I Can Stop Playing Balatro Whenever I Want | Cold Take 

ah, an 11 minute break from balatro to watch someone talking about balatro

What a statement: "looks like gambling for kids - banned. Real gambling for kids - good."

I literally just deleted the game from my PC. Joins the very privileged list of games "so good I had to uninstall them to get anything done" which includes Into The Breach.

This game reminds me of The Simpsons joke where Louie puts down 5 kings, goes to rake in the pot but Fat Tony stops him and puts down 6 kings.

That smooth, yet strangely forlorn "Suppose the house always wins after all" is the sort of thing that would absolutely cap a noir heist movie where they lose 3/4 of the team on the way in and out.

Balantro looks like the sort of game you'd see in a comedy TV series where characters are just sitting around a table, playing a ridiculous card game they made up. I have to play this.

I think an underrated part of this game that I rarely see discussed is like, the semiotics of this game. There's a coherent thematic language in things like the planet cards and tarot cards. My favorite detail that tipped me off to this, for instance, is how the Death card does not remove cards from your deck but rather transforms a single card. That's not the *obvious* choice for what a card called Death would do, but it is certainly in line with how it's commonly interpreted in tarot readings. Or how Pluto is High Card because it's kind of a runt of a not-planet the way High Card is kind of a not-hand. Also you'd probably be pulling some "far-out" strats if you're buffing high card. You sorta pick up on implications like that and it's really fun to try and read between the lines in this game.

Somewhere a AAA developer is looking at this and weeping at all the money they could’ve made with microtransactions

Started watching the video knowing a bit about Balatro but thinking it was steam only. Got 1 minute in to where he said it was available on console. Watched the rest of the video 4 hours later when I realized I'd skipped lunch due to playing Balatro.

I can stop watching Cold Take whenever I want. I swear.

man this vid is full of good lines... "I'm gonna tell my kids this was solitaire" is funny

Honestly came to this channel for Yahtzee, but stayed for Cold Take. Fantastic reviews dude

Frost really summed up addiction in those last few lines. "Even after I've won I choose to stay here and play one more round. And one more round. And one more round. Suppose the house always wins after all." I can picture a proper gumshoe monologuing this over a glass of whiskey after closing up the bar he runs on the side. Frost has his style down to a T.

Watched someone get a score of 2xe^36 and immediately jump back in trying to beat it

The developers of this game deserve all the success they are getting. What a enjoyable / stimulating / fun / non predatory experience. Best $15 I have spenion a single game. Also the fact that a game about probabilities is banned on some countries while literal gambling for kids isn't... Is extremely funny.

"Oops all nines."😆 I love how you're able to still show off a sense of humor in Cold Take Frost😄💖.

Frost's review sold me so hard I bought it before the video finished.

“Why is this game so fun? It’s just Poker.” “Yes.”

Game's full of jokers yet still gets out-clowned by a government.

For shame, Frost! "The Next Slay The Spire" was Monster Train, _four years ago._ Balatro though in a league of its own

Must be fake, a Wheel of Fortune actually proc'd in the video.

This can't be good for NL's gambling addiction. Going to lose it all again at the Sierra Madre.

Cold Take is something special. Thank you Frost and Second Wind.

Coming back a week later - Thanks for ruining my life, Frost. Can’t. stop. Playing!

the rant at 5:30 about fleeing happiness is art, as was the chocotaco

7:06 I love the achievements. They're that sort of "sounds completely impossible and then you get so far in the game you do them by accident". Amazing feeling of progression.

😢Oh how I miss my beloved choco tacos (probably the wrong take away to have from this video, but damn it, they were my favorite random treat from the convenience store for most of my life)

I quite literally just sat down to take a break from playing Balatro to watch some RU-vid videos, and this was the first thing on my subscription feed. I suppose it’s nice to know I’m not the only one, lololol

Nice, a northern lion reference.

One thing I really appreciated was that a lot of unlocks required you to go in the OPPOSITE direction of whatever synergy the unlocked card plays into. I always get frustrated when I spend ages trying over and over again to get a build going with subpar equipment for a particular strategy, only to unlock a new card/item that requires me to play more games with that strategy to utilise it! This way it all flows a lot better imo.

YES! Whenever I play this game I can never shake the feeling we're playing against the devil in a poker game where everything goes. And my soul is never mine.

"ayo...burgers AND fries" really got me for some reason lmao

It really is the perfect game. I stop playing Balatro and I immediately start thinking about Balatro. I watch people play Balatro while playing Balatro. It's a sickness. Localthunk has made the perfect game.

Nice, and me too reminds me of playing blackjack on a little handheld at my grandmas place growing up

I dread to think how much of myself and my friends spare time has gone missing thanks to this game. Pure pick up and play fun in short bursts, and trance like qualities in longer session. What a game.

I would kindly ask the folks at Second Wind to move the ad to after the credit sequence. The transition to the credit sequence is so beautiful in some of these videos, it's a shame to disrupt it.

If "wish I knew how to count" means counting cards, that functionality is actually built into the game - there's a screen that shows your remaining cards and your full deck.

The ending lines of this essay werr absolutely chilling. Spectacular writing my man.

Bought this last night and played "one more round" until midnight. All I need now is an Android version

There will never be another Choco Taco. S+ tier legend.

I laughed so much watched this it annoyed my roommate. As someone who has traded too many good nights sleep for "one more go", I feel seen.

This was the first game in years that I've ever been actively excited for. Pretty sure this will be my personal GOTY. Thank you localthunk

This game is my current obsession, love some card games but they always got to do some strange stuff to hook you. With this it's simple playing cards (fair I didn't knew the English lingo for them but it was quickly learned) and in that lays it's "simplicity" of understanding. And then to break that all. Still at a frost glance I can tell what the cards will do and values no hidden stuff. Just the fun of the jokers triggering and setting of the combo's. It's addicting and fun. Long while a game did that to me

If there ever was the perfect reviewer for a Poker-Card-Game-RogueLike, it has to be Frost

“This is starting to sound like Yugioh.” SOOOOOLDDDD!!!! And you are totally screwing the rules because you have money!

Jorbs shoutout! What a lovely human being

Welp, putting this game on my Switch wishlist. I have a feeling I'll want this game portably.

Cold Take is absolutely amazing content, from the style to the reviews itself. Thank you for making this!

I prefer the cold takes about the video game industry rather than individual reviews, but I'll watch them all the same.

convinced by the gameplay, stayed for the cool deep whiskey voice. You have earned yourself a new subscriber!

If Balatro ever comes out on mobile, it might be enough to singlehandedly break my gacha addiction. I'm dead serious.

Interesting little love letter to Slay the Spire in the middle.

I still remember playing this during Nextfest, and it wasn't high on trending page at the time. But after playing it, I remember thinking "I think this one's gonna get pretty popular". And boy did it.

I really feel like it just needs a whimsical villain. Just randomly have one of my Jokers say "The House Always Wins" or something and it'd be literally the perfect game.

loved the video. the creativity, the style, the writing, the delivery, even the background music.

first time watching this particular series because after a friend got me into the game I'm always down to hear more people talking about it. I love the Noir detective style of the narration

Balatro really is hypnotic. The music and visuals entrance you into focusing on the cards, and then 5 hours later, you've realized you forgot to take the dog out and they've left chocolate for you by the front door.

So who organises the intervention for Frost? If this is the last Cold Take we see we know who to blame.

Devs will soon have to make a rehab centre for balatro addicts. Also, plasma deck makes me splooge.

Adore the vibe you went for here!

This game has wrecked my free time unlike anything else in a LONG time

I bought Balatro because of this review, and now I have a problem. Thanks!

I along 3 people I’ve talked to have had dreams about this game it’s built for human addiction.

The gambling burn on Genshin 👌

Its wild how this is the 3rd addictive game ive stumbled upon. I did not know what to expect. Its so good

"looks like gambling for kids" 😥😥 "real gambling for kids" 😃😃

If anybody in my family dies in the future, I would feel so much more comforted if Frost was the deliverer of the bad news. I love his voice.

I bought it after watching this and... holy shit! I had to pry myself away from it. Thanks for the recommendation!

Glad your enjoying the game Frost :>

Seeing Sunshine Shuffle for those 2 seconds made me smile

A very satisfying review. Thank you.

Frost? I'd recognize that voice anywhere... So this is what you've been up to.

God Damn Frost is so fucking good to listen to you so happy doing what you want.

It's so freaking good. Balatro is amazing, and this video is a fun and entertaining look at it.

This game is absolutely fantastic and timeless. It's as simple as Windows Solitaire but as complex as chess.

MAKE NUMBER GO UP MAKE NUMBER GO UP MAKE NUMBER GO UP MAKE IT RAAAAAIIIN!

Awww... I miss Choco-Tacos...

The new hotness, it seems. So many games, so little money. >.

I was listening to this review while playing Balatro.

Feels as if I'm playing a round of no holds barred texas hold'em against the devil for my soul, and even after I've won I choose to stay here for one more round. Goddam what a line.

Well, you sold me.

as usual Frost, an excelent video

Thanks for destroying my productivity, Frost

Cold Take is easily become a staple in my household with my husband. I introduced him to Yahtzee through ZP years ago and was so thrilled he enjoyed it as well. It honestly seems like a stroke of luck that I stumbled on Cold Take before everything went down and quickly enjoyed each video and topic trying to catch up on something that I so obviously slept on. "Wake up babe, poker 2 just dropped" is by far one of my favorite lines for Cold Take so far and honestly for this Balatro review is perfection. Its a quote living rent free in my head. I remember watching yahtzee try the game and it happened during my lunch hour while at work, so I couldn't really focus on what was going on for a limited time during the livestream but I saw the gameplay and it peaked my interest bit. After Cold Take it was must buy though. Perhaps it's because my husband and I both enjoy poker and do play things like tournaments and etc when time allows that it feels oh so comfy and cozy and so compelling. I know this type of game is up my alley, and it only took two days or mulling back and forth of watching this Cold Take and just chatting with my husband before I just said let's buy it. But the best part is watching my husband get engulfed into it, this is definitely a gameplay/genre that's a bit more out of his wheelhouse and seeing how quickly his playstyle changed and other things was just a thing of joy. Balatro has taken over our house. It's downloaded on our ps4 & ps5 respectively and I'm pretty damn close to buying for my switch just to play on my commute to work and my lunch break, but I'm holding off for now because I need to try and pretend to maintain balance lol.

debuffs for picture cards is my cryptonite

Easily one of my new most favorite videogame reviewer/commentators on RU-vid these days. Keep it up!!!

I was wondering what all the fuss is about but now I get it

Balatro has legitimately gotten me to memorise the various combinations you can play in poker, like i had tried to multiple times before but just never was able to get it to properly click. Next stop is the casino!

Always its nice to watch a Cold take

this has been my exact experience

Came for the review, liked for the Chaco Taco love. 🌮

Jorbs mention! Glad he's become so renowned! Frost has good taste confirmed (well, like we didn't know that already).

I checked it out, due in no small part to this recommendation, and I'm blown away. I figured I would miss the fantasy elements, but as soon as I got a grasp of the mechanics, the lack of fantasy elements wasn't even a factor.

I think it's amusing that there are TWO Northernlion mentions, albeit one being in the Slay the Spire accolades video. Glad to see people respect his opinion on rouge like card games lol

Balatro = Gambling Lootboxes = Wholesome content safe for kids NIce

Just got the game for my Switch as I wanted something simple to play while riding the bus to work, my Switch is now my Balatro machine and I regret nothing.

I don't have a problem YOU have problem!

Da hell I see an interesting Balatro video, click on it, and behold: Frost the (previously?) smite RU-vidr begins talking

The sexiest game of the year is 95% UI

Great game and great review. I have been addicted to it and am partially glad and disappointed that I can't take it with me on my phone.