Another short post today, on a couple of gaming phenomenon that hold a special place in my heart.
Video gaming is an odd entertainment medium, because it can encompass almost all the others. A game can be a game, movie or book (albeit with pictures) depending entirely upon how it is presented. This is why I love Let’s Play and everything that comes from it.
If you are unfamiliar, the above is just two examples of a massive array of games that have been played (so you don’t have to) and recorded or screen-capped, usually with “witty” commentary by the player, by individuals and uploaded. It is mainly based out of the Something Awful forums – although there are many youtubers who do it as well, really, really badly – which are sometimes open to the public, sometimes not. Thankfully for the lazy or cheap, FromEarth created the lparchive, cateloguing all the best and reuploading their videos or screenshots for all to see.
Why do I enjoy LPs? Well, other than because I’m cheap and lazy (thus meaning I don’t own any major console or want to play every game that interests me), I find that the commentary added enriches the experience. I also find that LPs of games I have played can often be even more interesting than those I have not, due to a familiarity with the story coupled with attitudes and experiences I may not have had access to.
It is also a brilliant way to discover the narrative and full story behind a universe that may have suffered from a genre you are not partial to or controls that enraged you (or it may, as in the case of the Silent Hill series for me, scare your pants off).
Certainly one of the best parts of LPs is that the creator is free to add or manipulate the story of the game they are playing as they go. A wonderful example is the UFO/X-Com series (all available on the LP Archive) where the multiple authors created an entire – utterly brilliant, utterly bonkers – plot stretching across four titles.
A word of warning, not all LPs are so brilliant. Personally I actually prefer (mostly) screenshot LPs, simply because most people do not know how to be funny infront of a microphone. An exception is Vice City, which was certainly humourous.
The other form gaming can take is racing.
Now this, this is the best gaming you will see outside of extremely brilliant e-sports. This is the ultimate beat the system mentality up against walls that are meant to be solid, bunnies that are not meant to be hopped and barriers that were supposedly unbreakable.
The best example I have seen thus far is still Half-Life in 30 minutes. No, really. Take a look during a lunch break. Everything is a dance of perfection, a half hour slide show of clutch shots, mind-bending bugs and superb jumps. Picking out best parts is almost impossible – is it the combat, every shot bang on target; or perhaps the bunny hops, always perfect, never missing; or maybe the brilliant beginning, using a vortegaunt’s head as a launching platform?
There are others that may amaze you more, such as Morrowind and the work of attrition that is Final Fantasy VII in less than eight hours. Do not expect your favourite games to be treated with respect however, some Speed Runs are awfully dull; relying on a single trick to beat 95% of the game (looking at you, Viewtiful Joe)
Speed runs is actually what led me to LPs. I began watching then in an attempt to learn the plot of games – something I quickly discovered was almost impossible, most cutscenes being skippable. The two compliment each other so well – watch the LP for 100% completion and total understanding and then the speed run for ridiculous displays of skill.
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Still don’t have this review ready. It’ll happen. In the mean time, read my other words over on StarCraft: Legacy. Be happy for my Sunday Papers get. And rejoice as I confirm a spot (on Thursdays) as part of GamingDaily.
Oh, and I added my real name to the site. You know, cause I don’t think going by ChaosSmurf irl is a step I want to take. Yet.