I hope this follows the EA model of becoming bargain bin in a few months because I actually really want to play this, but I also REALLY don't want to drop more than 40 on it either.
. I don't understand the impulse to protect oneself from being perceived as a 'dupe'. It's a given that we're just trying to have fun here, and it's okay to entertain different paths to enjoyment with a game, even if it didn't work for you. I think Jeff and Brad get that. I'm not sure everyone else does.
The realization that there is a ton of money in this, and very blatant in-game advertising. Hard for me to respect a game that's shoving Monster brand energy drinks in my face while trying to make candid points about social media, it's main source of advertising... Just reminds me of FF15 again with all their meta bs.
Were in an age where huge corporations are pushing the limit on what people will let them get away with, with more and more money being funneled into millionaires pockets.
So not wanting to be duped by marketing teams trying to push something in your face as often as possible, all while fishing for the best narrative for publicity, in till you hand them money, is a pretty reasonable stance. It's aggressive marketing and an aggressive "hell no" in kind by a % of those seeing it.
(Just being a bitter ass here, I do want to at least see what this game is about, but I fully understand the push-back)
I feel like I'm a little disappointed with Giant Bomb's coverage of this whole thing. Now, given the fact that there's no way I can divorce myself from the fact that I am a fan of most of Kojima's work, and that I've yet to finish Death Stranding, there is a certain petulance going on here. (Petulance might be too harsh a word but I cannot think of a more appropriate word, anyway.)
Nobody has to like this game, but why does Giant Bomb's coverage feel so mean?
I have to say that fanbases cause this sort of behaviour. Kojima is 100% placed on this platinum pedestal by his fans and so vehemently proclaimed as a genius of game design, when it's beyond easy to see where he convolutes his ideas and sidelines actual game design for tiring exposition and long winded narratives that tell you the same things over and over again.
I'm 100% with detractors that say over time Kojima's games just got so damn pretentious (With MGS4 being downright insulting) but again, that is in large part by how his games are presented by his fans. There are plenty of developers making 'deep' stories that having something to say about society, but people just enjoy them and move on. Nier Automata comes to mind, people love that game and it's message, but you don't see the same type divisiveness in the community.
Part of me says it's because people aren't as defensive and upset when they see people disliking it. Where as I see on the regular people who are perplexed if you don't worship Kojima-san. (Reminds me of Gabe, before he let everyone down)
Ultimately I dislike idolizing one person who, lets not forget, had a huge team of talented people working on this too, yet we see only that 1 face, and hear how perfect that face is.
The whole idea of counter-culture is based on the idea that popularity = good, and the push-back from skeptics who say "well, no. It's not" and I think games that have a heavy counter-culture/anti-following probably have a legit reason for it.
Honestly, even though your review kinda reflected what I thought it was going to be. It only made me more curious about it... It's on the HZD engine, it looks amazing, and it's weird af. I'll probably pick it up on sale... one day. The time investment seems ridiculous though, it's the reason I have no interest in RDR2.. So I doubt I'll enjoy it.
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