Does Snarkiness Trump Liking A Game?

[The_Scrivener]

Yahtzee is one of the most important, intelligent, influential commentators of video games today.

That said, I disagree with about 1 in every 3 of his videos. He couldn't have missed the point of The Last of Us any harder if he'd used the game disc as a football.

Like what you like, but it's important to understand why you like it. Know thyself. I never mind when someone disagrees with me, but although it's okay for them to disagree no matter what, nothing kills discussion or credibility faster than the phrase, "I just do." Work that brain of yours and come up with a real reason.

 

[Pink Gregory]

I sometimes feel stupid and embarrassed for liking... games at all.

Is this a serious post? I really can't tell. If it is, you REALLY, REALLY need to work on your self-esteem and be less swayed by other people.

You gotta admit though, trashing something rather than giving constructive criticism seems to sell more, for lack of a better term

It's like tabloid headlines. I personally believe that what most people try to pass off as 'cynicism' is lazy (much as I don't like invoking the word 'lazy'). For cynicism to be enlightening or amusing, there has to be some kind of little caveat that implies that there's a little bit of self-deprecation in there; the acknowledgement that the cynicism is a little bit at the commentator's expense.

To me, that's the difference between Yahtzee and Totalbiscuit - though they set out to accomplish very different things.

 

[Casual Shinji]

snip

*looks at avatar*

Oh my God, did you just...?! Holy crap you did!

Well I'll be... :')

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

No. I don't think you have to change your preferences in any way based on what a critic thinks (you're actually the ultimate authority on whether you consider a game good or not, and you don't need to know why either). As for critics being snarky, most of the time if they like a game they'll tell you, even Yahtzee, but he has to be snarky because that's the whole point. Another point, by the way, is not to use ZP as a straight review without at the very least realising that him being sarcastic and cynical about a game does not at all mean that he doesn't recommend playing it.

 

[loc978]

Absolutely not. A critic's opinion shouldn't change yours, unless your opinion is entirely uninformed. Seeing as you've enjoyed the games he's tearing apart, your opinion is quite informed.

...and I usually hate games that Yahtzee hates for entirely different reasons. Like the Witcher. He didn't like the complexity of its stat and combat systems, while I couldn't stand the scene-by-scene camera angles or the bastardized ARPG controls.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Yahtzee's main focus is comedy. Don't forget he's got an act to keep. And in short you can like stuff others don't you know. If you've been following him for a while you'll know he has a pathological aversion towards JRPGs and teen heroes, though that need not stop you from enjoying the games. Or the fact he's soooo tired of zombies in games and for that he gave The Last of Us, by all accounts a good game, a severe review.

 

[The Funslinger]

snip

*looks at avatar*

Oh my God, did you just...?! Holy crap you did!

Well I'll be... :')

Yeah, what can I say? It's brilliant!

And it's also my profile picture on Facebook and Twitter!