Space Giraffe Comments by Kristan Reed

Incoming!!!

/ducks and covers

Whoops, this is supposed to go up tomorrow...

/unpublishes.

I didn't get this due to the eye melting graphics, after a day staring at a PC screen for work, this really wasn't what I needed. I found it a bit tricky seeing what was going on.

Edit: The below is all in response to the initial review posting (i.e. just Kristan's take).

Hmm. I can't help but think that you've really missed the point about the visuals. You say they're a hindrance, as if it's unintentional. They're a hindrance by design - they're one of the main gameplay elements, and the game constantly challenges you to overcome them. The same is true of the warped and twisted webs that occur from time to time, and almost defy comprehension.

There are many levels that look absolutely impossible to start with, but turn out to be incredibly rewarding when you learn to play through the graphical maelstrom exploding around you. Wrong Pill (level 27) is a good example of a level that looks absolutely crazy when you first see it, but quickly becomes an absolute doddle to play. And the mighty level 64 is perhaps the pinnacle of this - a spinning vortex of pyschedelic insanity that looks utterly incomprehensible, and yet many people have completed it without losing a life. Neon isn't used for the sake of it, or through sheer bloody-mindedness. It's an intrinsic part of the gameplay.

SG is one of the most astonishing and audacious games I've played quite frankly, and one of the finest shoot-em-ups ever made to boot. This review is - I don't know - a little disappointing. I really thought a middling score was pretty much impossible for this. It sounds like the game didn't click with you, which is a shame.

There really is a definite moment where suddenly everything falls into place and you understand that everything is intentional, even things you originally thought were bugs or bad design.

And that you've been doing impossible things for the last twenty minutes without even realising.

And that it's now 3am in the morning and your neighbours have been subjected to Yes's Close To The Edge blaring through your stereo for 4 hours straight, and you haven't blinked since teatime.

And that you wish level 35 would never end because it's one of the most visually stunning things you've ever witnessed in your life.

And that the game is an 8 absolute minimum, probably a 9. ;)

Some people never get to that point I guess...

How can a 2nd page be added to this? Unless we have a 'Mugwum' take on it as well which would explain the delay that so many have been moaning about.

Personally I couldn't have given two shits when the review went up but I understand why some were so eager for it.

I thought the review (Edit: Kristans part) was decent, 'cause in all fairness most people won't get along with Space Giraffe, regardless of how much I personally love it, and that is what this review tries to tell people.

Even so, I wholeheartedly agree with Stoatboys' observation that part of the game is, in fact, being able to understand what the bugger is going on. And that is what makes it so fun! Yes, it might sound elitistic, but when you finally understand it, it makes you feel like you are part of some special little club. A club that is warm and fuzzy, and where people greet you with a drink and a smile when you come in through the door.

Edited for readability.

Where's the Space Giraffe review?

It's a 5 for me, but 6 is fair enough I suppose. I knocked a mark off for Minter being a self-indulgent arsehole, which isn't very objective of me.

Yep, all monday features are ready. Tom and I are off to Tokyo, so it's weekend working for me in preparation...

Are you and Tom eloping?

Something like that...

I like to be able to see what killed me, whether it was the confusing background that killed me or the confusing mass of foreground, I don't care.

ZOMG SPACE GIROFFLE!1

Thank god for it, if only for the fact it will put an end to all the painfully tiresome Space Giraffe comments in every single review going.

Space Giraffe = most overhyped XBLA game ever then?

Thank god for it, if only for the fact it will put an end to all the painfully tiresome Space Giraffe comments in every single review going.

You can never be too sure :)

6 or an 8? Ultimate proof of scores at the end of an review being useless?

hurray! and marmite mmm

Nice second part review, Fahey. I take it you have taken a few cues from us Space Giraffe freaks in the forum? ;)

I'll try to give it another go, but from the hour I've spent on it so far, I'd say 6/10 is a bit generous (especially in comparison to the mighty Geometry Wars)

"I like to be able to see what killed me, whether it was the confusing background that killed me or the confusing mass of foreground, I don't care."

You don't need to see a lot of things. You just get to know where they're likely to be and stay away from them (or risk going there to gain huge points). One of the most widely levelled complaints is that you can't see the bullets. The thing is you don't need to be able to see them a lot of the time - certainly in the early levels, which is all the complainers will have seen. As standard your bullets repel enemy bullets. If you're sitting still you absolutely will not be shot. If you're moving to the side and the lane is obscured by enemies or explosions possibly hiding a bullet, you steer your hoof shots in the same direction, and that will repel incoming bullets in those lanes making it safe to move to the side. Later levels mix it up massively, but still there are techniques and ways to keep yourself safe(ish).

This is the kind of thing that I think people struggle to see. The mere mention of "not being able to see bullets" is enough to turn people away (and I can understand why - in most games it would be an incredibly bad thing). It's very hard to jump to the conclusion that you don't necessarily need to see them.

I'm not denying that you don't die from things you haven't seen - even when you get good at the game (or passable, in my case) that still happens a lot. It's just you usually know damned well that you had let the situation get out of control, or were taking a huge risk.

Finally the "where's the space giraffe review" crap can finish :/

But seriously, where's the real SG review?

I like these split review thingies, they give a really good overview. I hate the Edge type system where the magazine has some mysterious hive-like personality. Nice one guys.

p.s. SG's not for me, I'm too bleary-eyed with lack of sleep from kiddies to deal with this sort of sensory overload. There should be a parental advisory notice - i.e. parents with young children should leave the room before the game starts. The children can stay though :)

Have fun in Tokyo you pair of bastards! :(

6 or an 8? Ultimate proof of scores at the end of an review being useless?

They always have been, only the opinion of an individual after all. The review text should give you enough to work out if it's your sort of game or not, I've always found scores pretty much irrelevant and can't understand why so many people argue about them.

Situation is even worse with the Wii, as you have to take into account that some people struggle to 'get' the controls.

but what about the space giraffe revie....oh ;)

marmite on toast = 7
bovril on toast = 9
Bovril, thin sliced cucumber and marge sandwich made with white bread = 10

I think we need a review about some sort of giraffe in space! I think that would be a great game and would score really well. 9 out of 10 for sure! :P

Of course, MMUK, I forgot. Having a different opinion to you makes someone a lesser being. I'm rewriting all my reviews now in light of this.

actually... the scores alone were very very predictable...

Where is SWOS?

There should be an option to switch the background visualiser off.

I just can't get past the fact that half the time (or more) when I die I simply can't tell what did it. Surely that's a case of bad design even if the rest of the game mechanics are solid. Certainly, it ruins the game for me :(

"Then I gagged, my eyes watered"

I bet you get that a lot Rob.

Same score as Marathon? You're having a laugh on here these days.

@schoozzzmmii: In FPSs you'll often get killed without knowing what hit you too, especially in multiplayer where sniping is rife. Generally you'll be aware that you were vulnerable or had taken a risk - like running around a blind corner. In SG that's like moving into a lane that's obscured by enemies.

There are a lot of intricacies to learn in SG before it clicks, and before it does there will be a lot of mysterious deaths. If you can stick with it you should learn to avoid a lot of them, or at least start to understand where some of the deaths are coming from.

The game has huge barriers to entry, and will deter a lot of people, but if you can overcome them it really is something special.

Two thorough and well-written reviews .. nice one, EG!

@MMUK: I hope your "yes it is.." comment was tongue-in-cheek. If not, that's some horrible elitist shit you're spouting!

If anyone here thinks THIS is self-indulgent they've obviously never tried mama llama, SG is a model of accessibility by comparison!

7 then?

nice reviews, shit game...

/hugs ManicMinerUK (in a manly way)

Space Giraffe? Rez? Damn Im starting to get tempted to buy a 360! Now if they would just put out a premium pack for under £199.99 so that I could sneak it under the wifes radar....

Marmite...... without butter?

No wonder you didn't like it.

I'm willing to concede that I really didn't get it. But I had more fun looking at my winamp visuals then actually playing this.

@stoatboy

In (most)(and good :P) FPSs that would never happen in the core singleplayer mode of the game. If you get sniped, then you get a chance to hide and recover and carry on playing.

Do you get such a chance in SG?

Now, I realise that you and a few others seem to worship this game for what ever reason and more power to you (I often like games that people hate), but there's no need to try and compare it's 'failings' to more popular genres as a counter-arguement, to somehow vindicate bad game design. It's all a bit..well... childish (no offence).

You enjoy the game and that's all that matters. Do you really need to preach to the unconverted? Does the fact that you seem to be in a minority of players bother you? Just go enjoy SG. :)

Or does a poor game score somehow sully that experience for you? :S

@mrbandersnatch

it's simple really. Just buy the core version, then sneak the hard drive, joypads and games in by-and-by (hey - first time I've ever used 'by-and-by' in any correspondance!)

Ahem, not that I did that of course. (Is she still looking?)

Definitely agree with the score
I approached this game expecting something great from Minter, but came away feeling extremely disappointed.

I'm glad you lot had two people review this. Needless to say I don't agree with Krudster's take and prefer Shinji's ;)

I know Shinji's highscore as he's on my friendslist, but not Krudster's as he turned me down :'(