Spoony versus FFX
- Thread starter Lord Noctis
- Start date
DrakeClawfang
The Wanderer of Time
There's a difference between not having suspension of disbelief, and not being able to stretch yours as far as other people can. I'm accepting of a lot in the FF series, but Blitzball *is* pretty damn stupid.
The Twilight Mexican
Ex-SeeD-ingly good
- AKA
- TresDias
Yeah, it's kind of ridiculous to complain about the "vaguely defined" nature of something like the ability that turns monsters into cards. That's obviously there for gameplay purposes so that those who don't want to play the card game -- e.g. Spoony -- in order to reap its benefits don't have to.
Really, to complain about that after complaining about the card game itself just seems like bitching for the sake of bitching. You're always doing some kind of busy work in JRPGs, so to complain about the option of "still substituting one kind of busy work for another" is just a little w.t.f. to me.
All that matters to me is that it's given some kind of internal logic, and they took the time to do that -- i.e. pyreflies already permeate everything in Spira, bond especially well to water (this is how spheres and materia are formed), and so they play a role in water congealing the way it does in sphere pools, as well as in the matter of players who are already good at holding their breath being able to play for extended periods without losing their stamina.
Given everything else pyreflies do, it's easy enough to accept that and go on with enjoying the well-developed setting.
Anyway, back to Spoony's review of FFVIII: The first seven installments are really good -- even the "hallucinatory wonderland" episode where he starts reviewing FFVII instead. As you predicted, Drake, the naming of Angelo and Rinoa -- and the shenanigans that ensued -- had me laughing my ass off.
At part eight, there starts to be some annoying complaints again and a couple of other problems, but on the whole, this part is still quite good.
Production values went up around this time, leading to some occasionally funny but overly long segments, and his comments felt less contemporaneous here. We also see the aforementioned bitching about the ability to turn monsters into cards.
The "Well, if they don't have cable, they probably don't have fucking televisions either!" comment was good stuff, and the Seifer-->Anakin comparison was hilarious. As was the comment about Selphie being one high-school-heartbreak away from becoming the chick from "Audition."
The comment that Laguna's team was infiltrating Superman's Fortress of Solitude was funny too, but then we're back into Pointless Bitching Land. He complains that it's odd that Laguna and his partners have the same junctions as Squall's team, and asks "Did none of these characters think this is at all unusual?"
Well, in fact, they did. Which is why it gets brought up several times during the game.
And then, of course, there's the complaints about whether the keys Laguna can find and immediately lose in the Lunatic Pandora excavation site even had a purpose. Which, once again, there's really no excuse to not know the answer to this 10 years after the game's release.
His reaction to the end of that sequence with Laguna's tickling of Ward to treat a throat injury -- and his subsequent throwing of his wounded companions over the edge of a cliff -- got things back on track, though. That was golden.
Reference to Superboy Prime punching the walls of reality scored him some points with me too.
We're back into high-quality territory with part nine (even the Doctor Insano skits), and we stay there for pretty much the rest of the review. "Squall says no, but his hands and his hips say 'God, yes!'" XD
Confused as to how he didn't realize the Galbadian troop vehicles were stored in the desert prison rather than a random garage somewhere in the desert, though, and if you think Ultimecia had no motivation, then, well, you're just not paying attention.
In conclusion, I disagreed with a lot of his opinions (which is fine, and inevitable) but understood the grief for several, was baffled at a few of his complaints, and wondered how he could possibly miss some other things (for real, how do you not pick up on Ulty's motivations?). Still, I laughed a lot.
If the rest of the FFX review can be anything like this, it'll be fun. But so far it's not got a single funny element to it.
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DrakeClawfang
The Wanderer of Time
Ah, I had never been made aware of the role of pyreflies in Blitzball. But then, the spheres was something I personally found a bit odd, because in Spira it seems spheres can do everything. They burn things, freeze things, provide electricity, they're video recorders, etc.
You overall hit the nail on the head with Spoony, some gags work and some don't, depends on who you are. The skits are funny but some do drag - Dr. Insano is funny, but in small doses, not five minutes at once. I find it's also the one-liners I remember a lot. "No smartass those are boats, shut up."
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ForceStealer
Double Growth
That may very well be my favorite line in the entirety of the FF8 review.
The Twilight Mexican
Ex-SeeD-ingly good
- AKA
- TresDias
That one was pretty awesome. I had to play that sequence like three times in a row before finishing the video the first time. XD
Celes Chere
Banned
- AKA
- Noctis
Heh, I like this guy. He hates FFVIII.
And Tidus.
My Hero.
And Tidus.
My Hero.
Masamune
Fiat Lux
- AKA
- Masa
I much prefer Spoony's old skool videos. Back then he was just an ordinary guy who didn't have to rely on cheap special effects and theatrical personae. However, like a lot of online entertainers, they start to believe their own hype and develop a self-indulgent routine.
I didn't think his review was all that, tbh. He was being too pragmatic about the whimsical aspects of FFX, instead of chewing on what really let the game down. That was only part one, so there's some margin for error.
I didn't think his review was all that, tbh. He was being too pragmatic about the whimsical aspects of FFX, instead of chewing on what really let the game down. That was only part one, so there's some margin for error.
DrakeClawfang
The Wanderer of Time
He's always had this persona to some degree or another. Let's not forget the many many "We'll be right back" screens, and the fact that in his first review he put an NES Zapper to his head and rapid-fired the trigger because the game was so bad.
Masamune
Fiat Lux
- AKA
- Masa
You misunderstand. I'm talking about putting emphasis on characters like "Dr. Insano" etc. They're fine in small doses, but anything more and they detract from the heart of his reviews.
DrakeClawfang
The Wanderer of Time
Agreed - with a few exceptions like Street Fighter and Clones of Bruce Lee, Insano does appear more sporadically now.
Lord Noctis
Harbinger of Darkness
- AKA
- Caius Ballad
Looks like Spoony decided to talka bout XIII for a while. You have to endure a little wrestling talk before he gets to XIII, but It doesn't take him to logn to get past that part.
http://spoonyexperiment.com/2010/04/03/vlog-4-3-10/#comments
http://spoonyexperiment.com/2010/04/03/vlog-4-3-10/#comments
Lord Noctis
Harbinger of Darkness
- AKA
- Caius Ballad
http://spoonyexperiment.com/2010/06/13/final-fantasy-x-review-part-2/#comments
Second part is up, finally. I really like FFX, but damn if this isn't the funniest thing I've seen this week. I think most of his complaints are more valid this time around, and I'd even agree with some of them.
Second part is up, finally. I really like FFX, but damn if this isn't the funniest thing I've seen this week. I think most of his complaints are more valid this time around, and I'd even agree with some of them.
Tennyo
Higher Further Faster
I know this post is old but I just saw it and must nitpick.
They aren't breathing underwater they are holding their breath!!!!
DrakeClawfang
The Wanderer of Time
He sang....XDXDXDXD
ForceStealer
Double Growth
That was definitely better from the first part, and he at least had some legitimate complaints this time. But this still pales in comparison to his VIII review.
Also, I've decided that one thing far more annoying than the laughter scene is people complaining about it. The scene's about two minutes but people have been bitching about it for 9 years.
(He does get kudos for pointing out that the scene sounds identical in Japanese though)
Also, I've decided that one thing far more annoying than the laughter scene is people complaining about it. The scene's about two minutes but people have been bitching about it for 9 years.
(He does get kudos for pointing out that the scene sounds identical in Japanese though)
Strangelove
AI Researcher
- AKA
- hitoshura
The blitzball tournament wasn't in Bevelle. It took me a while to remember but it was Luka.
If you're playing the game, you can at least remember that
If you're playing the game, you can at least remember that
Gabranth
Banned
The blitzball tournament wasn't in Bevelle. It took me a while to remember but it was Luka.
If you're playing the game, you can at least remember that
Spoony is not playing the game. He's having someone record footage while they play and he just provides the witty commentary with the footage they give him.
I can't blame him, especially since he's heading off to E3. I know I wouldn't want to play a game I hate for ten hours. (the amount of footage he had to watch to make Part 2)