This one is down right mean;
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-892-PC-Game-Examiner~y2010m7d12-The-Silver-Lining-review-About-thirty-minutes-of-cut-scenes-and-little-else
Also a bit scathing, but doesn't try to be insulting.
http://www.projectcoe.com/blog/2010/07/15/the-silver-lining-review/
Oh, and here is Justadventure's review to tone things down a bit.
http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/SilverLiningEp1/SilverLiningEp1.shtm
...and Adrenaline vault;
http://www.avault.com/reviews/pc/silver-lining-episode-1-pc-review/
I thought it would be worse but it's not that bad...
Unfortunately, the game also fails to add even modest gameplay improvements—or even much of a game. The 3D engine and graphics are adequate if a little ugly, and the game doesn't employ a context-sensitive cursor, instead requiring you to manually switch between "look", "talk", "use", and "move" cursors. Yes, this is "retro" but to our knowledge no one is nostalgic for antiquated control schemes.
It's the first time I hear a complaint about the look, talk, etc. cursors. In fact everyone in the adventure gaming community seems to like it, just check the games created with AGS, almost all of them have this kind of control. I think it adds more gamepla, it's ironic because he complains about that there's not a game and just cutscenes, if there was a context-sensitive cursor it would be less of a game and more like an interactive film.
Well I think the mean part, was the whole "mini-walkthrough" bit at the end.
Particularly since looking at the doors in the town area will prompt a very odd thing to happen.... :suffer:
The Examiner did seem a little overly critical, as in more than was necessary. The walkthrough pretty much says to me that this person isn't all that interested in what makes adventure games great.
Don't click on the strange man standing in town. Or the basket. Or any doors. None of them do or accomplish anything. And the narrator's dialog isn't clever enough to even make it entertaining.
Yes, I agree that bit is a bit silly. Adventure games are also about exploring, looking at stuff, etc. Not only about clicking your way to the end as if it the end of the world was about to come.
If you read a walkthrough you are oftenly encouraged to explore on your own and try things.
QuoteDon't click on the strange man standing in town. Or the basket. Or any doors. None of them do or accomplish anything. And the narrator's dialog isn't clever enough to even make it entertaining.
That's rather unfair. Granted, an adventure game (and any other game for that matter) can be boiled down into purely functional actions ("get coin", "shoot boss", "wear dog") but the action itself is only a small part of the game: the atmosphere and overall "feel" of the game is largely built up by non-functional things like story and voice acting and artwork.
*Sigh* I do sometimes wonder if the instant gratification of "I shot something and it died with blood!" is making attention-spans somewhat antiquary...
I wonder if that reviewer has ever played any adventure game at all. It seems like they were determined to dislike the game before they even started playing it.
All these reviews fail to understand that Episode 1 is only the intro - not the game!
Actually several actually mention that fact, then they go onto say that POS should have advertised the game as a prologue, one review even states it should have been named, "Episode 0: Prologue and Tutorial".
http://www.gamersdailynews.com/article-2505-The-Silver-Lining-Episode-1-What-Is-Decreed-Must-Be-PC.html
http://www.honestgamers.com/reviews/8932/The-Silver-Lining-Episode-1-What-is-Decreed-Must-Be.html
http://www.gamerswithcasts.com/review-kings-quest-the-silver-lining-episode-1-pc/
So in other words some do note that it is just an introduction, and they factor that into there reasons for criticizing the episode, under what they felt was essentially false advertising, or they still felt disapointed by it.
They are a bit miffed it was advertised as a real episode of the game, rather the designer's saying from the getgo that it was just an "introduction".
One thing they many of the reviews seem to have in common is that they tend to make comparisons to Telltale Games style of episodic gaming... with the intent to review each invidiual part seperately like they do with other episodic games.
Here is some more reviews;
http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=18501
http://www.impulsegamer.com/pcthesilverliningepisode1whatisdecreedmustbe.html
http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/706160/The-Verdict-The-Silver-Lining--Episode-1-What-Is-Decreed.html
You're right, PO should have made it clear that Episode 1 was really a prologue.
Quote from: kindofdoon on July 18, 2010, 10:39:30 AM
You're right, PO should have made it clear that Episode 1 was really a prologue.
I have to agree. If they could rename the title or the episode number without causing a stir or a bad rep with Activision, I think it would be better for the communication with their fanbase.
One thing I don't understand with these reviews are that they are looking at it through a colored lens. Their reviewing scale is not numeric or based off of a Grade system. One of them says, "Approach it with caution!" and another one says "Don't buy it!". Did they not get the memo that it's free? I've never heard so many people complain about something that's free. I understand why people are upset and disappointed, but really? People feel the need to convince others to be disappointed? What a world we live in.
That actually shouldn't be something difficult to change stealthily it would require like a change to a menu, and the icon menu I think? Then reuploading the file. They wouldn't even have to announce they reuploaded it. Maybe just change a few websites references to the whole "Episode 1" to change it to "Episode 0".
would it matter really, if they change it to prologe or episode 0 now? it is out already, it won't change how people look at it.
I don't believe there are any intentions right now to change the name of the episode. It is remaining as Episode 1: What is Decreed Must Be, as was intended.
Although, speaking off the record and not as a team member, I feel that it could have been more clearly explained that ep 1 was just an intro, but it's my only real gripe with the first episode.
The team knew before the release that this was going to be a hot button issue. I think they've done a good job post release though. They've handled the feedback well in my eyes.
Seriously, this episode was not meant to be open-ended as has been stated multiple times. It was meant to introduce you to the King's Quest world and set the stage for further events to come. There are many games in which the player is first thrust into a linear world that eventually opens up. People mostly don't complain about that because the game is presented as one single whole and they don't really notice it in the grand scheme of things. Some people are thinking "oh no, what if the other episodes are just like this? The team screwed up our beloved series." Patience is a virtue here. Take into account the fact that the game is set on a world map as a sort of homage to many Japanese role playing games. This, in a sense, is foreshadowing of an open ended world to come in my opinion. The voice acting was mostly pretty good with a few characters average but nothing terrible. I really liked Saladin in addition to Hassan and Graham. The original Saladin was great voice acting and so is this Saladin. I even thought the episode was slightly comical when the guard dog growls and puts his ears back, that was funny! The narrator provided some comic relief as well. It wasn't your traditional narration, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'll admit that I was somewhat dissapointed by the lack of length and puzzles of the first eposide after my first playthrough. However, after thinking about it a little I understood why it was released that way from a presentational and business point of view.
The author of the first review says in the comments that he worked for Sierra for nearly nine years and is very familiar with adventure games. I think his review was very fair. At least he was generous enough to say he hopes Episode 2 is better, and that he will review that one as well.
When he was saying not to click on things, he was simply making the point that it wouldn't accomplish much... AND that the narrator's response to the action wouldn't be that great, either.
You know people that keep on defending POS because they have said it is meant as an introduction?
You know most of that came after the fact, after the reviews were made right? Trying to back peddle in a way from the initial overly hyped announcement for the episode, and their advertisement of it being a regular chapter of the game. They basically created for themselves a situation where it was going to get criticism for the false hopes they had created.
They could have saved themselves alot of grief if they had announced before the release that it would just be an introduction, instead of stating it after the fact. You know what they say about hindsight right? Hindsight is 20/20. Simply because they have an explanation for why its not up to par with people's expectations doesn't mean that is going to change individuals minds after the fact, and after the reviews have been posted.
The other issue which may or may have been fixed, I don't know, is that no where on there main website they didn't give a warning that its just an introduction, and they simply advertised it as a "game". When its actually more of a semi-interactive cinematic or a tech demo. The only place you would learn it's a "introduction" was/is through the forums, and not every person who downloads the game is a visitor to these forums or may not take the time to look in these forums. That's going to affect people's impressions of the game as well, because unless they went to the forums, they are only going to see it as a not much of a game, but just that the main website hyped it and advertised as a game. I haven't checked the main website to see if they have fixed this issue or not however.
That being said part of the hype they had for the game before its release was comparing it to other serial based adventure games such as from Tell-tale, which Cez works at. So people had high expectations it was going to be something along that lines, and thus they went in reviewing it accordingly. Yes, each and every episode of Tell-tale game is individually reviewed by its own merits. This is the modern review style for episodic style games. No they don't wait for the "whole game to be released", mainly because by that time it become old news, and many reviewers from the mainstream sites do get paid to write reviews... and there are many people that do enjoy reading reviews, and do use them to make or influence their decisions on which games to play or not (as much as there are many who may disagree with the reviewer).
The best POS can do is, learn their lesson, and not make the same mistake in the future. I think they will be able to prove themselves with Episode 2 (especially if it has a dozen or more puzzles to solve). But there is a possiblity that they may have hurt the impressions of those who downloaded the game, and aren't forumites, and don't pay attention the forums, who may not return.
The mantra of "it was made as an intro!! dont judge it yet!" just doesnt cut it for me. This "intro" was released in 2006, but it was properly labeled a demo then. Now they re-release it, with no new content, just a couple of extra cutscenes, and re-labeled as "episode 1". If you think reviewers should reserve their judgement, they already did, they cant wait forever.
Really, spinz?
Because usually reviewers review entire games and this was NEVER marketed as the release of the entire game. Even if it were seventeen hours of gameplay, reviewers should NOT be reviewing it yet. They should wait until the game is finished like they do for every other game they review.
Quote from: crayauchtin on July 20, 2010, 10:48:20 PM
They should wait until the game is finished like they do for every other game they review.
Sorry thats not true, games that are released in episodes are reviewed episode by episode, alllll the time. This was marketed as an episode, a complete release out of a series. So its being treated as such. Theyr not going to wait to review it until its more convenient, and who knows how long theyd have to wait.
Well we're certainly hoping that a lot of the people who reviewed Episode 1 will come back for Episode 2 and the others and offer their opinions on those as well. I talked to one reviewer last week who is definitely planning on playing and reviewing the other episodes and his primary interests were also seeing more actual "adventuring" which he will be getting (as will all of you, and Kotaku if they care).
And there's a magnificent pun begging to be phrased properly about how the name of the first episode was decreed and so it's going to stay that way, but I'm not bothering to figure it out properly.
Here is the list of reviews, and where I marked which side I think they landed, this is just an opinion on (most are mixed, but a few fall on side of critical, and at least one is more positive); By mixed, they generally praise the good aspects of the game, the graphics, the sound/music, and they criticize length, the narrator, some criticize the voice acting. Not everyone seems to agree on the voice acting some love it, some consider it "below par", "even for a fan creation", some think that its excellent. Not everyone seems to agree on all the details. ...and in no way does "mixed" mean "bad review", infact I would probably say they are fair and balanced, giving both positive and negatives (or at least there opinions of what is positive and negative)...
Of course most have said they will come back to review the later episodes, which is good.
* Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/5584586/the-silver-lining-episode-1-micro+review-absence-makes-the-heart-grow-colder?skyline=true&s=i)
* G4 (http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/706160/The-Verdict-The-Silver-Lining--Episode-1-What-Is-Decreed.html)
* Adrenaline vault (http://www.avault.com/reviews/pc/silver-lining-episode-1-pc-review/)
*Justadventure (http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/SilverLiningEp1/SilverLiningEp1.shtm)
*games radar (http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/the-silver-lining/news/we-gave-free-fan-made-kings-quest-tribute-a-try-should-you/a-20100716165521330066/g-20100709102426298086)
* Wired (http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/07/kings-quest-silver-lining/)
*national examiner (http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-892-PC-Game-Examiner~y2010m7d12-The-Silver-Lining-review-About-thirty-minutes-of-cut-scenes-and-little-else)
* family friendly gaming (http://www.familyfriendlygaming.com/Reviews/2010/The%20Silver%20Lining%20Episode%201.html)
* Rock Paper Shotgun (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/07/14/wot-i-think-the-silver-lining/)
* impulse gamer review of part 1 (http://www.impulsegamer.com/pcthesilverliningepisode1whatisdecreedmustbe.html)
* honestgamers.com review (http://www.honestgamers.com/reviews/8932/The-Silver-Lining-Episode-1-What-is-Decreed-Must-Be.html)
*gamersdailynews.net review (http://www.gamersdailynews.com/article-2505-The-Silver-Lining-Episode-1-What-Is-Decreed-Must-Be-PC.html)
* Project COE Gaming News Galore review (http://www.projectcoe.com/blog/2010/07/15/the-silver-lining-review/)
* gamers with casts review (http://www.gamerswithcasts.com/review-kings-quest-the-silver-lining-episode-1-pc/)
* colony of gamers review of part 1 (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=18501)
* Asian Girl Gamer (http://asiangirlgamer.com/1300/zen-impression-kings-quest-the-silver-lining-episode-1/)
* Classic Game Room (http://www.classicgameroom.com/the-silver-lining-episode-1-what-is-decreed-must-be-pc-review.html)
* Ready-Up (http://ready-up.net/reviews/the-silver-lining-episode-1-what-is-decreed-must-be/)
* Captain D's Gaming Blog (http://captaind-pc-gaming.blogspot.com/2010/07/silver-lining-episode-1-what-is-decreed.html)
Quote from: Baggins on July 23, 2010, 05:23:41 AM
Here is the list of reviews, and where I marked which side I think they landed, this is just an opinion on (most are mixed, but a few fall on side of critical, and at least one is more positive); By mixed, they generally praise the good aspects of the game, the graphics, the sound/music, and they criticize length, the narrator, some criticize the voice acting. Not everyone seems to agree on the voice acting some love it, some consider it "below par", "even for a fan creation", some think that its excellent. Not everyone seems to agree on all the details. ...and in no way does "mixed" mean "bad review"...
I may add that also, some love the narrator and the jokes she makes, and some point the story as having a strong narrative too.
Yes, I didn't say they all dislike the narrator.
I actually personally like the narrator, although I'm not a such a fan of the snarky/4th wall breaking stuff.
I also like most of your actor choices. Maybe not so much for oberon/arch druid actor. They don't sound much like the originals characters.
I also like your story so far :). I've never criticized the story.
Baggins, you just posted that list elsewhere. You do not need to repost the same thing in multiple threads. Your post will be seen.
Koko I was just merging the topic, the other one is locked, and thus no discussion :). Cez said this was the same topic. You are more than welcome to delete the other topic if you'd like.
your links are broken up, only half are clickable, would be way easier/neater if you mask the hyperlink anyways.
brr, I'll try to fix it.
(Posted on: July 23, 2010, 08:33:19 AM)
Found another review, mostly postive one :);
Mostly praise, only negative is the shortness of the episode it seems.
(http://hardydev.com/2010/07/19/kings-quest-the-silver-lining-what-is-decreed-must-be-review/%20hardy%20dev)
Quotenow have a look at the real weaker side of things, as without doubt there is such. The main disappointment comes from the fact that the actual playing time of this first episode takes about 15 minutes and has only one real puzzle to solve (a simple inventory-based one), the remaining 20-30 minutes are all cutscenes – very good looking, but also throwing a huge amount of dialogs at the player with little clear plot development. The following chapters promise to offer much more, but as far as we know the second one is still a couple months away...
Can one really evaluate The Silver Lining experience by this short Prologue, I asked myself? And I definitely hope that what follows will surpass it by far and become a full-fledged adventure game – even if it should be only medium-sized with all-chapters-combined. However,What is Decreed Must Be has enough meat to it to be judged as a production worth playing with, if only for bringing the magical world of KQ to life again with an all new look. Also, for pushing the boundries of how impressive can an indie, freeware adventure game look like.
Still, their reviews should at least make it clear that Episode 1 only functions as a prologue.
Many of those reviews do say that it is kind of a prologue, and they still critique it for that, because they felt they were lead to believe it was something more than a prologue :p... Also I don't think most reviewers actually read the forums...
I mean seriously look at the main website (http://www.tsl-game.com/), or the episode 1 descripion page (http://www.postudios.com/episodes.php) or the descriptions page (http://www.postudios.com/episode_i.php) or the blog and download (http://www.postudios.com/blog/?page_id=4), do you see anything that gives an indication that "its just a prologue", especially when people go in with preconceived misconsceptions based the hyping of the episode (from various media outlets), plus assumptions based on other episodic style games from Tell-Tale games and other companies?
The website is a bit misleading, there is nothing that points to the explanation in the forums. For the average person that comes onto the site, looking for the episode, downloads, it and plays it they'll have only noticed the rather rosy marketing of the site, and nothing that indicates that its "just a prologue", and that they should be witholding expectations until episode 2. There is a disconnect, I think this is the reason why TSL has been getting overly negative reviews (even the ones they list one single "glowing" quote from out of context from reviews that are generally negative), and many of these reviews don't pick up on the fact that its an introduction.
I'm not trying to knock the game, or the developers (because I do understand how they are trying to explain its limited size), I'm trying to point out the problem with their marketing on the main websites... They really need to fix the site, point out that its an prologue, or they might continue to get these fairly scathing and mixed reviews...
What I'm trying to say is I don't think its necessarily the fault of the episode itself, but more along the lines of a marketing issue gone bad (shooting themselves in the foot basically)... There is a disconnect going on between the reviewers, the marketing and the designer's intent.
I also recommend reading the comments sections on many of the reviews, sometimes the reviewer posts additional comments, further clarifying their position.
yus, the prologue 'argument' only really came forwards after the release. before episode 1 was released we already knew it was way shorter (1 hour it was said while the other episodes were 2-3?) then the other episodes though. So you can not blame the critics for not taking into account that it is a prologue.
Where was the news article that said it was ongly going to be one hour? Cause I don't remember it... if I didn't see it, there is always a chance the critics didn't see it as well... :P...
I mean its very easy to say the critics should have known this, cause it was said in some obscure newsletter, but if it is information easily missed, it obviously won't be figured into their previews, reviews, etc...
I'm still thinking there is a disconnect going on here... something went wrong in the marketing... It something that POS could have made more clear.
No article, nope.
It was mentioned in a few interviews but I get your point yes, they probably would not read that ;)
Hmm, yes, wonders if any of the interviewers have since reviewed the game? Would be interesting to see there take, and if they took their interview into account.
Well, Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/5529809/the-sequel-they-had-no-right-to-make--now-has-a-surprise-twist) made an article about it
Don't know it was made by the same person though.
That article was by Stephen Totilo, based on the interview Rich & I did with him at PAX East. The review of the game was written by someone else.