Even Severance Blade of Darkness in general has better combat than Souls. The very idea in that game where you can literally use footwork to evade enemies instead of endlessly rolling is genius. I can't believe nobody tried to copy and enhance Severance's gameplay even further to this day.
@fatsmcgee65474 сағат бұрын
This video becomes more and more poignant with each release of a new Fromsoft souls title. This fights are becoming incredibly dull and the combat leaves a lot to be desired, every new boss fight consist of the enemy flailing and generating an explosion at half health. I know people like to argue in favor of the difficulty and if I'm being honest I don't find the fights to be that hard even when done solo, it's all just a matter of memorization, reaction and patience. My main issue stems from just how boring and routine the fights are becoming, there's not a single boss in Elden Ring that left a significant impact on me in either gameplay or presentation. I really hope they find a way to address this issue and maybe return to a more unique boss experience that doesn't revolve around the same tired gameplay, otherwise I'll probably just stick to whatever Team Ninja or NEOWIZ are working as both developer's projects provide better core action combat in regards to soulslikes.
@2782Jack9 сағат бұрын
I know the head on a stick thing doesn't matter, and it matters even less 10 years later but I think the point of that scene is abe and the audience's horror at what's happening, making it a cute cartoon DOES make more sense in context but it makes the emotional impact of the scene lessened because it's a cute cartoon instead of a horrifying genocide, it's the difference between a more emotional story and one that makes more sense but if we are really obsessed with making sense then giving the bad guys arms would have made sense
@siphillis10 сағат бұрын
And the real twist of the knife: this game sold gangbusters, reviewed extremely well, won Game of the Year, and inspired a sequel that only made superficial improvements. AAA will not save itself
@NefariousBear15 сағат бұрын
After finishing the Elden Ring DLC, I realized this video aged like a fine wine.
@KaminoyouniКүн бұрын
This feeling more relevant nowadays in the discussion surrounding Elden Ring and Erdtree DLC, well is too poisoned by "git gud" and "Skill issue" to even have a conversation.
@jUppersКүн бұрын
DS combat is clearly RPG and not action but the series has moved towards becoming action game with RPG combat. ER is genuinely insufferable to play one way and cheesed the other
@ishiggydiggy1410Күн бұрын
Every time From puts out another Souls content, this video just ages better and better.
@user-hx9pg5ub7eКүн бұрын
I watched this again after finishing my elden ring dlc. I got to say, After all these years, this is still the best game critic video.
@1000TomatoesКүн бұрын
Don't fully agree but this somewhat explains why I've always found the RPG aspects of these games to be the least compelling bits as someone who came at them from a primarily action game background. The only one I've fully beaten is Sekiro as it's the most unabashedly action-gamey of all of them. Personally I would like From to branch out and to use their unique strengths to make more things that don't fit the soulsbourne label even if that means leaning even more into action gamey or a direction I have less personal interest in. If every game is too close to the previous one it's just going to get stagnant.
@FunnyAnimatorJimTV2 күн бұрын
I wrote a summary of the video, with timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:37 BotW’s “Freedom” philosophy 4:17 The Great Plateau as a tutorial faithful to the game as a whole 5:23 The Shiekah Slate with generic abilities should make puzzle solutions less obvious (good), however the simplicity of Shrines often make solutions obvious/less satisfying (bad) 7:15 Puzzle-solving Motivation 9:13 Temperature system is great, but equipment system is bad (too easy). Many things are good to be convenient, but need more restrictions on equipment to increase survivalist aspect. Could also give permanent upgrades 12:38 - Combat has problems but is more engaging/impressive than most games because all of Link’s actions are available at all times 18:11 Improvements on open-world design 18:49 The world still lacks realistic depictions in key locations, environmental storytelling 22:37 Less common overworld/characters would be more interesting 24:28 Motivation, utility 26:31 The power of permanence 28:28 Restrictive moments are more satisfying within a world of freedom 30:17 The paraglider is overpowered, enemies are too easy to avoid 31:47 Enemy variety is OK, and their designs are great 35:40 Climbing is dull and overpowered (48:46) 36:15 inventory is too big (or is it?) 37:42 Players can tweak difficulty for themselves 38:59 BotW’s definitive feature is that all objects can affect gameplay (physics, state calculation) 40:07 The Zelda series had always been building towards these new gameplay mechanics 40:59 BotW’s art style is a crucial component to the gameplay with meaningful decisions behind it 42:30 UI details 43:20 Reduced soundtrack allows the world to speak for itself, but still well-designed music 45:30 Divine Beasts are extremely well designed, combining classic Zelda dungeon feeling with new freedom philosophy, but unfortunately each one is short and visually repetitive 46:38 More on Shrines: They can be created in large numbers, and reward exploration, but are too repetitive and puzzles less satisfying 48:53 Nintendo will also need to defy conventions FROM botw 49:09 Hyrule Castle is very threatening (good) while also emphasizing freedom and exploration 49:43 Story is nonlinear, nonlinear memories make it complex, but it honors the player’s freedom. Even the story itself has a subject of “freedom”. But the ending doesn’t feel as bittersweet as it should 52:01 Final boss phase 1: Item usage should be encouraged (but not mandatory), and clearing divine beasts should enhance, not reduce, the experience. Dark Beast Ganon fight is OK because the overworld is the main character. 53:32 Outro: BotW’s new formula has problems, but also extremely great moments - both of these coming from the unwavering commitment to freedom.
@FunnyAnimatorJimTV2 күн бұрын
Summary: Best things about BotW: - its concsious unwavering commitment to allowing player freedom - restrictive moments within that freedom - high incentives for exploration - physics and temperature engines - many streamlining and quality-of-life improvements Issues for improvement: - too many shrines causes puzzles to be broken up too much and unsatisfying - many features are overpowered (climbing, gliding, clothing, inventory, non-threatening enemies) - issues with environmental storytelling, divine beasts and final boss issues
@islandofmelanat2 күн бұрын
I'm enjoying the Elden Ring DLC, mostly for the exploration and lore, but I couldn't help but think of this video after the third spammy roll-catchy boss. In Dark Souls 3 I was already feeling fatigued by that style of boss, but at least there only 60% of the fight time was taken up by rolling. I felt they truly jumped the shark with the endgame of Elden Ring, where bosses like Maliketh would spam 15 attacks in a row that could two-shot you, and where the opening afterward felt barely long enough for a single heal. Well, if that was jumping the shark, the new DLC is double jumping it, and I haven't even attempted the final boss yet.
@otomeplusКүн бұрын
I couldn't agree more. It's frustrating for people to say "Souls has always been about hard bosses!" while failing to realize the other 90% of the game exists. I finished the DLC and was left with the same feeling, just completely boring and dull.
@LumosX2 күн бұрын
It's pretty funny that most of this critique applies directly to Elden Ring (though I do like Elden Ring, unlike DS2).
@revolversnake1262 күн бұрын
the prepare to die marketing ruined an entire generation of gamers
@solomon24662 күн бұрын
the prepare to die marketing has effectively destroyed any possibility of an engaging discussion of the difficulty because people will throw out "AIEEEEEEEEEEEE SKILL ISSUE" and while that may be the case most of the time. I do think that some shit is going a bit too far lmao
@enigmatic82802 күн бұрын
@@solomon2466 People can't see how they've gone too far because they have gradually conditioned us into accepting poorly designed difficulty for the sake of making sure that even the most skilled players die often. If someone played Dark Souls 1, skipped 2 and 3 and went straight to Elden Ring the flaws in the gameplay design would be much more apparent. For example, people are used to the excessive enemy tracking and nobody complains about it these days even though it was one of the biggest complaints about Dark Souls 2 at launch. They have slowly added more and more trash mechanics as the series went on.
@revolversnake1262 күн бұрын
I think ive reached my breaking point with the er dlc. i think i did most thinks up until that band of the hawk fight but i just cant do it anymore. im just not having fun with all this. and yes its 100% a skill issue. these games just arent for me anymore i guess. or maybe i just install a mod that cuts enemy damage in half lol. i just miss the old days. like remember when we were complaining that artorias had too many anime moves? those were the days man.
@tweeeeeex2 күн бұрын
I think it's not truly "hard," it's just unbalanced. DMC5 on DMD difficulty is hard. Infinity Climax on Bayonetta is hard. Tactical Challenge 6 in Vanquish is HARD. Elden Ring's combat is nowhere near sophisticated enough to be difficult on the level of these kinds of true action games, so they pump up enemy health and damage in an attempt to conceal the fact that there's relatively little going on under the hood. It's like Matthew points out in this video, all your moves do the same thing in Souls game, it's just "make enemy health bar bar go down." There's no interesting combos, there's no shields that you have to break or statuses to inflict or guards to counter or whatever. It's literally just R1 and circle, again and again and again. It's boring.
@brandonthomas66022 күн бұрын
Same, came here after playing it, this video puts it perfectly
@solomon24662 күн бұрын
dude if elden ring had bloodborne movesets and weapons it would actually be great fuck me lol
@Jurglenuts2 күн бұрын
This @@tweeeeeex
@Jurglenuts2 күн бұрын
@@solomon2466 mod time
@KillianC1C22 күн бұрын
I return to this video with a new comment because with Elden Ring DLC this video still rings true, especially with the bosses. So many people right now as I post this are arguing about the difficulty of the DLC and its bosses. My main issue with the bosses more so is that it's more of the same old shit. I'm just not finding the "learn pattern, dodge at right second, deal with the bosses bullshit spamming of infinite stamina and two hit kills" engaging anymore. I don't feel a sense of accomplishment when I beat them, I just feel like I pulled an annoying pain away from my body. I really hope whatever FromSoft does next is something new, something that will ignite that Demons Souls energy again with new ideas and just subverting expectations. However, due to Elden Ring being such a huge success, I sadly doubt they'll be willing to do it and just make another Soulslike and critics and people will give it more 10s. Because apparently now you can't say any criticism of these games anymore, when I remember a time when people would regularly shit on these games. But while I, along with many others saw what was special about them, it feels FromSoft might have forgotten. FromSoft excel at their art, level design and just core function as working as a team. But now it feels like they're kinda playing stuff safe and expected and I never thought that would really happen.
@tweeeeeex2 күн бұрын
I have this feeling that in like six months from now, we're going to get some sort of viral KZread video talking about how the DLC's bosses aren't all that interesting, and it'll be much more positively received than now (although there will still be detractors and fanboys to be sure). We're just in the honeymoon phase right now-a lot of fans can't accept that Fromsoft's entire combat formula has gotten really stale, even if they do excel in other areas (and they definitely do-the art direction and environments in SotE remain unparalleled). It feels like they should have either (a) kept the weird puzzle-gamey-type experience of DeS as the series matured, or (b) refined the combat to be more interesting as the series became more action-oriented. They did neither, and now we're left with something that's just...not that fun.
@KillianC1C22 күн бұрын
@@tweeeeeex We're left with a game that is aimed at pleasing a large audience and narrow minded fandom rather than take risks and doing something interesting/potentially alienating.
@brandonthomas66022 күн бұрын
A Mathew quote went through my head all through the dlc “so many times it felt like the design team asked “how can we make this fight difficult” when what they should have asked is “how can we make this fight interesting””
@KillianC1C22 күн бұрын
@@brandonthomas6602 EXACTLY. This was also hitting me during the main game. That said, I really like Elden Ring, but I along with many others have played these games for 10+ years. Had time to reflect back and think on stuff. The people whos first one of these games was Elden Ring I feel are the most toxic and not willing to take any amount of criticism of their favorite Elden Ring.
@enigmatic82802 күн бұрын
They're afraid of alienating the "muh hardcore" fanbase they've attracted with the prepare to die marketing. Their biggest fear is people saying their games are too easy so they have to up the ante every single time.
@Kirbyquaza2 күн бұрын
I think you're seriously underselling the amount of unique encounters in dark souls 1
@TomWill26632 күн бұрын
Please make a video expressing your opinions on Elden Ring, even if you recount many of the points from this video. It's been 7 years and your fans would love to hear you voice your opinions on where the series is now.
@element11112 күн бұрын
Isn't he winding down this channel due to working on his own games now?
@TomWill26632 күн бұрын
@@element1111 I think so, but as a fan I'd still love to see that video if he could make the time for it.
@DefinitiveDubs3 күн бұрын
I'm not sure how you'd apply a Super Metroid-style walljump to a 3D game without having a dedicated walljump button.
@Mercer993 күн бұрын
With every new FS content I come back to this video and I realize how insightful Matthewmatosis was. It's so sad that the devs themselves, including Miyazaki, don't get what's so great about the Soulsborne games, and they keep doubling down on their mistake with every new game or IP.
@tweeeeeex2 күн бұрын
I think what really resonates with me most after SotE is Matthew's point about how, with the Soulsborne series' increasing reliance on action, he could just play a better action game instead. Imagine if Shadow of the Erdtree were a genuinely mechanically complex and deep action game, with lots of options on how to inflict damage/statuses and interesting elements from the enemies (stances, blocking, shields etc) that required you to change strategies or input special moves. It would be the sickest action game ever. Instead, they've just completely come to rely upon the same old tired "roll at the right time" mechanic, over and over and over again. I beat the DLC tonight and I was bored to tears-despite all the pretty environments and presentation, every fight is literally *exactly* the same. They desperately need a refresh with these games.
@Tsyuait3 күн бұрын
"So Matt, have any advice for the new Elden Ring DLC?" Matt: 7:14
@frogglen63503 күн бұрын
Whelp. I finally beat this game and the Valkyries. The Valkyrie queen is the best boss of any god of war game. I think I hate Atreus. I give the game a 7 out of 10. This video gets a 2 out of 10 fir being pretentious
@joshuaso46443 күн бұрын
My dude why do you keep commenting on this video on this video attacking Matt as if calling the game you like mediocre is the same thing as murdering your family?
@solomon24663 күн бұрын
The final boss for the DLC of Elden Ring feels like a massive shitpost. The phase 2 for that fight is genuinely mindboggling. What the fuck were they thinking? Even with mimic tear I was struggling lmfaooooi
@solomon24662 күн бұрын
I calmed down a little bit and I do think overall the ER dlc is p good. The visuals are excellent but the open world is expectedly empty for the most part. P much all of the bosses are rollslop but I think Midra and Messmer are great despite that. The rollslop bosses can also be reasonably doable without mimic tear if you're patient enough but the final boss is actually retarded. Gaius took me like four fucking hours or some shit without mimic tear and I just broke down and cheesed the fuck out of the final boss because I was so sick of the dlc at that point lmfao
@Kriss_ch.3 күн бұрын
This game is delightful. I thought it was easy to dismiss after Cave Story, because it seems so unassuming and slight. Cave Story is hardly heavy on story, but much more so than this game, and both the funny and emotional moments of that story I thought were very well done. Kero Blaster obviously isn't the same thing, but once you give it a try it becomes clear that it's just as fun. This recommendation is what got me to try it out and I'm happy I did.
@rikybj02763 күн бұрын
do soulstorm!
@CheekyKeiki3 күн бұрын
Demon's Souls, Dark Souls 1, Bloodborne and Sekiro are the games that Fromsoftware prioritized their visions in instead of what the fans want.
@sharkchannel613 күн бұрын
Well, in DS3 they still tried something new for the formula, too, even though there was a lot of fanservice. At least there were some gimmicky bosses and experiential moments like what Matthewmatosis discussed in this video. It's really Elden Ring that turned into what Matthew feared the most, just a ton of samey bosses with no focus on these experiential moments like in DeS and DS whatsoever. It's really sad, ER is still a good game overall, but I'd call it one of the weakest modern FromSoftware games, better only than DS2.
@JurglenutsКүн бұрын
@@sharkchannel61DS3 was nothing new it was just more DeS with less good levels, and faster ds1/2 that uses the better bloodborne pace without the gameplay that made BB fun and the same goes for ER that only put a bandaid on ds3s gaping wounds and opened more flaws.
@bokkimi252817 сағат бұрын
@@Jurglenuts Still a fun game to run through though, personally.
@Jurglenuts17 сағат бұрын
@@bokkimi2528 Maybe but it lacks the replay value ds2 had. Nice pfp
@bokkimi252816 сағат бұрын
@@Jurglenuts Thanks, drew it myself. I know quite a lot of people enjoy DS2 for its own unique flair. I personally couldn't get into it enough to want to beat it. I'm probably never playing DS3 again, but I found it replayable because of the pacing. You go from location to location which are all quite distinct from each other. Not in the context of the series (poison swampsss), but in the context of the game.
@ToastyCubes4 күн бұрын
If only we had listened.
@RedgraveGilver19 сағат бұрын
FROMSOFT fanboys never listens lol. They've been rolling and rolling and rolling and rolling with these games since DS3 and they still think ER is a masterpiece lol. I swear to god guys play other actions games like Ninja Gaiden Black or DMC. Better yet, play better soulslike games with objectively better combat like Nioh 2 lol
@based-ys9um4 сағат бұрын
@@RedgraveGilverdon't forget bayonetta
@chrislee52684 күн бұрын
I return after the release of Shadows of the Erdtree. From has fallen deeper into samey rollslop boss design.
@Frog_Cat_4 күн бұрын
Yeah I saw the first boss and her 15 hit combo and just sighed. I'll still play it, but I'm a little sad. Just like elden ring, it'll be good, but not great. Looking back over all these years, the high water marks of FromSoft have been Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, and Sekiro.
@horserotorvator4 күн бұрын
depressing
@tweeeeeex2 күн бұрын
every fight is literally exactly the same. It sucks because the level design is still excellent and the art direction is unparalleled at this point, but if you've fought one Shadows of the Erdtree boss (or enemy for that matter), you've fought them all. People meme about the combat of ER because it's supposedly so hard (it's not, it's just tedious), but it's easily the worst part of the game.
@JurglenutsКүн бұрын
@@tweeeeeexthe only fun boss was the first puppet one, a good dance. The rest are unbearable even with mimic tears.
@RaveLordNito5 күн бұрын
With the release of the Elden RIng DLC what a perfect time to revisit this video, Saying as how Elden Ring is just a culmination of all the things mentioned in this video.
@7milesdavis5 күн бұрын
I just noticed the flagpole with wings running away from Mario, literally moving the flagpole.
@7milesdavis6 күн бұрын
Well you were right about voice acting sounds forced and awkward.
@youreworthmytime79827 күн бұрын
I’d love to hear your opinion on Elden Ring, Mr matthew
@Yefen7 күн бұрын
The corpses crowded against the New Londo gates were probably people wanting to flee the city and getting trapped there by the keepers of the Abyss when they decided to flood the whole underground area.
@JustHereForTheDialogue7 күн бұрын
23:43 I liked how quiet they were in the original because it helped set the scene. Clearly they weren’t allowed to even speak to each other and that added to the brutal situation they were in.
@flyforce168 күн бұрын
Original Wind Waker >>>>>>> HD Wind Waker. HD is ugly as sin
@wowwar28 күн бұрын
I honestly prefer that the game tells you when you unlock a storybook segment just so that you can see them spaced out throughout the game instead of watching all of them in one go
@samu14148 күн бұрын
Late to the update of Ragnarok but my last takeaway is that when they made this game, when they were done with it I feel as if there was nothing they would have changed even if they could, because very little in Ragnarok was updated with this. The compliancy is astounding when all you choose to look at is the numbers and 10/10s instead of criteques
@FromTheDeep24818 күн бұрын
Thanks for the outstanding review videos! It’s been so insightful hearing your take on some of my favourite games over the years! I hope you do an Odyssey review, as I think you’d have some great things to say about it 😊
@DrRESHES9 күн бұрын
I still lose myself in thoughts while Matt is so organiclly jump from point to point. Once I come back, I always rewind so much to get the context. Matt is a modern day magician.
@daboos635310 күн бұрын
dark souls boring af, too slow and basically nothing to do, elden ring is way better
@Dippen133710 күн бұрын
damn you are full of shit and you are just contradictory. just talking nonsense. too bad you have a great voice so I have to listen to it
@tr909love11 күн бұрын
I feel the same way. 2 of my favorite games were ruined by 3d stupid gaming.
@aguy756612 күн бұрын
I played Demon's Souls well after playing Dark souls several times over and the thing that stood out to me the most was how Dark Souls maintains its immersion better with the lack of cutscenes. Demon's Souls was a great game but you could tell that Fromsoftware was actively trying to improve their games from the beginning.
@sandorrclegane230712 күн бұрын
great video man. oddworld is so great, it's a huge shame this is what they decided to make.
@Cinestudi012 күн бұрын
When I first played it, I was not so familiar with the multiverse concept, so I enjoy it plenty, I wonder how would stand if I replay it today
@based-ys9umКүн бұрын
I didn't like it on replay. I love the intro though.
@Ben_R4mZ13 күн бұрын
I've known of this game for ages but never tried it due to the unforgiving difficulty. I just feel I'd be more frustrated than challenged and I try to play games to relax. Spoiler warning, for any one else who isn't going to play it, (or already has), I recommend "The Affairs of Passing Gods" by Solemn Sunday. They cover the entire storyline and lore for the game including full voice acting for characters that have dialogue, and helped me enjoy what this game had to offer without the headache of trying to experience it on my own.
@Gary_Hun13 күн бұрын
Bla bla bla yeah yeah yeah the mechanics of the game ladidaa... ...impossibly repellent idiot story line anyone? It is, like, worse than a poop grenade thrown towards me.
@SteveReen51113 күн бұрын
Playing the demo of the remake has me coming back to this. "Figuring out the meaning of this symbol is one of my favorite puzzles of all time" -- there is something near the very beginning of the remake that in my opinion seriously undermines this. Was pretty disappointed to come across that.
@Gary_Hun13 күн бұрын
I never felt this would be the game for me... i don't know why i thought a harsh critique will make me want to try it.
@Gary_Hun13 күн бұрын
I find Elizabeth's stare as lively and beautiful as Jigsaw's from the Saw movies. Her eyes are so dead.
Пікірлер
Even Severance Blade of Darkness in general has better combat than Souls. The very idea in that game where you can literally use footwork to evade enemies instead of endlessly rolling is genius. I can't believe nobody tried to copy and enhance Severance's gameplay even further to this day.
This video becomes more and more poignant with each release of a new Fromsoft souls title. This fights are becoming incredibly dull and the combat leaves a lot to be desired, every new boss fight consist of the enemy flailing and generating an explosion at half health. I know people like to argue in favor of the difficulty and if I'm being honest I don't find the fights to be that hard even when done solo, it's all just a matter of memorization, reaction and patience. My main issue stems from just how boring and routine the fights are becoming, there's not a single boss in Elden Ring that left a significant impact on me in either gameplay or presentation. I really hope they find a way to address this issue and maybe return to a more unique boss experience that doesn't revolve around the same tired gameplay, otherwise I'll probably just stick to whatever Team Ninja or NEOWIZ are working as both developer's projects provide better core action combat in regards to soulslikes.
I know the head on a stick thing doesn't matter, and it matters even less 10 years later but I think the point of that scene is abe and the audience's horror at what's happening, making it a cute cartoon DOES make more sense in context but it makes the emotional impact of the scene lessened because it's a cute cartoon instead of a horrifying genocide, it's the difference between a more emotional story and one that makes more sense but if we are really obsessed with making sense then giving the bad guys arms would have made sense
And the real twist of the knife: this game sold gangbusters, reviewed extremely well, won Game of the Year, and inspired a sequel that only made superficial improvements. AAA will not save itself
After finishing the Elden Ring DLC, I realized this video aged like a fine wine.
This feeling more relevant nowadays in the discussion surrounding Elden Ring and Erdtree DLC, well is too poisoned by "git gud" and "Skill issue" to even have a conversation.
DS combat is clearly RPG and not action but the series has moved towards becoming action game with RPG combat. ER is genuinely insufferable to play one way and cheesed the other
Every time From puts out another Souls content, this video just ages better and better.
I watched this again after finishing my elden ring dlc. I got to say, After all these years, this is still the best game critic video.
Don't fully agree but this somewhat explains why I've always found the RPG aspects of these games to be the least compelling bits as someone who came at them from a primarily action game background. The only one I've fully beaten is Sekiro as it's the most unabashedly action-gamey of all of them. Personally I would like From to branch out and to use their unique strengths to make more things that don't fit the soulsbourne label even if that means leaning even more into action gamey or a direction I have less personal interest in. If every game is too close to the previous one it's just going to get stagnant.
I wrote a summary of the video, with timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:37 BotW’s “Freedom” philosophy 4:17 The Great Plateau as a tutorial faithful to the game as a whole 5:23 The Shiekah Slate with generic abilities should make puzzle solutions less obvious (good), however the simplicity of Shrines often make solutions obvious/less satisfying (bad) 7:15 Puzzle-solving Motivation 9:13 Temperature system is great, but equipment system is bad (too easy). Many things are good to be convenient, but need more restrictions on equipment to increase survivalist aspect. Could also give permanent upgrades 12:38 - Combat has problems but is more engaging/impressive than most games because all of Link’s actions are available at all times 18:11 Improvements on open-world design 18:49 The world still lacks realistic depictions in key locations, environmental storytelling 22:37 Less common overworld/characters would be more interesting 24:28 Motivation, utility 26:31 The power of permanence 28:28 Restrictive moments are more satisfying within a world of freedom 30:17 The paraglider is overpowered, enemies are too easy to avoid 31:47 Enemy variety is OK, and their designs are great 35:40 Climbing is dull and overpowered (48:46) 36:15 inventory is too big (or is it?) 37:42 Players can tweak difficulty for themselves 38:59 BotW’s definitive feature is that all objects can affect gameplay (physics, state calculation) 40:07 The Zelda series had always been building towards these new gameplay mechanics 40:59 BotW’s art style is a crucial component to the gameplay with meaningful decisions behind it 42:30 UI details 43:20 Reduced soundtrack allows the world to speak for itself, but still well-designed music 45:30 Divine Beasts are extremely well designed, combining classic Zelda dungeon feeling with new freedom philosophy, but unfortunately each one is short and visually repetitive 46:38 More on Shrines: They can be created in large numbers, and reward exploration, but are too repetitive and puzzles less satisfying 48:53 Nintendo will also need to defy conventions FROM botw 49:09 Hyrule Castle is very threatening (good) while also emphasizing freedom and exploration 49:43 Story is nonlinear, nonlinear memories make it complex, but it honors the player’s freedom. Even the story itself has a subject of “freedom”. But the ending doesn’t feel as bittersweet as it should 52:01 Final boss phase 1: Item usage should be encouraged (but not mandatory), and clearing divine beasts should enhance, not reduce, the experience. Dark Beast Ganon fight is OK because the overworld is the main character. 53:32 Outro: BotW’s new formula has problems, but also extremely great moments - both of these coming from the unwavering commitment to freedom.
Summary: Best things about BotW: - its concsious unwavering commitment to allowing player freedom - restrictive moments within that freedom - high incentives for exploration - physics and temperature engines - many streamlining and quality-of-life improvements Issues for improvement: - too many shrines causes puzzles to be broken up too much and unsatisfying - many features are overpowered (climbing, gliding, clothing, inventory, non-threatening enemies) - issues with environmental storytelling, divine beasts and final boss issues
I'm enjoying the Elden Ring DLC, mostly for the exploration and lore, but I couldn't help but think of this video after the third spammy roll-catchy boss. In Dark Souls 3 I was already feeling fatigued by that style of boss, but at least there only 60% of the fight time was taken up by rolling. I felt they truly jumped the shark with the endgame of Elden Ring, where bosses like Maliketh would spam 15 attacks in a row that could two-shot you, and where the opening afterward felt barely long enough for a single heal. Well, if that was jumping the shark, the new DLC is double jumping it, and I haven't even attempted the final boss yet.
I couldn't agree more. It's frustrating for people to say "Souls has always been about hard bosses!" while failing to realize the other 90% of the game exists. I finished the DLC and was left with the same feeling, just completely boring and dull.
It's pretty funny that most of this critique applies directly to Elden Ring (though I do like Elden Ring, unlike DS2).
the prepare to die marketing ruined an entire generation of gamers
the prepare to die marketing has effectively destroyed any possibility of an engaging discussion of the difficulty because people will throw out "AIEEEEEEEEEEEE SKILL ISSUE" and while that may be the case most of the time. I do think that some shit is going a bit too far lmao
@@solomon2466 People can't see how they've gone too far because they have gradually conditioned us into accepting poorly designed difficulty for the sake of making sure that even the most skilled players die often. If someone played Dark Souls 1, skipped 2 and 3 and went straight to Elden Ring the flaws in the gameplay design would be much more apparent. For example, people are used to the excessive enemy tracking and nobody complains about it these days even though it was one of the biggest complaints about Dark Souls 2 at launch. They have slowly added more and more trash mechanics as the series went on.
I think ive reached my breaking point with the er dlc. i think i did most thinks up until that band of the hawk fight but i just cant do it anymore. im just not having fun with all this. and yes its 100% a skill issue. these games just arent for me anymore i guess. or maybe i just install a mod that cuts enemy damage in half lol. i just miss the old days. like remember when we were complaining that artorias had too many anime moves? those were the days man.
I think it's not truly "hard," it's just unbalanced. DMC5 on DMD difficulty is hard. Infinity Climax on Bayonetta is hard. Tactical Challenge 6 in Vanquish is HARD. Elden Ring's combat is nowhere near sophisticated enough to be difficult on the level of these kinds of true action games, so they pump up enemy health and damage in an attempt to conceal the fact that there's relatively little going on under the hood. It's like Matthew points out in this video, all your moves do the same thing in Souls game, it's just "make enemy health bar bar go down." There's no interesting combos, there's no shields that you have to break or statuses to inflict or guards to counter or whatever. It's literally just R1 and circle, again and again and again. It's boring.
Same, came here after playing it, this video puts it perfectly
dude if elden ring had bloodborne movesets and weapons it would actually be great fuck me lol
This @@tweeeeeex
@@solomon2466 mod time
I return to this video with a new comment because with Elden Ring DLC this video still rings true, especially with the bosses. So many people right now as I post this are arguing about the difficulty of the DLC and its bosses. My main issue with the bosses more so is that it's more of the same old shit. I'm just not finding the "learn pattern, dodge at right second, deal with the bosses bullshit spamming of infinite stamina and two hit kills" engaging anymore. I don't feel a sense of accomplishment when I beat them, I just feel like I pulled an annoying pain away from my body. I really hope whatever FromSoft does next is something new, something that will ignite that Demons Souls energy again with new ideas and just subverting expectations. However, due to Elden Ring being such a huge success, I sadly doubt they'll be willing to do it and just make another Soulslike and critics and people will give it more 10s. Because apparently now you can't say any criticism of these games anymore, when I remember a time when people would regularly shit on these games. But while I, along with many others saw what was special about them, it feels FromSoft might have forgotten. FromSoft excel at their art, level design and just core function as working as a team. But now it feels like they're kinda playing stuff safe and expected and I never thought that would really happen.
I have this feeling that in like six months from now, we're going to get some sort of viral KZread video talking about how the DLC's bosses aren't all that interesting, and it'll be much more positively received than now (although there will still be detractors and fanboys to be sure). We're just in the honeymoon phase right now-a lot of fans can't accept that Fromsoft's entire combat formula has gotten really stale, even if they do excel in other areas (and they definitely do-the art direction and environments in SotE remain unparalleled). It feels like they should have either (a) kept the weird puzzle-gamey-type experience of DeS as the series matured, or (b) refined the combat to be more interesting as the series became more action-oriented. They did neither, and now we're left with something that's just...not that fun.
@@tweeeeeex We're left with a game that is aimed at pleasing a large audience and narrow minded fandom rather than take risks and doing something interesting/potentially alienating.
A Mathew quote went through my head all through the dlc “so many times it felt like the design team asked “how can we make this fight difficult” when what they should have asked is “how can we make this fight interesting””
@@brandonthomas6602 EXACTLY. This was also hitting me during the main game. That said, I really like Elden Ring, but I along with many others have played these games for 10+ years. Had time to reflect back and think on stuff. The people whos first one of these games was Elden Ring I feel are the most toxic and not willing to take any amount of criticism of their favorite Elden Ring.
They're afraid of alienating the "muh hardcore" fanbase they've attracted with the prepare to die marketing. Their biggest fear is people saying their games are too easy so they have to up the ante every single time.
I think you're seriously underselling the amount of unique encounters in dark souls 1
Please make a video expressing your opinions on Elden Ring, even if you recount many of the points from this video. It's been 7 years and your fans would love to hear you voice your opinions on where the series is now.
Isn't he winding down this channel due to working on his own games now?
@@element1111 I think so, but as a fan I'd still love to see that video if he could make the time for it.
I'm not sure how you'd apply a Super Metroid-style walljump to a 3D game without having a dedicated walljump button.
With every new FS content I come back to this video and I realize how insightful Matthewmatosis was. It's so sad that the devs themselves, including Miyazaki, don't get what's so great about the Soulsborne games, and they keep doubling down on their mistake with every new game or IP.
I think what really resonates with me most after SotE is Matthew's point about how, with the Soulsborne series' increasing reliance on action, he could just play a better action game instead. Imagine if Shadow of the Erdtree were a genuinely mechanically complex and deep action game, with lots of options on how to inflict damage/statuses and interesting elements from the enemies (stances, blocking, shields etc) that required you to change strategies or input special moves. It would be the sickest action game ever. Instead, they've just completely come to rely upon the same old tired "roll at the right time" mechanic, over and over and over again. I beat the DLC tonight and I was bored to tears-despite all the pretty environments and presentation, every fight is literally *exactly* the same. They desperately need a refresh with these games.
"So Matt, have any advice for the new Elden Ring DLC?" Matt: 7:14
Whelp. I finally beat this game and the Valkyries. The Valkyrie queen is the best boss of any god of war game. I think I hate Atreus. I give the game a 7 out of 10. This video gets a 2 out of 10 fir being pretentious
My dude why do you keep commenting on this video on this video attacking Matt as if calling the game you like mediocre is the same thing as murdering your family?
The final boss for the DLC of Elden Ring feels like a massive shitpost. The phase 2 for that fight is genuinely mindboggling. What the fuck were they thinking? Even with mimic tear I was struggling lmfaooooi
I calmed down a little bit and I do think overall the ER dlc is p good. The visuals are excellent but the open world is expectedly empty for the most part. P much all of the bosses are rollslop but I think Midra and Messmer are great despite that. The rollslop bosses can also be reasonably doable without mimic tear if you're patient enough but the final boss is actually retarded. Gaius took me like four fucking hours or some shit without mimic tear and I just broke down and cheesed the fuck out of the final boss because I was so sick of the dlc at that point lmfao
This game is delightful. I thought it was easy to dismiss after Cave Story, because it seems so unassuming and slight. Cave Story is hardly heavy on story, but much more so than this game, and both the funny and emotional moments of that story I thought were very well done. Kero Blaster obviously isn't the same thing, but once you give it a try it becomes clear that it's just as fun. This recommendation is what got me to try it out and I'm happy I did.
do soulstorm!
Demon's Souls, Dark Souls 1, Bloodborne and Sekiro are the games that Fromsoftware prioritized their visions in instead of what the fans want.
Well, in DS3 they still tried something new for the formula, too, even though there was a lot of fanservice. At least there were some gimmicky bosses and experiential moments like what Matthewmatosis discussed in this video. It's really Elden Ring that turned into what Matthew feared the most, just a ton of samey bosses with no focus on these experiential moments like in DeS and DS whatsoever. It's really sad, ER is still a good game overall, but I'd call it one of the weakest modern FromSoftware games, better only than DS2.
@@sharkchannel61DS3 was nothing new it was just more DeS with less good levels, and faster ds1/2 that uses the better bloodborne pace without the gameplay that made BB fun and the same goes for ER that only put a bandaid on ds3s gaping wounds and opened more flaws.
@@Jurglenuts Still a fun game to run through though, personally.
@@bokkimi2528 Maybe but it lacks the replay value ds2 had. Nice pfp
@@Jurglenuts Thanks, drew it myself. I know quite a lot of people enjoy DS2 for its own unique flair. I personally couldn't get into it enough to want to beat it. I'm probably never playing DS3 again, but I found it replayable because of the pacing. You go from location to location which are all quite distinct from each other. Not in the context of the series (poison swampsss), but in the context of the game.
If only we had listened.
FROMSOFT fanboys never listens lol. They've been rolling and rolling and rolling and rolling with these games since DS3 and they still think ER is a masterpiece lol. I swear to god guys play other actions games like Ninja Gaiden Black or DMC. Better yet, play better soulslike games with objectively better combat like Nioh 2 lol
@@RedgraveGilverdon't forget bayonetta
I return after the release of Shadows of the Erdtree. From has fallen deeper into samey rollslop boss design.
Yeah I saw the first boss and her 15 hit combo and just sighed. I'll still play it, but I'm a little sad. Just like elden ring, it'll be good, but not great. Looking back over all these years, the high water marks of FromSoft have been Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, and Sekiro.
depressing
every fight is literally exactly the same. It sucks because the level design is still excellent and the art direction is unparalleled at this point, but if you've fought one Shadows of the Erdtree boss (or enemy for that matter), you've fought them all. People meme about the combat of ER because it's supposedly so hard (it's not, it's just tedious), but it's easily the worst part of the game.
@@tweeeeeexthe only fun boss was the first puppet one, a good dance. The rest are unbearable even with mimic tears.
With the release of the Elden RIng DLC what a perfect time to revisit this video, Saying as how Elden Ring is just a culmination of all the things mentioned in this video.
I just noticed the flagpole with wings running away from Mario, literally moving the flagpole.
Well you were right about voice acting sounds forced and awkward.
I’d love to hear your opinion on Elden Ring, Mr matthew
The corpses crowded against the New Londo gates were probably people wanting to flee the city and getting trapped there by the keepers of the Abyss when they decided to flood the whole underground area.
23:43 I liked how quiet they were in the original because it helped set the scene. Clearly they weren’t allowed to even speak to each other and that added to the brutal situation they were in.
Original Wind Waker >>>>>>> HD Wind Waker. HD is ugly as sin
I honestly prefer that the game tells you when you unlock a storybook segment just so that you can see them spaced out throughout the game instead of watching all of them in one go
Late to the update of Ragnarok but my last takeaway is that when they made this game, when they were done with it I feel as if there was nothing they would have changed even if they could, because very little in Ragnarok was updated with this. The compliancy is astounding when all you choose to look at is the numbers and 10/10s instead of criteques
Thanks for the outstanding review videos! It’s been so insightful hearing your take on some of my favourite games over the years! I hope you do an Odyssey review, as I think you’d have some great things to say about it 😊
I still lose myself in thoughts while Matt is so organiclly jump from point to point. Once I come back, I always rewind so much to get the context. Matt is a modern day magician.
dark souls boring af, too slow and basically nothing to do, elden ring is way better
damn you are full of shit and you are just contradictory. just talking nonsense. too bad you have a great voice so I have to listen to it
I feel the same way. 2 of my favorite games were ruined by 3d stupid gaming.
I played Demon's Souls well after playing Dark souls several times over and the thing that stood out to me the most was how Dark Souls maintains its immersion better with the lack of cutscenes. Demon's Souls was a great game but you could tell that Fromsoftware was actively trying to improve their games from the beginning.
great video man. oddworld is so great, it's a huge shame this is what they decided to make.
When I first played it, I was not so familiar with the multiverse concept, so I enjoy it plenty, I wonder how would stand if I replay it today
I didn't like it on replay. I love the intro though.
I've known of this game for ages but never tried it due to the unforgiving difficulty. I just feel I'd be more frustrated than challenged and I try to play games to relax. Spoiler warning, for any one else who isn't going to play it, (or already has), I recommend "The Affairs of Passing Gods" by Solemn Sunday. They cover the entire storyline and lore for the game including full voice acting for characters that have dialogue, and helped me enjoy what this game had to offer without the headache of trying to experience it on my own.
Bla bla bla yeah yeah yeah the mechanics of the game ladidaa... ...impossibly repellent idiot story line anyone? It is, like, worse than a poop grenade thrown towards me.
Playing the demo of the remake has me coming back to this. "Figuring out the meaning of this symbol is one of my favorite puzzles of all time" -- there is something near the very beginning of the remake that in my opinion seriously undermines this. Was pretty disappointed to come across that.
I never felt this would be the game for me... i don't know why i thought a harsh critique will make me want to try it.
I find Elizabeth's stare as lively and beautiful as Jigsaw's from the Saw movies. Her eyes are so dead.