Zero Punctuation: The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct

[1nfinite_Cros5]

Let's face it, we all knew this game would turn out bad. But the sad thing about it is that there are actually a fair few great ideas in it that would have made it pretty decent. It's just that the game was rushed which is the reason it doesn't look or feel up to snuff at all, and that's what's so disappointing about it all.

Also, I would gladly get a God of War game centering on Kratos entering puberty.

 

[Frostbite3789]

Maybe they patched it?

Maybe it didn't it Joe's usual narrative of fellatio to super-hyped AAA titles?

I'd say it's the opposite, if this were an EA game, we'd all be hearing about how evil EA and how they rushed this out and it never stood a chance.

It's Awful Publisher #2, Activision, but they aren't popular to hate right now.

Edit: He had someone interested in this game, which has been panned by reviewers, pretty universally, to the tune of as bad as A:CM.

 

[VladG]

Wow, between the Angry Joe review and the 2/10 from Jim Sterling I really expected Yahtzee to be harder on this.

I reckon he appreciates the fact that the game at least tries to do something interesting, even if it fails miserably. Though I still think I'd prefer a boring, pathetic piece of crap that is at least functional (I'm looking at you, Duke) over the rushed out mess that is Survival Instincts.


On the other hand he was much harsher to Mirror's Edge, for example, and that game is actually functional and reasonably polished, as well as fairly innovative.

I must say that I found the first person platforming perfectly functional and plenty fun on the PC, and everyone I know who's played the PC version shares my opinion. I actually feel that the better framerate and FoV make a world of difference over consoles.

 

[Tahaneira]

Looks like it's Organ Trail but not as fun, hmph.

You misspelled...

Actually, considering the Walking Dead franchise in general, that spelling works quite well.

No, there is actually a game called Organ Trail. It is a zombie parody of Oregon Trail.

Huh. I did not know that. I'll have to give it a shot.

Nevertheless, I stand by my previous statement that it is appropriate for the Walking Dead series. *meaningless heroic pose*

 

[triggrhappy94]

So, super repetitive, poor grpahics, bad story, and a focus on first-person zombie shooting?
I'll be sure to keep an eye for it next time I'm in Gamestop... in the $5 bin.

 

[striderkiwi]

I'm surprised that he not only reviewed this game but also didn't hate it. Everyone else seems to hate this game. Haven't played it myself but I'll probably give it a try at some point.

 

[Doclector]

Huh. He actually kinda liked it.

Well, colour me surprised. Hell, I actually did think it didn't look too bad.

Not that I'd buy it for full price, even with "full price" being at least ten pound less than most games in this case, but once it makes it's inevitable trip to the bargain bin, I could see myself quite happily wasting a weekend on this.

 

[tehweave]

I actually heard plenty of negative comments about this game, so it's nice to see Yahtzee go "Hey! It's not that bad."

Also, this gives me another week to beat Bioshock Infinite before hearing Yahtzee either tear it to pieces or praise it for being almost as good as Bioshock 1.

 

[Guffe]

So he only talks about points he would've liked to be a bit better?
He didn't rage at completely random shite?
He LIKED it??!!!

 

[somonels]

Wow, between the Angry Joe review and the 2/10 from Jim Sterling I really expected Yahtzee to be harder on this.

TotalHalibut also destroyed the game while noting the more interesting aspects of it but maybe we've all be led astray by the PC version reviews and the game actually works on consoles.

 

[mjc0961]

Wow, between the Angry Joe review and the 2/10 from Jim Sterling I really expected Yahtzee to be harder on this.

TotalHalibut also destroyed the game while noting the more interesting aspects of it but maybe we've all be led astray by the PC version reviews and the game actually works on consoles.

Yeah, after hearing what the three of them had to say, I was expecting a lot more bile in this video. Quite surprising really. I mean, yeah, the game does have what seem to be some interesting ideas, but interesting ideas are useless if you can't execute them worth a damn. The game is still poo overall and that means I don't want to play it. I'll just wait until a better game scoops up those unrealized ideas and makes something worth playing out of them.

 

[Norrdicus]

So wait, Yahtzee compared the game to Dead Space 3 and leaned towards Survival Instinct? Is he trying to pick a fight with Sterling?

Because I'd totally watch that brawl / wrestling match / lovemaking session

On Pay-per-view!

 

[PunkRex]

Huh. After Angry Joe's review, I figured this review would be a bloodbath too. Because what he showed looked pretty bad, and not just graphics-wise, but also the zombie AI. Yeah, they're brainless, but navigating a doorway or walking straight at you without turning around and smashing a nearby wall is still the least we'd expect.

Maybe they patched it? Eh, anyway, didn't care about this game before Angry's review, didn't care after, still don't really care.

And BTW, I'm still deciding if I buy Bioshock or wait for a price drop.

I was thinking the same, AJ showed it to be bugged up the butt hole.

As for Bioshock, the things awesome, I guessed the big twist but the ending was still pretty harsh.

 

[Something Amyss]

I'd say it's the opposite, if this were an EA game, we'd all be hearing about how evil EA and how they rushed this out and it never stood a chance.

You raise a decent point, though I'm not entirely sure they're mutually exclusive. Joe works backwards from a conclusion that a game's going to rock or suck based on promo and hype and tries to justify it and whether EA did it seems to be a part of that, but look at games like Mass Effect 3. He rants for like a third of the review, turns around and gives it a score that would belie that, then drops his "dumbass seal of approval" on it.

It's Awful Publisher #2, Activision, but they aren't popular to hate right now.

Or Capcom, the company he hates but will put all his hope in time and again. I think we're starting to see Stockholm Syndrome kick in.

Edit: He had someone interested in this game, which has been panned by reviewers, pretty universally, to the tune of as bad as A:CM.

Joe did? Wow.

 

[PunkRex]

So wait, Yahtzee compared the game to Dead Space 3 and leaned towards Survival Instinct? Is he trying to pick a fight with Sterling?

Because I'd totally watch that brawl / wrestling match / lovemaking session

On Pay-per-view!

My moneys on Sterling, he's a big chap, I bet he could lay someone out if pushed.

 

[somonels]

Wow, between the Angry Joe review and the 2/10 from Jim Sterling I really expected Yahtzee to be harder on this.

TotalHalibut also destroyed the game while noting the more interesting aspects of it but maybe we've all be led astray by the PC version reviews and the game actually works on consoles.

Yeah, after hearing what the three of them had to say, I was expecting a lot more bile in this video. Quite surprising really. I mean, yeah, the game does have what seem to be some interesting ideas, but interesting ideas are useless if you can't execute them worth a damn. The game is still poo overall and that means I don't want to play it. I'll just wait until a better game scoops up those unrealized ideas and makes something worth playing out of them.

What I took away from them, mostly TB, is that there still are designers who try despite the publishers trying to shovel out things for the magpie-ish consumer. The big travesty is Activision - who else - selling it at a triple A price point.

So wait, Yahtzee compared the game to Dead Space 3 and leaned towards Survival Instinct? Is he trying to pick a fight with Sterling?

Because I'd totally watch that brawl / wrestling match / lovemaking session

On Pay-per-view!

My moneys on Sterling, he's a big chap, I bet he could lay someone out if pushed.

And his dildo gives him decent reach that lets him get in the first blow.

 

[Samuel Balevski]

I can always count on you yahtzee to review a game with sound judgement. I heard many a flaws in this game but you ... yes YOU Ben , you look through a graphically moderate game and give us the true feelings it brings you. You give all games an equal shot at being interesting and I fear that you might be one of the only ones to do so these days. I was just ready to give up on this game when you made me think twice. Thank you Yahtzee for just being you.

P.S I'm currently listening to you read Mogworld xD, your humour is as funny as it is twisted at times.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I'll give it a pass based solely on the fact that it has zombies in it. I'm sick and tired of zombies.

 

[Rob Jacobs]

Huh, I might pick this up, sounds interesting.

I'd advice against it.

It has original ideas, but severely lacks in execution and the main thing games are about FUN

You can kill entire hordes of zombies by yourself with a stupid QTE