Friends, I am thrilled to inform you that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an absolute banger of a video game. At least, that's my opinion in the first few hours. Its art style is riveting, its writing tight and smart, its voice acting excellent, its story intriguing, its characters unique, and its gameplay downright delightful.
Not sure how long it'll take me to get through this game considering all the other stuff I have going in in, you know, life, but once I do you can be absolutely sure it will merit a video essay.
I finally finished reading Wind and Truth. It is, to be certain, the MOST book I have ever read. I will now briefly review it for you, spoiler free.
It's... not good. Not even just not great. It's legitimately not a good book. I LOVE almost all of Sanderson's other work. I even enjoyed the slow pacing of Rhythm of War. But WaT is agonizingly slow. There is so much bloat and so many repeated talking points. The pacing also isn't helped by the constant POV switching. I can think of one time there was a whole chapter (25+ minutes of audio book) devoted to a single scene. Remember when EVERY chapter was dedicated to a single character's POV? Those were the days.
That's hardly the only problem. The character "arcs" all feel the same with minor variations, some of the changes come out of absolutely nowhere and feel unearned and lame. The Stormlight Archive has always been about battling depression and struggling to forgive yourself, among other themes, but it never read like a self-help book before. It does now. And not just in one plotline. There's so little subtlety to it, too. It's just told to you over and over and over again.
Then there's the "representation" aspect which has been present since Oathbringer but really comes to the forefront now. This just feels like Brandon capitulating to the masses, or at least to the vocal minority who demand he have a gay romance and a trans character. Discussions of the morality of such choices are beyond the scope of this post, but suffice it to say I disagree with the worldview Mr. Sanderson has now apparently endorsed. Not to mention it's going to date this book horribly.
Going back to an earlier point, it drove me nuts how many times it was hammered into my head that Renarin is autistic. Yes, I know you can't actually say the word because it "doesn't fit in universe". Believe me, I understand.
But beside all that, the plot is just a mess. The twists don't land AT ALL, especially the last big one which relies on an ability that was literally made up on the spot. That's not how Sanderson magic has ever worked before. What happened to the hard magic system that Sigzil could quantify?
I won't really talk about the ending, but I genuinely hated it. It didn't do what an ending of a five book arc should do. I will leave it at that.
So if you've been considering getting into Stormlight or Brandon Sanderson in general, here's my recommendation: read the first Mistborn trilogy and read Stormlight 1-3. After Oathbringer, you really don't need to waste your time.
Man that hurts to write. I want to love these books so badly. I've largely ignored many of their flaws, but Wind and Truth was just a bridge too far. It needed to go through at least 3 more revisions to tighten up the writing, but I don't think even that could fix the character arcs that all mimiced each other and the absolutely horrendous ending.
I do love Adolin, though. There's a plotpoint in his arc that just... felt completely unnecessary and didn't add anything, not to mention ended up being totally unrealistic, and I don't love how much he internally whines about his dad, but he's still a great character.
Have you read WaT? What are your thoughts? Will you come back for book 6? As of this moment, there's almost no chance I will.
Please please please be good. I absolutely love both Star Wars and XCOM. If this game reaches anywhere near its potential I will play it for an absurd number of hours. Like at least 50.
Just finished watching Starship Troopers for the first time (finally). I feel like if that movie were made today, it definitely would have included an arc where our heroes realize that the Federation are the bad guys, actually. Because it's definitely hinted that, at the very least, the Federation isn't innocent in this war.
But it includes not even a hint of that, which is super interesting. It lets you simply watch these three friends celebrate their victory. There's a lot to unpack there, which I won't get into in a post, but it makes me think of the scene in Band of Brothers where the German officer gives a speech to his men, and the onlooking US paratroopers find out that their enemies are in fact much like them, that the German experience in combat has mirrored their own, that selfless bravery and brotherly love are not unique to the side that is, legitimately, on the right side of history.
That is to say, heroism can be found even on the wrong side. If you or I grew up in the propaganda-infested (pun intended) Federation, would we be wrong if we simply believed what we'd been told all our lives and fought for the survival of our species? Would we not be rightly deemed heroes if we fought and sacrificed for the good of our friends, of our brothers in arms? Obviously, those who actually know the truth about Federation, or Nazi Germany, or whatever have significant and serious capability, but for the foot soldiers, the 18 year old men who were thrust into combat? Can we possibly condemn them?
I'm honestly not sure if the answer is a hard no. Perhaps, if you are to go war, you REALLY should make sure it is for a good cause. But how possible even is that? I don't know. I have a lot more questions than answers, obviously. Perhaps a topic for a future video.
Hello there! This isn't something I would normally do, but I felt called to share this fundraiser. If you are able to support it in any way, that would be amazing.
Combat: 9.5/10. Half point off is only cause the duels are kinda lame on Lethal. The rest is absolutely amazing.
Main story: 8.5/10. Really enjoying Jin’s arc and main struggle, and the contrast between Yuna and Shimura. Not enough of it, honestly.
Side quest stories: 5.5/10 on average. Plot points don’t get fleshed out well enough for my liking. Things just kinda happen. Decent thematic elements at times.
Art style: 9/10. Absolutely beautiful game. It’s a little cocky about it though. Almost too much at times.
Open world/mini quest design: 6/10. It’s not all that interactive. I like that there are random encounters and plenty of freedom. But there are far, far too many Fox Dens and Shrines, which are utterly boring. Haikus are fun though.
Overall, probably 8/10 for me so far (all categories not weighted the same). Incredibly satisfying combat, good main story which I wish dominated more of my time playing the game.
Master Samwise
Master Samwise
Friends, I am thrilled to inform you that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an absolute banger of a video game. At least, that's my opinion in the first few hours. Its art style is riveting, its writing tight and smart, its voice acting excellent, its story intriguing, its characters unique, and its gameplay downright delightful.
Not sure how long it'll take me to get through this game considering all the other stuff I have going in in, you know, life, but once I do you can be absolutely sure it will merit a video essay.
1 week ago | [YT] | 453
View 29 replies
Master Samwise
In case you missed it, my newest movie is out now!
1 week ago | [YT] | 153
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Master Samwise
New video on Jin Sakai is coming out tomorrow! Finally. I love making these essays on video game characters but MAN do they take a long time.
I will be following that up in a couple weeks with my review of Andor Season 2. And then my boy Hiccup will finally get his day in the sun.
1 week ago | [YT] | 386
View 23 replies
Master Samwise
The three moods of Sabaton:
I'm feeling patriotic for a country I've never even been to.
I am inspired by the incredible feats of this badass.
Oh my gosh war really is hell.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 898
View 43 replies
Master Samwise
Hello there Stormlight fans!
I finally finished reading Wind and Truth. It is, to be certain, the MOST book I have ever read. I will now briefly review it for you, spoiler free.
It's... not good. Not even just not great. It's legitimately not a good book. I LOVE almost all of Sanderson's other work. I even enjoyed the slow pacing of Rhythm of War. But WaT is agonizingly slow. There is so much bloat and so many repeated talking points. The pacing also isn't helped by the constant POV switching. I can think of one time there was a whole chapter (25+ minutes of audio book) devoted to a single scene. Remember when EVERY chapter was dedicated to a single character's POV? Those were the days.
That's hardly the only problem. The character "arcs" all feel the same with minor variations, some of the changes come out of absolutely nowhere and feel unearned and lame. The Stormlight Archive has always been about battling depression and struggling to forgive yourself, among other themes, but it never read like a self-help book before. It does now. And not just in one plotline. There's so little subtlety to it, too. It's just told to you over and over and over again.
Then there's the "representation" aspect which has been present since Oathbringer but really comes to the forefront now. This just feels like Brandon capitulating to the masses, or at least to the vocal minority who demand he have a gay romance and a trans character. Discussions of the morality of such choices are beyond the scope of this post, but suffice it to say I disagree with the worldview Mr. Sanderson has now apparently endorsed. Not to mention it's going to date this book horribly.
Going back to an earlier point, it drove me nuts how many times it was hammered into my head that Renarin is autistic. Yes, I know you can't actually say the word because it "doesn't fit in universe". Believe me, I understand.
But beside all that, the plot is just a mess. The twists don't land AT ALL, especially the last big one which relies on an ability that was literally made up on the spot. That's not how Sanderson magic has ever worked before. What happened to the hard magic system that Sigzil could quantify?
I won't really talk about the ending, but I genuinely hated it. It didn't do what an ending of a five book arc should do. I will leave it at that.
So if you've been considering getting into Stormlight or Brandon Sanderson in general, here's my recommendation: read the first Mistborn trilogy and read Stormlight 1-3. After Oathbringer, you really don't need to waste your time.
Man that hurts to write. I want to love these books so badly. I've largely ignored many of their flaws, but Wind and Truth was just a bridge too far. It needed to go through at least 3 more revisions to tighten up the writing, but I don't think even that could fix the character arcs that all mimiced each other and the absolutely horrendous ending.
I do love Adolin, though. There's a plotpoint in his arc that just... felt completely unnecessary and didn't add anything, not to mention ended up being totally unrealistic, and I don't love how much he internally whines about his dad, but he's still a great character.
Have you read WaT? What are your thoughts? Will you come back for book 6? As of this moment, there's almost no chance I will.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 292
View 100 replies
Master Samwise
Please please please be good. I absolutely love both Star Wars and XCOM. If this game reaches anywhere near its potential I will play it for an absurd number of hours. Like at least 50.
1 month ago | [YT] | 142
View 10 replies
Master Samwise
Can you think of any movies/shows/games that are technically well written but have bad themes?
1 month ago | [YT] | 344
View 250 replies
Master Samwise
Just finished watching Starship Troopers for the first time (finally). I feel like if that movie were made today, it definitely would have included an arc where our heroes realize that the Federation are the bad guys, actually. Because it's definitely hinted that, at the very least, the Federation isn't innocent in this war.
But it includes not even a hint of that, which is super interesting. It lets you simply watch these three friends celebrate their victory. There's a lot to unpack there, which I won't get into in a post, but it makes me think of the scene in Band of Brothers where the German officer gives a speech to his men, and the onlooking US paratroopers find out that their enemies are in fact much like them, that the German experience in combat has mirrored their own, that selfless bravery and brotherly love are not unique to the side that is, legitimately, on the right side of history.
That is to say, heroism can be found even on the wrong side. If you or I grew up in the propaganda-infested (pun intended) Federation, would we be wrong if we simply believed what we'd been told all our lives and fought for the survival of our species? Would we not be rightly deemed heroes if we fought and sacrificed for the good of our friends, of our brothers in arms? Obviously, those who actually know the truth about Federation, or Nazi Germany, or whatever have significant and serious capability, but for the foot soldiers, the 18 year old men who were thrust into combat? Can we possibly condemn them?
I'm honestly not sure if the answer is a hard no. Perhaps, if you are to go war, you REALLY should make sure it is for a good cause. But how possible even is that? I don't know. I have a lot more questions than answers, obviously. Perhaps a topic for a future video.
1 month ago | [YT] | 583
View 161 replies
Master Samwise
Hello there! This isn't something I would normally do, but I felt called to share this fundraiser. If you are able to support it in any way, that would be amazing.
givesendgo.com/GCEZY?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medi…
1 month ago | [YT] | 278
View 6 replies
Master Samwise
Halfway or so through Ghost of Tsushima:
Combat: 9.5/10. Half point off is only cause the duels are kinda lame on Lethal. The rest is absolutely amazing.
Main story: 8.5/10. Really enjoying Jin’s arc and main struggle, and the contrast between Yuna and Shimura. Not enough of it, honestly.
Side quest stories: 5.5/10 on average. Plot points don’t get fleshed out well enough for my liking. Things just kinda happen. Decent thematic elements at times.
Art style: 9/10. Absolutely beautiful game. It’s a little cocky about it though. Almost too much at times.
Open world/mini quest design: 6/10. It’s not all that interactive. I like that there are random encounters and plenty of freedom. But there are far, far too many Fox Dens and Shrines, which are utterly boring. Haikus are fun though.
Overall, probably 8/10 for me so far (all categories not weighted the same). Incredibly satisfying combat, good main story which I wish dominated more of my time playing the game.
1 month ago | [YT] | 480
View 35 replies
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