It's challenging as hell, you don't carry anything over from previous plays, there's no memorizing the game. I expected you to love it, actually.

Cody is extremely biased against indie games in general... I've never heard him say anything good about a single one (and while I'm sure he will chime in and mention one in such a way that he thinks it absolves him of being called a biased indie-hater, I just came to the realization early on in our friendship that talking about indie games in his presence is akin to politics/religion).

There is one genre that has indie games I actually enjoy, and that's adventure. Still, that is because there are very few if any AAA adventure games being made. If there were, they'd blow the pants off any of the indie offerings. So while I still love a lot of the indie offerings there, they are all stuck in 1993 or 1997. This is tolerable because generally adventure games are focused more on story, but I still would love to see what Wadjeteye could do if they made a fully 3D adventure game with cutting edge graphics and sound.

It's challenging as hell, you don't carry anything over from previous plays, there's no memorizing the game. I expected you to love it, actually.

Cody is extremely biased against indie games in general... I've never heard him say anything good about a single one (and while I'm sure he will chime in and mention one in such a way that he thinks it absolves him of being called a biased indie-hater, I just came to the realization early on in our friendship that talking about indie games in his presence is akin to politics/religion).

It seems like an awful lot to invest time into and keep track of, but it looks like a lot of fun.

~m

And that's like, the best game evar.

No I didn't like it, and no it's not the best ever.

As for fun, I honestly dont know what to say. I had a wonderful time playing it. The mechanics were solid, the world was fantastically realised, and there was a surprising variety to the game considering it pivoted (ha!) almost entirely on one central idea.

Oh, and one sentence: The Quick Brown Fox Jumped Over The Lazy Dog. My mind was suitably blown by that bit. Obvious but brilliant.

Edit: Something something personal opinions caveat

This "retro" gaming craze, man I just don't get it.

Seems like the period of 2D retro gaming that gets (by far) the most props for being aesthetically appealing is 16-bit, but doing a good job of emulating those styles would presumably require something resembling a budget.

Secondly, if everything in games were merely to provide you clear information as opposed to being aesthetically appealing, then all games would have high contrast wireframe graphics, and sounds would be distinct shrill 8 bit boops. Is that how you want your video games?

Sure seems like that's how most of the gaming press wants their games. This "retro" gaming craze, man I just don't get it. I played those games as they came out... even at the time, I was dreaming of the day when games would look, sound, and play better. I was thrilled when 3D came along and we finally broke free of pixel art and 8 bit sound. I just don't understand the appeal.

Oh look at this new indie game! It's a sidescroller with an art style reminiscent of the 8bit era with MIDI music! Never seen that before!

It's part of the reason I couldn't bother to finish Fez, or play Terraria, or Steamworld Dig, any of the ten thousand other games in this style (sadly, even Lone Survivor didn't get finished).

I've never liked it either...

Fez is an example of a game that I really believe is doing something special, but I just couldn't play it because of the aesthetics. It really turns me off.

It also really bothers me when I see reviewers flip out over a game like Super Time Force because of its "retro charm" despite the rampant design flaws. It's like anything that reminds people of the super nintendo gets great reviews.

Secondly, if everything in games were merely to provide you clear information as opposed to being aesthetically appealing, then all games would have high contrast wireframe graphics, and sounds would be distinct shrill 8 bit boops. Is that how you want your video games?

Sure seems like that's how most of the gaming press wants their games. This "retro" gaming craze, man I just don't get it. I played those games as they came out... even at the time, I was dreaming of the day when games would look, sound, and play better. I was thrilled when 3D came along and we finally broke free of pixel art and 8 bit sound. I just don't understand the appeal.

Oh look at this new indie game! It's a sidescroller with an art style reminiscent of the 8bit era with MIDI music! Never seen that before!

It's part of the reason I couldn't bother to finish Fez, or play Terraria, or Steamworld Dig, any of the ten thousand other games in this style (sadly, even Lone Survivor didn't get finished).

I've never liked it either...

Secondly, if everything in games were merely to provide you clear information as opposed to being aesthetically appealing, then all games would have high contrast wireframe graphics, and sounds would be distinct shrill 8 bit boops. Is that how you want your video games?

Sure seems like that's how most of the gaming press wants their games. This "retro" gaming craze, man I just don't get it. I played those games as they came out... even at the time, I was dreaming of the day when games would look, sound, and play better. I was thrilled when 3D came along and we finally broke free of pixel art and 8 bit sound. I just don't understand the appeal.

I'd take a distinct sound that provides me with specific information (even if it's unpleasant) over a generic sound that tells me nothing (and in the case of Radiance/Golden Gun, only provides confusion regarding the situation), but that's just me.

First of all, the difference between radiance and golden gun is night and day.

Secondly, if everything in games were merely to provide you clear information as opposed to being aesthetically appealing, then all games would have high contrast wireframe graphics, and sounds would be distinct shrill 8 bit boops. Is that how you want your video games?

In Warframe, I can tell exactly what ability my teammates are using just from the sound,

Being able to tell the difference between sounds does not mean those sounds are pleasant.

I'd take a distinct sound that provides me with specific information (even if it's unpleasant) over a generic sound that tells me nothing (and in the case of Radiance/Golden Gun, only provides confusion regarding the situation), but that's just me.

Boring sound design is not necessarily good sound design just because it plays it safe...

Like I said, though, Exotics are an exception. Patience & Time, Ice Breaker, Suros, and Thorn all have distinct sounds that help you out and stick with you. But everything else about Destiny's sound design is awfully lifeless and generic, even if it's crisp and polished (as can be said about pretty much all of Destiny, gameplay aside).