“Every driver is trying to stand out. They’re drifting through events, breaking time challenges; whatever is needed to be noticed. The culture feels crowded, racers bumping into one another for a chance to be seen or skim even a small fragment of fame. Races are less about who wins than they are about whose showmanship would rank higher in views. Need for Speed is a clean metaphor for internet content (and probably by total accident).”
Filed under Features
“By excising a narrative (Siege is stuck almost entirely online) UbiSoft insists they’re avoiding politicization. Instead, it’s the opposite. They’ve turned suburban shootouts nameless and faceless. Terrorists wear masks so they cannot be identified. Victims are as ignored as they are in mainstream media. Brief video interstitial segments note “orders and protocols are irrelevant,” a powerful line which in five words frames much of American police saga.”
Filed under Video Game Reviews
“To an extent, Yo-Kai Watch does speak down to a specific level of pre-pubescent immaturity. That’s okay. Lessons are universal. If a Yokai named Snotsolong (with its bouncing nasal debris acting as a weapon) is able to help a child cope, so be it. There are other low grade teachings too. Don’t cross a road when the lights are red or you will be scolded by ghost compatriot Whisper. Again, Yo-Kai Watch can overcome the Asian origins by being practical.”
Filed under Video Game Reviews
“If there exists a single mainstream video game (and it is certainly alone as a console exclusive) which acts as a reflection of modern society, it is Rise of the Tomb Raider. While not an encompassing portrait, the exaggerated narrative is an unforgiving interpenetration of media flare ups over Kentucky license clerks, school prayer, and what some view as religious persecution. Konstatin has no greater purpose other than enacting what he sees as God’s will – he’s the Westboro Baptist Church of the scenario. It’s a loaded sentiment and displayed without sensitivity toward prejudiced conservatism.”
Read my full review of Rise of the Tomb Raider at GameSkinny
Filed under Video Game Reviews
“Clues mean torture, which is okay because the results lead to more shoot-outs. In trying to convince an audience that torture is reasonable, dialog piles on eye-rolling commentary: “Besides, he’s an f’n terrorist,” seconds before hemorrhaging the victim’s brain. Everything must be approached in a blockbuster, low attention span theater way. Black Ops III turns itself sideways trying to expose the possible cost of not torturing – the loss of 300,000 people in a cataclysmic explosion could have been stopped if only we suffocated more people beforehand.
Fear still works, only now instead of an inconvenience at the airport, people are paying $60 for the privilege of seeing their fears justified.”
Read my full review of Call of Duty: Black Ops III at GameSkinny
Filed under Video Game Reviews
“Through progression, it would appear the interesting layers of the universe – gripping religious fanaticism and necessity of war – are being excised for a playable essay against progressive technology. Halo is stepping into Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke’s territory. What was once so unique has fallen into the derivative and intellectually stymied.”
Filed under Video Game Reviews
“This cross-section of the Templar/Assassin war depicts Victorian times as cruel. Story points harshly defame the capitalists within. The villains, dressed in luxurious garb and softly reciting their educated vocabularies, are the equivalent of Wall Street hustlers as seen by Bernie Sanders. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate has the modern dividing lines of good/evil. One side is Donald Trump, the other Sanders. Fox News versus MSNBC.”
Read my full review of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate at GameSkinny
Filed under Video Game Reviews
“What does appear is something inherently phony and dishonest, punctured by racial caricatures. The white team owner performs an embarrassing mimic of street culture as he discusses Bloomberg and stock markets – an inexcusably broadly drawn, oblivious 1% villain who demands Freq break from his projects-locked brotherhood with childhood friend Vic. Lee isn’t drawing on racial experience; he’s drawing atrocious, even spiteful racial bias based on America’s fair discontent with income inequality. Lee’s contrast of life in the projects to a multi-million dollar office space thus feels counterfeit.
Livin’ da Dream’s story leans on poverty while NBA 2K16’s overlapping exterior begs for microtransaction dollars to make Freq a better player. The dichotomy is gross, more so than it has been in NBA 2K’s prior years. As Livin’ da Dream lambastes the narcissism abundant in wealth, it’s espousing financially beneficial features.”
Filed under Video Game Reviews
“Activision has shipped a video game on a disc which does not contain advertised features. This is the industry’s egregious anti-consumer attitude in action, the worst offense since Microsoft sent a $400 video game console to stores which needed day one updates to even function. Put in Tony Hawk 5 without grabbing a mammoth, data sapping 7GB+ patch and only limited content (plus creation options) are available. Preservationists can commence crying.”
Filed under Video Game Reviews
“A dramatic opening monologue begins Forza Motorsport 6, presenting the question of, “Why do we race?” It doesn’t have an answer, but does draw absurd metaphors for bullying and romance.
Forza is not done either. Motor journalists pad load screens with their haughty speeches, one correlating early race competitors to the likes of combat veterans.
No Forza. No.”
Filed under Video Game Reviews
Matt Paprocki 