Close Critique [Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2020-03-12 | This is a full-spoiler critique of the Outer Worlds, a dark corporate satire wrapped up in a bright RPG package. It looks at the contrast between how the world treats its characters and how the world treats its players, as well as asking how different the game is from Fallout 76 anyway.========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Trying to Untangle Death Stranding [Full Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2020-01-31 | This is a video critique of Kojima Production's first major release, Death Stranding. It looks at the strange creative choices the game makes and tries to consider what they mean and how they might've come about. It ties Death Stranding into a number of other pieces of media in different genres with which it resonates. If you want an analysis or a full-spoiler review, this is your video.========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Home, Home on the Console: From Red Dead Revolver to Red Dead Redemption 2 Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2019-11-10 | This is a video critique and analysis of all three of Rockstar's Red Dead games, along with GUN by Neversoft. It looks at the evolution of the video game western and tries to place these games in context with other Western media that inspired and surrounded them. It looks at them thematically, mechanically, and with a particular eye for what makes them special as a Western. SPOILERS THROUGHOUT.Also, here's that link to the Red Dead Revolver history I found so helpful: polygon.com/2018/10/17/17986118/how-the-red-dead-franchise-began-angel-studios-capcom-rockstar_____TABLE OF CONTENTS____Red Dead Revolver-- 0:04:48GUN-- 00:23:13Red Dead Redemption-- 0:50:48Undead Nightmare-- 1:30:27Red Dead Redemption 2-- 1:41:56========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
A Thorough Look At God of War [Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2019-10-03 | This is a video retrospective and critique of the seven major God of War games for Playstations 2-4. It looks at what made them so remarkable at the time, how much of that feeling still comes through, and how the 2018 reboot fits in with their legacy. TOTAL SPOILERS THROUGHOUT.______TABLE OF CONTENTS______God of War (2005)-- 0:20God of War 2-- 28:55Chains of Olympus-- 46:52God of War 3-- 57:05Ghost of Sparta-- 1:25:20Ascension-- 1:37:28God of War (2018)-- 1:51:19========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Manic Pixie Dream Worlds: A Critique of American McGees Alice Games Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2019-08-04 | This is a video critique and retrospective of American McGee's platformer adaptations of Alice in Wonderland. It looks at how they deliberately diverged from the Quake aesthetic while still using the Quake engine, and how Alice's perspective shapes the game world. It goes in-depth trying to examine how this off pairing of artist and subject brought out some of the best of both of them and how the sequel fared in living up to it. American McGee's Alice--Alice: Madness Returns--========================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Monster Mash Horizon: Zero Dawn vs. Days Gone Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2019-08-04 | This is a comparative video critique of Guerilla Game's Horizon Zero Dawn and its Frozen Wilds expansion with Sony of Bend's Days Gone. They're both PS4 exclusive open world titles that are, on a surface level, extremely similar but on closer examination show themselves to be diagonally opposite games. What elements allow them to achieve such difference in such similar formats? SPOILERS THROUGHOUT.Horizon Zero Dawn-- 00:18Days Gone-- 37:51============================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Atomic Pilgrimage: Ghost Towns, Nuclear Relics, and Lost Civilizations on the Road to Trinity Site Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2019-06-07 | This is a video travelogue about a 40-day, 40-night road trip to the Trinity Site, where the first atomic bomb in history was detonated in the summer of 1945. It goes much farther than that, covering many other atomic destinations and driving deep into the natural and social history of the American southwest. If you'd like to see a simulated nuclear missile launch, a forest of stone pillars, Oregon's only geyser, and a 60-foot tall neon cowboy all in the same video, this would likely be your jam. The trip was done over 6500 miles in a 1973 Volkswagen bus in the spring of 2019. ___TABLE OF CONTENTS___1) Cold Open-- 0:202) Cattle Crossing-- 6:473) Berlin/Ichthyosaur-- 9:444) Stokes Castle-- 14:015) Legacy of the Pyramid War-- 17:176) All-American Concentration Camp-- 21:007) Doomsday Weapons-- 27:058) The Quest for Project Gasbuggy-- 31:209) Simulated Armageddon-- 37:5110) Casa Grande & Cochise's Resting Place-- 43:2511) The Town Too Famous to Die-- 49:1112) Wonderland of Rocks-- 53:4413) Border War-- 56:3114) Trinity Site-- 1:01:4815) Across the Malpais-- 1:06:5416) Lost City of Chaco Canyon-- 1:10:3017) Battle for Bear's Ears-- 1:20:4918) Parowan Gap-- 1:26:4219) Wendover's Leftovers-- 1:31:2320) Getting Bombed in Atomic City-- 1:36:4221) Dog Birthday-- 1:45:4722) Hanford Nuclear Reservation-- 1:49:43============================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
The Real Life Landscapes of Fallout 1, Fallout 2, and Fallout: New Vegas Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2019-05-03 | This is an experimental travel project where I tried to follow in real life the maps and landscapes I'd digitally journeyed down in the original Fallout games and New Vegas. The video follows the games more than it follows my linear journey across the landscape. Where no geographic equivalent to a location could be found, I tried to find a spiritual equivalent. When I couldn't do either I typically left it out.This represents my best possible attempt to find the intersection of fact and fiction in the Fallout universe. ___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Introduction-- 0:20Fallout 1-- 3:26Fallout 2-- 27:54Fallout: New Vegas-- 46:59============================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus in Close Critique [Full Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2019-02-11 | This is a video critique and analysis of Wolfenstein 2, an ambitious, messy, and in the end quite unique shooter from MachineGames. The video looks how BJ Blaskowicz anchors together a wide array of divergent tonal moods and design ideas. It also covers the three 'Freedom Chronicles' DLCs. Spoilers throughout.___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Main Campaign--Adventures of Gunslinger Joe--Diary of the SIlent Death--Deeds of Captain Wilkins--
A Thorough Look at Dead Space Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2019-02-10 | This is a video retrospective and critique of the Dead Space trilogy, developed by Visceral and published by EA. It looks at how each game approaches its genre different, and how entirely divergent game experiences can come from the same well of themes and images. Spoilers throughout.___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Dead Space 1-- 00:16Dead Space 2-- 26:49Dead Space 3-- 58:11Dead Space 3 Awakened-- 1:29:39======If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Whats Been Going On With Far Cry 5s DLC? Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2019-02-09 | This is a video review and critique of Far Cry 5's DLC. It tries to puzzle out how they came to be, what they have to do with the rest of the franchise, and if they're a memorable way to spend time.
How Does Fallout 76 Compare to Previous Fallouts? [Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2018-12-10 | This is a video critique of Bethesda's Fallout 76, an experimental multiplayer spin-off for the franchise. It looks at how this unusual game is rooted in choices Bethesda has been making since Fallout 3, and the ways it's interactive with the Fallout legacy even further back. It spoils much of what plot there is in the game. ======If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
A Thorough Look at Neverwinter Nights Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2018-10-02 | This is a video critique and retrospective of all 14 official campaigns released for Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2, between 2002 and 2009. It looks at how each module and game tries to stand out from the others, and how they all uniquely tie back into the legacy of the Dungeons and Dragons tabletop experience. There are TOTAL SPOILERS for all the campaigns, but they're there to provide context and definition for those who don't wish to spend the hundreds of hours it takes to make this journey themselves.___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Neverwinter Nights 1 Main Campaign-- 00:24Shadows of Undrentide-- 28:22Hordes of the Underdark-- 38:23Witch's Wake-- 52:43Shadowguard-- 59:37Kingmaker-- 1:03:30Pirates of the Sword Coast-- 1:09:48Infinite Dungeons-- 1:15:40Darkness Over Daggerford-- 1:18:38Wyvern Crown of Cormyr-- 1:31:37Neverwinter Nights 2 Main Campaign-- 1:41:17Mask of the Betrayer-- 2:10:36Storm of Zehir-- 2:36:23Mysteries of Westgate-- 2:51:06======If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Deeper Horizons: A Comprehensive Re-Review of No Mans Sky NEXT [Total Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2018-08-17 | [TOTAL SPOILERS] This is an in-depth review and critique of No Man's Sky NEXT, looking at all the updates and changed content since its launch in 2016. It cover Pathfinder, Foundation, Atlas Rises and NEXT. The experience of No Man's Sky is much different than it originally was-- this video takes an hour to try and put a finger on how and why. It discusses and shows footage from all parts of the various plot threads, including endgame content and deep lore.====IF YOU LIKED THIS VIDEO====I've done two other videos on No Man's Sky:--My original launch critique: youtube.com/watch?v=DA21NUasw5A--A Moody Blues mixtape using NMS footage: youtube.com/watch?v=5yFRtNROYfAI've also got long videos about my year living nomadically, which I discuss a little here in this critique. --An introduction to the idea: youtube.com/watch?v=FgC-KCGkMPM--4,000 miles through the desert: youtube.com/watch?v=-naJR_rhkUM--4,000 miles through the midwest: youtube.com/watch?v=FD_-b06JJtE======If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
SAD MAX: A Max Payne Trilogy Retrospective Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2018-07-31 | This is a full-spoiler critique and retrospective of Max Payne 1 and 2 by Remedy Games and also Rockstar's climactic Max Payne 3. It looks closely at how each game treats Max as a person, from archetype, to abstract metaphor, to cautionary tale. It looks at how the different design priorities tease out different Maxes who still, somehow, connect along a single arc of character. ___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Max Payne 1-- 00:24Max Payne 2-- 19:42Max Payne 3-- 38:38======================================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Creative Accounting: The Sub-Subgenre of Survival Strategy Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2018-06-03 | This is a video critique and survey of four games in the niche subgenre of survival strategy. It begins with Outpost 1 (1994) and Outpost 2 (1997) from Sierra On-Line, before moving into the modern age with Haemimont Game's Surviving Mars and Frostpunk from 11-Bit Studios. It looks at how the games share a unique tone and rhythm, and how the emphasis on those elements sets the games apart from other strategy subgenres.___TABLE OF CONTENTS___OUTPOST-- 00:24OUTPOST 2-- 16:06SURVIVING MARS-- 33:02FROSTPUNK-- 45:56======================================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
A Thorough Look At Far Cry Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2018-05-03 | This is an in-depth critical retrospective of the Far Cry franchise, begun by CryTek in 2004 and continued by Ubisoft (and largely Ubisoft Montreal) into the present. It covers every major game except the console spinoffs between Far Cry 1 and 2. There are total spoilers for all games.CONTENT WARNING: This video is restricted due to graphic sexual content and themes in the game footage. ___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Far Cry 1-- 00:23Far Cry 2-- 15:09Far Cry 3-- 39:33Far Cry: Blood Dragon-- 1:07:39Far Cry 4-- 1:17:07Valley of the Yetis DLC-- 1:42:22Far Cry: Primal-- 1:48:08Far Cry 5-- 2:12:50======================================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Revisiting Dying Light Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2018-04-01 | This is an in-depth critique of the open-world zombie survival game Dying Light. It takes a particular look at how Dying Light tells its story with mechanical engagement and numerical progression much better than it does its story. It also looks at DLC for the game, including comparing Dying Light's massive expansion The Following to the original campaign. ______TABLE OF CONTENTS_______Main Campaign--Miscellaneous DLC--The Following--======================================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Scars & Stories [Planescape: Torment vs. Torment: Tides of Numenera] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2018-03-02 | This is a total-spoiler analysis and critique of Black Isle's Planescape: Torment and its years-later successor from InExile, Torment: Tide of Numenera. It goes into great detail to highlight what makes the first game unique, and the challenges posed in trying to follow up such a legendary role-playing title. [Planescape: Torment] 00:23[Torment: Tides of Numenera] 1:00:54==========================================================================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Hows Call of Dutys Single-Player Been Lately? [2015-2017, Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2018-02-03 | This is a video critique of the most recent full rotation of the three development studios making Call of Duty games. It look at Treyarch's Black Ops 3, Infinity Ward's Infinite Warfare, and Sledgehammer Games' World War 2. It look at what kind of war story each game wants to tell and what kind of a job it does in the telling. Spoilers throughout.___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Introduction--Black Ops 3--Infinite Warfare--World War 2--=========================If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Answering the Call of Juarez (A Series Retrospective) Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-12-31 | This is a video critique and retrospective on Techland's Call of Juarez games. It looks at them through the lens of the movies and Western tropes that influenced them as well the mechanical elements that make their storytelling distinct from Hollywood westerns. Complete spoilers for all four games.____TABLE OF CONTENTS____Call of Juarez-- 0:28Bound in Blood-- 25:20The Cartel-- 49:52Gunslinger-- 1:08:24======If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
The Other Half of the West (A Travelogue) Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-12-01 | This is a traditional travelogue about the final 4,500 miles of a 12,500 mile journey across the American West. It looks at natural wonders and roadside oddities while throwing in some cultural observation and criticism as well. Spoilers for Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Stephen King's Dark Tower Books.[Other Videos in the Journey]youtube.com/watch?v=FgC-KCGkMPMyoutube.com/watch?v=-naJR_rhkUM___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Intro / Rural Ruin -- 00:25Black Canyon of the Gunnison -- 04:30Man Eatin' Son of a Bitch-- 07:49Headwaters of the Rio Grande -- 12:33Four Corners Monument -- 15:46Hovenweep & Canyons of the Ancients -- 18:41Kebler Pass -- 21:35Changes of Direction and Opinion -- 26:19Escape to the North -- 32:18Rocky Mountain Nation Ramble -- 35:20Broke in Medicine Bow -- 43:27Ancient Nebraska -- 47:05The Black Hills -- 50:01A Monumental Survey -- 1:01:07Mystery vs. Ignorance at Devil's Tower -- 1:11:49Montana Desert -- 1:16:07Theodore Roosevelt National Park -- 1:19:11Island on the Plains -- 1:31:01Minnesotan Civilization -- 1:34:04The Soudan Iron Mine -- 1:36:57The Edge of the West -- 1:41:58Gothic Pastures -- 1:44:48Badlands National Park -- 1:49:05That Wyoming Feeling -- 1:52:17Yellowstone National Park -- 1:55:22The Craters of the Moon -- 2:02:26Night Drive Tradition -- 2:06:30Stonehenge -- 2:09:16Last Chapters -- 2:12:31Credits-- 2:17:24SPECIAL THANKS THIS VIDEO TO ALL THE PATRONS PAST AND PRESENT WHO MADE THE COMPLETION OF THIS TRIP POSSIBLE.==============================================================================If you liked this video and wish to support the ongoing trip, considering donating on Patreon:patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
SOMA vs. Tacoma [Total Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-11-02 | This is a comparative critique of Frictional Games' SOMA and Fullbright Games' Tacoma. It focuses mostly on their storytelling and how, although quite different in tone and presentation, they ultimately agree in the points they're trying to make and the science fiction they're trying to accomplish. Spoilers throughout.SOMA-- 0:20Tacoma-- 31:01======If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Imaginary Monsters: Alan Wake vs. The Evil Within [Franchise Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-11-01 | This is a video essay comparing two survival horror franchises in which the monsters come directly from the imaginations of the characters. It discusses the unique possibilities unlocked by basing the horror directly out of the realm of dreams and nightmares. It also compares theme and structure between the titles.___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Alan Wake -- 0:09Alan Wake's American Nightmare-- 29:51The Evil Within-- 36:08Evil Within/The Assignment & The Consequence-- 57:13Evil WIthin/Executioner-- 1:07:40The Evil WIthin 2-- 1:10:32======If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Whats Been Going On With Mafia 3s DLC? [Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-08-12 | This is a spoiler-heavy look at the three DLCs for Mafia 3: Faster Baby, Stones Unturned, and Signs of the Times. It considers how each fits in with the main campaign they're layered into, as well as thoughts on going through the game a second time. ___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Faster, Baby!-- 3:50Stones Unturned-- 10:33Signs of the Times-- 16:55======If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
CRYSIS Identity: A Franchise Retrospective Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-08-12 | This is a full-spoiler retrospective critique of the Crysis trilogy of first-person shooters. The first Crysis is a legendary piece of software, but the two in-house sequels failed to garner as much attention or respect. This video looks at what gave the originals such impact and speculates as to why that impact might've evaporated in later titles.___TABLE OF CONTENTS___Crysis-- 0:11Crysis: Warhead-- 16:32Crysis 2-- 25:15Crysis 3-- 43:36======If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
The Desert Bus (A Southwestern Ramble) Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-06-24 | This is a video travelogue of a journey of 5,000 miles through the American Southwest. In it, we drive our 1973 Volkswagen Bus across California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. I talk about the places we see, both towns as well as public lands like National Parks and National monuments, and I also discuss the experience and philosophy of extended road travel.You can also follow Kendra on Instagram at #LawrettaLives.____TABLE OF CONTENTS_____Preramble-- 0:20Quoz-- 4:01Valley of Fire-- 9:54Grand Canyon-- 13:39Joshua Tree-- 17:35California City-- 20:47Montezuma Well-- 25:11The Desert in 4th Gear-- 27:37Petrified Forest-- 30:47Land of Enchantment-- 34:07Gila CLiff Dwellings-- 37:40Time Flows Thick-- 42:37White Sands-- 47:32Carlsbad Caverns-- 52:07Roland's Desert-- 55:34Big Bend-- 59:07On Route 66-- 1:03:46Changes of Plan-- 1:08:10Bishop's Castle-- 1:11:29The Western Slope-- 1:19:59If you liked this video and wish to support the ongoing trip, considering donating on Patreon:patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervaisMINOR NOTE: I had originally chosen a song for the credits that I thought, initially, was a pleasantly melancholy folk song. But it turned out to be about slavery, so I cut it after the fact. Let this be a lesson: google any songs written in the 1850s before you go throwin' them into things.
Outlast 1 & 2: Gamifying Found Footage Horror Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-06-04 | This is a retrospective video essay looking at Red Barell's Outlast franchise of first-person horror games. It's focus is on how Outlast takes cinematic conventions and makes them interactive, while at the same time removing or simplifying features you might expect in a horror games. It's a FULL SPOILERS video, covering the endings of both games and the Whistleblower DLC.===TIMESTAMPS===Outlast--Whistleblower--Outlast 2 --If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Prey vs. Prey [Total Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-06-04 | This is a video critique and retrospective looking at Human Head's 2006 'Prey' and Arkane's 2017 'Prey'. It looks at how the game share some commonalities and tracks how it came to be that two such structurally divergent games ended up sharing the same name and franchise. SPOILERS FOR BOTH GAMES, INCLUDING THE ENDING.===TIMESTAMPS===Prey (2006) -- 00:12Prey (2017) -- 17:35If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
Whats Been Going On With Homefront: The Revolutions DLC? [Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-05-02 | This is a video essay looking at the three pieces of DLC released for Homefront: The Revolutuion in the year after its release. It spoils quite a bit but goes in-depth as to what each piece of content adds to the overall experience and how it compares to the main campaign. If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
How Does Mass Effect: Andromeda Compare to Previous Mass Effects? [Spoilers] Noah Caldwell-Gervais 2017-05-01 | This is a total-spoiler video critique of Mass Effect: Andromeda meant to take a look at how it fits in the original trilogy in terms of theme and structure. It aims to figure out if this spin-off is more of a Frasier or a Joey and how it might've come to be one way or the other. If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/noahcaldwellgervais
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