Inevitable (Excessive) Hate - Assassins Creed Shadows

Summary

The video critiques the backlash against Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Shadows, defending the game against exaggerated criticisms fueled by cultural biases and misinformation. The creator discusses how the game, despite its flaws, offers meaningful innovations and attempts to break from the franchise's formula. They express disappointment with the lack of nuanced critique in gaming discussions, where profit-driven outrage often overshadows objective analysis. While acknowledging the game's overmonetization and some missteps, the video highlights Ubisoft's efforts to take risks and push boundaries, leaving the door open for a more balanced appreciation of the game's merits.

Takeaways

• 😀 Criticism of *Assassin's Creed: Shadows* has been driven more by hearsay and outrage culture than by objective analysis.
• 😀 The game has been overly criticized due to pre-release expectations and culture war-driven narratives, without considering its actual merits.
• 😀 Some critics are focused on attacking Ubisoft for its business practices rather than objectively analyzing the game's quality.
• 😀 The length of the credits in the game (over two hours) was used as a point of criticism, though this is an illogical reason to dismiss the game.
• 😀 Critics often refuse to acknowledge when a game improves or fixes issues before its release, showing a lack of flexibility in opinions.
• 😀 There is a growing trend of profit-driven outrage content creators, who capitalize on sensationalism and generate clicks without providing substantial critique.
• 😀 The speaker urges that gamers should be open to changing their opinions when presented with new information about a game post-release.
• 😀 *Assassin's Creed: Shadows* may have some issues but it is not a failure, and it has redeeming qualities that are worth recognizing.
• 😀 Ubisoft's attempt at innovation in *Assassin's Creed: Shadows* deserves some credit, even if the execution wasn't perfect.
• 😀 The rise of anti-woke content creators in gaming has resulted in a toxic, profit-motivated atmosphere that harms genuine, thoughtful critique.
• 😀 The speaker encourages more balanced critiques of the gaming industry, promoting rational thought and recognizing both successes and failures.

Q & A

What is the creator's overall opinion on *Assassin's Creed Shadows*?

The creator is not disappointed with *Assassin's Creed Shadows* as they initially expected. Despite its flaws, they find it enjoyable and appreciate the risks Ubisoft took in attempting something different.

Why does the creator criticize the way people are reacting to *Assassin's Creed Shadows*?

The creator criticizes the reaction because many people are forming their opinions based on hearsay or social media rather than the actual content of the game. They believe this results in a lack of nuanced or constructive critique.

What point is the creator making about the length of the credits in *Assassin's Creed Shadows*?

The creator highlights that some people criticized the game for having overly long credits, even though the number of people working on the game is not inherently negative. They question why people would attack the game for this and argue that it's a misplaced criticism.

What role does profit-driven outrage play in the critique of *Assassin's Creed Shadows*?

The creator believes that much of the outrage surrounding the game is profit-motivated. Content creators exploit controversy to attract clicks, subscribers, and revenue, often exaggerating or distorting their critiques to make money.

How does the creator suggest people should evaluate *Assassin's Creed Shadows*?

The creator suggests that people should evaluate the game based on its actual content, taking into account both its flaws and redeeming qualities. They advocate for rational, objective critiques instead of radicalizing opinions based on preconceived notions.

What does the creator think of Ubisoft's attempt to innovate with *Assassin's Creed Shadows*?

The creator appreciates Ubisoft's attempt at innovation in *Assassin's Creed Shadows*. They recognize that the game includes some new systems and ideas, even if these attempts don't always land perfectly.

How does the creator view the role of social media in shaping opinions about the game?

The creator believes social media plays a significant role in shaping opinions, often leading to knee-jerk reactions without a full understanding of the game. They feel that people are too quick to jump on negative bandwagons based on misinformation.

What does the creator think about the criticism of Ubisoft's development practices, such as the number of people working on the game?

The creator feels that criticisms about the number of developers involved in the game are unfair. They argue that just because a game has a large team working on it doesn't automatically make it bad, and such criticisms are often made without context.

How does the creator compare the criticism of *Assassin's Creed Shadows* to past gaming controversies?

The creator compares it to past controversies like the criticism of *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2*, pointing out that outrage-based critiques often fade when the claims are proven wrong. They feel that these sensational criticisms tend to be short-lived and often lack depth.

What is the creator's ultimate message about how to critique games like *Assassin's Creed Shadows*?

The creator encourages a more thoughtful and balanced approach to game criticism. They emphasize the importance of engaging with new information, being open to changing opinions, and focusing on the actual content of the game rather than sensationalized narratives.