Broken Age - Double Fine's Kickstarter Adventure Game

[Metro]

Is JC really arguing Bru-dull Legend is good? Unless you're a metal head who loves all the references and music the game itself is fucking terrible.

 

[evdk]

Is JC really arguing Bru-dull Legend is good? Unless you're a metal head who loves all the references and music the game itself is fucking terrible.

Doesn't help. It makes the game slightly amusing for a while, but the gameplay is so uninspired nothing can salvage it. I've ended up just watching the cutscenes on YT.

 

[felipepepe]

If the game was only a Banjo-Kazooie clone with corpsepaint, it would be ok, but the RTS stuff is just boring.

 

[Dexter]

Brütal Legend was pretty great (it's on my Top 10 from last year). Great Soundtrack (even though I usually don't particularly like Metal), humor usually hits the mark, characters are generally likeable and interesting, great world building with changing flora and fauna throughout the three continents, some interesting quest ideas.

Regarding gameplay, the driving around and over living things and hacking stuff to death was definitely fun. Can't say I was particularly enchanted by the consoley RTS battles but they were also okay once you got used to them.

Psychonauts and Brütal Legend are definitely their two best games so far, given some of the output when they are on their own I'm not sure being "publisher wageslaves" would be all that bad for them, although it's hard to say which publisher would finance them since Tims games usually sell notoriously bad.

 

[Metro]

Brütal Legend was pretty great (it's on my Top 10 from last year). Great Soundtrack (even though I usually don't particularly like Metal), humor usually hits the mark, characters are generally likeable and interesting, great world building with changing flora and fauna throughout the three continents, some interesting quest ideas.

Regarding gameplay, the driving around and over living things and hacking stuff to death was definitely fun. Can't say I was particularly enchanted by the consoley RTS battles but they were also okay once you got used to them.

Psychonauts and Brütal Legend are definitely their two best games so far, given some of the output when they are on their own I'm not sure being "publisher wageslaves" would be all that bad for them, although it's hard to say which publisher would finance them since Tims games usually sell notoriously bad.

Agreed.

 

[evdk]

Agreed.

Psychonauts and Brütal Legend are their best two games though. Take that as you will.

 

[DeepOcean]

Brütal Legend was pretty great (it's on my Top 10 from last year). Great Soundtrack (even though I usually don't particularly like Metal), humor usually hits the mark, characters are generally likeable and interesting, great world building with changing flora and fauna throughout the three continents, some interesting quest ideas.

Regarding gameplay, the driving around and over living things and hacking stuff to death was definitely fun. Can't say I was particularly enchanted by the consoley RTS battles but they were also okay once you got used to them.

Psychonauts and Brütal Legend are definitely their two best games so far, given some of the output when they are on their own I'm not sure being "publisher wageslaves" would be all that bad for them, although it's hard to say which publisher would finance them since Tims games usually sell notoriously bad.

I really liked psychonauts and gone on Brutal Legend expecting something good, the beginning was fine until I noticed that the world was fucking empty, a good open world game needs a few good side missions/activities or there is no point into making one and Brutal Legend had none of that. The RTS part was clunky and boring, the hack and slash part was simplistic and the level design... well what level design?

 

[MicoSelva]

The best classic adventures constantly found new spins on the formula, and Schafer and his fellow Lucasarts designers were no slouches at this back in the day—the physicality of Full Throttle, the freedom of the Monkey Island games, and the time warping of Day Of The Tentacle all coming to mind. So far, Broken Age hasn't even attempted to carve out something similar, though there's still time. I hope the second act has something clever in mind.

Whether that happens or not though, this was a good use of that Kickstarter money. Broken Age might not be close to the length and complexity of previous Tim Schafer games such as Grim Fandango and Full Throttle, or an instant classic like just about every Lucasarts adventure not a bad anagram of "Escape From Island Monkey," but it's still a fine reminder of them.

And really, that's what should have been expected. Those games were very much products of their time, and in specifically promising to be one rather than update the idea like Ron Gilbert attempted with The Cave, this was always going to be a celebration rather than a modern successor. As that premium-grade nostalgia trip though, it does a fine job. Like a reunion concert of a band you once loved, or a candy shop selling a particular brand of candy that brings to mind childhood summers of sun and sea and all that other cliched crap, Broken Age is a well deserved chance to remember the old days and realize that they're still closer than they might sometimes feel—even if the second part is a little further away than intended.

So he agrees that the game falls short, but it's ok, because it's totally impossible to make good games again.... so let's give fucking 86/100 to this, just 4 points less than the 90/100 they gave to Monkey Island 2.

Primorida, on the other hand, gets 55/100, because it didn't waste 3 million dollars on animations.

 

[suejak]

I mean, to be fair, Primordia is self-important shit.

 

[MicoSelva]

This game cost how much again?

I mean, to be fair, Primordia is self-important shit.

no, u

EDIT:
BTW, I liked every DF game I played so far (Psychonauts, Brutal Legend, and Stacking), but this just screams 'wasted money!'. If they really spent $5 million on this, I am very disappointed, as they could have made half of Psychonauts 2 for that (I remember reading a sequel would cost around $10 mil.).

 

[suejak]

You're the second person who's said they could have spent the money to make a sequel to an old hit. Seriously, don't we have enough sequels -- from publisher-backed games, no less?

 

[RPGMaster]

The best classic adventures constantly found new spins on the formula, and Schafer and his fellow Lucasarts designers were no slouches at this back in the day—the physicality of Full Throttle, the freedom of the Monkey Island games, and the time warping of Day Of The Tentacle all coming to mind. So far, Broken Age hasn't even attempted to carve out something similar, though there's still time. I hope the second act has something clever in mind.

Whether that happens or not though, this was a good use of that Kickstarter money. Broken Age might not be close to the length and complexity of previous Tim Schafer games such as Grim Fandango and Full Throttle, or an instant classic like just about every Lucasarts adventure not a bad anagram of "Escape From Island Monkey," but it's still a fine reminder of them.

And really, that's what should have been expected. Those games were very much products of their time, and in specifically promising to be one rather than update the idea like Ron Gilbert attempted with The Cave, this was always going to be a celebration rather than a modern successor. As that premium-grade nostalgia trip though, it does a fine job. Like a reunion concert of a band you once loved, or a candy shop selling a particular brand of candy that brings to mind childhood summers of sun and sea and all that other cliched crap, Broken Age is a well deserved chance to remember the old days and realize that they're still closer than they might sometimes feel—even if the second part is a little further away than intended.

So he agrees that the game falls short, but it's ok, because it's totally impossible to make good games again.... so let's give fucking 86/100 to this, just 4 points less than the 90/100 they gave to Monkey Island 2.

Primorida, on the other hand, gets 55/100, because it didn't waste 3 million dollars on animations.

For the Primordia review you can thank this kid https://twitter.com/GameGriffin

As for Cobbett, he gave Stacking 86 as well.

Stacking has way better puzzles than BA.

 

[felipepepe]

Stacking is a better game than Broken Age in every sense possible. Even the art and overall design is better and actually serves the gameplay.

 

[RPGMaster]

The thing that puts me off Stacking is the limited FOV, which makes it almost unplayable when you get the biggest dolls.

 

[J_C]

You're the second person who's said they could have spent the money to make a sequel to an old hit. Seriously, don't we have enough sequels -- from publisher-backed games, no less?

There is nothing wrong with sequels on their own, if they are good, provide something new and improve the original. The problem is with shitty sequels.

 

[Boleskine]

Isn't that what many people wanted from Double Fine when they pledged in February 2012 - a spiritual successor/sequel to a scumm classic like DoTT?

 

[Ninja Destroyer]

When I played Brutal Legend there was something that I noticed, a quite empty world that screamed: CUT CONTENT.

Yes, I played it not long ago and was really happy with sandboxy map showing me points of interest. Unfortunatelly the side mission are mostly copy-pasted and can be done really quick, even if you don't do a speedrun. I liked it, but they wasted a perfect opportunity to make the game longer for those who want to listen the whole soundtrack.

 

[gromit]

So, the other day, I ordered a tuna-melt at a coffee shop. Paid at the register, sat down, waited 55min before I lost my shit and stormed up to the counter. "What the holy hell is going on back there?"

Well, sir... we're trying to get JUST the right amount of mayo. Our sandwiches are known for the grueling passion we make them with. If it's not amazing you may as well just go to McDonald's and lick the wrappers just like THE MAN wants you to.... MAN. Think they'll ever make you a tuna-melt?

"Look. I don't have time for this. Can I get a refund?"

Well... we're pretty strapped, right? We kinda had to take that Tenner straight from the till, to pay the Sandwich Artist for the last hour. The last hour spent making your sandwich, you fat-cat asshole. It is literally in his pocket.

Buy him one of our delicious coffees with your change? That might hurry things along.

"Jesus Fucks a Dolphin, can I at least get a coupon, or a rain check? With the understanding this place probably isn't going to be here tomorrow?"

A rain check for what? We sold your sandwich to the guy in the corner.

"But I paid for that sandwich!"

No... I told you, your money was for STAFFING.

What? They paid the salary of the devs, who worked on the game. And after Activision dumping the game, they want that money back?

If I thought anyone was capable of trusting you with money, I'd fall on my knees and beg you to hire me for something, so I could fuck you on it, then sell the results to whoever fucks your girlfriend.

 

[Boleskine]

 

[PlanHex]

This is sort of interesting: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/01/22/a-game-and-a-chat-ep-1-tim-schafer/
Sound is absolute crap, but Tim explains ideas and viewpoints regarding some of the criticism, some improvements that are being made and other stuff.

 

[DeepOcean]

When I played Brutal Legend there was something that I noticed, a quite empty world that screamed: CUT CONTENT.

Unfortunatelly the side mission are mostly copy-pasted and can be done really quick, even if you don't do a speedrun.

Yeah, and one face melting solo finish those copy pasted side battles as soon as they start. The open world was a huge lost opportunity.

 

[felipepepe]

IT'S TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE EVERYONE! (so we decided to just please the modern audience)...

And you have to be a real douche to quote jokes Tim makes during the video that even a massive failure would be a promise fulfilled, but omit how your kickstarter page clearly promises a old-school classic adventure game...

Anyway, I'm done with this trainwreck.

 

[Dexter]

IT'S TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE EVERYONE! (so we decided to just please the modern audience)...

And you have to be a real douche to quote jokes Tim makes during the video that even a massive failure would be a promise fulfilled, but omit how your kickstarter page clearly promises a old-school classic adventure game...

Anyway, I'm done with this trainwreck.

To be fair, you were never actually in the "right" for wanting your money back, they could've done it as a gesture of goodwill but you kinda ruined that by the way you (publicly and intensely) asked for it and the way it might have set a precedent for other people to do the same.

Other people that say that KickStarter is a "donation" are also wrong, since there is a binding agreement that they *have* to deliver at your pledge level and already judicial dispositions in regards to it, but semantics like "the game wasn't *exactly* like they said it was" don't really enter the matter. It's a risk on both sides and you likely also knew that.

All that is important is the text on your pledge level and I assume they have either already delivered (or will deliver) that:

Pledge $100 or more
Special edition box containing both the game disc and a DVD or Blu-Ray of the documentary, Double Fine Adventure Backer T-shirt, original "Double Fine Adventure" poster (suitable for framing), special thanks in the game’s credits, and all previous reward tiers. (These items are exclusive to the campaign and will be shipped for free in the US. Please add an additional $10 to your pledge for international shipping)

Just sell the stuff after you get it if you don't like it, chances are you will possibly get more out of it that way than cancelling your pledge too.

 

[PlanHex]

This is sort of interesting: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/01/22/a-game-and-a-chat-ep-1-tim-schafer/
Sound is absolute crap, but Tim explains ideas and viewpoints regarding some of the criticism, some improvements that are being made and other stuff.

timestamp for the criticism? 50 minutes is a long video and this RPS guy is fucking annoying, I actually wish him ill.

I'll just do a quick run through:

00:00 First couple of minutes are of no real value, a bit of talk of early access, but mostly technical problems.
06:45 Multiple verbs vs. single AWESOME button, general interaction, why the game feels sort of empty.
12:15 Apparently Full Throttle sold most out of all the old adventure games, though it's not clear whether he counts Grim Fandango since he says elsewhere that FT was the last p'n'c AG they made and GF is not p'n'c. Not clear if he's counting games he didn't work on either, like MI3.
12:40 Hey kids! It's the "RPS guy is too stupid to turn his mic volume down" show!
16:10 Talk about puzzle difficulty, fixing the interface up a bit (especially the inventory), getting stuck and them that like it.
23:15 Future of AGs, turning into IF (walking dead, heavy rain etc)
24:55 Humour and the tone of BA vs. the tone of Lucas Arts AGs
28:30 RPS guy doesn't think the main characters have much character beyond their "break the routine" motivations and Tim disagrees, dodges the question awkwardly.
31:15 Locations in the game
34:00 Kickstarters and what they are, why they wanted to do an embargo, what is an embargo and why DISCUSS!!!
40:00 Early access, why they went with season pass, when is part 2 coming
43:25 Talking about the voice cast until the end

So most of the first 30 minutes is spent talking about the criticism of the game (general interaction, tone and puzzle difficulty). The rest is sort of interesting too, but only if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[Frusciante]

40:00 Early access, why they went with season pass, when is part 2 coming

So when is part 2 coming?