I tried Death Stranding again...

Summary

The video script discusses the creator's experience with video game critiques, focusing on the polarizing reception of 'Death Stranding.' Despite initial criticism, the creator revisits the game, acknowledging its flaws, particularly in narrative and dialogue, while appreciating its unique gameplay and core mechanics. The script reflects on the importance of balanced critique, the potential impact on game development, and the nostalgia of revisiting the game years later, finding enjoyment in its core loop and contemplating improvements for a sequel.

Takeaways

• 🕹️ The speaker is a video game reviewer who covers major releases critically, offering both praise and critique.
• 🤔 The speaker finds it frustrating when critique is met with resistance from sycophantic fans who refuse to acknowledge any issues with their favorite games.
• 🔥 The video on 'Death Stranding' was one of the most polarizing critiques the speaker has made, despite being one of their favorites.
• 📺 The central theme of the critique on 'Death Stranding' is the difficulty of discussing its shortcomings due to the fervent defense from its fan base.
• 🎮 The speaker enjoys the core gameplay loop of 'Death Stranding', finding it relaxing and satisfying, akin to a hiking simulator.
• 🛻 Critiques of 'Death Stranding' often centered around the game's writing, narrative, and certain mechanics like vehicle controls that felt clunky and unpolished.
• 🎭 The speaker criticizes the acting and dialogue in 'Death Stranding', pointing out scenes that felt nonsensical and poorly delivered.
• 💡 The speaker believes that acknowledging a game's flaws can be beneficial for future iterations, as seen with the developers of 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance' who engaged with their critique.
• 🔄 The speaker suggests that a sequel to 'Death Stranding' could be improved with refinements, a leaner story, and better understanding of the game's core mechanics.
• 🎓 The speaker reflects on the possibility of having a nuanced opinion about a game, appreciating certain aspects while critiquing others.
• 🎮 The speaker expresses a desire to replay 'Death Stranding' actively, possibly streaming it, due to the nostalgic feelings it evokes and the current positive feelings towards the game.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is the creator's experience with video game critiques, particularly their thoughts on 'Death Stranding' and the challenges of critiquing games with devoted fan bases.

What is the critique format in video game reviews?

The critique format in video game reviews involves a critical evaluation of the game, examining what works and what doesn't, and assessing the game's robustness under scrutiny.

What was the creator's stance on 'Death Stranding'?

The creator had a mixed stance on 'Death Stranding', appreciating certain aspects of the game while also criticizing others, such as the writing and narrative.

Why did the creator find the fan reactions to 'Death Stranding' frustrating?

The creator found fan reactions frustrating because some fans refused to acknowledge any potential issues with the game, which the creator believes hinders constructive criticism and discussion.

What impact can video game critiques have on the industry?

Video game critiques can have a real impact on the industry by potentially influencing the design and development of future games, as seen with the developers of 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance' who engaged with the creator's critique.

How does the creator describe the core gameplay loop of 'Death Stranding'?

The creator describes the core gameplay loop of 'Death Stranding' as satisfying and relaxing, involving the task of delivering packages across the game's map, which becomes increasingly complex and enjoyable as the game progresses.

What issues did the creator have with the narrative and writing of 'Death Stranding'?

The creator had issues with the nonsensical plot elements, baffling scenes, and poor dialogue and acting in 'Death Stranding', which they felt detracted from the overall experience.

What is the creator's opinion on Hideo Kojima's role in 'Death Stranding'?

The creator believes that Hideo Kojima's control over every aspect of 'Death Stranding', from directing to writing, led to some of the game's issues, particularly in areas where he may not excel, such as dialogue.

What does the creator suggest for a potential 'Death Stranding' sequel?

The creator suggests that a sequel should focus on refining the core gameplay loop and providing a more understandable and lean story, rather than a bloated and confusing one.

How does the creator feel about revisiting 'Death Stranding' after some time?

Upon revisiting 'Death Stranding', the creator found themselves with relatively positive feelings towards the game, despite their initial criticisms, and felt a sense of nostalgia and enjoyment while playing.

What technical issue did the creator encounter when trying to play 'Death Stranding' on their PlayStation 5?

The creator encountered an issue where they could not play 'Death Stranding' on their PlayStation 5 because they had the director's cut version, which is disc driveless, and their original disc-based version was incompatible with the upgraded edition.