...I'm Sam.

Also this clip solves for me a perplexing choice from Blacklist, that at the time didn't pass the smell test.

Yeah, that was a neat little interview. It's cool that he seems proud of the character, at least for what it is.

The writing in Wildlands is real freaking bad, though, huh? Giant Bomb played a bit of that mission on their Unprofessional Fridays stream, and it made me go watch the rest of the mission. And I started the free play weekend (which I quit after about forty minutes--it's just not for me). Not that I ever really expect much from Tom Clancy branded games, but man Wildlands fails to clear even really low bar of quality for writing and dialogue.

...I'm Sam.

Also this clip solves for me a perplexing choice from Blacklist, that at the time didn't pass the smell test.

I'm considering picking it up, but I'm also sure it'll get another sale eventually. I'm only 8ish hours into The Division, God of War is next week, I'm still slowly replaying Andromeda, etc.

Yeah. I took up HarMahnaMahna's (:P) advice and watched it. I keep forgetting that's a thing now a days. How the mission plays out seemed really odd to me. Why did Ubisoft chose to make a Splinter Cell branded stealth mission with a required Ghost mechanic and then just switch it to straight up assault? Also, a resounding lack of a panther play style. They added the Karambit, but then don't let you use it in the Splinter Cell branded mission? Wha?

I give it a 5/10 + 2 for dem sweet sweet Michael Ironside vocals.

Yeah, it was mostly just worth it to get the Splinter Cell goggles (which you actually put on when you enable night vision or thermal!) and for the cinematic.

The Sam Fisher quest line is available now. I played the first part of it last night. It required a stealth entry to a UNIDAD base (which I found really difficult, the game isn't really designed for stealth and as a result I'm not that great at it but it did force me to get a bit better) followed by a defend the position section where all the stealth-ing you did was for nothing and the entire base starts attacking your position (and you have like no cover). The team AI is particularly bad, but it would probably be quite a bit easier with a human partner or 3. I didn't finish, but I may call in some support to finish it.

Yeah. I took up HarMahnaMahna's (:P) advice and watched it. I keep forgetting that's a thing now a days. How the mission plays out seemed really odd to me. Why did Ubisoft chose to make a Splinter Cell branded stealth mission with a required Ghost mechanic and then just switch it to straight up assault? Also, a resounding lack of a panther play style. They added the Karambit, but then don't let you use it in the Splinter Cell branded mission? Wha?

I give it a 5/10 + 2 for dem sweet sweet Michael Ironside vocals.

The Sam Fisher quest line is available now. I played the first part of it last night. It required a stealth entry to a UNIDAD base (which I found really difficult, the game isn't really designed for stealth and as a result I'm not that great at it but it did force me to get a bit better) followed by a defend the position section where all the stealth-ing you did was for nothing and the entire base starts attacking your position (and you have like no cover). The team AI is particularly bad, but it would probably be quite a bit easier with a human partner or 3. I didn't finish, but I may call in some support to finish it.

I actually find the stealth in the game pretty good, but what made the mission so much harder is that you couldn't kill anyone! If I could have killed ONE guard it would've made the whole thing a lot easier. I ended up using a diversion grenade to get the guard to turn his back and snuck behind him.

2. What happened to the voice actor for John Marston? His voice is unique and he's great, but he did RDR and then just disappeared. A real shame.

https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/6/19/4406600/small-town-man-John-Marston

I read that way back when--great article. Hate to say it, but I'm glad the voice of Marston "died" with him. It was so perfect, and now I don't get that weird disassociation of hearing Marston show up in a different universe.

That does make sense. I can’t get over hearing Garrus every time I play The Division.

Or the Arbiter every time I play Mass Effect.

2. What happened to the voice actor for John Marston? His voice is unique and he's great, but he did RDR and then just disappeared. A real shame.

https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/6/19/4406600/small-town-man-John-Marston

I read that way back when--great article. Hate to say it, but I'm glad the voice of Marston "died" with him. It was so perfect, and now I don't get that weird disassociation of hearing Marston show up in a different universe.

That does make sense. I can’t get over hearing Garrus every time I play The Division.

THAT'S WHO THAT IS!!!!

I knew I knew that voice... it's been driving me crazy lol.

2. What happened to the voice actor for John Marston? His voice is unique and he's great, but he did RDR and then just disappeared. A real shame.

https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/6/19/4406600/small-town-man-John-Marston

I read that way back when--great article. Hate to say it, but I'm glad the voice of Marston "died" with him. It was so perfect, and now I don't get that weird disassociation of hearing Marston show up in a different universe.

That does make sense. I can’t get over hearing Garrus every time I play The Division.

2. What happened to the voice actor for John Marston? His voice is unique and he's great, but he did RDR and then just disappeared. A real shame.

https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/6/19/4406600/small-town-man-John-Marston

I read that way back when--great article. Hate to say it, but I'm glad the voice of Marston "died" with him. It was so perfect, and now I don't get that weird disassociation of hearing Marston show up in a different universe.

2. What happened to the voice actor for John Marston? His voice is unique and he's great, but he did RDR and then just disappeared. A real shame.

https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/6/19/4406600/small-town-man-John-Marston

Thanks for posting that! Good for him for getting out of there, if that's what he wanted. Still sort of a bummer he's not in more stuff--he really is great as Marston, and probably could have had a good career if he had pursued it. I don't blame him for not wanting to have to do that hustle, though.

2. What happened to the voice actor for John Marston? His voice is unique and he's great, but he did RDR and then just disappeared. A real shame.

https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/6/19/4406600/small-town-man-John-Marston

Red Dead Redemption is now in 4K on Xbox One X, and it looks fantastic. I know what I'm doing until God of War next Friday.

A few other random thoughts:

1. This game feels like a precursor to The Witcher 3. They feel extremely similar in structure.

2. What happened to the voice actor for John Marston? His voice is unique and he's great, but he did RDR and then just disappeared. A real shame.

3. Guys, RDR is a real freakin' good game. I can't wait for RDR2.

Skip to 3:35 for a really great comparison running through town.