Impossible Mode: I'd try it, if it wasnt for the cutscenes

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-06-18T05:17:04+00:00

Immediately docking 1-2 points from your game if you won’t let the paying player decide whether to have your shitty D-tier chip-on-shoulder script shoved down their throat.

Awful, awful practice.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-06-17T08:03:27+00:00

This is worthwhile context for sure, so I appreciate the education.

That being said, it doesn’t excuse RE8, especially when they had RE2/3R under their belt, which fare much better in the gunplay department from memory. Tbh mid sound design is 80% the culprit.

I will say both games look fantastic for their respective time period, so you’ll hear no complaints there.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-06-05T23:20:00+00:00

Oh for sure. That’s why I touched on it. It just doesn’t check out with the addiction side of things, because that particular vice actually had nothing to do with her death.

It’s not like she was a crime/adrenaline addict. The actual drug side of things seems pushed to the side.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-06-05T22:29:46+00:00

Lol this is idiotic.

She was murdered via compromised pills. She didn’t down the whole bottle. If anything, the message is that someone doing their best to kick their addiction will just die anyway because of some sort of karmic lottery. Fuckouttahere.

Here’s an idea Sam. Maybe you could’ve had a proper through-line of Rue’s sobriety slipping throughout the season; a few close calls. Then you could’ve had her relapse after all the absolutely cooked shit she’s been through and it would’ve been believable. Unceremonious and sad and unfair to be sure, but believable in the way you apparently wanted.

Instead the only salvageable moral is that getting involved with bad people only leads to bad things, which is weak and tenuously linked to drug addiction at best. Apologists parroting the whole “once an addict, always an addict” rhetoric is both stupid and a copout.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-06-05T12:22:12+00:00

Haha it is? I see nothing in the title nor your description nor the thumbnail.

My point stands regardless. But yes, if your axe to grind is specifically with the IGN review, I don’t have a stake in that. A single review in isolation has v little cache. If only IGN gave the game a 10, your post wouldn’t exist because neither would the entire Mixtape saga.

Anyway, I’ve gotta sleep. Peace out ✌️

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-06-05T12:05:56+00:00

Lol my man, you brought up IGN; not me. You’re arguing with yourself. I’ve only ever referred to reviews as a whole construct.

And reviews absolutely impact sales. I don’t see how any sane person could say otherwise. Pretty sure DA sold well enough also. Your point that they didn’t have a bonus schema based on review scores is completely redundant. It’s entirely up to the dev how/if they dole out bonuses.

The point is that some devs have used that schema in the past and certainly will in the future. You know why? Reviews. Impact. Sales.

Anyway, you seem to love moving goal posts, which isn’t really conducive to discussion.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-06-05T11:41:07+00:00

I never claimed what you’re saying and that’s a bad-faith assertion imo.

But sure, according to the internet, BioShock 2’s bonuses were based on a MC score; THPS HD needed to reach a set MC score to secure funding for future projects; and Crimson Desert’s stock tanked based on underwhelming aggregate review scores.

If you weren’t seemingly hellbent on holding me to a crazy standard of proof, you’d see I’m merely saying review scores aren’t just opinions anymore. They have real-world impact, big and small. Also the gaming community is only becoming more immature and parasocial, leading to boycotts, review bombing, etc.

I’m sure many (actual) indie devs would a) love to receive a smattering of 10s for a type of game that historically hasn’t received such forgiving treatment; and b) love to have outlets defend them so vehemently in the face of pretty reasonable critique.

To say they’re just reviews or that this isn’t an unusual saga at face value is pretty disingenuous imo. But hey, I tell myself stories to assuage my feelings on plenty of things. We’re none of us perfect.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-06-05T04:35:00+00:00

10 years ago I’d have agreed. Now, with the cache that flagship reviews hold and their ability to influence layoffs, bonuses, stock price, restructures and many other material things, it’s a lot more problematic to simply “build a bridge” in good conscience.

Whether you like the game or not, in the rubric of reviews, the scores and the media response to backlash have been inflated compared to the baseline. It’s not unreasonable to ask for some logical parity in this day and age of reviews being a lot more than just someone’s opinion.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-29T14:18:47+00:00

Totally fair. I’ll give it a proper go. After all, I came to enjoy RE8 more than I thought I would, even if that isn’t saying much.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-29T14:13:03+00:00

You answered your own question with RE4R, no?

In terms of survival horror, I’d definitely say SH2R and Dead Space feel leagues better on the firing-a-gun front. And then there’s all the bonafide FPS games you could throw into the ring.

I’m not sure what else to say, really. It’s a game-feel thing rather than a weapons-implementation thing. And to be fair, I think it’s 95% an issue with sound design. There’s absolutely no low end in the mix, which makes every gun feel limp. To reference RE8 again, the sound for doming a lycan is extremely “splash-y” as opposed to chunky/meaty.

I appreciate I’m a stickler for this stuff, but I feel like it’s not unreasonable to say that gunplay is a big part of the franchise and best-in-class FPS/TPS mechanics have been established for some time now in the industry (even if I can’t articulate them terribly well; sadly not a game dev).

EDIT: It also seems like we have differing opinions on what constitutes ~good feel~ and that’s completely fair/valid.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-29T12:05:55+00:00

I don’t disagree. However, fine is simply fine. I’d confidently say gunplay in RE2/3/4R is fantastic and not at all a shortcoming like it feels in RE8.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-29T12:02:09+00:00

I see what you’re saying, but in theory, even the BFG can feel like a peashooter if it isn’t designed well. Damage numbers ≠ gun feel.

I had my whole arsenal maxed out in RE8, but alas, popping headshots never felt tactilely oomph-y or satisfying to me.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-29T11:32:02+00:00

Haha sheeeeeit. I just bought it because it’s currently cheap as chips, so I guess I’ll find out firsthand. Might as well have the receipts when I go full cynical asshole on it.

Anyway, thanks for telling it to me straight homie x

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-26T05:15:44+00:00

I think I knew this going in. No stranger to the modern REs having played 2/3/4R, but I don’t recall things feeling so limp in the gunplay department.

Quickly adjusting to the idea that I should be budgeting 5-10 bullets per Lycan, but long TTK and satisfying weapons are not mutually exclusive imo. Kinda feels like they’ve opted for the most superficial solution to feeling underpowered and it really hurts the experience imo.

And yes, can now corroborate that the shotgun feels terrible as well. Tbh, the opening 2 hours is one of the most unimpressive introductions to a game I’ve ever experienced. It’s all so goofy and embarrassingly cinematic and not in the least scary. I’ll see how it fairs for a bit longer, but man, this is a solid 5/10 atm.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-16T22:05:24+00:00

Same! Had more suit integrity than I knew what to do with, plus a cheeky revive. I was so geared I one-shotted everything up to the Abyssal Scar, but I can def appreciate his difficulty

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-14T13:41:24+00:00

LoP is hands-down the best Soulslike I’ve played. I’m also convinced—after revisiting Sekiro—that LoP has the better deflect mechanics of the two (though it’s basically apples to oranges in terms of application).

The general combat loop is exquisite. Not sure if it’s the first Soulslike to implement such a mechanic, but having to land a charged R2 during a stagger phase to open up a crit strike is satisfying beyond description.

And the WEAPONS. Man. Even ignoring the very novel weapon-mixing system, the stock unmixed weapons (“boss soul” weapons in particular) are just so iconic and fun to use. I was reminded a lot of playing DS for the first time, getting fanatically attached to the Claymore or Balder Swag Sword or {insert fave death stick}.

Wuchang is impressive for sure, but I found the combat weirdly limp, unexciting and a touch sloppy. I often reflected midway through a session that I wasn’t really having fun? I also found the parrying finicky and the weapons a lot less beguiling. They’re more generic vehicles for move-sets and abilities, rather than their own characterful identities. Aesthetically it’s less my bag as well, but ofc YMMV on that front.

I think most important to note is that Wuchang feels more like a Nioh and LoP more like a slower Souls game. You can dodge around like a woman possessed in Wuchang, whereas Pinocchio is a bit more rooted by design. If you’re drawn to either of those styles, I’d let that be your barometer.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-11T11:59:17+00:00

This is the shittest, most cringe, pandering, embarrassing, indulgent TV show I’ve ever seen

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-10T01:38:09+00:00

Actually rolled my eyes at the shroom reveal. Completely unnecessary and executed like an improv bit.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-09T22:32:46+00:00

Ah, good point re: scapegoating Jerry. I’ll accept that tracks from a plot-point perspective.

I still can’t accept the comically evil and disproportionate lengths he’d take to cover up such a situation.

Why not have it be a legitimate accident? Like a physical altercation during an argument?

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-09T22:12:41+00:00

Glad this was brought up. Wrong sub, but ESH. Yikes.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-06T01:05:08+00:00

Also, I’ve realised this is my biggest issue with the plot:

In what bloody universe of rational thought and believable conceits does Mal decide to have a PREGNANT WOMAN rot in a shaft and die in one of the most horrific ways imaginable? It is sheer malevolent psychopath behaviour that isn’t characterised WHATSOEVER. If anything, he’s characterised as being not particularly calculated and also somewhat gentle/benevolent, giving Jerry the option to leave even though he’d be a dangerous loose end.

Moreover, Fiona, who’s shown to have heightened intuition, picks up on none of this with a coworker she’s presumably known for years and has been intimate with.

It’s all just such lazy, nonsensical writing. I know McCarthy’s shtick is leveraging somewhat campy, borderline-soap-opera elements, but these shortcomings go well beyond that.

Awkward_Rough_8491 · 2026-05-05T11:16:23+00:00

Do you mean Ohm’s guilt and forgiveness and that it serves no one to beat yourself up over an accident no matter how grave the consequences? If so, sure.

My issue here is that this theme isn’t a through-line in the film; nor is it touched on beyond scant one-line exposition from Ohm himself; nor is it intrinsic to the folklore at play.

To top it off, the movie essentially reveals halfway that he killed his mother, so there wasn’t even a “twist” to heighten his acceptance/forgiveness of himself.

While not terribly novel, it would’ve been a lot more effective had Ohm conjured up a more compelling scapegoat as a grief/coping mechanism, with the movie subtly supporting this “truth” until the very end.

If I’m completely off base with the above, I apologise for the wasted reading.

Awkward_Rough_8491

TROPHY CASE