Examiner
David Jaffe has issued a statement regarding G4TV’s review of the Playstation 3 exclusive title, Twisted Metal. Although he was fine with the review itself, he wasn’t too happy at how the reviewer responded to critics from the comment section of the article. You can check out the latest screens from the car combat game in the slideshow to the left of this article in addition to David Jaffe’s multi-post message on Twitter below:
Hey @g4tv - I had/have ZERO problems with your review of our game. You are entitled to that opinion and I respect it and appreciate it. As ya'll know, I dig your network and am always honored and excited when I get to do stuff with you guys. 5/5 or 1/5, that won't change. So with all that out of the way, let's be clear: the review your guy wrote was fine, but his insults and attitude and response to folks on the comment section makes it pretty obvious: y'all got an ill informed d**k on the payroll who admits to bringing an agenda to his review process. Am higher G4. I'd rather get a 1/5 from someone who knows his s**t like @AdamSessler than this 3.5/5 from his guy who would rather pick a fight and push his agenda that do his job. Anyway, much love g4. I remain a fan. But f**k that guy. What a d**k. :)
You can also check out the original statement from the reviewer in the comment section of the G4TV review before it was deleted:
Wow. Thanks everyone for your usual level of insightful commentary. I can always count on you guys for this sort of feedback.
In case you didn't know, I'm the guy who wrote the review (not Adam, so leave the poor guy alone). Without going blow-by-blow, I'll say a few words on the matter.
First off, 3 was my optimistic score. If you're happy playing a game that's nearly 20 years old, more power to you. Most gamers, I believe, expect there to be some kind of evolution in gameplay and Twisted Metal doesn't have any. Seriously, if you just want the same damn thing you got when you were nine, that's fine. More power to you, as the developer has given you exactly that.
Twisted Metal is a game built on the homage to the sort of heavy metal slasher-themed B-movies one might assume the developers loved, but the problem with this genre--be it games or movies--is that it's really hard to do well. TM gets the atmosphere right with its cinematics, but just feels cheap in most other places. The graphics are completely lackluster and there's just bits of laziness throughout. The handbrake is a perfect example--go ahead and hold it down without pressing any button, then steer. The car magically goes in a circle. Lame.
Also, to all those who are so adamant that the driving mechanics don't matter... What? This clearly isn't a racing game--as the racing levels vividly prove--but just because the gameplay focuses on shooting is no excuse whatsoever to not have a decent driving model. To suggest it doesn't matter is ludicrous. No matter what you want to believe, this is a driving game... it's a CAR combat game, and driving is the activity you constantly engage in. Shooting is the activity you engage in as much as possible, but the odds are if you're shooting you're also driving... The driving model feels 20 years old.
I love car combat games. Love them. And I've played a ton of them, including all the old Twisted Metal games. They were decent, if unexceptional games, period. Fun, shallow, and dumb. Much as we all like to jump aboard the nostalgic retro train the simple fact is this: games are better now. Technology and design have come a long way, and I'm sick to death of developers (particularly those from the 90's) who feel content to just shove out the same old crap they always did. It's a particular issue I have with most of the AAA-shooter houses from the 90's. And they don't like me much either.
Finally, give it a rest with the "G4 is biased against Sony" or "paid off by Microsoft". Many of us who review these games don't even work for G4 directly, we just happen to love and care about games and the industry. I divide my time pretty heavily among all platforms and most of my favorite games of last year I personally played on my PS3(s)--Killzone 3, Batman: AC, Uncharted 3, Resistance 3, LBP2... just to name a few. The system we, as reviewers, play on is virtually irrelevant.
Just because our opinion doesn't match up with yours does not mean we're on some mythical take. Eventually, you'll have to understand that different people have different opinions and that doesn't mean you can act like an idiot over it. Unless you actually do want to keep living in your mom's basement wondering why real girls won't talk to you.
Also, and for the record, I really can't stand the Call of Duty games. So comparing any of those damn games to a review I write is pointless. I'm not that fond of Halo either.
Thank you and good night.
Twisted Metal was released exclusively for the Playstation 3 in North America on February 14th.
