Review: Owlboy

I still love you.
Owlboy's on Steam here: store.steampowe...
Last week on the podcast, we sprinted through some fast talking about Hitman, The Witness, Peace Walker and unintentional EA Origin trade embargos: www.thatonevide...
(Spoilers: is everyone gonna hate me because I thought Owlboy was only okay?)

[@ew275x]

If the super bunny hop channel keeps being developed for 9 years will it just be a noodle?

[@IMatchoNation]

#SuperNoodlehop2k25

[@EpicLuigi24]

Yes.

[@CafeLovai]

Isn't that the plan?

[@divinitydoe]

God... I hope so.

[@Mamedliemin]

/music plays

[@Hailey_piggie]

The God damn noodles return.

[@larkhainan]

it just keeps noodlin'!!!

[@BARMN89]

The noodles will remain as long as you spite them.

[@iMizutsune]

I completely lost it, out of nowhere ahaha

[@tarkovskijnoir]

You were almost a Noodle Sandwich!!

[@lincolnnoronha4128]

I think the noodle is what is at the center of the maze in Westworld.

[@Tigerman9001]

ah yes, I remember "noodles" from my childhood. so nostalgic

[@creativeusername6453]

that mother fucking noodle clip

[@epicgamer2727]

This review begs the question. Is change needed for every game? One man's disdain for retreading tropes can be someone else's nostalgia kicking in.

[@LoliconSamalik]

I say there should be a balance. relying on nostalgia is only gonna hold a series back. Especially when the series is at a better position now than before. (See Pokemon) But not realizing the original design philosophies that made it what it was to begin with can eventually lead to alienation. (see the transition of Mario World to the confusing 64)

[@chickmcjr]

Stop being so ignorant and patronising. He mentions multiple issues he has with the game,. His complaint about no new mechanics isn't the entire video. "All Japanese games are the same (except Dark Souls)" ...Are you a real person?

[@LoliconSamalik]

***** Yeah. Because Sonic and Mario sure play alike, don't they?

[@murilocelebi]

"all japanese games are the same". Wat.

[@FrMZTsarmiral]

Well that depends on the execution of the ideas and concepts in the game. It might have a lot of nostalgia bait moments but if you can see through the nostalgia and see only meh puzzles and okayish game design then it's not a great game even if the nostalgiabait moments lead some to believe this is a modern 16-bits classic. Mind you, I haven't played this game so I'm just assuming, but I don't think that nostalgia alone makes a game good, you also need an interesting and well designed take on the ideas from the classic games that inspired you, it needs to stand on it's own.

[@EposVox]

9 year development cycle holy damn

[@kiramoth2766]

By the way : all the art was done by 1 artist, Simon, the art director. Otus only has 104 different animations.

[@slifer875]

Breaking news: george keeps loving us.

[@nickONtheNET332]

"cause I dont want to live on the streets again."

[@slifer875]

nickONtheNET332 Buy his socks!

[@IronPineapple]

totally agree gorgeous game, but for all the nice things it has going for it (style, art, sound), never felt like more than the sum of its parts. just so many missed opportunities for interesting puzzles and gameplay

[@uristboatmurdered6051]

You have a good taste when it comes to channels, I'll give you that.

[@stanley1698]

Agreed.

[@jackpyro]

It's YOU. I miss your work :(

[@deektedrgg]

Shouldn't you be making new videos about ganking gankers with some underpowered but incredibly humiliating weapon?

[@Kletterhase]

Metal fruit, you magnificent bastood. Still making those awesome raves in the chapel?

[@jgcooper]

"90s adventure happening" *shows 2 games from the 2000s/2010s* 10/10, well done, George.

[@Birmanncat]

George, The Mood Killer.

[@sepu_]

The Noodle Killer

[@protocetid]

George holds back no punches, that and his nuance is what people like him for.

[@seeranos]

There is still joy in aesthetics to be found in this game. It wasn't george's thing (and not mine either), but if you're looking for something visually and thematically rewarding to accompany a podcast or something, this might be a game you'd love. It's kinda like Journey in that way, where it won't blow you away with its mechanics, but there's still a one-of-a-kind experience there.

[@cizd]

It's valid criticism. I feel it strange to see so many praise it with no restraint when I found it to have a lot of glaring and obvious faults. It's not a bad game and the pixel art is great, but I don't feel like this is what we should strive to achieve.

[@Birmanncat]

I think the biggest problem of this game is the gameplay itself is too unconventional. We are not used to flying all the time, and flying in 2d space feels less fun/engaging than jumping.

[@limerslimer]

THE FUCKING NOODLES NEVER STOP!!!

[@VoidAbaddon]

You can actually move as fast as air rolling by holding down the same button. Also, you forgot the biggest problem with the game. The fact that it turns into a wall-fucking simulator, since it introduces secret walls that often have no context for their being a secret. Leading to what turns into hours of going through the same dungeon, fucking every wall to find that one secret to get the last of the coins or the medallion. The latter of which is required for the entirety of the story.

[@VoidAbaddon]

You don't. I figured it out randomly. It's kind of a dick move on their part.

[@UmTois]

Actually, this's optional, but yeah.

[@Arkangel630]

If I remember right you get an item which lets you spot them at one point so you don't need to hug walls.

[@Aetohatir]

The hardest laugh I had at the noodles so far. Great job George. I love you too.

[@safe-keeper1042]

Thanks for the balanced review. In my eyes, Owlboy had potential and some great ideas, and of course artwork, but it sadly plays like a very generic platformer or arcade shoot-em-up most of the time. Why introduce great features like manipulating clouds if 99% of the game is just generic combat and puzzle-solving like "find a rock to drop onto this button so that this door opens while dodging enemies"?

[@seeranos]

Owlboy had such potential with its mechanics, but it's too focused on its aesthetics to dig deep into the interactions. If it actually WERE a nintendo game the developer would have explored every mechanical avenue their ambition and time would allow, but instead they explored every aesthetic avenue their ambition and time would allow. There is an audience for that, but for me and I think George too we're not that audience.

[@Vashetrockner]

I see, you are also watching Mark Brown? =)

[@vennril]

+Truemas Please tell me you're not implying Mark was the first one to cover Nintendo's "gameplay first" philosophy. But it is probably the most comprehensive and well-produced (and recent) one.

[@Vashetrockner]

No no, i just meant that how you worded " the developer would have explored every mechanical avenue their ambition and time would allow" just sounded like in his recent video about nintendo. =) No offense, i just recognized it and it surely is fitting. =)

[@vennril]

Fair enough :)

[@marcelodcs1]

still longing for that elusive MGS4 Critical Close Up

[@uristboatmurdered6051]

Can already hear him saying; "Kept you waiting huh?" at the start of the video.

[@Tamacat388]

He said he wont do it because he doesn't care about 4 and Peace Walker enough to put the effort into making whole videos about them.

[@Jose-se9pu]

That game really hurted George (I think even more than MGSV), he is not doing it

[@Tamacat388]

Jose Colella I hope it hurt him more, 4 is 10x worse than V in every way.

[@camycamera]

I'm still waiting for one on Fallout New Vegas....

[@TomAndEric]

You're an Owl now. You're a Boy now. You're an Owl. You're a Boy. You're an Owl. You're a Boy.

[@stanley1698]

Next project: Owltoon

[@PregnantOrc]

It's going to be a hoot!

[@lunarbeing4982]

...You're an Owlboy.

[@benjovi356]

I have an owl....I have a boy....UGH...Owlboy.

[@YourFavoriteDerp]

Noodles will never not be good..

[@Postcinct]

That fucking noodles shot.

[@FrankieSmileShow]

Looking at SteamSpy, this game has sold 32 000-something copies on steam so far. At 20-24$ a copy, it means it made about 700,000$ so far after the first two weeks. This is usually where most of a game's revenue comes from. And steam's takes a cut, too. Yikes. For 9 years, and 5 people, and for making one of the prettiest pixel art games ever made. I hope this game has a very long sales lifetime and makes a lot from merch, or that at least it gives more visibility to other projects they'll make next, and pays dividends this way. Because otherwise they might have been paid for less than $15 000 per person per year. It's really kind of heartbreaking considering all the obvious passion that went into this.

[@hxka]

There's also regional pricing. E.g. here in Russia Steam and GOG sell it for 450 р, which is less than $7.

[@yashchenko999]

it's less then $5

[@yashchenko999]

OH FUCK IT IS NOT HOLY SHIT I AM NOT THAT POOR AT THE MOMENT

[@disinfect777]

They didn't work on this full time for 9 years. They've also released another game called "Savant".

[@BlackWingGenesis]

The game is nothing but pretty graphics. The presentation is good but the gameplay doesn't have anything going for it.

[@michaelkreitzer1369]

Gorgeous game. I wouldn't blame the entirety of the 9 year development process on the sprites, though. I do wish more indie games looked like this.

[@vespertinnee]

I mean, ok, there's one noodle meme shot. But for me... Noodles... always come first.

[@jiyozer]

got dam fucking noodles again

[@TheApacheNinja]

I feel that comparing Owlboy to Zelda is a bit unfair and a bit of a stretch however. There is puzzle solving and dungeon crawling in the two of them, and the Zelda inspiration is apparent in Owlboy, yet Owlboy isn't trying to be the next Zelda. For the most part I feel that it is a story of Owlboy. It's a game meant to substance the story, whereas Zelda is a story that is meant to substance and prolong the game. Really good review as always though! I'm definitely taking in what you said when I purchase this game

[@TheTrueChuster]

This just in! George still loves every single one of us [cuts to the Noodles video]

[@salokin3087]

I love you too! All of you!

[@LocalContentShow]

Otus isn't the titular Owlboy, that's Solus. Captain Malestrom and the game files call him such.

[@Ikcatcher]

90's adventure shots.... With noodles

[@xisumavoid]

Was thinking "reminds me of metal slug" BAM! it pops up on the screen :-)

[@Mantis47]

While I agree with many of the points given in the video, the phrase "what's something new that ____ brings to the table?" irks me because if you can get down to it, any mechanic or plot twist or device has already been utilized by many games before and nothing is never truly "new". It feels like an empty question to make only when the game didn't particularly please you, even if you could ask the same about other games that you did enjoy.

[@xBINARYGODx]

I think he framed that part of the video ineffectively - because it's not so much the lack of newness or what it brings to some genre, and more so that it doesn't do a great job of what it brings (repetitive, simply puzzles, and a lack of verticality in a game where you fly constantly, etc.). TBH, I literally have zero idea why that is a header to that part of his video - since the issues he brings up and explains are things to consider regardless of whether this game moves anything forward. Hopefully I am making some sense, I just have three glasses of wine.

[@NopeNaw]

I have to agree. I've always firmly believed that innovation for innovations sake is misguided effort. I didn't expect new razzle dazzle for Owlboy (that said, I've also kept tabs on it during these nine years). I expected a charming little game with gorgeous visuals and solid gameplay, and on those points the game delivered. If that didn't measure for him, then that's his impression, which I don't begrudge him, but I don't think it's necessarily fair to expect genre breaking innovation from something that never really promised it at all.

[@RippahRooJizah]

I don't think he was asking for innovation for innovation sake moreso he was asking for something that makes it stand out more. I mean, despite what some people might think, Undertale is not the first RPG that had an active dodging mechanic like that. I played Zone of the Enders: Fist of Mars years prior and that also had a similar means of dodging attacks. And let's be honest here, 9 years for a pretty looking game with mostly solid gameplay won't satisfy everyone.

[@gryffehondor4236]

As an author, here's what I think he means by "bringing something new" : it's not about being innovative. It's about being personal. I faced this issue a lot while writing stories. Oftentimes, I would just "rewrite" stories from authors I really loved with the hope that mimicking them would emulate the same feelings in my readers. But that raised one question : if I'm just producing a lesser version of a great book, why would people read MY book instead of the one that inspired it ? That's why I'm always trying to bring a new twist to well-known situations. Nothing crazy, I'm not reinventing the wheel with every new script, it's just about not being a new name in an arm-long list of other productions that all says exactly the same things over and over again. So when I hear "it doesn't bring anything new to the genre", I understand it like "this game tries so hard to be Zelda that it doesn't ever get past that - being a a sub-par version of a well-known masterpiece".

[@AlquimistEd]

RippahRooJizah With stellar reviews and recognition all over the place, how isn't this game standing out more? I think it's standing out plenty.

[@MarkAndrewEdwards]

Jeez George, you're a killjoy. Not every game needs to be 'innovative' and 'push the genre'. It can just be a good game. I'm going to give it a chance.

[@chickmcjr]

Yes but when "Zelda nostalgia" has been done over and over and over and over while adding almost nothing to the genre and it's been in development for nine years I think it's fair to expect something more from a game about owls than "You can fly but it doesn't really add or mean anything also I hope you like picking things up and putting them down". It can absolutely be a "good game" by your standards, but by some people's it's just the same old thing. AGAIN. So get over yourself because someone has a different opinion to you.

[@MarkAndrewEdwards]

Get over myself....LOL. You DO get that comment sections are all opinion, right?

[@chickmcjr]

I do. But I think that calling someone a killjoy and berating them because you don't agree isn't having an opinion. It's being full of yourself and thinking your opinion is worth more. "Not EVERY game needs to be innovative and push the genre". I would agree. I think George would agree, but he stated that he has seen so many of these similar nostalgia games before he's wondering when one will push the genre forward or do something new you know? He wasn't EXPECTING Owlboy to change anything but he's disappointed it didn't. His review didn't consist of ONLY that as his issues with the game, there are still legitimate complaints. Did you actually watch the video or see that part and then jump to the comments section to express your displeasure about a game you were looking forward to but haven't played yet?

[@isaacargesmith8217]

It may be a good game, but the problem is that it kinda doesn't really stand out aside from its art really. I mean it's sorta the same situation as the new super mario bros games. They're all excellent games, but they're also not really original in many ways. They do things right but they don't really stand out from something like Hyper Light or anything else in its genre. It's also not the best in terms of gameplay in its genre either really, there are better games out there aside from the gorgeous pixel art. He's not saying that it's bad, but that it's sort of just average aside from the bar standard raising art

[@hantuchblau]

MarkAndrewEdwards I don't disagree but it really does have incredibly samey gameplay. There are occasional hints of something more interesting going on mechanics wise but that never develops into anything. Zelda uses story and theme as vehicle for interesting mechanics. Owl boy felt like it started with story and theme , added decent dungeon layouts and then didn't have the energy left to fill these levels with interesting puzzles or enemies.

[@WaddleDee105]

I mean, let's be real here, not counting the yet-to-be-released Breath of the Wild, there hasn't been a Zelda game in over a decade to really be a truly amazing A+ experience. Owlboy isn't really any worse than most Zelda games, it's just that people have such a high opinion of Zelda due to nostalgia and a few amazing titles, that they give those games an A+ regardless of quality(just look at Skyward Sword) but these same people don't give non-Zelda games that play like Zelda a free pass, even when they're roughly as good.

[@AlquimistEd]

No, Owlboy really is a lot worse than most Zelda games. Skyward Sword is a complete outlier.

[@Inmungundus]

NOODLE SHOT IS BACK!

[@theboxghost14]

While I do agree that the enemies, puzzles & etc. are lackluster, one thing I don't get is the repeated comparison to LoZ. Sure, puzzles are similar, but I didn't find much else that felt the same - more like a combination of Ori and the Blind Forest and any bullet hell game. I loved all the characters, though; given how short the game is, I think the amount of personality they have is rather impressive.

[@anders_x3]

the fucking noodles are back

[@Craytonex]

back in black face

[@JCrazeeee]

Please keep putting the noodles in every video they're amazing

[@joecool5957]

keeping dash pressed will make him fly just as fast as spamming. Too bad I noticed that when I was nearly done though Also I love you say "Owelboii" :)

[@tinnitusthenight5545]

I found the games simplistic style to fit the story perfectly. To me this game was an exercise in how well a games story, art style and gameplay can mesh to create a moving and emotional experience. The game play is very simple but challenging where it needs to be (boss fights) and that was perfect for me cause I was able to turn my brain off and just enjoy the art and story. I felt more immersed in this game than i have with any game for a long time, and while Id love it to be longer the experience is totally self contained and complete as is. Isamastapeece!

[@64B_]

This game doesn't do much new, but does the old stuff well.

[@WFoong98]

He mentioned it being repetitive so obviously the old stuffs being well done won't help the game.

[@64B_]

I tought it was entreteining enough. It could have been better, but I had fun.

[@64B_]

And I agree with him about this game suffering from taking to long. I had a article once talking about how this game could have been really famous if it came out back in the day. It kinda makes me wonder if taking all that time to make the graphics look this good worth it.

[@WFoong98]

Gab Tv Tbf, I don't disagree but if they take a bit more time with level design then it would have been better.

[@64B_]

Maybe if we wait another few centuries we can get a sequel that improves things.

[@Theplayerofx]

not enough black face

[@SerbianKnifeFight]

You didn't know Ultra hamster dumps is an avid fighter for more blackface?

[@SonOfMeme]

What are you talking about? A reliable source tells me he was wearing blackface _and_ georgesocks all throughout playing and recording this.

[@PaladinGuy]

I understood that reference.

[@limerslimer]

brendon Ray George loves blackface. He is one of the foremost experts in the Sense Of Blackface Alliance.

[@misterio10gre]

George you better include a noodle shot in this one or I'll snap. P.S. I love you too

[@RedMegaXIII]

It's never a good sign when dad starts off by saying he loves you.

[@kendallsmith5722]

Goddamit, WHAT IS YOUR FETISH WITH NOODLES GEORGE, also luv u vids😘

[@spoonikle]

he forgot the noodles last video and there was a riot.

[@Rezuaq]

he forgot the noodles last video and Trump got elected president

[@ironmaskofhell1877]

+Rezuaq still better than Hillary.

[@XenfareSpades]

That fucking clip of the noodles

[@DwarfElvishDiplomacy]

2:00 i knew it, i knew it was coming right in the moment the music started :D

[@CrabQueen]

I'm glad the noodle shot is back.

[@TheRedCap30]

This game is basically Concept > Gameplay. Granted not every game has to be a legendary innovation, but execution is what is important.

[@bigbox8992]

The noodles are going to be a memeplex by themselves.

[@Selestrielle]

ALL HAIL THE NOODLE BOWL!

[@turtletorspeedo1136]

NOODLE SHOT CONFIRMED AT 2:00 AMAZING

[@ZeroSTF]

9 years in development and hyper light drifter still fucks it up the ass... In terms of gameplay, story and lore, atmosphere, ost, and even pixel art.

[@armoredp]

The innovation argument for video games is outplayed. It is already proven people don't care about innovation unless you are talking about franchise that is releasing their 3rd sequel. Before that point most people are ok with regurgitated ideas and gameplay as long as it is packaged in a different way. Most people except for video game reviewers that is. See the problem with putting so much of a game's merit on "innovation" is that it drives unpolished, short and gimmicky games to the top that seem very deep in the first hour or so, but reveal themselves to being more shallow than your game that is suffering from sequelitis. There is a good reason some types of gameplay/game-progression have become an industry standard, it's because people really like them and they work very well.

[@0lionheart]

For me it really depends on genre saturation. If you're making a third person open world game in the current market you really need to do something special for me to care. But genuine, single player tactical shooters like Rainbow Six are hard to find these days I'd happily take a good clone. Same goes for strategy, I'd happily buy a C&C clone if it evoked that same feeling, but I've found nothing yet that comes close :/

[@Rezuaq]

That's not the point of a review though. If you started rating things based off what "most people are OK with" or what's "industry standard" you end up tossing a bunch of 10/10's in Michael Bay's direction for brilliantly making the same box-office hit about pieces of metal exploding for the 10th time in a row. And "innovation drives unpolished, short, gimmicky games"? That's purely a symptom of the industry rather playing it safe and investing in games that don't try anything new, leaving the innovation to smaller developers who actually care about making a good game rather than earning back a gigantic investment. I mean, just think of all the polished, successful and innovative games, those are the ones that end up on peoples' "Best Games of All Time" lists. Not clone#26841.

[@shaggnar2014]

There's only so many ideas to go around when it comes to game mechanics, I just care that it's executed well

[@IfYouSeekCaveman]

There are not "only so many ideas to go around". People say the same kinds of things about books, films, music, etc. And it's never true. We have barely begun to scratch the surface when it comes to what game be done with game mechanics and we have a long way to go. So we can either get complacent and act like we've reached the finish line because that's comfortable, or we can press on and hope for continued innovation.

[@0lionheart]

cavemancolton I think you're being a bit too intense about it all. Innovation will always happen, it's a happy accident, but it has to come naturally. Take it from me, trying to design an "innovative game" is a waste of time, you end up with an idea that is more for other people than it is for yourself. As long as devs keep making the kinds of games they love we'll end up with more happy accidents. Lemme give you an example. Hotline Miami. Dennaton weren't trying to innovate or be different, they just made the kind of game they wanted to play. They were surprised than anyone else wanted to play it. A happy accident! :D

[@budspudsy436]

You can fly faster by holding down the dash button m8

[@FloorPilled]

you can hold the dash button and he will just fly faster... you dont need to spam it

[@hitmanwolf]

i find it curious how the game never explains that... but the animation is so good that just flying around feels good.

[@AndrewMaksymBrainNectar]

there's a penguin or boguin that explains the dash move in the game a little bit.

[@massivepileup]

Stylistically it gives me a Minish Cap vibe.

[@onigojira]

I want to point out that the art is also prohibitively expensive. Otus himself is something like 80 pixels. A normal "little" character is only around 30 pixels high. A more sizable protagonist 50 pixels. You can quickly see how costs for creating even ONE character can suddenly be 8-10 times higher than your normal pixel art, because for every square up you go, you are adding another square to the size. 32x32 goes up four times in price just upgrading to 64x64. Otus is one of the smaller characters in the game, so prices for even one art asset must be insane.

[@SuperLegendOfBros]

Fez should not an example of the standard that Owlboy and other indie games should try to reach. When that game barely manages to reach Ok status itself.

[@CyrusBluebird]

I hear a lot about LoZ similarities, but I see a lot of shortcomings from the Gargoyle's Quest & Demon's Crest series showing up as well.

[@gameofpayne]

People said the exact same thing about Ori and The Blind Forest when it came out. An excellent, polished, and beautiful game that doesn't really innovate. There's nothing wrong with that. Not every game needs to be the game that pushes the industry forward, and the fact that it doesn't does not in anyway diminish the games worth, or my personal enjoyment of it.

[@gameofpayne]

Well first off lets not make assumptions OK? I have yet to even play Owlboy, (i'm watching a review first before buying, like a good consumer should) my comment was from the perspective of Ori, which received similar criticism. Secondly, well duh, of course innovation is important. Never said it wasn't, only that a lack of innovation is not inherently a mark against a creative work.

[@DraphEnjoyer]

Um excuse me George, it is current year and this is an indie game with a pixel art style Therefore it is a 10/10. You probably just didn't understand it. "adjusts glasses and ninja flips from the room"

[@crfstewarje]

Of course he understood it. There are plenty of legit criticisms! What; are you that shallow?

[@Lulink013]

That's obviously sarcasm.

[@crfstewarje]

@@Lulink013 Then that just makes him an ass for making fun of people who liked the game.

[@markspangler9209]

TLDR: You have to be a certain kind of gamer to enjoy Owlboy. I agree with what this KZbinr says, It really doesn't innovate too much. However, I feel like Owlboy was made for a certain kind of person. I don't see gameplay as first in Indie games (I know, I'm THAT kinda guy) I always value atmosphere over everything else. Visuals are the least important thing for me most of the time, but I like Owlboys setting and love its soundtrack. The gameplay for me wasn't too easy, perhaps 'cause I played on keyboard, but I dunno. I agree that it gets a bit more praise than it deserves, as the story kinda just shoehorns itself in and you can tell where the team just wanted to finish the game. I love the themes of "you don't get stronger, but through friends, you can accomplish more". For me, I value themes and atmosphere more than the gameplay in indie games and I thinks its because of that that I would give Owlboy a 9/10.

[@Whatthetrash]

Did you ever do a talk on AM2R? Because... it's kind of incredible. The story is straightforward (and some would argue *too* simple by today's standards), but I really enjoyed it. It's currently in my top three games of the year. Yes -- it's that good. That game also took a decade to make. So, Indie developers are making really good stuff... they just take a long time to do it. >_< Great video. Much respect! :)

[@sofija1996]

AM2R is rooted in an existing game - Metroid 2 for Gameboy. While it did improve and expand the original game, some of these improvements came from other Metroid titles. It's impressive, yes, but still derrivative.

[@smithwillnot]

That noodle clip made me laugh really hard. Hope that's ruining joke now.

[@kaidentbio8082]

Am I the only one left in the world that likes to go slow sometimes? Like... Early Twilight Princess Link. A villager doesn't simply roll his way house to house.

[@Strider119119]

Huh, thought the Tyranny review would be the video for the week.

[@Northreyar7314]

Is kinda strange isn't it? Tyranny came out and nobody seemed to notice, although I did not see any big effort from Paradox or Obsidian to market the bloody thing, im a few hours into it and it has a much stronger intro than PoE did.

[@reubenlovegrove6939]

I couldnt find a place where Tyranny wasnt being shoved down my throat! Nevertheless im going to get it

[@xPLDxPunisher]

Yeah, but that's also a pretty deep RPG experience while this is a game you can get through in a day.

[@Northreyar7314]

xPLDxPunisher But I highly doubt that Paradox sent Review copies the day of release, since the minute it became available there were already plenty of pre release steam reviews

[@xBINARYGODx]

At least we still have the Ori franchise.

[@xBINARYGODx]

Anyway, the game could easily have had a larger world and better gameplay - a larger world does not necessarily need more art, just a talented level and world designer that can make proper use of the stuff s/he has.

[@KarolaTea]

If you're looking for beautiful pixel art there's also Wadjet Eye Games (all point'n'click adventure), in particular the newer ones, Technobabylon for example. I think artist for them these days is Ben Chandler (or at least the main artist, not sure if others are involved too currently)

[@juicemanvon9859]

Anyone else think the pixel art is as good as anything you'll see in a Metal Slug game?

[@agent42q]

ain't no mars matrix.

[@Hennesg]

I really really have to disagree on the charme of the characters not being there. When you oppose the question what owlboy is really trying to bring to the table for me it was a very smooth mix of simple dungeons, twin stick shooter gameplay and the world. The world kept me playing and I am not usualy the type awefully invested in characters. But I really wanted to progress to the story, I liked the humor, I liked EVERY character, every one, from old grandpa stickbuck and his to sons, to the dude in the hotspring, the shopkeeper and her pinguin buddies, the villian, the mentor and owlboy and his crew and so on and so on. I mean, yes its over quick, if you are not a completionist, and the dungeons prove to be simple, but nothing bored me for a minute. You always got new upgrades and new buddies that prove as your weapon, new sceneries while the story kept evolving and always made you wonder what really would happen next and how Owlboy could eventually save the day. It was a really well rounded expierence story, and gameplay wise for the time it lasted and never grew old. If the game would have tried to fill 20-40 hours of open world exploration with a gameplay like this I can see the case youre making. But I hardly can see anybody bored when one would pick up this game.

[@OverclockedT]

One big thing I noticed was how at the beginning of the game they establish in a cutscene that Otus can't fly very well, being limited to only a certain amount of vertical distance before he has to give up and float slowly to the ground. This got tossed aside immediately when you got into the game proper where you're granted unlimited flight, and sort of led me to feel like there was lost potential there. Like those higher sections of the map may have only been reachable at one point once you had upgraded yourself enough to sustain your flight for that long, which also could've factored into platforming challenges and the like in dungeons... just sort of feels like trying to reach a broader audience through simpler play bit them in the long run.

[@MoonlitWood]

Huh, now I'd kinda like to see George look at Iconoclasts, which had a similar if not even greater development cycle.

[@RaithSienar]

TL;DW It has astounding presentation, but extremely lackluster everything else. (Kinda like most AAA games) Expect it to get a million "10/10 GREETEST GAYME EVAR!"s from hipster douche journos that don't actually like video games but they couldn't make it as an journalist/critic of any other industry.

[@PaladinGuy]

"People like things I don't like and that makes me angry."

[@chickmcjr]

"People don't like people liking things that I don't like and that makes me angry" etc. etc.

[@uristboatmurdered6051]

It clearly lacks noodles.

[@PauLtus_B]

In defense of the OP. A lot of people who play games don't really seem to want games from games, no matter how weird that sounds.

[@BaneDane_JB]

"People like things I don't like and that makes me angry." Your missing the point. Critics these days are extremely shallow and only rate the simplest of games with high scores. Have a high skill ceiling? 7/10 innovate 7/10 tons of refreshing gameplay and replayability 7/10 Realistic physics, the good graphics, 0 replay-ability, shitty to mediocre gampelay, and sets-pieces with next to no game play in the first place? 11/10 GOTY Many game critics basically want games to movies, The Order was the only exception and the only reason they noticed is because it didn't' have uncharted set pieces every 10 seconds and the protagonist wasn't prettyboy #46, whats obvious to people how have been playing games for years is not obvious to critics as they genuinely dont give a shit about games.

[@kiramoth2766]

So glad you're reviewing this game! Aaah all my favorite youtubers are playing an reviewing my favorite game this year

[@AnastasiaThemis]

Yeah this is an interesting game to me, because It needs so much more attention.

[@caswellweird]

Luc Charruau so what did you think of the review lol

[@kiramoth2766]

***** I finished the game and I absolutely loved it (beside some hardcore boss fight), but i'm an artist and even though I do care a lot about gameplay, it's way less important than beautiful art, gorgeous music and great story to me, and I got all of that. The dash thing is very fair, I was suprised as well, it doesn't fit the spirit of the game to dash around constantly. I agree that the dungeon design aren't the best. But I don't really care that the game doesn't bring manu new things to the table. I never played thoses games, beside a couple Zelda ds games, so i'm not playing this for nostalgia. I don't play platformer games usually, so this is new to me. My point is his criticisms are all fair but I get over them really easily because I didn't go into the game looking for the same thing.

[@willford7717]

It's pretty much acclaimed by everyone, how does it need more attention?

[@shadow479]

I enjoyed every bit of this game, I wish it'll have a sequel.

[@AndrewMaksymBrainNectar]

Perhaps the sequel will do a better job of explaining the Owl's history? And have more weapon combat choices hopefully.

[@shadow479]

Andrew Maksym yeah that would be great.

[@waking00one]

Why do games have to bring somethkng new to the table? I honestly can't stand that question, they really don't as long as they're great and fun.

[@holyX]

Owlboy is a perfectly written game - a lot is shown with very minimal dialogue, and the story is engaging and emotional, and there is even character development. Also, FEZ is a boring uninspiring game with beautiful art and that's it.

[@luisguillermojg]

"It sets out to prove that indie games can do Zelda as well..." No offense, but that had been proven already by WayForward with Shantae.

[@ShadowLady1]

This looks like an obscure Japanese exclusive Sega Saturn game

[@JavierSanchez-mo2ef]

The developer's should have watched today's Mark Brown video "Nintendo - Putting Play First | Game Maker's Toolkit"

[@samejthenearlyfamous]

Goddamn George, if you keep putting that shot of the noodle machine in your videos ill keep liking them!

[@demetergrasseater]

The Bunnyhop Standard: 1. Say "I love you." 2. Show the mechanical ramen. 3. Try your best to love the games you play. 4. Try your best to find at least one bone to pick with it. 5. PC Master Race and indie games. 6. Somehow don't be a shill while you're at it. 7. Win?

[@Phos9]

These was this puzzle in this game where I have no idea if I actually found the real solution or not, what I ended up doing was flying through a door that closes when a switch is pressed by flying through the door during the switch press animation and I have no idea if it's a sequence break or not. I also stumbled into an OoB bug so I suspect the speed runs might be good. I felt like the game also made a similar mistake to a lot of other throwback indie games where it got a lot harder at the end in a way that wasn't really fun. In this case, they have you do a lot more of the combat, which isn't really this game's strong suit, so the results are kinda just annoying. Twig's ability is pretty overpowered, essentially able to make yourself invulnerable, coming one area too late to avoid the really annoying bits, and also seems weirdly over designed for how much of the game he's actually available for. There was also some stuff about the plot that I thought didn't really work. The nightmare during the intro seemed weird and incongruous, and "'paying it off" during the ending didn't seem to really change that. Also more spoilers he finally talks during the ending, but he does it on his own. All through the game you hit left trigger with a "talk" command, and I had been hoping that when you finally spoke, you would get a "speak" prompt on the left trigger. And an aside, it's my understanding that the sprites in KoF XIII were really just pretended frames, not actually hand drawn.

[@DeltaShoreGames]

In regards to the puzzle with the door and the switch: I believe that's just the real solution. I thought it was odd as well, but if you try to backtrack from there by using the elevator to go higher, it crashes down blocking your escape. So, you're essentially stuck there with no choice but to go through the door as you and I did. I think the developers made the elevator trap you in so that you'd be forced to eventually try that solution since they were aware it wasn't very clear.

[@RadicalRegice]

Noodle shot is here, boys.

[@TucoBenedicto]

Forget "raising standards", I would already be happy with matching them. I wouldn't ask to Owlboy to surpass Zelda and innovate massively over iy, but as you pointed yourself there's a lot of excellent presentation "wasted" on a rather dull game here.

[@metropolis10]

I'm a little critical of the comparison to "does it do something new" when the products it is compared to are sometimes so old whole new generations did not experience them. I'm all for innovation and not Madden 2016 but there is something to be said for introducing something to a new generation, to them, it's all new.

[@ChristianWS.]

Is Pixel Art really THAT hard to make? I'm far for being an artist, but wouldn't pixel art be similar to draw an "normal" art? I would say it's more easy since to animate you can just move some of the pixels and draw only a few rather than redraw everything that moves every frame like in traditional animation(unless you use flash, but that looks like shit). I mean, I know drawing and animating is hard, but every time someone makes an game with pixel art people keep saying like it's infinitely harder, but isn't good pixel art still using the same principles as traditional drawing, only with other tools?

[@SapphireCrook]

As someone who's played an ancient demo. Yes, it was more acceptable several years ago. But times change.

[@BryInThai]

finally someone tells the truth about this game. we are supposed to be super nice to it because it took so long to make and it is a small design studio. This doesn't make it a good game. It isn't... it is boring, it is short. I hope they made money but FFS this is not a "greatest Metroidvania game" that many lists make it out to be

[@DonChalant]

*"But does it innovate/bring anything new to the table!?"* Anyone else getting getting really sick of this? I don't need every other new game to try and reinvent the wheel to have fun.

[@MrHiggs-qe3kg]

But i know, somewhere, deep down in my heart...i still love you

[@handsomecaveman]

"[Owlboy] sets out to prove that indie games can do Zelda-is well; in a market where Zelda is becoming overshadowed by the Souls franchise" Whaaat? You can't just throw out a statement like that. They're completely different games!

[@BaneDane_JB]

Souls taps into a desire for more challenging combat and great sword and board game-play that I was always unsatisfied with from Zelda. (especially considering link has had those as his main weaapon for ever)

[@handsomecaveman]

BaneDain Sure, but the refined and challenging combat encounters of Dark Souls are also the series' main selling point. Zelda is aimed at a more casual audience, with a brighter story/setting than the Souls games and a prominent musical score. The progression system in Zelda is streamlined as opposed to Souls'. In contrast, you never have to look up a guide on how to set your attribute points in Zelda or restart because you've painted yourself into a corner.

[@BaneDane_JB]

Im not saying "SOuls is better Git Gud" just that its high time Zelda do something with their combat or at least ad a difficulty select. As they've had combat in every installment, and if you have 1/3 of all of your games being combat, that all the experienced players dont find fun, thats a problem. Combat IS a major part in the Zelda games, and yet it has always felt like filler to me, used only to characterize Links growth, without any thought put into improving it.This why I, personally, find Souls a lot better. And why I find it fine that George made that statement.

[@Levyathyn]

Galderhast it's a valid comparison, though. Dark Soul had a lot it brings to the table to appeal to grown Zelda fans. Tighter combat and difficulty, controllable growth and exploration, a more nuanced and subjective story, a much wider variety of treasure delivered more often, and uniquely integrated multiplayer, all of this are very valid suggestions for Zelda, but are notable strengths in Dark Souls as a third person fantasy action-adventure game.

[@SpoonyBard88]

Zelda and Dark Souls have a common ancestor in the Legend of Zelda. Dark Souls is the true successor, as every Zelda game after A Link to the Past is more concerned with forcing you to sit through unskippable cutscenes and using a bunch of otherwise pointless items to open doors. Almost everything is shoved down your throat and the game treats you like an idiot.

[@gates7831]

George, how could you play with my emotions like that with that intro?

[@Ronin11111111]

I fucking despise the "it dosen't change anything" kinds of criticism. That's not something that should ever be expected of a game, when it happens, happens, but judging by its ability to alter the industry is nonsense in my oppinion.

[@alan2here]

A natural ceiling for a game like this but not set in caves could be thinning air, upwards flight becoming gradually less effective with hight until reaching an equilibrium where you cannot rise any further and you fall very quickly when you stop trying to ascend.

[@m3llo8an4t0s]

that happens in one of the later levels.

[@NathanCassidy721]

Oh my god, Metal Slug! I completely forgot about that series but you're right when it comes to the quality of pixel art.

[@KillYounglings]

It's good that you mention Aquaria, because yeah, Owlboy's development started right on the heels of Aquaria's release. In a lot of ways, Owlboy was really just the more "traditional" answer to Aquaria's inspirations, switching out Aquaria's cold tale of isolation with a warmer classic adventure story starring a cute mascot & friends. Everything Indie was reviewed in contrast to Braid and the mighty Cave Story back then, and no doubt the developers were originally expecting to release the full game within the circle of other upcoming releases at the time like Fez, Noitu Love 2, Limbo, Super Meat Boy, and other indies that were just starting to branch out. Therefore, we sort of need to think about the game's philosophies in that context. If you imagine modern indies as advancing like how console gens do, Owlboy was basically like an ambitious NES title that got released after the console's lifecycle. Even though a lot of gamers have "moved on" in a way, Owlboy still accomplishes what it set out to do, and would have stood out from the crowd immensely if it had been released back when D-Pad originally wanted it to. (I guess the same thing kinda happened with Shantae on the GBC.) And as someone that followed Owlboy's development since its initial trailers, I can't help but feel an amazing sense of inverted nostalgia when I boot it up. It's literally a game I grew up with, but am now experiencing for the first time. I'm expecting to have the same kind of feeling when Iconoclasts and Heart Forth Alicia are finally released too.

[@Rpodnee]

This game looks absolutely stunning!

[@Nexus_427]

Can someone explain what's up with those noodles?

[@ThatsPety]

Nexus427 it started on his video when he visited Japan

[@tankman45210]

Nexus427 he didn't have enough transition filler footage so he used the same shot of noodles too many times and now it's an injoke.

[@protocetid]

its le new funnay maymay XDXD xD XD

[@OlegUstimenko]

to be fair, its a really good shot. like cinematographically it really is.

[@WimpyMcWeaksauce]

May the noodles never die.