Digest

The KINDOFUNNY Gamescast hosts dive deep into the Fantasy Critic League, covering team strategies, roster breakdowns, and recent game bids. Barrett explains his "evil" strategy, while various guests send congratulatory Cameo messages to Roger. The rules of the league are clarified, focusing on drafting games by publisher for high cumulative scores. Discussions include specific game bids like "Raccoin," "Echoes of Eincrad," "Call of Duty 2026," and "Titanium Cores." Roster analyses are presented for Paris, Barrett, Snowbike Mike, Blessing, and Andy Cortez, highlighting their picks and strategies. The panel also debates the scoring potential of games like "Halo Campaign Evolved," "Crimson Desert," and various indie titles, while addressing concerns about early access reviews and release schedule conflicts, particularly with GTA 6. A significant policy change by Open Critic, no longer counting early access reviews, causes major disruption to the league.

Outlines

00:00:29

Fantasy Critic League Kick-off and Guest Messages

The podcast begins with an introduction and check-in on the Fantasy Critic League standings. Barrett shares his "evil" strategy, inspired by past losses, and positive listener feedback. Several guests, including Ben Starr and Tony Hawk, send personalized Cameo messages to Roger, congratulating him on his fantasy league choices.

00:07:14

Fantasy Critic League Rules and Roster Strategy

The hosts explain the Fantasy Critic League rules, emphasizing drafting games by publisher for high cumulative scores. They then delve into recent league moves and bids, discussing the potential value of picks like "Raccoin" and "Echoes of Eincrad." Paris explains their bid on "Call of Duty 2026," and Barrett discusses their bid on the Seamus McNally award winner, "Titanium Cores." Greg Miller's picks, "Minecraft Dungeons 2" and "Tamadachi Life," are also analyzed.

00:18:30

In-Depth Roster Breakdowns and Game Potential

Paris and Barrett break down their current fantasy critic rosters, discussing their picks, points scored, and future expectations. Snowbike Mike reveals his "all week one" roster strategy. Blessing reviews his strong picks like "Diablo" and "At Fate's End," while Andy Cortez presents his roster, including "Fire Emblem Fortunes Weave" and sleeper picks.

00:36:16

Halo, Crimson Desert, and Release Schedule Concerns

The discussion shifts to the potential score of "Halo Campaign Evolved," considering its lack of multiplayer. Concerns are raised about the crowded Xbox release schedule, especially with GTA 6 on the horizon. The panel debates whether "Crimson Desert" deserves a re-review due to significant updates.

00:54:51

Team Selections, Indie Game Potential, and Controversial Picks

The hosts review various game selections like Mugenics, Delta Rune, and Zero Parades, assessing confidence levels. Discussions cover Jonathan Blow's new game, "Avatar Legends," and "Densha Tech." Greg Miller's team analysis includes "Soros" and "Marvel Token Fighting Souls." Speculation on "Blood of the Dawnwalker" and its mechanics is also included.

01:00:03

Barrett's Roster, Castlevania, and Leading Teams

Barrett's team, including GTA VI and Yakuza, is examined, along with the controversy surrounding his "Demon Tides" pick. Hopes are high for "Castlevania: Belmont's Curse," and speculation surrounds "Danganronpa 2X2." Tim Geddes' leading team, featuring "Resident Evil Requiem" and "Dragon Quest VII," is analyzed.

01:04:23

Early Access Review Policy Impact and League Disruption

A Super Chat reveals that Open Critic will no longer count early access reviews, causing significant disruption and frustration for participants in the Fantasy Critic League, invalidating many previously drafted games.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the Fantasy Critic League?

  The Fantasy Critic League is a competition where participants draft video games released throughout the year. The winner is determined by the highest cumulative Metacritic scores of their drafted games, simulating a fantasy sports league for game releases.

• What is Barrett's "evil" strategy for the Fantasy Critic League?

  Barrett's "evil" strategy is based on the belief that "only evil wins," inspired by a previous loss. He interprets this as not necessarily being malicious, but perhaps making unconventional or risky picks that might seem "evil" to others.

• How do game review aggregators like Metacritic and OpenCritic play a role in the Fantasy Critic League?

  These platforms are central to the league as they provide the scores that determine the winner. The cumulative Metacritic or OpenCritic scores of the drafted games directly translate into points for each team.

• What are the main concerns regarding the upcoming Xbox release schedule?

  The primary concern is the crowded release schedule, with many anticipated titles from acquired studios. The presence of major releases like Grand Theft Auto 6 creates a challenge for other games to find their audience and avoid being overshadowed.

• What is a "sleeper pick" in the context of the Fantasy Critic League?

  A sleeper pick is a game that is not heavily anticipated but has the potential to score very well critically or be a surprise hit. These picks can provide a significant advantage if they outperform expectations.

• Why is the lack of multiplayer a potential issue for "Halo Campaign Evolved"?

  Multiplayer is a significant draw for many players and a key component of the Halo franchise's appeal. Its absence in "Halo Campaign Evolved" might limit its overall score and reception, even if the campaign itself is strong.

• What is the significance of "Titanium Cores" in the Fantasy Critic League discussion?

  "Titanium Cores" is highlighted because it won the Seamus McNally award and was bid on by Barrett. This suggests it's a critically acclaimed indie title with potential for high scores, making it a valuable pick.

• What is the main concern regarding games in early access on Open Critic?

  The primary concern is that Open Critic will not count early access reviews this year, meaning games like Slay the Spire 2, which were drafted based on potential early access scores, will not receive a score, significantly impacting fantasy critic leagues.

• Why is there a push for Crimson Desert to be re-reviewed?

  Crimson Desert has received significant updates and improvements since its initial review. The panel believes these changes warrant a re-evaluation of its score by critics to reflect the current state of the game.

• What was the controversy surrounding Demon Tides?

  The controversy involved a participant bidding on Demon Tides for their fantasy team while also having a review code for the game. This raised ethical questions about potential bias, though the situation was ultimately resolved by allowing the pick due to the participant being in the demo phase.

Show Notes