>>184286
As long as you are given the option to skip cutscenes on a repeat playthrough there is no problem

>>184303
>More games should follow the Portal route of "here's all this dialogue you can listen to as you're actually playing the game".

Do you have ANY idea how extremely hard it is to design a game that way?

>>184308
Many VNs are simply an evolution of the same kind of design as old adventure games however. There really isn't much difference between them and something like Walking Dead or Wolf Among Us. Yes the choices are more frequent in those two, but said choice is typically an illusion anyway.

Then again the term "video game" is becoming less and less helpful as the time goes on.

>>184311
The Zork games remind me of those. Actually many of the FMV game of the '90s share a lot with visual novels if you strip out the pizzles.

>>184313
>pizzle
>noun
>1.the penis of an animal, especially a bull.
>2.a whip made from a bull's pizzle.

I learned a new word today.

>>184319
pizzle my nizzle

>Game begins in incredibly narrow confining corridors with no visual flair whatsoever
>Phenomenal graphical glitching throughout the Killer Croc fight
>Everything is just a lot less polished than the previous two games
>Ugh, Black Mask
>Recycling areas and assets from the first two games at the speed of light (did anyone ACTUALLY want to go back to that fucking Steel Mill?)
>The city is COMPLETELY deserted - they couldn't even be bothered to model civilians for you to rescue during Crimes in Progress

What a crying shame-

>Cutie fangirl Barbara Gordon (with...incredibly terrible tech-speak but still)
>The villain is actually the Joker
>It's the story of how the Joker became fixated on Batman
>And about the beginning of Batman and Gordon's relationship
>Both are actually handled really well
>Bane is a reasonably intelligent and well-spoken dude, and it explains why he's a big dumb brute in the first two games
>Alfred
>TEAMING UP WITH GORDON TO FIGHT THUGS
>BEATING THE SHIT OUT OF THE JOKER IN A CHURCH TO 'CAROL OF THE BELLS'
>It turns out that the use of the Arkham name makes perfect sense after all, despite Arkham itself never appearing

It's too bad the best narrative of the three games was attached to easily the most lackluster game. It really shows how much the Arkham games depend on polish, from environmental design to just making sure things like goons being trapped in walls where you can't fight them doesn't happen. But at the same time, I did have a good time with it, and the writing is markedly improved from the first two games (even if I do still object to the game asking me to pay attention to Black Mask, even temporarily).

Also, I think some of the new gadgets they give you were a mistake. The shock gloves break combat challenges hilariously, and the Heavy Reel remote launcher makes most predator sequences trivial, especially once you've upgraded it to have three shots.

>X-men and Simpsons arcade game getting delisted from PSN
Goddammit, not again.

Oh, also.

>Amanda Waller in the post-credits scene
>But it's skinny new 52 Waller
>But it's the same voice as in DCAU

So...many...conflicting...feelings.

>>184330
>>184332
This is a damn good breakdown, largely fits my impressions. Though I had a couple further serious issues with the story (the sheer degree to which not killing only made the villians escalate things, even while everyone else shoots thugs with zero negative consequences, and the continued subpar handling of should-be-badass female chars), neat as some aspects were. (the Harley origin in particular was fairly brilliant)

>>184344
>the sheer degree to which not killing only made the villians escalate things, even while everyone else shoots thugs with zero negative consequences

Yeah, well, that's modern Batman for you. I thought Arkham City actually did a fairly admirable job wrestling with this issue already (City's narrative problems emerged from the incredibly dumb R'as al Ghul nonsense and killing Talia pointlessly, the stuff with the Joker was pretty good), Arkham Origins (as it does in a lot of other ways) is serving as retroactive setup.

>the continued subpar handling of should-be-badass female chars

That I won't disagree with. I was so pumped for Lady Shiva, and then she started spouting a bunch of dumb R'as al Ghul bullshit and my narrative boner deflated instantly.

>>184344
>the sheer degree to which not killing only made the villians escalate things, even while everyone else shoots thugs with zero negative consequences

Yeah, well, that's modern Batman for you. I thought Arkham City actually did a fairly admirable job wrestling with this issue already (City's narrative problems emerged from the incredibly dumb R'as al Ghul nonsense and killing Talia pointlessly, the stuff with the Joker was pretty good), Arkham Origins (as it does in a lot of other ways) is serving as retroactive setup.

>the continued subpar handling of should-be-badass female chars

That I won't disagree with. I was so pumped for Lady Shiva, and then she started spouting a bunch of dumb R'as al Ghul bullshit and my narrative boner deflated instantly.

>>184348
Totally serious here: We have this character earnestly baffled and asking Batman why he saved their life. The story has at least one other moment where someone reiterates the question, and at least two flashbacks to the original time it was asked.

Does that question ever get ANSWERED, by anyone? All I saw was a single comment by Batman of "that's not how I do things," which is essentially "because."

>>184355

It's kind of implicitly answered in that scene right before Batman shocks Bane back to life. It's not a great answer but honestly, there isn't a really good answer to that question. The circle of 'Batman won't kill anybody' and 'progressively more and more murderous Joker' is all but impossible to square.

>>184356
>The circle of 'Batman won't kill anybody' and 'progressively more and more murderous Joker' is all but impossible to square.
It's quite easy to square. Batman is a psychopath. Killing someone JUST THIS ONCE would be for him like an alcoholic having a drink JUST THIS ONCE. He would get addicted and start offing everyone.

Plus, he'd lose his working relationship with the police as he would officially be guilty of murder and it would be undeniable that he is a dangerous vigilante with no accountability for his actions, and therefore a danger to the welfare of society.

>>184358
That is so bullshit and you know it.

The Joker is popular so it cuts down on questions about why if Batman kills him he's back.

It's just lazy writing.

>>184358
I've always preferred the explanation that Batman is a crazy person that can't handle losing anyone, even if that someone is the Joker. Since it's not an attempt at showing that Batman's a good person for letting Joker keep on killing.

>>184359
You seem to be entirely unaware how easy it would be to make the exact same argument against you, only instead of pointing out how not killing the Joker is due to his popularity, I would point out that Batman killing him would make him "more of a badass" or some similarly juvenile justification.

>>184363
Don't be stupid, Joker is too heavily established an A-list supervillain for Detective Comics to ever consider killing him off.

Holy Shit, Canada is awesome.

Sang-Froid Intro Music
>>184399
Sang Froid kicks ass. One of the most refreshing titles I've played in years.

>>184432

Never before have I been so upset at my hard drive for not having a slower access speed.

>>184432
It really is. The visuals, the story, the ambiance, the music, everything just clicked together so well.

I made this little thing to make a 100% subjective list of things that matter to me while mulling over which handheld to buy. Already kinda had a hunch, but was still surprised the Vita actually pulled through. It wouldn't have stood a sliver of a chance, if I wasn't a massive weeb, though. Also, the list of upcoming 3DS games is way more vague than the Vita at this point, so that also played a big part in how this thing turned out. Vita has a lot of promising things on the horizon. 3DS has Monster Hunter 4 and nothing else that really grabbed my attention. Really, as said, this is a totally subjective thing I made to visualize my thought process while trying to decide, but I'm just gonna post it here, because it might help someone else who's in the same position or somebody might want to add something that seems like a glaring omission.

WOW, Yaiba is GROSS even for Team Ninja.

like absolutely, unapologetically fucking disgusting; like them of all people trying to make a Deadpool without any of his small redeeming factors.

>>184459
And yes, I know about Grant Kirkhope and Inafune.

Still gross.

>>184458
I think an objective list would be far more helpful.

This just reminds me I couldn't snag a good deal on a vita. I got an XL for a good price last year and the bundles were even better this year. I'll probably get that PS3/vita bundle whenever it gets out of Europe. (Why is it only in Europe?)

>>184462
If you're trying to go for a "best handheld" kind of argument, yes; >>184458 made the list so s/he could decide which console s/he wanted. They just decided to share it with us.

Hey guys can anyone recomend any good videogame podcasts to listen to.

I already tried SuperBestFriendsCast and GiantBombCast, but I dropped GBC because I don't like them.

>>184469
> but I dropped GBC because I don't like them
We don't like your type around here stranger.

Oh hey, the terrible "important information hidden in audiologs trend" strikes again. The Last of Us spoilers:>There are two voice recorders in the spare rooms right before the operating room. One is Marlene explaining how she refused to kill Joel 'because he's the only one here who understands the weight of this decision' and that she made a promise to her lover, Ellie's mother, to do the procedure. (I may be wrong on that last part)The second one is the surgeon explaining how Ellie's immunity works and how they can turn it into a mass distribution vaccine. He's overjoyed with how successful the plan looks.
I missed those when I played. Boy that makes Joel being a monster WAAAAAAAY less ambiguous!

>>184484
Sure, but we still don't know what they would've done with the cure or if the procedure would've been successful with the tech they had.

>>184486
Your objection doesn't hold water. Yes, there is still a small chance that Joel's actions will NOT lead to the death of thousands. Hell, let's be generous and say the odds that he's caused thousands of people to die are only 1 in 2. How in the flying fuck is that supposed to make him not a monster?

>>184484
>>184486
>>184495
"Welcome to the human race."

He's a Byronic hero; it's what they do, a world built on deception and death isn't worth saving so they'd sooner see it burn to the ground.

He knew himself a villain—but he deem'd
The rest no better than the thing he seem'd;
And scorn'd the best as hypocrites who hid
Those deeds the bolder spirit plainly did.
He knew himself detested, but he knew
The hearts that loath'd him, crouch'd and dreaded too.
Lone, wild, and strange, he stood alike exempt
From all affection and from all contempt

>>184497
Joel is not a hero of any kind, Byronic or otherwise, he is not motivated by some higher ideal or what have you, his goal is singular and selfish: he doesn't want to lose Ellie, regardless of what anyone (including Ellie herself) might think, want, or need. He is a lonely person, not a good one. His monstrosity is a tragic thing, but it's monstrous all the same.

Whoa guys, let's not get into this argument again. I see this constantly, "is Joel a monster?" crap. He definitely is, but you can see why and that's what I like about his character. Even antagonists who do brutal things ought to have a reason for them, even if it's only hinted at. Otherwise you get someone doing brutal things just for the sake of it or a "I'm only here to make conflict" type deal. Even the reasons for David's actions can be surmised, at least if you're familiar with basic apocalypse scenarios.

But the big thing I dislike about this debate is that it frequently gives the Fireflies a free pass. If they got a mass produced cure, would they give it out freely or only to those that support their agenda? I thought we'd learn more about them after their highlight in the intro cutscene and first section of the game, but mostly we just come across their corpses. They also don't seem to have significant production capabilties whereas the military zones can still make weapons and vehicles.

I guess I'm hung up on details, but I'd rather do that than argue over morals, whatever those are. I appreciate that the writers made an ambiguous conflict that doesn't fall apart over the course of the narrative, but a lot of people end up treating it as one of those morality exercises, the whole "a runaway trolley is about to kill 5 people but you can save them if you push 1 in front of it" which typically end up as witchhunts when people don't think exactly like one another.

Well, this got a lot longer than I intended so I'll stop there. Hopefully the next game can follow up well enough.

>>184500
>he is not motivated by some higher ideal or what have you, his goal is singular and selfish

>His monstrosity is a tragic thing, but it's monstrous all the same.

Hey Rodyle, guess what you are describing Joel as?

˙oɹǝɥ ɔᴉuoɹʎq ɐ :ɹǝʍsuɐ ǝɥ┴

>>184514
Except Byronic heroes typically do have some higher ideal they subscribe to. It might not be an ideal we consider "good," but it's an ideal. Lord Byron himself is often considered his own best archetype, and he died fighting for Greek independence.

Joel has nothing of the sort.

>>184507
>I hope the next game can follow up
I hope they don't do another one, it would greatly undermine that game's ending. Sometimes a story is better off standing alone.

>>184519
That is not necessarily the case as I pointed out with the quote from Corsair Conrad, considered the epitome line of the byronic hero.

As for a sequel there would be nothing wrong with it as the universe is solid and interesting but it should follow an entirely different set of characters in a different location.

Oh god, what am I doing? I just bought my Vita. It's not even in the mail yet and I'm already looking at maybe ordering custom skins for it. Once you start throwing away your money for self-indulgent tat, it's a goddamn rabbit hole.

Top Ten Worst Games of 2013 - ProJared

>>184521
>Battle Tendency
Awesome taste broseph.

>can't use Gamestop gift cards on their website to get Steam gift cards
What's the fucking point of their website then.

Montezuma's a baller.

These legendary ships don't fuck around.

Bought Valdis Story on the Steam sale. On paper I should love this game and it starts off pretty promising with the first two bosses being pretty fun. But everything after that I... I just can't. It's just not fun. The game feels very much like an indie as you can tell it's fine-tuned to perfection by a handful of people who played the same sections over and over again without ever getting outside feedback (oh hey you reached a town where you can upgrade your equipment with materials, that dropped from previous monsters. one short of that one material? woops, you can't go back). And the bosses.... the fucking bosses. The first two were two great brawler bosses that were loads of fun and actually had you make use of the great dodge and skill cancel mechanics, but everything after that is just fucking annoying platforming sections with a shitty gimmick. Not to mention you won't get any reward for defeating a boss if you don't get at least A rank, but the only way to retry a boss is either to die on purpose (and killing yourself takes fucking aaaaaaagesss) or quit out of the game completely and go through the level again. It's just a neverending exercise of frustration and tedium, even though I want to love it so badly.

>>184495
I want to add to this argumant by asking:
Whats wrong with playing as a monster from time to time?

>>184598
Nothing, It's radical.

In other news, I want to be excited for InFamous Second Son and I know it's apologizing for 2 by ignoring it's ending completely but holy fuck nothing can restore hype after that FUCKING TERRIBLE ending that made Mass effect 3's ending look like a stroke of genius.

>>184621
Are you talking about the "blue good" or the "red evil" ending?
Because in all your years of rage-ing, I have never caught which one...