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I actually see the commentary as funny, cuz I look at it as self-parody, and poking fun at the player. It's like "haha, this is an extremely violent and lowbrow society, and that's a bad thing" while also going "haha, you're enjoying this stupid lowbrow society!"
Awesome. Even if that's not what they meant to do.
Awesome. Even if that's not what they meant to do.
Refuge in Audaucity at its finest. Great article, and I think it's strange (and funny) that such a dirty, vulgar element of the game can be examined this thourougly and thoughtfully.
God I loved this game.
I think you're thinking way too into the story. It basically gives him a justification for going there. It doesn't attempt to justify his killings. He does some "good" things at the end, but he does them for purely selfish reasons. He's not really trying to "help" anyone. He's tired of the games, and he wants them to be over because he said so.
I think you're thinking way too into the story. It basically gives him a justification for going there. It doesn't attempt to justify his killings. He does some "good" things at the end, but he does them for purely selfish reasons. He's not really trying to "help" anyone. He's tired of the games, and he wants them to be over because he said so.
Isn't it the commentary or play by play commentary? When I read 'audio commentary' I think of an optional track by the director or the actors xD
The commentary is almost hypocritical. Making a violent video game to preach the message that violent entertianment is bad? I don't know whether the devs are serious or making jokes. The narrative portion of the game says one thing, but the gameplay portion totally says another. But hey it's all fun, so who cares? It's not like the devs were trying to preach a message. A game usually segregates between story and gameplay. Because if the gameplay had any effect in the story then sometimes the story becomes meaningless. Classic example: Why is everybody crying over Aeris? Don't tell me you never had a party member die on you during battles. Just use a Phoenix Down. Another example, your character has just killed hundreds of enemy units and you can take hundreds of bullets and still live. But during a cutscene two enemy units aim their guns at you and tell you to freeze, naturally if this were in a gameplay situation, you could easily slaughter them with just your fists, but this is a story portion, so you drop your weapons while the enemy arrests you and throws you in a dungeon. That's why a game's story and cutscenes are usually segregated from the actual gameplay itself. As for MadWorld The game reminds me of Manhunt. The director tells you to kill all the enemies using an array of weapons, and you have to kill them in the most unique and violent way possible. In the end of ManHunt you find the director and kill him. Same thing with Jack.
I wish I could of had that kind of fun with the game's commentary, but for the most part, it really detracted from the fun for me.
MadWorld's gameplay works with the story to come off as a convincingly self-unaware tribute/parody to American's love affair with the "one man against an army" sub-genre of action films/comics. Mad Max, Die Hard, Escape from New York, and Evil Dead 2, all fall under this genre, and there is a touch of all of them in MadWorld.
The fact that the game's story is so serious (and stupid) only works to accentuate the parody.
It's like Leslie Neilson. He's only funny when he says and does totally ridiculous stuff with a completely straight face. Same goes for MadWorld. When it seems like it's really trying hard to be serious, despite the fact that it makes absolutely no sense, that's when it works. It's in the play-by-play that the game loses it's straight face and shows you that it's actually trying really hard to be funny. That's where the game goes beyond parody and just turns into downright idiocy.
See: Leslie Nielsen in 2001: A Space Travesty.
Don't get me wrong, I love all of Leslie Nielsen's movies, but some are better than others.
MadWorld's gameplay works with the story to come off as a convincingly self-unaware tribute/parody to American's love affair with the "one man against an army" sub-genre of action films/comics. Mad Max, Die Hard, Escape from New York, and Evil Dead 2, all fall under this genre, and there is a touch of all of them in MadWorld.
The fact that the game's story is so serious (and stupid) only works to accentuate the parody.
It's like Leslie Neilson. He's only funny when he says and does totally ridiculous stuff with a completely straight face. Same goes for MadWorld. When it seems like it's really trying hard to be serious, despite the fact that it makes absolutely no sense, that's when it works. It's in the play-by-play that the game loses it's straight face and shows you that it's actually trying really hard to be funny. That's where the game goes beyond parody and just turns into downright idiocy.
See: Leslie Nielsen in 2001: A Space Travesty.
Don't get me wrong, I love all of Leslie Nielsen's movies, but some are better than others.
I will agree that the commentary is probably the best bit of the game. However, it makes me wonder if what Rev says and the choice was and intentional artistic one or just a happy coincidence?
Hot article, I'm glad you're talking this game up.
I think the "real" story is more valuable than it gets credit for. While it ultimately badass-es itself into being "... but ultimately, we just wanted to kill a bunch of dudes" I found the execution fun in that popcorn, "Basic starring John Travolta" intrigue sort of way. Its no Metal Gear, but I think it flys well enough.
Also, it gives that sober base that keeps the total package from being the biggest and oldest bad joke about games: All sadism with no grounding. Remember how the games Bart Simpson would play were just Gore Title + basic gameplay + no acknoledgement of a normal-realism? Madworld without the "real" stroy would probably play just like that. All things considered, I don't think it would be nearly as palettable, despite the purity of the gameplay/expression connection.
I think the "real" story is more valuable than it gets credit for. While it ultimately badass-es itself into being "... but ultimately, we just wanted to kill a bunch of dudes" I found the execution fun in that popcorn, "Basic starring John Travolta" intrigue sort of way. Its no Metal Gear, but I think it flys well enough.
Also, it gives that sober base that keeps the total package from being the biggest and oldest bad joke about games: All sadism with no grounding. Remember how the games Bart Simpson would play were just Gore Title + basic gameplay + no acknoledgement of a normal-realism? Madworld without the "real" stroy would probably play just like that. All things considered, I don't think it would be nearly as palettable, despite the purity of the gameplay/expression connection.
To me, the commentary was amusing and put a smile on my face every now and then. Not only were the lines cool and entertaining but you could tell that Greg and John were having a good time. And to top it off, their voices fit into the game really well which made my experience all the more enjoyable.
My only real complaint was how the commentary would often blend in with the music's song lyrics making it hard to hear every line they speak.
Although, this can be fixed a bit by messing around with the volume options. Sometimes though, I just wanted to turn off the commentary and simply chill to the catchy hip hop music. It's nice that Platinum Games included the option.
MadWorld's got a killer soundtrack by the way.
My only real complaint was how the commentary would often blend in with the music's song lyrics making it hard to hear every line they speak.
Although, this can be fixed a bit by messing around with the volume options. Sometimes though, I just wanted to turn off the commentary and simply chill to the catchy hip hop music. It's nice that Platinum Games included the option.
MadWorld's got a killer soundtrack by the way.
I like how there's even commentary over the credits. It's like the commentary exists to poke holes in the game's overinflated self importance, right through to the game makers. And that's a good thing.
"Look a that, the spell checker got credit too"
"People say that programmers are people who can talk to computers because no one else wants to talk to them."
"Is that the reason why no one talks to you?"
"Artists are like a rash. You don't care where they are, you just want them to go away."
"There is only one blood effects guy? Man he must have been working 24/7"
"Look a that, the spell checker got credit too"
"People say that programmers are people who can talk to computers because no one else wants to talk to them."
"Is that the reason why no one talks to you?"
"Artists are like a rash. You don't care where they are, you just want them to go away."
"There is only one blood effects guy? Man he must have been working 24/7"
I'm bookmarking this so I can read it when my girlfriend brings herself and her Wii back from Florida and I can finally beat this game.
I thought the commentary actually kept the game grounded. What I mean is that while you're just hacking away at your enemies, the commentators are cracking jokes at the players expense, therefore just reminding you that its a just a game, your playing to be entertained, not by the violence but by the absurdity of it.
The commentary is hilarious and the storyline is pretty good, even if it is in direct contrast to the rest of the game. In fact, that difference adds to the presentation instead of detracting from it if you ask me. Plus I never felt like it was genuinely tring to enforce its message of "terrible violence is terrible" too hard. For me, it fit right in. Plus AKK is probably right in that Jack probably had is own reasons.
P.S. "Guy goes to his doctor. Doctor says 'Your gonna have to stop masturbating.' Guy says 'Why?' Doctor says 'So I can examine you!'"
"One minute!" "The amount of time your wife spent fucking you on your honeymoon!" Howard and Kreese. Best new characters of the year so far.
P.S. "Guy goes to his doctor. Doctor says 'Your gonna have to stop masturbating.' Guy says 'Why?' Doctor says 'So I can examine you!'"
"One minute!" "The amount of time your wife spent fucking you on your honeymoon!" Howard and Kreese. Best new characters of the year so far.
The commentary reminded me of the two old guys from the muppets who are constantly talking trash about everything. And I'm pretty sure madworld stole the "yes means anal" joke from them too
"Those pills are great when you wash them down with a little scotch."
"I'd like to wash down that scotch with another scotch."
"I'd like to wash the scotch I washed that scotch down with, with another scotch."
"I like scotch."
"I like scotch."
They're the best announcers since Nick Diamond and Johnny Gomez.
"I'd like to wash down that scotch with another scotch."
"I'd like to wash the scotch I washed that scotch down with, with another scotch."
"I like scotch."
"I like scotch."
They're the best announcers since Nick Diamond and Johnny Gomez.
The commentary really makes the game. Whatever philosophical and social meaning people may be taking from it, bottom line is that Proops and DiMaggio totally sell a hilarious script.
With a game like this, I usually end up turning off all sounds other than a quiet basic combat noise so I can watch TV while playing it. However, I found the commentary to be so good that it's usually louder than whatever show or movie I'm watching.
This made me look up some Whose Line is it Anyway bloopers on YouTube. When Proops messes up, he swears pretty good...
Greg "Oh, and there goes Quadranero's power coupling" Proops.
I am so ashamed that I recognize that.
I am so ashamed that I recognize that.
Thanks for the great review, Anthony! I wrote the announcer commentary along with fellow Happy Tree Friends writer Warren Graff, and we're happy to see the (mostly) great response to our work.
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