Fair point. My guess is they will do some incentives that are tied to GP Ultimate like the battle pass, skins, in game currency to try and sweeten the deal.
lol I've been saying this for years personally. It's the one thing about Game Pass (and other sub services) that has never made any sense to me. They need mainstream numbers to be successful (according to the MS FTC leaks they envisioned 100 mil subs for long term success) but mainstream normie gamers only play like 3 or 4 games a year. So like, huh? Why are they ever gonna subscribe to one of these services? GP caters to more of a hardcore gamer really, especially with all the indie games on the service. But hardcore gamers tend to be more picky about what they play so most of us don't want to sub either. So you create this weird limbo where the only people who really care about GP are people who do play a decent amount of games but also just roll with whatever MS gives them to play. Which clearly isn't that many people.
I had a lot of reasons to laugh watching the studio sink after those DMC slides. However, Heavenly Sword and DMC were good games. Not sure about Enslaved.
Absolutely based take. It's about time too, the conversation is usually so milquetoast about these games, this is easily the most interesting staking of an opinion on this from a mainstream critic in a while.
Nobody is mocapping an entire game because you have to make sacrifices in other places like frame rate, resolution, physics, environment interactivity, production time and more. So while yes NT has made a beautiful looking game, there's a ton of sacrifices in that game
@@daksans6764not to this extent. TLOU2 has great gameplay. That’s why their roguelike mode worked. You couldn’t do that with this game. There’s just not enough mechanically going on. I’m ok with that too, I love story based walking sim games like Firewalk and Edith Finch, but the issue is that this is a sequel, and the first game had so much more going on. The story didn’t justify its own existence either. I don’t think we really needed a sequel to Hellblade, at least not this one
Cog: "you actually got to control the E3 trailer segment!". Reality: hold up and press A a few times... can't aim the spear... can't control where you're running
It's a cinematic set piece in a cinematic game. The way interactions are woven into this game is masterfully done and way better than QTE events. That's real innovation and something I can appreciate.
Cog has recently shown his true colours unfortunately. It's obvious that Cog will defend Xbox to protect his personal relationships with Xbox management, even at the cost of integrity of this show, more so noticeable with the constant negative aoura on Xbox. I am a PS player, but I love the Dukes as they are usually neutral and honest, a true breath of fresh air. Matty has kept to his mind and honesty while Cog is ramping up this defence which is a shame. No hate to Cog though, just my thoughts.
He's not lucky. He's an Xbox fan. He PREFERS xbox to Playstation. That's why he's co-hosting an Xbox podcast. A lot of people in the comments seem confused about what show they're watching.
@Dave0zz yes it's a xbox podcast. but for the most part they are neutral. Cog let's his fanboy side out alot recently. But let's not act like they are colteastwood or randal thor levels of fanboys. U can actually watch defining Duke and just get a chill xbox podcast without the microsoft saft stroking. "For the most part"
@@got.a.raging.clue. There's a place in all platforms for fans to be fans of games you might not like or care about or get top reviews. Liking something that a lot of players dislike doesn't mean they're wrong or fanning. I equally lothe players that pile on just bc others are piling on a game to shame. To each their own.
@@Dave0zz Yep. I loved it. And I loved Starfield. And Hi-Fi Rush. And Pentiment. I've literally been happy with Xbox's output this gen. They've done some awful things over the past few years, but I prefer their games and that's the reason I stick with them. People seem to forget that folks can have different tastes that inform the console they buy and the games they like.
I'm sorry but RDR2, TLOU2 have good gaming experience while providing stunning visuals. That makes hellblade 2 look worse because they had to sacrifice so much for a grimmsing face.
He is protecting his relationships that he thinks exists like the op said. Everything that they are praising in HB2 has been tore down when other games did them.
I loved when Gene really opened up about HB2, he brings up a lot of good points about Ninja theory being an mediocre studio and hiding behind mental health.
So true. For an actual good game about mental struggles, try Omori if you haven't already. About 15 hours of both stellar story AND stellar gameplay, and you'll feel so many different emotions. It's been a year but I still think about it a few times per week. It's just such a textbook move for a woke company to use the mental health thing as a shield, when you could easily take the entire element out of Omori and it would still be a great game. Meanwhile HB2 can't be even be a decent game regardless lmao. Microsoft should shut the studio down just because. We don't have the time or resources to waste on stuff like this.
blanket statement, with no substance. What can you expect from a grown man unironically using the word cringe while discussing/criticizing writing/art? xD Where/when did they hide behind mental health? LOL
He was inconsistent and contradictory in his points. Said one point then followed up with a point that contradicted himself. He was all over the place and didn't seem to have a real coherent thought about whatever 'issue' he had with the game. It's clear he didn't think very much about it.
Pretty refreshing, really. It's not often someone comes out that blatant and just puts it out there. He even played H1 to prepare for comparison. Nothing against NT, but their output has always been slightly above mid, yet enjoyable. When thrust into the spotlight to carry Xbox current lineup to the next, they're going to be under heavy scrutiny. Maybe as a side game, and overlooking Cog-like salesman's praise, they're just not capable of a well-rounded gaming experience.
I mean Hellblade 2 isn't BAD by any means but it's really not acceptable for a game that was in development for 4+ years to only be 5-6 hours. I know length isn't everything but it needed to be bigger and better in every way. I was expecting a Uncharted 1 to Uncharted 2 moment. Just something that took the first game and expanded on it in every way. What we got was a side step or even a step back from everything except visuals.
RE9 has been in development for 6+ years and is probably going to be a 5-8 hour experience… but I’m probably gonna play the hell out of it I think it has much more to do with how fun a game is rather than length Couldn’t care less how much time developers spend on a game if I don’t like it
Matty, not to take away from your point on AC because it still works, but evil G Washington was an alternate timeline DLC. Conner also had super powers in that DLC, so its not necessarily an equal comparison
@@rudedays9379 Bleeding edge was clearly a game to try and keep the light on and after they got bought was sent out to die I dont think there any point on focusing on it i doubt Xbox cares
I don't know if you actually meant to say commercially, but, if we're looking at it that way I'm pretty sure the only success they've ever had is the original Hellblade. Pretty much everything else they've ever made has been a flop or under performer.
I thought the puzzles in the first game were trash and only served to slow the pacing down. The second game at least had variety even if they weren't that hard to solve.
Hellblade 2 is a disappointment. Ninja Theory is on borrowed time. Subjective opinion goes without saying, but it is not worth $50. When everyone plays this on Game Pass and it makes no money on purchases, that is the market agreeing it is only worth playing for a $15 monthly fee or less. Business-wise I do not understand how Ninja Theory survives when Tango Gameworks produced better and did not make it.
@Echo__plex it just means its not for you. And that's okay, not all games have to be for everybody. In fact it's all this whinging from gamers that they want all games to be 10 out of 10s across the board or they're trash is part of what's killing the industry right now.
@alexlyster3459 I enjoyed the first Hellblade. I don't think expectations were too high. I think it's fair to expect some improvement and evolution from the first game. I have to think a lot of people felt like this would be a bigger, tent pole game and it just wasn't.
The thing is it's a game that isn't for everyone. And that's ok. I appreciate Xbox's diversity of output. And while fun factor is very important sometimes movies/video games/art can be deep, incredible and meaningful but not "fun" especially when it's tackling the themes Hellblade is.
Yeah heavy disagree with the two of you above. As a mental health professional and lifelong player of games. This is trully a unique experience through and through and while the graphics isn't the most important thing, it does certainly add a great deal of immersion, You then add the incredible audio experience, the visceral combat, the puzzles, the interactions Senua has with others, world building and BENDING... Ninja Theory did an incredible job at representing severe mental illnesses and what they are doing here, you simply cannot do in a movie. You just can't. You can't illustrate the level of immersion that you get here through a non interactive medium (movies). I really challenge folks who are quick to label this game as nothing more than a tech demo or say things like "should have been a movie". With peace and love
@@Mmachine88 dude, that’s fine. You enjoyed it. I don’t think it’s good. It’s incredibly short but feels too long. I’ve never had what was advertised as a huge release feel so underwhelming and boring. Not bad, just boring. I beat it, it has some really amazing moments, but those moments don’t save it. They gave up all interactivity to create stunning visuals and sound is a slow and boring game. Gameplay is almost nonexistent. Push up. They should have made a movie, because it is clear they didn’t want to make a game.
@@stonehorn4641 literally just explained why movie would not do what Ninja Theory is trying to do. That's fine if you'd rather not try to understand the game and you didn't like it.
Man I feel like I keep finding myself repeating this disclaimer before giving my opinion on Cog’s takes in recent weeks but here it goes again: I love Cog and what he brings to LSM… …BUT how did I just KNOW that he was going to “LOVE” Hellblade 2? I just knew it lol. I hate to say it but I’m not sure he would have been so kind to it if it had been a Sony game. Cog seems to be running defense for Xbox related things recently. It’s no big deal but that’s what I see. Edit: just heard the Starfield conversation and man… even there Cog is talking about how “we” would have gotten a few more metacritic points if SF had launched the way it is now. My boy, you are not working for these fools lol. As far as my thoughts for the void: The Starfield update sounds fine but I don’t see how it is supposed to be exciting for people who don’t like the moment to moment gameplay it has to offer and wasn’t that the biggest issue to begin with? New camera looks great. 60 fps is great. But it’s still a fast travel simulator with dumb combat, zero exploration, and lackluster story content.
People criticise PlayStation games because all their tentpole games use same formula. If every Xbox first party game started using Hellblade formula then people will call them out too
@@Echo__plex PlayStation games don't have great gameplay and they are not visually benchmark like Hellblade. That makes PlayStation games fodder for time pass and nothing else
Horizon Burning shores is a better, more rich and dense game in both visuals and animations. It's also an open world. Just because Ninja Theory made a more realistic visual game, doesn't make it a better looking game. The environment has nothing in it, it's just rocks and more rocks in a barren land. Guerilla Games doesn't get the respect they deserve.
In situations like this, I just ask myself if they'd have the same energy if a game in question was on a competitors device. It quickly roots out the console & brand loyalists. Are you a fan of the games or fan of the brand?
@@jynxcethat's my only thing, if Hellblade 2 was a PS5 console exclusive he would almost assuredly have just lumped it in as "another Sony, over the shoulder story heavy game". Not to mention that the Sony exclusive lineup this year has been pretty varied, Helldivers, Ronin, Stellar Blade, Final Fantasy.
The fact that Matty or Cog hasn't played Stellar Blade yet is puzzling. Both complain about PlayStations style of games, but I've not heard any mention of them interested in Stellar Blade? I'd love a Matty review for Stellar Blade. I just think if Stellar Blade was on Xbox it's a whole other conversation.
It's so funny reading this and then going to my Twitter to see I'm the hater of Xbox games. You can't win lol. I'll play Stellar Blade this summer when I have more time. Demo didn't impress me, so I'm not in a rush. IT CAN BE THAT SIMPLE AT TIMES!
@MrMattyPlays Thank you for replying back! I was hoping you would, I'm glad you'll get to it in the summer, really looking forward to your thoughts on Stellar Blade as I love your videos and your honesty ❤
I mean they focus on Xbox, so of course PS and heck even Nintendo won't get the same kind of attention just how it goes with more platform focused guys.
Has Cog ever disliked an Xbox first party game that wasn't Redfall? It's interesting because he seems to like everything. I do agree on the visuals front though. I think it's unparalleled but then also it's literally a tech demo after 5 years.
Some people are easier to please. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with liking most things. Just understand the person is easier to please than you or has a difference of opinion.
@@siddharthshishulkar8992 He liked the first one too which had nothing to do with Xbox, these types of comments are weird. Let people like what they like
@@DD-fs9xt I highly doubt he played in before ninja theory was acquired to be honest... Someone should check what he had to say about the game when it came out...
@@daksans6764 so your hope was that I was a fan of those games so that somehow you bringing it up randomly would somehow hurt me? Were you born a moron or did you become that way?
It's a game that a ton of people loved not just Cog. It's not trying to be a game for everyone but they are pushing the industry forward with amazing tech and a deeply personal and unique story and protagonist. People I think just had unrealized expectations that this would be a completely different type of game, when in reality it's a mid sized team of 80 people punching way above their weight. And their state of the art tech can be utilized to support other Xbox studios projects. They are probably safe even if Hellblade 2 doesn't move the needle.
@@Irreverenze We're talking about Cog, did he shit on the first game? As far as I know he's been begging for a #justone graphical showcase for Xbox for a long time.
You are right these ultra realistic tech pieces age like milk. I think this is something Japanese devs are so ahead of Western devs, they always go for art style. That's why a lot of the older games that hold up visually are from those companies.
The effort put into the cinematography, surreal presentation of the hidden folk aspect of the story, and the story itself will not "expire" in 5-10 years. Sorry but an entire worth of a game cannot be boiled down to "graphics" and then dismissed like it's spoiled food.
I personally don't think value is only tied to replayability, or whether it "holds up" as it ages. Some great things are a one-and-done product. I don't think this is one of them, but I just don't feel like that's a good point of argument.
53:46 This narrative that Ubisoft made George Washington a king is getting really annoying. That was in a dlc "what if" expansion. In the base game, he leads the revolutionaries against the red coats and eventually becomes president. The fictional element is that Connor existed and helped them win the war. 54:39 the irony of Cog saying, " People just exposing they didn't play the game."
This is a constant problem with people that aren't AC fans trying to act like it's super high fantasy and therefore all bets are off. 99% of fantastical elements are either explicitly non-canon "what if" style add-on content, explained in-lore as "the animus glitching", or are intrinsically tied to AC's own lore rather than the historical eras they're depicting.
ive played every ac and ive always seen it as historical fiction so getting real life characters and give them a spin like how in da vinci fixing the hidden blade or in 3 how the boston masacre happen because of haytham or how the borgias were templars sooo im really confused why people really have a problem with yasuke when the studio can make him the secondary protagonist to tell this new story
@@pedroloera-marin348 Because there's always been a clear line between history and game lore. Ubisoft never implied Ezio was real and Davinci actually made stuff for him, but with Yasuke they are directly revising history and acting as if their version is historical fact.
@@pedroloera-marin348 Its very simple, we didnt play as them so they were kept similar to their historical figure Was Da Vinci a genius, inventor and artist? Yes we know that as fact. AC uses that fact to help a fictional character to push the story Was Rodrigo Borgia power hungry and very nepotistic? Did he sleep around and cause problems? Did he seek control by trying to give his family and friends power? Yes to ALL of them. Again we use a real life persons real life happenings to push the story. Did the Boston Massacre happen? Yes we know it as fact it did. So we use fictional characters to push the story as a fantasy history. Remember AC has been real history with a hidden truth being exposed. Yasuke, was he a samurai? we dont know probably not. He was a warrior but he wouldnt have known the way a Samurai fights or would be bad at it because he spend his life training in a European style Was he a general as the game showed? Nope we dont even know if he was a samurai Could he speak and read the language? Nope he struggled very much Did he participate in battles. potentially but we dont actually have any records of what he did Now we playing as a retainer and what we assumed body guard of Nobunaga. So how is he being a body guard and doing missions when he couldnt speak the language and stood out as a giant
I would think not. To heap as much praise on games like H2 and other releases on the system, you'd basically have to voluntarily place yourself into a deprivation state to other gaming experiences. Sadly, the blue-pill lifestyle is just the way for some.
I did not expect gene to tee up on hellblade like that holy 🤣saying the psychosis aspects are cringe and ninja theory is using mental health as a shield from criticism is some thermonuclear shit and i love it, but i love all the different opinions as always. great stuff dukes. 👏
Nah love Cog but I feel like Cog is capping on hellblade and on some things Xbox. I tried it on gamepass and it’s too boring went to go watch Brad play it. Whats frustrating is that we’re not getting ghost wire 2, evil within 3, and hi fi 2 to get more of this nonsense press up action.
@@daksans6764 FF7 Rebirth, Stellar Blade, Dragon's Dogma 2, Helldivers 2, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, Pacific Drive, Ultros, Animal Well are better than Hellblade 2. But it doesn't matter, Hellblade 2 can't be nominated since it isn't a game.
Just one thing that I feel is important at 01:50:00 from Gene. The reason the voices tell you where it comes from on game 1 and not on game 2 is because the fights in game 1 are inside Senua's mind, so the Furies impact Sena directly, just like the majority of the events, in Saga Senua deals with the furies the same way a human with psycosis that lives in actual reality, the voices reflects your fears of interaction with others. Like during combat in 2 the voices reflect your actual fear of losing your life, that is why the voices always say, Fight, don't lose, you have to get up.
@@Natureboy8383 not if you take a really long time looking for faces in rock structures though, and also not if you fall asleep. Both of those aspects can significantly increase the game length.
A game has to have the level of interactivity I need, if I can watch a commentary free playthrough of the game and get pretty much the same experience there is an issue. To me its like having a music video but the song is terrible...the video is a bonus but what's the point if the song is bad
It is Strange to think the world revolves around you and your tastes/preferences. Having options is a good thing, people may like different things than you do.
@@Donnie_Oculus So true! I haven't played Starfield yet but I know many who have and call it their GOTY. Then I see ppl trashing it like it's a joke of a game - *players have different tastes and preferences*
I find it kind of funny that Cog is the authoritative voice in the AC Shadows drama when he doesn't even play AC. AC is historical fiction, so Ubisoft can make whatever game they want imo. Why do a black male instead of a white male when both would be the outsider during this time? I think this game should have as much right to exist as RE5 to be frankly honest. Cog also mentions that he has never seen a person like him in video games. I'm calling bs on that. I could argue there are more black males in video games and movies than Asian or Hispanic. The biggest franchise in video games features two games with African American males. Also I agree that more diversity is good. I'm just not sure about the method and the means. I'm for let the market speak for itself. For example this Concord game seems to be made for a "modern' audience. Let's see if they're a real player base. Why is it so important for people to see themselves represented by someone else I wonder. I don't ever like a character because they look like me. It's more of the traits and action they take in the story. If Cog, for example, wants to see more black people in games. Maybe there should be a push to encourage more black people to pursue making video games than depend on people who do it because it's mandated by their corporate overlords or want some virtue signal points. Sorry for the long comment.
Gotta agree with Matty on this one. Hellblade2 is majorly disappointing. Sure the rocks look great. It easier to make a game look great when it’s on the rails walking sim. A step down from hellblade 1 which I didn’t think was possible.
Any other competent studio that dedicated all of its resources to graphics and sound can accomplish what H2 did in this generation of hardware. There's nothing else going on in the backgrounds pushing the hardware other than the sights and sounds. Where's the involving gameplay? If you keep praising output like this, then you'll keep getting these decisively barely-gaming experiences. Love the games, not the brand.
Ive been a fan for years and personally Im happy to see more people hold the Dukes accountable. Cog has definitely become more of a fanboy & while he's of course allowed to voice his opinions regardless, so are listeners too. Feedback isnt hate and negativity shouldnt be dismissed because you (the dukes or other fans) dont like hearing it. Thats how echo chambers are formed and fanboys become even more emboldened. Tldr; Cogs a big boy and can handle some criticism 😅
Dude Colin is a massive fanboy but I’m sure you agree with every thing he says. I don’t get why the internet thinks you’re not allowed to like Xbox it’s bizarre.
@@joerogers7782 You realize it's possible for both of them to be fanboys, right? Do I need to add a "Colin is also a fanboy" footnote on every single comment?
Being “about” something serious isn’t enough, you also have to have something to say beyond “this is something that exists”. Hellblade has always come off a bit shallow in that regard
I think ppl were expecting a lot more since they not indie no more. I mean it looks stunning but I heard “Xbox’s God of War” & GOTY A LOT. In the end it seems like a good game like the first one. It’s kinda funny how some fans treated it different before & after acquisition imo. Before Hellblade 1 was just another sad 3rd person cinematic walking sim. Afterward that seemed to change lol. What's the next Xbox game that will be hyped up too much and will ultimately let down?
There is some of what you say but considering the lack of quality aaa games from xbox, the studio closures and more, hellblade 2's lack of gameplay and it's less game than the first game.
How many people have you heard complain about Senua being a female lead? About Lara Croft being a female lead? About Nadine in uncharted 4 being a black woman? about the main character in the walking dead telltale series being a black man? etc. Remember any complaints about the diversity there? No right? Guess what? No one complains because they are original characters, for their original stories. Nothing is being shoehorned or forced with them. That's the problem. Sweet baby inc is literally there to FORCE something. and this is happening in all media, not just gaming. The term "go woke go broke" isn't wrong, it's one of the MANY reasons Disney etc is failing. there are black characters everywhere now, in everything. movies, shows, games. Cool. So enough with the "i dont feel represented enough" thing
@@daksans6764 you sound like a fanboy for calling Naughty Dog mediocre and your avatar is from assassin's creed, which makes the statement even funnier
@@The_Claymores Assassin's Creed is way way bigger brand than anything Naughty Dog has ever made. And yeah Colin plays mediocre games and praises them non-stop
@@daksans6764 I can't even begin to understand what you're going through these days. Xbox is dying right in front of your eyes and now you're forced to pretend to love a boring QTE walking simulator
This is the first LSM podcast I've actually heard Gene on and haha it was great. Finally someone channeling my inner rage when he was ranting about the biggest problem in the industry. Preach on man, there is nothing more I hate than developers who treat gameplay as a secondary aspect of the game. And this has nothing to do with the fact that Hellblade is a walking simulator, I love stuff like Ace Attorney for example. But a game like Ace Attorney still stimulates and challenges you with its simple mechanics. Hellblade simply does not (and I am talking about the first game, haven't played the second.) And this isn't a Ninja Theory problem exclusively really, most modern AAA games (at least from western devs) are just so watered down in terms of gameplay mechanics. Thank god for the return of AA games.
its not laughable, Naughty dog was the king of graphics for a long time. This game looks better, they still gotta work on gameplay and stuff like that and we know from their past they can do it. Not sure what happened here but the graphics are no joke
@@bretttheillustratorI don’t disagree with you, but look at the PS4 version of The Last of Us Part II and then compare that to Hellblade II. Hellblade II does look better, but not by that much in my opinion. That’s how impressive Naughty Dog is to me.
I think it's somewhat impressive on a technical level. However, a 5-10 hour experience that's taken 5-7 years to make with this being 30fps isn't that impressive to me.
@@Loopez2284 To be fair, if Ninja Theory were to compare to current Naughty Dog, they would have 0 new games this gen due to a major cancellation & Senua would probably be a lesbian too, but that's another conversation
88 % very positive on steam. Cog might be on the extreme scale for loving everything about the game, but I feel Gene is at least on the exact same opposite extreme by calling the studio shit and that telling a story about psychosis is cringe
54:10 wholeheartedly disagree with this Assassin Creed take. The general expectation from an AC in Japan was to play as a Japanese man in Japan as much as we played an Egyptian in Origins, Native American in AC3 and French in AC Unity. Also the argument that there is a female Japanese still isn't very valid cause we all know Ubisoft has always pushed their male lead in AC.
Hellblade was just a 5 hour QTE all that game was made for was to show how pretty graphics can look but with MAJOR SACRIFICES to everything else if hellbalde was open world like horizon or on the scale off a god of war or last of us 2 it wouldn't look anywhere near what it does now so can people stop comparing it to those games graphics wise
@@daksans6764 TLOU2 has deep stealth action gameplay with a crafting system in large areas that allow for many different approaches while having stunning graphics. Hellblade 2 is a QTE hallway simulator
@@The_Claymores So basically The last of Us 2 is third person Far Cry. Also you'll never find deep gameplay mechanics in any Naughty Dog game. The Last of Us exposed the weakness of Naughty Dog formula and it sold poorly. They are trying to survive through unnecessary remakes and remasters.
imagine being hyped about "call of duty" in 2024. I started with console gaming back in 1990, but to keep playing the same shooter on a console year after year... I dont get it. get a gaming pc then.
Hellblade II is undoubtedly a visual masterpiece. Don't think anyone can dispute that. But what's disappointing to me is they had no evolution from the first game from a gameplay perspective, and the story in this one was much less compelling imo. After such a lengthy dev cycle, it's disappointing. I'm happy for those who are enjoying it. I just expected more than what was delivered.
@@daksans6764 GoW Ragnarok being inferior to GoW 2018 isn't surprising considering the universal acclaim the first game got. And not sure if I agree about Horizon. Either way, both of those games are far different than Hellblade, so not sure what the point is other than you're trying to tear down some very successful PS exclusive games
I honestly enjoyed hellblade 2 more than the first one tbh. The only real concern for me was the fact it took such a long time for this short of a sequel.
Its becoming increasingly apparent since Starfield, the broader LSM community is just toxic. Personally a bit tired of Senua and the actress but I do like alot of elements and moments in this game. Not even close to a bad game. Dont let others here discredit your opinion, majority havent even played it @KindredW
Respect all opinions but Cog…he’s gonna wake up just like the rest did and realize what the fuck did I do this for? I watched Nxtgen720, Mooch, Crap and now Tim all finally call out the bullshit. Don’t jockey for Xbox or PS for that matter
matty still playing starfield and giving this update as much praise is why i will never go to him for anything bethesda related. its clear he cannot be trusted, that bias is waaaay too strong.
Play Omori. It deals with mental issues so much better than Hellblade 2 does, and it has both great gameplay and a stellar story. Can't recommend it enough.
Yep, another hellblade 2 comment. The game is objectively a worse game in terms gameplay. Gene Park. I dont agree with the story criticism and main actor harsh comments, i think shes a phenomenal actor, and i honestly think shes still the best part of this game. I didnt have any issues at all hearing the voices over main dialog. Especially when wearing headphones, i think it worked as intended, sometimes a voice would repeat a name or thing youre aware of for emphasis during main dialog which is probably exactly folks suffer in real life. Incredible. I was able to follow with the minor overlapping, felt intentional, and while your attention is undivided, this is incredible. (Razer Nari Ultimate.) Now, onto the bad... Really, wheres the gameplay?! As you mentioned. (As Gene and Matty mentioned a billion times.) The lack of dash attack and melee button removed all combat nuance. (Zero custom combos, and critical attacks.) Not to mention, the lack of getting flanked because everything is 1v1. Parry, when it works because precision feels weird in this, can be a 1shot on weaker enemies, its OP but weirdly unreliable with timing. I would prefer the visuals and from hellblade 2, get slapped onto hellblade 1... This game made hellblade 1 play better by a longshot. I dont want the studio closed, but i really hope they read and hear these criticisms. Dont remove gameplay for your sequels and mislead folks... I felt hellblade 2 mislead folks from hellblade 1. No one expected godofwarz but at minimum, we should have received the same experienced on every mechanic enhanced. (This has nothing to do with game length.) Instead, they only enhanced audio, and visuals, story, and stripped all else to barebones. Its weird. Folks got jipped. Last thing, i think Cog genuinely enjoys this game. I disagree with this as a proper sequel on Gameplay alone, but its cool.
I think Cog's take on Yasuke is mostly correct. However, in current times we still have only one or two kinds of protagonists - women and blacks. America is still majority white and most gamers are still men.
In my eyes Starfield has no hope. To use Cyberpunk 2077 as an example, while it launched badly, the interesting content and groundwork was there. Starfield is just an average game by all metrics. Bethesda forgot what made them good, handcrafted content. I've hated them since they released Fallout 4, it's completely the wrong direction of what made them good.
Personally I had fun with it. itys over now and I'm back to platinuming. it was a pallet clenser for me i'm not primarily a xbox gamer i sub to gamepass dusted off the Box popped a Headset on and enjoyed my 6 hours. As a guy who works ALOT and its too many games I'll take a short experienc enjoyed what i played i give it a strong 6!
Gene’s an interesting guy. In many cases, he’s the overly positive guy that gives a lot of games and studios the benefit of the doubt and there are other rare cases like this where he just unfilteringly goes off on the game and a whole studio and doesn’t spare a single opportunity to continue doing so. I think it was a little much even if the perspective was important. Others are bashing Cog for being positive on the game for some reason (maybe Sony fanboys from Sacred Symbols), but I agreed with most of his points. I’m tired of most studios shamelessly replicating what others are doing: bloated, empty open worlds with the same familiar combat (either Soulslike or DMC). We get it. I appreciate that there are brave studios like Ninja Theory and Quantic Dream that are doing their own thing
What exact fanboyism are you referring to? Can you provide specific examples of your claim? Maybe people just actually like the game and platform? Is that fanboyism to you? Could you not make the exact same argument for other podcasts in this channel?
@consorte101 I could definitely make the same statement about other podcasts on this channel. But there seems to be access journalism with the Xbox side of things. Whereas with the Nintendo and Sony parts of the channel are still guilty of "fanboyism," but at least those parts don't seem to be influenced via access and merchandise by the respective corporations. There's an obvious difference. And of course nobody on earth can be 100% unbiased.
I feel like Gene is a little too mean to Ninja Theory for calling them a bad dev. Especially at times like these where studios like Tango gets shutdown. There are much more Dev studios out there that put out much more bad games that deserve to be called "bad".
Gene is a savage and im here for it. 🍿
Me too
I will roast boring Nintendo games like Mario and Zelda if I get to talk to Gene
Gene is a clown😂
Did Cog just praise a crawl through section because it looked good??
Xbox problems bro
I thought the game was a solid 8...until the crawl thru level. Cave, mountain, crawl thru, cave, mountain........the worse.
Beat the game and im struggling to picture what you mean by "crawl through section".
@@Donnie_Oculus when she enters the last camp or whatever and is crawling into the area, night time and fire.
@@ktrotter11 sounds like you didnt play the game lol. "last camp or whatever"? xD
If a person only plays Call of Duty every year, why would they subscribe to game pass instead of just buying the game?
Fair point. My guess is they will do some incentives that are tied to GP Ultimate like the battle pass, skins, in game currency to try and sweeten the deal.
lol I've been saying this for years personally. It's the one thing about Game Pass (and other sub services) that has never made any sense to me. They need mainstream numbers to be successful (according to the MS FTC leaks they envisioned 100 mil subs for long term success) but mainstream normie gamers only play like 3 or 4 games a year. So like, huh? Why are they ever gonna subscribe to one of these services?
GP caters to more of a hardcore gamer really, especially with all the indie games on the service. But hardcore gamers tend to be more picky about what they play so most of us don't want to sub either. So you create this weird limbo where the only people who really care about GP are people who do play a decent amount of games but also just roll with whatever MS gives them to play. Which clearly isn't that many people.
@@StephenTheZ very well said. I pretty much agree with everything
@@Echo__plex Cannot do exclusive stuff as a result of the buyout.
@@StephenTheZWho pitched idea of Game pass?
Gene Park at 2:24:10 gives the most savage takedown of any mainstream reviewer I have ever seen. Absolutely body bagged HB2 and Ninja Theory
that's ballsy. but glad someone pointed it out.
Honestly. I kind of agree with Gene on this.
I had a lot of reasons to laugh watching the studio sink after those DMC slides. However, Heavenly Sword and DMC were good games. Not sure about Enslaved.
@@jimcarrey2866 must be a miserable way to live taking pleasure in other peoples failures.
Absolutely based take. It's about time too, the conversation is usually so milquetoast about these games, this is easily the most interesting staking of an opinion on this from a mainstream critic in a while.
Nobody is mocapping an entire game because you have to make sacrifices in other places like frame rate, resolution, physics, environment interactivity, production time and more. So while yes NT has made a beautiful looking game, there's a ton of sacrifices in that game
@@robf I knew that was going to happen to this game. Most of us play games to PLAY something - I can see a movie anytime
@@maddworld3317Naughty Dog games are basically interactive movies
@@daksans6764I didn't know that, I don't have a Playstation, I'm Xbx.
@@daksans6764not to this extent. TLOU2 has great gameplay. That’s why their roguelike mode worked. You couldn’t do that with this game. There’s just not enough mechanically going on. I’m ok with that too, I love story based walking sim games like Firewalk and Edith Finch, but the issue is that this is a sequel, and the first game had so much more going on. The story didn’t justify its own existence either. I don’t think we really needed a sequel to Hellblade, at least not this one
@@drgonzo123 TLOU2 exposed the weakness of this franchise and that's why it was disappointing. Hellblade 2 does everything Hellblade 1 did but better
Cog: "you actually got to control the E3 trailer segment!". Reality: hold up and press A a few times... can't aim the spear... can't control where you're running
It's a cinematic set piece in a cinematic game. The way interactions are woven into this game is masterfully done and way better than QTE events. That's real innovation and something I can appreciate.
@@Mike-sf7ex troll
Cog has recently shown his true colours unfortunately. It's obvious that Cog will defend Xbox to protect his personal relationships with Xbox management, even at the cost of integrity of this show, more so noticeable with the constant negative aoura on Xbox. I am a PS player, but I love the Dukes as they are usually neutral and honest, a true breath of fresh air. Matty has kept to his mind and honesty while Cog is ramping up this defence which is a shame. No hate to Cog though, just my thoughts.
@@Mike-sf7exI agree.
@@MASTERJJ1995agree, lots of people dying for a brand that cares nothing for them at the end of the day.
Another episode of cog defending everything xbox. He lucky he's likable, and seems like a genuinely good dude
He's not lucky. He's an Xbox fan. He PREFERS xbox to Playstation. That's why he's co-hosting an Xbox podcast. A lot of people in the comments seem confused about what show they're watching.
@Dave0zz yes it's a xbox podcast. but for the most part they are neutral. Cog let's his fanboy side out alot recently. But let's not act like they are colteastwood or randal thor levels of fanboys. U can actually watch defining Duke and just get a chill xbox podcast without the microsoft saft stroking.
"For the most part"
@@got.a.raging.clue. I think Cog legit liked the game. Did you play it? It's not like it bombed. Some people liked it.
@@got.a.raging.clue. There's a place in all platforms for fans to be fans of games you might not like or care about or get top reviews. Liking something that a lot of players dislike doesn't mean they're wrong or fanning. I equally lothe players that pile on just bc others are piling on a game to shame. To each their own.
@@Dave0zz Yep. I loved it. And I loved Starfield. And Hi-Fi Rush. And Pentiment. I've literally been happy with Xbox's output this gen. They've done some awful things over the past few years, but I prefer their games and that's the reason I stick with them. People seem to forget that folks can have different tastes that inform the console they buy and the games they like.
I'm sorry but RDR2, TLOU2 have good gaming experience while providing stunning visuals. That makes hellblade 2 look worse because they had to sacrifice so much for a grimmsing face.
Tlou2 is pure trash
Cog is so positive on anything involving Xbox that you’d think he legit worked for them. It’s like he’s their salesman lol
Maybe he just has a different opinion than yours?
he doesn't work for microsoft but his income does rely on his connections/relationships to xbox leaders
He's generally a positive man, it's his personality. But I do agree that sometimes he stretches for xbox
Why tf are the ponies going at Cog? Go watch your sacred lame pod.
He is protecting his relationships that he thinks exists like the op said. Everything that they are praising in HB2 has been tore down when other games did them.
I loved when Gene really opened up about HB2, he brings up a lot of good points about Ninja theory being an mediocre studio and hiding behind mental health.
So true. For an actual good game about mental struggles, try Omori if you haven't already. About 15 hours of both stellar story AND stellar gameplay, and you'll feel so many different emotions. It's been a year but I still think about it a few times per week.
It's just such a textbook move for a woke company to use the mental health thing as a shield, when you could easily take the entire element out of Omori and it would still be a great game. Meanwhile HB2 can't be even be a decent game regardless lmao. Microsoft should shut the studio down just because. We don't have the time or resources to waste on stuff like this.
blanket statement, with no substance. What can you expect from a grown man unironically using the word cringe while discussing/criticizing writing/art? xD Where/when did they hide behind mental health? LOL
He was inconsistent and contradictory in his points. Said one point then followed up with a point that contradicted himself. He was all over the place and didn't seem to have a real coherent thought about whatever 'issue' he had with the game. It's clear he didn't think very much about it.
Pretty refreshing, really. It's not often someone comes out that blatant and just puts it out there. He even played H1 to prepare for comparison. Nothing against NT, but their output has always been slightly above mid, yet enjoyable. When thrust into the spotlight to carry Xbox current lineup to the next, they're going to be under heavy scrutiny. Maybe as a side game, and overlooking Cog-like salesman's praise, they're just not capable of a well-rounded gaming experience.
@@CharityDiaryAfter flop that was The Last of Us 2 l, Naughty Dog will most likely be shut down before Ninja Theory
I mean Hellblade 2 isn't BAD by any means but it's really not acceptable for a game that was in development for 4+ years to only be 5-6 hours. I know length isn't everything but it needed to be bigger and better in every way. I was expecting a Uncharted 1 to Uncharted 2 moment. Just something that took the first game and expanded on it in every way. What we got was a side step or even a step back from everything except visuals.
RE9 has been in development for 6+ years and is probably going to be a 5-8 hour experience… but I’m probably gonna play the hell out of it
I think it has much more to do with how fun a game is rather than length
Couldn’t care less how much time developers spend on a game if I don’t like it
It was too basic
@@jarde1989re9 will have way better gameplay
Hellblade 2 is in my top 5 favorite games of all time.
@@504Trey I don't even wanna know the other 4
Matty, not to take away from your point on AC because it still works, but evil G Washington was an alternate timeline DLC. Conner also had super powers in that DLC, so its not necessarily an equal comparison
Appreciate the correction. Thank you!
I hope the next Assassin's Creed is set in Africa with the lead character being a Mexican man and see if Cog still loves muh diversity.
@@nkw1985Sarah Bond was hired because of diversity
@@daksans6764 - Yeah it's sad.
@@nkw1985 Microsoft has culture of hiring incompetent people and making third rate products
Ninja Theory need to go back to making games like Enslaved, Heavenly Sword or even DmC
Enslaved was excellent, i would love to see a remaster of that
DMC 2013 is best game in the franchise
People need to realize Ninja Theory is NOT the same studio it used to be. Most of those devs left years ago.
@@codeen66 Ninja Theory has still so many great talents. Tameem had left a while ago
Exactly!!! Make action games & make that money, HB2 is a flop. Evil MS is lurking
People forget that Ninja Theory also laid a dud with Bleeding Edge in 2020. So commercially that's 2 failures in a row.
If u don't like Hellblade 2 that's fine but come on man bleeding edge was redfall level HB2 is not that bad
@@rudedays9379 Bleeding edge was clearly a game to try and keep the light on and after they got bought was sent out to die I dont think there any point on focusing on it i doubt Xbox cares
Someone doesn’t understand what “commercial failure” is
I don't know if you actually meant to say commercially, but, if we're looking at it that way I'm pretty sure the only success they've ever had is the original Hellblade. Pretty much everything else they've ever made has been a flop or under performer.
Hellblade 1 also floped
I thought Hellblade 2 was meh. There was such a long wait for this and for it to be in ways less of a game than the first is so fucking disappointing.
I think it definitely got stuck in development hell and was severely cut down in scope late in development.
They need a change of creative leads
@@jovi9918100% this, this game definitely is missing a lot of needed content
The tyranny of king washington is not cannon goddammit.😂
I dunno man wikipedia and tiktok said it was true
Saying the puzzles are better in the sequel is crazy
Yeah that was insane lmfao
The puzzles are better in Hellblade but Hellblade 2 still the better game & is in my top 5 favorite games of all times..
The puzzles are better and had more variety in the sequel. HB1 had too many segments with the symbols and it just killed the pacing
@@504Treythat’s irrelevant…
I thought the puzzles in the first game were trash and only served to slow the pacing down.
The second game at least had variety even if they weren't that hard to solve.
Hellblade 2 is a disappointment. Ninja Theory is on borrowed time. Subjective opinion goes without saying, but it is not worth $50. When everyone plays this on Game Pass and it makes no money on purchases, that is the market agreeing it is only worth playing for a $15 monthly fee or less. Business-wise I do not understand how Ninja Theory survives when Tango Gameworks produced better and did not make it.
Y’all set yourself up for disappointment…
Hellblade2 is exactly what Ninja Theory said it was
@jarde1989 that doesn't mean it can't still be disappointing.
@Echo__plex it just means its not for you. And that's okay, not all games have to be for everybody. In fact it's all this whinging from gamers that they want all games to be 10 out of 10s across the board or they're trash is part of what's killing the industry right now.
@alexlyster3459 I enjoyed the first Hellblade. I don't think expectations were too high. I think it's fair to expect some improvement and evolution from the first game. I have to think a lot of people felt like this would be a bigger, tent pole game and it just wasn't.
matty, you need to get gene on this every episode. he was savage and speaking real talk!
I will roast boring kiddy Nintendo games if I get to talk to Gene
Thanks for reading my question about Assassin's Creed! 40:35 :D
Hellblade 2 just isn’t that good. Cog seems to care about visuals more than I do. I don’t care how pretty your game is if it isn’t fun.
Let's be real Cog was never gonna NOT praise this game lmao
The thing is it's a game that isn't for everyone. And that's ok. I appreciate Xbox's diversity of output. And while fun factor is very important sometimes movies/video games/art can be deep, incredible and meaningful but not "fun" especially when it's tackling the themes Hellblade is.
Yeah heavy disagree with the two of you above. As a mental health professional and lifelong player of games. This is trully a unique experience through and through and while the graphics isn't the most important thing, it does certainly add a great deal of immersion, You then add the incredible audio experience, the visceral combat, the puzzles, the interactions Senua has with others, world building and BENDING...
Ninja Theory did an incredible job at representing severe mental illnesses and what they are doing here, you simply cannot do in a movie. You just can't. You can't illustrate the level of immersion that you get here through a non interactive medium (movies).
I really challenge folks who are quick to label this game as nothing more than a tech demo or say things like "should have been a movie". With peace and love
@@Mmachine88 dude, that’s fine. You enjoyed it.
I don’t think it’s good. It’s incredibly short but feels too long. I’ve never had what was advertised as a huge release feel so underwhelming and boring. Not bad, just boring. I beat it, it has some really amazing moments, but those moments don’t save it.
They gave up all interactivity to create stunning visuals and sound is a slow and boring game. Gameplay is almost nonexistent. Push up.
They should have made a movie, because it is clear they didn’t want to make a game.
@@stonehorn4641 literally just explained why movie would not do what Ninja Theory is trying to do. That's fine if you'd rather not try to understand the game and you didn't like it.
Man I feel like I keep finding myself repeating this disclaimer before giving my opinion on Cog’s takes in recent weeks but here it goes again: I love Cog and what he brings to LSM…
…BUT how did I just KNOW that he was going to “LOVE” Hellblade 2? I just knew it lol. I hate to say it but I’m not sure he would have been so kind to it if it had been a Sony game.
Cog seems to be running defense for Xbox related things recently. It’s no big deal but that’s what I see.
Edit: just heard the Starfield conversation and man… even there Cog is talking about how “we” would have gotten a few more metacritic points if SF had launched the way it is now.
My boy, you are not working for these fools lol.
As far as my thoughts for the void: The Starfield update sounds fine but I don’t see how it is supposed to be exciting for people who don’t like the moment to moment gameplay it has to offer and wasn’t that the biggest issue to begin with?
New camera looks great. 60 fps is great. But it’s still a fast travel simulator with dumb combat, zero exploration, and lackluster story content.
People criticise PlayStation games because all their tentpole games use same formula. If every Xbox first party game started using Hellblade formula then people will call them out too
@@daksans6764 you're spamming comments about PS games. Nobody cares dude. It has nothing to do with Hellblade II.
@@Echo__plex PlayStation games don't have great gameplay and they are not visually benchmark like Hellblade. That makes PlayStation games fodder for time pass and nothing else
Horizon Burning shores is a better, more rich and dense game in both visuals and animations. It's also an open world.
Just because Ninja Theory made a more realistic visual game, doesn't make it a better looking game. The environment has nothing in it, it's just rocks and more rocks in a barren land.
Guerilla Games doesn't get the respect they deserve.
They need to make a new killzone maybe where you play as helghast
Cog has framed photos of Phill on his mantle
In situations like this, I just ask myself if they'd have the same energy if a game in question was on a competitors device. It quickly roots out the console & brand loyalists. Are you a fan of the games or fan of the brand?
@@jynxceNaughty Dog games get so much praise from PlayStation fans despite being mediocre movie wannabe games
@@jynxcethat's my only thing, if Hellblade 2 was a PS5 console exclusive he would almost assuredly have just lumped it in as "another Sony, over the shoulder story heavy game". Not to mention that the Sony exclusive lineup this year has been pretty varied, Helldivers, Ronin, Stellar Blade, Final Fantasy.
@@daksans6764 Naughty Dog is a great studio, and Xbox and every Xbox fan would kill to have them making exclusive games for them. Just stop.
@@daksans6764 They are actual games. WTF are you talking about.
The fact that Matty or Cog hasn't played Stellar Blade yet is puzzling. Both complain about PlayStations style of games, but I've not heard any mention of them interested in Stellar Blade? I'd love a Matty review for Stellar Blade. I just think if Stellar Blade was on Xbox it's a whole other conversation.
It's so funny reading this and then going to my Twitter to see I'm the hater of Xbox games. You can't win lol. I'll play Stellar Blade this summer when I have more time. Demo didn't impress me, so I'm not in a rush. IT CAN BE THAT SIMPLE AT TIMES!
@MrMattyPlays Thank you for replying back! I was hoping you would, I'm glad you'll get to it in the summer, really looking forward to your thoughts on Stellar Blade as I love your videos and your honesty ❤
I heard the demo’s really bad, though, so I wouldn’t let it keep you from trying Stellar Blade. It’s a fun PS2-era-style game.
@@MrMattyPlaysYou and Cog just need to take an L every week and praise Playstation and these "xbox fans" will love you.
I mean they focus on Xbox, so of course PS and heck even Nintendo won't get the same kind of attention just how it goes with more platform focused guys.
Hellblade 2 has less gameplay than the duration of this podcast 😐
That's stretch
Has Cog ever disliked an Xbox first party game that wasn't Redfall?
It's interesting because he seems to like everything.
I do agree on the visuals front though. I think it's unparalleled but then also it's literally a tech demo after 5 years.
Some people are easier to please. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with liking most things. Just understand the person is easier to please than you or has a difference of opinion.
@@MinednamYet he calls out similar kinds of games as formulaic when PlayStation or other publishers make them.
@@siddharthshishulkar8992
He liked the first one too which had nothing to do with Xbox, these types of comments are weird. Let people like what they like
@@siddharthshishulkar8992 yeah that's facts.
@@DD-fs9xt I highly doubt he played in before ninja theory was acquired to be honest... Someone should check what he had to say about the game when it came out...
Hellblade discussion = two serious game critics and one fanboy
Cog should just go work at Xbox lol. I own a Series X and played this game. It was such a waste of my time to be perfectly honest.
I wasted my time on new Horizon game. Ghost of Tsushima will be another mediocre sequel like Horizon
@daksans6764 oh…kay? Not sure what either of those games have to do with Hellblade 2, but okay Jan.
@@anirudhmenon4234 I guess you must be fan of those games or atleast one of them
@@daksans6764womp womp. Ratioed
@@daksans6764 so your hope was that I was a fan of those games so that somehow you bringing it up randomly would somehow hurt me? Were you born a moron or did you become that way?
Cog loving hellblade 2 surprises nobody 😂
Most people who played it liked it. It scored over 80 for crying out loud it's not a 60 or something.
It's a game that a ton of people loved not just Cog. It's not trying to be a game for everyone but they are pushing the industry forward with amazing tech and a deeply personal and unique story and protagonist. People I think just had unrealized expectations that this would be a completely different type of game, when in reality it's a mid sized team of 80 people punching way above their weight. And their state of the art tech can be utilized to support other Xbox studios projects. They are probably safe even if Hellblade 2 doesn't move the needle.
So he can't even like a game now lol
@@tylerstimsona lot of hypocrites loves this game... they were shitting on the first game for being a one and done, cinamatic walking sim.
@@Irreverenze We're talking about Cog, did he shit on the first game? As far as I know he's been begging for a #justone graphical showcase for Xbox for a long time.
What value does a game really have if the only thing that makes it “good” will be expired in 5-10 years?
You are right these ultra realistic tech pieces age like milk.
I think this is something Japanese devs are so ahead of Western devs, they always go for art style. That's why a lot of the older games that hold up visually are from those companies.
THANK YOU.
The effort put into the cinematography, surreal presentation of the hidden folk aspect of the story, and the story itself will not "expire" in 5-10 years.
Sorry but an entire worth of a game cannot be boiled down to "graphics" and then dismissed like it's spoiled food.
I personally don't think value is only tied to replayability, or whether it "holds up" as it ages. Some great things are a one-and-done product. I don't think this is one of them, but I just don't feel like that's a good point of argument.
“They achieved their vision but, I think their vision sucks.” Lmao
53:46 This narrative that Ubisoft made George Washington a king is getting really annoying. That was in a dlc "what if" expansion. In the base game, he leads the revolutionaries against the red coats and eventually becomes president. The fictional element is that Connor existed and helped them win the war.
54:39 the irony of Cog saying, " People just exposing they didn't play the game."
This is a constant problem with people that aren't AC fans trying to act like it's super high fantasy and therefore all bets are off.
99% of fantastical elements are either explicitly non-canon "what if" style add-on content, explained in-lore as "the animus glitching", or are intrinsically tied to AC's own lore rather than the historical eras they're depicting.
ive played every ac and ive always seen it as historical fiction so getting real life characters and give them a spin like how in da vinci fixing the hidden blade or in 3 how the boston masacre happen because of haytham or how the borgias were templars sooo im really confused why people really have a problem with yasuke when the studio can make him the secondary protagonist to tell this new story
@@pedroloera-marin348 Because there's always been a clear line between history and game lore. Ubisoft never implied Ezio was real and Davinci actually made stuff for him, but with Yasuke they are directly revising history and acting as if their version is historical fact.
@@PlayLaughLogan how? Bro have you played the game?
@@pedroloera-marin348 Its very simple, we didnt play as them so they were kept similar to their historical figure
Was Da Vinci a genius, inventor and artist? Yes we know that as fact. AC uses that fact to help a fictional character to push the story
Was Rodrigo Borgia power hungry and very nepotistic? Did he sleep around and cause problems? Did he seek control by trying to give his family and friends power? Yes to ALL of them. Again we use a real life persons real life happenings to push the story.
Did the Boston Massacre happen? Yes we know it as fact it did. So we use fictional characters to push the story as a fantasy history. Remember AC has been real history with a hidden truth being exposed.
Yasuke, was he a samurai? we dont know probably not.
He was a warrior but he wouldnt have known the way a Samurai fights or would be bad at it because he spend his life training in a European style
Was he a general as the game showed? Nope we dont even know if he was a samurai
Could he speak and read the language? Nope he struggled very much
Did he participate in battles. potentially but we dont actually have any records of what he did
Now we playing as a retainer and what we assumed body guard of Nobunaga. So how is he being a body guard and doing missions when he couldnt speak the language and stood out as a giant
I’m wondering if cog or gene ever played horizon forbidden west on the ps5 or at least seen it played in front of them
Is it on Xbox?
I would think not. To heap as much praise on games like H2 and other releases on the system, you'd basically have to voluntarily place yourself into a deprivation state to other gaming experiences. Sadly, the blue-pill lifestyle is just the way for some.
Horizon forbidden west was being called Horizon forgotten waste after people found it boring
@@daksans6764 literally nobody says that
@@Echo__plex Most people say that
I love Matty and Cog, but I also love Gene in the mix where they all don't agree. So good 😆
Gene ain't nothing but a hardcore Pony & Matty ain't nothing but a PonyBot
@@504Trey No. They just don't praise everything under the sun.
@@waketp420 ..just dei content
@@somethingsburning774 You sound soft.
@@waketp420 Don't care, it is what it is
I love Gene keeping it a stack.
The Copium from Cog in this episode is insane.
The amount of people that show up in these comments every single week just to say “Cog Cope“ is insane lol
Y’all really need some friends 😂
@@jarde1989He copes every week they aren't wrong lol
@@geronimo1595 why do you watch every week? yall do need friends.
that fact that there are so many people like you that can't stand when someone has a different opinion is astounding, it is always cope
Cog with the fanboy glasses on.
2:39:06 lol the 5 hour wait slip
I did not expect gene to tee up on hellblade like that holy 🤣saying the psychosis aspects are cringe and ninja theory is using mental health as a shield from criticism is some thermonuclear shit and i love it, but i love all the different opinions as always. great stuff dukes. 👏
Gene was spot-on with that assessment and I'm happy someone finally said it
Nah love Cog but I feel like Cog is capping on hellblade and on some things Xbox. I tried it on gamepass and it’s too boring went to go watch Brad play it. Whats frustrating is that we’re not getting ghost wire 2, evil within 3, and hi fi 2 to get more of this nonsense press up action.
Man no evil within 3 is so pathetic this franchise was my RE fix
Hellblade 2 is best game of the year so far or atleast second best after Prince of Persia the lost crown
@@daksans6764 Hellblade 2 is not even in the top 5 games of the first half year lmao you're over-dosing on xbox copium
@@The_Claymores Hellblade 2 blows every game out of water so far. What are best games according to you so far?
@@daksans6764 FF7 Rebirth, Stellar Blade, Dragon's Dogma 2, Helldivers 2, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, Pacific Drive, Ultros, Animal Well are better than Hellblade 2. But it doesn't matter, Hellblade 2 can't be nominated since it isn't a game.
Just one thing that I feel is important at 01:50:00 from Gene. The reason the voices tell you where it comes from on game 1 and not on game 2 is because the fights in game 1 are inside Senua's mind, so the Furies impact Sena directly, just like the majority of the events, in Saga Senua deals with the furies the same way a human with psycosis that lives in actual reality, the voices reflects your fears of interaction with others. Like during combat in 2 the voices reflect your actual fear of losing your life, that is why the voices always say, Fight, don't lose, you have to get up.
Holy shit almost 4 hour Duke with Gene lets gooooo! Much love from Ohio.
longer than Hellblade 2 lmao
@@Natureboy8383 not if you take a really long time looking for faces in rock structures though, and also not if you fall asleep. Both of those aspects can significantly increase the game length.
@@The_Claymores 😂
Hellblade 2 is an 81 on Opencritic. Stellar Blade is an 82 on Opencritic. I think you confused the scores Matty
A game has to have the level of interactivity I need, if I can watch a commentary free playthrough of the game and get pretty much the same experience there is an issue. To me its like having a music video but the song is terrible...the video is a bonus but what's the point if the song is bad
A wild Gene appears! Love to see it! ✌
Edit: I cannot allow this Detroit: Become Human blasphemy! Stand down, Gene!
Yeah I loved Marcus story in that... Gene is honest tho i rock with him
Call me strange, but when I want a cinematic experience with realistic visuals, I watch a movie.
100%
Truth is Hellblade 2 would have been much better as a tv series lol
It is Strange to think the world revolves around you and your tastes/preferences. Having options is a good thing, people may like different things than you do.
@@Donnie_Oculus So true! I haven't played Starfield yet but I know many who have and call it their GOTY. Then I see ppl trashing it like it's a joke of a game - *players have different tastes and preferences*
That means you have never played Naughty Dog games and other PlayStation studios that use Naughty Dog formula
I find it kind of funny that Cog is the authoritative voice in the AC Shadows drama when he doesn't even play AC. AC is historical fiction, so Ubisoft can make whatever game they want imo. Why do a black male instead of a white male when both would be the outsider during this time? I think this game should have as much right to exist as RE5 to be frankly honest.
Cog also mentions that he has never seen a person like him in video games. I'm calling bs on that. I could argue there are more black males in video games and movies than Asian or Hispanic. The biggest franchise in video games features two games with African American males.
Also I agree that more diversity is good. I'm just not sure about the method and the means. I'm for let the market speak for itself. For example this Concord game seems to be made for a "modern' audience. Let's see if they're a real player base.
Why is it so important for people to see themselves represented by someone else I wonder. I don't ever like a character because they look like me. It's more of the traits and action they take in the story.
If Cog, for example, wants to see more black people in games. Maybe there should be a push to encourage more black people to pursue making video games than depend on people who do it because it's mandated by their corporate overlords or want some virtue signal points. Sorry for the long comment.
Gotta agree with Matty on this one. Hellblade2 is majorly disappointing. Sure the rocks look great. It easier to make a game look great when it’s on the rails walking sim. A step down from hellblade 1 which I didn’t think was possible.
Majority seem to disagree with you.
@@daksans6764 only in your weird Xbox cult
@@daksans6764u on every comment. This game sucks ass
@@The_Claymores PlayStation games will never reach to the quality of Hellblade 2
@@memes3751 This game is way better than anything you're playing on your PS5 right now.
Glad I am not the only one who noticed how gummy the Hellblade actress was. Constantly showing of those gums.
Any other competent studio that dedicated all of its resources to graphics and sound can accomplish what H2 did in this generation of hardware. There's nothing else going on in the backgrounds pushing the hardware other than the sights and sounds. Where's the involving gameplay? If you keep praising output like this, then you'll keep getting these decisively barely-gaming experiences. Love the games, not the brand.
this game did alot of things worse than the first game
Ive been a fan for years and personally Im happy to see more people hold the Dukes accountable. Cog has definitely become more of a fanboy & while he's of course allowed to voice his opinions regardless, so are listeners too. Feedback isnt hate and negativity shouldnt be dismissed because you (the dukes or other fans) dont like hearing it. Thats how echo chambers are formed and fanboys become even more emboldened.
Tldr; Cogs a big boy and can handle some criticism 😅
Well said. Too many are so soft nowadays they can't even have an intense debate without taking it personally.
Dude Colin is a massive fanboy but I’m sure you agree with every thing he says. I don’t get why the internet thinks you’re not allowed to like Xbox it’s bizarre.
@@joerogers7782 You realize it's possible for both of them to be fanboys, right? Do I need to add a "Colin is also a fanboy" footnote on every single comment?
Being “about” something serious isn’t enough, you also have to have something to say beyond “this is something that exists”.
Hellblade has always come off a bit shallow in that regard
I'm floored every time new Gene lore drops, this man has lived 😂
not listened to it all, what he say?
Keep holding the line cog 😆
I think ppl were expecting a lot more since they not indie no more. I mean it looks stunning but I heard “Xbox’s God of War” & GOTY A LOT. In the end it seems like a good game like the first one. It’s kinda funny how some fans treated it different before & after acquisition imo. Before Hellblade 1 was just another sad 3rd person cinematic walking sim. Afterward that seemed to change lol. What's the next Xbox game that will be hyped up too much and will ultimately let down?
There is some of what you say but considering the lack of quality aaa games from xbox, the studio closures and more, hellblade 2's lack of gameplay and it's less game than the first game.
The hardcore xbox fanboys where calling it the god of war killer because they thought it was going to be turned into there version of god of war
Of course Cog liked Hellblade 2. Dude is so scared to make Phil mad 😂
Hellblade 2 is in my top 5 favorite games of all time & I don't even know Phil.
@@504Trey that’s crazy that you’ve only played 5 games in your entire lifetime…
@@TheOff1ceFan
That's crazy that u incorrectly assumed that I only played 5 games in my entire lifetime...
@@504Trey quit crying, it’s not that deep
Must be 'cool' to jump on bandwagons.
Phil Spencer could sh*t in a brown bag, put an Xbox sticker on the front and Cog would say its a masterpiece
He would open the bag, take big whiff and have this serene look on his face.
He would smear the shit all over his glasses and smile afterwards
OR maybe he actually genuinely likes the game? Is that so unfathomable to you? Yikes some takes and comments here are super cringy.
@@consorte101 what game? We are just making our own fan fiction.
"it's real gamer sh*t!"
How many people have you heard complain about Senua being a female lead? About Lara Croft being a female lead? About Nadine in uncharted 4 being a black woman? about the main character in the walking dead telltale series being a black man? etc. Remember any complaints about the diversity there? No right? Guess what? No one complains because they are original characters, for their original stories. Nothing is being shoehorned or forced with them. That's the problem. Sweet baby inc is literally there to FORCE something. and this is happening in all media, not just gaming. The term "go woke go broke" isn't wrong, it's one of the MANY reasons Disney etc is failing.
there are black characters everywhere now, in everything. movies, shows, games. Cool. So enough with the "i dont feel represented enough" thing
HB2 is actually a bad videogame. Would be interesting as a 20$ VR project though… I tried going back 4 times now and just couldn’t
i cant give them kudos on the graphics when the game is basically on rails..its not impressive
you either didnt play it or you rushed like matty. game is not "basically on rails".
COG is possibly the biggest fan boy who has ever lived. 🤡
Not as much as Colin. Colin worships mediocre Naughty Dog games especially The Last of Us
@@daksans6764 you sound like a fanboy for calling Naughty Dog mediocre and your avatar is from assassin's creed, which makes the statement even funnier
@@The_Claymores Assassin's Creed is way way bigger brand than anything Naughty Dog has ever made. And yeah Colin plays mediocre games and praises them non-stop
@@daksans6764 if it’s so big, why are they going bankrupt as a company?(ubisoft)
Pretty games are great but not at the expense of gameplay.
Tell that to first party PlayStation studios especially Naughty Dog
@@daksans6764 I can't even begin to understand what you're going through these days. Xbox is dying right in front of your eyes and now you're forced to pretend to love a boring QTE walking simulator
@@daksans6764 There is a stealth game since MGS 5 that is as fluid and dynamic as TLOU2. Try again though
@@The_Claymores Do you mean boring trash like Death Stranding which is a walking simulator
@@sugs0377 TLOU2 is mediocre stealth game
This is the first LSM podcast I've actually heard Gene on and haha it was great. Finally someone channeling my inner rage when he was ranting about the biggest problem in the industry. Preach on man, there is nothing more I hate than developers who treat gameplay as a secondary aspect of the game. And this has nothing to do with the fact that Hellblade is a walking simulator, I love stuff like Ace Attorney for example. But a game like Ace Attorney still stimulates and challenges you with its simple mechanics.
Hellblade simply does not (and I am talking about the first game, haven't played the second.) And this isn't a Ninja Theory problem exclusively really, most modern AAA games (at least from western devs) are just so watered down in terms of gameplay mechanics. Thank god for the return of AA games.
Naughty Dog is the worst offender
@@daksans6764 Maybe in terms of exploration and movement, but the combat in Last of Us Part 2 is very deep.
@@MrKreisKlinge The game as a overall package is above average not masterpiece. Gameplay has never been forte of Naughty Dog
Matty's comparison of Naughty Dog to Hellblade is laughable 💀
its not laughable, Naughty dog was the king of graphics for a long time. This game looks better, they still gotta work on gameplay and stuff like that and we know from their past they can do it. Not sure what happened here but the graphics are no joke
@@bretttheillustratorI don’t disagree with you, but look at the PS4 version of The Last of Us Part II and then compare that to Hellblade II. Hellblade II does look better, but not by that much in my opinion. That’s how impressive Naughty Dog is to me.
@@creese16 but it looks better. Digital foundry is gushing over it
I think it's somewhat impressive on a technical level. However, a 5-10 hour experience that's taken 5-7 years to make with this being 30fps isn't that impressive to me.
@@Loopez2284
To be fair, if Ninja Theory were to compare to current Naughty Dog, they would have 0 new games this gen due to a major cancellation
& Senua would probably be a lesbian too, but that's another conversation
88 % very positive on steam. Cog might be on the extreme scale for loving everything about the game, but I feel Gene is at least on the exact same opposite extreme by calling the studio shit and that telling a story about psychosis is cringe
I want my $50 back and for Ninja Theory to cover my medical expenses for my left thumb injury after i finished the game yesterday.
You didn't buy it. You played it on gamepass like the rest of us
I feel bad for anyone that paid 50 bucks for this.
@@d8l835believe it or not some people actually still buy their games and they haven’t been brainwashed into thinking game pass is good
@@Tones753311I wasted my money on Horizon forbidden west
54:10 wholeheartedly disagree with this Assassin Creed take. The general expectation from an AC in Japan was to play as a Japanese man in Japan as much as we played an Egyptian in Origins, Native American in AC3 and French in AC Unity. Also the argument that there is a female Japanese still isn't very valid cause we all know Ubisoft has always pushed their male lead in AC.
Kassandra in Odyssey.....
If they raise the price to 25 ill cancel my subscription. I get 0 value from CoD
Hellblade was just a 5 hour QTE all that game was made for was to show how pretty graphics can look but with MAJOR SACRIFICES to everything else if hellbalde was open world like horizon or on the scale off a god of war or last of us 2 it wouldn't look anywhere near what it does now so can people stop comparing it to those games graphics wise
The Last of Us 2 and God of war are linear corridor games and still they can never touch Hellblade in graphics
@@daksans6764 TLOU2 has deep stealth action gameplay with a crafting system in large areas that allow for many different approaches while having stunning graphics. Hellblade 2 is a QTE hallway simulator
@@The_Claymores So basically The last of Us 2 is third person Far Cry. Also you'll never find deep gameplay mechanics in any Naughty Dog game. The Last of Us exposed the weakness of Naughty Dog formula and it sold poorly. They are trying to survive through unnecessary remakes and remasters.
Hellblade 2 is 5 hours long with 3 hours of cutscenes.
Matty is just curled up in his chair
HB2 made me unsub from gamepass ngl. I'll just use my X for Fallout 4.
I’m not sure what game Cog played.
Corporate Cog >>> Cappin Cog
imagine being hyped about "call of duty" in 2024. I started with console gaming back in 1990, but to keep playing the same shooter on a console year after year... I dont get it. get a gaming pc then.
Who gives a shit? People can play and enjoy whatever they want, whether its console or not.
Damn, cog was seriously ball washing Hellblade 2? I love this show but this dude is shameless lol. Nothing personal just borderline shocking.
Kinda in love with Gene’s honesty lol would love him on all the time.
Hellblade II is undoubtedly a visual masterpiece. Don't think anyone can dispute that. But what's disappointing to me is they had no evolution from the first game from a gameplay perspective, and the story in this one was much less compelling imo. After such a lengthy dev cycle, it's disappointing. I'm happy for those who are enjoying it. I just expected more than what was delivered.
God of war Ragnarok was inferior compared to first game and same can be said for Horizon forbidden west
@@daksans6764 GoW Ragnarok being inferior to GoW 2018 isn't surprising considering the universal acclaim the first game got. And not sure if I agree about Horizon. Either way, both of those games are far different than Hellblade, so not sure what the point is other than you're trying to tear down some very successful PS exclusive games
@@Echo__plex Yeah middling games like Horizon and God of war don't improve on the sequel but Hellblade 2 does compared to the first game.
@daksans6764 haha whatever helps you sleep at night
@@Echo__plex I sleep well at night. I'm just stating facts
I honestly enjoyed hellblade 2 more than the first one tbh. The only real concern for me was the fact it took such a long time for this short of a sequel.
“honestly” followed by a tbh (to be honest)…now that’s some truthful, factual veracity right there
you know you're lying so you're over-compensating with "no really guys, I'm definitely being honest here! really!"
So I'm a liar for saying i enjoyed one game more than the other? my apologies truly, i'll join your guys side! waaah hellblade 2 is trash ! 😡
every ninja theory game has been awful i dont know why people hype them up
Its becoming increasingly apparent since Starfield, the broader LSM community is just toxic.
Personally a bit tired of Senua and the actress but I do like alot of elements and moments in this game. Not even close to a bad game. Dont let others here discredit your opinion, majority havent even played it @KindredW
So an Asian samurai is boring? Phrase it however you want. No buy for me. Will wait for GoT 2.
Matty I’m the same age, got the same problem lol can’t sleep past like, 8-8:30
Respect all opinions but Cog…he’s gonna wake up just like the rest did and realize what the fuck did I do this for? I watched Nxtgen720, Mooch, Crap and now Tim all finally call out the bullshit. Don’t jockey for Xbox or PS for that matter
matty still playing starfield and giving this update as much praise is why i will never go to him for anything bethesda related. its clear he cannot be trusted, that bias is waaaay too strong.
Cog raving about the graphics, fair enough, but saying nothing comes close to it this generation, has he already forgotten about Alan Wake 2?
Alan Wake 2 is great but still Hellblade 2 will be unmatched unless maybe there is new Gears game
Play Omori. It deals with mental issues so much better than Hellblade 2 does, and it has both great gameplay and a stellar story. Can't recommend it enough.
Gotta show up for a three chair!!
Yep, another hellblade 2 comment.
The game is objectively a worse game in terms gameplay.
Gene Park. I dont agree with the story criticism and main actor harsh comments, i think shes a phenomenal actor, and i honestly think shes still the best part of this game.
I didnt have any issues at all hearing the voices over main dialog. Especially when wearing headphones, i think it worked as intended, sometimes a voice would repeat a name or thing youre aware of for emphasis during main dialog which is probably exactly folks suffer in real life. Incredible. I was able to follow with the minor overlapping, felt intentional, and while your attention is undivided, this is incredible. (Razer Nari Ultimate.)
Now, onto the bad...
Really, wheres the gameplay?! As you mentioned. (As Gene and Matty mentioned a billion times.)
The lack of dash attack and melee button removed all combat nuance. (Zero custom combos, and critical attacks.) Not to mention, the lack of getting flanked because everything is 1v1. Parry, when it works because precision feels weird in this, can be a 1shot on weaker enemies, its OP but weirdly unreliable with timing.
I would prefer the visuals and from hellblade 2, get slapped onto hellblade 1... This game made hellblade 1 play better by a longshot.
I dont want the studio closed, but i really hope they read and hear these criticisms.
Dont remove gameplay for your sequels and mislead folks... I felt hellblade 2 mislead folks from hellblade 1.
No one expected godofwarz but at minimum, we should have received the same experienced on every mechanic enhanced. (This has nothing to do with game length.)
Instead, they only enhanced audio, and visuals, story, and stripped all else to barebones. Its weird. Folks got jipped.
Last thing, i think Cog genuinely enjoys this game. I disagree with this as a proper sequel on Gameplay alone, but its cool.
Starfield
Hellblade 2
Gears collection
Doom
#PS5
I think Cog's take on Yasuke is mostly correct. However, in current times we still have only one or two kinds of protagonists - women and blacks. America is still majority white and most gamers are still men.
I've got to agree with Gene. Ninja Theory is mid
In my eyes Starfield has no hope. To use Cyberpunk 2077 as an example, while it launched badly, the interesting content and groundwork was there. Starfield is just an average game by all metrics. Bethesda forgot what made them good, handcrafted content. I've hated them since they released Fallout 4, it's completely the wrong direction of what made them good.
Personally I had fun with it. itys over now and I'm back to platinuming.
it was a pallet clenser for me i'm not primarily a xbox gamer i sub to gamepass dusted off the Box popped a Headset on and enjoyed my 6 hours. As a guy who works ALOT and its too many games I'll take a short experienc enjoyed what i played i give it a strong 6!
Gene’s an interesting guy. In many cases, he’s the overly positive guy that gives a lot of games and studios the benefit of the doubt and there are other rare cases like this where he just unfilteringly goes off on the game and a whole studio and doesn’t spare a single opportunity to continue doing so. I think it was a little much even if the perspective was important.
Others are bashing Cog for being positive on the game for some reason (maybe Sony fanboys from Sacred Symbols), but I agreed with most of his points. I’m tired of most studios shamelessly replicating what others are doing: bloated, empty open worlds with the same familiar combat (either Soulslike or DMC). We get it. I appreciate that there are brave studios like Ninja Theory and Quantic Dream that are doing their own thing
Shoutout to Gene for standing on business calling out Ninja Theory 😂
Matty since you have basically mentioning Operation Darkness on the regular over this month a video should be popping up
The xbox fanboyism though not a real word is a real bias for this podcast. I wish it was more objective and realistic about the game Industry
What exact fanboyism are you referring to? Can you provide specific examples of your claim? Maybe people just actually like the game and platform? Is that fanboyism to you? Could you not make the exact same argument for other podcasts in this channel?
@consorte101 I could definitely make the same statement about other podcasts on this channel. But there seems to be access journalism with the Xbox side of things. Whereas with the Nintendo and Sony parts of the channel are still guilty of "fanboyism," but at least those parts don't seem to be influenced via access and merchandise by the respective corporations.
There's an obvious difference. And of course nobody on earth can be 100% unbiased.
I feel like Gene is a little too mean to Ninja Theory for calling them a bad dev. Especially at times like these where studios like Tango gets shutdown. There are much more Dev studios out there that put out much more bad games that deserve to be called "bad".
Cogs to far gone to be saved