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Me the ALPHA M*LE of this comment section and me command RESPECT. Right now me telling you to NOT observe any of me nice cool sweet videos. Instead just look at me awesome good powerful thumbnails. Thank you, dear fuz
I usually buy when Skill Up gives a "do not recommend" and pass when he gives a "recommend" His taste in games is basically not rpg's and more inclined to indie platformers. So I know what to buy and what to pass on.
Let's not act like every negative reviews from Skill Up are nice and friendly. For instance he trashed R6 Extraction with little respect while the targeted audience (R6S players) actually enjoyed it.
What’s an “immersive sim” and why did people refer to Deathloop & Dishonored as “immersive sims”?? They don’t seem even remotely like simulations to me.
I caught that too. Immersive sim fans waiting like 2-3 years between a chance at the next ability to hack a camera to hop into a turret to learn a keycode ;_;
@@MisterK-YT it’s a word that originated I believe with system shock and deus ex. I’m not sure where the name comes from, but the gameplay is defined by detailed bespoke environments that are deliberately scoped to the size that they can be fully fleshed out and feel lived in, open ended exploration but not necessarily the ability to reach every area at the beginning, emergent game play derived from system mechanics that can be combined to create outcomes. My favorite immersive sim is prey (2017). If you haven’t played it and like space stuff, check it out!
@@MisterK-YT ‘immersive sim’ is just the name of specific genre of games with a shared bunch of game design principles, but yeah it’s kinda a misleading name (but it’s what we’ve got). GMTK has some good videos on it and it’s history
"give the local farmers the title to their land for free, or charge them a princely sum for it" These "Moral choices" always annoy me Why can't I simply charge a fair value for my time and effort? Why is it always _ONLY_ give the thing for FREE! or CHEAT THEM out of everything you can! I don't believe that EITHER is the truly moral choice
And a neutral choice isnt good either So many games end up being ruined because of "moral" choices that are either overly good/bad and in between Like do people not understand how morality works? The game that did choices the best for me wad shadowrun 2
@@peezieforestem5078 good games with morality choices often involve making decisions with far more complex pros and cons. Much of the options in New Vegas are like this, for example. Meanwhile this game seems to have Fallout 3 morality. Do you want to save a town of mostly innocent people, or nuke it?
I think this review misses some of the fun in this game. My experience so far has given me the immersive sim goodness that i have come to expect, like climbing onto roofs and throwing a rope down the chimney of a shop a that has item available for purchase during the day that you don't want to pay for at night. This allowed me to get blue tier weapons within the first town of the first character. Playing unconventionally is the name of the game here, side quests are worth seeking out and often have good rewards and interesting ways to solve them, I like to pick at every inch these games give me and i definitely think this game majorly succeeds where death loop failed.
@@defatgames2796 Dude, it's his opinion. He gives clear reasons why he has issues with the game. It's a review, he's not stating universal truth here, just his truth.
I watched ACG's review of this game as well (because I watch more than one review before deciding) and he had a VERY different opinion on the game. He absolutely loved it for the same things you found annoying. I guess it's a "you either love it or you hate it" kind of game.
I’m the same I trust ACG far more as he’s one of the only ones that didn’t sing to the heavens about Cyberpunk. However, Skill up unfortunately was one of the reviewers that did participate in the Cyberpunk cult worship.
@@mobiusoneplays3218 Nah man, Skillup is legit and he has made it opinions on Cyberpunk very clear multiple times. He likes it, but it has too many issues. That doesn't sound like "cult worship" to me. Besides, ACG isn't flawless either. His review on SOMA is one of the worst takes he has ever had, completely missing the point of the game.
@@Nickulator Soma was good for about 5 min then it became a cliched walking simulator. The payoff at the end was obvious a mile away. And as ACG stated the enemies were stuck to the same mindless path. Also, the parts outside the station were sooo long and boring.
You and ACG are my two go-to reviewers.... and you both differ wildly in your opinions on this one... looks like I'm just going to have to carve out some time and see for myself... thank the Lord for GamePass! love the quality of your videos so keep up the good work.
I’m the same with both SkillUp and ACG are two of my go to game reviewers. I lean more on SU’s reviews though because my gaming interests are very much in line with Ralph’s. Like you said though, Game Pass to the rescue.
I don't know acg. Gameranx is a decent one, Jake is great. They do the whole "new video every day" thing so most of the list videos are just like filler.
I don't think shillup was actually paying much attention to the world of this game because within the first hour I knew where zombies came from and what role they played in the world... And it definitely eases you into how other things work, like the wiindigo, the werewolves, and the witches. It didn't feel like stepping into episode 10 of a tv show, but rather watching a pilot for a tv show that you thought would never get picked up; and then it having 5 more, densely packed episodes.
even though I find Skill's opinions' on the same page as mine (most of the time) I'm really down to play this and then form the opinion regardless of what do the critics say. Been waiting for this and Trek to Yomi for a while.
For me, I am enjoying the streamlined nature of this game. I picked up Wasteland 3 way back based on Skill Up’s review and I totally recognize that game’s quality. I had a lot of fun with it but unfortunately it got too expansive for my interests. It became difficult to leave and come back to the game so I eventually fell off. Here, I like that I have a spread of options to play with but those options aren’t as horizontally deep. That way I’m able to play in smaller spurts and then pick the game right back up. Maybe if you’re newer to these sim games you’ll enjoy the welcoming simplicity here like I do.
Wasteland 3 is much more streamlined compared to this when it comes to world structure, what you can actually do, and how for example, stealth goes (NO real stealing is really bad). This game is closer to Fallout in terms of looks and feels, and I love it for that. Also, some of the writing, banter, idle stuff that NPCs do is simply adorable.
What I'm learning here is that a lot of us watch both Skill Up and ACG. 😉 Happy to have two really thorough, if very different, takes on the game, and looking forward to trying it out for myself.
It's a shame to see so many people in this comment section are watching one review (namely Skill Up's) and being disappointed with the game. There are plenty of reviewers (GmanLives, ACG, The Escapists) just to name a few who recommend the game. Definitely worth checking them out so that you can formulate an opinion based on a general consensus.
Well I’d argue that I wouldn’t play modern games with a 78 metacritic. Indies maybe but other than that. In the world of games, where every company does the same, some generic game that doesn’t offer a new perspective or polishes cherished aspects really fall flat for anyone that has played probs more than 10-20-30 or however many titles it needs for you to become invested into the hobby. And well. When consuming art, I don’t want to have a Mcdonalds experience. I mean. Those games exist. But they are called ubi/ea/ mobile games. And tbh… Just the fact that I don’t get 1character But 3 I probably won’t care about is discouraging as hell.
ACG is probably the best and most thorough mainstream (i.e. >500k subs) reviewer. Skill Up can have some moments but also feels like his reviews attempt to anticipate popular sentiment. The Cyberpunk review was totally perplexing. Also - not my business sure - but the way he dumped his brother and let Laymen wither like that seems kind of nuts. To say he didn't want to do anything with industry news only to start his own industry news series a couple months later. Weird.
literally the only review channel where I just watch every video regardless of if I care about the subject because of the sheer quality found in the writing and the insight provided.
So many amazing games, books and movies. There really is not enough time to play the mediocre unfinished games. Especially if you have full time work. Hence why reviewers are important.
Imo What makes an immersive sim is when a game gives the player the freedom to come up with their own solutions and how to get thru an immersive game world. Don’t think a pacifist option is a good indicator because games like Dearh Stranding have pacifist options, meanwhile games like system shock, one of the premier immersive sims, don’t (also including other games like Bioshock, Prey, and so on.)
Yes. That should've been like his 3rd or 4th encounter with a siren. You see them a few times in little "cutscenes" and then fight a few before that random one shows up.
@@Tornado5786 My first event was a siren when I was travelling to do 3 bounties to get some money. All three bounties were in different locations BUT when i got to them ALL 3 of them were the exact same building layout. All the items and most enemies were all the exact same and in the exact same locations except for the 3 named bounty hunters i needed to kill/capture.
"Weird West" is a long-established pen-and-paper setting. This is kinda like a video game just being named "Dungeons and Dragons". You wouldn't slowly introduce players to what an orc or a walking skeleton is in a DnD/"Forgotten Realms"-based game, despite them not being part of the name. Why should Weird West slowly introduce a siren or any other kind of otherworldly being, when the game's title says exactly what it is about and what it contains? Furthermore, the self-contained stories found in quests and the recountings of choices are very indicative of the "Weird West" system, which very much favors such brief stories. If anything, the devs managed to capture what "Weird West" is at its core. How well that translates into making a video game is a completely different story, though.
Interesting. I had never heard of Weird West besides this game, I'm guessing a lot of people hadn't either, unlike Dungeons and Dragons. I don't remember seeing this game linked to any previous work in any of its media and there is no mention on the Steam page either. So, Im gonna say the vast majority of people will think this is a new I.P.
I don't think its physical game is as notorious as you think it is, also I reckon it might be safe to say that orcs and skeletons are a little more straight forward and well known then creatures like sirens
Then this Is the adaptation of the woke horseshit newer editions because goddamn the character designs are ugly as fuck! Hiding the woke character designs behind a "dark and gritty" setting is just chocolate syrup on a turd.
Well I DO recommend Weird West, so take that lol. This game is such a hidden gem and it bangs hoard, son. If you're on PS+ and reading this comment relatively soon after it was written, just try the 2-hour free trial for yourself rather than taking someone else's word for it. If you like the wild west asthetic, supernatural themes, twin-stick shooters, and especially if you enjoy exploration, hidden paths and multiple ways to solve problems, the option to kill NPC's with more freedom than even Skyrim, then this game is probably right up your alley. It's definitely a more simplistic varient of the RPG formula, but it more than makes up for it in other ways, and there's still plenty of role playing to be found despite the lack of character creation or traditional stat point systems. The game isn't expensive, and if you wait for a sale then you cant go wrong. If you're on the fence or
Damn, many folks in the comments need to learn to take advice from multiple sources. Most other big reviewers or outlets praise the game, if you were or are excited for Weird West maybe go and look for a second opinion.
@@eq7161 To a good amount of people actually. Horizon FW isn't a bad game by any means, but I'm not 100% if it deserves the praise to be called "The Zelda of Sony".
@@cosmic2750 Yup definitely one of those people as well. Man the game sure is pretty but holy hell is it just a boring story, world and even combat after a while. Just bland not bad not good just blah.
Always love to hear your thoughts on any game Ralph, because we have quite similar taste (even tho i don't always agree with your opinions)...Loved some titles you didn't recommended and wise-versa. This has been one of my most anticipated games just because Raphael Colantonio's work on Dishonored and Prey. Thank you for the review, can't wait to dive in and see for myself!
I wish all those here who didn't agree with his opinion had this eloquent and mature a response. This is how you appropriately choose to disagree with a reviewer. Well done.
Something bothers me about the UI. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I think it might be the size of individual elements. Certain parts just look big. Also the mini map. That could have been styled to fit in with the Western aesthetic but instead looks like every other mini map. Finally the companions. They look like they follow the player way too far. If I’m walking around with two friends, they don’t follow my 3 yards behind. We’re close together.
As someone who played this game when it was in it's beta form , you should play it because it is a really good game with an interesting setting and gameplay.
There's friendly fire in the game so you really don't want them standing close blocking your shots/grenades. They're also mostly hired mercenaries/bounty hunters not your friends.
@@deeznutts5548 I've been watching gameplay for like a year. I'm still going to buy it, but probably when it's on sale and not day one like I planned. Edit: Also saw it's on Gamepass. Downloading now.
Not being able to combo skills with your teammates seem like a LOT of lost variety, one of the aspects of the combat in Mass Effect games was the combo of skills and ability to control your teammates which made me really enjoy those games (Andromeda excluded, oh boy what a sheet game).
I agree that the original trilogy is better story-wise but honestly, I feel like Andromeda had the best combat out of the entire series. It felt the most fluid, punchy, and gave the player lots of flexibility via the crafting and mixing Ryder's skills.
Eh, arkane games have always been great in some ways, annoying in others for me. Forcing you to play in certain ways to get "good" endings. IMO they've never actually made a true immersive sim, but they're made the closest to it.
I’m going to tell you my deepest darkest secret, when I was a baby my head was so large scientists came to my house and done experiments on me. They say it’s primarily bone, almost 99%. My head weighs upwards of 85 pounds. I was a 16 pound baby. I was born at 17 months, with a full head of hair, a full head of teeth.
When skill up doesn't hide his honest criticism from destiny a game he loves you know it's going to be rough when he does not recommend a game. Also when are we going to see sponsored skillup pool equipment for that basement pool of yours.
- "I went for a typical good guy play through" - straight away shows him picking the dialogue option "you're a nice pig" .... We've got different definitions of good guy playthrough my friend
From other reviews I’ve seen, this game is fueled by the players creativity and approach. Definitely has its flaws but it seems those flaws don’t take away from the overall positive experience. I think skillup missed the magic here but that’s okay, everyone’s entitled to their opinion
Since it's on Gamepass I'll definitely have to see for myself because I too was pumped for this one. You mentioned that there are other games you'd rather spend your time on in similar genres - which games specifically would you recommend? Edit - most people seem to be recommending Prey. Great game! My love for Prey is a big reason this game was on my radar. There doesn't seem to be many others like this though, so while it might not be perfect it might scratch that itch for me
If you haven’t played Prey or Prey:Mooncrash definitely give those a try. Mooncrash in particular, the dlc, is spectacular. SkillUp has reviews of those games too
This game is a hidden gem and it’ll be a cult game. Mark my word. On this one, skill up is wrong. It’s a rare thing however! Mostly I agree with his reviews!🙂
I mostly disregard his "I recommend's" and "I do not recommend's". Objective reviews are great, but his are so subjective and toned with a sense of authority that I can't stand it. People like different stuff.
@@iamplaceholder So you are happy with an objective review but you don't like it when a person states objectively if they recommend the game or not? That is exactly what a reviewer is there to do, recommend the game or not.
I'm listening to what are apparently complaints but really it's just "I don't like how they presented the story, I want more budget in my presentation, where's my back story and voice work, where's my big budget frills"
I played this at release, loved every minute of it. I don't often disagree this hard with Schill Up but it's like we played a completely different game. Obviously everyone has different tastes.
This is your opinion and I respect that. I don't really understand how 20 hours of gameplay is bad, when in reality you can get more hours out of this game than say "The Ascent". Odd that you praised that game and it has less rpg mechanics. Not hating, I absolutely loved the ascent, but I do feel when it comes to the rpg elements it falls way short compared to weird west. I got this on game pass and I am honestly having so much fun playing the game. It really is a breath of fresh air. This game is more of a rpg than say the witcher 3. Your choices have consequences. You steal, kill, or act like an ass and your reputation will go down. You can kill anybody in the game, even main characters. I remember when I started my second character, I went back to the town grackle and one of the guys that I had in my posse was in a gunfight with an outlaw and he was killed. I killed that outlaw and ate them. I then looted all the gear from him that I had given him in the last journey. Personally I highly recommend this game especially if you have game pass. If not, the price isn't too bad, but waiting for a sale might be your best bet.
Recommends Dying Light 2, Tiny Tina Blunderlands, and Elden Ring. Does not recommend creative and unique indie game. Achievement Unlocked: Pretend that open world games are still fun. Convince others of same.
being forced to switch characters every couple hours and being locked out of the magic using class from the start really destroyed it for me, i was so excited to be some kind of wild west necromancer/mage/wizard. it's my own fault for not understanding what i was buying, i wish they would have been a bit more up front with how the campaign is, for some reason i thought i could pick any of those 5 characters at the start. i really liked the concept though, weird west immersive sim, so much good but gating how i can play messed me up. I wish them the best though, there's a lot of good in this one for those willing to find it.
Someone in this chain recommended pathfinder wrath of the righteous but I cant find the original comment, all i can say is thank you so damn much, i was so bored and now i am not.
It’s weird that after saw some gameplay, I have the exact feelings Skillup mentioned, but still I’d like give this game a go. It strikes me in a weird way.
I love skills vids, but I feel this one does not go in-depth into the games systems and mechanics, unlike other skill vids. Other reviews I’ve seen positive or negative speaking on this game have talked about these core mechanics whether they like them or not while it seems like skill just ignored it entirely.
15:39 - Recently, I've really become a fan of the idea of games having very small inventories; if you can only carry five bombs or stat-boosting potions, and you keep finding them scattered around, you actually have a good incentive to use the darn things, and not just hoard them all as I usually end up doing!
So much this. I have a terrible save-it-for-a-rainy-day syndrome, if I know that 1) any item i use will be replenished fairly quickly 2) if I don't use them then I will waste anything that I find when I'm full it helps me combat it SO much.
@@andrzejsugier I've never written a video game walkthrough before, but if I ever do, my one big innovation will be to tell players what type of supplies they can find in the next area. "Use at least five missiles on this boss, as you'll find an ammunition crate before your next battle", that sort of thing. We poor, neglected save-it-for-a-rainy-day sufferers need to stick together!
@@ThomasMurch I remember playing one of the Final Fantasy games, and reeeealy saving my magic, because I only had a few MP potions, and had visions of needing the last clutch spell/heal and running out of mana. Only at the endgame I've realised that every potion shop in the game had an unlimited supply of MP Potions and they were so cheap that buying 99 of them equaled beating maybe 10 random fights.
This is the craziest comment thread ive ever seen you guys are ridiculous. Your desire is that games have small inventories, while also retaining the possibility of finding health potions “everywhere”, so that you’ll have more incentive to _use_ health potions? What? Whether you have a small inventory or not, you’re gonna be _able_ to heal whenever you want in any game that has a ton of health potions laying around everywhere. Small inventories are just onnoxious, UNLESS the point of it is to creat tension and _more_ emphasis on item management and having to choose when to use something or save it for a rainy day. Not just to make a game easier like what haha 😂 and this guy, you want games to tell you what loot is in every room you’re about to go in? Jesus christ you guys just need to play games on easy mode or something i dont know what to tell y’all but most of us value challenge
@@TheDamnWinner You need to work on your reading comprehension. Nobody's talking about making games easier, or giving players more items, but making STOCKPILING impossible to encourage you to use up your resources. I have no idea where this "finding potions everywhere" quote comes from? I don't see it anywhere in this thread. This "stockpiling prevention" was the exact reason Doom Eternal gave player really small max ammo count. They overdid it for my taste, but it shows that it's not some crazy idea but a popular notion. The same philosophy was what made the first Halo so great - it was really hard to find ammo replacement (alien weapons were litelary impossible to reload) so you had to constantly change weapons instead on stockpiling ammo for your favorites.
I agree with many of the points in your review but somehow I still came away enjoying WW and I clocked in at 40 hours trying to explore the entire map mostly to be letdown by not really being rewarded for exploration. I’d also bring up having to rebuy the damn horse 4 times is tedious and just outright silly. I guess I really have a soft spot for occult western type games. Every day I wish I would wake up to the news that Crytek is making a single player action RPG Hunt Showdown. On that note though, Blood West(Steam early access) sure looks cool and I’m hopeful that’ll be a fun time when it releases.
As someone who adores Westerns, I was really excited about this one. Now I'm torn. I love your reviews SkillUp but I don't always agree with you (which is a good thing) but I think you spared me some disappointment on this one.
@@Kozymeisteryt completely agree. And thats why I said I don't always agree with him. But he has made some points that make me hesitate with this one. Honestly if you end up playing it, come back and let me know some of your thoughts. Always good to hear from multiple people.
I feel like your nitpicking. Its the weird west of course one time you're shooting zombies and then you are shooting cowboys.I dislike the fact that in the second 1:42 you talk about that the quests did make you confuse,but you don't tell any examples.
One of the rare examples of SkillUp´s opinion being opposite of mine. Nothing wrong about that, it´s just always strange to expect him being excited about something and see the opposite results.
This review made me a bit sad. I've played 16 hours of the beta and I thought it was fantastic. Really excited to get back into it today as the beta copy was removed from us about 2 weeks ago I do appreciate the depth you go into your reviews and not just be like "jump on the game for 10 minutes and say it's crap" kind of review Obviously, you're entitled to your opinion (it's literally the whole reason we are here lol) but I think this is the first video I have to disagree with you on the review See you in the next one :D
I'm with ACG on this one. This game is fun, interesting, well crafted and just great all around. It's like "The Ascent" and "Disco Elysium" had a baby, which is just beautiful and different and what we need with games nowadays.
I was really looking forward to this. Looked soo good. Like a new fallout game. But seeing that you have to ditch your character 1/3rd through the game, and play someone else, stopped all excitement for me. :(
This sounds a lot like my thoughts on Ghostwire. The world was interesting to explore, and models look good. However, there was very little diversity in objectives or character design, and the combat is boring and repetitive.
i have to disagree, i played the game the through following the plot points reveals things about how these are just one person swapping bodies. really liked that felt like i was progressing. so many other games will give us multiple POV's and i just dont connect with them, felt different here
I happened to stumble across this game, which I've never heard of on Xbox Game Pass one night. I looked at the clock, realizing the time I knew it was time for bed for work the next day. Though, I went against my better judgement and stayed awake longer then I should have just to see if this game was something to keep installed or immediately delete after playing it and possibly not liking it. With that, I booted the game up and was pleasantly surprised. I played for a few days, playing the Bounty Hunter. She was so fun to explore the game with. Thoroughly, I enjoyed my time. Then, the game continued... I was playing as a Pigman. I don't know what it was, but this is when the game lost all appeal for me. Not because Pigman bad, no. Because I noticed I had to sit through five chapters/characters in the same world and such with the same weaponry. Something about it seemed to be a sludge. All in all, a pretty decent game. Especially with it's low(er) price point, it is a good pick up if you're looking for something different or bored.
Nerdy correction - the game isn't isometric. In parallel projection (encompassing isometric), something far away from the camera would be the same size on the screen as something closer. Think of Diablo 2, where an enemy at the top of the screen is exactly the same size as on the bottom, even though the bottom is "closer" to the camera. In perspective projection (i.e. how our eyes work), far objects appear smaller than close objects. Imagine drawing your eye's FOV -- isometric would be a cylinder going out from your eyeball (all parallel lines), while perspective would be cone-shaped. In the gameplay footage, things that are farther are smaller, so it's perspective, not isometric. You can have a top-down camera position with either style.
I disagree (politely), Just finished the game and I can recommend it. Its great, imo a solid 8/10. Everyone has their own opinions but having expectations going into a game generally wont do you any good. Whatever game it might be. Its probably the best indie/smaller game Ive played. However its buggy :/ Likely u will get bugged out at least a few times and will have to load a previous save.
Is anyone else getting pretty bored of these “decision making” games when every time it always ends up with the same 2 choices, good or bad. In real life we often live in the grey and I would love to see a game actually be unique and offer real decisions that dont always end up in a good/bad scenario.
The thing that I feel is tough about that is the fact that even if there is no “good” or “bad” endings, there still usually is a “preferred” or “best” outcome. That’s what drives me crazy with games like that is I feel like there is always an optimal path. And if you make all of the different choices similar in outcome instead, then what’s the point? I feel like it has to be a very tough thing to do to be able to create a game like you are describing that has meaningful decisions and yet still plays out organically. That’s just my guess though Edit: typos
@@J-Dizzle95 Exactly, but for me it’s once you decide on your very first choice, the rest are almost entirely irrelevant. I would hazard a guess and say 90%+ of players who make the first choice as a “good” choice will make every single other choice as good so therefor there really isn’t any decision making to be had at all, the same goes for “bad” choices. Like you said there is also an optimal ending so It all begins feeling like an illusion that these games use to pretend like you have some control on events when it’s all scripted to go a certain direction anyway.
I for one actually extremely loved the game, on mu second play through now.. Looking down the other roads so to speak.. I've never been board once with the game play, I like the fact that you can literally play everything the way you want.. And I rarely fight the same way twice in a row.. The fact that every aspect of your actions is accounted for, every choice makes a ripple.. And oh man.. Ive had things blow up spectacularly in my face haha I also think your kinda missing the point of the 5 characters.. Well ermm kinda?? You literally are pushing each characters "soul or being" to the side and taking over their bodies lol.. Hence the moniker of "the Traveler"
I'm definitely not one for agreeing with you (or anyone else) on "99%" of the games you review, but that's why I like you. You're unabashedly yourself. One person's opinion shouldn't be your own opinion just because you enjoy their overall content. I'll check this one out since it's on Game Pass! I suggest others do as well.
I reviewed Weird West for Entertainium and we're very much on the same page here. I'm quite surprised by how glowing a lot of the reviews appear to be; the deeply clunky AI posse members in particular drag the game down for me.
He recommended riders Republic and Alien fireteam but doesn't recommended this? The game is dope and cheap. Definitely worth a try and I guarantee you have fun with it.
Strange review. The ascent got a strongly recommended rating which does basically the same thing from start to finish. I played this on game pass and recommend it strongly. Been hooked on this game like I haven't been in a long time
The ascent doesn't suffer from a constant identity crisis like this does. The ascent knows its a twin stick shooter with Diablo like loot systems and it commits to it. This game thinks its an immersive sim but doesn't commit to it. From the action heaviness, the choice system, gear system, play style options, etc. It just doesn't commit to the core fundamentals of an immersive sim. Game has potential but its need of a lot more work before it can be considered good.
I love these top down games perspective. I grew up loving the old Fallout games, Ascent, Wasteland and I played a card game called Doomtown when I was younger which is basically Weird West, how could I not like this game? Game can be a little clunky at first but once you get a handle on the controls it can be quite fun. I focused my character on Dynamite, Sneaking faster and increased Sneak damage. I think the only issue I have with the game is no friendly fire option, I had to reload a couple times because I killed my posse LOL I didn't mind the enemies always wanting to get close just made my shotgun happy :P
Love listening to your reviews Skill Up! I know my own tastes well enough to know when I'm going to like a game even when it gets a bad review, this being one of them. I'm having a blast so far. My biggest disappointment was the fact that all characters can use the same abilities/weapons, but I just decided to limit my weapons to fit the character I was using. Rifle and Handgun for the bounty hunter, shotguns and melee for the pig. I'm on the Protector now and the bow has probably become my favorite weapon so far. Not gonna lie, the first story is by far the worst. I've been enjoying every other story more and more. Really it's just that the other characters and abilities lend themselves more to experimentation. Compare spawning a tornado you can turn into an elemental tornado, with a typical bullet time. Bounty hunter was done dirty imo, easily the worst one.
I was really hoping this game would have more depth and based on this review alone I am a bit disappointed. I will most likely buy this game in the future, but I am very glad you covered it so my expectations aren't as high as they were originally!
Legit the only channel where I purposely watch every single ad so this ShillUp Ralph guy gets the TH-cam moneys. Keep it up man. The best writing in all of TH-cam content. I just love it all relentlessly.
The way your review talks about the whole package almost makes it sound like one of the primary reasons the game exists is to prove that this newly formed indie studio is in fact making functional games and isn't susceptible to over-promising, under-delivering, or straight up failing to produce a fun playable game. I don't say this to dunk on any game developers, but it seems like success stories like Supergiant, or redemption arcs like Hello Games, stand out among a sea of game developers drowning in a market crowded with AAA tentpole franchises, PC publishing being a bag full of angry cats, and the ever increasing awareness of how pervasive shitty management and abusive work culture is from top to bottom. I also don't want recognition for a game to boil down to "Congrats! You made it!", or for that to supplant critical examination of a game. I love your approach to game reviews, and I'm particularly thankful that you take the time to parse out things you don't like from an execution or design perspective vs things that aren't to your taste, and that you explain why for everything. I want to know more about the relationship between Games Pass and indie devs. The info that came out during GDC was very heartening to hear, but I want to know more about it. Things like what makes a dev want their game to get a day 1 games pass release, how does that affect their budgets and production timeline, does Microsoft get involved in the development at all, or do they just work out a deal with publishers? I want to know more! Because I want Games Pass and whatever subscription based services that come after it to be a more reliable way for indies to publish.
RPS have compared the game to oldschool Fallout, and while that was supposed to be praise, it ironically also encircles what seems to be both this game's core problem, and also a problem of the genres it's stuck in between - the traditional RPG mindset expects you to play in a specific way that represents your player character, for better or worse - whether it's the most effective path or not, and whether the game entices you to, or not. In an immersive sim however, player discovery stands front and center, and the game has to offer incentive to try out different playstyles, and make sure they all stand on equal footing in terms of effectiveness and entertainment value. So here you have the narrative underpinnings and c&c of an RPG (minus a proper dialogue system), but no stat game to funnel you into building a specific character with a specific playstyle. Instead, you get the trademark simplistic Arkane skill tree that lets you mix and match a bunch of combat abilities to your hearts content, but also completely distracts from any roleplaying unless you as the player very much force yourself to.
I always loved Arkane games because they feel like RPG games designed for kids with adhd. They focus on the gameplay and don't bog down the experience with "oh boy a new town, time to talk to absolutely everyone for 2 hours before I can go kill stuff again". Games like Deus Ex, Vampyr etc where half the experience is talking to every man, woman and bum on the street for clues gets on my nerves. Just let me kill and explore
Better if you do your own research. I looked up the update patch notes and they added some new things and change stuff around like mechanics and gameplay. Honestly looks better now Never play/buy games Day 1 just setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. Always wait for updates, price drop, reviews and discounts
I’m having tons of fun with this game lol just checking some reviews while I’m having a smoke outside and I’m a bit surprised that the game is getting a bad review lol
@@trumplostlol3007 Oh? This wild west game based off of a time period in america has american myths in it? I couldn't have guessed. And is that true? I'll assume you just pulled that out of your ass to try and justify hating on the reviewer for simply not liking the game like you do, but you do you.
Scrolling down and reading some of the comments is honestly concering.. Do people understand that this is just one man opinion on a video game ? People acting like they can't give the game a try and judge it form themselves (If they like what's on screen). Reviews aren't everything, they are just another resource for gamers to do better purchase decisions.
its sad seeing people in the comments blindly believing everything their favorite youtubers say, like there are many comments here that are like "i wanted to play this, but now i am gonna pass unfortunately :(", like maybe play the game for yourself? form your own opinion? you can refund the game on steam, you know. Or try it on gamepass
Good example with the siren, really exemplifies how disconnected things are in the game. Was hoping for a cool game, but seems like that's one for a sale at best.
Finally playing the accent it just released on PS4 and 5 I think try it guys skillup did recommend it in pc but Im playing on PS4 and it's amazing for only$30 and it's well worth a full $60 in my opinion
I'm seeing a lot of mixed reviews for this. It looks like something that I could have fun with for a while before I get bored. I'm torn. This game uses a setting that I love and mixes it with supernatural horror, which I also love, but it also looks like it gets really repetitive as it goes on. I almost want to buy it in the hopes that if it does well, WolfEye might give the setting another go & improve on the shortcomings.
"There are plenty of other similar games more worth your time." - Can you give some of those examples next time, because I really can't think of any recent releases similar to this game.
Upgrade your wallet, or grab a nice gift for someone else! Visit ridge.com/skillup and use offer code SKILLUP for 10% off your purchase. Thanks Ridge Wallet for sponsoring this video.
With a finish that will scratch just by being in your pocket with your phone.
hello do you have any thoughts on people playground
also loved the video
Ralph would you ever be a guest on David Jaffe’s channel if he invited you??? (Creator of original god of war and Twisted Metal)
@@thenook2792 the video is 20 minutes long and it’s only been up for about 15 min lol.....
I actually clicked the link, but it doesnt lead anywhere, the page is dead. It also triggered my antivirus. Whats up with that Mr. ShillUp? :)
Getting Skill Up's "I do not recommend" is like when the nice, friendly teacher looks at you and says they're disappointed.
I was looking forward to this, your comment sums up my thoughts now...dam
Me the ALPHA M*LE of this comment section and me command RESPECT. Right now me telling you to NOT observe any of me nice cool sweet videos. Instead just look at me awesome good powerful thumbnails. Thank you, dear fuz
I usually buy when Skill Up gives a "do not recommend" and pass when he gives a "recommend" His taste in games is basically not rpg's and more inclined to indie platformers. So I know what to buy and what to pass on.
i was surprised based on his implications on week in gaming but im really glad hes honest about the game
Let's not act like every negative reviews from Skill Up are nice and friendly. For instance he trashed R6 Extraction with little respect while the targeted audience (R6S players) actually enjoyed it.
''theres plenty of immersive sims to spend time on instead of this'' i wish, skill up, i wish.
What’s an “immersive sim” and why did people refer to Deathloop & Dishonored as “immersive sims”?? They don’t seem even remotely like simulations to me.
I caught that too. Immersive sim fans waiting like 2-3 years between a chance at the next ability to hack a camera to hop into a turret to learn a keycode ;_;
@@MisterK-YT look man, were desperate , even if a game has a hint of immersive sim we will consider it a immersive sim
@@MisterK-YT it’s a word that originated I believe with system shock and deus ex. I’m not sure where the name comes from, but the gameplay is defined by detailed bespoke environments that are deliberately scoped to the size that they can be fully fleshed out and feel lived in, open ended exploration but not necessarily the ability to reach every area at the beginning, emergent game play derived from system mechanics that can be combined to create outcomes. My favorite immersive sim is prey (2017). If you haven’t played it and like space stuff, check it out!
@@MisterK-YT ‘immersive sim’ is just the name of specific genre of games with a shared bunch of game design principles, but yeah it’s kinda a misleading name (but it’s what we’ve got). GMTK has some good videos on it and it’s history
"give the local farmers the title to their land for free, or charge them a princely sum for it"
These "Moral choices" always annoy me
Why can't I simply charge a fair value for my time and effort?
Why is it always _ONLY_ give the thing for FREE! or CHEAT THEM out of everything you can!
I don't believe that EITHER is the truly moral choice
100%
And a neutral choice isnt good either
So many games end up being ruined because of "moral" choices that are either overly good/bad and in between
Like do people not understand how morality works? The game that did choices the best for me wad shadowrun 2
@@valletas And how do you think morality works?
I curious to hear what is the "immorality" in giving the local farmers their own land instead of trying to get paid for it ?
@@peezieforestem5078 good games with morality choices often involve making decisions with far more complex pros and cons. Much of the options in New Vegas are like this, for example.
Meanwhile this game seems to have Fallout 3 morality. Do you want to save a town of mostly innocent people, or nuke it?
I think this review misses some of the fun in this game. My experience so far has given me the immersive sim goodness that i have come to expect, like climbing onto roofs and throwing a rope down the chimney of a shop a that has item available for purchase during the day that you don't want to pay for at night. This allowed me to get blue tier weapons within the first town of the first character. Playing unconventionally is the name of the game here, side quests are worth seeking out and often have good rewards and interesting ways to solve them, I like to pick at every inch these games give me and i definitely think this game majorly succeeds where death loop failed.
And if you wanna be a prick and steal you can knock out the shop owner and lock the entrance with the key he has
Wow you have low standards
Yeah this game is great. Classic Shillup he's just unable to like some games for basically no reason sometimes.
@@defatgames2796 Dude, it's his opinion. He gives clear reasons why he has issues with the game. It's a review, he's not stating universal truth here, just his truth.
I absolutely love this game so much fun you would be crazy to skip this
About 20 hours into this game so far and I'm loving it, this is a very rare occurrence where I disagree with Ralph
Oh god, I'm gonna fucking love this game. I was hoping it was more like Desperados 3 gameplay and art style. But I'll settle for this gameplay too.
I watched ACG's review of this game as well (because I watch more than one review before deciding) and he had a VERY different opinion on the game. He absolutely loved it for the same things you found annoying. I guess it's a "you either love it or you hate it" kind of game.
I’m the same I trust ACG far more as he’s one of the only ones that didn’t sing to the heavens about Cyberpunk. However, Skill up unfortunately was one of the reviewers that did participate in the Cyberpunk cult worship.
@@mobiusoneplays3218 lmfao you're obsessed
@@mobiusoneplays3218 Nah man, Skillup is legit and he has made it opinions on Cyberpunk very clear multiple times. He likes it, but it has too many issues. That doesn't sound like "cult worship" to me. Besides, ACG isn't flawless either. His review on SOMA is one of the worst takes he has ever had, completely missing the point of the game.
ACG is definitely one of my favorite reviewers and I lean more towards his opinion about this game.
@@Nickulator Soma was good for about 5 min then it became a cliched walking simulator. The payoff at the end was obvious a mile away. And as ACG stated the enemies were stuck to the same mindless path. Also, the parts outside the station were sooo long and boring.
You and ACG are my two go-to reviewers.... and you both differ wildly in your opinions on this one... looks like I'm just going to have to carve out some time and see for myself... thank the Lord for GamePass! love the quality of your videos so keep up the good work.
I’m the same with both SkillUp and ACG are two of my go to game reviewers. I lean more on SU’s reviews though because my gaming interests are very much in line with Ralph’s. Like you said though, Game Pass to the rescue.
Youre my go to commenter
ACG is right on this one not skill up
I don't know acg. Gameranx is a decent one, Jake is great. They do the whole "new video every day" thing so most of the list videos are just like filler.
Maybe wait for sale or rent on game pass?
I don't think shillup was actually paying much attention to the world of this game because within the first hour I knew where zombies came from and what role they played in the world... And it definitely eases you into how other things work, like the wiindigo, the werewolves, and the witches. It didn't feel like stepping into episode 10 of a tv show, but rather watching a pilot for a tv show that you thought would never get picked up; and then it having 5 more, densely packed episodes.
Clearly this video is shilling against it, its not going to age well cringe af.
Guy’s a shill and the game’s so good.
even though I find Skill's opinions' on the same page as mine (most of the time) I'm really down to play this and then form the opinion regardless of what do the critics say. Been waiting for this and Trek to Yomi for a while.
I'm the same way. I respect his opinion but this looks great to me and I feel his criticisms are a bit on the nit-picky side. We'll see!
let me know what you think. I was looking forward to this one for a while, I guess I'll hold onto my money for now until there are more opinions
me too, hearing that there are no voice overs kind of bums me out a little, the game is on xbox game pass though
@@joreck Start harvesting MS points, it makes gamepass free every few months.
He doesn’t like it because it’s not a Destiny clone. He recommended Tina’s play land which was really mediocre.
For me, I am enjoying the streamlined nature of this game. I picked up Wasteland 3 way back based on Skill Up’s review and I totally recognize that game’s quality. I had a lot of fun with it but unfortunately it got too expansive for my interests. It became difficult to leave and come back to the game so I eventually fell off.
Here, I like that I have a spread of options to play with but those options aren’t as horizontally deep. That way I’m able to play in smaller spurts and then pick the game right back up.
Maybe if you’re newer to these sim games you’ll enjoy the welcoming simplicity here like I do.
I agree with you. I'm liking the game :D
Wasteland 3 is much more streamlined compared to this when it comes to world structure, what you can actually do, and how for example, stealth goes (NO real stealing is really bad). This game is closer to Fallout in terms of looks and feels, and I love it for that. Also, some of the writing, banter, idle stuff that NPCs do is simply adorable.
What I'm learning here is that a lot of us watch both Skill Up and ACG. 😉 Happy to have two really thorough, if very different, takes on the game, and looking forward to trying it out for myself.
It's a shame to see so many people in this comment section are watching one review (namely Skill Up's) and being disappointed with the game. There are plenty of reviewers (GmanLives, ACG, The Escapists) just to name a few who recommend the game. Definitely worth checking them out so that you can formulate an opinion based on a general consensus.
Yeah, a lot of times Skill Up reviews doesn't make sense
It got 78 metacritic, that's enough for me
Or just play it and form your own opinion 🤔
This game is pretty decent.
Well I’d argue that I wouldn’t play modern games with a 78 metacritic.
Indies maybe but other than that.
In the world of games, where every company does the same, some generic game that doesn’t offer a new perspective or polishes cherished aspects really fall flat for anyone that has played probs more than 10-20-30 or however many titles it needs for you to become invested into the hobby.
And well. When consuming art, I don’t want to have a Mcdonalds experience.
I mean. Those games exist. But they are called ubi/ea/ mobile games.
And tbh… Just the fact that I don’t get 1character But 3 I probably won’t care about is discouraging as hell.
Jeremy and skillup once again they release their reviews back to back on my sub tab. One is praising it, the other doesn't.
Who is Jeremy? Review quality as well done as Skill Up or ACG?
@@dsb8283 Jeremy is ACG
@@jcphillips7033 jeez lol. I didn't know that was his name, I always remember him as Karak lol. Thanks!
@@dsb8283 No problem! It does seem weird to call him Jeremy. I only know that because I listen his podcast.
ACG is probably the best and most thorough mainstream (i.e. >500k subs) reviewer. Skill Up can have some moments but also feels like his reviews attempt to anticipate popular sentiment. The Cyberpunk review was totally perplexing. Also - not my business sure - but the way he dumped his brother and let Laymen wither like that seems kind of nuts. To say he didn't want to do anything with industry news only to start his own industry news series a couple months later. Weird.
literally the only review channel where I just watch every video regardless of if I care about the subject because of the sheer quality found in the writing and the insight provided.
Gay
Even if I’m not planning on ever buying the game, his combo of humor and just a pleasant voice to listen to is a wonderful way to start my day.
@@tumblingworm737 maidenless
Yep not interested in weird west at all but it's just nice to listen to while driving
"I do not recommend" NOOOOOoOoOOoOoOoOoooOOooo it looked sooo good
Just play it yourself and find out for yourself
So many amazing games, books and movies. There really is not enough time to play the mediocre unfinished games. Especially if you have full time work. Hence why reviewers are important.
@@tyler328 The point of reviews is to inform people so that they don’t waste time on an unpolished game.
@@tyler328 too much mediocre sht gets recommended that theres no way id waste my time when its not
@@thegwynbleidd4202 no its meant to give their own opinion on a specifik game
for me, the true test if a game is an "immersive sim" is can you do a pacifist run without resorting to glitches or exploits.
Age of Decadence is a good example of this
Not this game.
@@Borene999you can tho
Imo What makes an immersive sim is when a game gives the player the freedom to come up with their own solutions and how to get thru an immersive game world. Don’t think a pacifist option is a good indicator because games like Dearh Stranding have pacifist options, meanwhile games like system shock, one of the premier immersive sims, don’t (also including other games like Bioshock, Prey, and so on.)
When u say something u don't recommend i usually kinda find that game fun so am kinda excited
Always go with the opposite of what this shill-up says is what I do
This was pretty damn awesome game.
7:00 wait, don't the Sirens get introduced really early in the main story quest? like, a mission or two in.
Yes. That should've been like his 3rd or 4th encounter with a siren. You see them a few times in little "cutscenes" and then fight a few before that random one shows up.
Yeah that was a bad point
@@lordcoltrane5630 It's not a bad point, because you can encounter in random events before the main quest, creating a pretty big disconnect.
@@Tornado5786 My first event was a siren when I was travelling to do 3 bounties to get some money.
All three bounties were in different locations BUT when i got to them ALL 3 of them were the exact same building layout. All the items and most enemies were all the exact same and in the exact same locations except for the 3 named bounty hunters i needed to kill/capture.
"Weird West" is a long-established pen-and-paper setting.
This is kinda like a video game just being named "Dungeons and Dragons".
You wouldn't slowly introduce players to what an orc or a walking skeleton is in a DnD/"Forgotten Realms"-based game, despite them not being part of the name.
Why should Weird West slowly introduce a siren or any other kind of otherworldly being, when the game's title says exactly what it is about and what it contains?
Furthermore, the self-contained stories found in quests and the recountings of choices are very indicative of the "Weird West" system, which very much favors such brief stories.
If anything, the devs managed to capture what "Weird West" is at its core. How well that translates into making a video game is a completely different story, though.
Interesting. I had never heard of Weird West besides this game, I'm guessing a lot of people hadn't either, unlike Dungeons and Dragons. I don't remember seeing this game linked to any previous work in any of its media and there is no mention on the Steam page either. So, Im gonna say the vast majority of people will think this is a new I.P.
I don't think its physical game is as notorious as you think it is, also I reckon it might be safe to say that orcs and skeletons are a little more straight forward and well known then creatures like sirens
Then this Is the adaptation of the woke horseshit newer editions because goddamn the character designs are ugly as fuck! Hiding the woke character designs behind a "dark and gritty" setting is just chocolate syrup on a turd.
Well I DO recommend Weird West, so take that lol. This game is such a hidden gem and it bangs hoard, son. If you're on PS+ and reading this comment relatively soon after it was written, just try the 2-hour free trial for yourself rather than taking someone else's word for it.
If you like the wild west asthetic, supernatural themes, twin-stick shooters, and especially if you enjoy exploration, hidden paths and multiple ways to solve problems, the option to kill NPC's with more freedom than even Skyrim, then this game is probably right up your alley. It's definitely a more simplistic varient of the RPG formula, but it more than makes up for it in other ways, and there's still plenty of role playing to be found despite the lack of character creation or traditional stat point systems.
The game isn't expensive, and if you wait for a sale then you cant go wrong. If you're on the fence or
What about Weird East?
Nah facts man thats a good take
Damn, many folks in the comments need to learn to take advice from multiple sources. Most other big reviewers or outlets praise the game, if you were or are excited for Weird West maybe go and look for a second opinion.
True. A lot of people praised Horison FW but it turned out to be a complete snoozefest of a game.
@@marcuskane1040 to you lol
@@eq7161 To a good amount of people actually. Horizon FW isn't a bad game by any means, but I'm not 100% if it deserves the praise to be called "The Zelda of Sony".
@@cosmic2750 Yup definitely one of those people as well. Man the game sure is pretty but holy hell is it just a boring story, world and even combat after a while. Just bland not bad not good just blah.
And like it’s on Gamepass, who cares what anyone says about it. Just go play it!
Always love to hear your thoughts on any game Ralph, because we have quite similar taste (even tho i don't always agree with your opinions)...Loved some titles you didn't recommended and wise-versa.
This has been one of my most anticipated games just because Raphael Colantonio's work on Dishonored and Prey. Thank you for the review, can't wait to dive in and see for myself!
I wish all those here who didn't agree with his opinion had this eloquent and mature a response.
This is how you appropriately choose to disagree with a reviewer. Well done.
Same i'd play regardless of this review or any
Play on Gamepass then you will not wasted $40. If you like it you can always buy it later.
Something bothers me about the UI. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I think it might be the size of individual elements. Certain parts just look big. Also the mini map. That could have been styled to fit in with the Western aesthetic but instead looks like every other mini map.
Finally the companions. They look like they follow the player way too far. If I’m walking around with two friends, they don’t follow my 3 yards behind. We’re close together.
As someone who played this game when it was in it's beta form , you should play it because it is a really good game with an interesting setting and gameplay.
There's friendly fire in the game so you really don't want them standing close blocking your shots/grenades. They're also mostly hired mercenaries/bounty hunters not your friends.
Gutted. This was my most anticipated game that wasn't Elden Ring.
Its a good game bro. Watch some game play. He's wrong on this one
@@deeznutts5548 You’ve played it? How many hours in, or are you just pushing confirmation bias?
@@deeznutts5548 I've been watching gameplay for like a year. I'm still going to buy it, but probably when it's on sale and not day one like I planned.
Edit: Also saw it's on Gamepass. Downloading now.
Its on game pass now bro I'm playing it now
it's actually really awesome so far
Not being able to combo skills with your teammates seem like a LOT of lost variety, one of the aspects of the combat in Mass Effect games was the combo of skills and ability to control your teammates which made me really enjoy those games (Andromeda excluded, oh boy what a sheet game).
I agree that the original trilogy is better story-wise but honestly, I feel like Andromeda had the best combat out of the entire series. It felt the most fluid, punchy, and gave the player lots of flexibility via the crafting and mixing Ryder's skills.
Of course you can combo with teammates.
Very surprising considering the previous achievements of the Devs
Eh, arkane games have always been great in some ways, annoying in others for me. Forcing you to play in certain ways to get "good" endings. IMO they've never actually made a true immersive sim, but they're made the closest to it.
It is a good game but it has few issues like bugs and some of the ai and an open world would have been better.
@@jeffphunk4993 Yeah I have seen Dishonored described as an immersive sim, I just don't see it.
I’m going to tell you my deepest darkest secret, when I was a baby my head was so large scientists came to my house and done experiments on me. They say it’s primarily bone, almost 99%. My head weighs upwards of 85 pounds. I was a 16 pound baby. I was born at 17 months, with a full head of hair, a full head of teeth.
I suggest you don't trus blindly skill up take and you see from yourself, i'm almost 100 % sure that i'm going to adore it.
When skill up doesn't hide his honest criticism from destiny a game he loves you know it's going to be rough when he does not recommend a game. Also when are we going to see sponsored skillup pool equipment for that basement pool of yours.
- "I went for a typical good guy play through"
- straight away shows him picking the dialogue option "you're a nice pig"
....
We've got different definitions of good guy playthrough my friend
the dialogue option is "say that you are a nice pig" so he is saying that he is a nice pig....and he is a pig-man
The player character is referring to themselves there, not the NPC lol. Also I think it might be a reference to "I'm a nice slime"
No this makes me so sad 😭
From other reviews I’ve seen, this game is fueled by the players creativity and approach. Definitely has its flaws but it seems those flaws don’t take away from the overall positive experience. I think skillup missed the magic here but that’s okay, everyone’s entitled to their opinion
He also didn’t vibe with Deathloop. Perhaps Skillup isn’t the type of player that finds the magic in creativity and approach.
@@mrdan523 In fairness, while I had a good bit of fun with Deathloop, it is a surprisingly limited and shallow experience once you really look at it
Since it's on Gamepass I'll definitely have to see for myself because I too was pumped for this one. You mentioned that there are other games you'd rather spend your time on in similar genres - which games specifically would you recommend?
Edit - most people seem to be recommending Prey. Great game! My love for Prey is a big reason this game was on my radar. There doesn't seem to be many others like this though, so while it might not be perfect it might scratch that itch for me
I’d like to know too. Maybe he meant Disco Elysium?
If you haven’t played Prey or Prey:Mooncrash definitely give those a try. Mooncrash in particular, the dlc, is spectacular. SkillUp has reviews of those games too
Wasteland 3 is one of Skill Ups favourites
@@sknight567 is mooncrash on Gamepass?
@@YourBlackLocal Unfortunately no...
This game is a hidden gem and it’ll be a cult game. Mark my word. On this one, skill up is wrong. It’s a rare thing however! Mostly I agree with his reviews!🙂
I mostly disregard his "I recommend's" and "I do not recommend's". Objective reviews are great, but his are so subjective and toned with a sense of authority that I can't stand it. People like different stuff.
@@iamplaceholder So you are happy with an objective review but you don't like it when a person states objectively if they recommend the game or not? That is exactly what a reviewer is there to do, recommend the game or not.
There's no such thing as an objective review. Reviews are inheritly just opinions about something and humans are incapable of objectivism.
I'd be willing to bet money that this game will not be a cult game. Its honestly pretty terrible.
I'm listening to what are apparently complaints but really it's just "I don't like how they presented the story, I want more budget in my presentation, where's my back story and voice work, where's my big budget frills"
Don’t listen. This game is a blast.
Yeah I got this for free on PS Plus a few months back. Excellent game. I've been meaning to buy it on PC and I will sometime soon
It absolutely is
I played this at release, loved every minute of it. I don't often disagree this hard with Schill Up but it's like we played a completely different game. Obviously everyone has different tastes.
Noooooooo, my most hyped game.
Then try it yourself man… skillup isnt always right - he makes good points, maybe they won’t be points you care too heavily about
I felt the same way when the notification came thru!
Don’t let a person you don’t stop you from trying games, it’s all opinions bro.
@@HiLoMusic I understand but my tastes usually fairly align with Skillup's except for I guess Death Stranding.
@@alsage9992 they align for me too typically but there has been the occasional miss, perhaps this is one of them
This is your opinion and I respect that.
I don't really understand how 20 hours of gameplay is bad, when in reality you can get more hours out of this game than say "The Ascent". Odd that you praised that game and it has less rpg mechanics. Not hating, I absolutely loved the ascent, but I do feel when it comes to the rpg elements it falls way short compared to weird west.
I got this on game pass and I am honestly having so much fun playing the game. It really is a breath of fresh air.
This game is more of a rpg than say the witcher 3. Your choices have consequences. You steal, kill, or act like an ass and your reputation will go down. You can kill anybody in the game, even main characters.
I remember when I started my second character, I went back to the town grackle and one of the guys that I had in my posse was in a gunfight with an outlaw and he was killed. I killed that outlaw and ate them. I then looted all the gear from him that I had given him in the last journey.
Personally I highly recommend this game especially if you have game pass. If not, the price isn't too bad, but waiting for a sale might be your best bet.
Recommends Dying Light 2, Tiny Tina Blunderlands, and Elden Ring. Does not recommend creative and unique indie game. Achievement Unlocked: Pretend that open world games are still fun. Convince others of same.
Adds cp2077 for more pattern accuracy
Elden ring is fun tho?
Sounds like its a "Two ideas combined together don't really equal a new creative Idea." scenario.
being forced to switch characters every couple hours and being locked out of the magic using class from the start really destroyed it for me, i was so excited to be some kind of wild west necromancer/mage/wizard.
it's my own fault for not understanding what i was buying, i wish they would have been a bit more up front with how the campaign is, for some reason i thought i could pick any of those 5 characters at the start. i really liked the concept though, weird west immersive sim, so much good but gating how i can play messed me up. I wish them the best though, there's a lot of good in this one for those willing to find it.
Same issue that Octopath had imo. It's jarring to keep jumping between narratives and not get immersed into one.
Someone in this chain recommended pathfinder wrath of the righteous but I cant find the original comment, all i can say is thank you so damn much, i was so bored and now i am not.
I want a 3rd person Supernatural Red Dead game. Like a cowboy hunting werewolves, ghost, deamons, shit like that.
third person hunt showdown?
It’s weird that after saw some gameplay, I have the exact feelings Skillup mentioned, but still I’d like give this game a go. It strikes me in a weird way.
You should try it. It's free on gamepass. One of the few titles I completed in few years without boring to death. It actually has solid plot.
I love skills vids, but I feel this one does not go in-depth into the games systems and mechanics, unlike other skill vids. Other reviews I’ve seen positive or negative speaking on this game have talked about these core mechanics whether they like them or not while it seems like skill just ignored it entirely.
Ummm….That’s literally half the video lol
Don't know why people still watch these review channels
15:39 - Recently, I've really become a fan of the idea of games having very small inventories; if you can only carry five bombs or stat-boosting potions, and you keep finding them scattered around, you actually have a good incentive to use the darn things, and not just hoard them all as I usually end up doing!
So much this. I have a terrible save-it-for-a-rainy-day syndrome, if I know that
1) any item i use will be replenished fairly quickly
2) if I don't use them then I will waste anything that I find when I'm full
it helps me combat it SO much.
@@andrzejsugier I've never written a video game walkthrough before, but if I ever do, my one big innovation will be to tell players what type of supplies they can find in the next area.
"Use at least five missiles on this boss, as you'll find an ammunition crate before your next battle", that sort of thing.
We poor, neglected save-it-for-a-rainy-day sufferers need to stick together!
@@ThomasMurch I remember playing one of the Final Fantasy games, and reeeealy saving my magic, because I only had a few MP potions, and had visions of needing the last clutch spell/heal and running out of mana. Only at the endgame I've realised that every potion shop in the game had an unlimited supply of MP Potions and they were so cheap that buying 99 of them equaled beating maybe 10 random fights.
This is the craziest comment thread ive ever seen you guys are ridiculous. Your desire is that games have small inventories, while also retaining the possibility of finding health potions “everywhere”, so that you’ll have more incentive to _use_ health potions?
What? Whether you have a small inventory or not, you’re gonna be _able_ to heal whenever you want in any game that has a ton of health potions laying around everywhere. Small inventories are just onnoxious, UNLESS the point of it is to creat tension and _more_ emphasis on item management and having to choose when to use something or save it for a rainy day. Not just to make a game easier like what haha 😂 and this guy, you want games to tell you what loot is in every room you’re about to go in? Jesus christ you guys just need to play games on easy mode or something i dont know what to tell y’all but most of us value challenge
@@TheDamnWinner You need to work on your reading comprehension. Nobody's talking about making games easier, or giving players more items, but making STOCKPILING impossible to encourage you to use up your resources. I have no idea where this "finding potions everywhere" quote comes from? I don't see it anywhere in this thread. This "stockpiling prevention" was the exact reason Doom Eternal gave player really small max ammo count. They overdid it for my taste, but it shows that it's not some crazy idea but a popular notion. The same philosophy was what made the first Halo so great - it was really hard to find ammo replacement (alien weapons were litelary impossible to reload) so you had to constantly change weapons instead on stockpiling ammo for your favorites.
I agree with many of the points in your review but somehow I still came away enjoying WW and I clocked in at 40 hours trying to explore the entire map mostly to be letdown by not really being rewarded for exploration. I’d also bring up having to rebuy the damn horse 4 times is tedious and just outright silly.
I guess I really have a soft spot for occult western type games. Every day I wish I would wake up to the news that Crytek is making a single player action RPG Hunt Showdown. On that note though, Blood West(Steam early access) sure looks cool and I’m hopeful that’ll be a fun time when it releases.
As someone who adores Westerns, I was really excited about this one. Now I'm torn. I love your reviews SkillUp but I don't always agree with you (which is a good thing) but I think you spared me some disappointment on this one.
Yeah this game is still a must play for me. Never forget he is just some dude with a youtube channel. Other reviews praise the game.
@@Kozymeisteryt completely agree. And thats why I said I don't always agree with him. But he has made some points that make me hesitate with this one. Honestly if you end up playing it, come back and let me know some of your thoughts. Always good to hear from multiple people.
Maybe check out ACG's review too? Dunno if you like him... obviously
@@Trenchfood I'm sure I've stumbled across a few of his reviews. Not a standard go-to, but I'll check it out for sure.
This is why u dont take someone elses opinion as yours. He pretty much trashed lost judgement but me and others had a blast lol
I feel like your nitpicking. Its the weird west of course one time you're shooting zombies and then you are shooting cowboys.I dislike the fact that in the second 1:42 you talk about that the quests did make you confuse,but you don't tell any examples.
One of the rare examples of SkillUp´s opinion being opposite of mine. Nothing wrong about that, it´s just always strange to expect him being excited about something and see the opposite results.
The repetative structure and half baked rpg progression? But you loved Tiny Tina's Wonderland which is just that.
This review made me a bit sad. I've played 16 hours of the beta and I thought it was fantastic. Really excited to get back into it today as the beta copy was removed from us about 2 weeks ago
I do appreciate the depth you go into your reviews and not just be like "jump on the game for 10 minutes and say it's crap" kind of review
Obviously, you're entitled to your opinion (it's literally the whole reason we are here lol) but I think this is the first video I have to disagree with you on the review
See you in the next one :D
Oh hey, glad to see a sensate comment and not another "ACG good, Skill Up bad!" one.
Playing weird west now, I don’t get his complaints, it’s got that Wasteland flavour.
Personally I think Weird West is absolutely amazing, but yeah definitely not for everyone
I'm with ACG on this one. This game is fun, interesting, well crafted and just great all around. It's like "The Ascent" and "Disco Elysium" had a baby, which is just beautiful and different and what we need with games nowadays.
Disco Elysium? You are joking right? It doesn't even approach the genius that is Disco Elysium.
Such a reach. This is nothing like Disco Elysium unless you’re finding similarity in isometric camera and text boxes.
I was really looking forward to this. Looked soo good. Like a new fallout game. But seeing that you have to ditch your character 1/3rd through the game, and play someone else, stopped all excitement for me. :(
I'm playing it currently and I'm loving.
I play it, and it s a very good game, you should try it instead of watching reviewers.
Man...i am really enjoying this game. Idk if it got better with patches or what, but id have to recommend anyone to try it out
This game is so cool, I don’t know why skill up doesn’t like it
He didn't get a big pot of money
hmmm dont know if this review are correct, see cohncarnage play the game and seems a lot of fun
This sounds a lot like my thoughts on Ghostwire. The world was interesting to explore, and models look good. However, there was very little diversity in objectives or character design, and the combat is boring and repetitive.
Ghostwire looks absolutely dire, will be staying well away from that 😂
i have to disagree, i played the game the through following the plot points reveals things about how these are just one person swapping bodies. really liked that felt like i was progressing. so many other games will give us multiple POV's and i just dont connect with them, felt different here
Damn, as someone who loves Hunt Showdown and it’s atmosphere/setting I was really looking forward to this game since it was announced.
I happened to stumble across this game, which I've never heard of on Xbox Game Pass one night. I looked at the clock, realizing the time I knew it was time for bed for work the next day. Though, I went against my better judgement and stayed awake longer then I should have just to see if this game was something to keep installed or immediately delete after playing it and possibly not liking it.
With that, I booted the game up and was pleasantly surprised. I played for a few days, playing the Bounty Hunter. She was so fun to explore the game with. Thoroughly, I enjoyed my time. Then, the game continued... I was playing as a Pigman. I don't know what it was, but this is when the game lost all appeal for me. Not because Pigman bad, no. Because I noticed I had to sit through five chapters/characters in the same world and such with the same weaponry. Something about it seemed to be a sludge.
All in all, a pretty decent game. Especially with it's low(er) price point, it is a good pick up if you're looking for something different or bored.
Nerdy correction - the game isn't isometric. In parallel projection (encompassing isometric), something far away from the camera would be the same size on the screen as something closer. Think of Diablo 2, where an enemy at the top of the screen is exactly the same size as on the bottom, even though the bottom is "closer" to the camera. In perspective projection (i.e. how our eyes work), far objects appear smaller than close objects. Imagine drawing your eye's FOV -- isometric would be a cylinder going out from your eyeball (all parallel lines), while perspective would be cone-shaped. In the gameplay footage, things that are farther are smaller, so it's perspective, not isometric. You can have a top-down camera position with either style.
I disagree (politely), Just finished the game and I can recommend it. Its great, imo a solid 8/10. Everyone has their own opinions but having expectations going into a game generally wont do you any good. Whatever game it might be.
Its probably the best indie/smaller game Ive played. However its buggy :/ Likely u will get bugged out at least a few times and will have to load a previous save.
Is anyone else getting pretty bored of these “decision making” games when every time it always ends up with the same 2 choices, good or bad. In real life we often live in the grey and I would love to see a game actually be unique and offer real decisions that dont always end up in a good/bad scenario.
The thing that I feel is tough about that is the fact that even if there is no “good” or “bad” endings, there still usually is a “preferred” or “best” outcome. That’s what drives me crazy with games like that is I feel like there is always an optimal path. And if you make all of the different choices similar in outcome instead, then what’s the point? I feel like it has to be a very tough thing to do to be able to create a game like you are describing that has meaningful decisions and yet still plays out organically. That’s just my guess though
Edit: typos
@@J-Dizzle95 Exactly, but for me it’s once you decide on your very first choice, the rest are almost entirely irrelevant. I would hazard a guess and say 90%+ of players who make the first choice as a “good” choice will make every single other choice as good so therefor there really isn’t any decision making to be had at all, the same goes for “bad” choices. Like you said there is also an optimal ending so It all begins feeling like an illusion that these games use to pretend like you have some control on events when it’s all scripted to go a certain direction anyway.
Playing it now 2 years later and I'm having fun. Not the best game I've played but enjoyable for me 🤷
I for one actually extremely loved the game, on mu second play through now.. Looking down the other roads so to speak..
I've never been board once with the game play, I like the fact that you can literally play everything the way you want.. And I rarely fight the same way twice in a row..
The fact that every aspect of your actions is accounted for, every choice makes a ripple.. And oh man.. Ive had things blow up spectacularly in my face haha
I also think your kinda missing the point of the 5 characters.. Well ermm kinda??
You literally are pushing each characters "soul or being" to the side and taking over their bodies lol.. Hence the moniker of "the Traveler"
I'm definitely not one for agreeing with you (or anyone else) on "99%" of the games you review, but that's why I like you. You're unabashedly yourself. One person's opinion shouldn't be your own opinion just because you enjoy their overall content. I'll check this one out since it's on Game Pass! I suggest others do as well.
I reviewed Weird West for Entertainium and we're very much on the same page here. I'm quite surprised by how glowing a lot of the reviews appear to be; the deeply clunky AI posse members in particular drag the game down for me.
Paid reviews, likely.
@@TheChriscrowder doubt
@@TheChriscrowder On WHAT WORLD would this small studio have the money to blow on "paid reviews" people are always OBSESSED with this
@@TheChriscrowder lmao
@@TheChriscrowder profile pic checks out
Wow... feels just weird listening to this, especially seen in light of the comments on Cyberpunk which has the depth of a puddle in the Nevada desert.
I absolutely loved this game could nt disagree more with your review, i do agree with the enemy type lack of variety though
He recommended riders Republic and Alien fireteam but doesn't recommended this?
The game is dope and cheap. Definitely worth a try and I guarantee you have fun with it.
Strange review. The ascent got a strongly recommended rating which does basically the same thing from start to finish. I played this on game pass and recommend it strongly. Been hooked on this game like I haven't been in a long time
The ascent doesn't suffer from a constant identity crisis like this does. The ascent knows its a twin stick shooter with Diablo like loot systems and it commits to it. This game thinks its an immersive sim but doesn't commit to it. From the action heaviness, the choice system, gear system, play style options, etc. It just doesn't commit to the core fundamentals of an immersive sim.
Game has potential but its need of a lot more work before it can be considered good.
I love these top down games perspective. I grew up loving the old Fallout games, Ascent, Wasteland and I played a card game called Doomtown when I was younger which is basically Weird West, how could I not like this game? Game can be a little clunky at first but once you get a handle on the controls it can be quite fun.
I focused my character on Dynamite, Sneaking faster and increased Sneak damage. I think the only issue I have with the game is no friendly fire option, I had to reload a couple times because I killed my posse LOL I didn't mind the enemies always wanting to get close just made my shotgun happy :P
Disagree. I'm a few hours in and it's been really fun so far. Give it a try and make up your own mind.
Love listening to your reviews Skill Up! I know my own tastes well enough to know when I'm going to like a game even when it gets a bad review, this being one of them.
I'm having a blast so far. My biggest disappointment was the fact that all characters can use the same abilities/weapons, but I just decided to limit my weapons to fit the character I was using. Rifle and Handgun for the bounty hunter, shotguns and melee for the pig. I'm on the Protector now and the bow has probably become my favorite weapon so far.
Not gonna lie, the first story is by far the worst. I've been enjoying every other story more and more. Really it's just that the other characters and abilities lend themselves more to experimentation. Compare spawning a tornado you can turn into an elemental tornado, with a typical bullet time. Bounty hunter was done dirty imo, easily the worst one.
Each character has their own abilities, they only share the weapon abilities.
Granted I am only on the pigman, so correct me if I am wrong.
I was really hoping this game would have more depth and based on this review alone I am a bit disappointed. I will most likely buy this game in the future, but I am very glad you covered it so my expectations aren't as high as they were originally!
If you have a Xbox it's free on game pass
Legit the only channel where I purposely watch every single ad so this ShillUp Ralph guy gets the TH-cam moneys.
Keep it up man. The best writing in all of TH-cam content. I just love it all relentlessly.
The way your review talks about the whole package almost makes it sound like one of the primary reasons the game exists is to prove that this newly formed indie studio is in fact making functional games and isn't susceptible to over-promising, under-delivering, or straight up failing to produce a fun playable game.
I don't say this to dunk on any game developers, but it seems like success stories like Supergiant, or redemption arcs like Hello Games, stand out among a sea of game developers drowning in a market crowded with AAA tentpole franchises, PC publishing being a bag full of angry cats, and the ever increasing awareness of how pervasive shitty management and abusive work culture is from top to bottom.
I also don't want recognition for a game to boil down to "Congrats! You made it!", or for that to supplant critical examination of a game. I love your approach to game reviews, and I'm particularly thankful that you take the time to parse out things you don't like from an execution or design perspective vs things that aren't to your taste, and that you explain why for everything.
I want to know more about the relationship between Games Pass and indie devs. The info that came out during GDC was very heartening to hear, but I want to know more about it. Things like what makes a dev want their game to get a day 1 games pass release, how does that affect their budgets and production timeline, does Microsoft get involved in the development at all, or do they just work out a deal with publishers? I want to know more! Because I want Games Pass and whatever subscription based services that come after it to be a more reliable way for indies to publish.
Yeah all work is a balance of “how much time should we spend refining and when should we just finish it?”
arkane studios
RPS have compared the game to oldschool Fallout, and while that was supposed to be praise, it ironically also encircles what seems to be both this game's core problem, and also a problem of the genres it's stuck in between - the traditional RPG mindset expects you to play in a specific way that represents your player character, for better or worse - whether it's the most effective path or not, and whether the game entices you to, or not. In an immersive sim however, player discovery stands front and center, and the game has to offer incentive to try out different playstyles, and make sure they all stand on equal footing in terms of effectiveness and entertainment value. So here you have the narrative underpinnings and c&c of an RPG (minus a proper dialogue system), but no stat game to funnel you into building a specific character with a specific playstyle. Instead, you get the trademark simplistic Arkane skill tree that lets you mix and match a bunch of combat abilities to your hearts content, but also completely distracts from any roleplaying unless you as the player very much force yourself to.
I always loved Arkane games because they feel like RPG games designed for kids with adhd. They focus on the gameplay and don't bog down the experience with "oh boy a new town, time to talk to absolutely everyone for 2 hours before I can go kill stuff again". Games like Deus Ex, Vampyr etc where half the experience is talking to every man, woman and bum on the street for clues gets on my nerves. Just let me kill and explore
The internet where you can get a detailed SkillUp negative review of a promising game and the game itself to try on game pass is really best internet
So, what do you think of it?
@@triphazard2906 it's definitely worth a try. One of the few I've completed in ages.
Better if you do your own research. I looked up the update patch notes and they added some new things and change stuff around like mechanics and gameplay. Honestly looks better now
Never play/buy games Day 1 just setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. Always wait for updates, price drop, reviews and discounts
I’m having tons of fun with this game lol just checking some reviews while I’m having a smoke outside and I’m a bit surprised that the game is getting a bad review lol
Love the PFP.😂👍
Well, people have different opinions and reviewers happen to be people.
Really liked this. One of the few I actually even bothered to complete fully. Plot was spot on.
@@OrionDawn15 The story is based on some American myths. Obviously, the reviewer is totally uninterested in American history. LOL
@@trumplostlol3007 Oh? This wild west game based off of a time period in america has american myths in it? I couldn't have guessed.
And is that true? I'll assume you just pulled that out of your ass to try and justify hating on the reviewer for simply not liking the game like you do, but you do you.
Scrolling down and reading some of the comments is honestly concering.. Do people understand that this is just one man opinion on a video game ? People acting like they can't give the game a try and judge it form themselves (If they like what's on screen). Reviews aren't everything, they are just another resource for gamers to do better purchase decisions.
its sad seeing people in the comments blindly believing everything their favorite youtubers say, like there are many comments here that are like "i wanted to play this, but now i am gonna pass unfortunately :(", like maybe play the game for yourself? form your own opinion? you can refund the game on steam, you know. Or try it on gamepass
have to 100% disagree here. had fun every second i was playing
Good example with the siren, really exemplifies how disconnected things are in the game. Was hoping for a cool game, but seems like that's one for a sale at best.
What is the game at 6:23 where the character is walking past BioChoice Pharm?
The Ascent
This notification broke my heart
Earliest I’ve ever been. Sad to hear I was looking forward to it
I'm so bummed out by this, because it was the game I was looking forward to the most (aside from Elden Ring)
Try it out urself lots of mixed reviews out there on this one
What's the game at 6:20? The one with the orange sand dunes and the low flying space craft
sable
Finally playing the accent it just released on PS4 and 5 I think try it guys skillup did recommend it in pc but Im playing on PS4 and it's amazing for only$30 and it's well worth a full $60 in my opinion
I'm seeing a lot of mixed reviews for this. It looks like something that I could have fun with for a while before I get bored. I'm torn. This game uses a setting that I love and mixes it with supernatural horror, which I also love, but it also looks like it gets really repetitive as it goes on. I almost want to buy it in the hopes that if it does well, WolfEye might give the setting another go & improve on the shortcomings.
Damn. Big shame from some creators of afew of my favourite games. Dishonored and Prey were phenomenal.
I mean it seems it's getting mostly 8s and 9s skill up is one of the few who didn't like it
"There are plenty of other similar games more worth your time." - Can you give some of those examples next time, because I really can't think of any recent releases similar to this game.
Have you ever played Hard West? It has a similar setting (a bit lighter on the occult stuff) and more XCOM style gameplay. Feel like you may enjoy it