The Stanley Parable is... is... wow...

[ohnoitsabear]

I just picked it up earlier today, and have gotten through three endings so far. Holy shit is it awesome. Even the parts that aren't massively changed from the mod are still well worth playing through, just for the level of detail that wasn't there before. And some of the new stuff is a combination of hilarious and mind blowing. This is probably the best video game purchase I have made in a while.

 

[Animyr]

I played the old version, and I'll probably be getting this one eventually. I never really found it's overall message all that mind blowing (hey, games are designed! Even games with choice! No, really!) but it's still a unique premises and the old version had some funny storytelling gags and some intriguing allusions to narrative horror. From what I hear, the new one has more of that, so I'm down for it.

 

[Adultism]

Old news for me, played the old free version and loved it. Got all the endings yesterday on the new one.

 

[Dalisclock]

I didn't even notice this until just the other day because I kept thinking it was the source mod and didn't even realized they'd made it into a standalone game. And I really enjoyed it. I will pick up the new one, just not right now(particularly because I'm neck deep in SRIII right now).

 

[SKBPinkie]

Nope, not interested in games that comment on other games.

If the best parts of the game are something that I can watch on a YouTube playthrough, then it isn't a good game and I'm not gonna spend money on it.

 

[The_Echo]

Eh...

Is there anything new compared to the original mod? 'Cause if not, I might as well save the money and play the mod to be honest with you.

If the best parts of the game are something that I can watch on a YouTube playthrough, then it isn't a good game and I'm not gonna spend money on it.

But... you can watch all parts of a game on YouTube.

 

[ohnoitsabear]

Eh...

Is there anything new compared to the original mod? 'Cause if not, I might as well save the money and play the mod to be honest with you.

There's a bunch more stuff than the mod. Not only is all of the original content expanded on (sometimes rather substantially and in unexpected ways), but there's also a bunch of new stuff of varying degrees of excellence. Plus, there's a level of detail that simply wasn't there in the original mod that makes even the old content feel new again. This is well worth it if you enjoyed the original mod.

The mod is fantastic, and worth looking at if you're not sure if you want to spend money on it, but the full release is well worth the money.

 

[SKBPinkie]

Eh...

Is there anything new compared to the original mod? 'Cause if not, I might as well save the money and play the mod to be honest with you.

If the best parts of the game are something that I can watch on a YouTube playthrough, then it isn't a good game and I'm not gonna spend money on it.

But... you can watch all parts of a game on YouTube.

"If the best parts of the game...."

You can't experience games like Far Cry 3, Forza, Devil May Cry, Dishonored, Gears of War, Halo, etc etc. on YouTube. As for the the "artsy" games, more often than not, they have awful or barely-there gameplay in favor of a good story. Mind you the story is good, but they certainly do not play to the strengths of the medium, which is what I meant by the YouTube comment.

Then again, there are exceptions like Braid, Fez, and Journey that actually need to played. They offer good stories and fantastic gameplay. Heck, Journey is one of the only games that combines story and gameplay perfectly well. Shadow of the Colossus does a good job of this as well, and so does the last level of Halo:Reach. (I might get some flak for that one).

In my opinion, games like Gone Home and the Stanley Parable need to be seen, not necessarily be played. Not trying to sound snarky; it's just that I've tried these type of games one too many times, and just end up disappointed.

 

[Olas]

I'm sorry but I just can't pay money for this. The Stanley Parable is a terrific "game" but it's just not long enough or substantial enough to be a commercial product. It makes Portal look epic by comparison.

 

[Kyogissun]

It cannot be said enough that ANYONE on the fence about the game after playing the demo NEEDS TO BUY THE GAME.

With that Said, SPOILERS!

Spoiler

It is absolutely HILARIOUS. Everyone flaunted Gone Home as a 'this is how you do first person exploration games', no, FUCK that. THIS is how you do one. THIS is how you have a 'game' with no action. You challenge the players with some MILD critical thinking and end up with clever 'paths' or 'experiments' the player must try through 'manipulating' the game. The positive player feedback through writing is proof of this. No out of place combo lock puzzles, story paths that actually work and provide engaging experiences regardless of your investment in the 'main' story, critical humor concerning the 'state' of the industry and commentary on linearity, freedom, design and more...

Gone Home is the gaming adaptation equivalent of a angsty teenage livejournal post, The Stanley Parable is... what a funnier and less elitist version of TotalBiscuit would blog about.

Disclaimer: I'm aware that a lot of appeal for Gone Home lies in its story, but I've found The Stanley Parable's favoring of creative level design and commentary on the state of the game industry and its level of design as a whole incredibly amusing and genius. It also helps that GOOD fourth wall breaking meta humor with a little metaphysical world devolving like the game has is something I also eat up.

It's fucking fantastic. I loved the first iteration, and this one is just bigger, better and all around gob-smacking amazing.

Some of the cleverest and funniest writing I've ever witnessed. If you like things such as Hitchhiker's Guide you'll adore this.

It also doesn't fall into the trap of an 'art game' and the subsequent judgements from that. Well worth the money you spend on it.

This SOOOOO fucking hard. It's not an ART game, if you want an ART game, go look at fucking Gone Home.

The Stanley Parable is not 'art', it's a great example of how writing can be a driving force in a game and seep into its 'gameplay'. The Stanley Parable is a GREAT example of how one could interpret where the modern day 'humor' driven 'adventure' game genre could go.

The Stanley Parable shows how to ACTUALLY reward players for their curiosity and inquisitiveness through incredibly funny writing/narration and with insane and inexplicable outcomes for their actions. Granted the 'actions' are little beyond 'move this way' or 'stop moving' or 'do the opposite of what you're told to do' or 'fuck around until the game says something different' but hey, it sure does shit allllll over Gone Home's concept of a 'branching story'.

 

[Someone Depressing]

I'd like to buy it.

It's just that I'm conflicted with the simplicity of mere guesses that will roguishly turn me into a defiant miscration that is to be exterminated in a rather comical fashion, of which will involve noodles, lamp-posts and red desk lamps.

So yeah, looks cool, played the mod, going to buy it if I have the time.

 

[Vausch]

I only saw it played on Steam Train. "God dammit, Ross!" made me say it seems worth buying for the humour alone.

 

[SKBPinkie]

Nope, not interested in games that comment on other games.

If the best parts of the game are something that I can watch on a YouTube playthrough, then it isn't a good game and I'm not gonna spend money on it.

Yea no. There is a very long list of things I would consider spending $12 on before a game with no actual gameplay. If this is the posterboy for the whole "gamez are art" thing I think I'm perfectly content with games not being art.

Ugh. These are painful to read. Hell, you are the people that need to play it the most--the point is to deconstruct what is and isn't a game, and both of you have very rigid, close-minded definitions of what a game is. Not to mention that what you're basically saying is, "Why go to the zoo/museum/art gallery/theater if I can see it on YouTube?"

I don't always say no to these types of games. The problem is that I have played them before and I simply don't enjoy them. So yeah, gonna stick to my previous statement - I refuse to spend money on things that don't hold any value to me.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Note: This *IS* a "walking simulator" such as Dear Ester, but unlike Dear Ester this one actually has a ton of actual choices. It also has a lot of weird-ass secrets and some random changes to the map during each play through.

If this is the posterboy for the whole "gamez are art" thing I think I'm perfectly content with games not being art.

It's less "games are art" and more "I'm going to confuse the ever loving crap out of you then laugh maniacally".

But yeah, you really are either going to "get" this game or not. YouTube lets plays kinda take the weirdness out of it, so I'd recommend either going into it blind or not at all.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Shoot, that came out. I'm going to get it tomorrow, I suppose. I hope it has a different story and set pieces from the Source Mod, but I don't want to figure that out until I'm playing it.

Yeah I heard some hype around it. I watched a LP of an earlier version, is this one any different?

This isn't going to be like Gone Home is it? I played that game and phewww...was that a disappointment.

They're similar in execution, but different in caliber. Gone Home was about telling a story through a nostalgic environment, searching for details, and a emotional narrative, The Stanley Parable is about telling a weird concept and making you experience different sensations using only its near constant narrative and unorthodox mapping.

If you want to experience The Stanley Parable without spending money, download the free demo off the store (it's incredibly silly and memorable, but the last four minutes is what The Stanley Parable really is about) or you can download the old Source Mod that came out in 2011. It got a lot of popularity for its soothing, humorous, and borderline narcissist story.

http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-stanley-parable

 

[SquidVicious]

I loved the multiple reviews RPS gave this, particularly the Call of Duty player giving it an 8.5/10.

If you're on the fence or don't feel like paying the $11.99 USD right now I'd say this is one of those things that's just fun to buy on a lark. It's only 12 dollars. With Gone Home I could sort of understand because it's replay value is pretty much lost if you find most of the things out in the first run, but The Stanley Parable is just one of those things you'll reinstall every now and then just to have some fun. It will almost assuredly be a part of the Steam Winter Sale so if money is a factor get it then.

 

[major_chaos]

Ugh. These are painful to read. Hell, you are the people that need to play it the most--the point is to deconstruct what is and isn't a game, and both of you have very rigid, close-minded definitions of what a game is. Not to mention that what you're basically saying is, "Why go to the zoo/museum/art gallery/theater if I can see it on YouTube?"

Yea no sorry. I play games for the gameplay, No gameplay=no buy. Also your attempt to get me to play it became self-defeating as soon as you said "deconstruct", which is a term that instantly makes me think elitist "look how much smarter I am hur hur" wank. And amusingly enough I actually really don't ever go to the zoo/museum/art gallery/theater although its almost as much from lack of money as lack of interest.

 

[IGetNoSlack]

\
Yea no sorry. I play games for the gameplay, No gameplay=no buy.

You never once defined "gameplay".

I'd like you to do so.

OT: Looks interesting enough. I mean, if I get it (probably will), I'll be going in blind, so there's that.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Also your attempt to get me to play it became self-defeating as soon as you said "deconstruct", which is a term that instantly makes me think elitist "look how much smarter I am hur hur" wank.

Oh come now. I don't really care if you buy the game or not, it's your loss, but don't go all "haha you used a big word nerd". It's not conductive to anything and really doesn't help your case.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

I wish I bought this game before I looked into all the spoilers, because now, I pretty much know all the known things about it.

Still, it's given me some theories that I want to test out...