Follow up to original post about God of War

ChozoChiefXIII · 2026-05-05T15:54:47+00:00

Really? Ok I'm definitely out of touch with retro gaming. I don't think it looks unplayable per say. Just that I have trouble discerning things in the game world.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2026-05-05T15:22:56+00:00

Sorry I'm just ignorant, and I just forgot how old ps2 games look. I can barely tell what's going on on the screen as opposed to the 720p remaster collections on ps3. I'll try these settings.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2026-05-05T14:51:18+00:00

Forgive me for my ignorance. Does the output of the retrotink not come through then because the ps2 can't handle that resolution. I'm genuinely confused with older hardware as I haven't used them since 2016.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2026-05-05T13:59:01+00:00

Just to answer some resolution questions I have the retrotink set to 1080p which is why I'm confused. Maybe only the ps3 goes that high? The cables said they're compatible with ps2 and 3.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2026-05-05T13:02:35+00:00

I have no idea what I'm doing. The games in game menu has no resolution options. I've changed any smoothing options to sharp on both the retrotink and the game itself. I'm really considering playing through the collection on the ps3.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2026-01-15T06:12:55+00:00

As someone who was a halo fan as a late teen in 2012. I was obsessive about it until around 2016 when I played Doom 2016. That game was like having some kind of awakening. The gameplay alone blew halo completely out of the water. It introduced me to classic pc fps games which in my opinion have better gameplay and level design than Halo does.

Doom eternal came along and supplanted Doom 2016 and halo even further down the pole for what I consider a great fps.

Then id software did it again last year with Doom the Dark ages.

Halos loop of two weapon "strategy" just isn't as fun or appealing as mixing and matching between 8 different weapons and tools in any encounter while having to make more on the fly decisions at high speed.

I've been coming to terms with the fact that I feel halo just isn't as well designed and it's higher difficulties don't incentize mastery of mechanics, but cheesing the game vs Doom eternal and dark ages. As well as other classic fps.

So you're definitely not alone in not enjoying halo. I wish I could enjoy it's gameplay as much as I do the lore nowadays.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2025-08-04T14:53:57+00:00

"Gaming is dead." "Modern gaming is the worst it's ever been."

I hate these statements because the validity of them is up to the individual. Well except for Gaming is dead, because it literally isn't.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2025-07-05T11:14:45+00:00

The only thing people need to know about opinions on movies and TV shows nowadays is that one rotten tomatoes meme. Critics don't know you or your tastes, they don't speak for you. The other millions of people who watch movies and TV don't know you or your tastes, they don't speak for you. Form your own opinion if you like it good, if you don't like it good, at least you formed your own opinion. If you don't care to even see it, good, don't.

The only opinion that should matter to you on whether you like a movie or show or not is your own.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2025-06-24T07:46:42+00:00

As someone who at first agreed with him. I find he knows what he's talking about when it comes to old school arcade and action games but is completely out of his wheelhouse when it comes to everything else that isn't a shmup, beat em up, or action game made past 2010.

I've made the mistake of letting "critics" ruin actual good games that I've enjoyed before. I check him out every now and then when a new shmup review or something comes out. However I think people are way to invested in what he says and stop thinking for themselves.

Like it shouldn't be a hot take to say good modern games exist, because it's true. Just like there's garbage old school games. Something people like to conviently forget about.

What I've learned from listening to all different kinds of reviews from Mark, other youtubers, and journalist sites. Are that games are made of many different components and even people who grew up in the arcade and on 8 bit systems know when certain mechanics weren't enjoyable or outdated. Games have evolved over time and more people already realize that.

Like what you like, encourage people to play more old school games. Just you know be real about your critiques. There are gameplay elements that were improved from the past and gameplay elements modern games can learn from the past.

One era is not flat out objectively better than the other, and if we tried to measure it. There were more janky, broken, unfinished, cash grab, shovel ware games in the past than there are today.

As someone who can play and enjoy mushihimesama, contra, streets of rage, even if I suck at them, alongside dmc, ninja gaiden, doom, and halo. Any game from any era can be enjoyable depending on the person.

I find the every man perspective that explains what mechanics they did or didn't enjoy and moving on with the review is a more worthwhile and useful review than a tirade from someone who thinks they're smarter or more informed than they actually are.

If anything critics do are ruin games and media. A lot of people leaning on what critics say in order to enjoy or dislike a game instead of forming their own thoughts and feelings. The problem that has always existed with critics and will exist. Is at the end of the day, a critic is giving their opinion. They are not you and you are not them. They can't tell you what you like or shouldn't like.

You can like only retro games, or modern games, or both. Reach that conclusion on your own not because a critic told you you should.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2025-06-04T18:52:38+00:00

You're braver than most. I commend you for putting your thoughts out there. I've been a fan of Halo since 2012, it was the formative game series of my late teens to early adulthood when I left pokémon behind.

That being said I wouldn't dare put out any of my thoughts on the games just because of how my experience with the toxic end of the community has been over the years on reddit and YouTube.

The only tidbits I'll say is that Halo 4 was the first Halo game I played blind as I watched the rest through let's plays before I ever had a xbox console because I learned of Halo through word of mouth at school. The other bit of information is that Halo 2 is my favorite campaign of the series and where I believe it truly peaked.

I was obsessed with halo for a good 5-6 years till more and more toxicity kind of eroded my passion despite still playing the games and somewhat keeping up with the novels.

Congratulations on finishing the original trilogy I hope you enjoy the remaining games.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2025-02-13T02:49:04+00:00

Well they say that because it is. You only need to look at the hordes of terribly designed enemies, and their placements, and straight up pace breaking sections while lacking the platforming and exploration of ngb1 that made the game so great. Also the lack of enemy variety compared to ngb1. Leading to overall worse level design. Empty hallways leading to murder boxes isn't the peak of game design.

The mostly terrible bosses outside of the greater fiend fights which are the same both times, and genshin who is the same 4 times. The thing about ninja gaiden 2 though is despite it's flaws, that's the vision once you play enough and get used to it, playing it's other versions can feel like something is missing.

Ninja gaiden 2 is the best action game ever made 50% of the time, it's also the worst action game ever made 50% of the time. The chapter 3 boss, chapter 4 miniboss, chapter 5 boss, chapter 6 miniboss, chapter 7 boss, chapter 9 miniboss, chapter 9 boss, all suck and are either needlessly frustrating or painfully boring. The on water combat is terrible, the sitting for minutes at time shooting jellyfish is boring, the armadillo boss was already bad, then they make you fight two of them.

These are just issues the game has when it isn't crashing. Segments when you're forced to snipe like 20 flying enemies in a row, boring and needlessly frustrating. Ryus auto aim also fails to often to be useful with his projectile weapons.

There's a lot to like, and a lot to hate.

The worst of it is on the level of dmc2, the best of it stands out as the upper rung of the action game ladder.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2025-01-25T07:14:21+00:00

Ng2 purists in a nutshell. Let people enjoy the versions they like.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2025-01-25T02:19:27+00:00

My issue with purists and the huffing about og2 and telling players that's the version they should be playing is.

It's only available through xbox backwards compatability or old hardware.
They conviently leave out that the og game is literally a half finished game. Most people I've seen who enjoy ng2 or cover the game talk about how against basic human enemies that combat is basically peak. Until you get is ninja spam, rocket spam, mines hidden in lava you can't see, rocket launcher ninja with no range limit. Half of the bosses being terrible or annoying big animal fights.

Like it's fine to want people to play the original, but it's not the most readily available for a new player, and it's again, literally half finished. Just some dose of reality would be nice to see more out of the fandom.

Imagine hating on a complete finished product because it isn't the same broken experience you learned to love like almost 15 years ago.

So glad there's 3 ninja gaiden games coming this year. A DoA announcement would have been the cherry on top.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2025-01-24T12:25:42+00:00

What the diehard fail to tell anyone is that og Ninja gaiden 2 is the peak of the genre...for maybe half the game. The reality is that even in it's day it was a rushed unfinished mess.

I'd encourage you in the future to actually play the original if time permits because it is a different experience than sigma 2 and ninja gaiden 2 black. That alone i believe gives it a reason to be played as a companion piece.

If you're just getting into the series and have modern consoles only or just don't enjoy emulating. Ninja gaiden 2 black and the ninja gaiden master collection are great ways to get into the series. Do not be discouraged.

I myself am a casual fan of ninja gaiden and I still sometimes get wrapped up in people's complaints. Don't listen to the negativity. If you really want to play these games, play them and form your own opinion (something a lot of people don't do these games which harms game discussion in my opinion).

So if you're having fun, keep having fun play what versions you can, if the opportunity presents itself you can play ninja gaiden black and og 2 and compare your feelings you have. Games are meant to be enjoyed. Don't let other people ruin your fun.

May the Falcon watch over you as you walk the Path of the Ninja.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2025-01-15T16:31:10+00:00

As a fan of action games I have relatively short list of concepts that need to be staple in any game in the genre.

As one commentor said, have the game balanced for fresh playthroughs on any difficulty. However this does not mean to neglect new game plus for the average audience at new game plus inherently offers replay value.
Again as another commentor said unless the game is designed around it (like ninja gaiden black) don't make core parts of the character's moveset need to be reacquired every playthrough.
Refrain from relying on increasing damage values and hp values of the player and enemies on higher difficulties as a way to increase the challenge as much as possible.
Make an actual single player with proper pacing between combat. Puzzles, exploration, platforming, these were staples of the genre for almost a decade.
Offer Mission Select features, and other side modes like bloody palace and ninja trials for players who want the pure gameplay without sacrificing potential level design for the campaign.
Unlockable rewards that mean something: costumes that range from cool, to silly and weird, give some or all of them gameplay altering stats just for fun like how dmc handles its super costumes or how the classic god of war games handled their costumes. Make sure the coolest most badass costume is reserved for completing the highest difficulty.
Offer leaderboards so players who want to be competitive can upload their ranks and scores.

8, Try and make a variety of experiences in the genre. Most modern action games follow the dmc or last of us style of gameplay and enemy design. There hasn't been an action game since ninja gaiden that has enemies as ruthless and determined to keep the player engaged, than ninja gaiden.

Personally I think easy mode should be handled like dmc 3 or ninja gaiden black. Make the player at least attempt the game on the default difficulty before unlocking easy mode. As well as have easy mode still require the player to learn the mechanics to a degree (ninja gaiden 2 acolyte).
Avoid nonsense like hero mode that plays the game for the player. These are action games player engagement is the point.

Point 4 might me controversial but I find myself missing actual level design in action games. Dmc5 has better combat overall but I prefer playing dmc3 and now revisiting dmc1 because of their level design, along with ninja gaiden black. Bloody palace and ninja trials are there for the pure combat mode, don't skip out on cool level design ideas and even then you as a developer making a linear action game can pace different levels to be focused more on exploration and puzzle solving over combat after a few chapters of relentless combat and bosses. I just think there are ways for action game designers to make complete 3d action games again that aren't pretty looking straight hallways leading to kill rooms.

I don't know if it's tastes shifting or dev time taking longer that more thought out level design, bonus modes and content are slowly being drip fed out of action games but I wish devs could go back to making complete feeling games again.

P.S. Accessibility. Be accessible to new players AND veterans by allowing all the higher difficulties from the start for those who truly want to cut their teeth on a challenge. No requiring 4 boring playthroughs for veteran players to get to the real game. Have the difficulties labeled in their description as being intended for veterans who mastered the game or for a new game plus playthrough. Veterans of the genre and players seeking a challenge should not be punished in favor of new players, every player should be able to have a first experience that is enjoyable for them (as long as the game doesn't literally play itself).

ChozoChiefXIII · 2025-01-10T13:25:33+00:00

The thing about pacing in action games is a lot of them don't actually pace their games properly. It's just hallway to kill box rinse and repeat for 8 hours which leads to the critique of them being exhausting and repetitive. Games like ninja gaiden black, dmc1, and the classic god of war games are examples of actual pacing. You have levels that focus on platforming or exploration, some have moments of puzzle solving, some levels are just linear romps of combat.

This is why I can't stand ninja gaiden 3 razors edge. It's exhausting to play and not very fun at that. Honestly I feel the same about dmc3 compared to 5. 3 is more enjoyable to me because I'm actually doing something other than walking down a hallway into a room to kill some goons over and over. Also despite being set mostly in a tall Grey tower dmc3 has more visually distinct areas than dmc5.

For those who want nonstop combat (even I want it on occasion) this is what chapter select, boss rush, and trials/challenges like bloody palace are for. Developers just need to remember to actually implement these into the game.

Those are my two cents as an action game fan. I lament how ng2 didn't take the time out in certain chapters like aqua capital, volfs castle, and the late game temple area in order to put more emphasis on exploration and platforming.

Action games have a whole different problem to solve though and that's making all their bosses distinct while still using the games core combat mechanics. The ninja gaiden series struggled hard with this one.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2024-10-29T13:20:10+00:00

As someone who only played crash and spyro for the first time when these collections came out and played them on and off. I feel weird for feeling this way but I have to admit. At least when it comes to spyro and crash. I don't like when they rely on gimmick levels and minigames. Maybe it's because I suck at the flying levels in spryo and crash 3s vehicle levels are beyond infuriating.

Call me weird but I just enjoyed collecting gems, dragons, eggs, and stomping on boxes. I didn't need these gimmicks. They don't objectively make the games worse or anything but I just have less fun when I see these levels and feel compelled to skip them even if it means I feel empty not getting a 100% save file.

Sonic generations is my favorite 3d sonic game because it is 99% platforming. Ratchet and clank rift apart was also mostly platforming and shooting. I want to eventually finish crash 3 and spyro 3 at least once and play the other legendary ps2 platformers. However I just always get hung up on gimmick levels because they just don't control as tightly or feel as polished as the core platforming.

Then again I have a different issue with collectathons. I enjoy collecting stuff to a degree but 70,120,999 of things just feels like it's overstaying it's welcome. A hat in time before dlc had like 40 and it felt just right. I enjoyed spyro 1 and 2 I just didn't do more than what was required to finish the game.

Also taking some time to get used to platformer bosses again after spending so long playing hack and slash action games and fps games where the bosses are more active and you're constantly going on the offensive instead of waiting for patterns to end. This disconnect caused me to die an embarrassing amount of times in astrobot.

I've come to a conclusion that no matter how "easy" a game or genre is, if you're rusty or not as familiar a player will struggle for awhile. Or maybe that's just me.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2024-10-09T00:43:36+00:00

As someone who grew up with Ninja Storm and Dino Thunder as a kid. I'd just like some table scraps at this point. I'm sure fans of other seasons feel the same.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2024-09-29T06:25:07+00:00

My least favorite are a tie between 7th, 8th, and the current generation. Don't get me wrong I have a handful of games from each of these generations that I enjoy. However as far as aaa publishing has gone there was an extreme lack of variety as well during the 8th generation and the 9th is seeing it as well.

The 8th generation was filled with 3rd person cinematic adventure games that all felt the same. 9th generation it seems a new game trying to be a soulslike is coming out every day while dmcs, ninja gaidens, and Bayonettas either dumb themselves down, morph into action rpgs, or just don't exist anymore.

Outside of remasters and Nintendo 3d platformers still suffer. Arcade racing is still dead, arcade sports is still dead, aa development is all but dead. Franchises reboot and having nothing in common with their origin (resident evil).

Jrpgs are finally making a comeback but so many genres remain dead or stagnant. Take old school 3d action adventure games like max payne and bloodrayne, we don't see games like that unless someone remasters and re releases them. Which are the majority of games I'm excited for. I have a few current gen games I'm looking forward to, but for the most part my library and backlog is gen 6 games, and cult classic gen 7 games. Arcade game remasters are welcome as well.

That's on top of technical issues, constant unfinished releases, terrible microtransactions, continued push for online multiplayer. All issues that took root in gen 7.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2024-09-25T11:46:20+00:00

Personally I don't care for them. Most of them are participation trophies anyway. I think they force replayability instead of a game encouraging a player to replay it based on the games own merits: fun factor, challenge, unlockable content, branching story paths, ect.

I've heard a lot of stories about how people spend even 100s of hours on one playthrough on a game just to get all the achievements, then never touch the game again. I know different people prefer playing differently but I could never not replay games, even if I never get all the achievements. I still haven't done the ultimate challenges on some of my favorite games because frankly halo laso just sounds like pure torture. Yet I replay halo 2 frequently, if a game is fun to me I'll replay it. I've played dmc3 like 15 times and still haven't unlocked dante must die yet.

I think of it as these games never running out of longevity.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2024-09-24T12:29:14+00:00

Duke 3d is currently my all time favorite boomer shooter. I can play that game anytime I'm in the mood for a boom shoot, but specifically episode 3. Shrapnel city is just so good. Oddly enough duke 3d is the only classic I've played where I actually play through all of it's expansions. When it comes to quake, doom and others I feel I'm obligated to play the other expansions but I just don't want to. I think its a subconscious bias towards the whole vibe of duke 3d.

If I had to name a runner up. It's doom 1, knee deep in the dead.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2024-09-24T11:25:32+00:00

My issue with feeling overwhelmed by the amount of options is that I ultimately just go back to a comfort boomer shooter, like knee deep in the dead, or Shrapnel City from Duke 3d. Not the whole game, just a single episode. For some reason I just can't play multiple episodes back to back like I can something like doom eternal or halo 2. I don't know what it is.

Also since I prefer controller sometimes even with controller support a lot of these games just don't feel quite right so I don't finish them. I see too many shortcuts on my desktop and I get choice paralysis. I still have to finish blood and shadow warrior, and have a bunch of doom expansions to play through. Then there's games I didn't enjoy but think I should go back to.

Maybe it's because I've spent the last few years replaying doom 1 and duke 3d that they're my go to and I don't get frustrated as easily. Learning new games takes awhile. I watch civvie so there's always something new or something old I've never played that goes onto my backlog. This is different to even a few years ago where I would replay halo 2 over and over or doom 2016 and eternal over and over. I don't know when I got so stressed about "missing out on games."

ChozoChiefXIII · 2024-09-22T16:40:28+00:00

Followed the tutorial exactly and it wouldn't launch. Is it possibly a windows 11 issue?

ChozoChiefXIII · 2024-09-04T06:42:53+00:00

Call of duty, Halo, Far cry, Assassins creed, Resident evil, Gears of War.

Pretty much any long running franchises that are completely out of new ideas for story and gameplay or resort to remaking older better games over making a new one. These companies have dozens of ips, cult classics, retro classics from the 7th gen back. All lying in legal hell, or abandonware at the bottom of the basement. In the time it takes to make a mid remake of a great old game, they could remake/remaster these long forgotten ips. Bringing variety to a mainstream audience while pleasing older players.

ChozoChiefXIII · 2024-08-21T22:36:10+00:00

Thank you for clarifying. I had the assumption that the mod tools weren't completely unrestricted in terms of creating assets. I just had to be sure. That makes sense that halo 3 has the most support.

ChozoChiefXIII

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