Games that you'll defend and praise, but haven't actually played

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Blazer Miles

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Jul 29, 2011
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Hurro Escapist!

Some context for my question; There are quite a few game series's that I will (for lack of better term) "Advertise" to my friends as being great games, I'll defend their design choices and compare them to other games in conversation...but I haven't actually played. Normally, this comes from hearing that the game is good, then going and doing some research on it so that I can hold conversations about it and seem like I know what I'm talking about (I know, I'm terrible =P)

So my question for you is, do you have any games like this?

For example, some of mine, If I had to list off my top RPG's off of the top of my head, Chrono Trigger would be right up there, but for a long time I hadn't even played it (I have now, pitchforks down everyone). I'd still talk about it as though I had, praise the story, etc, but had never actually played it; same for Final Fantasy 7 (MOST final fantasies actually), Thief series and Diablo. I try and get these games off my pile of shame ASAP (And indeed, all of those I just mentioned I've completed now), so that my limited knowledge doesn't screw me over at some point, but they're still there.

Everyone else?

Captcha: HSBC - Describe this brand with any words (Seriously, is this a new Escapist thing?, never seen a captcha like this...plus, never even heard of this thing)
 

Zhukov

The Laughing Arsehole
Dec 29, 2009
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Umm... none?

I I haven't played a game then I (a) likely won't know enough about it to praise it accurately and (b) won't have any kind of investment that might make me want to defend it.

About the closest I come is being vaguely happy that a game exists despite not having played it. For example, I think it's cool that the Phoenix Wright games exist and are successful. I like the fact that a game about a defense lawyer can work, even though I think "Phoenix Wright" is a goofy name and I'd probably hate everything about the game if I played it.
 

MetalDooley

Cwipes!!!
Feb 9, 2010
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Would you praise a book you haven't read or praise a movie you haven't watched?I think most people would say no so I can't see the logic of praising a game you haven't played

At best I might say to people "well that game looks like it could be good" but I'd never actually overtly praise or criticise something I have no first hand experience of myself
 

default

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Apr 25, 2009
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I haven't yet played Journey myself (no PS3) but I've watched playthroughs. I'll defend it because it has a pretty and sophisticated aesthetic, fantastic music and is at least trying to do something different.

That's pretty much the only game I would defend without having actually played it though.
 

KarmaTheAlligator

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Mar 2, 2011
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Does it count if it's me thinking that a game might not be as bad as everyone says it is? After all, I can't know until I actually play it. But that's the best you're going to get from me, I'm not going to go on forums and defend the gameplay or some other design decision if I haven't tried it.
 

Foolery

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Jun 5, 2013
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Can't really think of anything, honestly. I don't praise games if I haven't played them. Hell, I will rarely bash a game unless I've played it.
 

Joost Klessens

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Jun 15, 2010
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I do this all the time too. Especially, when I have either seen part of a playthrough or a review, or when I have seen a friend play it and enjoy it and it's just not my kind of game or I don't want to spend 60 bucks on it (usually the last reason, as I don't want to pay more than 10 bucks for a game nowadays, due to steam/humblebundle sales, and indie prices).

Examples of games like this are:
- A tale of two brothers
- Journey
- Bioshock Infinite
- Far Cry 3
- Dark Souls
etc...

FYI: I do this with books and movies too, if I have heard a book/movie is good, but it's just not my kind of book/movie!
 

CannibalCorpses

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Aug 21, 2011
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Nope...i'm not into false advertising. Without bashing my head against the brick wall that is the gameplay i wouldn't ever feel confident that my opinion is anything other than supposition and bullshit. I do warn people about certain games i've heard bad things about but i do make sure they know it's something i've heard rather than experienced myself.

Also...if i find out someone in a conversation is talking about something they have no 'actual' knowledge of then i will tear them apart and make them look like the fools they are. Stupidity should be stamped out not left to grow and blossom :p
 

Johnny Novgorod

Bebop Man
Legacy
Feb 9, 2012
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None. Except maybe Silent Hill Downpour. I watched 90% of a pretty thorough LP and having played every other Silent Hill but Homecoming I feel entitled to pass judgement on Downpour as "good" and recommend it as better than Origins, Homecoming and Shattered Memories. I won't defend it though.
 

Carlmike94

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Dec 26, 2013
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The only one I can think of is The Last of Us, and I'm just waiting for Playstaton Now so I can play it on my PS4. It might be the best game ever made (or the worst, haven't played it) but buying an entire console for one game is a bit much.
And I think I'll only go so far as to praise it
I spend all my time defending Dark souls instead (which I have played, and love) ;)
 

veloper

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Jan 20, 2009
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I've done the opposite though, like bashing a game after only playing the demo, or seeing somebody else play the game.

I reckon you don't have to actually eat shit after smelling some, to know it's shit, but if instead you say something is a slice of heaven then you'd better have eaten the whole thing.
 

Raikas

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Sep 4, 2012
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I can see praising elements based on playing a demo or watching someone play (and by that I mean someone in the same room, not just a Let's Play or promotional video) - but only those elements.

Talking up elements that you haven't actually experienced - why would you do that?

On the other hand, I can see defending a game that you didn't play if it's being criticized based on someone's feelings about the genre or creative team since that could be seen as being something aside from the game itself.