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[SLoWMoTIoN]

Videogames are not art and the people pushing for the medium to be cosidered as such are insecure individuals too ashamed to admit that they enjoy them as the toys they truly are.

Art is just decoration for snobs!

 

[me0wish]

allow me to suggest you trying Mad Rat Dead demo on PS4/Switch

And on the 30th MAD RAT DEAD it's out!

I'd say Neogaf is infested.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

But you really believe that? Like if you took the exact same game as whatever game you love and improved the visuals it somehow becomes worse?

I view bleeding edge graphics the same way NeoGAF looks at F2P GAAS type games.

Graphics are used to sell games. That's it. Mechanics are why we play games.

I think 100 percent of a games value should be based on the merits of that games gameplay mechanics. Poor visual fidelity can hamper a games mechanics (low frame rate, poor resolution, poor art direction) but after a certain point, the games mechanics are on trial and no level of visual fidelity can improve those mechanics.

I also think games built to be graphical showpieces always offer safe, rote, stale gameplay mechanics because graphics waste so many resources from games and studios. They become games built for everybody because they have to recoup costs.

In other words, my brain shuts off when I see this...

But this was awesome...

 

[dano1]

Red Dead Redemption 2 is BORING!

 

[Daniel Thomas MacInnes]

1. When it comes to “art,” I take the Scott McCloud approach: anything that isn’t geared towards basic survival (avoiding sabre tooth tigers, food, sex) is art. And, yeah, that includes videogames. That said, too many gamers—especially those of us who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s—have been overwhelmed with insecurity and Puritanical Guilt regarding the medium. Relax, get over it, stop feeling like you have to justify anything to anyone. So what of you’re playing with toys? You’re having fun and sharing that fun with others. You’re helping to make the world a better place. And whether you like it or not, you are doomed to become food for worms. Tick, tock, tick, tock.

In short, you should get as much sex, pizza and videogames as you possibly can.

2. The 1995 Sega Saturn Daytona USA is still the best home version of the arcade classic. Learn how to deliberately crash cars and 80-lap endurance mode becomes the greatest video demolition derby in history.

3. I’d rather have an Atari ST than a PC with Windows 10. If I could port files from the word processors, I’d be writing on that computer than Google Docs.

4. There are no good Nintendo 64 emulators and there never will be.

5. An obvious one coming from me, but here goes: Saturn was the best Gen-5 console and Sega’s greatest system. Everyone on this forum should own at least one Japanese console.

6. Atari Jaguar is much better than most people gave credit for, especially now that indie devs are publishing new games for it.

7. ET on Atari 2600 isn’t that bad. If I wrote a book on the 500 worst videogames, that title wouldn’t even make the list.

8. ET Phone Home on Atari 8-bit is one of the creepiest, scariest videogames ever made. Play it in the dark, alone, late at night. I dare ya.

9. All-time scariest game: Minecraft. Or at least the pre-release Minecraft Alpha, when nighttime was completely dark and you couldn’t see monsters until they drop into your lap.

10. Second all-time scariest game: Rescue on Fractalus on Atari 8-bit. Yes, it’s all cheap jump scares, but it’s highly effective and you’ll laugh at yourself for falling for it every time.

 

[TheMay30thMan]

There’s no such thing as a game that wastes your time. You, and only you, are responsible for your time. If you feel like a game isn’t worth your time, stop playing it.

 

[Infested Goblin]

Half Life 2 is The most overrated game in a history of gaming. Nice graphics and physics. Terrible shooting and story. Far cry 2004 was more fun and more revolutionary imo

 

[mcz117chief]

There’s no such thing as a game that wastes your time. You, and only you, are responsible for your time. If you feel like a game isn’t worth your time, stop playing it.

What about unskippable cutscenes? The game can be great and I want to play it but there are mechanics that in the end just waste my time, loadings are a necessary time waster but unskippable cutscenes are unforgivable (unless they are just disguised loading screens). Or very slow menu elements that unnecessarily make the selection take longer? Like the mini cutscene in Final Fantasy XIII every time you switch paradigms (good thing they removed it in XIII-2)? There are plenty of annoying things like that that serve no real purpose but in the end only make the game more tedious for no gain at all.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

There’s no such thing as a game that wastes your time. You, and only you, are responsible for your time. If you feel like a game isn’t worth your time, stop playing it.

tfw you wasted your time replying to this thread

feels good

 

[Guilty_AI]

Videogames are not art and the people pushing for the medium to be cosidered as such are insecure individuals too ashamed to admit that they enjoy them as the toys they truly are.

Its true videogames are not art intrinsically, but they can be art, which in that sense is not much different from music, movies and novels. You take a look at games like Off-peak which are neither fun nor engaging, existing for the sole purpose of being appreciated for what it is, and you really can't describe it as anything but art.

However, I do understand why you might feel that way. There is a certain sense of desperation, especially from gaming journalists, of pushing games as artworks. Worse yet, they do that with games that were designed to appeal to the masses and clearly exist more as products than anything else, games like the new GOW or TLoU. Calling them art is like calling a new Avengers or Star Wars movie art, it doesn't really fit given the nature of their existence.

 

[TheMay30thMan]

tfw you wasted your time replying to this thread

feels good

I wouldn’t be here if I felt like I was wasting my time.

What about unskippable cutscenes? The game can be great and I want to play it but there are mechanics that in the end just waste my time, loadings are a necessary time waster but unskippable cutscenes are unforgivable (unless they are just disguised loading screens). Or very slow menu elements that unnecessarily make the selection take longer? Like the mini cutscene in Final Fantasy XIII every time you switch paradigms (good thing they removed it in XIII-2)? There are plenty of annoying things like that that serve no real purpose but in the end only make the game more tedious for no gain at all.

There are a lot of things in games, especially unstoppable cutscenes, that I find mundane and time wastey. I’m still the only person responsible for my time though. The games aren’t holding me hostage. I can walk away at any point.

 

[mcz117chief]

There are a lot of things in games, especially unstoppable cutscenes, that I find mundane and time wastey. I’m still the only person responsible for my time though. The games aren’t holding me hostage. I can walk away at any point.

You just said that they waste your time so why aren't they wasting your time? They do waste my time which I could spend playing the game instead I am required to wait, that is quite literally just wasting time. You could say that traffic jams don't waste your time since you can just walk away from them.

 

[TheMay30thMan]

You just said that they waste your time so why aren't they wasting your time? They do waste my time which I could spend playing the game instead I am required to wait, that is quite literally just wasting time. You could say that traffic jams don't waste your time since you can just walk away from them.

Because I’m the only person responsible for my time when participating in a hobby as a pastime. It’s called accountability. I don’t believe your reference to traffic jams are in any way relevant to this conversation. I don’t sit in traffic jams when I’m trying to have a good time.

I’m really happy that this controversial opinion has elicited such a strong reaction from you though

 

[mcz117chief]

Because I’m the only person responsible for my time when participating in a hobby as a pastime. It’s called accountability. I don’t believe your reference to traffic jams are in any way relevant to this conversation. I don’t sit in traffic jams when I’m trying to have a good time.

I’m really happy that this controversial opinion has elicited such a strong reaction from you though

What strong reaction? I just don't see your point so I am trying to understand. Most people consider driving a pleasurable experience and traffic jams a non-pleasurable part of it, it doesn't mean you just abandon your car when you hit a traffic jam just like you don't turn off the game the first instant it starts to waste time. I weigh my options and consider sitting through a familiar unskippable cutscene against the good gameplay that comes after, just like I will wait for the jam to clear to get back to my driving. Both waste your time, both are unnecessary and both exist. Your opinion isn't controversial, it is just non-sensical. I am a painter, waiting for paints to dry is wasting my time since I could instead use that time to actually paint, so some paints waste my time more than others which is why I prefer acrylic since they dry up quite quickly in comparison to oils. Most painters I know don't use oil for that reason, it just wastes too much time, although it has some uses and is better than acrylic in many ways, but to us the time wasted just sitting there waiting for the paint to dry is not worth the extra perks most of the time. So yeah, games do waste your time, waiting in a line for a rollercoaster/doctor wastes your time, traffic jams waste your time and most of all oil paints waste my time!

edit: I think I understand now, so you are saying that there is no "game that wastes your time " literally, as in the WHOLE game. Yeah, I can see that. That is like the least controversial opinion of all times.

 

[wd40]

Jak 2 and Sonic Adventure 2 I think are both really bad games.

 

[TheMay30thMan]

What strong reaction? I just don't see your point so I am trying to understand. Most people consider driving a pleasurable experience and traffic jams a non-pleasurable part of it, it doesn't mean you just abandon your car when you hit a traffic jam just like you don't turn off the game the first instant it starts to waste time. I weigh my options and consider sitting through a familiar unskippable cutscene against the good gameplay that comes after, just like I will wait for the jam to clear to get back to my driving. Both waste your time, both are unnecessary and both exist. Your opinion isn't controversial, it is just non-sensical. I am a painter, waiting for paints to dry is wasting my time since I could instead use that time to actually paint, so some paints waste my time more than others which is why I prefer acrylic since they dry up quite quickly in comparison to oils. Most painters I know don't use oil for that reason, it just wastes too much time, although it has some uses and is better than acrylic in many ways, but to us the time wasted just sitting there waiting for the paint to dry is not worth the extra perks most of the time. So yeah, games do waste your time, waiting in a line for a rollercoaster/doctor wastes your time, traffic jams waste your time and most of all oil paints waste my time!

I'm not saying that things can't be a waste of time. There's an insurmountable number of things that are a waste of time, and that number varies from person to person. What I'm saying is this: When a person plays a videogame of their own accord, and they reach a part of that game that they consider to be a waste of time, that person has sole responsibility of their wasted time. Not the developer, not the game, but the person playing the game. If a person feels like the game is a waste of time, they have every opportunity to walk away. If they don't, they are to blame.

 

[mcz117chief]

I'm not saying that things can't be a waste of time. There's an insurmountable number of things that are a waste of time, and that number varies from person to person. What I'm saying is this: When a person plays a videogame of their own accord, and they reach a part of that game that they consider to be a waste of time, that person has sole responsibility of their wasted time. Not the developer, not the game, but the person playing the game. If a person feels like the game is a waste of time, they have every opportunity to walk away. If they don't, they are to blame.

yeah yeah yeah, I get you now, I have it in my edit

 

[teezzy]

Some of the most popular indie titles ever like Binding of Isaac, Hotline Miami, Enter the Gungeon, Terraria, Among Us, Super Meat Boy, Nuclear Throne are so ugly visually that I could never bring myself to play 'em because they look like cheap crap to me. Even the way they animate just seems off, kinda flash gamey.
I know these are some of the most loved indies ever, but I can't get past that initial hump no matter how fun they supposedly are.

Especially when other studios put out such beautiful games like Hyper Light Drifter, Shovel Knight, Fez, Undertale, Return of the Obra Dinn, Fae Tactics, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, Odallus: The Dark Call, Wizorb, etc.

It's almost like they wanted to give the formerly mentioned games an old school feel without learning how old school games breathe. Idk. Apparently I'm missing out on som efun... but I really can't be bothered. Shit is nasty looking

 

[mcz117chief]

Some of the most popular indie titles ever like Binding of Isaac, Hotline Miami, Enter the Gungeon, Terraria, Among Us, Super Meat Boy, Nuclear Throne are so ugly visually that I could never bring myself to play 'em because they look like cheap crap to me. Even the way they animate just seems off, kinda flash gamey.
I know these are some of the most loved indies ever, but I can't get past that initial hump no matter how fun they supposedly are.

Especially when other studios put out such beautiful games like Hyper Light Drifter, Shovel Knight, Fez, Undertale, Return of the Obra Dinn, Fae Tactics, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, Odallus: The Dark Call, Wizorb, etc.

It's almost like they wanted to give the formerly mentioned games an old school feel without learning how old school games breathe. Idk. Apparently I'm missing out on som efun... but I really can't be bothered. Shit is nasty looking

I get your point but I think Binding of Isaac looks really good technically, very similar to Cuphead which was always praised for its visual presentation and I think both games look excellent. I am by no means a fan of either game, I played them and they aren't really my kinds of games but I give credit where credit is due.

 

[SweetShark]

DOOM Eternal: The Ancient God's - Part 1 is a big disappointment cause of throwing you immediately to harder fights (without giving you time to get used again its gameplay if you didn't touch it for some time), the story and ending is a mess.

 

[SweetShark]

There’s no such thing as a game that wastes your time. You, and only you, are responsible for your time. If you feel like a game isn’t worth your time, stop playing it.

True. I played "Hades" for 50+ hours and I don't feel I wasted time with it at all.

 

[Miles708]

At mere weeks from next-gen, I feel this is the most underwhelming generation change I can remember. One is a frige, the other one a modern-art abomination.
And the only interesting game is a remake.

 

[Carna]

At mere weeks from next-gen, I feel this is the most underwhelming generation change I can remember. One is a frige, the other one a modern-art abomination.
And the only interesting game is a remake.

Next-gen just has me like:

 

[teezzy]

Next gen will get better. Just wait a year and buy your crap then

I'm waiting for the next NHL/Madden and Halo. You can make a more informed decision even. Not like either console is going anywhere lol

 

[yansolo]

here are some of mine that spark funny convos with my mates:

- ghost of tsushima is nowhere near as good as people make it out to be, other than the visuals, everything else is mediocre. Its basically an assassins creed game, way overhyped. (i will definitely praise suckerpunch for 0 mictro-transactions and the free content)

- nintendo games have been average for years, with zelda botw being one of the most overrated games ever, if it didnt have the zelda name on the cover it would be a 6-7/10 game max.

- i dont see big deal with the halo franchise, i get halo on the xbox was the first time a pc quality fps was on a console, but going as far as to say they are the best shooters of all time? there are heaps of shooters that are way better

- i cant believe people still play world of warcraft

- resi 4 ruined the survival horror genre for years and i dont think it deserves all the praise it gets

- as much as i love final fantasy 7, final fantasy 9 is easily the best in the series, itll prob never happen but i hope they remake it at some point

 

[Bakkus]

I view bleeding edge graphics the same way NeoGAF looks at F2P GAAS type games.

Graphics are used to sell games. That's it. Mechanics are why we play games.

I think 100 percent of a games value should be based on the merits of that games gameplay mechanics. Poor visual fidelity can hamper a games mechanics (low frame rate, poor resolution, poor art direction) but after a certain point, the games mechanics are on trial and no level of visual fidelity can improve those mechanics.

I also think games built to be graphical showpieces always offer safe, rote, stale gameplay mechanics because graphics waste so many resources from games and studios. They become games built for everybody because they have to recoup costs.

In other words, my brain shuts off when I see this...

But this was awesome...

Whiplash is almost as ridiculously over the top as Avengers is. At least with Avengers it makes sense from a thematical point of view...

 

[mcjmetroid]

Only played 1 Devil May Cry game ever and it was V and I thought it fucking sucked.

Very disappointed after loving the Bayonetta games.

 

[Darkmakaimura]

Spoiler: Major Last of Us Spoiler

Remember that scene in Silence of the Lambs where you see Buffalo Bill dancing and he has no schmekel? That grossed me out and that is exactly the feeling I had when I saw Abby getting fudge packed and you see she has no boobs. It really disturbed me and I won't ever buy or play the game just for that alone. Oh have mercy.

 

[fighterman101]

For me, I think Halo 5 is the best Halo out of the whole series. The gameplay, level design, graphics, sounds, enemy variety, multiplayer ect was top notch. Only thing I didn't care about is the story, but that's the thing. I never cared for Halo's storyline just like doom..

 

[NeonGhost]

Loot boxes isn’t gambling and shouldn’t be illegal

 

[SolidSlug]

Today, I thought I would play Call of Duty for a bit...

Tried CoD WW2, and it wanted me to download 30GB before I could play.

Tried CoD BO4, and it wanted to download a 40GB “patch” before I could play.

A little sore at this point, but I popped in my CoD MW (2019) disc, and it wanted to install a 60GB “patch” before I could play.

I canceled my BO Cold War pre-order. Discs still exist, use them.

 

[timmyp53]

Today, I thought I would play Call of Duty for a bit...

Tried CoD WW2, and it wanted me to download 30GB before I could play.

Tried CoD BO4, and it wanted to download a 40GB “patch” before I could play.

A little sore at this point, but I popped in my CoD MW (2019) disc, and it wanted to install a 60GB “patch” before I could play.

I canceled my BO Cold War pre-order. Discs still exist, use them.

You can't put multiplayer patches on a disc but yes I get your point. One of the advantages of being single-player focused gamer.

 

[Hunnybun]

The graphics in TLOU2 aren't particularly good.

Absolutely excellent in a few scenes, but the on the whole Uncharted 4 is the nicer looking game. I'm not sure if it's just how their engine works, but it's got a similar, very slightly cartoony, style to the Uncharted games, and while that works fine for those games, TLOU and its sombre subject matter really needed to be more photorealistic, like Death Stranding, or even Days Gone.

Plenty of other Sony exclusives are better looking: Spider-Man, God of War, Death Stranding, maybe Horizon.

 

[TheInfamousKira]

Here's a few off the top of my head:

-Mass Effect (the original) was janky as fuck and people who place it above ME3 are just unhappy with the ending, since the first game has several hurdles that make it hard to appreciate with the QoL changes made to games in the gen following. Just a few that stick out to me on replays: inventory limit, super wishy washy sticky cover, and elevator loading screens. Also, item number 1.b...

Mass Effect 1's intro mission in Eden Prime is a bad opening level.

-The Last of Us Part II is both much better than most of this forum says and much worse than what most of Resetera says. It's a wholly "just okay," game.

-The facial animations in TLOU2 aren't cutting edge, they're fucking eldritch horror. Uncanny valley. Perhaps too good for the current technology surrounding them. I dunno. I can't be the only one who watched Abby's facial expressions when she was hearing about Mel being pregnant and was instantly taken out of the game because compared to the rest of her body her face was just like Charles Manson in the courtrooming it all over the place.

 

[teezzy]

Video games in general are a major waste of time, and people who look down on you for playing them are absolutely correct when they assert you should've grown out of it by now. Even more of a time sink is posting on forums like this, especially if you're bickering over your opinion on timewasters with total strangers or trying to rise among the hierarchy.

Wed all be much better off lifting weights or reading non fiction or classic literature any time we feel the urge to post here or play games.

 

[Danjin44]

Video games in general are a major waste of time

If you are not enjoying it then sure but I don’t consider enjoying my favourite hobby as “waste of time”.

Playing Video Games is no different than watching movies or listening to music, they are all entertainment.

 

[teezzy]

If you are not enjoying it then sure but I don’t consider enjoying my favourite hobby as “waste of time”.

Playing Video Games is no different than watching movies or listening to music, they are all entertainment.

Time is your most valuable resource and it is best utilized doing things which provide self improvement in one form or another. Video games can develop problem solving skills, but are often just a way to kill time. Same with movies. Music is better when you're exercising or studying, etc, imho.

What you say is true if you're in a very comfortable position in life, and everyone needs to relax every so often, but with some of the hours some people sink into Destiny 2, they'd be so much better off if they spent that time doing pushups or reading about economics or something.

Just my thoughts. Obviously, I don't spend my time as efficiently here as I'd like. My post count is reflective of that.

 

[Danjin44]

Time is your most valuable resource and it is best utilized doing things which provide self improvement in one form or another. Video games can develop problem solving skills, but are often just a way to kill time. Same with movies. Music is better when you're exercising or studying, etc, imho.

What you say is true if you're in a very comfortable position in life, and everyone needs to relax every so often, but with some of the hours some people sink into Destiny 2, they'd be so much better off if they spent that time doing pushups or reading about economics or something.

Just my thoughts. Obviously, I don't spend my time as efficiently here as I'd like. My post count is reflective of that.

I like enjoying life and enjoying my favorite hobby is part of that, it's that simple.

 

[mcz117chief]

Wed all be much better off lifting weights or reading non fiction or classic literature any time we feel the urge to post here or play games.

I do that and still play videogames. That is what loading screens are for, pump some iron during those Classic literature is pretty trash though, much like classic music. There are only few books from the classical era that I consider decent and same goes for music, Dvořák is fucking legendary (Tchaikovsky too), everybody else is meh.

 

[teezzy]

I like enjoying life and enjoying my favorite hobby is part of that, it's that simple.

Sounds as though you're ultimately a happier person than me. I wish you well.

 

[mcz117chief]

Sounds as though you're ultimately a happier person than me. I wish you well.

In the end just do what you enjoy and don't diss other people for doing the same. If you enjoy counting birds in the sky don't let anybody tell you otherwise. Like you said, time is one of your most precious commodities, so spend it doing what you think will make you happier or better person.

 

[teezzy]

You guys are burning up my flame shield!!! Staaaaahhh-ppppppuuuuhhh

 

[ChoosableOne]

I like Rdr 2 a lot. Animations are not that slow. Shooting is same as old entries, not bad, not perfect, just enough quality. I'm looking forward to uncover more story details. I saw something on the internet and it ruined my experience a little but what can you do, it's part of the LTTP.

 

[bender]

I view bleeding edge graphics the same way NeoGAF looks at F2P GAAS type games.

Graphics are used to sell games. That's it. Mechanics are why we play games.

I think 100 percent of a games value should be based on the merits of that games gameplay mechanics. Poor visual fidelity can hamper a games mechanics (low frame rate, poor resolution, poor art direction) but after a certain point, the games mechanics are on trial and no level of visual fidelity can improve those mechanics.

I also think games built to be graphical showpieces always offer safe, rote, stale gameplay mechanics because graphics waste so many resources from games and studios. They become games built for everybody because they have to recoup costs.

In other words, my brain shuts off when I see this...

But this was awesome...

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

Shut up nerd!

Based.

I like enjoying life and enjoying my favorite hobby is part of that, it's that simple.

This is his opinion! Leave SPIKE ALONE!

 

[Miles708]

Time is your most valuable resource and it is best utilized doing things which provide self improvement in one form or another. Video games can develop problem solving skills, but are often just a way to kill time. Same with movies. Music is better when you're exercising or studying, etc, imho.

What you say is true if you're in a very comfortable position in life, and everyone needs to relax every so often, but with some of the hours some people sink into Destiny 2, they'd be so much better off if they spent that time doing pushups or reading about economics or something.

Just my thoughts. Obviously, I don't spend my time as efficiently here as I'd like. My post count is reflective of that.

Totally agree, and I say that as an avid gamer who thinks this is the best generation ever.

Videogames are time sinks and the very concept of grinding and crafting should be a penal offence. Also, you don't learn anything most of the time.

On the other hand, doing more productive work (like playing an instrument or painting, or learn history, or learn anything at all) is an activity that requires SO MUCH MORE ENERGY than playing braindead games , and most of the time, when you're down, you just need some happy colours . For now, I've found a middle ground by playing Dreams, and learning logical thinking in the meantime. Not perfect, but fun and not brain dead

 

[8BiTw0LF]

(Super) Mario is the most uninteresting character in gaming

 

[Damien Crowley]

Based.

This is his opinion! Leave SPIKE ALONE!

You mean...let him rest in peace?

 

[SolidSlug]

You can't put multiplayer patches on a disc but yes I get your point. One of the advantages of being single-player focused gamer.

I agree with that; I really do. But actual code changes or even library updates shouldn't be tens-of-gigabyte patches.
It's much more likely that these games ship with non-final assets, because "it's possible" and because "it's not our problem if you have to wait for hours for this crap to download".

I have no problem with games that copy a 100GB from a BD to system storage.
Or DLC you explicitly agree to download; those can even include tons of assets and other non-game-code stuff.

I have issues with games that require me to download tens of gigabytes after their launch, just because they were launched before they were ready to launch.

 

[sobaka770]

All walking simulator games are artsy-wannabe trash apart from Gone Home. Yes, this includes Firewatch, Edith Finch and Ethan Carter. They try too hard to be "art" and end up being 4 hour of pseudo-mystery without anything important to say which is actually a disservice to videogames as art form.

Spoiler: Spoilers for all these games

In order of best to shittiest.

- Gone Home - haunting house, mystery of the family gone, messages and secret passages. Ends up on a nice reveal without breaking the immersion, remaining very surpisingly realistic and human. The fact that there's no ghost or actual mystery and the girl is lesbian is all well done. It just comes together organically and never stretches the disbelief to the point of incredulity.

- Firewatch - it was alright? I guess? It was not great but I wasn't insulted? A whole lot of mystery about missing girls and fires and it ends up all being a bunch of nothing. You're pretty much only anxious because the information is somehow not known to protagonist, like the fate of the girls and the presence of government camp in his area of the forest. The story about the previous watcher is sad but ultimately comes to nothing as well, his motivations and actions don't make sense much either. The one thing that sets it above the ones below in the list is that it's technically a grounded story, so just like Gone Home it makes sense in its world and even simple explanations are good enough. But even then it ends on a whimper for me.

- What Remains Edith Finch - people seem to love this game and recommend it to people interested in the genre. All I saw is a bunch of nonsense about an apparently cursed family each dying in different circumstances. I don't get the love for this game at all, in fact I think I hate it because a vapid pointless story should not receive such praise, in fact it should be panned for saying so much about nothing at all. Let me be clear - this is not a narrative achievement on any level because the narrative doesn't have any idea behind it, no message, no real depth. You come out of it stone cold despite the sad music and sad events on which it relies to make you believe it's more meaningful that it is. Remove the cheap trick and it's barren and barebones - just short sequences and a sad music when someone dies. Yes, I suppose it's weird and artsy in terms of presentation and you get to catch a rabbit with an owl but if there's absolutely no point to it then it's a waste of developer effort and of my time. There's nothing to reflect on here, even each character death doesn't carry any meaning or empathy really.

- The Vanishing of Ethan Carter - you know how Edith Finch has no real message and doesn't really explain the whole curse? Well this is much MUCH worse - it's a story with an explanation which simply sucks. So hold on tight because this one is ME3 ending level of shite. So you play a game as a detective who receives a message from a boy called Ethan Carter and you investigate what happened to him. There's a cult and it possesses the boy's family members and they all die or kill each other etc etc. Spooky stuff, right? So here we go: a true ending is that all the horror and supernatural events including the detective investigating are just a pre-death imagination of a boy suffocating on house fumes that was accidentally set on fire by his negligent mom. Yep, the whole thing is basically a flashback of a dying child's mind on fumes. It's not just bad, it's frankly insulting as a narrative twist. There's no meaning to the story once again, the house was on fire by accident. There's a theme that the boy was abused or didn't like his family which represented the vile cult but the ending totally botches all that. This is trash. This is the writer so far up his/her ass that they can see the light coming out of the mouth and they are probably proud of what they wrote cause nobody expected this. Well yes, you don't expect me to type ERSZDGDSAFGD either randomly but look at how unpredictable I am.

- BONUS: Everybody's Gone to Rapture - I mean I didn't finish it. I just couldn't. This game makes a cardinal sin of ultra-slooow-walking in a game with nothing else todo. I think it was a graphics engine showcase, cause the only reason I could think of is that they cranked up the textures and density so high they couldn't load them fast enough if player could walk faster. In that case: fuck your graphics, the game is unplayable and wastes my time. I heard the ending is shit as well so I just saved myself a few hours of my life.

If these games keep going on - either write meaningful stories, or keep it simple. Clearnly none of these indie studios have the writing chops to pull it off. I like videogame stories and these games should be the pinnacle of it all cause there's nothing to do but to write a gripping good story. What a waste.