Forums > Contributor Zone > BRACKET: QUARTER FINALS

leggo my ergo

Oh no, it's a Goomba!

I can take three more days of buldgeoning if my comrades can.

Also I should probably vote.

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I can take three more days of buldgeoning if my comrades can.

That's what she said.

... sorry.

Oh yeah, here's like some voting and stuff:

Suskie vs Boo
Winner: Booberries 'n Cream

I think the primary analogy you draw between Trauma Center and Operation is quite unfair -- I mean, that's like trying to draw a comparison between Tetris and Legos, then claiming that Tetris lacked anything new. Also, can't you skip dialogue? I haven't played Under the Knife, but I walked away from this review with the impression that it was unfair. I had some trouble with Boo's review too, mostly because I just don't "get" Doom. He's so overly enthusiastic for pixeled action that all I can really do is say "... I'll take your word for it." His review does have some charm to the way it is written though, and I'd rather pick a review that gives unfair praise rather than one that gives unfair criticism.

DE vs VM
Winner: DE

I want to vote for VM simply because of the "crappy 3D bandwagon" line, but alas I cannot. The review just kept rambling on and on in a tone that was fairly unenergetic. DE's review has more of a bounce to its step.

DoI vs EmP
Winner: EmP

DoI's review could have beaten everyone else in this round EXCEPT EmP, so this is most unfortunate. Both of these games seems to have a fair amount of self-reflexive humour, and it's nice to see both taking that with equal seriousness (i.e. no seriousness). Both reviews actually made me want to play their respective games, so points there too. I guess the deciding factor is the quality of writing, and I felt that EmP's had more wit (the section of quotes made me laugh my ass off -- on the inside, obviously), and an overall coherence and flow that would have been tough to beat.

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Dagoss, I think you completely missed the point of that comparison to Operation. If I came off as too harsh, well, that's the point. I'm saying that the game is so simplistic in practice that it's little more than an interactive version of that board game. That's like comparing Tetris to Legos? What the fuck?

I don't really care that much since I don't have anything in my backlog that could beat Boo's Doom II (certainly not this one), but complaining that my review is unfair, and then backing that up with an unfair criticism of your own, demands a response.

You exist because we allow it. And you will end because we demand it.

Boo vs. Suskie

Boo's review is enthusiastic. Suskie's doesn't tell about the story, and, darn it, that's important. I had more written here, but my computer blew up. True story.

Winner: TIE

I don't have to boost my review resume because I have a real resume.

See? I get two criticisms I consider unjust, and now everyone thinks I'm frantic over losing. I've accepted my defeat at this point anyway, but feel free to rub it in as much as you want, Felix.

You exist because we allow it. And you will end because we demand it.

There is nothing to rub in.

I don't have to boost my review resume because I have a real resume.

smb3 seems gay, it's pixellated. I'm just going to have to take everybody's word on it.

Oh no, it's a Goomba!

If two people said that your review is a unfair, perhaps your review is unfair. If you don't think that's the case, if you think that I didn't read close enough, etc, that's fine -- but I don't think it is justified for you act like I did something wrong.

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Could be. It's not that you two didn't like it that bugs me -- EmP voted against me as well an I had no problem with his critique -- but I don't think I've ever so strongly disagreed with the reasons. But I think I've said enough. Sorry if I've given the impresson of lashing out, as that was not my intention.

You exist because we allow it. And you will end because we demand it.

SUSKIE vs. BLU

I didn't have the problems that others had with Suskie's review. In fact, I quite enjoyed it. Doing RotW, I've noticed that a lot of people have been big into these and the Phoenix Wright games in recent months and have read a ton of reviews of them. At least the the TC games, I'd never seen a negative review until now. And, to me, this was a very convincing one. The concept of operating on "people" in a game is a concept that strikes me as something I'd like to sample on a rainy day. But if I knew I'd be deluged by text, have even simple processes dominated by a chattering nurse AND wind up doing the same sorts of tasks over and over again, I'd be opting out of this experience. You did a good job of showing the dark side of this title and illustrating how annoying parts of it could be.

Unfortunately, you're not just going against the pinnacle of Blu's reviewing career, but also of his life and the lives of his immediate family members. I remember when I first saw this review. In the team tournament of whatever year this was, interest was barely higher than it was this year. We had six teams (as compared to the usual eight) and only two judges (lots of ties). Well, after not making the playoffs, I volunteered to judge the postseason so we'd have decisive results and Blu responded with this review.....which wound up beating the illustrious Fix. With the amount of time me and Blu have talked shop about Doom games over the years, we know far more about these games than is healthy. Whenever I've read this review, I spend the whole time basically nodding my head at the examples he uses and wanting to add my own (like the simple little area near the beginning of L10 where you have a ton of pitiful regular soldiers that are placed JUST SO in order to make you constantly paranoid that one of them is right behind you OR the godly awesomeness of Downtown's cityscape). Even after a few years, I'd have to say this still is one of my personal favorite reviews on this site for many reasons.

WINNER: BLU


DE vs. VM

It took DE's review a bit o' time to grow on me, but it did its job of making this game seem pretty frickin' interesting. Might have to give it a look assuming I ever dig myself out of the bottomless pit of games yet unplayed or unfinished I'm working on. You made things sound pretty interesting with how every class has its own uses and you have to hire people to do the jobs you personally can't do because of the limitations of your class. On the other hand, I don't know that you needed the paragraph explaining each class, as you could have mentioned that in talking about the need to hire mercenaries. That part just kinda seemed like filler to me.

However, you do squeak out a win here. It's not that VM's RAN-PICK is a bad one -- in fact, it makes me want to scour the web in search of this game.....but it just goes on and on and on. This review would be potentially great with some condensing (or a decent amount of it), but as it is, I found myself losing interest long before the end.

WINNER: DE


DoI vs. EmP

It's not that DoI's review is a bad one. I know I've read it before and possibly had positive comments for it, but in reading it this time, it just seemed like a "RPG template" review. A little bit about the background, mentioning a particularly personable character, talk about gameplay/battling, mention the game's length while adding there's plenty of extra things to do. I love RPGs, but this review doesn't really say or do anything that would make me want to play this one any more or less than any number of other decent-to-good RPGs out there. It's in the "good review for a good game" category, but isn't really any more than that. Which is perfect for a submission, but not so great for a contest.

On the other hand, EmP's descriptions of the characters and how his game is happy to keep them right in genre archetypes cracked me up. You have to love the classic evil villain who ALWAYS kills or has killed someone close to a main character and revels in being evil simply for the sake of being evil.....and how characters seem to constantly be surprised or shocked that he is doing evil things. And EmP does a fine over-the-top (well, unless the knight really does brag about kicking puppies.....which would be the greatest moment in SRPG history) portrayal of that to get his review off to a funny, personable start. Which he maintains through the course of the whole thing. Your goal seemed to be to label this as a game content to be generic, but one that has so much fun with it that it's a joy to play. And you succeeded in doing so.

WINNER: EmP

I'm not afraid to die because I am invincible
Viva la muerte, that's my goddamn principle

This'll be quick because I don't have time.

Suskie vs. Boo:

I liked Suskie's review. It was entertaining and informative. It's clear that whatever story element is in that game doesn't matter to him, so I don't see it as an issue needing mentioning. The review was effective; I saw why he hated the game, and I probably won't play it myself now. I was also amused in places, too, which also helps.

Unfortunately for him, though, Boo's is just amazing. It takes off right from the get-go and throws you straight into the action without letting go. It's a very entertaining read that clearly expresses his love for the game.

Winner: Boo

DE vs VM:

I read VM's over summer. It was good, but not that great. DE's is good, too, but I still have trouble with his style sometimes. Either way, his review's stlil good. It's informative and interesting, and Shadowrun is definitely a game I'd been meaning to check out. Ultimately, though, his was better.

Winner: DE

EmP vs. DoI:

EDIT: All is forgiven

I read EmP's review when he first wrote it, and absolutely loved it. I think it's one of my favorites of his. It's hilarious (those character quote things still made me laugh my ass off, even though I'd read them before) and witty and well-described. It definitely seems like a game worth cheking out. Great review.

DoI's review was actually a lot better than I expected (no offense). I'd only read a few of his reviews, and wasn't too impressed with them, but this one was quite entertaining. And there were amusing bits, too, that were quite enjoyable. I do agree that this one could've beaten almost anyone else's review except maybe Suskie's and Boo's, but bad luck got him here, ufortunately.

Winner: EmP

Sorry this is still really half-assed guys. But I really am too busy for this....

[Eating EmP's brain] probably isn't a good idea. I mean... He's British, which means his brain's wired for PAL and your eyes are NTSC. - Will

Oh no, it's a Goomba!

I think it's safe to assume that DoI, VM and I have lost.

You exist because we allow it. And you will end because we demand it.

DoI is a very close friend of mine and, therefore, can never be beaten enough when he's against me.

Worry not: the final is being drafted as we speak.

For us. For them. For you.