Am I the only reviewer that is actually calling this for what it is? I am really concerned that I may be the only bastion of common sense left in the gaming industry, please someone show me that I am not alone......it's so dark in here.........help...
I havent bought this game there is no Replay ability. I would say A good way for youtubers to make more ad revenue for 30 min videos. nice to watch but not worth a purchase.
I was born with a fish tail. Im deeply offended by this fish-people's suffering belittling piece of transphobic (can i be a transgender person in it?) propaganda.
Mack, you're too grump, the new quake looks amazing, stop being such a purist, if you want to play the same exact quake experience, then go play quake 3, cant believe how much you were harpin on about the powerups
Well the new Quake is tarnishing the legacy of its predecessors. Sure it looks amazing; lots of games look amazing, but they're so different from their progenitors that they should have renamed the bloody thing altogether (e.g. SW Battlefront 2 > DICE Battlefront). Should the new Elder Scrolls have guns? Otherwise it would have been the same experience as the others wouldn't it? Just hack and slash and magic and potions and etcetera. You see, it's not the same thing being repeated with every entry. No sequel should sacrifice the core mechanics of its main franchise unless it is a natural evolution. Putting wall hacks and a variety of powers into a game franchise that made its name for its level playing field, high skill cap gameplay is a bit much. That's what Mack is saying. That's what the Old Guard is saying. Try being a bit open-minded to other opinions. Being an apologist for such things is a terrible thing nowadays, because tradition is being torn down for the sake of profits, and trying to appeal to the biggest audience possible (i.e. little kids).
the idea behind those early tournament shooters was to create a FAIR and completely SKILL BASED experience. People could actually pride themselves in learning and mastering the Game, Mapping out every arena in their heads and timing every action from when to reload to at which exact second you jump to counting the time the enemy cant shoot his weapon again! it was a game that didnt hold your hand, it gave you a scenario, a map and told you the goal (kill the other fuckers) and then basically told you "now fuck off and do it..or die, sucker!" Now lets look at todays shooters, shall we? What we see is hand holding at every point. Class systems that inherently destroy balance (unless the developers are godlike or are absolute maniacs regarding balance like the guys for star craft were) together with even worse LEVEL UP systems which dont reward you for skill, but for how much time you sink in the game even if you suck at it. You get Aim helps, many games even incorporate systems where you can SEE THE POSITION OF YOUR ENEMIES AT ALL TIMES even through walls. Maps are more and more enclosed so that people cant develop tactics regarding the movement through the maps ! In fact they are designed so that there are bottlenecks where players are bound to meet each other. The question is why? why artificially remove choices and ways of the expression of tactics in those games? Answer: the casual market. Since the biggest audience for games is casual players (i.e. players who come back from school/work and then want to play for 2 hours till their friend picks them up for whatever they have planned for that day) Devs try to cater to THOSE people. 1.) What is the best game for these people? It must be quick, exciting, bombastic and rewarding. Well action games ofcourse! 2.) What kind of action? it must be intuitive and lend itself well for multiplayer against one another! But it must also be effectively be playable on a Console since a 3rd of the market is on there! obviously Shooters or Other tournament games. 3.) how do we get the players to pick up the controller and instantly have a rewarding experience? Build in level systems that reward you even if you didnt do anything! that way people are still feeling like they accomplished something! 4.) How can we make the gameplay LOOK more addictive so that players will choose our game over the other shooter? Install systems that make it impossible for everyone that isnt a complete idiot to find other players! Reduce tactics so the game is easier to learn, create bottlenecks so you can find other players quick. Our goal is to dazzle the player with action and Explosions! That will make it exciting! 5.) how can we prevent bad players from leaving the game bc they get destroyed by the skilled ones? Create level up systems, that give them a advantage at the start if they only play enough! the motivation to kill that "elite player" from last match with the unfair Shotgun you got bc payed a bit of extra money on the DLC store is also a good way of making more money! 6.) how can we still try to get the players that actually want to master the game? Put leader boards in there! and in every commercial, pretend that we are totally a tournament game that is fair! even though we destroyed balance in order to attract casual players that only want a little bit of adrenaline for 2 hours a day and are not interested in fair and absolutely even fights!
Abzu is more of an audio-visual experience with some gaming elements, than actual games. In this review, Mack is like a rocker, who's friend invites him to do a bit of jamming in the garage, but takes him to a classical concert and Mack instead of trying to enjoy the concert for what it is, complains about how boring it is and how little it has to do with jamming, which he was promised. Which is understandable, he was promised a game, not an audio-visual experience, but still flawed in the regard that in the end, he is expecting rock'n roll jamming from a classical concert.
I spent 20 dollars and I went through it in about 4 hours. Money well spent, its gorgeous, especially on a powerful pc. It was pretty and relaxing, and i'll play it again when I need to relax.
I actually think I'd kinda enjoy this game. And the reason why is that is peaceful. I don't necessarily need to destroy things, or nail it like my life depends on it. Yes, I do like traditional games (I'm a gamer since the C64, I've seen of any kinds). But I believe that there should be room and space for every taste and flavour, especially in videogaming. If people like Abzu, let it be. Clearly they find value in it. Good for them :)
In my opinion this isnt a game with story but its about the feeling when you get playing it. I myself am verry impressed with the Art style in general and i had fun playing it but thats my opinion.
Oh man .. saw you released a new video and started watching as soon as I got home from work. Couldn't stop laughing! Thanks for calling out these sorry excuses for games. "Swim, switch, door, AVOID ... thanks for watching, DING". Legendary! All your reviews are spot on. Keep doing what you're doing man.
You joke about that story with the girl and the monkey, but I can see a game like that winning multiple awards if done with a cool art style and the exact same narrative.
I really liked the game. Not a demanding or particularly involved experience mechanically, but the aesthetics and detail put into each zone made it very appealing to me. It's a visual game with some exploration elements, and I think for the most part it worked. Just a nice relaxing game. Don't really agree with critics labelling it as MASTERPIECE OF ART IN THE MEDIUM OF GAMING though, and I think £15 is a bit steep.
I do! I like this sh*t. If it's anything like Journey, the experience and feeling of awe are the main driving forces. Gameplay is pretty much non-existent but it's besides the point in these kinds of games.
It's a bit expensive for sure. Kind of in the range of smaller console games. Personally I would've charged 8€ for this kind of game on PC. I did pay 13€ for Journey and didn't regret spending the money at all. That game lasted maybe a bit over an hour. I feel that I still got my money's worth since it was such a powerful experience.
Just play Ico, it had story, puzzles, and even some fighting. Don't settle for something mediocre because the developers will never improve. Ya you like this game and Journey, but wouldn't it be better with some more meat on the bones? Only gamers can make it better by complaining and keeping their money from the devs or if you still buy it give it a fair review marking it down several large points for being shallow. The devs will see they did good on art but will understand that gameplay and story are important because they lost a majority of their points to it.
+Legendary Weapon I don't know mate, I would not be spending more than $20 per week on games (~15 pound). I can't imagine how Mack does what he does without the donations. Thats one weeks worth of gaming out the window... or 2 hours worth :S
I actually think that for some very specific situations this game is WAB. I hooked up a controller and tv screen and sat with my gf for what was around 4 hours playing this through the night. She has never agreed to touch any game I showed her, yet somehow this very simplistic game that was more about the experience than skill, she sat down for for the entire story. I enjoyed the music and the beautiful scenes and also the very first time I got to share "gaming" (or well... something close enough) with my gf. . And let's be honest Mack, 15 quid is nothing compared to taking her on a night out so I did kinda save money.
Man you are better than game quitters...Iam trying to stop playing as many games as I did and your channel helps tremendously both for saving the money and time :D
Yes it's art. May I point out that if games like this did not come out we would only have AAA (with exactly standard-length campaigns, inspired by standard movie plots, designed by marketing teams). I mean it may not be a bestseller, or even a good deal but it sure is different.
these types of games rely entirely on the player to make up a story for them they dont really have anything to give just by themselves. I could create bunch of maps like this hell even better in a single month, then someone overworks them with nice music and there you go, got a game, sell it for THAT MUCH? Just saying, sadly when it comes to art we can no longer just be like, hey its art, when there are things to compare to, the amount of work went into this game and what it is like, will always set the price, not how someone who has no experience with such and similar games thinks on the first try. tHe game has no replay value, nothing to it at all, you jut swim through it and not even that is so immersive and fun, hell sonic did better back in the day. Yes, i get your part about art, but considering how bad this game is..the price is just.. outrageous? Plus, its 2016 man, star wars jedi knight jedi academy had more story to it than this. And that game is like a decade old if not more. There are plenty of games out there with similar assets and thousand times more story to them to actually give a reason for you to spend your time swimming through them. I get mack's problem, its simply that we need to be convinced to be interested, we arent 5 years old to be immersed just by walking through a desert, we require something thta gives more of a meaning to the experience that gives it weight, and makes it worthwhile, and when i say "we" im talking about the GENERAL playerbase that is above age 5. So, now considering that mack's review this is, and that he talks to his own audience composed of people much like him, you cant expect him to remain completely neutral, and just be like, ye its a nice game, even though its not really, and he thinks tht it isnt anyway. So in a way your argument is invalid by 3 points. Where you are right now and you are making these points to who, what community. The game's values by its mere self based on how much the creator actually worked on it and how it scales in worth compared to other games like it. And the standalone experience, whether it is worth replaying, whether it actually worth that much money, like at all?
I think you didn't read my comment (if you claim that I am defending the game's value for money). It's just nice to have variety mate - it might inspire someone. But... do you seriously go around reviewing people's comments? Seriously, you gave my COMMENT -3 POINTS a scale you just came up with, for being of a different mind to "usual audience"?! Buahahaha. ;D Have you noticed like the whole idea of this channel is to rebel and disagree with the mass market but oh, how the rebels themselves hate being disagreed with... Maybe you should yourself get a job at Ubisoft marketing dept. or the like, you could send out review codes only to "audience composed of people who are much like" your boss.
Am I the only one who wanted that whale to keel over and pin the diver to the seabed as a reference to how you feel when you realise £15 just went for 2 hours of Nemo sim?
I actually found the art in the game to be quite lovely. In fact Mac's voice sort of faded into obscurity and I felt rather immersed in the world for a bit there. Quite relaxing. I would be careful when being overly critical of games like this. When the industry feels its ok and somewhat financially viable to try something different then great things can happen. I suppose the whole point of subbing to this channel is to get the critics viewpoint so I cannot be critical of their criticism but I can totally see why someone would enjoy a game like this.
"I have looked at this game with a totally open mind…" Somehow, Mack, I highly doubt that...! It's fine, you know what you like, and it's not this; it's being unbeatable at Quake III Arena or whatever, but personally I think £15 for a two-hour experience like this is completely fair. I doubt I'd pay more than that, and I'll more likely wait until this is on sale and try and get it for more like £10, or as you would say "699!", but to me it looks beautiful. I don't know what constitutes good art, and quite frankly I don't care, but I think anything that moves you can be art, and watching this artwork moved me. So I'll be buying it.
I'm subbed to a bunch of reviewers but I've reduced to watching only you and Karak at ACG now. You're brutally honest and entertaining af and Karak is meticulous and well versed in the technical side. Hell, even when you completely rag on a game I like, GUARANTEED every one of your points is actually true. The difference is that those issues might be a deal breaker for you but not for me.
Lmao, this is great Mack. Thanks for the review! Am I the only one knowing the bubble of "ocean-based" survival games (e.g. Salt, Abzu, Depth, Stranded Deep, etc.)
I can see that there is a lot of effort was put in the game. I see different biomes, a lot of different models used etc., so I kinda understand where the price tag comes from. But no game 2 hrs long is worth it. Anyway the concept of exploring depths of the ocean is cool and I believe that this game could have been an awesome survival horror - with the sense of being alone deep under ocean, exploring ancient structures - isn't it cool enough, make a game a bit darker, change music, add enemies. make locations a bit creepier and it would have been an awesome game.
You mentioned that it got 9 out of 10 from various reviewers.. how??? :O Are those reviewer's opinions really for sale to that extent? Are they simply bad at their job? Do they not know what good games actually look like? They liked it so much because it was cheaper than the AAA titles? The liked it so much because it was clever or something? What the actual hell? If a game gets a 9 out of 10, everyone should play it. Even if you do not like that sort of game, you should at least try it. It should be awesome. It should be something that you return to. It should be setting a standard. It should be up there with the greatest games of all time. I agree with you completely.. this, ain't that.
it's an aesthetic experience... i wouldn't play it but there are some people who stare at a wall and meditate for hours every day. i think it's more like a "painting" than a video game. plus orchestras are expensive.
It kind of reminds me of how Firewatch went, Indy game all hyped up to be an immersive experience. Not for me either, thanks Mack for the honest review.
lol the ending... pure gold Mack. It does look like utter boring garbage... i loved the screen saver comment... it's the type of game u could get stoned and just chill-play, but that's about it... 2 hours of "adventure" where u 100% know the ending and have no control over it anyway, bugger off.
Mac sometimes you have to take a game for what it is. Some people enjoy the graphics and the experience, rather than the gameplay and for them this game might be a gem as it seems really beautiful and serene. Not every game is a "gamer's game", some of them are made for a more casual audience and that's fine.
4£ would be fitting, it does look very chill. Same category as Firewatch, gameplay in Firewatch was meh/non existing but i enjoyed it immensely because of the art-style and atmosphere
''...and the music goes: ghghghhghghghghghhghghghghgh BAM BAM'' ahahahahahaahah you are a fucking legend, I almost died laughing while watching this at work!
I completely understand that this isn't your kind of game, Mack, and you're not "wrong" for not liking it, but calling it shit because it doesn't scratch the places you like to be scratched by a game is a bit like knowingly going to see an art house film and then booing because no one speaks or there are no big-name actors... I dunno, maybe developers need to be far more candid in their descriptions so that people know from the outset what to expect? That being said, you are a gamer and clearly pay a lot of attention to industry news so it surprises me that you even bothered to play a game that's so obviously not your cup of tea Again I don't disagree with your comments about the lack of challenge or any real gameplay, but I can't help thinking you're missing the point a bit with this one.
Am probably not the only person who's asked or maybe you have mention it in a update video on WAB. But in case you haven't thought about it, would you do a WAB on "No Man's Sky" when it becomes avaible? It has a hefty price tag but it seems to be really awesome
It would've been MUCH better if there was no music, instead just some ambient sounds (Metal moving, hitting etc) to make it darker. Then it would be kinda like Badland (mobile game)
Agree with you Mack but I will say that it is better than a person paying £5 million for a painting that has nothing on it and is completely white. Yes somebody has actually done that. The world we live in people.
Am I the only one that wants to see a middle finger stamp for when Mack gets REALLY pissed off with a game or a developer?
Brilliant idea, canonviewer!
That would be great for Unity asset flips, and yet more rehashed Ubisoft games :D
Good idea!
Lets hear it Mack what you think of Canonviewer idea? Sound like great idea to me. lol
Wow, I'm surprised by how many likes this got XD. thanks everyone :D
So, what do you say Mack? Can a middle finger stamp be a thing? :)
Is there an E-sports scene for this?
Am I the only reviewer that is actually calling this for what it is? I am really concerned that I may be the only bastion of common sense left in the gaming industry, please someone show me that I am not alone......it's so dark in here.........help...
It's been like that for a while I'm afraid mate.
please review no mans sky, thank you
I havent bought this game there is no Replay ability. I would say A good way for youtubers to make more ad revenue for 30 min videos. nice to watch but not worth a purchase.
Completely agree with this video XD too funny and true.
*helps mack*
It's a game that doesn't offend anyone. That's a masterpiece in 2016. Signed, Yale.
I was born with a fish tail. Im deeply offended by this fish-people's suffering belittling piece of transphobic (can i be a transgender person in it?) propaganda.
I sexually identify with a blue whale and I am offended I cannot play as a transwhale. 0/10
it clearly offended someone though
You totally cannot play as an attack helicopter because the game is like, underwater? So...
EmpiricalPragmatist so play as a nuclear submarine instead
*DING DING
*Throws bell
*DING DING DING
"You wounder how I did that, it's cus i threw the other bell."
Always carry a backup bell.
lmao. Mac's short story was amazing, and I feel all fuzzy inside. 10/10.
Its nice of the developers to make the game under 2 hrs long so we can get a refund though
Best game reviewer on RUclips.
Mack, you're too grump, the new quake looks amazing, stop being such a purist, if you want to play the same exact quake experience, then go play quake 3, cant believe how much you were harpin on about the powerups
I can't believe how you don't understand what Quake is all about.
Well the new Quake is tarnishing the legacy of its predecessors. Sure it looks amazing; lots of games look amazing, but they're so different from their progenitors that they should have renamed the bloody thing altogether (e.g. SW Battlefront 2 > DICE Battlefront).
Should the new Elder Scrolls have guns? Otherwise it would have been the same experience as the others wouldn't it? Just hack and slash and magic and potions and etcetera. You see, it's not the same thing being repeated with every entry. No sequel should sacrifice the core mechanics of its main franchise unless it is a natural evolution.
Putting wall hacks and a variety of powers into a game franchise that made its name for its level playing field, high skill cap gameplay is a bit much. That's what Mack is saying. That's what the Old Guard is saying. Try being a bit open-minded to other opinions. Being an apologist for such things is a terrible thing nowadays, because tradition is being torn down for the sake of profits, and trying to appeal to the biggest audience possible (i.e. little kids).
How many people play quake 3 online ..., exactly little to none since its and old game
But that doesn't mean you change the entire game and make it a shell of its self
the idea behind those early tournament shooters was to create a FAIR and completely SKILL BASED experience. People could actually pride themselves in learning and mastering the Game, Mapping out every arena in their heads and timing every action from when to reload to at which exact second you jump to counting the time the enemy cant shoot his weapon again!
it was a game that didnt hold your hand, it gave you a scenario, a map and told you the goal (kill the other fuckers) and then basically told you "now fuck off and do it..or die, sucker!"
Now lets look at todays shooters, shall we?
What we see is hand holding at every point. Class systems that inherently destroy balance (unless the developers are godlike or are absolute maniacs regarding balance like the guys for star craft were) together with even worse LEVEL UP systems which dont reward you for skill, but for how much time you sink in the game even if you suck at it.
You get Aim helps, many games even incorporate systems where you can SEE THE POSITION OF YOUR ENEMIES AT ALL TIMES even through walls. Maps are more and more enclosed so that people cant develop tactics regarding the movement through the maps ! In fact they are designed so that there are bottlenecks where players are bound to meet each other.
The question is why? why artificially remove choices and ways of the expression of tactics in those games?
Answer: the casual market.
Since the biggest audience for games is casual players (i.e. players who come back from school/work and then want to play for 2 hours till their friend picks them up for whatever they have planned for that day) Devs try to cater to THOSE people.
1.) What is the best game for these people? It must be quick, exciting, bombastic and rewarding.
Well action games ofcourse!
2.) What kind of action? it must be intuitive and lend itself well for multiplayer against one another! But it must also be effectively be playable on a Console since a 3rd of the market is on there!
obviously Shooters or Other tournament games.
3.) how do we get the players to pick up the controller and instantly have a rewarding experience?
Build in level systems that reward you even if you didnt do anything! that way people are still feeling like they accomplished something!
4.) How can we make the gameplay LOOK more addictive so that players will choose our game over the other shooter?
Install systems that make it impossible for everyone that isnt a complete idiot to find other players! Reduce tactics so the game is easier to learn, create bottlenecks so you can find other players quick. Our goal is to dazzle the player with action and Explosions! That will make it exciting!
5.) how can we prevent bad players from leaving the game bc they get destroyed by the skilled ones?
Create level up systems, that give them a advantage at the start if they only play enough! the motivation to kill that "elite player" from last match with the unfair Shotgun you got bc payed a bit of extra money on the DLC store is also a good way of making more money!
6.) how can we still try to get the players that actually want to master the game?
Put leader boards in there! and in every commercial, pretend that we are totally a tournament game that is fair! even though we destroyed balance in order to attract casual players that only want a little bit of adrenaline for 2 hours a day and are not interested in fair and absolutely even fights!
"Oh I cried when the monkey died..."
Mack why are you giving spoilers? I wanted to play ZamZam! :)
Abzu is more of an audio-visual experience with some gaming elements, than actual games. In this review, Mack is like a rocker, who's friend invites him to do a bit of jamming in the garage, but takes him to a classical concert and Mack instead of trying to enjoy the concert for what it is, complains about how boring it is and how little it has to do with jamming, which he was promised.
Which is understandable, he was promised a game, not an audio-visual experience, but still flawed in the regard that in the end, he is expecting rock'n roll jamming from a classical concert.
This is the type of game that a concerned mother buys her son, Who's name is Jimmy and he suffers from anger issues.
Mack's bell ringing was magical, I clearly heard it fall but it continued to ring it!
I threw the stunt bell
Your bell has more credibility and is more consistent with its reviews than half the game reviewers out there.
oh and you do a good job too. :P
i love how mack just find this crazy crindge games no one would take a second look at their box and make an entertaining video about it, thanks mack
I've now officially watched every WAB video you've create Mack! Keep it up! I'm already having withdrawals!
Well done sir, thanks for the support :)
I spent 20 dollars and I went through it in about 4 hours. Money well spent, its gorgeous, especially on a powerful pc. It was pretty and relaxing, and i'll play it again when I need to relax.
you should start a movie review channel called worth a watch, i love your reviews and it would be awesome if you could review movies aswell
But he's a gamer. 😢
15£ wtf!!!
£15*
But yeah, WTF?!
I actually think I'd kinda enjoy this game. And the reason why is that is peaceful. I don't necessarily need to destroy things, or nail it like my life depends on it. Yes, I do like traditional games (I'm a gamer since the C64, I've seen of any kinds). But I believe that there should be room and space for every taste and flavour, especially in videogaming. If people like Abzu, let it be. Clearly they find value in it. Good for them :)
I don't understand....you said the graphics are average but they are some of the best graphics we have seen in 2016v
It brought me back to my favorite game as a kid
In my opinion this isnt a game with story but its about the feeling when you get playing it. I myself am verry impressed with the Art style in general and i had fun playing it but thats my opinion.
Oh man .. saw you released a new video and started watching as soon as I got home from work. Couldn't stop laughing! Thanks for calling out these sorry excuses for games. "Swim, switch, door, AVOID ... thanks for watching, DING". Legendary! All your reviews are spot on. Keep doing what you're doing man.
The art style is really fucking good in this game. This game is alright, its something different.
You joke about that story with the girl and the monkey, but I can see a game like that winning multiple awards if done with a cool art style and the exact same narrative.
I really liked the game. Not a demanding or particularly involved experience mechanically, but the aesthetics and detail put into each zone made it very appealing to me. It's a visual game with some exploration elements, and I think for the most part it worked. Just a nice relaxing game. Don't really agree with critics labelling it as MASTERPIECE OF ART IN THE MEDIUM OF GAMING though, and I think £15 is a bit steep.
Mack thank you... Thank you for existing! You are the light at the end of the gaming industry tunnel...
I do! I like this sh*t.
If it's anything like Journey, the experience and feeling of awe are the main driving forces. Gameplay is pretty much non-existent but it's besides the point in these kinds of games.
I respect your opinion, but man, 15£ for 2 hours? That's a little steep according to me.
It's a bit expensive for sure. Kind of in the range of smaller console games. Personally I would've charged 8€ for this kind of game on PC.
I did pay 13€ for Journey and didn't regret spending the money at all. That game lasted maybe a bit over an hour. I feel that I still got my money's worth since it was such a powerful experience.
Just play Ico, it had story, puzzles, and even some fighting.
Don't settle for something mediocre because the developers will never improve. Ya you like this game and Journey, but wouldn't it be better with some more meat on the bones?
Only gamers can make it better by complaining and keeping their money from the devs or if you still buy it give it a fair review marking it down several large points for being shallow. The devs will see they did good on art but will understand that gameplay and story are important because they lost a majority of their points to it.
ICO
+Legendary Weapon I don't know mate, I would not be spending more than $20 per week on games (~15 pound). I can't imagine how Mack does what he does without the donations. Thats one weeks worth of gaming out the window... or 2 hours worth :S
YOu should have made this video yesterday Mack, would have saved me 14.99 ...
steam refund :)
Exactly, not hard to get it refunded... unless you buy it from key sites.
+marts99 or he's on a console
I kinda love the graphics :3
I actually think that for some very specific situations this game is WAB.
I hooked up a controller and tv screen and sat with my gf for what was around 4 hours playing this through the night.
She has never agreed to touch any game I showed her, yet somehow this very simplistic game that was more about the experience than skill, she sat down for for the entire story.
I enjoyed the music and the beautiful scenes and also the very first time I got to share "gaming" (or well... something close enough) with my gf.
.
And let's be honest Mack, 15 quid is nothing compared to taking her on a night out so I did kinda save money.
I guess if you want to impress a pretty stereotypical girl it can be good.
You are the realist game reviewer I have found on youtube Def subscribing
I liked the graphics they look so pretty on a good screen and pc
if i wanted to look at freakin fish, i get a chair and stare at my aquarium at home. Glad i passed this up
7:58 sums up all of your hard work, Mack.
This game was nice for about 10 minutes, and then it was ok for another 10, and then I was over it.
I refunded it after playing for half and hour or so- love the Steam refund thing!
i refunded it after finishing the game, indeed it's nice.
Man you are better than game quitters...Iam trying to stop playing as many games as I did and your channel helps tremendously both for saving the money and time :D
Yes it's art.
May I point out that if games like this did not come out we would only have AAA (with exactly standard-length campaigns, inspired by standard movie plots, designed by marketing teams). I mean it may not be a bestseller, or even a good deal but it sure is different.
Rimworld and Prison Architect are masterpieces and they are indie games WITH GAMEPLAY!
these types of games rely entirely on the player to make up a story for them they dont really have anything to give just by themselves.
I could create bunch of maps like this hell even better in a single month, then someone overworks them with nice music and there you go, got a game, sell it for THAT MUCH?
Just saying, sadly when it comes to art we can no longer just be like, hey its art, when there are things to compare to, the amount of work went into this game and what it is like, will always set the price, not how someone who has no experience with such and similar games thinks on the first try.
tHe game has no replay value, nothing to it at all, you jut swim through it and not even that is so immersive and fun, hell sonic did better back in the day.
Yes, i get your part about art, but considering how bad this game is..the price is just.. outrageous?
Plus, its 2016 man, star wars jedi knight jedi academy had more story to it than this.
And that game is like a decade old if not more.
There are plenty of games out there with similar assets and thousand times more story to them to actually give a reason for you to spend your time swimming through them.
I get mack's problem, its simply that we need to be convinced to be interested, we arent 5 years old to be immersed just by walking through a desert, we require something thta gives more of a meaning to the experience that gives it weight, and makes it worthwhile, and when i say "we" im talking about the GENERAL playerbase that is above age 5.
So, now considering that mack's review this is, and that he talks to his own audience composed of people much like him, you cant expect him to remain completely neutral, and just be like, ye its a nice game, even though its not really, and he thinks tht it isnt anyway. So in a way your argument is invalid by 3 points.
Where you are right now and you are making these points to who, what community.
The game's values by its mere self based on how much the creator actually worked on it and how it scales in worth compared to other games like it.
And the standalone experience, whether it is worth replaying, whether it actually worth that much money, like at all?
I think you didn't read my comment (if you claim that I am defending the game's value for money). It's just nice to have variety mate - it might inspire someone.
But... do you seriously go around reviewing people's comments? Seriously, you gave my COMMENT -3 POINTS a scale you just came up with, for being of a different mind to "usual audience"?! Buahahaha. ;D
Have you noticed like the whole idea of this channel is to rebel and disagree with the mass market but oh, how the rebels themselves hate being disagreed with... Maybe you should yourself get a job at Ubisoft marketing dept. or the like, you could send out review codes only to "audience composed of people who are much like" your boss.
xD
"I cried when the monkey died"... just can't get enough of this channel.
Best review ever...
10/10 you open doors... the ultimate unique experience guys
Am I the only one who wanted that whale to keel over and pin the diver to the seabed as a reference to how you feel when you realise £15 just went for 2 hours of Nemo sim?
At about 4:30, why is there different coloured water flowing perfectly in the ocean?
Your rant about the dumb game you'd invent was priceless Mack!
IGN Best of E3 Nominee ... come'on Mack, IGN never lies!
This game makes modern art look like actual art.
I actually found the art in the game to be quite lovely. In fact Mac's voice sort of faded into obscurity and I felt rather immersed in the world for a bit there. Quite relaxing. I would be careful when being overly critical of games like this. When the industry feels its ok and somewhat financially viable to try something different then great things can happen. I suppose the whole point of subbing to this channel is to get the critics viewpoint so I cannot be critical of their criticism but I can totally see why someone would enjoy a game like this.
"I have looked at this game with a totally open mind…"
Somehow, Mack, I highly doubt that...! It's fine, you know what you like, and it's not this; it's being unbeatable at Quake III Arena or whatever, but personally I think £15 for a two-hour experience like this is completely fair. I doubt I'd pay more than that, and I'll more likely wait until this is on sale and try and get it for more like £10, or as you would say "699!", but to me it looks beautiful. I don't know what constitutes good art, and quite frankly I don't care, but I think anything that moves you can be art, and watching this artwork moved me. So I'll be buying it.
Thanks Mac for telling it how it is
best part is when you let that blue water flow in those head statues,while the hole thing is UNDER WATER rofl
I'm subbed to a bunch of reviewers but I've reduced to watching only you and Karak at ACG now. You're brutally honest and entertaining af and Karak is meticulous and well versed in the technical side. Hell, even when you completely rag on a game I like, GUARANTEED every one of your points is actually true. The difference is that those issues might be a deal breaker for you but not for me.
Lmao, this is great Mack. Thanks for the review! Am I the only one knowing the bubble of "ocean-based" survival games (e.g. Salt, Abzu, Depth, Stranded Deep, etc.)
I kind of want to make that game you described at the end. Would make millions.
I would pay 1 million dollars for this game. Revolutionary.
Mac christens the "Interactive Screensaver" genre.
Please make ZaMdAm happen (9:33)! OMG, I lost it there XD. Mack, if you make this game, i'm gonna be your first backer, I swear!
Looks like the dream Michael Phelps had after he broke the olympic bong puffing record.
This is one of Mack's funniest reviews
I can see that there is a lot of effort was put in the game. I see different biomes, a lot of different models used etc., so I kinda understand where the price tag comes from. But no game 2 hrs long is worth it.
Anyway the concept of exploring depths of the ocean is cool and I believe that this game could have been an awesome survival horror - with the sense of being alone deep under ocean, exploring ancient structures - isn't it cool enough, make a game a bit darker, change music, add enemies. make locations a bit creepier and it would have been an awesome game.
fantastic Mack, spot on as per usual
I don't get how you fill up fountains with water in the ocean.
it's about the setting, you just like it or just hate it
I absolutely love these rant reviews! Bring me more!
I think the game is beautiful but Mack is right, it's too expensive for only 2 hours worth of cool underwater environments
You know what this needs....... X RAY VISION!!!
If this was on Amiga, I wouldn't waste a disk copying it off my mate.
Can not believe you dropped that spoiler in at the end Mack.... Good god man the monkey dies at the end.
Ah was wondering there Mack , was about to say "Looks like Mack needs a new bell" . Good to see you have a backup bell now Mack :)
You mentioned that it got 9 out of 10 from various reviewers.. how??? :O
Are those reviewer's opinions really for sale to that extent? Are they simply bad at their job? Do they not know what good games actually look like? They liked it so much because it was cheaper than the AAA titles? The liked it so much because it was clever or something? What the actual hell?
If a game gets a 9 out of 10, everyone should play it. Even if you do not like that sort of game, you should at least try it. It should be awesome. It should be something that you return to. It should be setting a standard. It should be up there with the greatest games of all time.
I agree with you completely.. this, ain't that.
I guess selling opinions is a pretty profitable thing.
+TheeJMC I don't think they really care about games per say as they do about how they look to other retro hipster progressive indie douche bags.
Did you like Journey? Cause the multiplayer aspect in that game just blew me away.
it's an aesthetic experience... i wouldn't play it but there are some people who stare at a wall and meditate for hours every day. i think it's more like a "painting" than a video game. plus orchestras are expensive.
It kind of reminds me of how Firewatch went, Indy game all hyped up to be an immersive experience. Not for me either, thanks Mack for the honest review.
This and the No Man's Sky review got you a subscriber. So good
What is a Banther?
lol the ending... pure gold Mack. It does look like utter boring garbage... i loved the screen saver comment... it's the type of game u could get stoned and just chill-play, but that's about it... 2 hours of "adventure" where u 100% know the ending and have no control over it anyway, bugger off.
Looks pretty cool, but I wish it were called Abzoo and was a game where your only goal was to drown Harambe.
Mac sometimes you have to take a game for what it is. Some people enjoy the graphics and the experience, rather than the gameplay and for them this game might be a gem as it seems really beautiful and serene. Not every game is a "gamer's game", some of them are made for a more casual audience and that's fine.
"I cried when the monkey died" - gaming 2016
Door opening Simulator 2016: Underwater Edition
I feel like Jazz punk is more artistic than this and it is funny (in my opinion).
+crazydiscord Yeah it was great. I also pissed my self with the James bond and street fighter reference
Jazzpunk was a good walking sim and it had a lot of cool minigames.
You're the GradeAUnderA of gaming, you even sound the same.
They really do not sound the same. Opposite ends of the country.
Ain’t gonna lie but Zamdam sounds like a great game. Make this happen!
4£ would be fitting, it does look very chill. Same category as Firewatch, gameplay in Firewatch was meh/non existing but i enjoyed it immensely because of the art-style and atmosphere
GO HARD MACK GO HARD
The thing is, Subnautica is a rather violent game. This game is supposed to be relaxing and easy, it's for people who just wanna chill.
i like the part in 0:47 - 1:01 PLS INCLUDE THIS IN THE NEXT VIDEO
''...and the music goes: ghghghhghghghghghhghghghghgh BAM BAM''
ahahahahahaahah you are a fucking legend, I almost died laughing while watching this at work!
Mack i would buy that game you described for 50 bucks (hands down)
It might be interesting for a playthrough, but I'm gonna wait for a sale
Looks like it would be better in The Louvre than as a game
You're a savage, Mack.
You should make that game you described and charge *SIX NINETY NIIIINEE.*
Do you think you'll ever do a re visit of space engineers?
I would buy that game with the monkey it sounds great
I completely understand that this isn't your kind of game, Mack, and you're not "wrong" for not liking it, but calling it shit because it doesn't scratch the places you like to be scratched by a game is a bit like knowingly going to see an art house film and then booing because no one speaks or there are no big-name actors...
I dunno, maybe developers need to be far more candid in their descriptions so that people know from the outset what to expect? That being said, you are a gamer and clearly pay a lot of attention to industry news so it surprises me that you even bothered to play a game that's so obviously not your cup of tea Again I don't disagree with your comments about the lack of challenge or any real gameplay, but I can't help thinking you're missing the point a bit with this one.
Am probably not the only person who's asked or maybe you have mention it in a update video on WAB. But in case you haven't thought about it, would you do a WAB on "No Man's Sky" when it becomes avaible? It has a hefty price tag but it seems to be really awesome
You should of said "Is it worth a buy?" "Abzulutely not!"
Now what I would like to know is how does it compare to Journey. Cause I enjoyed Journey very much.
where can i preorder zamdam
It would've been MUCH better if there was no music, instead just some ambient sounds (Metal moving, hitting etc) to make it darker. Then it would be kinda like Badland (mobile game)
Agree with you Mack but I will say that it is better than a person paying £5 million for a painting that has nothing on it and is completely white. Yes somebody has actually done that. The world we live in people.