Topic: Unpopular Gaming Opinions

@nessisonett Well if the game lets you do it then it is a viable strategy!

My Unpopular Gaming Opinion:

Rockstar games are a tad overrated, despite my love for them.

@DonJorginho i would have to agree with that for the most part. My exception is Red Dead Redemption 2, which I found to be every bit as groundbreaking and incredible as reviewers made it out to be. It's the first Rockstar game I've been able to finish as well, and I've tried many others. None of them quite hit the mark for me. I haven't played the first Red Dead Redemption however, so maybe I would love that too.

@Tjuz I loved the second RDR but would be lying if I thought it was as groundbreaking as reviewers said.

Mission structure felt more aging than ever and the lack of freedom within the missions compared to the freedom of it's astounding open world was jarring for me.

I hope they solve this problem and their terrible control scheme in GTA 6.

And RDR 1 is amazing man, if you adore RDR 2 you will love the first, especially as it acts as a sequel of sorts.

@DonJorginho For me, the groundbreaking feeling came from the fact that it was the first huge open world I ever felt was truly alive. The first time I ever actually saw a world as a joy to explore rather than a chore or a simple mechanic for me to go from A to B. It's the first time a world didn't feel empty. The first time I felt like there really could be something interesting around every corner, and wasn't filled with copy paste objectives. I think it was also genius to hide the map and not show the entirety of it until you'd been everywhere, as that also rewards exploration rather than making a world feel intimidating. I don't think any other world in gaming that I've tasted comes close to the feel that the RDR2 world gave me, and that's what made the game groundbreaking to me personally.

I understand the criticism towards its mission design and controls, but I didn't experience issues with either myself. I changed settings in the control system the second I started playing to make it feel the best I possibly could, and it felt just fine throughout with what I'd selected. I tend to do this with every game before getting into them properly. The linearity of the mission design was actually a pro to me. I much prefer tight story missions that have a clear vision of what they want the player to do for maximum badassery or narrative effect. I liked that the missions were all pretty small scale, and none really required me to travel the entire world to do things. As you can probably tell, the most important thing to me in gaming is storytelling and worldbuilding. Anything that is even somewhat in service of that I am absolutely fine with. Red Dead Redemption 2 absolutely excelled at both of those things, which helped shape it into a groundbreaking game in my eyes.

I can understand that some people may not look for those things first and foremost in their gaming experiences however, and that certain things that I would accept or prefer would be considered letdowns to others. That's definitely not how I experienced the game though. I've never finished a long story such as this with such urgency, yet felt free to explore and enjoyed doing so. All of the above is why I do view it as a groundbreaking game, and agree with the game's spectacular reviews. I think it's the best game I've played that you can easily pour over a 100 hours into without replaying.

With the inclusion of Sims 4 on PS Plus this month, it got me thinking about other games that we, the hardcore, often turn our noses up at, and it prompted me to question myself: what games do I enjoy that might be considered “filthy casual” games, or just bad games in general? It’s a sub-topic of “Unpopular Gaming Opinions” so I figured I’d pose the question here.

Are there any games you’re embarrassed that you enjoy? Guilty pleasures, critically panned, mobile cash grabs, etc.?

For me it’s the Telltale games. They are so cut-and-paste and offer little to no gameplay, but I still enjoy them, I’m embarrassed to say. I’ve played about 6-7 of them, I think, and still enjoy them. I enjoy a good walking sim in general, even though most people say they are boring and stale. I don’t know why, but I find them relaxing and engaging.

@Th3solution the Senran Kagura series, yeah it's full of fan service and i wouldn't want to play it infront of other people but under all that is a pretty fun beat em up

oh and the Hyper Dimension Neptunia series, pretty fun JRPG's even if the premise is a little strange

@Th3solution Star Trek: Encounters (PS2). The theme pasted on top of what is largely a budget twin stick shooter completely won me over. Its not a good game, it abuses the theme, but I love it.

And probably Michael Jackson: The Experience HD (Vita). Been a while since I played it, but its a good rhythm game with incredible music! But also Michael Jackson 😂

@Th3solution
Enigmatis the ghosts of maple creek.

It's a hidden object point and click. I enjoyed my time with it so much I bought the sequel (which is rubbish). Maybe I was in the right frame of mind, picked it up on the store for £3 or so change in my wallet.

It's very chilled, the location map is relatively small, the puzzles are decent and the story is enjoyable. The hidden object bits in between are the weakest part of the game. I would recommend it! Just make sure it's the only one you play the length of the game is perfect.

@Th3solution Project X Zone on 3DS is a car crash of an SRPG but all the characters together in one game is still pretty cool. I’m a sucker for rhythm games so probably the Miku games as well, considering I genuinely don’t really get the whole Miku thing. I just like the gameplay.

@Th3solution I'm not embarrassed to play anything. Entertainment is entertainment, and doesn't require any mental gymnastics to justify.

Putting that aside, while I typically avoid "casual" games like the plague, I LOVE Peggle. Love love love it. Fully completed the game on my 360. Played it to death on my laptop. And, if I'm being BRUTALLY honest, I can't deny that getting to play Peggle 2 was one of my motivations for buying a PS4. It's obviously one of my Platinums now. If a Peggle 3 ever releases, I'll be buying it.

With that said, the mobile game ruined the game design to 'encourage' the purchasing of microtransactions, so screw that noise!

It's also probably worth mentioning that I really liked Gal Gun: Double Peace. I believe the PS4 version got a... 3/10 on pushsquare? It's a deeply stupid game, but also a very fun and well-designed rail shooter.

The sequel wasn't nearly as much fun, unfortunately.

@Ralizah Peggle 2 is sublime! Absolutely loved getting the Platinum in that game. Definitely don't play many games in that genre but got it on sale for like 3 bucks and figured what the heck. Fell in love with it as well.

@redd214 The gameplay loop is crack. I can spend hours trying to perfect a level. Also really enjoy the various powers each character can give you, and there's a not shallow level of strategy that goes into mastering the different abilities and recognizing which ones are proper for mastering a given level.

Also purchased and completed the DLC, of course. I wish they'd release more.

@Ralizah yeah I was surprised by the amount of strategy involved. I remember a few stages took me hours to beat lol. Hope we get more too, I'd even double dip on a Switch version of 2 as it would be a perfect game to play handheld. But alas EA

@Kidfried I mean, it is and it isn't.

It is in the sense that the game, at bottom, is about shooting balls at pegs and watching them bounce around until they reach the bottom.

It isn't in the sense that mastering the game requires an understanding of timing, how to adequately angle shots to establish or maintain high multipliers, how to properly utilize your power-ups, how to strategically target certain parts of the field to accomplish certain goals, etc.

It's not a super deep game or anything, though. At bottom, it is basically Pachinko: The Video Game. That either appeals to you or it doesn't, I think.

I'm surprised we haven't had Peggle 3, that would be fun. Maybe the 2nd one didn't sell enough?

EA is too busy bleeding people dry with the unfair mobile game to actually publish another real sequel.

@Th3solution I've had a think and I'm not sure if I class any games I play as guilty pleasures. I'll have a look over the games I've played, but I don't totally get what there is to be ashamed of.

That reminds me. I've owned this game for years and never played it. For shame~

(possibly NSFW)

@Ralizah That’s what you call tactical thumb placement.