One of the more entertaining TLD reviews I've seen

[JAFO]

Doesn't pull any punches.. and despite how the first part comes across, has a lot of positives to say about the game as well. As for the criticisms, I might not agree with everything he says, but he makes some damn good points too.

 

[SnowWalker]

[Carbon]

 He personifies a puerile, foul-mouthed yob with a mic trying too hard to be edgy to generate hits at the expense of developers.

 As with a lot of YouTube 'reviews', this is just an unenlightened opinion with no grounding in any objective truths.  It's not a review in any sense, but poorly articulated, contradictory rehash of the staus quo with no insight at all. I'm no cheerleader and firmly believe the game needs criticism to improve, but anything he may be right about is obscured by unsubstantiated blanket statements, framed by obscenities. Sad to think that someone might base a decision to buy based on this nonsense.

 Worth a listen? No.

[JAFO]

3 hours ago, Carbon said:

He personifies a puerile, foul-mouthed yob with a mic trying too hard to be edgy to generate hits at the expense of developers.

If that's what you think, you really need to check out some of his other videos. He's been around a long time and calls it how he sees it, good or bad. If his personal style isn't to your taste, so be it. But I find him refreshing because he's one of the few remaining independent reviewers who hasn't sold out. If you can't see past the language, that's your loss.

[Carbon]

 I won't do any research or watch any more of his videos because I am talking about this one in particular (sticking to the topic, in this sense) and I watched it all, regrettably.

 True, his style isn't to my taste, but that's first because of his style over substance approach; he brings nothing interesting or insightful to the discussion and if he were to post what he said here he would be banned. There are far more reasonable and insightful reviews of Wintermute out there to bother with this guy's 'rant-from-the-barstool' method. Second, I don't know how old he is but he acts like a child, making statements with no qualification or justification; saying "the story is wank" is absolutely meaningless (and again, puerile) within a review. Finally, "Worth a Buy"...seriously? This guy purports to be helping people make an informed decision about purchasing a game with this lunatic nonsense, something I personally find reprehensible. He does not provide any 'review' in the sense that we have come to know it over the last 30 years in gaming and simply goes for the lowest common denominators.

 Yes, I understand that you like this guy for whatever reason, but everything I said is factually true. If you find him simply entertaining, then sure, to each their own, but to try to present his Wintermute video as a review is complete misrepresentation and is a disservice (an insult) to the whole idea of game reviews. To claim that he is - again, in this video - helpfully informative is a bit ridiculous, don't you think? And knowing how you love the game as much as anyone, do you truly think his video does justice to all that Wintermute brings to the table? It's not perfect but it deserves more than this.

 51,000 views...what a shame that developers have to suffer at the hands of people like this. People seem to have forgotten what 'review' means and just because a guy can record and upload a game play video is no measure of qualification. I am not advocating some intellectual analysis but even a 'normal' gamer has more sense that what this guy offers; he is insulting but then - if he is somehow revered for his reviews - then maybe people deserve no better. This guy's become a YouTube clown who's last concern seems to be integrity. Even his review for TLD back in EA was far more reasonable; no more insightful, but much less drunken-yobbish. Style over substance now.

 Check out ACG (a bit heavy-handed but thorough and objective) or Gggmanlives for some balanced game reviews (or even Zero Punctuation). No, they haven't covered TLD, but they can be trusted to present a balanced, rational and reasoned perspective on the good and bad. They aren't overly intellectual, but at least put some time and thought into their reviews (they at least prepare a script) and treat their audiences with some respect.

 

[Thrasador]

13 hours ago, JAFO said:

Doesn't pull any punches.. and despite how the first part comes across, has a lot of positives to say about the game as well. As for the criticisms, I might not agree with everything he says, but he makes some damn good points too.

 

I liked the review. I like his personality as well, he gets very exaserbated over things like I do and gives a pretty honest review. Many of the points he brings up that he takes issue with, are pretty easy to fix and they probably could have been fixed by now if it wasn't for the "fanboys" as he puts it. Whenever someone tries to bring up a rational request like, "Can we make the minimalist UI and HUD a toggle in the options menu?" (You know so both groups of gamers are happy) To this day the responses are, "Oh you're STILL complaining about that? They changed it....move on."

Ok, valid argument....they did change it, but maybe some people preferred it the other way...? Maybe those people would rather a minimalist UI toggle....? Did they totally delete the coding for the old UI? Couldn't they pull it out of storage and have both UIs as a choice in the options? The fanboys defend every and all changes so strongly and in such an argumentative fashion, it becomes clear over time to just drop it and give up. It gets to a point where they are only hearing comments they want to hear, and the points others bring up....which sometimes  represent the people who are NOT buying the game, are just not being taken into consideration anymore.

Yes, to the jumping thing and getting stuck on a 1 inch crack in the ground...they fix most of those as they find them....but man, can we just take a step up over 1 foot obstacles? Fine no jumping in the snow, but steping up and over low obstacles doesn't have to be jumping.

Overall though, like everything in life, you either like it or you don't. I really like The Long Dark, and I'm glad I found it and I got to play it. I'm glad I found the forum and talked about issues and problems with the game with most of you guys (and girls), but it does have some issues. Some of them are going to be a turn off to some players. If the issues conflict with "the creative vision for the game" like not being able to craft a hat, I guess they just won't play this game. There are PLENTY of other games to play, lol. I have about 30 games I bought on Steam that I haven't even tried ONCE yet....lol.

[Fuarian]

He took the time to play a part of the game. He didn't dive into it. He's basing it off of first impression which is natural but shouldn't be a final criticism.

And he pretty much insults the community at one point, or a part of it at least. 

[selfless]

I think he did very well.  Certainly he has experience playing.  Evidence his accrued house full of loot accompanied by relevant metaphysical comments regarding its creation and value.   He further recognizes the great moments of tension that can be present when playing then laments their entire reliance on numerous random factors occasionally lining up in just the wrong way rather than being commonplace or by intent.  And his comments reflect on what he thought the game espoused to be in the beginning versus what he sees now.

The language is that of opinion, as all reviews should(must) be.  It doesn't lend itself to debate because there can be no debate.  This is not a thesis or research paper.  Not a news report.  It stands alone and presents one perspective only.  Did the reviewer "like" it?  Parts of it?  Which parts?  What expectations were made and which were missed?  These questions are answered well.  Bravo.

[JAFO]

6 hours ago, Fuarian said:

He took the time to play a part of the game. He didn't dive into it. He's basing it off of first impression which is natural but shouldn't be a final criticism.

This was not just a first impression, nor the first time he's reviewed the game..

[Fuarian]

11 hours ago, JAFO said:

This was not just a first impression, nor the first time he's reviewed the game..

I'm talking about his rant on Wintermute.

[Thrasador]

I think I'm going to watch it again just to hear his Tourette-like conniption fit about Wintermute....that killed me....lol.

Tee-hee...oh he makes me laugh and laugh....

That is a review the devs should hear. I understand they don't want to hear negative things about their "baby." I understand it's frustrating and they won't enjoy it, and they won't agree with it....obviously....but you have to hear the other side of an argument. 

Obviously not everyone shares that guy's opinion on the game, and you can brush it off and say, "Well that's just one guy's opinion.....it doesn't matter." However, it's not really just one guy's opinion. I've read many threads in this forum with many other players complaining about the EXACT same things....

Troy and his RNG rampages against the fire starting and clothes repairing failures.....that's in the review. People complaining about getting stuck on terrain and no jumping or mantling of obstacles....thats in there. I've read multiple threads about that already, including the one he mentioned in the review.

People complaining about the new UI and the radial menu...multiple actions mapped to the same button...I've complained about that, and I've read several threads about it that I didn't start. That's actually why I kept dropping items when opening my inventory.

People aren't complaining about things just for the sake of complaining, or because we are being babies, or because we are actively trying to anger you. We are trying to tell you aspects of the game that are NOT fun, that you should fix....to make the game more enjoyable. If the changes don't fit "the creative vision for the game" then that's your choice, but new people trying the game for the first time will very likely continue to be "put off" by the same exact things we have all tried to bring to your attention already.

Regardless of whether you take the reviewer seriously or not, that guy is HILARIOUS. He's like a British Lewis Black. He sounds like he's going to have a heart attack or a stroke over aspects of the game that upset him, lol....

For those of you unfamiliar with Lewis Black, here is a snippet of a show from several years ago, but be careful he also likes to speak in expletives (bad language):

 

[happybjorn]

On 8/31/2017 at 1:36 AM, Carbon said:

 He personifies a puerile, foul-mouthed yob with a mic trying too hard to be edgy to generate hits ...

 Worth a listen? No.

I agreed with this part, but pretty nothing else (as far as criticism of the review is concerned).

In some ways filtering out that is easier than filtering out where other reviewers are biased or compromised or disingenuously signaling or whatever other nonsense you have to deal with on the internet.

[JAFO]

12 hours ago, Thrasador said:

Obviously not everyone shares that guy's opinion on the game, and you can brush it off and say, "Well that's just one guy's opinion.....it doesn't matter." However, it's not really just one guy's opinion. I've read many threads in this forum with many other players complaining about the EXACT same things....

Troy and his RNG rampages against the fire starting and clothes repairing failures.....that's in the review. People complaining about getting stuck on terrain and no jumping or mantling of obstacles....thats in there. I've read multiple threads about that already, including the one he mentioned in the review.

People complaining about the new UI and the radial menu...multiple actions mapped to the same button...I've complained about that, and I've read several threads about it that I didn't start. That's actually why I kept dropping items when opening my inventory.

People aren't complaining about things just for the sake of complaining, or because we are being babies, or because we are actively trying to anger you. We are trying to tell you aspects of the game that are NOT fun, that you should fix....to make the game more enjoyable. If the changes don't fit "the creative vision for the game" then that's your choice, but new people trying the game for the first time will very likely continue to be "put off" by the same exact things we have all tried to bring to your attention already.

Well said!

[omoon66]

Um, interesting. I've never seen a "review" like that

[Cattleman]

I agree that he makes a few valid points butlsome others I disagree with...blikrbthe rant about the fire RNG... I think this aspect of the game is very well done... I heat my home in real life exclusively with a wood burning stove... And I'm here to tell you the first winter in there was BAD! We had temps down to -20° F and it took me the longest time to figure out how to light a fire in a completely cold stove with one match... And then to figure out how to stoke it up so it would last all night, that was another long lesson... I woke up very cold more times than I care to remember... Overall a very honest review.

[kurja]

The entertaining part is where he complains how easy it is to make a fire by heaping small kindling sticks. While doing the exact opposite trying to light a quarter kilo piece of wood from a smashed dinner table.

[Mroz4k]

I will have to agree with @Carbon, at least to a degree. It is "designed" as a review but it is not one. Its just a humourous rant, there was no objectivity to it at all which is something I would have expected from a review. Now, was it funny? Maybe, I am sure to some it was, but not particularly to me. I like funny ramblings like everyone else, but taking it into riddiculous spins is just not entertaining to me anymore.

As for the "review" part of it - could have easily gone without putting on the "worth a buy brand" on it - I stopped somewhere at 35% of the video because if I was a gamer, deciding to buy the game without having any sort of experience with it, by that point I have heard so much "negativity" on the game I would not continue watching further and I wouldnt have bought it. And it was mostly rambling about stupid shit like "I couldnt figure out how to make rose hip tea, this game is stupid, it is so broken, such a crap for so much money, OMG, it is bad".

On 8/31/2017 at 7:32 PM, Thrasador said:

gives a pretty honest review.

There was NOTHING honest about it. If it was done honestly, it would have comparison of what is good/bad, and it would be objective.
This was not a review, it was a "humorous rant" that is intended to be watcheable and funny, and generate views. It should be obvious when he rants into the riddicule extremes about the tiniest "issues" the game has - as if the game was supposed to be perfect and tailored to each and every player in game. As if every instance of "poor play" on the players part was a mistake in the game´s design.

I listened to the end of it - so many "issues" he has with the game are coming from a very poor gameplay... like the "multitasking" comment - which is obviously intentionally done this way to make the game more difficult, challenging. 

I admit I have a deep passion for this game, but even if I held a mic by my ass, I would produce a better review then whatever this was. Because the number one thing one needs to be done when making a review is to "take a look at it objectively" which in this case was clearly not done.

Mean no disrespect to the guy or anything, but that was not a review, at all. 

[Mroz4k]

On 8/31/2017 at 10:36 AM, Carbon said:

He personifies a puerile, foul-mouthed yob with a mic trying too hard to be edgy to generate hits at the expense of developers.

Actually, I found this comment to be a bit too harsh at first, seeing as I stopped the vid about 5 minutes in, but after listening to the very end of it I pretty much fully agree. Though he may have had a couple of "valid points" about the game, most of it was really just about generating views through some extreme edginess. All the validity in that "review" was lost in the middle of all that ranting. 

5 minutes would be enough to make a comprised review for the people, interested in buying the game. 

I grew up on comedians like Lewis, these are pretty popular shows in the CZ, on the TV. I do not see much similarity in this YouTuber that I see in those comedians - because in case of those comedians, its pretty clear that its all just a humour - in case of a review, if you took a look at it through the eyes of an uninformed gamer, it looks like its an actual "complaining", not just a humour.

[Carbon]

 Although I have said my piece in this matter, I suppose it could bear repeating that I just don't think he does justice to the game. I am talking specifically about the video in question here, as I haven't  and won't  watch any of his other uploads.

 My main concern is that he makes the claim of being some kind of judge as to if the game is 'worth a buy' and people might actually turn to him for assisting in a purchasing decision. I simply don't see him as being up to the task. He's a lazy reviewer (I will give him that title for the sake of simplicity in this post, that's all); he starts a game, forms some vague impressions in his mind, flips on the mic and just starts to talk. Maybe he makes bullet point notes, but that would be at his best. That his thoughts line up almost perfectly with the overall consensus is indicative of him simply echoing the status quo which leads me to believe that he is influenced by what is being said on boards, forums, etc and throws that back to us. Is this worth a reward or title? No. I have read far more insightful feedback here from community members.

 Bear in mind too that he gets paid for what he does, which puts more responsibility on him to actually do something worth being paid for, making the question 'worth a listen'? Does this deserve money? my answer is 'no'; there are too many others on YT putting time, effort and thought into their reviews and this guy simply isn't in that class of YouTubers.

 In these ways I find him to be a disservice to the games he discusses and people who might turn to him for guidance, is a self-proclaimed but wholly unfit judge and for someone who actually receives income from this act, quite lazy.

 I guess I'm just repeating myself here though.

EDIT: For comparison:

 More of a 'discussion', but thoughtful and measured: