What's your favourite video game video essay?

I want something intriguing with maybe twists and turns. Like a good Summoning Salt video rather than the boring ones

https://youtu.be/Np5PdpsfINA?si=Wb8eCkMuYgVfdSYq

>>714919963 (OP)
Despite watching probably hundreds at this point I couldn't tell you a single good one I just watch them the kill time

>essay
Why watch some dude reading his school assignment out loud for 1h+?

>>714919963 (OP)
I'm not interested in essays, they never have anything interesting to say. I value first hand experiences and first hand documentation not scripted tangents from terrible players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFj1ctZCSMM

I think the ultimate way to shut down anyone seething over an objectively good game is to find a video essay from some contrarian and make note of the fact they are a tranny/leftist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4unKwPQMoOA

Any time I see the same regurgitated "critiques" of Tears of the Kingdom I just remind the poster they are spouting the same talking points as a tranny.

>>714919963 (OP)
This one I guess, I don't really watch them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx4eSkMBx-U

>>714919963 (OP)
The one on YIIK
"The economy is terrible, MUST BE THE BLACKS"

These are great, don't care about his other videos.

>>714919963 (OP)
always enjoy steak's videos. Just watched his cowboy bebop one for the nth time last night

These aren't necessarily video essays but they are vidya related and some of my more favorite comfy videos I come back to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=323t_f4gMgw&list=PL32eDKQnPns6tiq1LQbZwgiei3ym33Hfj&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJAtGLfCGQI&list=LL&index=10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVCen-Hbilc&list=LL&index=14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpG0WfynCOY&list=LL&index=28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdpXph3qsyA&list=LL&index=53
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp2emIikg1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxOKEsBx4NU

>>714919963 (OP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-2YuPGYabw&ab_channel=SuperBunnyhop

An early explanation of MGS2, there are many similar vids now but he was one of the first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV16ROaHVfo&ab_channel=Matthewmatosis

Nothing groundbreaking but I find it incredibly comfy. Analysing the level design of one game beat by beat helps you understand what's good and what's bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbOUsx9De9U&ab_channel=ThorHighHeels

Shows how notoriously difficult 3D fighters were to get right and how Tekken was the only one to consistently do it well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li-Ph_gdqk8&ab_channel=AnyAustin

Interesting in an odd way

>>714919963 (OP)
I recommend my guy. Criminally underrated even for an ESL. Not really essay type but vids are unique, autistic and informative. Every video feels random but isnt and they are usually overly convoluted with a lot of hidden details. Obviously not made to be just a background noise. Its exhausting but rewarding. I dont remember the last time a youtube vid made me chuckle. He gave me shootout in his nine sols vid so i shill him whenever i can.


https://youtu.be/P_8xaTvLFEg

>>714919963 (OP)
>twists
Nothing has ever beaten the sm64 watch for rolling rocks video

>>714922203
his voice sounds like two granite blocks rubbing against each other. No shit its exhausting. I cant stand esl monkeys. Giant balls shilling here retard

Face full of eyes, far cry 2
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mx4eSkMBx-U&pp=ygUbZmFjZSBmdWxsIG9mIGV5ZXMgZmFyIGNyeSAy

>>714920530
totk critiques:
it and botw ruined hyrule warriors (only good zelda game)
it's zelda
it's shit

Both the Running Shine and Tehsnakerer YIIK videos are great.
https://youtu.be/VH7JQtp5Jkc
https://youtu.be/VR1SibNH-lA

Running Shine did a video on OoT as well which is quite good.
The Fear and Hunger videos by Wormgirl are also great but they're basically just Lore Explained videos.
https://youtu.be/hBPiXySuxX4
https://youtu.be/zNxR08GyKWg

Bros is mandalore OK or did he die

>>714919963 (OP)
That one was a masterpiece, I haven't even played the game and I've still listened to it multiple times.

>>714919963 (OP)
No need to use many words when a few sum it up nicely

pick one Matthewmatosis video, any one
he has a clear talent for it and he speaks about games in several layers of understanding. too bad he seems to not be passionate about it anymore.

https://www.youtube.com/@RagnarRoxShow/videos

https://www.youtube.com/@GrimBeard/videos

>>714924816
He made a game and released it on steam. It's small but its progress towards his Vania-like.

>>714920137
2025 and he was 100% correct.

>>714921851
>Any Austin
Any Austin is weird as fuck to me because his whole autistic image is artificial as fuck. He's an incredibly faggy singer/songwriter softboy type, the videogame thing is all an act. Pic related, him not dressed up.

>>714924686
He works for a game company called Hooded Horses doing product experience. Blame them for him dropping off youtube.

>>714921851
super bunny hop was comfy kino 10 years ago
>>714920829
Almost all his vids are comfy to listen to while playing something else
>>714921469
these are all well known vids
>>714922203
watched only 5 minutes. Dude does not give a single fuck. Nobody use this language anymore its actually refreshing

>>714919963 (OP)
I haven't watched any.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G77PUtILxck
>Kingdom Hearts
>Br***ish
Anyway.
This is a few years old and the humor might be a bit dated for some, but I have never heard anyone genuinely bring up why the games are genuinely good other than shallow bullshit.
Clearly he is also aware of the fact that he's talking about retarded babby games, but I think he makes some interesting points.

>>714919963 (OP)
Not gonna listen to some dork for 3 hours to know that mgs4 was bad.

Metal Gear Solid 4 was 17 years ago.
I CHECKED

>>714921469
>Bad company

>good

If he'd said that BF2 on the consoles was good, I'd agree. But Bad Company is the least balanced game in the series. It's unplayable

Matthewmatosis was the only good YT critic.

Running Shine is the only funny YT critic.

Everything else is college tier homework shit. People who spend multiple hours talking, with nothing to say.
Bonus points if there's story recaps to fill out the time and Wikipedia summaries. The whole YT video game essay genre is such a huge fucking waste of time.

>>714925578
>But Bad Company is the least balanced game in the series
really? I find the classes overall very well balanced, nothing feels too OP
theres certainly some stupid shit for sure

>>714919963 (OP)
the 10 hour bomberman one was very good since the entire thing is a set up for him to yell at Konami for being retards

>>714925004
>these are all well known vids
never said otherwise

>>714924921
He revolutionized Minesweeping (Picross for smart people), and then he's going to revolutionize...Purble Place (Masterchef for smart people)

The only good one
https://youtube.com/watch?v=mukhzo9OIL8

>>714925647
Yeah but the issue is that 11000 children still died in Yemen

https://youtu.be/zEWXwMBex_s

>>714925756
well yeah but theres no point recommending a vid everyone already watched. Its always the same few guys

>>714924628
Running Shine is great. For me, it's his THUG and Mischief Makers videos.
>Who the fuck has a Wii in Guatemala?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF5PDi40NSk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaj3yJdYAhk

Most are background noise. You can find better content on specific channels that will give you more insight into the games than the college educated ones. They'll just glimpse the mechanics and the narrative without putting much thought into it. I get more stuff than these guys and I didn't need a Degree for that. Not that I don't like dissertations, it's my favorite literary genre. It's just that the mainstream ones are garbage

>>714925993
idgaf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7JWZQJ7FiU

There's Lute. Basically Running Shine lite, but instead of hispanic, I think he's gay?
Anyway, his video on Kirby DL3 was pretty sweet.

>>714919963 (OP)
>favourite video game video essay?
/v/ is dead and buried

>>714923910
>voice like two granite blocks
its funny cause its true

>>714926397
>peanut butter and jelly sandwich
No way people actually eat that shit.

>>714926397
am i the only one irritated when they do audio mixing by just increasing high frequencies? Dude you are killing me with those S's.

>>714921851
>Shows how notoriously difficult 3D fighters were to get right and how Tekken was the only one to consistently do it well
I watched this and it was "I played 60 games for 2 minutes each in an emulator and gave each one a vibes gloss based on preconceptions"

>>714926375
Here's one for the future anon
>how dare you discuss things I already know in MY thread

>>714921851
>Thor High Heels
I want to murder that nigger. His cadence makes me angry. Like REALLY angry.

OP's video was garbage, it's made for people who did not play the games or secondaries that started with MGSV or Revengeance and want a reason not to play MGS4.

>>714922203
>criminally underated
>makes meme reviews on obscure stuff like hungry ghosts and 50 cent bulletproof for ps2
no shit nigger.
>disco elysium, yakuza, sh2 most viewed vids
wow so suprising. Almost as if you should make vids on interesting stuff people actually care about

Also library too small.

>>714928237
>and want a reason not to play MGS4.
They already have a reason for not playing MGS4

>>714928237
its why i dont watch essay vids. they are killing time by addressing non existent audience

>>714927662
that makes no sense retard. When somebody ask for a movie recommendation you dont recommend top 10 movies on imdb

>>714919963 (OP)
Will I hate this if I unironically love MGS4?

I watched the DS2 video response series by Mauler recently and was surprised by how much I liked it.

>>714930348
No, he does gas it up a bunch as well. It is a funny, although insanely long, video.

>>714924723
Congratulations, you're the kind of retard these videos are aimed towards.
>>714924805
Unfortunately, that requires above average critical thinking something most video essayists lack hence the bloated length and unnecessary recaps that are totally objective and not nitpicked to death.

>>714930348
He has a love/hate relationship with the game. It's not just endless bitching.
As someone who loves MGS4 I think he's right about 90% of it.

>watching video essays

>>714930412
Mauler's SOMA/Amnesia videos are pretty good. I wish he'd go back to games.

>reading video essays

>>714930737
I could be totally off base, but isn't Mauler just some generic grifter playing to the crowd and whining about star wars and shit?

>>714919963 (OP)
The one you posted, which is one of the only youtube videos longer than an hour that's actually worth watching. I also like these
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5v7NLT5fS0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkPMaRAjfc8
and all of Running Shine's videos

>>714930830
That's exactly him

>>714930941
oh fuck that, I can't stand faggots like that.

>>714930830
He's just an autist obsessed with plot holes and contrivances

>>714930830
I wouldn't call Mauler a grifter. I he genuinely believes the stuff he's saying. He just tends to be quite petty and pedantic when it comes to his criticisms especially when he doesn't like something.

He's like the opposite of Critical Drinker who I would call a grifter.

>>714920380
exactly, I honestly feel like I should have moved on from this site from now because it's clear it's full of nothing but children. Why would you listen to this trash? It doesn't matter if it's 'informative' because it probably has conclusions any normal person would have reached clear back in 2008. Is this garbage geared towards 18 yr olds or something? No one can convince it's nothing but noise pollution.

>>714930830
That's half right, half wrong. He was one of the first people onboard the TLJ hate train (understandably), and that's what got him a much bigger following. So he didn't jump on board for popularity, he did it sincerely, then stayed on for popularity.

>>714931123
Bad ones are reading wikipedia
Good ones often give context on the developers, insights into the plot/gameplay, and best of all ARE ENTERTAINING. They have jokes and humor. They have gags. Callbacks. References.

The problem is that due to youtube's algorithm longer videos are prioritized due to watch time metrics so simply giving the detail of every little side quest and dialogue interaction makes for easy youtube bux. There is a reason this thread is about finding the good ones. You can still hate them and just say anyone who watches them is a nigger-faggot or whatever, but I enjoy them. Usually though, I must admit, they are second monitor material when I am playing a more casual game without much story. For example, been playing Monster Train 2 lately and they're entertaining to watch while playing that.

>>714919963 (OP)
I really liked this one
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8ktMg4eQ1G8

>>714931123
guess how i know you are underage. Come back in 5 years

>>714919963 (OP)
i've never watched a videogame essay.

>>714925313
I liked his Fantastic Four and Hercules videos

>>714931414
He struck a nerve

>>714919963 (OP)
Overall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=779coR-XPTw
Probably a little much to get into without watching his other videos first though.

Something a lot smaller, and also Steak Bentley's best video (it's not vidya):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8-GrO25zBQ

Obscure video that absolutely obliterates two recent indie games:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIl6t_ndw38

Hopefully someone watches one of these and likes them as much as I did. The first one got me to leave my house and check out my hometown years down the road, I can't say any other Youtube video has ever gotten me to go out and do anything IRL

>>714922203
>that intro
Not gonna watch an hour long video from a litaral who but that intro was kino

If your video is over 30 minutes then you do not have a quality video worth watching. Garbage video with a longer run time than the god damn titanic, 3 hours of saying fucking nothing.
Holy fuck no thanks.

>>714926094
I am watching this running shine guy for the first time and he feels like in AVGN and RLM had a baby. He has the voice very similar to James, but clearly is influenced by RLM in his humor and editing style.
This is not an insult by the way, the THUG one is pretty good so far.

>>714931123
sour grapes

>>714931728
People have written books analyzing a film or two and games can easily be 100 hours long. Condensing 100 hours of game into a 3 hour video is not THAT long when you think about it.
HOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWEEEEEVVEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRR I agree that way too many of these people just go WATCHTIME METRICS GOOD FOR ALGORITHM and don't actually try to edit down their shit.

>>714919963 (OP)
I’ve been really enjoying Majuular’s Ultima series lately

>>714931860
Yeah, Majuular is top tier and a more recent youtuber. He has a good sense of humor that is pretty laidback and clearly respects the older crowd of reviewers that paved the way for the current generation like spoony, avgn, etc.
It is also clear he browses /v/, he has just enough old 4chan memes spread throughout his videos so that it is obvious to anyone who has been here a while, but he doesn't come across as trying too hard. Just overall really good and I am glad that someone can actually start producing quality stuff and we're not just gonna be watching the same crop of guys until they eventually get too old to be talking about video games.

>>714919963 (OP)
don't have one because all I've seen is just faggots playing through the game and commentating. I'd assume anyone watching that essay already finished the game, why not focus on themes from the get go? it's obvious these niggers don't do it so they can monetize a longer video

>>714931823
>long videos good for algo
this is a meme. Only if you dont waste too much time while making it. nothing will kill your soul more than heavily editing and producing high quality hour long video that nobody watches and cant break 1000 views. Thats why everyone is just dubbing over trailers and droning endlessly and its why a youtuber is either sla sell out, or he gives up before being discovered

>>714930830
based on how little his personality and tastes have changed from when he was a nobody, i'd say he's 99% sincere

>>714931339
So it's a pacifier because you're an 'adult' infant. Good to know.

>>714932165
I mean sure, if it doesn't hit then it sucks, but there are plenty of youtubers I watch where if you go through their catalogue of videos their longest ones always have noticeably more views.

>>714932314
yeah i am now give me your tits, bitch i want some milkies

>>714919963 (OP)
Other than the GOAT Mathewmatosis I like The Electric Underground even though his vids are not really essays but closer to rants/guy giving his thoughts.

Lately I've been finding the genre unwatchable, 90% of those essays are just a summary of everything that happens in the game with barely any talk about gameplay and zero insight. There's also the mandatory first 20min spent talking about irrelevant bullshit.

>>714932162
there are videos in this thread that aren't summaries
that's kind of the point of the thread

>>714922203
I like how he basically called everyone who admires Automata a fucking child and every youtuber talking about it a fucking retard. In fact I am amazed just how unapologetically offensive this video actually is. Good shill

>>714924838
Based grim beard viewer

>>714926094
>Shake Shake

>>714931734
Well I knew I liked him because the first thing I watched was his Sonic video and in about the first 30 seconds he was already screaming about how the music made him want to fucking cum.

>>714919963 (OP)
Owen's own masterpiece
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCTLooN7gUE

>>714920530
>Even a tranny is more based than tendies

>>714919963 (OP)
>3:26:54
Why is being long-winded and not getting to the point not only accepted but celebrated in video game essays? I don't see movie or book essays wasting my time like that.

>>714925647
Majuular is a comfy critic

how are you gorillas able to watch something thats longer than fellowship of the ring dir. cut?

>thread full of advertisements

>>714941358
You think that’s bad?
Some people here watch essays longer than the DCs of the ENTIRE TRILOGY.
11 hours and 23 minutes. There’s an Oblivion Analysis that’s 12 hours long from a guy who made a Skyrim one that’s 20 hours long with both parts combined. Absolutely ridiculous, and yes I’m pretty sure both videos just go over every quest and bit of dialogue in the game or something because I watched 30 minutes of the Morrowind one in 2019.

>>714941358
>>714941609
You don't watch these videos, you put them on as background noise while shitposting. A human voice makes you feel less lonely. A sign of our times!

>>714919963 (OP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqfFyX-POo0

>>714919963 (OP)
You posted it,

>people are now watching others play a game
>people are now relying on others to explain the plot of a game
>people are now relying on others to give them an opinion of a game
Will you faggots ever start playing a game?

>>714941853
Sir you can't play video games here this is /v/

>>714919963 (OP)
1 hour and 24 minutes of esoteric jewish mythos, psychology and philosophy, explained through the lens of a series of anime games about love and giant robots.
ABSOLUTE. FUCKING. CINEMA.
https://youtu.be/x1Baa4KK8sM?si=7VXkY7OjclyzwoER

>>714941935
Finally something interesting, thanks.

Never knows best is the most nuanced videogame youtuber I'm aware of at the moment, I walk away with new perspectives on all of his videos as my tastes are just close enough but still seperate to get something out of every video. I prefer his general videos to game specific ones but this is a good showcase of his style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B34PBHYmcnQ

>>714919963 (OP)
MGS4 is the supreme MidWit filter. You are either smart enough to understand how it predicts the way commercialized entertainment and social media will be used to promote wars under the guise of "Good guys vs bad guys" while telling you to ignore the cost in lives or dumb enough to laugh at how many times they say nanomachines. The only people who hate it are the same 110 IQ redditors responsible for every game becoming either coffee shop heckin wholesome fantasy or quirk chungus ironic humor slop.

>>714942112
He might have some good takes, but I will never know. His faggy voice always filters me within the first few seconds of watching one of his videos.

theres only 2 things that are a bigger waste of time than playing video games
1. watching other people play games for you on twitch
2. watching video game essays

>>714919963 (OP)
Watch nerrel. I watch his videos on repeat. It's too good.

https://www.youtube.com/@Nerrel

I also recommend Max Derrat, he has some INCREDIBLY insightful stuff about SH2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G24kDQdkwlM

>>714942314
>the way commercialized entertainment and social media will be used to promote wars under the guise of "Good guys vs bad guys"
But even before social media existed this is how every war was promoted?

>>714942560
No there is in fact, one bigger waste of time than any of that.

Opening threads on /v/ that make you upset

>>714942764
ok, continue wasting your life watching video game essays of all things

>>714919963 (OP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxQHRHGqbYc

>>714942951
OK, continue wasting your life browsing 4chan of all places :D

>>714920530
Jesus christ this is pure autism but you really cant argue against it

https://youtu.be/0twDETh6QaI came to mind

>8 hour """"analysis"""" ( Plot summary)
>Comments filled with people saying they put on the video to fall asleep or as background noise when wageslaving.

Do the uploaders care that people are so uninterested in what they have to say that they are essentially nothing more than some fag that genrates white noise?

>>714919963 (OP)
essay just some guy reading the plot and beats of the game and going ahh I didnt like it

>>714925647
Nerrel always mogged the fuck out of MatthewHalitosis

https://youtu.be/Pjpdkw_Go5c

>>714931123
>>714932314
lmao you type like a faggot

>>714922203
kek

>>714933609
He still says its a good game. I think he is just taking a piss cause its like a theme. Its what dragon does. He cuts to dragon taking a shit all the the time as well

>>714942314
We didnt know how good we got it. Both with Kojima and games. It was the beginning of the end

>>714931734
Oh yeah.
>And then the urban market stole my tv
vs
>I asked him about his favorite game and he stole my wallet.

>>714919963 (OP)
I'm not gay so I don't watch these sorry

>>714919963 (OP)
i like marsh's vids (smt guy. now random horror game guy) if they count but they're more like let's plays

>>714919963 (OP)
Really enjoyed Ultima Retrospective by Majuular
Ancient Romans by Punchy
Running shine and Playing YIIK made me think we're already mentioned.
Game-adjacent Slope's Amico video and oof.mp3

there's some Mauler stuff that I have watched more than once. I like when he gets scathing and absolutely shits on something or someone, it's so cathartic to hear him crap on a sacred cow when no one else did. basically I recommend his Soma vid where he shits on joseph anderson, it's so satisfying.

Spoony's FF8 review is the greatest of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFTkY0IFL1g

how do you make a thread full of zoomers for 100

>>714919963 (OP)
Whitelight's videos in general, they're all golden, though his most recent Minecraft vid or AC Parkour are probably the best. The dude has insane script writing skills and I like how he rightfuflly shits on retarded shit in games while also not being a boomer pandering fag.

>>714919963 (OP)
https://youtu.be/779coR-XPTw?si=pb1Dpb6iEie7chW-
sincerity and some random esoteric knowledge of fine details and other cool insights that often come from outside the game or within the game itself

If you have a favorite essay video you are clinically insane.

Post some good ones fellas. Everyone I used to watch either stopped or suck ass now. Joseph anderson, matthewmatosis etc etc

Just one dude taking a shit on a game so hard he got blacklisted by the company and hit with dmca strikes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kD_QhYgIA4

>zoomers can't develop an opinion by themselves and can't think on their own and need videoessays to tell them what to think and how to think
Grim

The only competently written youtube video essay was the one by facefullofeyes on Far Cry 2. Very nice editing as well. The rest is slop.

>>714958931
>>714959467
art critics go back hundreds of years you mongoloids

This Crash Bash one is fun because I played Crash Bash as a kid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvxeHOMuLCM
I accidentally made a nearly 4 hour long "video essay" myself a few years ago. Less than 1k views and I'm proud of it but I'd rather not repeat the process of making it.

>>714958925
hey brit. sorey that u fell off

>>714919963 (OP)
A gacha thread died for this slop shill thread

>>714946271
>Hbomberguy

>>714958647
>>714931620
>Tim Rogers
good to see some anons with taste. Video essays our either wikipedia summaries or packed with random bullshit, and I'll take random bullshit any time. Tim's up his own ass and clearly thinks he's very smart, but he also knows he's an asshole and is really funny. I always go back to this video and rewatch the bit about the fat kid eating a whole pizza. I'll watch anything Rogers puts out.

>>714919963 (OP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a1jHvi2CJ8&t=6015s
Fucking love Andrew Bluett's shit. Parts of it are the more boring recaps, but he always manages to track down weird development stories and details I've never heard. His section in the FFV video about the history of english fan translations was fascinating. Thats probably my favorite one he's done, but this one just came out yesterday so I'm linking it. Ignore his terrible basedboy pfp.

Not a video essay, but something better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bo6Cbeq18k&t=4555s&pp=ygURa2luZ2RvbSBoZWFycyAxMDE%3D

>>714957385
He's really fun to listen to, even when he talks about stuff I have no interest in.

>>714963924
I put it in the thread because it's a great analysis of the director's intention for the game and the cultural impetus that lead to it being created. The Kansas part is great too and both shows how the game affected him and was a way for him to try and do the same thing as the game's director. I think he pulled it off very well because it's what caused me to go outside and do stuff, as I mentioned in my post

>>714957385
I feel like his recent scripts are too pretensions, for the lack of the better word. But I fully agree that his AC parkour video is goat

>>714960551
Exactly. Acting like Critique was invented with YouTube thumbnails and basedfaces is peak smoothbrain energy. Whether it’s a 4000-word essay in a French art quarterly or a dude ranting into a webcam while half-drunk, it's still media analysis. Just because some of these zoomers think a jump cut every five seconds is the pinnacle of literary insight doesn’t mean all video essays are bad. There’s a difference between some hack regurgitating a Wikipedia article and someone like, idk, Noah Caldwell or old Tim Rogers, actually building a perspective around a game’s themes, mechanics, and development history.