Diving into the world of video reviews was a rollercoaster of preparations, frustrations, and more retakes than I care to admit. But here we are, standing (virtually, of course) on the other side of my very first video game review. This post isn’t just about the game I reviewed; it’s about the journey I took to get there and what I learned along the way.
Challenge of making videos
First things first – video making is time-consuming! There’s a science behind it all, from planning your dialogue to syncing it with the right visual elements. Random gameplay or irrelevant footage just won’t cut it. If the goal is to simply showcase gameplay with overlaid thoughts, a written review coupled with a longplay seems more efficient.
Narrative Flow
Second, crafting a flowing narrative is akin to walking a tightrope. Lose your balance, and your audience’s attention could plummet. The transitions from one topic to another should be smooth and natural. I’ll admit, I often venture off-topic into quirky tangents. It’s a challenge I continue to grapple with, but one I’m keen to conquer.
Managing Expectations
Third, manage your expectations. If you’re dreaming of becoming a YouTube sensation overnight, I’ve got some sobering news. Sure, miracles happen, talents are discovered, but overnight success stories are few and far between. To get those views, you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and dive into active promotion.
And finally, let’s talk about the game that started it all. Funny story, I first played it in 1994, having copied the first shareware episode from my cousin. He passed it to me on a disk labeled ‘CK6.’ For the longest time, I lived under the illusion that this was the 6th episode of ‘Commander Keen’ dubbed ‘Secret Agent.’ Boy, was that a plot twist for my imaginative young mind!
Looking back, it’s not hard to see how I made the mix-up. ‘Secret Agent’ and ‘Commander Keen’ share many similarities, from their episodic structure to their level-selection maps. If you ask me, ‘Secret Agent’ had an edge over ‘Commander Keen,’ especially in terms of level design, fewer empty spaces, and an overall more polished feel on my trusty 14″ monochromatic CRT Amstrad monitor. It simply felt better designed and more thoroughly tested.
The Game Review
Secret Agent or
Commander Keen 6?
In conclusion, the process of creating a video game review was an eye-opening experience. From managing my expectations to crafting a coherent narrative, it wasn’t an easy journey. But through all the challenges, I’ve developed a newfound respect for video content creators and the hard work they put into their craft. And hey, I got to revisit a beloved game from my childhood, debunking my own long-held myth in the process!
Happy gaming, everyone. Here’s to more video reviews and fewer retakes in the future
