When comparing TotalBiscuit vs Matthewmatosis, the Slant community recommends TotalBiscuit for most people. In the question“Who are the best game critics? ” TotalBiscuit is ranked 2nd while Matthewmatosis is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose TotalBiscuit is:
While it can not always be avoided TotalBiscuit states that he tries to stay as objective as much possible. He goes out of his way to accept no gifts from developers or publishers as well as stay completely out of their social circles, as to stay as objective as possible about their products.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Tries his best to stay objective
While it can not always be avoided TotalBiscuit states that he tries to stay as objective as much possible. He goes out of his way to accept no gifts from developers or publishers as well as stay completely out of their social circles, as to stay as objective as possible about their products.
Pro The most pro-consumer, non biased reviewer you'll find
He refused to even cover The Witcher 3 because GOG, which sponsored his e-sports team, is a sister company to CDProject Red.
Pro Steam curator channel cataloging 30fps games
The Framerate Police is a Steam Curator channel that TotalBiscuit started as a reaction to Steam no longer listing the framerate games play at on their store. This way users can see what games play at the often considered low framerate of 30fps and then discuss if the frames can be unlocked and how. This is one in the many ways the John Bain pushes for pro-consumer ideals.
Pro Spends 20 minutes in the options menu
Not many reviewers/critics go so in depth in a games menu as Total Biscuit does. Many games he will spend 20 minutes just in the option menu in order to show how many graphical settings there are for a game and what each one does. For those interested in how they can tweak their games this is highly informative and difficult to find elsewhere.
Pro In-depth (yet concise) videos
The videos are as long as he feels they need to be to address everything - the Devil May Cry & Dark Souls entries are entire playthroughs of several hours whilst discussing the games - far more analysis than a standard Lets Play video. His critiques are also concise and straight-to-the-point, instead of extensively rambling about a single point where it's not required.
Pro Discussion of atmosphere
One aspect of game design that often gets overlooked by other critiques is atmosphere, which is something that he is excellent at dissecting (as evidenced by his Majora's Mask, Team Ico and Demon's Souls videos).
Pro Strong focus on gameplay
Several critics tend to provide long detailed (often surface-level) descriptions of games without talking too much about the merits and pitfalls of the actual gameplay. As a programmer, he understands what goes behind-the-scenes in game design, useful for starting developers. Having played an extensive array of games that goes beyond the mainstream, he can effectively compare games to highlight a specific aspect of gameplay (such as combat, puzzle-solving or level-design).
Pro Great for starting game developers
If you're going to create a game, Matthew will sometimes provide behind-the-scenes stories about how a certain game was made or game mechanics worth improving or experimenting on. These videos make it seem like games are far more complex and exciting on the inside than they first appear.
Cons
Con Strictly speaking, he doesn't do reviews
As TotalBiscuit himself will be quick to point out, TB doesn't do reviews, he mostly does first impressions. That means that the games he showcases and critiques on his channel he has not completed and so has only partial knowledge of the game.
Con He's dead
Still the best reviewer ever.
Con Quantity over quality
While Total Biscuit is a very level headed person and gives a very valuable service, he is not part of the best in the world of game criticism.
Con Some videos can be mundane and dry
If you're looking for comedy or exciting gameplay, you will not find it here. His sense of humor is subtle and sporadic, but that boils down to personal opinion. Long videos are both a blessing and a curse, providing a lot of information, but some people just can't make it through.
Con Doesnt know anything about actual game design
He edits his critiques in a way that flows like an audio book. In terms of effective critiques there arent many to be found here. He uses reductive anaylsis, throws out opinions as if they explain anything like a journalist with quality research could.