Spec Ops: The Line

Wanderstop and Perverse Design

Ian Bryce JonesLeave a comment

Ian here—

Wanderstop had already been announced at the time I made my video on auto-critical cozy games, so it was already a given that I would play it (especially given the talent involved in making it), and more than likely that I would also make a video on it. So here it is: a sequel of sorts to Un-cozy Games. I also mention to slip in some analysis of my old favorite Walden, a game, which Wanderstop ended up reminding me of quite a lot.

More videos to come in the coming months—I’m finally pushing out a bunch I’ve been working on simultaneously for awhile! Script for this one below the jump.

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A Last of Us Retrospective, Part 1

Ian Bryce JonesLeave a comment

Ian here—

Well, I’ve inaugurated a new video series, and I’ve done so smack dab in the middle of an academic quarter. Perhaps inadvisedly! We’ll see if I can keep up a regular schedule for this series, which dives deep into the storytelling techniques of the Last of Us franchise.

Script below the jump.

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Games of the Decade: Ambition

Ian Bryce JonesLeave a comment

games_of_the_decade_persona_4_01.jpg

It was important for me to immediately follow up my elegance sub-list with one on ambition. There’s a simple reason for this: these two are often incompatible.

The games on here are among the most rough-hewn of all the games I’m listing. In terms of visuals and audio, I would have to admit that two of them are outright ugly and grating. In terms of features, there are parts of these games that just don’t quite work. They don’t always succeed in doing what they set out to do.

But what they set out to do is something utterly fantastic, and their failures are, at the very least, interesting.

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