Mediocrity is Still Mediocre

As far as obvious titles go, this one may take the cake....but bear with me.

I have received a lot of flak lately for some of my opinions on games like Assassins Creed: Shadows and Star Wars: Outlaws and I will not waver on that. However, I am not going to sit here and play defense.

These games are mediocre. Mediocrity is still a problem in this industry and life in general because mediocrity doesn't move the ball forward. You can make the shiniest turd and spray as much perfume on it as you want -- it's still a turd.

AC: Shadows embodies that.

This game does not challenge the player. There is a difference between things that are difficult and things that are challenging and games like Shadows do not bring anything new to the table. Reskinning the exact same thing for the 4th time in a row does not challenge the player and adding shiny new turds do not make a great game.

Listen, if you like the game, that is 100% fine and I will never bash anyone for enjoying a game that is fundamentally and objectively mediocre. There is nothing wrong with playing and enjoying a game like that and spending your time in that space. As a matter of fact, sometimes that just a good thing to sink yourself into because it can be a good healthy distraction. However... For the love of God and all that is holy, stop pretending that it is a net positive for the industry, because objectively, it isn't.

Games like AC: Shadows are the 'Happy Meal' of the gaming industry. It is something that can provide sustenance but it's not really that great and anyone can have it, but at the end of the day it's not really made for anything other than a child. Games like Outlaws and Shadows embody that games can be difficult but not challenging and that they are nothing more than just "something to play". You find your enjoyment not in the challenge it provides to you, but rather the setting or maybe the characters. But does it challenge you emotionally or mentally? No, of course not. Especially not when the writers made an explicit point to jam it full of social politics.

Again, there is nothing wrong with kicking back and playing a game that doesn't challenge you! I love games like that! But if you are going to sit here with a straight face and tell me that these 'Happy Meals' are moving our already stagnant industry forward, then you are part of the problem and are what keeps this industry being dominated by so-called "AAA" companies who only care about the money they receive and not the product the produce.

Look at where we're at, man. We're surrounded by mediocrity and mediocrity is still mediocre.