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[John Harker]

What strategy do you suggest? I thought the marketing was great and MS marketed the hell out of it. It was just too quirky to latch on I guess. My guess is years from now it'll be more respected and sought after.

Why did they do out of home? Seems incredibly inefficient for what should have been a far more targeted campaign.

I feel it was more of a by product at the time, when they were struggling to find an identity for the Xbox One and this title got the bad end of some of those early decisions to go broad during a period of early adoption. They should have double downed on the core and worked upwards.

 

[Purest 78]

I'm just not into that silly type of humor.

 

[FaintColt388301]

It didn't sell particularly well as it could have. It's a very strongly designed game with a particular sense of humor that combines more traditional "arcade mechanics" in a modern setting that confused more people than excited them. A bit of a shame really.

People wrote it off because of the aesthetic and humor but the gameplay itself is super tight and refreshing.

The gameplay would've hooked more people if the air dash was unlocked a lot more quickly. It really should've been available within the first few hours. It makes movement so much more fluid. You haven't played the game really until you get that air dash.

 

[Jobbs]

I'm not a fan of the humor. It's trying too hard.

Appreciate the colorfulness though.

 

[Warxard]

I'm not a fan of the humor. It's trying too hard.

Appreciate the colorfulness though.

What defines a game that 'tries too hard?' What makes a game's humor 'subtle?' Is it subjectivity or is there something that could've been done to avoid falling g into the 'tryhard' facet?

 

[Hugstable]

Game was awesome, one of the very few times I've ever enjoyed going for the collectibles in an open world game. Just how vertical everything gets is amazing. Plus once I got good at the controls I was like a flying, grinding, bad-ass.

 

[LyleLanley]

I can't imagine someone buying this game and being so turned off by the humor that they couldn't still have a great time with it.

 

[Mass_Pincup]

It was a lot of fun, sometimes it tried too much to be funny but the for the most part it was great. The Bushido storyline, the LARPing group and even some part of the first arc with the old man were great.

Now if only I didn't have to collect shit every once in awhile...

 

[Footos22]

Loved it. Fantastic as always from insomniac.
The only game I actively enjoyed playing through before I sold my xbox one.

 

[Jobbs]

What defines a game that 'tries too hard?' What makes a game's humor 'subtle?' Is it subjectivity or is there something that could've been done to avoid falling g into the 'tryhard' facet?

It's annoying and feels forced and lacking in authenticity to me. That said, maybe you love it. That's fine. Just saying it turned *me* off.

 

[gamz]

Why did they do out of home? Seems incredibly inefficient for what should have been a far more targeted campaign.

I feel it was more of a by product at the time, when they were struggling to find an identity for the Xbox One and this title got the bad end of some of those early decisions to go broad during a period of early adoption. They should have double downed on the core and worked upwards.

Not sure what this means? The marketing was targeted for it's audience and they did adverts during the football games. Billboards, Sunset TV. MS probably spent a fortune getting the word out there. They did broad and targeted.

 

[napalmjam]

It was fun for the first few hours but I couldn't go back to it just got really boring . Nice and vibrant graphics though

 

[Zen Mu]

Humor was kind of grating after awhile for me, so I ignored the story and just played the game. Had a blast with it, and it's still my favorite XB1 game.

 

[old manatee]

Sunset Overdrive was like watching a commercial break during a 90's Nickelodeon game show.

Spoiler

Not a compliment.

 

[Chris1]

Sunset was advertised a ton in the UK, it must have had a large marketing budget because I saw adverts for it constantly.

It's just releasing a new IP that received lukewarm reception in the holiday time surrounding by big hitters was a bad move, they should have pushed it into the new year.

 

[Gator86]

I'm just not into that silly type of humor.

I expect this is how a lot of people responded to the game. OP needs to remember that most people have a terrible sense of humor. Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men are two of the most popular and beloved shows of the last decade in America.

 

[Silver Arrows]

I expect this is how a lot of people responded to the game. OP needs to remember that most people have a terrible sense of humor. Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men are two of the most popular and beloved shows of the last decade in America.

wow I can smell the superiority complex wafting through this post

good job

 

[Warxard]

It's annoying and feels forced and lacking in authenticity to me. That said, maybe you love it. That's fine. Just saying it turned *me* off.

That's fine then.

 

[NoLongerALurker]

Easily my favorite new IP for this gen. Game is awesome.

 

[Black Mantis]

I thought it was a fun game, but not a great fit for the Xbox One crowd.

Bullshit.

Loved the game and was confused by those who said the game was trying too hard before it even released.

 

[Kieli]

It sounds really patronizing to say people who didn't like the game misunderstood it or - god forbid - didn't play through the right route of the game...

Ugh.

 

[Primethius]

It's a great game. I had some large issues with it (lack of difficulty is probably at the top) but I had a lot of fun fighting for leaderboard spots.

Want a sequel that fixes some of the issues so bad.

 

[Warxard]

It sounds really patronizing to say people who didn't like the game misunderstood it or - god forbid - didn't play through the right route of the game...

Ugh.

Seems to be alright for Nier fans

 

[Gator86]

wow I can smell the superiority complex wafting through this post

good job

Wasn't really being specific to the quoted poster in terms of the terrible sense of humor comment, but yeah, those shows are wretched garbage and I have no qualms about stating such.

 

[Silver Arrows]

It sounds really patronizing to say people who didn't like the game misunderstood it or - god forbid - didn't play through the right route of the game...

Ugh.

It really does. But it reeks more of people forgetting that sometimes, people don't like thing on internet, even if they put it across in a respectful manner. Can't have that on the internet

 

[BRocknRolla]

I'm not sure what there is to misunderstand? By your own description it's not subtle, and that type of humour is bound to run some people the wrong way.

This is a far better description of the game than what this thread title suggests.

I enjoyed the game, but I 100% understand why others wouldn't like the humor.

 

[Ghost is Bad]

Its a good thing it plays nothing like Crackdown either!

o my b then it's basically a ghetto saints row 4

 

[BiGBoSSMk23]

It's the first game on my play list when I grab an X1.

 

[Warxard]

o my b then it's basically a ghetto saints row 4

...No?

 

[narutomaki04]

I thought the game was ok.

 

[Hugh Swank]

Sunset Overdrive is a great game. Shame it was released during the height of all the Xbox/MS hate. It got trashed by salty fanboys & the click bait media. It deserved far better treatment.

 

[Collateral22]

I thought it was average at best. Really cheesy humor and got old fast, and not in a good way. Some games can do well if the gameplay gets repetitive, like Batman series, but this can't. Decent for a free game with my console but nothing I'd spend full price on.

 

[Glorified G]

People wrote it off because of the aesthetic and humor but the gameplay itself is super tight and refreshing.

Refreshing doesn't make it a great game. Despite the off beat humor I don't believe anyone is necessarily missing out on playing the game itself. It was entertaining yet forgettable and didn't hold my attention too long.

It's the early Saint's Row/Crackdown of this gen. Mid-tier, solid open world game.

Sunset Overdrive is a great game. Shame it was released during the height of all the Xbox/MS hate. It got trashed by salty fanboys & the click bait media. It deserved far better treatment.

Not buying it. It has an 81 metacritic score and it came out when the Xbox One was the same price as the PS4 and without Kinect. If anything it got more than fair treatment.

 

[GRaider81]

Played 5 hours or so, sold my Xbox one a few days after. (Not because of SO)

The "humour" just put me right off.

 

[family_guy]

PC gamers will give it a chance one day.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Hope MS doesn't forget about it with these new PC ports. I'd try it out but I'm not buying an xbone for it.

 

[Bgamer90]

It's a great game and was my 2014 GOTY. Felt exactly like a modern version of a game from the colorful/wacky Dreamcast era.

I think many mix up breaking the fourth wall with "trying too hard" -- don't understand how people could take the game so seriously.

 

[Warxard]

Hope MS doesn't forget about it with these new PC ports. I'd try it out but I'm not buying an xbone for it.

MS doesn't own the IP and Insomniac went on the record to say there won't be a PC version of the game I think

 

[Hargate]

I keep meaning to play this. I have the game and season pass, but haven't started it yet.

 

[Amory]

The humor was fine, I didn't find the gameplay fun though. FWIW I never liked jet set / jet grind radio either

 

[WadeitOut]

I thought it was a fun game, but not a great fit for the Xbox One crowd.

Oddly the complete opposite opinion I have.

Sunset Overdrive is one of my favorite games of all time. Easily.

 

[Ghost is Bad]

I mean you can argue otherwise but Sunset Overdrive was clearly an attempt by Insomniac to capitalize on the Saint's Row schtick of wacky comedy sandbox game. The problems with Overdrive was that it really wasn't funny. It's humor was derived from the "Epic Movie" school of humor where you make a reference but there's no joke to either back it up or make fun of it. It's just there. The protagonist treats everything so lackadaisically since he's supposedly in on the fact that it's a videogame but that never pans out to anything besides very obvious fourth wall winks.

 

[WadeitOut]

I mean you can argue otherwise but Sunset Overdrive was clearly an attempt by Microsoft

Microsoft didn't develop this game

 

[pupcoffee]

Haven't played it.

Even as a fan of Insomniac, this game comes off weirdly. It's almost like it wants to be misunderstood.

The controls, mechanics and encounter design seem sloppily put together.

Watching gameplay footage of it right now and even the jump looks terrible, and grind rail combat just seems stupid/annoying.

 

[Skilotonn]

Such an awesome game, it deserves all the attention in the world. Easily one of the best new IPs for this generation.

And it's so vibrant and colorful too.

 

[Feel_The_Pain]

Great game and should be in everyone's library.

I do also hope this gets released on pc, would love me some 1080 60fps action.

 

[Jeronimo Jones]

It sounds random and I'm not sure I would like the humor, but I would play this if I had an XB1. The problem is I wouldn't buy a system for only a couple games.

 

[Bgamer90]

Not sure what this means? The marketing was targeted for it's audience and they did adverts during the football games. Billboards, Sunset TV. MS probably spent a fortune getting the word out there. They did broad and targeted.

Yeah, MS pushed the game very well. I think the game simply suffered from its style. If a $60 retail game isn't "dark and serious" or a sports title on Xbox/PlayStation then chances are it's going to have a hard time selling well.

I don't think "Xbox hate" had much to do with it either. It came out when the Xbox was selling very well (2014 Holiday season).

 

[Warxard]

I mean you can argue otherwise but Sunset Overdrive was clearly an attempt by Microsoft to capitalize on the Saint's Row schtick of wacky comedy sandbox game. The problems with Overdrive was that it really wasn't funny. It's humor was derived from the "Epic Movie" school of humor where you make a reference but there's no joke to either back it up or make fun of it. It's just there. The protagonist treats everything so lackadaisically since he's supposedly in on the fact that it's a videogame but that never pans out to anything besides very obvious fourth wall winks.

Insomniac always makes wacky games though? That's their thing for the majority of their catalogue lol. I mean Ratchet only has like what, 10 or so games now?

Haven't played it.

The controls, mechanics and encounter design seem sloppily put together.

Well...like if you play the game you would know that it isn't the case in regards to the controls/mechanics/encounter design.

 

[Ghost is Bad]

Microsoft didn't develop this game

my b