In my last post, I took a look at the games that impressed me at this year’s E3 the most. The ones that despite my better judgment made me feel hype. Now I wanted to do something different. I wanted to discuss 2 games that look great but that just, for one reason or another…I am not too sure about. I do plan on playing both of the following games and there’s a good chance I’ll fall in love with them. But I just have a few questions and concerns which are preventing me from feeling the hype.

Anthem

I had to include this title for a number of reasons. First: I am going to buy it. I am going to buy it and play it sooo much. But I’m not excited for it, like, at all. It could be because I would 100% rather have a new Dragon Age game. It could also be that Bioware’s last release, Mass Effect: Andromeda was the only Bioware game I’ve ever played that I didn’t like. Bioware is my favorite developer and more often times than not, it feels like their games are made specifically for me. The only game of theirs I’ve played where that hadn’t felt like the case was Andromeda. I’m willing to chalk that down to a fluke but the way that game was treated as if in a rush to get to Anthem has me feeling suspect about it.

Anthem looks unlike any game Bioware has done before. Which is to say…it looks a lot like Destiny. I get the temptation to try and capitalize on Destiny’s success but I kind of feel like that ship has sailed and as far as fads go they should be coming out with a PUBG clone–like everyone else. I know that Bioware can craft amazing worlds and stories but the snippets of dialogue I heard during the demo seemed straight out of Bungie’s handbook of nonsensical scifi-fantasy prattle. Nothing as bad as “That Wizard came from the Moon,” but pretty close. Of course if all of these details are explained thoroughly throughout the course of the game’s campaign it will feel less hokey and forced. And if anyone could do that it’s Bioware, right? I hope so.

But if I’m being completely honest the main reason I’m not excited for Anthem is that if everyone hates it I’ll feel bad because that’s how much of a Bioware fanboy I am.

Flying looks dope though.

Death Stranding

I consider Hideo Kojima one of the true auteurs of the video game world, someone who is consistently producing high art in the medium. Because you know you’ve seen a good foreign film when as soon as it ends you go: Wait. What? So the main reason I’m not hyped for Death Stranding is that I have no idea what it is. I realize I’m not supposed to know that yet (if ever) but it still bothers me. Because just when I start to get excited by the graphics and the setting, I see something like this:

Just like Anthem I plan on playing Death Stranding because I love the Metal Gear Solid series. I adore everything about it. The gameplay, the corny jokes, the unnecessarily long cutscenes–everything.

It’s a series jam-packed with fun and memorable moments and while the story may not always be coherent, it is always entertaining. And that fist fight at the end of MGS4? Easily one of my favorite gaming moments of all time. And I hope there are more unforgettable moments in Death Stranding. Like the sniper battle with The End. Or the one with Quiet–or Crying Wolf. I guess what I’m saying is that I want more more sniper battles and, wait–is that a baby? Is, is he using the baby for camouflage? Or some type of baby-powered radar system? Okay. Okay, I guess that makes sense.

Wait, what?