Sometimes I love the witty jokes at a game's expense, sometimes I love how the host tries to turn the game into a story by acting as the hero's conscience, but mainly I love Let's Play videos because they act like game demos. Why should I fork over $60 for a game based solely on pretty pictures and predictable reviews? At least a LP will show me if the graphics are all that amazing, if the UI makes any sense, and how much of the game is cutscene vs 'action-packed story'.
What do you like about Let's Plays?
- Thread starter TakeyB0y2
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A commentator that is funny (a good dose of extreme randomness usually helps (go MoogleFTW!)), has a good (non-annoying) voice, doesn't leave long silences and actually knows how to play the game in question.
Also, a good game helps a lot.
Also, a good game helps a lot.
Well basically when people are trying to talk it's not funny. Someone like xcalizorz does some funny Let's Plays because the guy basically just says what he's always thinking when he's playing games. Because of this it sounds natural, and as a bit of an asshole of a guy, the videos are really funny. Someone who talks like a robot forcing out commentary is never funny.
I love Spoiler Warning, if that counts as a let's play.
In general: I like picking up stuff about a game while people poke fun at it. I do like more serious ones from time to time, but overall: I don't come there to just look at a game. I wanted to be entertained as well.
In general: I like picking up stuff about a game while people poke fun at it. I do like more serious ones from time to time, but overall: I don't come there to just look at a game. I wanted to be entertained as well.
Well frankly there are some games I enjoy watching rather than playing, mostly because of really awkward controls (i.e. Silent Hill games).
Beyond the obvious standards of video quality and pleasant voice, I prefer blind runs: ones where the commentator is new to the game and doesn't know what to expect. That brings out more genuine reactions and let's face it - screw-ups are more entertaining than a perfect score when seen from outside. Of course if the player gets stuck in a spot for ages it's better to cut out the pointlesness or better yet, make a humorous montage.
Beyond the obvious standards of video quality and pleasant voice, I prefer blind runs: ones where the commentator is new to the game and doesn't know what to expect. That brings out more genuine reactions and let's face it - screw-ups are more entertaining than a perfect score when seen from outside. Of course if the player gets stuck in a spot for ages it's better to cut out the pointlesness or better yet, make a humorous montage.
Good/funny commentary/subtitles and someone who actually knows how to play the game. I've seen a few blind LPs and they were horrendous. Worst part being when it's a game you've played and broken (i.e. finished 100%) already, it's always difficult to watch people stumble through as they try to play. Why? A let's play is supposed to present the game and what it can do (or what you can do with it), it shouldn't drag on because the player has no idea how to proceed. Of course that's just my opinion, feel free to disagree.
I like Let's Plays where the commentator actually shows an interest in what they're playing, and comments on all aspects of the game, rather than those that just try to be funny on top of the stuff going on. It's hard to find Let's Plays that I like, but I recently found a really good one on Morrowind on youtube. He actually reads all the information about quests and dialogue out aloud, and gets himself invested in the stories. He comments on the people, the landscape, the towns, the loot, all that stuff, and just chats about other random stuff when hiking from one part of a quest to the next. It's genuinely awesome to see someone so happy just to be playing a game like Morrowind.
Most people just go in for the funny ones, and I guess that's fine, but they're not really my thing.
Most people just go in for the funny ones, and I guess that's fine, but they're not really my thing.
It would be easier ot say what I think makes a good LP-
1. The right kind of game: Some games just dont work as LP's, namely any game with limited story or a weak aesthetic.
2. Funny commentator: Being genuinely funny and/or interesting to listen to is of critical importance.
2a. Have a strong personality: Be as you as you can be, regular people are boring.
3. Intelligent commenting: Dont run off at the mouth spamming the most inane gibberish, speak only whne you have something to say and NEVER EVER speak over cutscenes/important story moments.
4. Competent Commentator: Tobuscus maybe funny but he is excruciating to watch.
People like Jessie Cox and Squint are (to me at least) good LP'ers.
EDIT= A pleasant sounding voice is also very important- if your nasally or high pitched just please dont bother.
1. The right kind of game: Some games just dont work as LP's, namely any game with limited story or a weak aesthetic.
2. Funny commentator: Being genuinely funny and/or interesting to listen to is of critical importance.
2a. Have a strong personality: Be as you as you can be, regular people are boring.
3. Intelligent commenting: Dont run off at the mouth spamming the most inane gibberish, speak only whne you have something to say and NEVER EVER speak over cutscenes/important story moments.
4. Competent Commentator: Tobuscus maybe funny but he is excruciating to watch.
People like Jessie Cox and Squint are (to me at least) good LP'ers.
EDIT= A pleasant sounding voice is also very important- if your nasally or high pitched just please dont bother.
They have to be funny, with a non-grating voice if its a video.
And usually they have to either be a completely different gaming style then myself when I am watching a LP of a game I have completed. It helps me with new character creation, for example, I love watching how other people play games like Obliv or FO3. Even ME1&2.
So great LP's too me are LP's that give a different perspective on how to play a well loved game differently.
And usually they have to either be a completely different gaming style then myself when I am watching a LP of a game I have completed. It helps me with new character creation, for example, I love watching how other people play games like Obliv or FO3. Even ME1&2.
So great LP's too me are LP's that give a different perspective on how to play a well loved game differently.
Watch retsupurae videos and (with a grain of salt) look at the criticisms made by the people who started video let's plays.
Ok seriously now... I like them humorous and informative. The best ones seem to know what they will be doing in the video, so some planning needs to be used.
Also, it's nice to give some context. You can't just say 'okay we will go and do this' for no reason if there is something in the game that can hint you to it. It's kind of gamebreaking seeing people go places without it being mentioned in the game unless it's a secret.
Jump cut if you mess up as well, those trim down the video a lot and you will basically get more stuff done in less time to the viewer.
So... chuggaaconroy pretty much. You don't need to do the fancy UI stuff, I don't really mind that stuff, although it does look nice.
Ok seriously now... I like them humorous and informative. The best ones seem to know what they will be doing in the video, so some planning needs to be used.
Also, it's nice to give some context. You can't just say 'okay we will go and do this' for no reason if there is something in the game that can hint you to it. It's kind of gamebreaking seeing people go places without it being mentioned in the game unless it's a secret.
Jump cut if you mess up as well, those trim down the video a lot and you will basically get more stuff done in less time to the viewer.
So... chuggaaconroy pretty much. You don't need to do the fancy UI stuff, I don't really mind that stuff, although it does look nice.
They're boring as hell. Why do people bother? I can only imagine that they're more fun to make than to watch.
I like when someone does an lp of a terrible game i.e. ProtonJon's superman 64 lp, and take the piss out of it in Proton's SM 64 lp he has a glitch counter along with explaining other random things that happen. Also i like how before each episode he gives a liittle bit of background about the developer, the show the game was based on and other things. Now if only he could post avideo a little bit faster than one evey 6 months
If I watch a lets play it's usually for one of two reasons.
1.There is a game that I played, or heard about, with a really neat storyline which I was either unable to finish or know I wouldn't be able to complete. Final Fantasy X would be one example. Tried to play it, absolutely failed at it, never picked it up again, but still wanted to know how the story ended. So I looked up a lets play and "finished" the game that way. Another example would be horror games of any type. I'm a wuss, so watching horror lets plays is a good way to experience a horror story without getting so scared I chuck the controller at the wall. When I wanted to see what all the fuss was about Silent Hill for example I turned to the internet.
2. Nostalgia. Maybe there's an old N64 game or a game I used to own but I don't have anymore. Occasionally I'll get a real hankering to play/watch it so I look up a lets play and reminisce.I can watch someone play the old banjo kazooie games for hours sometimes.
As far as commentary goes it's a little hard to say what I like best. Blind runs take longer (I'm looking at you helloween)but you get fun reactions when something happens that the player wasn't expecting.
1.There is a game that I played, or heard about, with a really neat storyline which I was either unable to finish or know I wouldn't be able to complete. Final Fantasy X would be one example. Tried to play it, absolutely failed at it, never picked it up again, but still wanted to know how the story ended. So I looked up a lets play and "finished" the game that way. Another example would be horror games of any type. I'm a wuss, so watching horror lets plays is a good way to experience a horror story without getting so scared I chuck the controller at the wall. When I wanted to see what all the fuss was about Silent Hill for example I turned to the internet.
2. Nostalgia. Maybe there's an old N64 game or a game I used to own but I don't have anymore. Occasionally I'll get a real hankering to play/watch it so I look up a lets play and reminisce.I can watch someone play the old banjo kazooie games for hours sometimes.
As far as commentary goes it's a little hard to say what I like best. Blind runs take longer (I'm looking at you helloween)but you get fun reactions when something happens that the player wasn't expecting.
I watch Let's Plays all the time due to the fact that I like the commentary and I can not get the games myself since I am stuck with a Wii until I can afford to buy another system myself. Plus, I like the know the plot to the game so that even though I don't have the game I can at least discuss it with other people.