Is TSL Narrator the new Cedric?

[Lambonius]

I have to say, after having spent an hour playing episode 2, the narrator's belittling comments are excruciatingly annoying.  Like, they really REALLY ruin the experience.  The problem is, there's no balance at all.  It's all sarcasm, all belittling, all the time.  It'd be much more effective if she only said that kind of crap after you tried the same thing multiple times, kind of like in Sam & Max Hit the Road when you could "break Sam's spirit" by repeatedly trying to pick up a non-pick-up-able object.  I want to give episode 2 a fair shot, but this is making it VERY difficult to see the game's good points.   

[wilco64256]

I have to say, after having spent an hour playing episode 2, the narrator's belittling comments are excruciatingly annoying.  Like, they really REALLY ruin the experience.  The problem is, there's no balance at all.  It's all sarcasm, all belittling, all the time.  It'd be much more effective if she only said that kind of crap after you tried the same thing multiple times, kind of like in Sam & Max Hit the Road when you could "break Sam's spirit" by repeatedly trying to pick up a non-pick-up-able object.  I want to give episode 2 a fair shot, but this is making it VERY difficult to see the game's good points.   

We are going to look at evening this out a bit, but some of the same tone will still exist in future episodes.

[KatieHal]

And you can turn the narrator voice off, as we've pointed out before.

[Lambonius]

Sorry for the venting post.  It was written in a moment of frustration.   

I don't think it's necessary to do away with the sarcasm entirely, but as I said, it seems like there's no middle ground here.  Nearly every response to failed actions is sarcastic.  Tales of Monkey Island handled failed action responses well--there were a lot of unique responses for using specific items on parts of the scenery, and if you were getting close (like using the right item, but at the wrong time,) it'd let you know that it was a good idea, but something else was missing to make it work. 

[wilco64256]

What's funny is it wasn't actually intended as sarcastic originally, but we are going to see what we can do to spread that out more.

[Enchantermon]

. . . and if you were getting close (like using the right item, but at the wrong time,) it'd let you know that it was a good idea, but something else was missing to make it work.

Amy did do this once during my playthrough, and I thought it was a nice touch. Can't remember where it was, though.

[Lambonius]

What's funny is it wasn't actually intended as sarcastic originally, but we are going to see what we can do to spread that out more.

If you had Amy record just a handful of new general failed interaction responses played more straight, you could then space out the sarcastic ones a bit more, and it wouldn't require a ton of extra recording and splicing.    If you REALLY wanted to go all out, it'd be neat to have her get more and MORE sarcastic if you intentionally tried the same thing more than once.  "I thought we went over this, that won't work!"  That sort of thing.  

[Cez]

I guess I personally don't notice these things since I "know what to do" from the get go. I can probably understand someone being stuck and hearing these lines over and over again becoming sort of annoying. I think it may have more to do with them being long lines rather than sarcastic ones, but maybe the sarcasm does get to you as well.

We'll look into it for the next episode.

[kindofdoon]

I agree with Lambonius. Anything you guys can do to tone down the sarcasm is appreciated.

[madhattter]

I guess I personally don't notice these things since I "know what to do" from the get go. I can probably understand someone being stuck and hearing these lines over and over again becoming sort of annoying.

fwiw, my guess is that your average player hears these lines well more than a hundred times per episode.

We'll look into it for the next episode.

Thank you.

[Raydio]

i just hate the "tick, tock, tick, tock.. are you done trying stupid things?"

it's like HECK NO i'm not done trying stupid things!..

ever since i had to squeeze honey on the ground and lure out an elf with emeralds, i will NOT stop trying stupid things! 

[wilco64256]

i just hate the "tick, tock, tick, tock.. are you done trying stupid things?"

it's like HECK NO i'm not done trying stupid things!..

ever since i had to squeeze honey on the ground and lure out an elf with emeralds, i will NOT stop trying stupid things! 

This just made my day, nicely done.

[Enchantermon]

Raydio: Well played, sir!

[Travis-AGA]

Nicely, nicely done!

I think my problem with Amy... I mean, she is a good reader, and lines are delivered fine... is that I just imagine a "narrator" differently. I always, with story-book kind of stories, imagined a warm-voiced, older gentleman who's telling you a story out of a storybook by the fire late at night.

I was a little taken off when I suddenly heard something that was completely opposite than what I personally I had imagined to be a narrator, but I sincerely don't believe Amy is bad... Just not what I expected.

I have to admit though, my perspective of "good-narrator" comes from John Rhys-Davies in QFGIV. I wish that man narrated my life. He's just astounding.

Idea: Blow the entire Phoenix Online budget to hire John. Could only be a couple mil right?

[crayauchtin]

i just hate the "tick, tock, tick, tock.. are you done trying stupid things?"

it's like HECK NO i'm not done trying stupid things!..

ever since i had to squeeze honey on the ground and lure out an elf with emeralds, i will NOT stop trying stupid things! 

LMAO!

She actually said that when I tried to water the plants in the garden and I was like.... Ok, I've done some stupid and/or crazy things -- on this island even -- and that was NOT one of them!

Travis -- I have to agree with you. How much do you think it costs to have John Rhys-Davies narrating your life? I'm totally willing to shell it out.