Penny Arcade doles out criticism of Assassin's Creed criticism

P.s. Chastising reviewers about a game you are under contract for smacks a little of being someone's PR bitch. Threespeach FTW!

Coming out and defending a game from a 7/10 (oh noes!) was a bad, biased (read: shill) of a move.

Sadly enough I think the 7s are deserved, some may ask why but really the answer is right there and I am surprised this is actually coming from PA. Anybody remember Liar, anybody remember when the game got thrashed by critics? Remember what Sony said to those critics, because I sure do, Sony sent out a booklet trying to tell the critics how they should play this game to see it from their stand point.

Now I am not saying this game is LIAR, but if you need to step into the shoes of the developer, or you need somebody to tell you how to view the game for it to be a 9-10 then something is definitely wrong. We are making excuses for games when we shouldn't some people think it is 9/10 some people think it is a 7, my problem is from the way Gabe describes the game the problems are definitely there but he wants them over looked for some reason.

How many titles have gotten lower scores than they should have because of deadlines? How many titles have gotten lower scores than they should have because the company wanted to make a franchise out of the game and left the ending a little to open? Those games weren't defended, but a lot of people put their names behind this product and I feel this is the biggest problem.
Criticism, shouldn't be ignored when it is a product you like that isn't what moves a industry forward, it should be embraced, so when the company makes another game their offerings are even better the next time around, but that is my opinion on the topic.

Gamers are busy too, so an opinion based on "being a deadline" is perfectly valid for the reviews. If the sandbox environment isn't compelling enough to detract from the rush, it's the game's fault.

I'm curious. How is what Gabe thinks, NEWS?? Has PA really reached such an epic level of gaming celebrity status that the news sites feel the need to report what they think on subject? Odd...very odd...

I noticed Penny Arcade was advertising Soul Calibur Legends: a game I thought was getting terrible previews. They only place ads of games they recommend, so now I gotta look into that one.

He is right, I mean, aren't the GTA games just as repetitive? Drive here and shoot these guys and drive back? Drive hooker from A to B? Didn't the GTA games also have pop-in issues? Yet those games got high rankings...

I'd say a 7 is perfectly acceptable ... under the scores Netjak uses. In the screwed up land of everyone else where 7-10 is the only thing anyone ever uses for anything that isn't total crap, it isn't a 7.

This article by Gabe brings up a good question. Should developers release copies of games several weeks in advance in order to give a reviewer enough time to really take it all in. If the game requires more time to play through (as Assassins Creed obviously does).

Personally, and this is as a long-time Penny-Arcade reader, I don't take Gabe or Tycho's opinions as law. A great example of why is Gabe's recent dismissal of Call of Duty 4, merely due to a lack of cover system. I loved R6 Vegas, but CoD4 was its own unique experience, and I thought the multiplayer beta was a blast.

But there's nothing wrong with that! They're people, much like you and me. They have opinions. But running a successful video game web comic does not mean they have the final say on what's a good video game. PA faboys (and you know who you are), please stop treating them like gods. It's just a little nauseating.

FWIW, I've really been enjoying the game, and the level of immersion is probably the best I've seen since Thief (please, someone, pick up that franchise and make more of them!) First, it's absolutely beautiful - sometimes I wonder if gamers are getting so jaded that they can't appreciate how terrific this generation of games is starting to look. Secondly, I love being able to crawl up on practically any building (except for rocks, for some reason...) I've actually been playing it more like a sandbox game, trying to find Assassins Flags and picking off Templars when I can get the drop on them. As far as criticism of "blending" and the AI, let's not forget we're playing a game here. If it were reality, after you killed a guard, they'd shut the town gates, line up the citizens and start burning houses to find you. That doesn't sound like fun gameplay to me.

I honestly don't understand why people get so worked up about review scores. I guess I must be one of the 5% of the population that cares more about the text of the review and whether it's my kind of game. COD4 can get a 10, and that's great, but I don't care for military shooters, so I'm not buying it. Same goes for racing games. I'm as guilty as anyone about trying to get through a game quickly so I can get to the next one, but as long as I'm enjoying this (and this is heresy), Mass Effect may have to sit on the shelf for a bit after it arrives next week.

"GameSpot gave Zelda a 8.9, can we trust them still?"

Zelda: TP would have earned a 9.9/10, if it had come out for the N64 or GC which is where it belonged. At the time it was released people still wanted to label the Wii as "next-gen" and it's graphics were clearly last gen so this led a lot of people to give lower ratings.

Most of the reviews can be summed up pretty easily. A great presentation with an incredibily detailed world, but a very repetitive mission structure. Those reviewers seemed to tilt their score based on whether they loved the presentation and didn't mind the mission structure, or the repetitiveness overshadowed everything else. For me, I don't mind the missions at all. Finding information and stalking your prey was great no matter how many times I did it. The way the world works in the game also helped with this. The game wouldn't be nearly as fun if you just went down a set linear path to get your kill. The open ended world is really mesmerizing. If some of you are still not sure about this game, then rent it and see how you feel.

Wait a minute here.....this game has been out a matter of what, a coupla days or so? It's probably at best 40+ hours in length just to at least experience some of the goodies etc; how in hell can anybody have played the game, let alone have it tagged and bagged into a score +opinion in that short time? Why even bother wasting the dough on a world-class game such as this if the whole point of the endeavour is to see who's first to watch the credits roll? I mean-jeez !

Gabe's kind of acting like a little bitch in his rant.

"You didn't like the game I liked? Well you are stupid and don't know what a good game is! I feel sorry for you!"

What an ass.

Assassins Creed is totally bad ass. I'm loving every second of it so far. Not very far in it thus far, I've only had a taste thus far, but it's totally awesome. I can't wait to see what happens in the story. So far it's reminding me a lot of Prince of Persia SOT in it's presentation... which is awesome cause that's one of my favourite games of all times.

Gabe is sleeping with Jade Raymond.

Oh Jesus, did I say that out loud?

I thought it seemed a bit damage-control-ish on hteir part, but I'm always willing to give PA the benefit of the doubt.

If my 360 wasn't RROD'd right now I'd probably have bought the game already.

Gabe brings up some good points, and while people are dismissing his opinions, at least he makes an attempt to see why people are assigning lower review scores rather than just ranting on them as clueless jerks. His analogy of the Escher painting is particularly interesting, as he illustrates that it really is a matter of perspective; one moment you're wondering whats the point, and the next - bang, you're completely immersed!

My own take on the game so far, I think its an interesting hook to start the game. The environments are beautiful, and I think its interesting how the typical "start as a nobody and work you're way up to a super-badass in 21 days" is turned on its head, by starting you off as the super-badass to give you a taste of the kind of stuff you can do, but then busting you down to the nobody and make you build yourself back up (though I guess that happens a lot in sequels, like Zelda?).

Surprisingly, the gameplay mechanics work really well for me so far. The Animus puppeteering controls are surprisingly effective, the combat is nuanced (of course for those of you who want realism, why are you even playing a game in the first place - go out and try these things in real life - actually, take that back! :) ). The graphics are breath-taking, both the environments (rich and detailed, with expansive no-load landscapes), and even the characters, including the dirt, and the way they move.

My first view of Damascus, coming down the mountain pass - a real awe-inspiring moment in gaming history. Any creative license they take with reality, to me its all part of it being a GAME, and as long as its fun and interesting, its all good.

I do hate the stupid trick of showing the "real" ending after the credits are finished though, its irritating to have to sit through the entire list to see something so important. I didn't like it with XMen 3 (I still haven't seen that scene), I didn't like it with Halo 2, or Halo 3, and I won't like it with AC.

My real dilemma is when will I start Mass Effect!?

AoD

Gabe just wants to get into Jade Raymond's pants...

j/k

When a new game comes out, I sometimes go over to IGN--if I see lots of ads for the game and no review up yet, I worry!
That was a great PA post.
Maybe that's why in previews reviewers are so excited about some games that they end up slamming--they don't get to beat them so they just play around. I used to chalk it up to advertising...

So the game is average and Gabe is crying over a few reviews. At least it confirms them as whiney, paid-off douchebags who write an overhyped, unfunny strip. Fact.

I played the game briefly (like 2 hours or so). My hype was quickly dispatched. But in terms of the storyline (thus far). But now, reading Gabe's rebuttal to the so-so reviews, I'm thinking I may have approached the game all wrong and now I want to tear into it and take my time with it to take in all the great nuiances of the game. It has extreme potential and sure is pretty in ever detail. I am not a fan of the combat system and the frame-rate hiccups at times but those short comings shouldn't taint my experience.

I feel bad for Gabe. Apparently he's unable to deal with people disagreeing with him.

Also, specifically on the ending, if I pay $60 and there's no real ending, I did get shorted somewhat. Don't just claim it's just one chapter and I shouldn't be expecting the full treatment.

I have only played it for a couple of hours but totally think it is worth the 7's. I don't think the game controls that well and have gotten stuck in walls a couple of times. The game just feels like it needed even more polish then they were allowed to give it.

I was rather concerned when i first read the reviews in places such as IGN that suggested that the game was pretty average. I have been looking forward to the game very much and i watched all the trailers that came out and read every bit of info that i could find leading up to the release. When i saw the review though i started contemplating not buying the game.
I have been reading Penny Arcade and for many many years and i find them very funny and i really respect their view and seeing them give it praise made me want to buy it again. Now the next step is wait until it appears for sale on sites like Renchi.com or play-asia. I am a PS3 owner living in Australia and am not ready to pay $100+ for a game when i can get it for about 70$ including import costs. So my order will comprise Heavenly Sword, Rachet and Clank and Assassins Creed which should keep give me my story driven action adventure fix that i need.
Over all my view though is reviews are a great guideline but i dont take them as the golden truth there are many instances that i picked up a game that got an average review and enjoyed it immensely and other times that i picked up a game because it had great reviews to find it not really to my liking. As with movies games are very subjective and as such reviews are something you should make for yourself.

One of the issues I have with the PA review is that he is offering up side quests as a way to say the game is good, and that the game shouldn't be faulted for having a repetitive core game as stated here :
"I hunted for hidden flags and explored the cities again. I came in this morning and finally did beat it but I did it at my own pace and I enjoyed every part of it."

He's saying he explored and did side quests then the game became enjoyable? That's something I find some reviewers do time to time with certain games, they offer up the side stuff as a way to tip the scales which is severely lacking.

What if I purchased a ticket to a football game and said that football was OK, but once i got up and wandered around the stands and found little things i really enjoyed it, well the football game wasn't that good then.

Or if someone said, FF7 was ok, but the side quests made it great, no, FF7 core was awesome and the side things made it better. PA shouldn't say that because AC has these little exploring options and side quests that all of a sudden its a better game, they should call it like they see it and say, the core game severely lacks, give it a 7, and the caveat that should you do the side quests you might can squeeze it to an 8, 8.5

I think I've read these rants before.

I dont quite have an opinion on Assassins Creed yet beyond 'holy shit those graphics are amazing' and ' i wish the handy hints telling me how to do things i've been doing since i turned the thing on would stop popping up'.

I kinda get what reviewers frustrated with it may be on about though, after playing a lot of in your face instant action games like bioshock recently its weird going back to something which asks you to take your time. It looks so pretty that i dont really mind taking my time to admire the setting tbh.

im loving this game. its in my favorite #1 spot right now... instead of blasting through it.. im taking my time finding every viewpoint, saved citizen, interrogation, eavesdrop, and side missions/intel, all flags for the extra memories... ive spent about 15hours so far... and im only on my second mark...

Honestly, I believe Gabe nailed it on the money. When I read the reviews right before I bought the game, I was a bit shocked. After GETTING the game, now I understand why they went the way they did. Honestly it's all about what people were "expecting". Not about what was "hyped", because all Ubisoft told you was, "you are an assassin and you will kill people". They didn't tell you about the world. They kept the story hidden very well. So most reviewers let their mind wander about what they thought it SHOULD be, instead of what it IS. This caused most of the bad reviews. Then Gabe is right, because I'm not rushing to play this game and I'm enjoying the crap out of it. I'm taking the time to learn the controls, and I COMPLETELY disagree with the whole "you can only do one thing" comments I've been seeing. I've already killed the first mark in at least 3 different ways. Yes THREE different ways. One running right in as they suggested. One doing it the way they game wants you to by sneaking in. And then AGAIN BEFORE you should normally be able to kill him.

So yea.....the reviewers this time around are WAY WAY off their mark. I've been learning to Gamefly games before hand if I'm unsure, and learn to make my OWN review about a game.

Gabe has more cred than any ten of you douchebags bitching about him. Accept it and move on.

yawn. Penny Arcade cussing about something, like their opinion matters? surprise!

i don't mind that many people enjoy the comic strip that these two fellows created. i don't find them talented, but that's just me; it would seem i'm in the minority, and that's fine. but so many internet-surfing gamers tend to take whatever these guys say to be LAW, and that's lame. beyond the popularity of their comic, they're just regular folks like you and me.

think for yourselves, don't just drool over what "some guy" types up, with a few choice swear words sprinkled about to keep your ADD from kicking in (why else do they run on with the swearing? it's so unnecessary).

Maybe Ubisoft will send out a brochure on "how to play" Lair....er, I mean Assassin's Creed.

What about AI bugs? That monk move can be used to turn invisible. WTF? I'll still pick up the game later on but not while I could be playing Mass Effect.

7 is a good score from 1up. There are many 7 games that I loved. Titan Quest was a great game and was a ton of fun but I would have given it a 7.

-UConn

"No, the GameSpot 8.9 for TP was not way off. The game got too linear and repetitive at the end. It was a great game, just not 10-quality."


Bullshit, fucking bullshit. If "it got too linear and repetetive near the end" is a criterion for cutting off points then there is no fucking way either Bioshock, Oblivion or FF12 should have gotten all the 10s that they did. No fucking way.

The force is strong with Altair, and Gabe fears his wrath. To doubt the badassness of Assassin's Creed is a death sentence, infidel. Buy the game or FLEE!!