@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy Great write-up! The presentation in Iconoclasts is absolutely phenomenal. I know people cringe when they hear "pixel art indie platformer," but there's no reason these games can't be gorgeous and highly detailed.
I'm glad you enjoyed the thematic and narrative complexity on display here. The setting itself is great, and it's hard not to be impressed with the large, distinctive cast.
And yeah, I also felt like the platforming was mostly a miss for me. Additionally, the level progression (as you acknowledge, there's not a ton of exploration in this Metroidvania), upgrade system, and plot resolution in general were all a bit undercooked for my liking.
It's a messy game, but definitely one that showcases talent and potential. I'd love for the developer to find a proper team of people to help him develop more games in the future.
I agree with almost all of it. I struggled with the difficulty though may have been due to playing on Vita with harder controls. However, the story really gripped me and Agent Black was a fantastic villain.
Now I may be an idiot, but there's one thing I am not sir, and that sir, is an idiot
I do like that subversive element of the space worm fight (fits well with the larger technological and metaphysical themes). Has a bit of a Douglas Adams flavor to it.
I found it funny how, after 'killing God,' so to speak, Robin just goes home and flops down on the bed to take a nap. Elro even tries to have a discussion, but she's too exhausted to even bother.
@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy It is defo a beauty on the VIta and it runs really well but I found the same with Undertale that I'm just not sure boss fights and reaction heavy games, particularly with small characters and a lot of detail on screen work as well on Vita. Or I could be rubbish - I found on Undertale the bullet hell style combat things were really hard on a small screen and with the controllers.
@RogerRoger Thanks! If you are interested in this era then it is a must play and I would say it is amongst the best games on Apple Arcade but yeah, I hope they will extend to other platforms though it does say in the credits it is produced by Apple so not too sure if it will. It is a shame if it doesn't as this would be great on other platforms too.
Now I may be an idiot, but there's one thing I am not sir, and that sir, is an idiot
@DonJorginho This is just my own selfish opinion : a legitimate user review of TLoU2 would be helpful for those of us who haven’t bought the game yet and are a little confused about it. Since in order to avoid spoilers and the stupidity of the populace, I’ve been actively avoiding internet discourse about it, (including comments and threads here on Push Square) I’m curious to get a honest assessment of the game from a trustworthy source. I did read Sammy’s official PushSquare review and found it enlightening, but it would be nice to hear a non-professional critical review also.
I think I’ll eventually buy it, but I’m kind of waiting to let the dust settle.
If you do decide on TLoU2, then I have a couple questions including the basic ones about gameplay, technical achievement, and story — The rumors of the game being exceedingly dark and uncomfortable have me hesitant to play it. Thematically I can handle heavy subjects, but superfluous suffering, sorrow, and personal anguish is not what I want to spend my free time engaging in. I loved the first one because it has a beautiful redemption arc to it. If this one just drags the player through the experience of excessive pain, misery, and agony with no real resolution, then I’m not sure I want to play it.
If you decide to do FF7R, then that’s okay too, but I actually think its the next game I’m starting anyways. I’ve seen enough positives about it that I’m sure I’ll like it.
— — — — —
On that subject, I just completed Death Stranding and will drop my own “review” (more like my own personal observations of the game) here shortly.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
@DonJorginho TLOU Part II is the game of the moment, so it'll be more timely, I think.
Not to say FF7R doesn't deserve a good write-up (I plan to post one myself if I can ever stop being lazy), but there's no real timing required now that its moment has passed, so to speak.
I’ve been posting thoughts all along over the past month during my playthrough of Death Stranding, so it’s no secret that this game has become one of my favorite games of this generation. So I won’t write a standard review that outlines the pros and cons to the game. Many reviews have been written recently about it. Rather, I’d like to focus on a few interesting aspects of the game, more as an observational study of the game, rather than a traditional review.
There is just so much that this game does uniquely and so much that it gets right that I’d like to share some of these thoughts.
Symbolism
From the start of the game, the script and gameplay is steeped in symbolism. It may be the most symbolic game I’ve ever played. So many objects are found to carry deep metaphorical and representative meanings. Just a few examples of which are beaches, blood, masks, guns, necklaces, gear you carry like ropes and strands, and talismans.
Sometimes this symbolism is rather heavy handed, such as every single character’s name carrying a rather overt underlying meaning
about their personality, and sometimes it’s subtle like the astronaut toy that hangs from BB’s pod.
The naming and lexicon of the game world is filled with nuanced wordplay and intimation. Words like the “chiral” network, with the term chiral coming from chemistry meaning a component that is asymmetrical and not superimposable. Or the B.T.’s = “beached things” with a lot of imagery of beached whales, fishes, and sea life.
Little things like all this figurative expression are what make me excited about the subtle and crafty symbolism weaved into the game. And it permeates every crease of this world.
Use of Color and Textures
Part of what makes this game so pleasant to play is the interesting aesthetic. I know many will complain about the rather monotone color palette used in the buildings and also in a lot of the environments. However, the drab surroundings serve a narrative purpose to not only represent the dark state of the world during the death stranding, but also it highlights the dramatic usage of color when it does pop up. The bright red of Amelie’s dress, the bright yellow of BB’s pod. The flashback scenes have very dramatic use of oranges and reds during firefight. And the lush greens of parts of the world are just breathtaking.
The texture of the mountainous environment highlights the rugged nature of the world, and adds to tension and also makes the vistas beautifully interesting. I also made note of how the chiral crystals and the some of the mini bosses have the gold metallic sheen to them which is also a dramatic use of texturing to highlight those who come from the other side.
Sound and Music
One of the most pleasant aspects of the game that I noticed was the music. Normally I don’t pay much attention to a game’s soundtrack, but in Death Stranding it is present front-and-center at so many game moments that it’s hard to ignore. And it is beautifully done. As you head out on a long walk with nothing but silence and the crunch of the gravel under your boots, to suddenly have a melancholy song play in the background to keep you company while you trek to your next destination was so satisfying. I grew to really like the song selection.
Other sounds in the game were used sparingly, but when you encountered B.T.’s it was really well done as you could hear them groan but not see them at times which added to the anxiety in trying to hide and sneak past them.
Building vs. Destruction
One of the big themes of the game is that of building and creating structures in a world where they are constantly being torn down and destroyed. It’s symbolic of the game as a whole and with each structure to build to navigate the environment, you experience a microcosm of the games overall theme. With the online aspects, this building is a way to help others and do your part in a community, just like Sam is doing for America.
I can’t remember another game I’ve played that had such an intricate active world building aspect and also a gradual destruction process that all fit into the narrative.
Man vs. Nature
Whether it be timefall, the death stranding, or simply the deep snow or craggy crevasse ridden land, the underlying theme of man overcoming nature is a major one. I’ve played other survival games, and many games will have animals which attack or sometimes weather that may affect gameplay, but I don’t recall ever feeling like I was literally struggling against nature herself in any other game quite to the extent as I did on this one.
That Ending
I’ll avoid specifics so as to refrain from spoilers, but the ending was right up with some of the great game endings this generation. I’ve not felt a similar impact with the ending since Red Dead Redemption 2 and NieR Automata. Some games just kind of end with no real connection to the beginning and no resolution for the characters, but fortunately Death Stranding does reach a solid conclusion. I appreciate a game that delivers a moment that feels like it explores the questions and emotions I’ve been building up during the playthrough. And I like it when there is room left to ponder the outcome, and dissect its meaning and direction, and Death Stranding accomplished this, in my opinion.
——————
Those are a few random thoughts and observations. If you came looking for a traditional review with a score, here goes: Death Stranding does many things that I’ve not experienced in a video game. When game developers experiment, some things are bound to fall flat and that happens here with some of the mechanics, controls, and the game’s glacial pace at times. But Death Stranding absolutely delivers with innovative gameplay, an addictive asynchronous online component, a unique and crazy story, an artistically and graphically beautiful presentation, and generally solid acting and characterization. It’s simply one of the most satisfying games I’ve ever played. It’s not perfect (no game ever is), but I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. 9/10.
@Th3solution
Wow, nice write up, you've really sold me on this. I was a little bit on the fence about getting Death Stranding but now I see I need to pick this up next time I'm at the shop.
@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy
Also read your review of Iconoclasts the other day, Foxy. Definitely going to make this the next Vita game I play now, sounds great!
@Th3solution Nice review and I am torn on getting this game. On the one hand I love all the symbolism you describe and the story seems to be something I would find interesting but I am put off by the length and glacial pace (as you described very well). I find it hard committing so many hours to something.
Will have to wait until TLOU2, Ghost of T and probably Iron Man VR but will keep an eye out for this going cheap. Enjoyed reading!
Now I may be an idiot, but there's one thing I am not sir, and that sir, is an idiot
@LieutenantFatman Thanks and I hope you like it. Be sure to post thoughts if you do end up trying it.
In fairness and acknowledgement of some of the criticisms levied at the game, it is less mainstream than most AAA games and unlike Horizon, Spider-Man, or Uncharted, this is very much a game that will only resonate with a subset of gamers. But I do believe most of the hardcore who give it a chance will find some level of satisfaction and appreciation. The story is a bit self-indulgent, if I’m honest, but not nearly as much as most of the haters out there are claiming. Kojima’s auteur personality is on full display, to be sure, but if you ignore that, then there some pretty deep and mind blowing stuff to be had. If one is looking for a storyline like “hero A takes on villain B and falls in love with NPC C...” then they will likely be disappointed. But as weird as the story is, it does all eventually make sense and for the most part the interwoven narrative isn’t as strange as it seems from trailers, but it is pretty bizarre and unorthodox.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
@JohnnyShoulder Lol, Yeah so I’ve heard. I’m troubled that the game seems to be single handedly bringing down the entire gaming community. Perhaps everyone is on edge because of all the tumult this year in the form of pandemics and riots.
@Rudy_Manchego Thanks and I’m glad it’s at least on your radar. My final play time was right at 80 hours. I probably could have finished the game in about 60, but I was enjoying it enough to take my time doing extra deliveries and laying down structures to build the online community. For what it’s worth, I’m a gamer who lately gets pretty impatient with games over 40 hours. If games stretch beyond that then I get fidgety and thinking about the next one on my backlog list. I never once had those thoughts during Death Stranding. I didn’t ever feel like it was too long and even in the slow sections I found enjoyment. It’s a little like RDR2 in that regard, that some of the joy is in the journey, and when it resonates with you then you’ll not want to rush through. But I know other players described getting annoyed during the second half, but I didn’t.
@Th3solution
Thanks! It's true, Kojima's games tend to be convoluted and bizzare, he's not perfect I know, but chances are I will enjoy a lot of what's in there. I do often struggle to get my head round some of his plot twists but the characters and their relationships, struggles etc are usually very well delivered. And top points to him on game play as well, he strives to deliver something new each time and yet always keeps things fun.
@RogerRoger Thanks, buddy. I wasn’t sure if it would be interesting or meaningful to write a post like that since it’s more just my own impressions of what was unique or prominent or impressive in the game. Glad it could be of some use, if nothing else than to further an understanding of what is a really tough game to describe to someone who hasn’t played it.
For those who liked MGS, specifically 4&5, I think there is something for you in Death Stranding. The game is nothing like MGS from a narrative standpoint, but the MGS DNA can be detected ever so slightly in things like gunplay and stealth, as well as in things such as the post-delivery grading screens. Some of it feels familiar. Perhaps that’s another reason I loved it is because there were echoes of MGS 5 in there that scratched a certain itch that I know I won’t get scratched any other way.
Fair warning on the mild horror aspects. The game could be considered a type of horror game, but really that genre assignment is slightly misleading. It’s not filled with gore, jump scares, or savagery. The interactions with BT’s can be creepy, but probably not much worse than Dathomir in Fallen Order. Some imagery is disturbing but not in the gratuitous sense. No severed limbs, disemboweling, decapitations, witches, or zombies. There are no spiders or creepy-crawly things. Yet, somehow it can be pretty tense and disquieting in a way. The bosses can be scary but stylistically look so awesome to me that it was hard to get scared of them. Anyway, I know horror isn’t your favorite, so I wanted to make sure you knew about that before attempting it.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
@Th3solution Great piece! It was an interesting approach to segment your thoughts in the way you did. I enjoyed reading it.
It sounds like you're a recent player of this game, so I'm curious how the online aspects hold up months after launch. Is everything just built in an area by other players after you unlock that feature? I recall that constructing bridges and whatnot across the landscape will carry over to other players and help them out, so my fear is that people have already built everything you'd really need to build in this game this far out from launch.
Currently Playing: Resident Evil Village: Gold Edition
@Ralizah Thanks! And yes, I did just recently finish it this past weekend, and most of my game time has been over the last few weeks, which is, of course, a good 9 months after launch.
It’s a great question you pose, and one that I think a lot of us who came late to the party have had. Does coming to the game later affect the presence of structures in the shared world?
And the answer is — yes, and no.
So when you enter a region of the map it’s always void of any online structures on your first pass through the area. So you have to navigate and place your own structures on the initial trek to a station, then once you arrive at the destination, you connect the station to the chiral network, which then enables you to see online structures thereafter. (Sometimes there are a few tasks to complete before the station will come online, but after a little effort it’s usually online shortly after you get there)
Initially the online structures that populate your map appear to just be random. The game shows you the PSN ID of who erected it and what date they built it, and it seemed like some of the structures I had on my map would be old, like placed by players in December say, and then some would be clearly from people who were playing along side me and had just put the structure up that day or within the last few days.
When you actually use a structure it automatically gives it and the other player “likes” which boost its popularity. And your own structures get “likes” as people use them (and you receive notifications when someone uses and “likes” the things you’ve built). So, best I can tell, I think the game code tries to populate your map with some of the popular structures with a lot of “likes” and also throws in a lot of random ones from players currently playing the game. It forms a nice combination of really useful bridges, ropes, ladders, and such but also will have plenty of items placed that you’ll never use.
Also, there is still plenty of opportunities to place your own stuff, as I think the programming puts a cap on how many things will port over to your map from the online community.
The map is quite huge and although there are paths that are clear to be the easiest way from point A to point B, in general there are actually dozens of paths you can approach to get to the desired destination. Sometimes you may take a bridge across a river, but then have to deal with enemies there, so you may rather climb a mountain to avoid the enemies so you’ll have to lay down your own ropes and ladders instead of using the online bridge, for example. Over time you come up with your own favorites routes, based on structures available and your own preferences, abilities, and available equipment, but that is likely very different from someone else’s chosen paths. No two players games are going to be exactly the same.
In fact, the way the structures populate your map and then you add to them, I venture to say no two players game experience is exactly the same. It’s quite remarkable.
Another note on this question though — at a point fairly early on, you develop the ability to create strand contracts with other players. What this does is make it more likely that your contracted players’ structures appear in your game. So I tended to just make strand contracts with players whose structures were built within the previous few weeks, and so clearly they were actively playing the game as I was. It made me feel that not only was it more likely I was “playing alongside” a group of other players at roughly the same part of the game as me, but also it made so that the map wasn’t just made up of a bunch of the most popular items. But these strand contracts give it a little bit of customization with regard to what is prone to show up on your map.
Furthermore, through the process of “timefall” (which is the rain in the game they corrodes and accelerates the aging of anything the rain touches) structures gradually degrade and go away. So things will theoretically eventually disappear from the online “library” of structures I think. So there is always a rolling bunch of structures out there that are relatively recently placed.
—The short explanation: The game programming accounts for things and filters into your map at a set rate so you’ve always got plenty of challenge as you transverse and opportunity to build your own structures.
@Th3solution Oh wow. You didn't just answer my question, you schooled me on it! Great post. I really appreciate the incredibly detailed response.
That definitely eases my biggest concern about the game. I'll have to pick this up sometime. I'm glad they seem to have put a lot of thought into the multiplayer aspect of it.
Currently Playing: Resident Evil Village: Gold Edition
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