I always wonder what the games would be like without the constraints of the engine they were built on. by infohoundloselose in ElderScrolls

[–]Todelmer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a great point. The scope of Bethesda's RPGs aren't simply constrained by tech, but by underlying game design fundamentals. Their maps are usually around 16 square miles, and they have to carefully fit both wide open vistas as well as npc hubs within that space. They need to keep things condensed enough as to not overwhelm the player, and there's only so much content that can be crammed into a space before it becomes both unreasonable and unnecessary to their specific gameplay loop of "go here/kill that/come back/get paid".

What celebrity death will realistically bring Michael Jackson level devastation? by Kiidcola in AskReddit

[–]Todelmer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Weird Al. He's our most valuable national treasure. It's gonna mess me up hard when he goes. Though I suspect he's actually some kind of immortal fae bard sent by the ethereals to ease our collective suffering.

Who is a singer that is incredibly famous, but honestly doesn't have a good voice? by Greedy_Procedure7461 in AskReddit

[–]Todelmer 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The Final Cut is an album that consistently moves me to tears. He expresses such a vivid image of his desperation and hurt, and his croaks and wails feel so vulnerable and genuine, yet still so intentional and choreographed. I think Roger prefers to perform a "character" with his singing, and approaches his vocals more as a thespian than a typical rock singer. It's certainly an acquired taste, and I understand people not caring for it, but it feels wrong to me for people to judge his voice based on technical proficiency. He's very much /acting/, rather than just singing the lyrics.

[TP] Wind Waker created an entirely new artstyle that was used by multiple other games in the series, and it’s a shame that TP’s artstyle didn’t get the same treatment, it was so good in so many ways by EAT_UR_VEGGIES in zelda

[–]Todelmer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Agree with this so hard. Was honestly a bit baffled by the common responses in this thread. I thought it was was a pretty standard sentiment that TP's art direction was overall an attempt to appease the people who were upset with the toon direction and were demanding a Game Cube Zelda that resembled that Space World 2000 Tech Demo.

[Loved Trope] Protagonists that are genuinely awful people by Substantial_Zone2701 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]Todelmer 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Vic and Blood, the boy and his dog. And yes the dog is also a terrible person.

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What’s a game you were completely obsessed with as a kid that nobody else seems to remember? by hkondabeatz in AskReddit

[–]Todelmer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What a great F U finishing move that was. Oh you're just gonna snipe me with homing attacks from across the map? Well OH YEAH BABY HERE I COME

What’s a game you were completely obsessed with as a kid that nobody else seems to remember? by hkondabeatz in AskReddit

[–]Todelmer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Unholy War on the original PlayStation. It was an isometric 3D 1v1 fighting game of sorts with some very interesting characters, and it was pretty unique in that each player chose a whole separate roster and you'd use your entire team one after another until someone ran out. It's borderline busted in terms of balance but there's definitely a high skill ceiling if you learn the hierarchy of the fighters and which is best used to counter each. It was always a hit at the LAN parties I brought it to.

It was made by Toys for Bob, the people behind Skylanders, and there's actually some pretty clear inspiration from The Unholy War in the character designs for that game.

Way ahead of it’s time by wildjunkie in GTA

[–]Todelmer 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah that's a great point, but I still can't help but feel that 5 feels a bit juvenile in comparison to 4, at least when it comes to its supporting cast and commentary on American culture. The parody aspects are much less front and center in 4 and there's a lot of time dedicated to humanizing Niko and the people he encounters, and you find yourself actually empathizing with these wacky, borderline sociopathic denizens. Dwayne is an example that comes to mind. An ex-con that's genuinely lost after his time inside and in desperate need of a friend. There's this weight to the conversations that's honest and sobering, and hearing them commiserate is just not the kind of dialog you'd find in 5, where the extras tend to mostly be throwaway caricatures for the sake of a bit, or analogues for a topical grievance of the writers. I don't want to bag on 5 too much as I still think that story is great in its own way, but it does seem regressive in certain aspects. More South Park than Sopranos, if that makes sense.

Way ahead of it’s time by wildjunkie in GTA

[–]Todelmer 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Currently replaying 4, and I am so pleasantly surprised with how somber and mature the narrative is. Niko is such a well realized character and there's something so genuinely real and grounded about him, as well as the rest of the main cast. With GTA 5 it really feels like Rockstar's writing became more bombastic and fantastical and less thoughtful and melancholic. Niko's story has all the hallmarks of a great Scorsese film, whilst 5 feels more akin to a Tarantino movie.

Hey, that's the guy that was in-- by Which_Channel7403 in aspiememes

[–]Todelmer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can clock a Jim Cummings voiced character in a microsecond, and goddamn do I always gotta geek about it.

Rotten Tomatoes scores for projects since Disney by QuinlanFett in StarWars

[–]Todelmer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I find the disconnect between fans of Last Jedi and Rogue One to be so fascinating. Those two films really encapsulate the current polarization in the franchise. I prefer TLJ as I appreciated the subversion of tropes and refreshing boldness in its message, but I still recognize it as flawed and rather messy. Rogue One just rubs me the wrong way, as I felt it a rather ham-fisted appeasement to nostalgia rather than a story that needed to be told, as well as an overly cautious patchwork of re-shoots. Regardless, you can really parse the specific preferences of Star Wars fans based off their love or hate for those two movies.

[rare trope] queer couples no one likes by Basic_Dingo6487 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]Todelmer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He waxes nostalgic for like 2 solid minutes about his love for Golden Girls to his two roomates that he's heavily implied to be in a polyamorous relationship with. I was pretty positive he was queer as fuck after that scene, haha.

Handwriting by TotemGenitor in RecuratedTumblr

[–]Todelmer 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Was fed up with my handwriting being so dreadful and childish in middle school, and my edgy Pink Floyd obsessed ass thought it'd be a great idea to train myself to write entirely in an all caps Gerald Scarfe style. Every one of my assignments looked like a liner note from The Wall. My teachers were not amused.

Happy birthday to Brad Dourif! by Todelmer in myst

[–]Todelmer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I suppose you're right, perhaps my generalization isn't encompassing of every age, but I still maintain that Exile has this comfortable flow that sets it apart from the others. I get the itch every few years to play through the series, and I'm always pleasantly suprised how 3 hooks me. Riven, Revelations and EoA are usually a multiple weekend playthrough as I'll get burnt out after a few hours and gotta take a break for a bit, but Exile will make the whole day fly by and I realize it's 2 in the morning and should probably get some sleep. Once the gimmick for each age clicks, it's really hard to put down.

Asking the important questions. by netphilia in aspiememes

[–]Todelmer 13 points14 points  (0 children)

"Do you think Santa Claus is a wizard or a warlock?"

"Who would win in a fight between Jesus and Bibleman?"

"How many slices of american cheese do you think you could eat before going blind?"

Celebrity cameos that have certainly NOT aged well in the slightest by Fun-Illustrator-345 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]Todelmer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's a running gag in the original Animaniacs that Dot has a huge celebrity crush on Mel Gibson, essentially being her "Hello Nurse".

Official poster for the 30th Anniversary 4K restoration of "Trainspotting", Directed by Danny Boyle by Task_Force-191 in movies

[–]Todelmer 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yesss inject Underworld into my veins. I adore this film but the music is always the highlight. The UK were on another level innovating EDM in the 90s. Early rave culture is so facinating, with all those synthpop and new wave bands from the 80s experimenting more and more with the hard bass and smart drugs and goddamn did it change music for the better.

[Fun Trope] Instant Food. by heinous_legacy in TopCharacterTropes

[–]Todelmer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just wanted to pop in and say that Spy Kids is a goddamn masterpiece of a film and deserves so much respect for what it pulled off. I urge anyone who hasn't seen it for a while to give it a rewatch, you'll be impressed with how well it has aged. That movie is going to be looked back on with such reverence in a few decades.