I had a similar experience with the old Amiga game Cannon Fodder (there was a PC version, too). At first, you succeed in missions and it's pretty cool, and you watch your guys level up. A few rounds later, you lose your first guy, you see a little grave marker, and you're sad that little Lieutennant George is gone. Eventually, you get used to the loss, and then after a particularly difficult grind, you realize that the hill is littered with crosses and that you don't actually know any of your current squad by names and that this has been the case for at least five rounds. They have, quite literally, become cannon fodder. I've never seen a combat game (let alone such a simple game, mechanically) make such a subtle yet powerful anti-war statement.
Amazing review guys, as much as i love your silly and interesting reviews, its nice to have a more serious one, especially dealing with such a... raw (?) theme....? Thanks guys, keep em coming.
This is one of your best reviews in a long time. I like the honest evaluation of a game: its mechanics, its impact on your feelings, a look at how mechanics support its theme. Stripped of all the silly fluff, I got a better feeling for what the game is about and whether I would actually want to purchase it.
I'm an American and a Southerner, and I wanted to thank y'all at SU&SD for this review. I'd heard of Freedom but hadn't gotten my hands on it yet, and now I am determined to play it -- and, in all likelihood, to own it so I can teach others to play it, too. Once again, thank you.
It's nice to have a change of tone once in a while. Thanks for tackling a game with a sensitive subject and not falling into silliness or the opposite (over-sensitivity or trapping yourself in a overly guilty feeling). I hope this game will come to France, I'm curious to try it out.
I recently told people about how your Terra Mystica review was one of the most amusing board game reviews ever, but for entirely different reasons this one is also fantastic. Great work!
Yeah, you've already had a bunch of responses here that say what I'm about to but; well done with this one. I have absolutely no problem with you taking a more serious tone where you feel it's warranted, and indeed, if it allows you to cover topics you'd otherwise shy away from then please know I'd happily see more like it.
Brenda Brathwaite used to be the head of the Game Design program I just came out of. I don't really like her that much personally, but she is a really good designer and knows her stuff. She's also married to John Romero, one of the fathers of modern videogames.
I really think the SU&SD crew should do a playthrough video every couple of episodes and play the game they think is best in that previous lot. I really like Geek & Sundry's TableTop, but I would love to see you guys play more :)
Here it is almost 4 years later and I watch your review. Throughout the video, I kept thinking "stop calling them cubes, they are people!". (White American liberal here, because context matters) Then see your conclusion and I'm thinking "Shit, they aren't slaves. They are people.". So kudos for that, intentional or not.
What on earth happened with PATV? I didn't know they had a YT channel as I stopped watching anything Penny Arcade a couple of years ago, but I am honestly shocked by the terrible views their videos gets. I honestly thought it would be uber uber popular. Hell, I don't have any where near as many subs, yet my videos are getting ten times the views, and the board games I do with Ashens even more so. Few years ago when I started out, I so wanted them to see my work, even hopefully have gotten it on PATV, but they never responded.
Quite enjoyed this review. As a whole, I like to think the kind of person who would enjoy your show in general is able to handle something more serious and thoughtful (and going by the likes and comments, it does indeed seem to be that way). And far from indulging you, I considered it a bonus to listen to your thoughts in the last part of the video.
I actually have played Train and was thinking of it during this review. Your uncomfortableness with how slaves are represented in this game I think is pretty valid. I think the goals of Freedom are admirable, if a bit dehumanizing once you stop thinking of it as a kind of simulation and start thinking about it as more of a game.
hey ,if anyone else wants to discover how do i how to get a railroad job try Corbandy Simple Railroad Crusher ( search on google ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my partner got great success with it.
One of the best reviews you folks have ever done. Much applause.
I had a similar experience with the old Amiga game Cannon Fodder (there was a PC version, too). At first, you succeed in missions and it's pretty cool, and you watch your guys level up. A few rounds later, you lose your first guy, you see a little grave marker, and you're sad that little Lieutennant George is gone. Eventually, you get used to the loss, and then after a particularly difficult grind, you realize that the hill is littered with crosses and that you don't actually know any of your current squad by names and that this has been the case for at least five rounds. They have, quite literally, become cannon fodder. I've never seen a combat game (let alone such a simple game, mechanically) make such a subtle yet powerful anti-war statement.
Amazing review guys, as much as i love your silly and interesting reviews, its nice to have a more serious one, especially dealing with such a... raw (?) theme....? Thanks guys, keep em coming.
This is one of your best reviews in a long time. I like the honest evaluation of a game: its mechanics, its impact on your feelings, a look at how mechanics support its theme. Stripped of all the silly fluff, I got a better feeling for what the game is about and whether I would actually want to purchase it.
I'm an American and a Southerner, and I wanted to thank y'all at SU&SD for this review. I'd heard of Freedom but hadn't gotten my hands on it yet, and now I am determined to play it -- and, in all likelihood, to own it so I can teach others to play it, too. Once again, thank you.
It's nice to have a change of tone once in a while. Thanks for tackling a game with a sensitive subject and not falling into silliness or the opposite (over-sensitivity or trapping yourself in a overly guilty feeling).
I hope this game will come to France, I'm curious to try it out.
I recently told people about how your Terra Mystica review was one of the most amusing board game reviews ever, but for entirely different reasons this one is also fantastic. Great work!
Yeah, you've already had a bunch of responses here that say what I'm about to but; well done with this one. I have absolutely no problem with you taking a more serious tone where you feel it's warranted, and indeed, if it allows you to cover topics you'd otherwise shy away from then please know I'd happily see more like it.
Brenda Brathwaite used to be the head of the Game Design program I just came out of. I don't really like her that much personally, but she is a really good designer and knows her stuff. She's also married to John Romero, one of the fathers of modern videogames.
Best review done with Seriousness, reverence and honesty that the subject deserves well done.
Massive thumbs up for the Brenda Romero mention. I was thinking about her games for the whole review.
I really think the SU&SD crew should do a playthrough video every couple of episodes and play the game they think is best in that previous lot. I really like Geek & Sundry's TableTop, but I would love to see you guys play more :)
Here it is almost 4 years later and I watch your review. Throughout the video, I kept thinking "stop calling them cubes, they are people!". (White American liberal here, because context matters) Then see your conclusion and I'm thinking "Shit, they aren't slaves. They are people.". So kudos for that, intentional or not.
What on earth happened with PATV? I didn't know they had a YT channel as I stopped watching anything Penny Arcade a couple of years ago, but I am honestly shocked by the terrible views their videos gets. I honestly thought it would be uber uber popular.
Hell, I don't have any where near as many subs, yet my videos are getting ten times the views, and the board games I do with Ashens even more so.
Few years ago when I started out, I so wanted them to see my work, even hopefully have gotten it on PATV, but they never responded.
Love, love, love you guys and this show!
Great explanation and insight!
Quite enjoyed this review. As a whole, I like to think the kind of person who would enjoy your show in general is able to handle something more serious and thoughtful (and going by the likes and comments, it does indeed seem to be that way).
And far from indulging you, I considered it a bonus to listen to your thoughts in the last part of the video.
Excellent review!
Shut up and sit down is my new favourite youtube review show. (And I watch a few of the big ones)
good review.
was gonna get this game, but glad i was 'tenative'
I imagine this civil war computer game was North & South, yes? Cracking game!
I actually have played Train and was thinking of it during this review. Your uncomfortableness with how slaves are represented in this game I think is pretty valid. I think the goals of Freedom are admirable, if a bit dehumanizing once you stop thinking of it as a kind of simulation and start thinking about it as more of a game.
More full play throughs please like episode 29 season 2
Could you put the links he mentions at the end in the description?
Such a great game
Good game, i thought they did a good job, wasnt a cheap cash grab..wasnt brown meeples or something offensive like that.
hey ,if anyone else wants to discover how do i how to get a railroad job try Corbandy Simple Railroad Crusher ( search on google ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my partner got great success with it.