My enjoyment of a video of games being played is very often almost directly proportional to the quality of the gameplay shown, with commentary (if any) being judged on a similar and compound scale.
NOTE : In certain types of games, like, say, Starcraft or Halo, I often play on lowest possible difficulty levels and quite frequently MEM-edit resources and such just to make it even easier - basically, I would prefer watching a proper "let's play" instead of actually playing the game, since the main thing I look for in the games are either the story (for the single player part) or the multiplayer (if the game has it).
So, for instance, if the one recording plays spectacularly bad (with or without commentary), or if the commentary is inaccurate or downright atrocious (regardless of how well the game is being played), then I will almost certainly not enjoy it, and either find another or just not even bother with it anymore (and very rarely go play the game afterwards).
On the other hand, if the game is being played just as well (or even better) than I would probably play it, and if the commentary is appropriate (pointing out things I might be likely to miss, explaining why some choices were made instead of others, not cutting over important gameplay-relevant sounds or conversations), then I WILL enjoy it a great deal, especially if the playthrough was on harder difficulties.
I will quite often go actually play the game afterwards too (on a lower difficulty level).
NOTE : In certain types of games, like, say, Starcraft or Halo, I often play on lowest possible difficulty levels and quite frequently MEM-edit resources and such just to make it even easier - basically, I would prefer watching a proper "let's play" instead of actually playing the game, since the main thing I look for in the games are either the story (for the single player part) or the multiplayer (if the game has it).
So, for instance, if the one recording plays spectacularly bad (with or without commentary), or if the commentary is inaccurate or downright atrocious (regardless of how well the game is being played), then I will almost certainly not enjoy it, and either find another or just not even bother with it anymore (and very rarely go play the game afterwards).
On the other hand, if the game is being played just as well (or even better) than I would probably play it, and if the commentary is appropriate (pointing out things I might be likely to miss, explaining why some choices were made instead of others, not cutting over important gameplay-relevant sounds or conversations), then I WILL enjoy it a great deal, especially if the playthrough was on harder difficulties.
I will quite often go actually play the game afterwards too (on a lower difficulty level).
C