Do you think Ghost of Tsushima would be receiving such high fan praise if TLOUII wasn't such a polarizing game?

[Deleted member 79517]

It is, though.

It has a terrible metacritic user rating for a reason.
People "hated it" for "reasons"

Click to shrink...

It's objectively false to say it isn't polarizing.

It's also disingenuous to say the polarization is only because of deplorables so can't stomach representation in their video games. Those people are quite vocal, yes, but people with actual good reasons for disliking TLOUII are quite vocal even on this very message board.

 

[Touha]

I am sorry but this is such a ridiculous narrative that I am seeing elsewhere online too---this idea that Ghost of Tsushima is only popular because of TLOU2 hate/backlash and only won the recent Player's Choice award for the same reason. Ghost is Sony's fastest selling original IP ever and has sold well over 5 million copies by now. There were millions of votes cast for the Video Game Award. Ghost is an amazing game in it's own right that is clearly extremely popular and well-received. It is easily my GOTY.

Nothing against TLOU2 and I understand there is a vocal group out there of TLOU haters but it is silly to somehow hinge Ghost's success on an idiotic minority of internet trolls that hated TLOU2. Ghost is incredible and huge numbers of gamers clearly loved it.

 

[Mr.Deadshot]

I think some people simply underestimate this game or the appreciation for it.

Click to shrink...

Agree. The game is a lot better than your usually Ubisoft Open World due to great characters, good story and better pacing. The 83 meta is very misleading, it's even below some Assassin's Creed games which is a bit lol-worthy IMHO. The gameplay is also much better with less jank and an actual fun battle system that makes you feel like a badass.

 

[TheGhost]

I think it's the best PS4 exclusive for 2020.

I got to live a samurai dream and then....they added the best multiplayer Sony has seen for their first party in forever.

it's the total package.

 

[Bennibop]

Op, problem with the metacritic score is that the reviews do not include the multiplayer aspect of the game as it was a surprise release. I love last of us 2 but Ghost is my favourite game this year (when you include multiplayer.)

 

[Bish_Bosch]

I think it would have a B-tier level GOTY chorus a la Assassins Creed but it is definitely boosted by 4chan types making it the force to unify around.

 

[Z-Beat]

I ended up liking Ghost of Tsushima a lot more than TLOU2 but the two aren't exactly comparable games. They exist in their own lanes

 

[HardRojo]

It is a fine game (I didn't like it that much tho), it was successful and it sold well, which means people did enjoy it and bought it because they seemed to believe so too, sadly the game has seen itself involved in this whole pathetic thing because some manchildren can't handle a lesbian protagonist and some sort of representation in a mainstream game. It really is a shame because GoT can stand on its own without being dragged by this bullshit.

 

[arcticice]

Ghost is amazing, so yes absolutely.

 

[spman2099]

If it didn't have that anti-TLOU2 brigade behind it, I think it would have still been a very well liked game. It may have been signal boosted a little less, but at least there wouldn't have been any of the ugliness associated with it.

Basically, I think the whole ugliness has been more of a hinderance than a help.

Yes, I think it would. I also think that if TLOU2 wasn't so polarizing then ppl wouldn't be pitting the two games against each other.

Click to shrink...

I don't think many people pit the two games against each other who aren't acting in bad faith. They are very different games.

 

[hwalker84]

Sure. I think the number of folks who are voting for Tsushima out of spite against TLOU2 is probably overrepresented.

Tsushima is an extremely, extremely pretty take on the Ubisoft Game open world format, and the Ubisoft Game format is extremely fucking popular. I'm not surprised at all that a take on that format with Sony's level of first-party production value would appeal to a ton of folks.

Like the game has a lot of stuff going for it, I don't think "gotta spite TLOU2" is really front of mind for most folks.

Click to shrink...

Absolutely.

Tsushima is an art-direction masterclass, has a compelling narrative, wonderful work by the performers, and engaging combat. I had a blast with the open world; it never felt empty or dull, but I understand people burned out by open-world games in general might not be as impressed with it.
The game receives GOTY nods regardless of the year it comes out in. It's a strong game.

Click to shrink...

Agreed 1000%

 

[RowdyReverb]

I'm just excited that I have both installed on my PS5 waiting for me to finish TLOU Remastered. Never played any PS exclusives til I got a PS5

 

[DryCreek]

.

 

[MavFan619]

I'm honestly kinda confused. Tlou2 is like 15x the game GoT is imo.

 

[shadowsdarknes]

It's objectively false to say it isn't polarizing.

It's also disingenuous to say the polarization is only because of deplorables so can't stomach representation in their video games. Those people are quite vocal, yes, but people with actual good reasons for disliking TLOUII are quite vocal even on this very message board.

Click to shrink...

Yeah. But almost every game has some degree of users not liking games for certain reasons. Many reasons being quite valid.

With the latest TLOU2 Abby trailer, was the reason the trailer got thousands of more dislikes than likes because of pacing issues and issues with combat variety? Or because people hate Abby and Lev because of "performative wokeness?"

I'm going to argue it's the latter.

We all have games we don't like. How many of us visit post launch trailers of games we didn't end up liking and downvote it?

 

[Sande]

I think GoT would be seen less favorably next to Horizon since they're quite similar and Horizon does almost everything better. Being just about incomparable to TLOU2 works in its favor. And it absolutely got a push at launch and now in awards season from certain crowds because of TLOU2. That doesn't take away from anyone's genuine enjoyment of it, of course.

 

[TheWildCard]

I mean they aren't even similar styles of game and Ghost is a very pretty and safe iteration of a very crowd-pleaser genre. They don't really have much to do with the other beyond both being big Sony titles.

 

[Denkoyugo]

Yes, as it's a good game. Seems simple enough

 

[black070]

Ghost of Tsushima is my game of the year, so yup.

 

[thediamondage]

Yes. Ubisoft games sell a TON but don't get much discussion on ERA, and they are pretty good games. I haven't played Ghosts yet (on my list!) but from friends who have and watching a bit of twitch it seems to be a bit better than most of the Ubi single player games, all of which I've enjoyed. In many ways it reminds me of Days Gone, which critics kinda poo-poo'd but tended to be viewed positively by people who played it, and sold really well if I remember right.

It'll be interesting seeing sales numbers for the entire 2020, and seeing how Watch Dogs Legion, AC Valhalla, Ghosts, and The Last of Us 2 rank among each other on just sales.

 

[theAllseeingEYE]

I think the surprising thing is this game getting so much recognition in a world were so many apparently better games came out this year alone (Half-Life Alex, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, The Last of Us II, Hades, Animal Crossing, and even Assassins Creed Valhalla and Microsoft Flight Simulator reviewed better).

I can't say how it stacks up to everything else, I'm still waiting for the right time to buy and play it and really looking forward to that, but it Sounds like a well executed if overall not very creative or innovative game, that has a really good narrative. It also sounds like a lot of people simply haven't played the other GOTY candidates.

 

[SeeingeyeDug]

I really enjoyed GoT. Then the multiplayer came out and they dropped one of the most fun multiplayer games I've played last generation.

 

[Ariesfirebomb]

After playing GOT I thought it was a fine game but the 83 metacritic seems to be a fair score for the game. But it has one thing about it so many people love more than anything, it isn't the last of us II...Leaving personal opinion out ( I loooooved tlouII) it seems a decent game in Ghost is getting much praised for not being TLOUII than it is for what it does well on its own merit. That being said if you removed the last of us II from 2020 and replaced it with a less polarizing game with a similar metacritic, say Horizon Zero Dawn, do you think that GOT would be receiving the same praise it currently is?

Click to shrink...

All of this!

all people have to do is check out the old forum and twitter to see just how toxic gamers are being about TLOU2

ghosts is a great game and a fantastic entry level to a new IP however.

 

[Xando]

Yes it's the better game

 

[Amnixia]

GoT was a pretty game (especially Kurosawa mode) but it felt like a Ubisoft game to me

 

[toastyToast]

It's a far more palatable game and something that people actively desired for the better part of a decade (Assassins Creed in a Japan).

I don't want to play down TLoU 2 but in 2020 this dark zombie shit is not new.

 

[Solace]

Wasn't Ghost one of the most voted(user rating) games on MC and with a pretty high rating? People clearly loved that game.

 

[Kami]

After playing GOT I thought it was a fine game but the 83 metacritic seems to be a fair score for the game. But it has one thing about it so many people love more than anything, it isn't the last of us II...Leaving personal opinion out ( I loooooved tlouII) it seems a decent game in Ghost is getting much praised for not being TLOUII than it is for what it does well on its own merit. That being said if you removed the last of us II from 2020 and replaced it with a less polarizing game with a similar metacritic, say Horizon Zero Dawn, do you think that GOT would be receiving the same praise it currently is?

Click to shrink...

If you remove TLOU2 from the list altogether, Ghost of Tsushima is probably the favorite for GOTY. So yes, it would still be receiving this much praise if not for the TLOU2 controversy.

However, in regards to this award specifically yes it primarily won because the TLOU2 critics went out of their way to vote for it.

 

[Kami]

GoT was a pretty game (especially Kurosawa mode) but it felt like a Ubisoft game to me

Click to shrink...

Except better than any Ubisoft game.

 

[JusDoIt]

It's a great game on its own. It's not in the same league as TLOUII and time will look back on the comparison between the two as ridiculous, but it's a great game.

 

[Amnixia]

Except better than any Ubisoft game.

Click to shrink...

Beyond Good & Evil begs to differ

 

[Horohorohoro]

I've never played nor do I have any plan of playing either, but from my understanding GoT was extremely popular?

 

[Kupo Kupopo]

not everyone who played, & even finished, the last of us part 2 ended up being all that crazy about the game (self included). yes, the people who loved the game, including many critics, loved it. but that by no means includes everyone who played it, including many of us who were able to appreciate various aspects of the game while still not enjoying it overall...

what i'm saying is, i feel that for most of those who didn't especially love the game, i'm not really seeing that somehow coloring their feelings about other games they've played & enjoyed. why would a game someone didn't like all that much affect the way someone felt about a game that they did like? do you feel that this's something that happens a lot, op?...

 

[Ryo]

I loved both for different reasons and I found GoT to be a more enjoyable experience than Horizon

 

[criteriondog]

Ghost of Tsushima would have had it's acclaimed recognition it gets. It's an incredible game.

 

[Sordid Plebeian]

The game industry does not revolve around TLOU2 wtf

GoT is fantastic in its own right, I enjoyed the game immensely

 

[shinobi602]

GoT is excellent and easily in my top 10 this year, but...I do think there's a subset of nasty players out there holding it up on a pedestal and propagating it as some kind of pushback against baseless perceived wrongs from TLOU2. That other thread had links that showed as much. I remember tweeting how much I enjoyed Ghost of Tsushima on completion and got hundreds of tweets about how it's a "real game" and "respects players" as opposed to TLOU.

Bunch of dumbass gamergaters out there.

 

[callamp]

I'm playing through it at the moment and it's a nice game. I'm enjoying it. But I'm honestly surprised it was nominated for game of the year let alone ranking so highly among those selected games.

 

[Doskoi Panda]

Except better than any Ubisoft game.

Click to shrink...

I loved Ghost of Tsushima a lot, but it straight up shares blood with post-3 Far Cry.

 

[John Bender]

After playing GOT I thought it was a fine game but the 83 metacritic seems to be a fair score for the game. But it has one thing about it so many people love more than anything, it isn't the last of us II...Leaving personal opinion out ( I loooooved tlouII) it seems a decent game in Ghost is getting much praised for not being TLOUII than it is for what it does well on its own merit. That being said if you removed the last of us II from 2020 and replaced it with a less polarizing game with a similar metacritic, say Horizon Zero Dawn, do you think that GOT would be receiving the same praise it currently is?

Click to shrink...

Yes. Don't try to ruin Ghost of Tsushima's success because of TLOU2's haters.

 

[crimsonECHIDNA]

Someone made the Alita Battle Angel/Captain Marvel comparison in a previous thread and its very apt. I loved Ghost Tsushima but you have to be in denial or incredibly naive not to see you got a really vocal crowd rallying around it as a cover to bash TLOU2.

 

[LuckyLinus]

I wouldnt vote for either and its not out of spite, they are impressive games but not my favorites this year.

 

[Heromanz]

I really don't understand this. People love ghost because they hate The last of us? Like what lol

 

[fade]

I am sorry but this is such a ridiculous narrative that I am seeing elsewhere online too---this idea that Ghost of Tsushima is only popular because of TLOU2 hate/backlash and only won the recent Player's Choice award for the same reason. Ghost is Sony's fastest selling original IP ever and has sold well over 5 million copies by now. There were millions of votes cast for the Video Game Award. Ghost is an amazing game in it's own right that is clearly extremely popular and well-received. It is easily my GOTY.

Nothing against TLOU2 and I understand there is a vocal group out there of TLOU haters but it is silly to somehow hinge Ghost's success on an idiotic minority of internet trolls that hated TLOU2. Ghost is incredible and huge numbers of gamers clearly loved it.

Click to shrink...

I don't think anyone is saying the only reason it's popular is because of the controversy. The idea that TLOU2 is so polarizing that it would drive enough nuts to vote for another game as a consolation out of spite that it would effecs its chances is plausible imo.

 

[Veelk]

I'm sure that it inflated the opinions somewhat, but I can't imagine anyone that loved it that wouldn't love it if TLoU2 didn't exist.

 

[NoKisum]

Are there really any gamers that bought Ghost just to spite Naughty Dog?

 

[SilkySm00th]

I mean i doubt anyone actively joined and voted for the sake of making TLoU lose - but yes obviously? if they weren't a polarizing game and instead went deep fan service revenge plot where Ellie and Joel go kill the people who murdered Tommy and Dina I think it's safe to say they would have probably still made a 10 out of 10 game in a lot of critics eyes and would have had a more broad appeal among the first games fans.

So yeah... if more people liked TLoU it would have done better LoL

 

[Niosai]

Absolutely, it would. The people who spite TLOU2 are more vocal than those who didn't, which makes it seem like they're more prevalent.

 

[Lothars]

GOT is one of the best games of the year, it is utterly fantastic and deserves all the recognition it gets. Would it have won the award? I don't know but it's wonderful and worth playing.

It's objectively false to say it isn't polarizing.

It's also disingenuous to say the polarization is only because of deplorables so can't stomach representation in their video games. Those people are quite vocal, yes, but people with actual good reasons for disliking TLOUII are quite vocal even on this very message board.

Click to shrink...

I don't think it is, It's not as polarizing as some are saying. there will always be people who dislike something but that's definitely not making it polarizing.

 

[KodaRuss]

I really love both games. Legends coming out for GoT really pushed that game way up in my book. The Legends mode is very strong if you have not played it yet.