I’ve just uninstalled and removed Balatro after yet a near, very close 8/8 ante finish. I have been failing and failing, I’ve only ever seen and gotten to 8/8 ante twice, this being the second time. Every other run has been just insulting me to where no strategy has ever worked, I feel like a lot of it is RNG and pre-determined outcomes based on seeded runs.

And I hate that way of playing. It always feels like I’m getting smacked down by a troll bully who I can never overcome. They’d kick me down every failed run I’d have, then they give me a false sense of security the further I get. “Awwww, getting tired of being owned? Here, let me help you by giving you a few seemingly lucky breaks. SMACK Oh! OWNED YOU AGAIN! FUCK YOU! LOLLOLOL! I BANGED YOUR MOTHER, GIT GUD, NOOB!1”

I just don’t understand why these kinds of games are around, even when I have a good idea who it is for.

  • ameancow@lemmy.worldEnglish
    162·
    1 day ago

    The Outer Wilds - I get recommended this over and over, I know it’s a huge hit, a cult classic, and beloved to many people. I finally got it and gave it a real solid attempt, several times so far. I understand the gameplay loop I guess, the repeating, the weird ship flying. I mean, I appreciate it and love that people are experimenting with new ways to make games that break old molds. I really like the atmosphere and maybe if I were a lot younger it would feel fresh and interesting.

    But I never really started having fun, never really connected with the characters or the world, I never got hooked. Everything felt like a janky obstacle instead of progression and reward.

    Maybe I’ll try it again sometime, but maybe it’s possible some games just don’t rub me right.

    Also, ITT: lots of people arguing with other people why their feelings are wrong.

    • aliceblossom@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      20 hours ago

      I agree, but I would go beyond just “a game I don’t like” to a much more controversial “this game is actually terribly designed”.

      Because of the way it’s designed it’s possible to randomly end up with a completely awful experience that ruins its “one time” playability for forever. I know this because it’s what happened to me. In my very first time out I ended up at like a 70% progression point to the final answer. Not because I’m “smart” or “good” mind you, I just got “lucky”. But it’s not actually lucky, because it now means 70% of the game is useless to me. It won’t help me get closer to the answer and it will (very frustratingly) take me back to where I’ve already been.

      I think most people would counter saying the world itself is interesting/worth exploring on its own. But in one run I didn’t at all become engaged with the world itself (which is very reasonable). Certainly not enough to give a fuck about trying to go out and learn about it for its own sake. If it had taken me more runs to actually make progress then maybe I would’ve become engaged tangentially while working towards my goals. But alas. And FWIW, I did more than one run. I think overall I played the game for 3ish hours before getting fed up with going in circles.

      If random chance can render most of your game not worth exploring, that’s bad design. Flat out.

      • biofaust@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        6 hours ago

        This is what I feared.

        I actually got fed up at around 50% and went to see what this supposed amazing final reveal was about and felt horridly overwhelmed by the fact that it was actually one of my guesses.

        Obviously never gonna play it again and the devs are blacklisted.

      • drosophila@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        31·
        6 hours ago

        But in one run I didn’t at all become engaged with the world itself (which is very reasonable). Certainly not enough to give a fuck about trying to go out and learn about it for its own sake.

        TBH, it sounds to me like you’re just not a very curious person.

        • Owl@mander.xyzEnglish
          1·
          30 minutes ago

          But in one run I didn’t at all become engaged with the world itself (which is very reasonable). Certainly not enough to give a fuck about trying to go out and learn about it for its own sake.

          TBH, it sounds to me like you’re just not a very curious person.

          TBH, it sounds to me like you’re just not a very intelligent person.

        • aliceblossom@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          13 hours ago

          Sorry, it’s been years and I don’t really remember any details. I just picked somewhere that looked interesting found out some info. Then in subsequent runs I opted to head in different directions and they kept revealing information that pointed me back to where I had been the first time.

    • yermaw@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      2·
      20 hours ago

      I only gave it one try when it came on game pass and I dropped it pretty quick. I wanted to go back to it after seeing how hyped everyone got but now I’d have to buy it and I’m just not ready for that kind of commitment