When comparing OldManMurray vs Matthewmatosis, the Slant community recommends Matthewmatosis for most people. In the question“Who are the best game critics? ” Matthewmatosis is ranked 5th while OldManMurray is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose Matthewmatosis is:
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.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro The originators of Wolpaw's law
There are games so bad, that while playing them comes a point where the experience and the opinion on said game is unsalvageable. At that point one can, in good faith, review the game without finishing it. And then there are games that blow up monitors.
Pro True objective reviews by the way of "Crate Review System"
Inventors of the only truly objective review system - Crate Review System. The point you encounter a Crate in the game signifies when the developers have run out of new ideas, the longer it takes to encounter a Crate the better the game (e.g. it takes longer to encounter a Crate in Blood than it takes in Half-Life, therefore Blood is the better game game).
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 No longer updated
Sadly the site is no longer used and is only up for archival purposes.
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.