Rake in the Lake
October 3, 2019 7:54 PM Subscribe
One of the best computer games of the year recieves one of the most in-depth reviews: Video Game Dunkey, a normally foul-mouthed New Yorker youtuber gamer into edgy reviews, reviews the Untitled Goose Game, and gives it the dialog and backstory we all deserve. Wildly safe for work.
... ditching the usual boring controllers we mere mortals play with in favour of a custom, fully functioning goose suit
It was a gift from his cousin, Jeffy. rake in the lake
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:26 PM on October 3, 2019 [4 favorites]
It was a gift from his cousin, Jeffy. rake in the lake
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:26 PM on October 3, 2019 [4 favorites]
I have observed in real life and in nature documentaries that, not only with geese but with nearly all birds, the beaks are voice activated.
posted by hippybear at 8:28 PM on October 3, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 8:28 PM on October 3, 2019 [5 favorites]
Also, the main link review was charming and has me even more tempted than ever go just buy a Switch so I can play this game without signing up for a second service.
posted by hippybear at 8:29 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 8:29 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
If this is part of your concerns, the epic store has an option on purchase where they claim to not store your credit card info. I broke down and got the goose game yesterday and it was an excellent decision.
posted by figurant at 9:10 PM on October 3, 2019
posted by figurant at 9:10 PM on October 3, 2019
It's more "oh god, yet another thing to sign into", which I've been avoiding at large lately. If I could go purchase a game disk which allowed me to install this game it would be in my house by now.
posted by hippybear at 9:15 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 9:15 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
Wait, you would rather spend $300 on a Nintendo Switch (and sign up for an account on their storefront because this game doesn't have a physical release) just to avoid a second game store/launcher on your PC that isn't Steam?
posted by thecjm at 9:32 PM on October 3, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by thecjm at 9:32 PM on October 3, 2019 [5 favorites]
Well, I figure the Switch might have other uses, possibly. And yes, I would rather. I'm pretty adamant about creating new accounts on services at this point. It's my personal journey and you can ridicule but you can't persuade me.
posted by hippybear at 9:33 PM on October 3, 2019 [16 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 9:33 PM on October 3, 2019 [16 favorites]
Every launcher running simultaneously on a PC takes its own share of memory and processor time, however minimal. I've already got Steam, Itch, GOG, Origin and now Epic. They all would like to run at startup. I just start one when needed, but it adds that bit of overhead when I want to play something.
posted by JHarris at 9:34 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 9:34 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
I also didn't want to add yet another signup (humble/gog/steam/blizzard/rockstar/etc.) but I caved and bought it on Epic store. I know people are mad about exclusives and so hate on Epic, but the process was painless and they give free game(s) every week. (I assume this is a loss leader and will stop eventually but for now I'll take it).
The game is good and solving some of the puzzles are really rewarding. Only downside was I spoiled myself by looking in the ditch at the start point. So if you are starting a new game don't do that! But the idea that this goosey torment has been going on forever is oddly satisfying.
We have always been at war with the Goose.
I've said too much.
posted by cape at 9:37 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
The game is good and solving some of the puzzles are really rewarding. Only downside was I spoiled myself by looking in the ditch at the start point. So if you are starting a new game don't do that! But the idea that this goosey torment has been going on forever is oddly satisfying.
We have always been at war with the Goose.
I've said too much.
posted by cape at 9:37 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
just to avoid a second game store/launcher on your PC that isn't Steam?
Also, your assumption that I have Steam on my PC is false.
posted by hippybear at 9:38 PM on October 3, 2019
Also, your assumption that I have Steam on my PC is false.
posted by hippybear at 9:38 PM on October 3, 2019
This is my favorite Dunkey video since Breath of the Wild.
A mastah-piece if you will.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 9:40 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
A mastah-piece if you will.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 9:40 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
My understanding is that the Epic launcher is not required once you've purchased the game, so you need to sign into the other thing once, but can burn it with fire once you've completed the purchase.
I really like it with the Switch controller though, and I would like the honk button to be permanently bound for all games so that I might honk my way across Hyrule or perhaps honk at Tetris 99 opponents. And honk in court in Phoenix Wright. And honk at the bus driver in Fortnite. Why doesn't every game have a honk button?
posted by zachlipton at 9:41 PM on October 3, 2019 [6 favorites]
I really like it with the Switch controller though, and I would like the honk button to be permanently bound for all games so that I might honk my way across Hyrule or perhaps honk at Tetris 99 opponents. And honk in court in Phoenix Wright. And honk at the bus driver in Fortnite. Why doesn't every game have a honk button?
posted by zachlipton at 9:41 PM on October 3, 2019 [6 favorites]
Buying a Switch will unfortunately necessitate creating a Nintendo account. If password-wrangling is stressing you out, I highly recommend LastPass.
posted by higginba at 9:47 PM on October 3, 2019
posted by higginba at 9:47 PM on October 3, 2019
Well, I figure the Switch might have other uses, possibly.
Do they?
Are they strictly gaming or maybe movies can be loaded?
Do they have twitch games? I'm wayless susceptible to losing days of my life to more into games that don't lure me further into even a basic platformer storyline than games with really basic rules that I can be repetitive on while I just play. Bejeweled, Tetris...
But this goose game (as yet untitled) has me feeling like it has a finite end and fun gameplay and maybe I can get it and not end up not showing up for work for 2 days and ending up getting fired like I did when Sonic The Hedgehog entered my life a few decades ago.
I'm approaching this game with caution. I think it's an interesting game idea, and I don't find most games interesting because of the death. I grew up feeding quarters into Qix and Dark Castle and Burger Time and etc. I memorized all the patterns up to the last key in Pac Man (although I rarely had reflexes at the higher levels to get there) [Ed note: from a book, he didn't figure them out himself].
But maybe the money for a Switch might be cool if it diid more than play games. I haven't done the research.
Suffice it to say, I'm intrigued enough about playing a video game as this annoying goose to spend something like $350 to play it.
[Ed note: Dr Freud called. He'd like me to return his call.]
posted by hippybear at 9:52 PM on October 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Do they?
Are they strictly gaming or maybe movies can be loaded?
Do they have twitch games? I'm way
But this goose game (as yet untitled) has me feeling like it has a finite end and fun gameplay and maybe I can get it and not end up not showing up for work for 2 days and ending up getting fired like I did when Sonic The Hedgehog entered my life a few decades ago.
I'm approaching this game with caution. I think it's an interesting game idea, and I don't find most games interesting because of the death. I grew up feeding quarters into Qix and Dark Castle and Burger Time and etc. I memorized all the patterns up to the last key in Pac Man (although I rarely had reflexes at the higher levels to get there) [Ed note: from a book, he didn't figure them out himself].
But maybe the money for a Switch might be cool if it diid more than play games. I haven't done the research.
Suffice it to say, I'm intrigued enough about playing a video game as this annoying goose to spend something like $350 to play it.
[Ed note: Dr Freud called. He'd like me to return his call.]
posted by hippybear at 9:52 PM on October 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
I'm completely aware of my ridiculous position and my unfounded belief that signing up for Nintendo Thingy is different from signing up from PC Thingy, but I have a complicated relationship with videogames and it's intersecting with this particular moment where I have to really commit (spend major money) to allow myself to get involved.
As I said earlier, " It's my personal journey and you can ridicule but you can't persuade me."
posted by hippybear at 9:56 PM on October 3, 2019 [4 favorites]
As I said earlier, " It's my personal journey and you can ridicule but you can't persuade me."
posted by hippybear at 9:56 PM on October 3, 2019 [4 favorites]
And thus ends tonight's session of "MetaFilter Therapy With hippybear"
posted by hippybear at 9:56 PM on October 3, 2019 [19 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 9:56 PM on October 3, 2019 [19 favorites]
The Switch, despite being essentially a tablet with controllers, is pretty neatly locked down to only play games. Unlike the 3DS, Wii or Wii U, it has no generally-usable web browser. The only exception I can name is you can load YouTube and some other video apps onto it.
posted by JHarris at 10:07 PM on October 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by JHarris at 10:07 PM on October 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
The switch has apps for netflix and hulu in addition to youtube. I don't know if you can download videos on the netflix app to watch when offline like you can do on the windows or ios versions or if it's streaming only. There are a few other bits and bobs that aren't quite games, but it's clearly not something that anybody's prioritizing. Some people are excited about the new exercise thingy that's coming out with this funky ring accessory but I don't think that counts.
I easily bought the goose game the other day and had a great time playing it - but there was friction for me. I am one of those weak hearted hypocrites when it comes to games, because I'll watch my friends play and be like "murder everyone! steal that car! set that village on fire!!" and the second I get my hands on a controller I can't do a single bad thing or I have epic guilt. When I knock someone off a platform in a fighting game to their doom I leap off the edge after them to "save" them. I have been known to actually cry over pikmin getting eaten at night. I barely ever break pots as Link!
I thought that goose game would be lighthearted enough and I'd be able to get into the goose headspace enough that being horrible wouldn't be a problem. And for the most part, it wasn't, but near the beginning of the game you have to ABSOLUTELY TORMENT this poor child. A poor child who isn't doing anything wrong!!! And he's so scared of you, the goose! And you have to steal his glasses which is like my ULTIMATE NIGHTMARE. So I had to step away from the game for a day and work myself past it, emotionally. When I came back and got past the child torment portion of the game I had a fantastic time. Like, fuck those villagers and their stupid hedgerows and their dumb brooms and their garbage and their styrofoam model manors. I had trouble finishing the end of the game because I was laughing so hard. But the child! He did not deserve my wrath.
posted by Mizu at 10:23 PM on October 3, 2019 [13 favorites]
I easily bought the goose game the other day and had a great time playing it - but there was friction for me. I am one of those weak hearted hypocrites when it comes to games, because I'll watch my friends play and be like "murder everyone! steal that car! set that village on fire!!" and the second I get my hands on a controller I can't do a single bad thing or I have epic guilt. When I knock someone off a platform in a fighting game to their doom I leap off the edge after them to "save" them. I have been known to actually cry over pikmin getting eaten at night. I barely ever break pots as Link!
I thought that goose game would be lighthearted enough and I'd be able to get into the goose headspace enough that being horrible wouldn't be a problem. And for the most part, it wasn't, but near the beginning of the game you have to ABSOLUTELY TORMENT this poor child. A poor child who isn't doing anything wrong!!! And he's so scared of you, the goose! And you have to steal his glasses which is like my ULTIMATE NIGHTMARE. So I had to step away from the game for a day and work myself past it, emotionally. When I came back and got past the child torment portion of the game I had a fantastic time. Like, fuck those villagers and their stupid hedgerows and their dumb brooms and their garbage and their styrofoam model manors. I had trouble finishing the end of the game because I was laughing so hard. But the child! He did not deserve my wrath.
posted by Mizu at 10:23 PM on October 3, 2019 [13 favorites]
Was the child 10 years old or 12 years old? Because 10 year olds are like amazing miniature adults, and 12 year olds are horrible hormone driven monster creatures who are afraid of themselves and everyone else.
posted by hippybear at 10:32 PM on October 3, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 10:32 PM on October 3, 2019 [7 favorites]
The child is the only villager who didn't vote for Brexit, but only because he was too young.
posted by BinaryApe at 10:37 PM on October 3, 2019 [24 favorites]
posted by BinaryApe at 10:37 PM on October 3, 2019 [24 favorites]
ｒａｋｅ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｌａｋｅ
posted by scose at 12:22 AM on October 4, 2019 [10 favorites]
posted by scose at 12:22 AM on October 4, 2019 [10 favorites]
Wait, you would rather spend $300 on a Nintendo Switch (and sign up for an account on their storefront because this game doesn't have a physical release) just to avoid a second game store/launcher on your PC that isn't Steam?
That's what I did. Partly out of actively avoiding installing another game launcher/store; other than the extra login, and extra stream of junk mail, and extra pwnable database I'd be on, I'm guessing these things like to be running all the time, and even if they aren't, they would have to have kernel-space DRM code, which may or may not be buggy and/or a privacy Chernobyl, to allay their stakeholders' piracy concerns. Though equally because a Switch makes a better separate space for gaming than something one also shares with emails/the web/work/projects. (I once bought Bioshock from the MacOS App Store, and found myself to not have played it, due to having other things to do when I'm at my laptop.)
I'm pleased with the Switch (which sits alongside an old PS3 and an even older Wii), though slightly dismayed that I may have to buy a PS4, thanks to things like Wattam only coming out on that.
posted by acb at 1:12 AM on October 4, 2019
That's what I did. Partly out of actively avoiding installing another game launcher/store; other than the extra login, and extra stream of junk mail, and extra pwnable database I'd be on, I'm guessing these things like to be running all the time, and even if they aren't, they would have to have kernel-space DRM code, which may or may not be buggy and/or a privacy Chernobyl, to allay their stakeholders' piracy concerns. Though equally because a Switch makes a better separate space for gaming than something one also shares with emails/the web/work/projects. (I once bought Bioshock from the MacOS App Store, and found myself to not have played it, due to having other things to do when I'm at my laptop.)
I'm pleased with the Switch (which sits alongside an old PS3 and an even older Wii), though slightly dismayed that I may have to buy a PS4, thanks to things like Wattam only coming out on that.
posted by acb at 1:12 AM on October 4, 2019
This goose game has kind of startled me. I was following some indie game dev or other on twitter for a year or so, and a game with this type of art where you played raccoons wreaking havoc was featured in dev update videos. It looked delightful, but I can't find who it was, now.
At first I thought this game was a reskin at the last minute, but it seems instead to be a near-identical game from a big name developer. What gives?
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 1:15 AM on October 4, 2019
At first I thought this game was a reskin at the last minute, but it seems instead to be a near-identical game from a big name developer. What gives?
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 1:15 AM on October 4, 2019
You're talking about Donut County? It's a very different game in play.
posted by xiw at 1:58 AM on October 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by xiw at 1:58 AM on October 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
Got my mate, who never plays PC games, playing it last night and when I went into the kitchen to get a drink I heard him shout "I got his hat in the lake!"
I mean HONK HONK
posted by Chaffinch at 1:58 AM on October 4, 2019 [5 favorites]
I mean HONK HONK
posted by Chaffinch at 1:58 AM on October 4, 2019 [5 favorites]
The title "The Untitled Goose Game" reminds me of "The Unfinished Swan", a wonderfully innovative game with paint physics. But sadly no honking.
space hobo, the havoc-wreaking-racoons game you're thinking of is probably "wreckoons" by @punchesbears. My absolute favorite feature is the Selfie-cam when you steal a human's phone.
posted by autopilot at 4:08 AM on October 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
space hobo, the havoc-wreaking-racoons game you're thinking of is probably "wreckoons" by @punchesbears. My absolute favorite feature is the Selfie-cam when you steal a human's phone.
posted by autopilot at 4:08 AM on October 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
The switch has apps for netflix and hulu in addition to youtube.
Just in case anyone runs out to buy the Switch solely for this reason: it does not, in fact, have a Netflix app. It does have the other two.
posted by selfnoise at 4:28 AM on October 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
Just in case anyone runs out to buy the Switch solely for this reason: it does not, in fact, have a Netflix app. It does have the other two.
posted by selfnoise at 4:28 AM on October 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
At first I thought this game was a reskin at the last minute, but it seems instead to be a near-identical game from a big name developer. What gives?
I think you're from an alternate reality, perhaps where there were Berenstein Bears?
In this one, House House is not a big name developer, and the game itself has been a highly anticipated since 2017.
posted by explosion at 4:46 AM on October 4, 2019
I think you're from an alternate reality, perhaps where there were Berenstein Bears?
In this one, House House is not a big name developer, and the game itself has been a highly anticipated since 2017.
posted by explosion at 4:46 AM on October 4, 2019
Do they have twitch games? I'm way less susceptible to losing days of my life to more into games that don't lure me further into even a basic platformer storyline than games with really basic rules that I can be repetitive on while I just play. Bejeweled, Tetris...
But this goose game (as yet untitled) has me feeling like it has a finite end and fun gameplay and maybe I can get it and not end up not showing up for work for 2 days and ending up getting fired like I did when Sonic The Hedgehog entered my life a few decades ago.
The Switch is a very locked down gaming tablet that you can use as a gaming console and has lots of games (1857 by Wikipedia right now).
It has the endless games (including Tetris 99 - online 99 player simultaneous knockout. Also if you like platforming but don't want any sort of storyline Super Mario Maker 2 might be exactly what you are looking for. There is a fairly basic story mode - but it's mostly a level creation/level sharing thing using Mario for platforming (and where you use the touch screen to literally draw levels - and most of it is literally played in "Endless mode" where it feeds you random levels of the right difficulty until you run out of lives).
It's light on online multiplayer shooters, but Splatoon is great for a few matches and it's getting Overwatch - both of which you can drop into for a few matches. Fighting games - including Mortal Kombat, Dragonball FighterZ, and of course Smash (although there's an immense 30 hour single player game there). Twitchy bullet hells, notably Ikaruga and Enter the Gungeon (although both might have too much story). And I'm not sure whether Roguelikes (or Roguelites like Dead Cells) where every play is random but with the same structure would be superb for you or the worst thing possible.
In terms of games most of what it lacks is modern AAA military shooters and sports games. No Madden, Fifa is a cut down version, no NBA or MLB, etc. And no Battlefield/Call of Duty/Gears of War/Halo etc. (EA seems to be skipping the console almost entirely)
At first I thought this game was a reskin at the last minute, but it seems instead to be a near-identical game from a big name developer. What gives?
House House aren't a big name developer at all - they are a four person dev studio that managed to get their trailers and their game to go viral. They've definitely been working on this since 2017.
posted by Francis at 4:48 AM on October 4, 2019
But this goose game (as yet untitled) has me feeling like it has a finite end and fun gameplay and maybe I can get it and not end up not showing up for work for 2 days and ending up getting fired like I did when Sonic The Hedgehog entered my life a few decades ago.
The Switch is a very locked down gaming tablet that you can use as a gaming console and has lots of games (1857 by Wikipedia right now).
It has the endless games (including Tetris 99 - online 99 player simultaneous knockout. Also if you like platforming but don't want any sort of storyline Super Mario Maker 2 might be exactly what you are looking for. There is a fairly basic story mode - but it's mostly a level creation/level sharing thing using Mario for platforming (and where you use the touch screen to literally draw levels - and most of it is literally played in "Endless mode" where it feeds you random levels of the right difficulty until you run out of lives).
It's light on online multiplayer shooters, but Splatoon is great for a few matches and it's getting Overwatch - both of which you can drop into for a few matches. Fighting games - including Mortal Kombat, Dragonball FighterZ, and of course Smash (although there's an immense 30 hour single player game there). Twitchy bullet hells, notably Ikaruga and Enter the Gungeon (although both might have too much story). And I'm not sure whether Roguelikes (or Roguelites like Dead Cells) where every play is random but with the same structure would be superb for you or the worst thing possible.
In terms of games most of what it lacks is modern AAA military shooters and sports games. No Madden, Fifa is a cut down version, no NBA or MLB, etc. And no Battlefield/Call of Duty/Gears of War/Halo etc. (EA seems to be skipping the console almost entirely)
At first I thought this game was a reskin at the last minute, but it seems instead to be a near-identical game from a big name developer. What gives?
House House aren't a big name developer at all - they are a four person dev studio that managed to get their trailers and their game to go viral. They've definitely been working on this since 2017.
posted by Francis at 4:48 AM on October 4, 2019
I'm just glad that I'm not the only one who can't get the stupid rake into the stupid lake
posted by Mchelly at 5:04 AM on October 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 5:04 AM on October 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
Do they have twitch games
There's Binding of Isaac at least, also for $20/year you get Switch Online (which is requires for online play in most things anyway) which not only comes with a collection of NES and SNES games but also Tetris 99 for free (although it has additional paid unlocks). And it's got Fortnite and Minecraft. Are those twitch enough?
posted by JHarris at 5:33 AM on October 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
There's Binding of Isaac at least, also for $20/year you get Switch Online (which is requires for online play in most things anyway) which not only comes with a collection of NES and SNES games but also Tetris 99 for free (although it has additional paid unlocks). And it's got Fortnite and Minecraft. Are those twitch enough?
posted by JHarris at 5:33 AM on October 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
Also the Switch is getting rereleases of Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II, Planescape Torment, Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights so it is in fact the perfect machine.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:58 AM on October 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 5:58 AM on October 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
Some older switches (hard but not impossible to find new, can be bought used on ebay) have a bootrom flaw that allows you to run custom firmware and sideload all kinds of stuff on them. BUT it's dicey to connect to Nintendo's servers once you've done that. With some work, and willingness to do a lot of backup/restore, you can have both a hacked image and a clean image, and restore the clean image to connect to the store or play online. This is definitely a time sink and can break things (or you can screw it up and ban yourself) but just putting it out there.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:20 AM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:20 AM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
So I know it's not a comic, but I figure close enough.... I'm going to NYC Comic Con on Saturday dressed as a goose in honor of this game. Figure I can tweak any problems with it through the month and do it again for Halloween.
Also, anyone have any ideas for funny ways to be an asshole goose while there without being an actual asshole?
posted by Grither at 6:50 AM on October 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
Also, anyone have any ideas for funny ways to be an asshole goose while there without being an actual asshole?
posted by Grither at 6:50 AM on October 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
Don't be an asshole goose, be a horrible goose.
posted by rocketman at 7:13 AM on October 4, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by rocketman at 7:13 AM on October 4, 2019 [7 favorites]
The bit at 0:50 really shows off the adaptive soundtrack.
posted by mbrubeck at 7:36 AM on October 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by mbrubeck at 7:36 AM on October 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
> Video Game Dunkey, a normally foul-mouthed New Yorker youtuber gamer into edgy reviews, reviews the Untitled Goose Game
Am I being An Out Of Touch Old when I want to protest that this video does not resemble "a review" in the least? It's a bunch of clips of a dude playing it while talking over it. It's a Let's Play, it's edited highlights of a stream, not a review.
Grither > anyone have any ideas for funny ways to be an asshole goose while there without being an actual asshole?
Look for other people in Asshole Costumes. Like, I bet at least 3/4 of the Deadpools will be absolutely delighted to get into a tug-of-war with the Untitled Goose.
posted by egypturnash at 7:45 AM on October 4, 2019 [8 favorites]
Am I being An Out Of Touch Old when I want to protest that this video does not resemble "a review" in the least? It's a bunch of clips of a dude playing it while talking over it. It's a Let's Play, it's edited highlights of a stream, not a review.
Grither > anyone have any ideas for funny ways to be an asshole goose while there without being an actual asshole?
Look for other people in Asshole Costumes. Like, I bet at least 3/4 of the Deadpools will be absolutely delighted to get into a tug-of-war with the Untitled Goose.
posted by egypturnash at 7:45 AM on October 4, 2019 [8 favorites]
Also, anyone have any ideas for funny ways to be an asshole goose while there without being an actual asshole?
I'm assuming you're going to have one of these.
posted by Mchelly at 7:51 AM on October 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
I'm assuming you're going to have one of these.
posted by Mchelly at 7:51 AM on October 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
Unless you feel like you absolutely have to dock your Switch, the Switch Lite (at $200, not $300) is arguably the best handheld gaming machine ever made. And believe me I've owned a lot of them. Ask me about my Nomad.
Yes, it's locked down, but there is a huge library of games available many of which have the advantage of actually being fun to play. If you're thinking about a new console, get one. You can play Untitled Goose Game and when you get tired of that, if you do, you can play Slay The Spire or Celeste both of which will consume all of the hours you have unless you are a JRPG person in which case you already own a Switch and you're not reading this because you're playing DQXIS.
posted by The Bellman at 8:30 AM on October 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
Yes, it's locked down, but there is a huge library of games available many of which have the advantage of actually being fun to play. If you're thinking about a new console, get one. You can play Untitled Goose Game and when you get tired of that, if you do, you can play Slay The Spire or Celeste both of which will consume all of the hours you have unless you are a JRPG person in which case you already own a Switch and you're not reading this because you're playing DQXIS.
posted by The Bellman at 8:30 AM on October 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
> Am I being An Out Of Touch Old when I want to protest that this video does not resemble "a review" in the least?
Dude's videos are troll 'reviews,' often made to make the game look silly, often covering newly released games. I seem to recall he once gave a highly beloved game a 1 out of 10 just to piss off people. Or you can think of it as avante garde critiquing -- rather than tell you flaws about the game he shows you. Case in point.
posted by pwnguin at 9:12 AM on October 4, 2019 [5 favorites]
Dude's videos are troll 'reviews,' often made to make the game look silly, often covering newly released games. I seem to recall he once gave a highly beloved game a 1 out of 10 just to piss off people. Or you can think of it as avante garde critiquing -- rather than tell you flaws about the game he shows you. Case in point.
posted by pwnguin at 9:12 AM on October 4, 2019 [5 favorites]
Most of Dunkey's videos are just him messing around, but his "Dunkview" videos are mostly actual short reviews. (The Untitled Goose Game video is not a review.)
posted by mbrubeck at 9:31 AM on October 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by mbrubeck at 9:31 AM on October 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
Also the Switch is getting rereleases of Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II, Planescape Torment, Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights so it is in fact the perfect machine.
This is in addition to Divinity Original Sin II and Pillars of Eternity, both of which are fantastic and worth placing next to the ones you've just mentioned.
The Switch is a fantastic beast of a machine. It's what the PS Vita might have been here in the west had it been given the proper support for more first party AAA games. Welp, Nintendo is doing all of that with their major franchises: Mario, Smash, Yoshi, Donkey, Pokemon, etc. You get ALL of that plus a ton of other indie games that trust me, will eat up hours of your life. I'm looking at you: Binding of Isaac, Enter the Gungeon, Slay the Spire, Into the Breach, Stardew Valley, Celeste.
Like say goodbye to your social life, because you'll have your hands busy and your heart and brain filled with delight.
posted by Fizz at 9:42 AM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
This is in addition to Divinity Original Sin II and Pillars of Eternity, both of which are fantastic and worth placing next to the ones you've just mentioned.
The Switch is a fantastic beast of a machine. It's what the PS Vita might have been here in the west had it been given the proper support for more first party AAA games. Welp, Nintendo is doing all of that with their major franchises: Mario, Smash, Yoshi, Donkey, Pokemon, etc. You get ALL of that plus a ton of other indie games that trust me, will eat up hours of your life. I'm looking at you: Binding of Isaac, Enter the Gungeon, Slay the Spire, Into the Breach, Stardew Valley, Celeste.
Like say goodbye to your social life, because you'll have your hands busy and your heart and brain filled with delight.
posted by Fizz at 9:42 AM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
I personally think Untitled Goose Game can be justified as a system seller, and I get the resistance to the epic store.
I have bought more games for switch than I have for any other console. I haven’t bought a console before the switch since 2008 or so. It has absolutely renewed my interest in gaming, and a lot of that has to do with so many of the excellent first party games.
I can’t believe nobody brought up Breath of the Wild, as that was a system seller that was absolutely worth the cost of entry and I have easily sunk more than 300 hours into it (over a very long period of time) as I never get tired of it. That’s some serious staying power.
No matter what type of game you like, there’s a good chance that the switch has something in that genre- and while there’s a frustrating amount of shovelware, it’s a great platform for games from some of the smaller studios as well.
Also, no need to say goodbye to your social life - just bring overcooked into it!
This is the perfect opportunity for me to mention that I think an overcooked / untitled goose game crossover absolutely needs to happen, with the ability to play as the goose against other people - snatching their order, running off with the fire extinguisher - it would be perfect.
posted by MysticMCJ at 12:31 PM on October 4, 2019
I have bought more games for switch than I have for any other console. I haven’t bought a console before the switch since 2008 or so. It has absolutely renewed my interest in gaming, and a lot of that has to do with so many of the excellent first party games.
I can’t believe nobody brought up Breath of the Wild, as that was a system seller that was absolutely worth the cost of entry and I have easily sunk more than 300 hours into it (over a very long period of time) as I never get tired of it. That’s some serious staying power.
No matter what type of game you like, there’s a good chance that the switch has something in that genre- and while there’s a frustrating amount of shovelware, it’s a great platform for games from some of the smaller studios as well.
Also, no need to say goodbye to your social life - just bring overcooked into it!
This is the perfect opportunity for me to mention that I think an overcooked / untitled goose game crossover absolutely needs to happen, with the ability to play as the goose against other people - snatching their order, running off with the fire extinguisher - it would be perfect.
posted by MysticMCJ at 12:31 PM on October 4, 2019
OK - I may have to get this because there's an actual metal water tank in the game, and I can pretend that the farmer I'm thwarting is Rob Hirst, drummer for Midnight Oil - who uses a metal water tank on stage as an instrument.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:29 PM on October 4, 2019
posted by spinifex23 at 1:29 PM on October 4, 2019
I signed up for the epic store, and it's a confusing thing. It's not a mandatory launcher, like steam, but it is mandatory for the download process? I don't understand why you'd do that and not just offer direct downloads? Itch and GOG both have a client, but it's optional for both download and launching - you can just use the website, and that's fine.
Sniffing around the traffic generated by the epic client, it looks like Epic is using a model where the game files are world-accessible but encrypted, and decrypted by the client. Gog and itch on the other hand have an authorization workflow that generate signed URLs to allow you to download the non-encrypted files
posted by vibratory manner of working at 1:46 PM on October 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
Sniffing around the traffic generated by the epic client, it looks like Epic is using a model where the game files are world-accessible but encrypted, and decrypted by the client. Gog and itch on the other hand have an authorization workflow that generate signed URLs to allow you to download the non-encrypted files
posted by vibratory manner of working at 1:46 PM on October 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
One obnoxious side effect of which is it's not possible to download, for example, the windows version of the goose game while I'm on a mac. On itch and gog, I like to download the installers for all available platforms and save them, just in case.
I refuse to use Steam at all though. Nothing but a pain.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 1:49 PM on October 4, 2019
I refuse to use Steam at all though. Nothing but a pain.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 1:49 PM on October 4, 2019
This guy's reviews are my new favorite thing on the internet. Thank you.
posted by allkindsoftime at 3:09 PM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by allkindsoftime at 3:09 PM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
> With some work, and willingness to do a lot of backup/restore, you can have both a hacked image and a clean image, and restore the clean image to connect to the store or play online.
You can do one better at this point. You can keep the hacked image on your SD card, which keeps your Switch's internal NAND storage pristine and can be switched between with a simple reboot. The mechanism is called EMUMMC. As long as you keep your hacked image disconnected from any network, you're good to go and then reboot into the stock OS and play safely online with your standard games. I've been using this to play Super Mario World ROM hacks using the PSNES emulator.
posted by WaylandSmith at 5:42 PM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
You can do one better at this point. You can keep the hacked image on your SD card, which keeps your Switch's internal NAND storage pristine and can be switched between with a simple reboot. The mechanism is called EMUMMC. As long as you keep your hacked image disconnected from any network, you're good to go and then reboot into the stock OS and play safely online with your standard games. I've been using this to play Super Mario World ROM hacks using the PSNES emulator.
posted by WaylandSmith at 5:42 PM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
Yep — EMUMMC is neat, and nice to have the functionality available outside of the SX OS cfw. A little more involved to understand, although arguably less hassle once you get it working. Although I'd be worried about getting absent minded and connecting while running the clean image but with the dirty SD.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:06 PM on October 4, 2019
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:06 PM on October 4, 2019
Has anyone ported an honest-to-god web browser to Switch homebrew yet?
posted by JHarris at 7:29 PM on October 4, 2019
posted by JHarris at 7:29 PM on October 4, 2019
Dunkey is so awesome and his actual reviews (dunkviews) are usually really good. His Mario Odessey review is will convince you that it is your new favorite mario game and if you get a switch you need to get it ASAP because you will experience true joy
also all of his Mario Maker videos are sublimely enjoyable.
(also if you like this type of thing you might also be into Killian Experience who is just delightfully weird. His "garbage reviews" are rad and also this recent Minecraft viedeo is a goddamn work of art
posted by capnsue at 10:33 AM on October 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
also all of his Mario Maker videos are sublimely enjoyable.
(also if you like this type of thing you might also be into Killian Experience who is just delightfully weird. His "garbage reviews" are rad and also this recent Minecraft viedeo is a goddamn work of art
posted by capnsue at 10:33 AM on October 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
His Mario Odessey review yt is will convince you that it is your new favorite mario game and if you get a switch you need to get it ASAP because you will experience true joy
It did, and all I can say about that is that it's a good thing I like Fire Emblem, DQ Builders and the goose game. (I had BotW for WiiU already.) I keep playing more Odyssey and waiting for it to grab me and so far nothing.
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:03 PM on October 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
It did, and all I can say about that is that it's a good thing I like Fire Emblem, DQ Builders and the goose game. (I had BotW for WiiU already.) I keep playing more Odyssey and waiting for it to grab me and so far nothing.
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:03 PM on October 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
The replay value on Mario Odyssey is well worth the cost of the cart. Once you figure out how to beat a level, you realize there's so much more to explore. But there's also BoTW. And Hollow Knight. And Untitled Goose Game. And Mario Party for friends who don't like videogames, and Mario Kart for friends who think they might like video games, but aren't sure.
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:53 PM on October 6, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:53 PM on October 6, 2019 [2 favorites]
This is the first game I've wanted to buy for myself in about twenty years. Unfortunately it's single-player and my kids would get mad at me for hogging the console.
posted by MatthewJohnson at 12:51 PM on October 8, 2019
posted by MatthewJohnson at 12:51 PM on October 8, 2019
I reported this in the other thread, but seeing as there's two: The Q&A I did with the makers of Untitled Goose Game is up at Gamasutra.
posted by JHarris at 1:22 PM on October 9, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 1:22 PM on October 9, 2019 [3 favorites]
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Streamer Plays Untitled Goose Game Using A Fully Functional Goose Suit [Nintendo Life] posted by Fizz at 8:17 PM on October 3, 2019 [6 favorites]