Danjin44
The nicest person on this forum
If you fan of Japanese games, this year has been phenomenal.
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Astro Bot becomes highest rated game/expansion on metacritic for 2024
- Thread starter cormack12
- Start date
kevboard
Member
it's proof that there's apparently not a high bar to clear to be seen as a 9/10 platfomer, as long as the production value is there.
Topher
Identifies as young
You are confusing your opinion with proof
kevboard
Member
well, my opinion is that having zero innovation and mid gameplay variety isn't the hallmarks of a 9/10 platformer.
if we look at indy games in the genre, we see way more innovative concepts with way more interesting gameplay concepts, all while also being highly polished but at a lower production value.
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ap_puff
Member
Zero innovation?
kevboard
Member
yes... any counter arguments there? I can't name 1 idea in that game that isn't obviously derivative
ap_puff
Member
??? Every game is derivative though?
kevboard
Member
sure, but I can't name a single thing in this game that isn't almost directly lifted from another platfomer, while the base controls of your character are as generic as it gets.
the only unique idea here is maybe the fact that hovering shoots a laser downwards. but that isn't new of course and was already in its predecessors, so it's not a new idea either.
ap_puff
Member
Ok, but that has no real bearing on how good the game is. Elden ring has a shitton of ideas that were recycled from previous souls games, does that mean it shouldn't have won goty in 2022? Come on now
kevboard
Member
innovation isn't the only criteria here. I also feel like the game has very mundane level design, mediocre platforming mechanics, and lacks variety.
the main aspect of it that are good are the production value, polish and fan service. the boss battles are decent as well and almost stand out compared to the extremely mediocre rest tbh., which makes it even more obvious how lackluster some of the levels are.
IFireflyl
Gold Member
I haven't played the game, and even I know that you're talking out of your ass.
kevboard
Member
so you are literally talking out of your ass while accusing me of doing that... hilarious.
what exactly do you think I'm wrong about? I can go into detail why I think these things if needed.
ap_puff
Member
Okay... You're entitled to your opinion but mundane level design and mediocre platforming mechanics? Lol sure...
SlimySnake
Flashless at the Golden Globes
+1what a disgrace of a year lol, consistent with the shitshow this gen has been.
its not a bad game, but its a rather safe, basic, simple, and completely forgettable game and giving it a 94 is absolutely insane.
I dont know what happened to critics this gen after a fairly decent last gen when they refused to overrate games. Now everything is overrated by at least 10 points. sometimes 20. Dragon Age is not an 82. its a good 70 game. starfield is not an 82. its flawed as fuck. Halo INfinite an 87? are you fucking kidding me? Ratchet an 89? wtf is going on?
maybe compared to the other trash thats been releasing all gen, astro bot is a 94 but ffs have some standards.
p.s dont even get me started on ff7 rebirth averaging 93. last gen bloodborne averaged 92 in the same year witcher 3, mgsv, and batman ak came out.
kevboard
Member
Okay... You're entitled to your opinion but mundane level design and mediocre platforming mechanics? Lol sure...
you have exactly 3 moves. jump, hover, punch. very simplistic and low skill-ceiling in an already ridiculously easy game.
the developers added arbitrary invisible barriers to SOME edges of platforms that will literally stop you from walking off. this isn't only, again, dumbing down an already ridiculously easy game, it also creates a dissonance between the player input and the corresponding action in the game.
since not every platform has such an invisible barrier, and since the choise of which have them and which don't seems arbitrary and not based on criteria like a deadly pit or progression loss, it's jarring at times as you expect to walk off of somewhere only to get stopped.
these barriers will also snap you into place if you land partly over the edge, which also feels bad.
the only additional variety is added through powerups. most of these are also just a 1 trick pony with only semi interesting use cases. having a vertical or horizontal booster (lifted from Mario Sunshine btw) is maybe interesting for a few minutes, but soon just turns into "press R2 here" moments. I think the ridiculous lack of any challenge here adds to this feeling of "oh, it's a press R2 moment again" as skill isn't really a factor
so yeah, mediocre platforming.
none of it is bad, or broken, or anything... it's just so uninspired and flat.
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Men_in_Boxes
Snake Oil Salesman
Just as every banana has been plucked from the vine.
A banana plucked from 1998 era of 3D platformers is a maggot filled pile of black mush.
Pick your banana from more recent developments with more room to grow.
ap_puff
Member
No I don't want Astro's Extraction Shooter Playroom
Fess
Member
Great platformer on the same level as some of Nintendo’s best imo. Only really tarnished by a lack of challenge outside of the symbols levels. And should’ve been boosted with the Pro. Should’ve swapped the space ship to a Pro for Pro owners.
It was my GOTY half way through but in the end I got tired of replaying levels and played it just to walk over the finish line.
Fantastic ending!
9/10
It was my GOTY half way through but in the end I got tired of replaying levels and played it just to walk over the finish line.
Fantastic ending!
9/10