'CliffyB' defends Too Human from critics

by Kyle Orland { Sep 1st 2008 at 3:00PM }

[Update 2: The Giant Bomb user formerly known as CliffyB has changed his user name based on a request from the Giant Bomb staff. Seems this was a case of mistaken/overtaken internet identity. Joystiq regrets the error.]

[Update: It seems there's some doubt as to whether or not this review was actually written by Mr. Bleszinski or just some Giant bomb user who took his common online moniker. Either way, the review is still an interesting, alternative look at the game. We're looking into it and we'll update as warranted.]

After so much hype and so many years in development, many were surprised by the lackluster critical reception for Silicon Knights' Too Human. Count among the surprised Epic Games' Cliff "Don't call me CliffyB anymore" Bleszinski, who defended the game from its harshest critics in a recent Giant Bomb reader review.

Bleszinski says he found the game more engrossing than either BioShock or Call of Duty 4, pouring 16 straight hours into it on his first sit down and readying for a second playthrough after a 42-hour quest. While admitting that the story "isn't God's gift to writing," Bleszinski still insists it compares favorably to a lot of other video games. His main beef, though, is with critics who derided the game's combat as too simple simply because they weren't willing to delve into what Bleszinski sees as some complex strategic depth. "It will require some attention to learn," he warns, "If this is too much to ask, do not fret. There is always the Wii." Ouch!

The full review goes into an insane amount of detail on Bleszinski's experience with the game. Check it out if you're interested in a well informed, decidedly different perspective on this epic.

Tags: bleszinski, cliff-bleszinski, cliffyB, critics, dyack, silicon-knights, too-human

Related From Joystiq

AbleGamers launches reviews with accessibility in mind
7 days ago
Commercial success dependent on 'more than just quality,' Divnich suggests
13 days ago
Warren Spector envisions two more Disney Epic Mickey games
27 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Obie @ Sep 1st 2008 3:06PM

"more engrossing than either BioShock or Call of Duty 4"
Riiiiight! Cliffy has been sniffing his plastic Lancer again. ;)

SSneaky @ Sep 1st 2008 4:26PM

It's obvious not really him. If it were the real Cliff Bleszinski he wouldn't of named himself "CliffyB" the exact nickname he's trying to get rid of.

Alan @ Sep 1st 2008 10:34PM

At least my Wii can play Eternal Darkness.

atrimus @ Sep 1st 2008 3:07PM

this dude is such a tool.

IanC @ Sep 1st 2008 3:07PM

"If this is too much to ask, do not fret. There is always the Wii."

Hahahaha. We get it Cliffy, we get it. You hate the Wii. Boo frick'en hoo.

Jakka(Naked Peach Brigade) @ Sep 1st 2008 3:07PM

Well, to be honest 80% of the reviewers are simply nitpicking as an attempt to attack Dyack.

Noshino @ Sep 1st 2008 3:17PM

Not really, for example, the guys at 1up get well along with Dyack, yet they still gave Too Human a somewhat low score (C-)

atrimus @ Sep 1st 2008 3:20PM

and 20% of MGS4's reviews were only nitpicking at cut scenes because they knew the other 80% were gonna fawn over everything else. OR here's a thought, the reviews for Too Human were genuine opinions. it's not the end of the world that the game barely got average scores.

giantenemycrab @ Sep 1st 2008 4:40PM

is there something about Dyack that I don't know? He seems like a cool guy to me.

Sinister Rouge @ Sep 1st 2008 6:50PM

80% of people who reviewed MGS4 were too caught up in nostalgia and hyperbole to realise it's a 1998 game stuffed into a 2008 graphics engine.

It DOES have too many cutscenes. It's a fucking video game, not the Lord of the Rings trilogy (which takes less time to watch than all of the cutscenes in Metal Gear 4!)

Exo @ Sep 1st 2008 3:11PM

hes not clffy b any more, be carfull he may come to attack you next

Obie @ Sep 1st 2008 3:14PM

With what? His douchebag haircut? ;)

I keed, I keed..don't ban me from Gears 2! :(

Nightvortez @ Sep 1st 2008 3:13PM

Why does this guy always articulate his opinion like a forum troll with a stick in his ass?

OMGOMG @ Sep 1st 2008 3:15PM

Bullshit. Even mentioning Bioshock in the same sentence as Too Human is like saying Disaster Movie was more character driven than Casablanca.

Handbone @ Sep 1st 2008 6:21PM

Coming from the guy who says Gears 2 will have a better story then Bioshock. Pshh

007craft @ Sep 1st 2008 5:42PM

actually diaster movie IS more character drivin, since the whole point of the movie is to spoof other movies characters.

That said, It doesnt mean its better or even close to casablanca.

Lkr @ Sep 1st 2008 3:19PM

what is Cliffy smoking this time?

DangerMouse @ Sep 1st 2008 3:38PM

pole

Wiinterfang @ Sep 1st 2008 3:55PM

The Blinding Biased bong of fail.

Slayer @ Sep 1st 2008 4:24PM

I want whatever he's smoking. If makes you believe in your own bullshit, then why not?

james castle @ Sep 1st 2008 3:30PM

Dyack is sueing Cliffy over the Unreal Engine. Which gives Cliffy all the reason in the world to gush about the game. Now he can say "well it turned out great even without our engine". Too bad no one else seems to agree.

zuburi @ Sep 1st 2008 4:40PM

No. Just... No.

james castle @ Sep 1st 2008 8:35PM

Care to add content to your clever little "no...just no"?

Derrick @ Sep 1st 2008 3:29PM

Is there a legitimate reason people think this is actually CliffyB?

sfubear @ Sep 1st 2008 3:44PM

is there any legitimate reason not to think it is cliff? Just because some people may like gears and don't like too human. And silicon knights and epic games are in a dispute doesn't mean that cliff can't be objective about playing the game, and in the end end up enjoying it. I am willing to bet that most of the people at SK have played Unreal tournament 3 and gears and are looking forward to gears 2. I am also willing to bet that cliff is not the only person at epic that has played too human. Most people that make games now a days are gamers and as such like to play games. Think about how diverse you taste in games is and then think how much more diverse it would be if you made games for a living.

Noshino @ Sep 1st 2008 3:44PM

"... I'm a writer of Epic Fantasy myself. That being said, Too Human isn't God's gift to writing, but along side other videogames it is in the top ten percent. I've been playing games since the Comodore and I feel I have the wherewithal to make that claim."

Cmon, how can you not automatically be able to tell based on that...

Anyway, I found this rather funny

"The action elements in this game are richer than any hack-and-slasher I have ever played, you just have to learn how to exploit your options instead of treating it like every other hack-and-slasher or shooter you have played. This game is both, and the controls have been implemented admirably."

Is he serious, has he played any game of the 3 biggest series (DMC, GoW, NG)?

"...am beginning to really like the camera because it is smarter than I am.."

Funny thing is that the camera isn't that great, that quote is going to haunt him for a while...

Haggard @ Sep 1st 2008 3:56PM

He actually mentions that games like Gears of War should not be 100% of a gamer's intake (although this could be selfless honesty), but he's also gone on a rampage on there calling some user who submitted a low review an idiot for 'unbalancing' the scores.

So I'm not sure it is CB.

CliffyB @ Sep 1st 2008 3:57PM

Well since he uses the name 'CliffyB' it MUST be him...

BIGFAT @ Sep 1st 2008 3:59PM

actually DMC4 and NG2 are basically x,x,x,y over and over again while in Too Human you actually have to take into account strategy as some weapons do zero damage to enemy. the only reason why enemys are hard in DM4 and NG2 is because they block almost every thing you throw at them and then have unavoidable attack patterns.

Noshino @ Sep 1st 2008 4:21PM

BIFAT,

There is actually a lot of strategy to DMC and NG, I don't know about DMC4 or NG2 as I haven't played them, but I can tell you that if you just buttom smashed, you would die in no time...

DMC, NG, and GoW do require strategy, its just that they are faster paced and thus require faster reactions

BIGFAT @ Sep 1st 2008 4:57PM

really? because all i do is hold block until the enemy goes into a recoil animation, then unload a combo and rinse a repeat for every enemy. so let me clarify, its not just button mashing, its block until ready THEN button mash.

But don't get me wrong im not complaining about this formula because obviously i played the games that use it, but to say Too Human combat cant match theres is wrong when theres are also shallow.

Lone Starr @ Sep 1st 2008 5:22PM

The only reason they treat CliffyB as CliffyB is because it makes a great blog post.

Noshino @ Sep 2nd 2008 1:13AM

huh, I guess you haven't played said games, other than GoW, blocking all the time doesn't get you anywhere...

BIGFAT @ Sep 1st 2008 3:30PM

and all of the sudden all the people who gave Too human a fair shake and actually accepted that it was a good game look cool and get there credibility back. ya

Turkish Superman @ Sep 1st 2008 3:32PM

Yes, perish the thought that someone didn't think BioShock and Call of Duty 4 were the be-all-end-all of gaming.

atrimus @ Sep 1st 2008 3:38PM

that thought would've imperishable, until some face-tool came out and said Too Human (of all games) was more engrossing than either.

DangerMouse @ Sep 1st 2008 3:34PM

Clifford has a point. I don't think I've ever put 16 hours straight into a video game before, since my attention span is extremely small. But, the gamecube is one of the worst systems i've ever owned, and i have no interest in the Wii at all. In fact, i've spent more time PC gaming than anything else. I enjoy a Wii-jab here and there, but it looks like shitty trolling when it's not even clever. At least he isn't as bad as dyack.

Cesaria (www.cesariatic.wordpress.com) @ Sep 1st 2008 3:37PM

The back handed attacks of the Wii need to stop. You just embarrass yourself. If you don't like it, get the fuck over it. Tool.

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 1st 2008 3:56PM

Who does he "embarrass" himself to? Pissed off nintendo fanboys, or the majority of the video game media that does the same thing? I don't think anyone who talks bad about the wii cares what nintendo fanboys have to say.

Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 1st 2008 4:03PM

Kind of like the shameless plug of your blog?

Did you know within your profile there is a specific place to put your website's URL?

I could really care less but there are people here that consider that trolling.

As for the Wii comment -- I agree with you that any baseless attacks should probably cease. However, if someone has a legitimate concern or opinion based off of experience it should not be considered unacceptable. I think the trolling attacks on all 3 consoles need to stop.

If this is really CliffyB saying these things it has more weight. He is A developer and one of the better ones at that. Many big time 3rd party developers have a less than stellar view of the Wii.

There is no need to take it personal. It is an attack on Nintendo not Cesaria.

OMGOMG @ Sep 1st 2008 4:06PM

Just to clarify, but you said in a previous post that brand loyalty is "retarded".

Weird.

Practice what you preach, buddy.

Mr Khan @ Sep 1st 2008 4:43PM

Eh, there's a difference in this case. Epic goes out of their way to bash Wii, it seems. So its totally valid to call them out for it.

Cesaria (www.cesariatic.wordpress.com) @ Sep 1st 2008 6:28PM

It's annoying when ANY of them get attacked, but especially when it isn't even in context with the discussion. There's room to like every console, like I do. I love me some Echochrome, Pixeljunk, and Castle Crashers, none of which are availabe on Wii. I am definitely a Nintendo fan at heart, but I'm more of a GAMES fa. I lack the sufficient funds to afford another system right now due to a house I should not have bought and child support.
@OMG
I forgot that you knew me in real life. It's nice to have a friend who knows me so well. Must not have seen my Xbox and PS1.
@Immortal
Yeah, it is kinda shameless. It shall be removed.

Roto13 @ Sep 1st 2008 6:29PM

I don't even see any Wii bashing. It basically says the Wii is easy to learn. Isn't that the point? I don't think you'd get a punch in the neck from Iwata if you went up to him and said "Your console does what you intended it to do!"

OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Sep 1st 2008 3:37PM

I just finished this game. I have to say that the only thing Cliffy's correct about is that he finished the game, and that the story was weak.

It is NOT up to par with other games, specifically, the incredibly shitty ending. Not to mention that there's like 35 minutes of story woven in between like, 12 hours of repetitive combat. But, hey, this is the guy that thinks there was enough "story" in Gears of War to make it a trilogy, so what exactly does he know about how well stories compare favorably to other games?

There's reason people stopped using the analog stick as an attack in beat 'em ups after Rise to Honor didn't do so hot, and that's because it doesn't bleeping work right.