Shovelware Achievement Games and Other Stuff
It's been a while since I have posted a blog entry. I don't have much to put here usually and do a bunch of stuff elsewhere on site. But I've noticed something about achievements anymore and just wanted to put some thoughts out.
I play a lot of ID@Xbox games. Not all of them, but when it comes right down to it I try to play most of them. I've found they usually do things that are different or I haven't seen in a long time. They aren't always great and sometimes are just a short distraction that I quickly get bored with, but I still play them. More recently though, I find myself looking at two of the "big" publishers of ID@Xbox titles:
- Ratalaika Games
- Sometimes You
For people unfamiliar, these two publishers have really been putting out a lot of titles in the last year plus. I've played almost all of them (have the rest and just not started really). I wouldn't really ever call the games "good", but I've had fun with a lot of them. Sadly, I see a problem with each of them.
Sometimes You I find takes whatever games and publishes them. I've seen a wide variety of quality come from them. Games like North and Alteric are some of the worst of the ones I've played in recent memory, while Where Are My Friends? and State Anarchy: Master of Mayhem have been flawed games I enjoyed on some level. The thing is, their style of publishing ensures you see the full game and experience what it has to offer (even if it's not great).
Ratalaika seems to have the opposite problem. On average, these games are better put together and actually offer something I want to experience. Just today, Daggerhood is actually a decent game. It goes alongside games like Access Denied and Devious Dungeon. I wouldn't necessarily call any of these 5/5 or some revolutionary game, but they are at least all fun. Sadly, I find too many of their games don't offer anything worthwhile achievement wise. These games have lists that are sub 30 minutes in some cases. Two games stand out here:
Jack N Jill DX
Daggerhood
Both of these games have multiple worlds with tons of sub stages and things to collect. But the lists barely require you to see any of it. These lists under-serve what could be really interesting times. And this is a bit of a theme for the games they publish. They find developers with some vision and quality in their work, and then put it into this achievement shovelware to us. And I'm sure it sells, but I think it hurts us overall.
Am I suggesting that these are bad entities and this all needs to stop? I don't think so. I just thought it was worth pointing out. When I see articles highlighting the release of a game from Ratalaika today and the only thing newsworthy about it is how quick it is rather than exploring more about it's quality of its worth, I feel the mark is missed.
On to some hopefully better/happier stuff.
Updates:
I'm writing reviews on site just for fun right now. I finish a game (or do a lot in it) and just write up some thoughts. I wouldn't call my work amazing, but I think I am presenting stuff in a fair light that hopefully people can understand where I'm coming from and maybe take a dive on a game they might not have. It's all ID titles, so maybe you'll find something new in there.
Walkthroughs have been a little slow. I'm hoping to get oOo: Ascension done really soon and then knock out the rest of Shadow of Loot Box. After that it will be time to finally get the rest of Stories of Bethem done. It's been a long time coming, and while I have the videos uploaded and available, I'd like to try and get it down to a walkthrough for everyone. I appreciate all the support for it though. I'll be hoping to take on newer stuff once these are all taken care of.
Streak is active. Not much to add. I'm hoping that some of the minor competitive stuff I'm doing gets me to do more completions and harder ones at that, but I've getting a bit busier with work at times. It's making easier completions and unlocks be first choice in some instances.
As has become the trend in my last few posts, here's a song to close out:
Posted by
RadicalSniper99 on 20 February 19 at 18:47
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