Do you get upset by games that feature heavy close-up 'popping' of game assets? Like some of the 'modern' pokemon games on switch? Have you noticed it in recent games?
That's up there for me too, but I think Metaphor: ReFantazio might just be above it at the moment. My opinions of DA: The Veilguard keep wavering with each video they put out (the latest ones kinda made me roll my eyes), whereas each preview of Metaphor gets me more and more excited.
Great job everyone. SkillUp don't listen to Lucy Rings of Power is terrible.
The problem is not as much the show as the IP it is adapting. So i will qualify my opinion by stating that it matters how much you love the original prose. Tolkiens work is so much beyond a masterpiece that I feel like any adaptation needs to live up to that. The movie trilogy did a good job even if i had my quibbles and they are aging very well. But this series is taking a millenia of time and condensing it to like a few months. Numenor was this generational blessed kingdom of man where they lived very long lives hence why an 80ish year old Aragorn is a spry warrior in LoTR. And they ditch all of that, all of the history: lost. There was an opportunity here to show how it feels for an elf to be immortal having to watch Kings and friends die and meet the next generation and watch them grow. Foundation did it, right? You can do that. Instead we find out that for some reason sauron forges the rings in Isildurs lifetime? Like, the fall of the nine and then becoming the nazgul is such rich history and yet we have only been introduced to one dwarf king so far. its just butchering the lore. And then theres just how lame it is the way sauron is manipulating the Celebrimbor. Hes basically just like: C'Mon 🤌, appealing to his zealousness? Elves were meant to be these paragons of good, almost divine beings and yet this show makes them out to be petty and jealous, with simple base motivations. They are just human. Its sad.
This show is not made for the tolkien audience it is made to reach the audience who didnt read the books. That is the saddest part. Because you could faithfully adapt every page and not confuse anyone, you would just have to commit to a longer buildup of events.
Another great episode, can't wait to eventually pick up Astro Bot!
Also, just discovered some news I thought Jake would love while watching "Tony Hawk Eats His Last Meal". At 25:20 Tony says that he's in talks with Activision for some kind of new project, but he can't say what it is lol.
Thanks for all the great work you three and the whole team put in!
User question: With the PS5 Pro just being announced... what do you think the PS6 will bring to the table in a few years? I am concerned that the cost will again be huge and that the real-life improvements will be marginal. Do you foresee a future where gaming consoles will stop releasing every few years or do you have a more optimistic view?
User Question: Where do you guys go to get your daily gaming news and analysis? I have a few Substack accounts plus Eurogamer and Gamebiz.com, but always looking for more great gaming sources?
User Question: How do you all min max for comfort and gaming on long flights? (I know Ralph is the expert on this at this point) My significant other and I have a trip coming up to Japan and we haven't done a long flight like this in a while. We have a Switch and a Steam Deck so we are covered there. I'm thinking I might play Fields of Mistria per Lucy's recommendation, but was wondering if you had any pro tips on the traveling bits. Like how do you get comfy on planes and in airports? What are your go to traveling gadgets? Etc etc.
I was surprised that nobody brought up Wayfinder during the discussions about what's next for Concord. Maybe they can repurpose all those fancy assets in to a linear experience for people to get to know the characters? If it works then a transition back to live service could make sense. Thoughts?
User Question: When playing a video game, how much do you think about it as a mirror of culture and society BEYOND just its entertainment value? I always try to enjoy it, but can't turn off that part of my brain that tries to (over?)analyze it.
But also, when reporting on games, do you consider it as a cultural product that mirrors real-world themes, or primarily as something designed for enjoyment? "The Last of Us" comes to mind.
PS: Love the pod, it gives my mortal shell sustenance!
Great episode as always. I'm looking forward to playing Astrobot very soon. Ralph, I had to skip your review because of what you said at the very start ;). No spoilers for me.
My user question (apologies if has been asked before): how do you make time to actually sit and enjoy games given your presumably hectic reviewing schedule? Do you feel under the pump to simply go from one game to the next as quickly as possible and get the content out onto YouTube etc? Does this even allow you to enjoy and savour the game experience for what it is?
User question: of the group, who is most likely to cut their stack of pancakes all the way through to eat? Who is most likely to eat a single pancake at a time?
I got the platinum for Astrobot yesterday. It is a must play indeed. I just want more of it and I can't wait till the next Team Asobi game.
User question!
Do you get upset by games that feature heavy close-up 'popping' of game assets? Like some of the 'modern' pokemon games on switch? Have you noticed it in recent games?
Great episode this fortnight, loved each segment.
My user question: Most anticipated game in your opinion, that is releasing later this year? My number one is currently Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
That's up there for me too, but I think Metaphor: ReFantazio might just be above it at the moment. My opinions of DA: The Veilguard keep wavering with each video they put out (the latest ones kinda made me roll my eyes), whereas each preview of Metaphor gets me more and more excited.
Metaphor is definitley up there aswell!
Great job everyone. SkillUp don't listen to Lucy Rings of Power is terrible.
The problem is not as much the show as the IP it is adapting. So i will qualify my opinion by stating that it matters how much you love the original prose. Tolkiens work is so much beyond a masterpiece that I feel like any adaptation needs to live up to that. The movie trilogy did a good job even if i had my quibbles and they are aging very well. But this series is taking a millenia of time and condensing it to like a few months. Numenor was this generational blessed kingdom of man where they lived very long lives hence why an 80ish year old Aragorn is a spry warrior in LoTR. And they ditch all of that, all of the history: lost. There was an opportunity here to show how it feels for an elf to be immortal having to watch Kings and friends die and meet the next generation and watch them grow. Foundation did it, right? You can do that. Instead we find out that for some reason sauron forges the rings in Isildurs lifetime? Like, the fall of the nine and then becoming the nazgul is such rich history and yet we have only been introduced to one dwarf king so far. its just butchering the lore. And then theres just how lame it is the way sauron is manipulating the Celebrimbor. Hes basically just like: C'Mon 🤌, appealing to his zealousness? Elves were meant to be these paragons of good, almost divine beings and yet this show makes them out to be petty and jealous, with simple base motivations. They are just human. Its sad.
This show is not made for the tolkien audience it is made to reach the audience who didnt read the books. That is the saddest part. Because you could faithfully adapt every page and not confuse anyone, you would just have to commit to a longer buildup of events.
Another great episode, can't wait to eventually pick up Astro Bot!
Also, just discovered some news I thought Jake would love while watching "Tony Hawk Eats His Last Meal". At 25:20 Tony says that he's in talks with Activision for some kind of new project, but he can't say what it is lol.
Thanks for all the great work you three and the whole team put in!
User question: With the PS5 Pro just being announced... what do you think the PS6 will bring to the table in a few years? I am concerned that the cost will again be huge and that the real-life improvements will be marginal. Do you foresee a future where gaming consoles will stop releasing every few years or do you have a more optimistic view?
User Question: Where do you guys go to get your daily gaming news and analysis? I have a few Substack accounts plus Eurogamer and Gamebiz.com, but always looking for more great gaming sources?
User Question: How do you all min max for comfort and gaming on long flights? (I know Ralph is the expert on this at this point) My significant other and I have a trip coming up to Japan and we haven't done a long flight like this in a while. We have a Switch and a Steam Deck so we are covered there. I'm thinking I might play Fields of Mistria per Lucy's recommendation, but was wondering if you had any pro tips on the traveling bits. Like how do you get comfy on planes and in airports? What are your go to traveling gadgets? Etc etc.
Much love to you all,
October
Ralph: "I just rewatched all of the Alien movies they were great"
Lucy mentions The Dark Crystal
Ralph: "Oh that's nightmare fuel I can't with that"
I mean yes, but compared to the Alien movies lmaooo
You ever cut large slices and then add butter and syrup specifically to the cuts?
I was surprised that nobody brought up Wayfinder during the discussions about what's next for Concord. Maybe they can repurpose all those fancy assets in to a linear experience for people to get to know the characters? If it works then a transition back to live service could make sense. Thoughts?
User Question: When playing a video game, how much do you think about it as a mirror of culture and society BEYOND just its entertainment value? I always try to enjoy it, but can't turn off that part of my brain that tries to (over?)analyze it.
But also, when reporting on games, do you consider it as a cultural product that mirrors real-world themes, or primarily as something designed for enjoyment? "The Last of Us" comes to mind.
PS: Love the pod, it gives my mortal shell sustenance!
This was one of my favorite episodes to date. Absolutely loved it!
Great episode as always. I'm looking forward to playing Astrobot very soon. Ralph, I had to skip your review because of what you said at the very start ;). No spoilers for me.
My user question (apologies if has been asked before): how do you make time to actually sit and enjoy games given your presumably hectic reviewing schedule? Do you feel under the pump to simply go from one game to the next as quickly as possible and get the content out onto YouTube etc? Does this even allow you to enjoy and savour the game experience for what it is?
User question: of the group, who is most likely to cut their stack of pancakes all the way through to eat? Who is most likely to eat a single pancake at a time?