My fav thing about NCG is that I don't have to listen to someone complain about minor technical issues as if a slightly stuttering frame rate divorced them and took the kids
I've always enjoyed that you'll give a below average game credit when its due. More often than not, long analyses like this are just long rambles about all of the nitpicky problems players experience through gameplay, but these videos absolutely provide something more interesting and cohesive than that.
It's one of the reasons why I think Noah, not Yahtzee Croshaw, is the true "Roger Ebert of games." The guy has a similarly articulate yet down-to-earth writing style, analyzes games based on their overarching ambitions rather than stressing about every detail of gameplay, highlights the accomplishments just as much as the shortcomings, and displays a level of nuance necessary for proper media criticism and discourse. I mean, Yahtzee marked this game as the worst of the year in 2016, while Noah points out, "You know, it's fairly competent as a shooter when you get right down to it."
Mr NCG, you have the most idiosyncratic style and I love it. Orderly, academic critique punctuated by screaming the dialogue from a movie that inspired what you're talking about. In modern times we have an issue of sleepwalking through our media because there's so much of it, but I could NEVER do that with your videos.
lol you think THQ changing from Chinese to north Koreans as the bad guy is kinda crazy. You should check out what happened with ArmA 3's story. The game takes place on a real greek Island. The island in game is almost 1:1 scale with the real island of Lemnos Greece. They even had team member go there to get a first hand look at the island. Though while they were there the authorities of Lemnos arrested the Developers as spies, and held them until the Devs back in the Czech Republic made alterations to the story renaming the Island Altas
Turkey's getting froggy - who knows what could happen. lol I don't think it's the same, though. China was purely a commercial consideration - they didn't change to Altis keep a market open. It's dumb, but Arma 3 is an amazing terrain - probably one of the most amazingly accurate and naturalistic environments ever rendered in a game. I'd often load up a sandbox and just LOOK AROUND. Bohemia is missing out not making 'virtual tourism' games on the side. :P
Your assessment of Homefront 1 is spot-on. I didn't like that game even an hour in, and I never finished. As for Homefront Revolution, I probably never would have given it a second thought, had I not seen your video, but you sold me on it and I installed it today. I had to force myself to stop playing in order to eat dinner, so much fun I was having, and as soon as I finished, I went back at it. Your assessment is fair and so far quite accurate, unlike virtually everyone else's. All the people who claim it as being the worst game of 2016 are quite clearly wrong. I've watched several of your other videos, and I'm surprised at how much you seem to have the same opinions of many games as I do, and in a time when all the UA-cam game critics are all acting stupid and using all kinds of gimmicks to get noticed, I find your mature style and intelligent commentary to be quite refreshing. :D
I would just like to point out that Homefront the Revolution has an arcade machine with two levels from TImesplitters 2. Apparently the devs wanted to port over the whole game but the publishers smacked them down (despite owning the license).
And now in the future, we have a fully working (Mostly) unlocked version of Timesplitters 2 with native PC controls support within Homefront The Revolution.
I think I liked Homefront more then it deserved because it reminded me of a greater game Freedom Fighters.. One of my fav games of all time.. Also a very underrated game.. I enjoy the underdog, rebellion role.. Also fighting in on my own soil.. But like you said.. It never reached the level of its potential.
Freedom Fighters truly felt like one of those games which was ahead of its time. I haven't played either homefront, but by the looks of it from this video Homefront looks like a pretty decent spiritual successor.
Freedom Fighters WAS awesome, and it plays into this review. Where Connor leads you around in Homefront, you get to command a squad in Freedom Fighters, you get to be the leader instead of a follower of an NPC.
as some people pointed out, the first Homefront was very much geared towards their multiplayer and they definitely left the single player in the dust on that one. Their multiplayer set the genre up to be improved, by implementing larger teams, bigger maps, and an updated kill streak system that even gave you vehicles to use. In 2011 that was what COD and Battlefield gamers wanted implemented into their multiplayers and neither EA or the multiple companies working on different COD games were going to do for the foreseeable future until Homefront threatened that.
7:08-8:47 I see where Spec Ops: The Line got the inspiration for it's own White Phosphorous scene from. Honestly, I'm starting to think that The Line was made to critique games like this; games that pushed Call of Duty's already worrying patriotic jingoism into something that celebrates War Crimes that further the American Cause™ over whatever villainous country-of-the-week that the story sets up.
That's exactly the point of it. Its basically nothing but a scathing critique of modern military shooters. It's not subtle about it at all. Ending of the game = Game talking to player.
War crimes are probably one of the dumbest ideas ivory tower armchair generals ever thought of. The people who drafted the Geneva convention had never been in battle themselves and so it is rather rich that they thought they could dictate what strategies, tools, and tactics are or aren't acceptable in battle. For example, not using prisoners of war as a labor source is the height of stupidity and one which Sun Tzu would condemn as a waste of a potential resource that could end a war more quickly. It's always easy to condemn soldiers for using every tool they have in their arsenal, or making choices that end wars quicker (like nuking Hiroshima in order to force the Japanese high command to confront the fact that America with her nukes and the Soviet Union with her massive army would result in the complete elimination of the Japanese nation if they did not surrender). If you have a worthwhile weapon that's useful in a particular scenario (like flamethrowers, poison gas, or white phosphorous), then by all means use them. It's a waste and only lets a war drag on longer when you invest in the development of such weapons and then not use them when appropriate.
Hell yeah... That game needs a sequence set like in modern period with current ISIS, Ukraine and Syria crisis. And we need a multi-faction campaign, i loved playing with French soldiers and german tanks on EU levels or with Russia. Like a campaign for US Army, another for US marines, one for France, Britain, Russia and even (we dunno) Iraq
I wanted to see you go on the offensive, fighting in a defensive war as the Russians, offensive as the US-NATO forces, and US Marines in the Pacific, fighting in Vietnam (China invades them and the US comes to their aid) and in Japan and Korea (Imagen repelling a USSR naval landing of the Japanese Home Island)
Hi Noah, I've recently discovered your videos and I'm very happy to find a channel that discusses and critiques video games in a more intelligent and mature manner than some of the other gaming channels. Congratulations on building the following that you currently have and well done for continuing to improve on your individual style whilst still keeping your critiques current and entertaining. I realise that you may receive many suggestions from other UA-camrs and simple laymen (such as myself) but I'd love to see your take on a few genres/trends that have graced gaming over the years, especially: - Gaming and the Wild West; perhaps relating to the Red Dead series and another, almost forgotten, Western game called GUN. - Psychokinesis as depicted in two, again often overlooked, titles: Free Radical's Second Sight and Midway Games' Psi-Ops. Thanks again for sharing your content, I wish you the best of luck for the future.
I've played the first DLC, and it has two key differences to the main game. Firstly, you play Walker, and Walker is voiced. Walker offers his opinions. Walker spouts anecdotes. He offers commentary on the events of the 45 minute long DLC. This solves a LOT of the narrative issues that Ethan Brady presents. (I must point out that Homefront: TR isn't really based on Homefront that much. It was based on Half Life 2. The lead dev wanted to make "open world Half Life" not "Open world Homefront".) Secondly, the DLC is far more linear. It's very Metro-esque, especially in tone. It's not 100% linear. There are side areas to explore and missable cubby holes, but it is a contrast to the open world main game. It feels like a glimpse at the original verison of Homefront: The Revolution from 2013 or so, before the game was fully reworked into an open world title.
When dd the Devs say they wanted to make an "Open World Half-Life 2"..? I get the comparison.. (As I got those vibes too..) But Idk think the devs ever went out of there way to say that..
Freedom Fighters is an excellent game that time has forgotten. Damn shame, one of those games that deserved a sequel but we never got, it would have been a very interesting game if it was released at the time of Homefronts and modern warfare shooters I think.
Hey Noah, since you're into literature and sci-fi, what about doing S.T.A.L.K.E.R.? I'd love to see your take on it, especially since it's based on such a brilliant film and retroactively in such a great novel :)
Shadow of Chernobyl will always be one of my favorite games. Russian dialogue without subtitles and with no HUD and doing a self-imposed "No Death" Run on the hardest diffculty is one of the most scariest but best experiences one could ever have in life.
Yeah, Shadow of Chernobyl was an unforgettable experience! I actually feel that this Homefront : Revolution game has a good bit of 'STALKER-feel' to it, I really enjoyed it myself.
I just completed the latest Homefront...so glad I ignored the reviews as I found it really enjoyable...the world layout and art direction helped to keep my attention...big fan of the cryengine...
I've had Homefront Revolution on my watch list ever since I read some Reddit posts and revisits that have made the game sound very much like a spiritual successor to STALKER, after all the necessary patches to fix issues with the game. I'm hoping it'll go on a decent sale this winter, at which point I plan on picking it up. Great content as always. Thanks for all your hard work!
Noah, Terrific work my dude. I never gave these games a go, but your analysis makes me want to circle back and give them a try. Best of luck in your future endeavors; we'll be watching. -F
Just want to note - the USA and China don't have competing ideologies, they share the same one, capitalism. But that's just a fiddlesticks nitpicks. Your work is always top notch, and I hope you and Kendra and the puppies are super great, forever.
When you have 10 hours of your Sunday spent sitting around with little to do at work, videos like this fill the void well. I will at times pause to watch something short and simple, like a Vat19 video, or gifs with sound, something brainless and fun.
For those wondering, the intro song is Miami 2017 by Billy Joel: ua-cam.com/video/coYwBvysy3Q/v-deo.html ALWAYS SOURCE THE SONG IN THE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE
Why? All you're going to get is NCG telling you to buy the game and doing absolutely nothing else other than telling you the cliffnotes of what happens like a Wikipedia plot synopsis.
The business that I don't want to hear somebody shill for a game they've already determined is "good" when sources I've found more trustworthy have pointed it out as bad.
It's funny, I always knew otherwise, but couldn't help but picture a slightly different, more 70s/80s ReviewBrah when I heard your voice. It's cool to finally put a face to a name!
That was the most positive review of Homefront the Revolution. I love the Revolution a lot. I have beat it three times. It would be 5 but two times in a row i got a progress halting bugs around 85% into the main story. I still just started it again to beat it the second, then 3rd time.
@Noah Caldwell, I actually really enjoyed Homefront the Revolution. Although I played it a year or two after it was released. So it had been patched for performance ect. It's just sad that it had such a rocky release.
This was an awesome video Noah, really great stuff. Although I'm surprised you talked about Homefront without comparing it to Kaos' previous work Frontlines: Fuel of War, I feel that while it wasn't great the campaign mode did take advantage of the game's mechanics which were centered around the multiplayer mode and how it allowed players to approach battles and objectives in the way they saw best in a combat sandbox type of thing rather than having the game dictate it for them. Every mission in Frontlines felt like a game of rush from Battlefield but with a contextual approach to story with campaign-styled AI rather than bots along with scripted set pieces without breaking the player's pace all taking place on a big open battlefield. It's a very flawed game but I felt it was one of the best examples of a campaign for a modern multiplayer FPS title and if these games are still gonna be a thing in the next few years, they should learn from Frontlines' approach to a campaign. It just boggles the mind how Kaos regressed so hard when it came to Homefront's campaign. Would love to see you do a small bonus video on this but it's your channel and this video was really good so it's cool :)
Hey Noah, love your videos. I would be incredibly interested in seeing a retrospective of the Thief series at some point. I find it to be the greatest stealth game ever made that falls apart more and more throughout the years. It would be a great look at how game developers priorities change.
While this was still a great and well-articulated critique, I don't think you gave Homefront enough credit man. On one hand, yes, it absolutely should have handled it's themes better and Connor was an awful character whom I was expecting to pay for his shortcomings, but overall I enjoyed that the plot had purpose. Every single mission was in service of the "Gas Heist" plan, getting the pilot, stealing the gas, breaking out of the city, getting the chopper, using it to ride the gas through enemy territory, etc. It had flow and a sense of meaning I hadn't previously seen in this type of FPS. The constant setbacks, and plans going awry gave the Resistance a more "ragtag/unprepared" feel than the standard military shooter, and it feels more satisfying when when the protagonists triumph after so much loss. Well-laid plans fall apart, you didn't always win and often times you made things worse, and I liked that element of the story. I also liked Goliath, Hopper often talked to it as though it was a dog and the developers animated it with the excited viciousness of one, and that kind of helped me get attached to it I guess. It's clear Hopper really cared for it and it was fun to watch it absolutely demolish the KPA so I didn't mind it's multiple appearances. Add onto this a fantastic multiplayer that balances large-scale vehicular warfare with fast-paced combat and personal progression I haven't seen in a game since, and I'd say it wasn't perfect, but Homefront was far from the derivative, unholy garbage you've made it seem.
I feel that Noah didn't address the multiplayer because it doesn't have any bearing on the single player experience. I mean, I gues that's obvious but since it make sense that it isn't taken into account when considering the story and themes of the single player game. Homefront is one of many games where I ignore the single player component and enjoyed the multiplayer. The tank was mentioned negatively because it was heavily used in the story to bail out the player. Deus ex machina can often weaken or cheapen the story telling, and I agree that's the case with the first Homefront. It being shown to have such personality in a game that takes itself very seriously felt out of place to me.
Dana is a strange character. I hated her at first but by the end I did start to like her. There is a log you can find which implies that while in prison she withstood significant abuse from the governor guy she ends up killing by the end of it seemingly out of nowhere if you don't read this log. It does not specify what kind of abuse it was which I am actually okay with so that way it isn't forced to be sexual assault, but the key point is her complaint in the prison camp about the guy officially sent in was unheard and he moved up in the ranks regardless. That's the kind of organization the KPA is. That is why she is so pissed off and compulsive. She is a survivor of abuse who has not been able to get any kind of therapy or help pushing those emotions outward in impulsive and hurtful ways against the KPA. If I was in her situation I could see myself choosing that path with no better options in such a hopeless situation. Yes that storytelling may have problems (to put it lightly) but it gives a chance to explain itself instead of just letting Dana run wild because she's nuts. By the end... and I still couldn't believe this, I missed Dana before her inevitable sacrifice at the end. Also the arc and twist around the middle about how over your head you are when the KPA strike back and how they were just getting the resistance out into the open so they could scorch it actually caught me by surprise, even when maybe it shouldn't have just because of how much I underestimated the game's storytelling. That being said the moral ambiguities ARE not fully explored like you said, but in a weird way I am actually happy that it *tried*. In an era of games like Far Cry 5, I am happy that it *tried*. Also those melee kills on KPA soldiers are amazing. Homefront: The Revolution feels to me like the best Terminator Game ever released to not be a Terminator game.
Shortly after watching this review I saw Homefront 2 on sale and took a gamble. It was pretty good, the side missions and activities did most of the heavy lifting. Thanks for the video.
Commenting on the Homefront 1 critique, I admit to only ever playing the multiplayer demo. But I played the demo because it was the closest thing to a First Person Shooter version of World in Conflict. It was mediocre at best, and to this day, I still wish for a game that's identical to World in Conflict, but is instead playing from the perspective of a single soldier rather than a commanding officer. I say this, because the WiC comparison was a pleasant surprise.
Speaking of White Phosphorus...little fun fact: Its original purpose by design was to generate smoke screens. Its lethality is basically by accident. No, i am not shitting you. And i dont think the designers thought someone would actually use them on people.
I remember really liking the sound design and gun sounds, suggestion, have a look at "beyond good and evil", and talk at length about how French it is.
+Bedinsis it's just very wacky and weird, the player character is a photographer and your main sidekick is a pig man who's your uncle, and that's just the start. If you have ever seen the "5th element", you've seen something that can be described as vaguely french.
Fantastic video and a really good dissection of just how mindless a lot of these games are when it comes to their iconography. Even the attempts at introspection are half assed.
Honestly if any linear fps game did gritty "edgy" war correctly it was Cod WAW... Probably due to the conflict being real and the atrocities depicted in game very well could've happened. and that's the mood it gives off at first you feel disgusted at just how horrible and violent a scene was then you get it with a reality check and are appalled at how violent the actual war was... Homefront trys to glorify violence too much WAW tried to make you feel like you were in a world full of monsters and that you were among them.
My problem with these games is that I would rather be on the antagonists side, oh well, the way China is going I will probably see such a game one day.
I would love to see game where you fight as Terrorist/Risistance against American Army invading your home and where you have decision either being bad guy and terrorist bomb every single city where is at least one American or use media and propaganda to show how "evil" and cruel they are thus earning support of civilians that will become resistance fighters...
That sort of exists. Look up Metal Wolf Chaos. You fight as the PRESIDENT in a ROBOT SUIT against the VICE PRESIDENT who takes over the US. It's hilarious.
I actually really liked the opening cutscene of this game. In my opinion, it was really good at both giving good exposition and setting a desperate, frantic tone. Granted, I watched the opening as part of a Game Design class and haven't actually played this game, so take it with a grain of salt.
Great pair of reviews! I played the second game during the "free weekend" type thing they did recently. I can't remember any game where the mute protagonist felt as _immediately_ weird and inorganic and out-of-place as in Homefront: The Revolution. I find it hard to believe that the developers didn't spot that, given that the rest of the writing is basically fine -- it's probably an unfortunate vestige of one of the many, many game design trends the game must have chased during its long development. The first DLC has you playing as Walker and gives you a voice, incidentally.
At like 30:00 I can see the crease where the character model for Jack Parrish cuts off into the animated face sculpt. Not sure if this is because a certain setting but it's like watching a vertical tear right across his forehead.
Well. Now I need yo try out Homefront Revolution. I swore I'd never touch the sequel after the disappointment of the first game, but you talked me into itm
![What's Been Going On With Homefront: The Revolution's DLC? [Spoilers]](/img/n.gif)
"Homefront came out five years ago, but I'm still irritated about it."
That is one hell of an opening statement
Hey, I'm still not over Mass Effect 3, so we've all got our cross to bear.
The multiplayer in the first one was actually a blast though
understandable though. i completed the game yesterday and i am certainly still irritated!
My fav thing about NCG is that I don't have to listen to someone complain about minor technical issues as if a slightly stuttering frame rate divorced them and took the kids
I've always enjoyed that you'll give a below average game credit when its due. More often than not, long analyses like this are just long rambles about all of the nitpicky problems players experience through gameplay, but these videos absolutely provide something more interesting and cohesive than that.
It's one of the reasons why I think Noah, not Yahtzee Croshaw, is the true "Roger Ebert of games." The guy has a similarly articulate yet down-to-earth writing style, analyzes games based on their overarching ambitions rather than stressing about every detail of gameplay, highlights the accomplishments just as much as the shortcomings, and displays a level of nuance necessary for proper media criticism and discourse. I mean, Yahtzee marked this game as the worst of the year in 2016, while Noah points out, "You know, it's fairly competent as a shooter when you get right down to it."
Mr NCG, you have the most idiosyncratic style and I love it. Orderly, academic critique punctuated by screaming the dialogue from a movie that inspired what you're talking about. In modern times we have an issue of sleepwalking through our media because there's so much of it, but I could NEVER do that with your videos.
lol you think THQ changing from Chinese to north Koreans as the bad guy is kinda crazy. You should check out what happened with ArmA 3's story. The game takes place on a real greek Island. The island in game is almost 1:1 scale with the real island of Lemnos Greece. They even had team member go there to get a first hand look at the island. Though while they were there the authorities of Lemnos arrested the Developers as spies, and held them until the Devs back in the Czech Republic made alterations to the story renaming the Island Altas
Turkey's getting froggy - who knows what could happen. lol I don't think it's the same, though. China was purely a commercial consideration - they didn't change to Altis keep a market open. It's dumb, but Arma 3 is an amazing terrain - probably one of the most amazingly accurate and naturalistic environments ever rendered in a game. I'd often load up a sandbox and just LOOK AROUND. Bohemia is missing out not making 'virtual tourism' games on the side. :P
Your assessment of Homefront 1 is spot-on. I didn't like that game even an hour in, and I never finished. As for Homefront Revolution, I probably never would have given it a second thought, had I not seen your video, but you sold me on it and I installed it today. I had to force myself to stop playing in order to eat dinner, so much fun I was having, and as soon as I finished, I went back at it.
Your assessment is fair and so far quite accurate, unlike virtually everyone else's. All the people who claim it as being the worst game of 2016 are quite clearly wrong.
I've watched several of your other videos, and I'm surprised at how much you seem to have the same opinions of many games as I do, and in a time when all the UA-cam game critics are all acting stupid and using all kinds of gimmicks to get noticed, I find your mature style and intelligent commentary to be quite refreshing. :D
I hated revolution so whatever
I would just like to point out that Homefront the Revolution has an arcade machine with two levels from TImesplitters 2. Apparently the devs wanted to port over the whole game but the publishers smacked them down (despite owning the license).
And now in the future, we have a fully working (Mostly) unlocked version of Timesplitters 2 with native PC controls support within Homefront The Revolution.
@@TheInfamousCloakernice
I think I liked Homefront more then it deserved because it reminded me of a greater game Freedom Fighters.. One of my fav games of all time.. Also a very underrated game.. I enjoy the underdog, rebellion role.. Also fighting in on my own soil.. But like you said.. It never reached the level of its potential.
Exactly the same for me. At a couple points The Revolution comes close, but it doesn't hit the same fun of Freedom Fighters.
CJ Ware gonna review it.
Freedom Fighters truly felt like one of those games which was ahead of its time. I haven't played either homefront, but by the looks of it from this video Homefront looks like a pretty decent spiritual successor.
Freedom Fighters is such a good game. I wish others would have played it.
Freedom Fighters WAS awesome, and it plays into this review. Where Connor leads you around in Homefront, you get to command a squad in Freedom Fighters, you get to be the leader instead of a follower of an NPC.
That forgotten Billy Joel track is worth an instant like. I haven't ever heard it anywhere outside my personal collection
as some people pointed out, the first Homefront was very much geared towards their multiplayer and they definitely left the single player in the dust on that one. Their multiplayer set the genre up to be improved, by implementing larger teams, bigger maps, and an updated kill streak system that even gave you vehicles to use. In 2011 that was what COD and Battlefield gamers wanted implemented into their multiplayers and neither EA or the multiple companies working on different COD games were going to do for the foreseeable future until Homefront threatened that.
7:08-8:47 I see where Spec Ops: The Line got the inspiration for it's own White Phosphorous scene from.
Honestly, I'm starting to think that The Line was made to critique games like this; games that pushed Call of Duty's already worrying patriotic jingoism into something that celebrates War Crimes that further the American Cause™ over whatever villainous country-of-the-week that the story sets up.
that was the whole point of SOTL.
That's exactly the point of it. Its basically nothing but a scathing critique of modern military shooters.
It's not subtle about it at all. Ending of the game = Game talking to player.
War crimes are probably one of the dumbest ideas ivory tower armchair generals ever thought of.
The people who drafted the Geneva convention had never been in battle themselves and so it is rather rich that they thought they could dictate what strategies, tools, and tactics are or aren't acceptable in battle.
For example, not using prisoners of war as a labor source is the height of stupidity and one which Sun Tzu would condemn as a waste of a potential resource that could end a war more quickly.
It's always easy to condemn soldiers for using every tool they have in their arsenal, or making choices that end wars quicker (like nuking Hiroshima in order to force the Japanese high command to confront the fact that America with her nukes and the Soviet Union with her massive army would result in the complete elimination of the Japanese nation if they did not surrender).
If you have a worthwhile weapon that's useful in a particular scenario (like flamethrowers, poison gas, or white phosphorous), then by all means use them. It's a waste and only lets a war drag on longer when you invest in the development of such weapons and then not use them when appropriate.
>Armchair generals
How ironic.
Define "patriotic jingoism". Let alone why it is bad.
A love for your country and loyalty to its principles and values are hardly bad things.
13:27 the fact that you hardly ever do anything comedic makes this just that little bit better
I'd love to see you talk more about World in Conflict, such a good story.
And for an RTS, no less! A hidden gem. :-)
Anax of Rhodes The story is what sold me, Bannon in Cascade Falls....still makes me shiver....
Hell yeah...
That game needs a sequence set like in modern period with current ISIS, Ukraine and Syria crisis.
And we need a multi-faction campaign, i loved playing with French soldiers and german tanks on EU levels or with Russia.
Like a campaign for US Army, another for US marines, one for France, Britain, Russia and even (we dunno) Iraq
I wanted to see you go on the offensive, fighting in a defensive war as the Russians, offensive as the US-NATO forces, and US Marines in the Pacific, fighting in Vietnam (China invades them and the US comes to their aid) and in Japan and Korea (Imagen repelling a USSR naval landing of the Japanese Home Island)
It's actually an RTT game, not RTS :)
I know I'm 5 years late but I really love your reviews. They make my work nights go by so much faster. Keep up the great work, it is much appreciated.
Hi Noah, I've recently discovered your videos and I'm very happy to find a channel that discusses and critiques video games in a more intelligent and mature manner than some of the other gaming channels. Congratulations on building the following that you currently have and well done for continuing to improve on your individual style whilst still keeping your critiques current and entertaining.
I realise that you may receive many suggestions from other UA-camrs and simple laymen (such as myself) but I'd love to see your take on a few genres/trends that have graced gaming over the years, especially:
- Gaming and the Wild West; perhaps relating to the Red Dead series and another, almost forgotten, Western game called GUN.
- Psychokinesis as depicted in two, again often overlooked, titles: Free Radical's Second Sight and Midway Games' Psi-Ops.
Thanks again for sharing your content, I wish you the best of luck for the future.
Boy did you get your wish with the wild west video :)
@@RipTheJackR I certainly did my friend!
god, I love your stuff, Noah. You might not be the youtuber that makes me laugh the most, but I respect the stuff you make more than anyone else
You should take a look at The Saboteur.
Now that's a badass game! Loved it
The original Homefront had really good multiplayer imo
I think that's why it got those 8's Noah mentioned.
yeah its multiplayer was awesome, still play it from time to time
They shut down the servers, though, no?
Hayden Onion yeah the servers were shut down.
There is a mod for it where you can play online
Excellent work Noah, knew you'd cover Homefront after your COD Retrospective!
For maximum edge I want my ww2 Yugoslav partisan warfare game. That sound like a whole barrel full of fun.
I've been writing a story on a game set in occupied Europe - starting in the late 1930's in Spain and stretching out into France, Italy, etc.
Call Of Duty: Come And See?
I've played the first DLC, and it has two key differences to the main game. Firstly, you play Walker, and Walker is voiced. Walker offers his opinions. Walker spouts anecdotes. He offers commentary on the events of the 45 minute long DLC. This solves a LOT of the narrative issues that Ethan Brady presents. (I must point out that Homefront: TR isn't really based on Homefront that much. It was based on Half Life 2. The lead dev wanted to make "open world Half Life" not "Open world Homefront".)
Secondly, the DLC is far more linear. It's very Metro-esque, especially in tone. It's not 100% linear. There are side areas to explore and missable cubby holes, but it is a contrast to the open world main game. It feels like a glimpse at the original verison of Homefront: The Revolution from 2013 or so, before the game was fully reworked into an open world title.
How does the whole revolutionary, guerilla warfare theme work in a more linear framework?
When dd the Devs say they wanted to make an "Open World Half-Life 2"..? I get the comparison.. (As I got those vibes too..) But Idk think the devs ever went out of there way to say that..
+CJ Ware gamingbolt.com/homefront-the-revolution-is-meant-to-be-like-an-open-world-half-life-according-to-developer
The DLC basically plays like a Metro game.
Ambient Malice THats awesome, may have to buy it.. Love Metro too..
I always love seeing one of your video's in my subbox. Always interesting and informative. Keep up the good work
Freedom Fighters is an excellent game that time has forgotten. Damn shame, one of those games that deserved a sequel but we never got, it would have been a very interesting game if it was released at the time of Homefronts and modern warfare shooters I think.
Got rereleased onto steam with modern pc support
Hey Noah, since you're into literature and sci-fi, what about doing S.T.A.L.K.E.R.? I'd love to see your take on it, especially since it's based on such a brilliant film and retroactively in such a great novel :)
Shadow of Chernobyl will always be one of my favorite games. Russian dialogue without subtitles and with no HUD and doing a self-imposed "No Death" Run on the hardest diffculty is one of the most scariest but best experiences one could ever have in life.
Yeah, Shadow of Chernobyl was an unforgettable experience!
I actually feel that this Homefront : Revolution game has a good bit of 'STALKER-feel' to it, I really enjoyed it myself.
henrique,
exactly my thought (although I haven't read the book nor watched the movie). A video on the Metro games would be awesome too.
I’d like to see this too, but I’m happy to wait until 2 comes out first
@@bluerose5071 no subtitles for a language you don't speak? That is some hardcore stuff, respect
Speaking of world in conflict, I'd love to see you talk about that one, even if it is a bit old now.
I just completed the latest Homefront...so glad I ignored the reviews as I found it really enjoyable...the world layout and art direction helped to keep my attention...big fan of the cryengine...
I've had Homefront Revolution on my watch list ever since I read some Reddit posts and revisits that have made the game sound very much like a spiritual successor to STALKER, after all the necessary patches to fix issues with the game. I'm hoping it'll go on a decent sale this winter, at which point I plan on picking it up.
Great content as always. Thanks for all your hard work!
I paid $20 for "The revolution" and still feel like i paid too much.
So unless you can get it for $5 it is a waste of Money.
13:27
"Avenge me son! Avenge Me!!!"
Oh God I had to pause the video to properly laugh at it 😂😂😂
Aren't you the Demo D guy?
Hey man, your videos are amazing. I love the calm "cold" factual critique you give about the games. I like that! Keep up the good work. :)
Noah,
Terrific work my dude. I never gave these games a go, but your analysis makes me want to circle back and give them a try.
Best of luck in your future endeavors; we'll be watching.
-F
i was gonna start watching Luke Cage but seeing this pop up is more important.
me2 ^^
I'd love to hear your commentary on the Metro series of games. Metro 2033 and Last Light, based on the novel Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky.
Agreed !
Just want to note - the USA and China don't have competing ideologies, they share the same one, capitalism.
But that's just a fiddlesticks nitpicks. Your work is always top notch, and I hope you and Kendra and the puppies are super great, forever.
26:13 Is that Superbunnyhop?
When you have 10 hours of your Sunday spent sitting around with little to do at work, videos like this fill the void well. I will at times pause to watch something short and simple, like a Vat19 video, or gifs with sound, something brainless and fun.
Red dawn shows that americans would react the same way all their victims do
For those wondering, the intro song is Miami 2017 by Billy Joel: ua-cam.com/video/coYwBvysy3Q/v-deo.html
ALWAYS SOURCE THE SONG IN THE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE
Looks like it's only logical to expect a Spec Ops: The Line critique? Pretty please?
I was thinking the same thing while watching this.
Likewise! I want that Spec Ops: The Line critique now
Why? All you're going to get is NCG telling you to buy the game and doing absolutely nothing else other than telling you the cliffnotes of what happens like a Wikipedia plot synopsis.
Maybe I just want to hear the wikipedia plot synopsis in his gentle, soothing voice? What business is it of yours?
The business that I don't want to hear somebody shill for a game they've already determined is "good" when sources I've found more trustworthy have pointed it out as bad.
It's funny, I always knew otherwise, but couldn't help but picture a slightly different, more 70s/80s ReviewBrah when I heard your voice. It's cool to finally put a face to a name!
I very rarely comment, but just wanted to say - You keep being you Noah. We could use a few more like yourself
That was the most positive review of Homefront the Revolution. I love the Revolution a lot. I have beat it three times. It would be 5 but two times in a row i got a progress halting bugs around 85% into the main story. I still just started it again to beat it the second, then 3rd time.
Also coming back to this and finishing the video, you talk about World in Conflict, now I just gotta see a video on that. God damn't! Good stuff Noah.
oh boy what a great friday! great seeing content from you!
@Noah Caldwell, I actually really enjoyed Homefront the Revolution. Although I played it a year or two after it was released. So it had been patched for performance ect. It's just sad that it had such a rocky release.
This was an awesome video Noah, really great stuff. Although I'm surprised you talked about Homefront without comparing it to Kaos' previous work Frontlines: Fuel of War, I feel that while it wasn't great the campaign mode did take advantage of the game's mechanics which were centered around the multiplayer mode and how it allowed players to approach battles and objectives in the way they saw best in a combat sandbox type of thing rather than having the game dictate it for them.
Every mission in Frontlines felt like a game of rush from Battlefield but with a contextual approach to story with campaign-styled AI rather than bots along with scripted set pieces without breaking the player's pace all taking place on a big open battlefield. It's a very flawed game but I felt it was one of the best examples of a campaign for a modern multiplayer FPS title and if these games are still gonna be a thing in the next few years, they should learn from Frontlines' approach to a campaign. It just boggles the mind how Kaos regressed so hard when it came to Homefront's campaign. Would love to see you do a small bonus video on this but it's your channel and this video was really good so it's cool :)
There is nothing more entertaining then a review made by Noah.
Hey Noah, love your videos. I would be incredibly interested in seeing a retrospective of the Thief series at some point. I find it to be the greatest stealth game ever made that falls apart more and more throughout the years. It would be a great look at how game developers priorities change.
"Tank ex machina" slick Noah haha.
Am replaying this game right now for the 5th time. Love it. The RC cars are nifty. I only wish I could put a suppressor on the battle rifle.
Wow, EVERY video this guy makes is top notch..
While this was still a great and well-articulated critique, I don't think you gave Homefront enough credit man.
On one hand, yes, it absolutely should have handled it's themes better and Connor was an awful character whom I was expecting to pay for his shortcomings, but overall I enjoyed that the plot had purpose.
Every single mission was in service of the "Gas Heist" plan, getting the pilot, stealing the gas, breaking out of the city, getting the chopper, using it to ride the gas through enemy territory, etc. It had flow and a sense of meaning I hadn't previously seen in this type of FPS.
The constant setbacks, and plans going awry gave the Resistance a more "ragtag/unprepared" feel than the standard military shooter, and it feels more satisfying when when the protagonists triumph after so much loss. Well-laid plans fall apart, you didn't always win and often times you made things worse, and I liked that element of the story.
I also liked Goliath, Hopper often talked to it as though it was a dog and the developers animated it with the excited viciousness of one, and that kind of helped me get attached to it I guess. It's clear Hopper really cared for it and it was fun to watch it absolutely demolish the KPA so I didn't mind it's multiple appearances.
Add onto this a fantastic multiplayer that balances large-scale vehicular warfare with fast-paced combat and personal progression I haven't seen in a game since, and I'd say it wasn't perfect, but Homefront was far from the derivative, unholy garbage you've made it seem.
I feel that Noah didn't address the multiplayer because it doesn't have any bearing on the single player experience. I mean, I gues that's obvious but since it make sense that it isn't taken into account when considering the story and themes of the single player game. Homefront is one of many games where I ignore the single player component and enjoyed the multiplayer.
The tank was mentioned negatively because it was heavily used in the story to bail out the player. Deus ex machina can often weaken or cheapen the story telling, and I agree that's the case with the first Homefront. It being shown to have such personality in a game that takes itself very seriously felt out of place to me.
Shit man nothing makes me happier than one of your new videos popping up in my notifications!
My ordinary Friday just turned into an awesome Friday :)
Dana is a strange character. I hated her at first but by the end I did start to like her.
There is a log you can find which implies that while in prison she withstood significant abuse from the governor guy she ends up killing by the end of it seemingly out of nowhere if you don't read this log. It does not specify what kind of abuse it was which I am actually okay with so that way it isn't forced to be sexual assault, but the key point is her complaint in the prison camp about the guy officially sent in was unheard and he moved up in the ranks regardless. That's the kind of organization the KPA is. That is why she is so pissed off and compulsive. She is a survivor of abuse who has not been able to get any kind of therapy or help pushing those emotions outward in impulsive and hurtful ways against the KPA.
If I was in her situation I could see myself choosing that path with no better options in such a hopeless situation.
Yes that storytelling may have problems (to put it lightly) but it gives a chance to explain itself instead of just letting Dana run wild because she's nuts.
By the end... and I still couldn't believe this, I missed Dana before her inevitable sacrifice at the end.
Also the arc and twist around the middle about how over your head you are when the KPA strike back and how they were just getting the resistance out into the open so they could scorch it actually caught me by surprise, even when maybe it shouldn't have just because of how much I underestimated the game's storytelling.
That being said the moral ambiguities ARE not fully explored like you said, but in a weird way I am actually happy that it *tried*. In an era of games like Far Cry 5, I am happy that it *tried*.
Also those melee kills on KPA soldiers are amazing. Homefront: The Revolution feels to me like the best Terminator Game ever released to not be a Terminator game.
Would you consider a retrospective of the No One Lives Forever series?
Your other critiques, of older games, was the reason I subbed to your channel.
I love your content brother, thanks for always staying true to what you do.
The RC Car Explosive was something I wish they'd put in more games. Much fun
Shortly after watching this review I saw Homefront 2 on sale and took a gamble. It was pretty good, the side missions and activities did most of the heavy lifting. Thanks for the video.
I'd kill for a World in Conflict critique from you!
Love everything you make Noah!
Thx for some fantastic videos!
Was thinking, could you do the dead space series sometime?
Good to see you again, Mate.
Big fan dude! Keep plugging out your great content!
Commenting on the Homefront 1 critique, I admit to only ever playing the multiplayer demo. But I played the demo because it was the closest thing to a First Person Shooter version of World in Conflict. It was mediocre at best, and to this day, I still wish for a game that's identical to World in Conflict, but is instead playing from the perspective of a single soldier rather than a commanding officer. I say this, because the WiC comparison was a pleasant surprise.
0:30 oh, you seem so happy in this one. what happened, if it's not too private?
and in any case, good for you :)
Speaking of White Phosphorus...little fun fact: Its original purpose by design was to generate smoke screens. Its lethality is basically by accident. No, i am not shitting you. And i dont think the designers thought someone would actually use them on people.
Tank Ex Machina aka Machina Ex Machina
Speaking of phosphorous, I'd like to see you review Spec Ops: The line!
I love that intro song. Who is the artist?
So you've played World In Conflict. Good! Would love to see you do a video on it. :-D
34:09 Oh never mind, you found the text log I was talking about that explains why Dana hates the guy.
hey cool to see someone namedrop World in Conflict, that game used to be my shit
In 2019 using White Phosphorous was downgraded from "serious war crime" to "kinda bad but people will probably forget all about it."
It would certainly be an impressive overcoming of the odds for north Korea to invade the USA 😂
In the Aftermath and Beyond the Walls DLCs, Brady is voiced and comments things happening.
it's such a shame because i actually like the first homefront for it's premise it could have worked but nope
13:27 You do a really good interpertation of an old man like, holy shit Noah
I remember really liking the sound design and gun sounds, suggestion, have a look at "beyond good and evil", and talk at length about how French it is.
What makes that game so French? I'm honestly curious.
+Bedinsis it's just very wacky and weird, the player character is a photographer and your main sidekick is a pig man who's your uncle, and that's just the start. If you have ever seen the "5th element", you've seen something that can be described as vaguely french.
after being the Top Dog for so long with little resistance, America has a fetish for portraying itself as the Underdog
You have to justify putting billions into the Pentagon somehow.
Hey, greetings from the 2024, you aren’t a top dog anymore.
8:11
"Thought I smelled Korean BarBQ!"
Fantastic video and a really good dissection of just how mindless a lot of these games are when it comes to their iconography. Even the attempts at introspection are half assed.
This was an excellent critique you should do one of the Far Cry franchise.
Be really interesting to see you do A deadly Premonition?
Honestly if any linear fps game did gritty "edgy" war correctly it was Cod WAW... Probably due to the conflict being real and the atrocities depicted in game very well could've happened.
and that's the mood it gives off
at first you feel disgusted at just how horrible and violent a scene was
then you get it with a reality check and are appalled at how violent the actual war was...
Homefront trys to glorify violence too much
WAW tried to make you feel like you were in a world full of monsters and that you were among them.
Retrospective of world in conflict please!
My problem with these games is that I would rather be on the antagonists side, oh well, the way China is going I will probably see such a game one day.
I didn't even realize Homefront 2 had come out.
As always a great and insightful critique
I would love to see game where you fight as Terrorist/Risistance against American Army invading your home and where you have decision either being bad guy and terrorist bomb every single city where is at least one American or use media and propaganda to show how "evil" and cruel they are thus earning support of civilians that will become resistance fighters...
I think ISIS already has ridiculous propaganda games
That sort of exists. Look up Metal Wolf Chaos. You fight as the PRESIDENT in a ROBOT SUIT against the VICE PRESIDENT who takes over the US. It's hilarious.
Wind Wind You're being sarcastic, right?
Deithwen Addan yn Carn aep Morvudd "yeah, right..."
Wind Wind
Home front 2 looks like it'd fit better as a killzone game where you play as helgast resistance pre assault on vectan.
I actually really liked the opening cutscene of this game. In my opinion, it was really good at both giving good exposition and setting a desperate, frantic tone.
Granted, I watched the opening as part of a Game Design class and haven't actually played this game, so take it with a grain of salt.
Great pair of reviews! I played the second game during the "free weekend" type thing they did recently.
I can't remember any game where the mute protagonist felt as _immediately_ weird and inorganic and out-of-place as in Homefront: The Revolution. I find it hard to believe that the developers didn't spot that, given that the rest of the writing is basically fine -- it's probably an unfortunate vestige of one of the many, many game design trends the game must have chased during its long development.
The first DLC has you playing as Walker and gives you a voice, incidentally.
Huh. This may have actually sold me on the sequel.
At like 30:00 I can see the crease where the character model for Jack Parrish cuts off into the animated face sculpt. Not sure if this is because a certain setting but it's like watching a vertical tear right across his forehead.
"Tank Ex Machina." Need to make that game.
Have you considered doing anything on the Metro series?
Jeff Marlowe I could totes see Noah doing a Metro video series. That seems like a series that was made for Him to dissect
Seriously Noah, your videos are dope as fuck. On point
I liked this video just for the obscure Billy Joel song
Love your videos man, keep 'em coming. Far Cry series retrospective, maybe?
What i love is Homefront used the original Red Dawn as a huge influence then the Red Dawn remake used Homefront as a huge influence
Well. Now I need yo try out Homefront Revolution. I swore I'd never touch the sequel after the disappointment of the first game, but you talked me into itm
Mmm... John Milius... *Homer sounds*
Anyone play Freedom Fighters? That game was great!