PunkRx_Lockly

PunkRx_Lockly

Style before function is my motto.

Comments 175

Re: Hideo Kojima Reckons There's a Reason Death Stranding Didn't Connect with American Critics

PunkRx_Lockly

@naruball "people already told you that he didn't. Why do you insist on using something a translator added completely on his own?"

I don't insist on it (necessarily). I just happened to answer you first before reading Octane's comment. But even so, no real evidence was provided in support of that claim, just Octane's word, so who knows what's really true?

"MGS games have proper/traditional action that DS does not. Again, massive difference between the games."

I'm not claiming they're exactly the same; there are differences, but there are also parallels as well, such as both being 3rd-person open-world action/survival games and Kojima being behind both franchises. Those alone should attract a fanbase with support at least tantamount to that of MG, but apparently not. So it has nothing to do with FPS's or DS being too posh an art for the west, but a sheer lack of resonance with certain American gamers, not because it goes over their heads, but because they genuinely don't like it. If the text is to be believed, Kojima simply didn't want to admit this as a legitimate possibility.

"This game is unique."

Conceptually, artistically, yes. But in its design as an open-world 3rd-person action/survival game, I'd draw the line there.

"You're missing the point. Remove the fighting from The Witcher 3, the last Legend of Zelda, Skyrim, GTA5, RDR2 and what do you have left?"

Games that are structurally similar to Death Stranding. This is not about DS being a drastically different genre, as Kojima purportedly argued. This is about his work failing to make a strong connection with certain far-west audiences, not because his work sucks, or because we're too busy playing FPS's and are scared to try something a cut above, but because of a simple lack of interest.

Again, I realize this is all under the presumption that what the text is saying is accurately reported, but at this point I'm just arguing for the sake of arguing.

Re: Hideo Kojima Reckons There's a Reason Death Stranding Didn't Connect with American Critics

PunkRx_Lockly

@naruball "The examples you provided are games that have gameplay we've seen before. Of course they stand a better chance at getting a better score than something that hasn't been done before."

Death Stranding isn't as revolutionary as you're making it out to be. It's a 3rd person, open-world experience that is comparable to the likes of Metal Gear. Its lack of impact in the US has very little to do with the genre.

"It's true that fps games resonate more with Americans just like JRPGs do with Japanese gamers and reviewers. He didn't say that only fps do well, but that if it were an fps, it'd stand a better chance at being well received. There is a massive difference between the two."

I get what you're saying, but Kojima literally said that his brand, his game, "it flies higher", meaning that he considers his work to be inherently more valuable as a piece of art, and the reason why it wasn't as well-received here in the States is because, according to him, we prefer a lower grade of entertainment — FPS's. In other words, we are not sophisticated enough to process and appreciate his 'visionary' work.

"No hubris at all. He's saying what you're saying. That they have different tastes. Not that Americans have worse or that his game is a masterpiece."

Not the way I'm reading it. I beg to differ.

"He calls it a "very original product" which it is. Some cultures are more open to something original, while others are not."

His product is not really functionally different though. It bears a lot of similarity with Metal Gear Solid, for which Kojima is well-known for, and which was also highly praised here in the States. The concept of the story is different, but Americans have never been afraid to try something new, that's not the issue here at all; it just a lame excuse. This is about a lack of resonance for a particular audience, and it has nothing to do with FPS's.

"Also, who said anything about "high society"?"

Kojima. He brought up the fact that the French and Italians, who are considered by many to be amongst some of the most cultured peoples in all the world, had the sensibility to fully appreciate his "very original product", whereas Americans are too enthralled with their lower-flying FPS's to grasp the genius of his new "original" concept.

Again, if this was merely about a particular brand of genre not being able to connect with far-west audiences, then other genres that were introduced here would not have blown-up to be so successful. Everything has a point of origin...

And further, I don't see how Kojima's Death Stranding is really all that groundbreaking in terms of functionality (conceptually - artistically - okay), which seems to operate like a 3rd-person open-world game, the type of game many Western gamers are used to and would seem to be attracted to...

It is the art itself, the characters, story, world itself, that does not seem to identify with a portion of US gamers, but Kojima does not want to admit that his work could possibly be seen in a negative light with any form of validity. That's why his statements come off as arrogant, not necessarily because what he's saying doesn't have some truth to it, but because of how he tries to rationalize the truth with egotism rather than understanding and respect.

Re: Hideo Kojima Reckons There's a Reason Death Stranding Didn't Connect with American Critics

PunkRx_Lockly

"Americans are great fans of first-person shooters and Death Stranding isn't one, it flies higher."

It has nothing to do with the fact that it isn't a 1st-person shooter since other games like Persona 5, Nier Automata, and Yakuza 0 were very well received here in the US. Perhaps it is just your personal vision for narrative and art that did not wholistically resonate with US consumers, Kojima. Is that a possibility?? No, no, that can't be it... We're just non-cultured bumpkins.

"...but it must be said that the Italians or the French have a different artistic sensibility that allows them to appreciate this kind of very original product."

lol C'mon, Koji. I sense a little bit of hubris here. We all know that the French and Italians have different tastes when it comes to art, cinema, games, etc, and it's probably because they live on a different continent than us yokels over here in 'Murica, but I gotta say, this is pitiful of you to hide behind the opinions of 'high-society' in order to justify the disproportionate lack of interest for your "very original product" here in the US of A. Perhaps it would be more becoming of you to just admit that your art is not a universal truth. :/

Re: Random: Don't Get Our Hopes Up for a SOCOM Reboot, Shuhei Yoshida

PunkRx_Lockly

@CB7Tuner91 SOCOM II was immensely popular in its day and I'd even say that it put the PS2 on the map in terms of 3rd-person competitive multiplayer. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "basic" but you had crouching, prone-position, 'peaking', all sorts of customizable tactical gear and guns that had their own stats and performance, no health regen; you had clans, ranks, multiple game modes, a slew of diverse maps, and fast-paced action. I'm not sure 'basic' is the word I'd use to describe it.

Re: PlayStation Needs to Evolve to Keep Pace with How People Play, Says Sony

PunkRx_Lockly

Well if they'd stop giving everyone killer PSN sales then maybe people wouldn't be buying digital as much. I think they're the ones responsible for driving this forward, not gamers. People like a good deal, whether it's physical or not (and I have plenty of digital games myself) but if you actually sat down and talked with most gamers I'd bet they'd tell you they prefer to have a physical copy over an incorporeal one.

Re: Jim Ryan: PlayStation's Brand, Content, and Community Mean It Has the Edge Over Stadia

PunkRx_Lockly

I prefer to touch and hold my games thank you very much. I've been with Playstation for a long time and for the most part I'm very satisfied with their exclusives. There's simply no good reason to switch allegiances. In order for them to compete they would have to come up with their own exclusives, otherwise the Stadia will ultimately be a dud (that's my personal prediction actually).

Re: Mini Review: Yakuza 4 Remastered - Uneven Storytelling Holds Back Another Solid Yakuza Title

PunkRx_Lockly

Mm, I've played a bit of 6, and I can tell you that 4 has a much better story, especially when it involves Saejima Taiga. It may not be strung together the best, but that's because four protags are pretty tough to juggle. The mini-games are great as ever though, and each character having different fighting styles is something 6 can't really compete with, which I actually found somewhat boring at times, comparatively. I still maintain that 4 is one of the more fun Yakuza games, and I think it's certainly better than 1, 3, 6, and of course Dead Souls (haven't played 5 yet though). Most regard Zero and Kiwami 2 as the best in the series, but 4 seems to be somewhere in the middle of it all. Just my personal opinion. A little lower score than what I'd give it, but that's okay.

Re: Soapbox: The Outer Worlds Highlights Just How Far Fallout Has Fallen

PunkRx_Lockly

Best rpg I've played in a good long time, probably since Mass Effect (not Andromeda). Everything about the game is pretty much superb. I just have three major qualms:

1. You can't holster your weapon (correct me if I'm wrong). Highly irritating, but strangely manageable.

2. You cannot see your character during cutscenes, only in the menu (which kind of defeats the purpose of in-depth character creation).

3. And three, there is no romance (huge advocate of LUV :} lol).

But yeah, truly a worthy purchase imo, and it's a call-back to the good ol' days when rpgs were first and foremost roleplaying experiences — shooters and gimmick-pigs second or third. Good on Obsidian for answering the call of the fans and delivering this sweet gem to us weary seekers, lol.

Bethesdaaa... they're off in left field right now. I wouldn't be optimistic about ES6 at this point. The way they've decided to conduct business is just disdainful in my opinion, but it's left a gaping hole for other companies (Spiders, Obsidian) to help fill the void and take up the torch, so it very well could be a blessing in disguise. But it's still disappointing to see such IPs get flushed down the toilet nonetheless.

To the future! It's not the best choice, it's the fan's choice (he he).

Re: Guide: Best PS4 RPGs

PunkRx_Lockly

A fun list. I can't say I agree with its structure or some of its entries, but a fun list nonetheless. Honestly, I never liked the Witcher series and consequently never finished Witcher 3 (though I have no doubt its a fine RPG). And Persona 5, although highly stylized and cutesy, was also very repetitive and long-winded. Enjoyable, but the day in day out routine was tiresome. I never finished it either to this day, lol.

I'd have to say my favorite jrpgs are Trails of Cold Steel and the Yakuza series. Both have very good stories and great character development and neither take themselves super seriously.

I also like the Dishonored series since you can go through it without killing a soul or being seen. People often forget that series is actually a lite rp experience.

But yeah, some really good games on this list, no doubt.

Re: Feature: Assassin's Creed Odyssey Season Pass Review - Is It Worth Buying?

PunkRx_Lockly

You get ACIII Remastered, which comes with The Tyranny of King George DLC and also AC Liberation Remastered. Then you get the Legacy of the First Blade DLC, which is... mediocre (imo lol), but the first two episodes of the Fate of Atlantis are pretty well done by comparison with the last episode - Judgment of Atlantis - being, err, well, somewhat disappointing to say the least, but it's still filled with fun times. lol

Still, you get hours an hours of content for a pretty good price. Most people pay 15 dollars to see a 2-hour movie. Here, you're getting upwards of about 300 hours of content (in all) for a comparatively low price. It's really up to you and how much of an AC fan you are, but I'd say yeah, I think it's all pretty worth it.

Re: Feature: PS5 Remasters and Remakes We Want

PunkRx_Lockly

A Red Dead Redemption remake would be good... I'd also like to see Assassin's Creed 1 and 2 remade, and I wish they'd remaster the Mass Effect Trilogy as well. Mm... not much else comes to mind. A Fallout 3 remake could be cool too.