LEFT ALIVE: A Future Cult Classic? 

You had quality options this month with DMC 5 and Sekiro yet you chose Left Alive. You're a true hero for obscure games and a master of your craft.

"5 or so years from now, buy it for 10 bucks" Bought it two weeks ago at GameStop for 5 bucks

I lost it when the error message popped up. Such perfect comedic timing. Your PS4 deserves an award.

*Caution: The enemy is approaching*

Problem with Binary Domain comparison: BD was fun to play, if a bit too generic. Left Alive is nowhere near BD level.

ThorHighHeels. you are literally a godbless. In the game community we can only count the positive personality like you on a mutilated hand. Even with left alive i know that you have some positive thing to say. Now, i have not played the game, but the main reason i follow you is that i can find positivity here, even in this cozy dumpster fire.

So the game is sot of bad but you managed to find a playstyle that made it a bit enrtaining. And you liked it. And that is what makes you a spcial critic: I'm sure I would hate Left Alive but you just made it enjoyable by describing the Y and the X.

Biggest enemy in Left Alive : office chairs

This really got me thinking about how much of mechanics can you cram in before you can start actually design the rest of the game. Left Alive clearly has a lot of mechanics, but nothing is given thought to how to design level or enemies. MGS games have a lot of mechanics, but since level design, enemy placement/AI and other things are generally excellent, mastering them feels rewarding. Mechanics make for good back of the box bullet points, but I think true value comes in design and utilization.

One day we will get a definitive stealth/mech hybrid game.

Considering what we consider "cult classics" today, I ask this question about every disappointing/low-quality piece of media I come across.

Why is this game called Left alive? When enemy Soldierman Mc Dickhead sees you he kills you

“Umm uuuh... oh oh” ThorHighHeels (19XX - 2019)

I just bought this on the psn store a few days ago, i am absolutely loving it right now. I remember watching a review when it first came out and it was ripping the game to pieces but I loved the look of it and told myself I will get it once it’s on special, bought it for $12 and I wasn’t sure what to expect but right now I’m up to chapter 4 and loving every second. I’m playing on hopeless and this is pure survival, you actually have to rely on scavenging everything and crafting anything that can give you a chance, if you go in looking for a fire fight you won’t last long. I don’t think I have ever had to rely on guerilla warfare type combat this much in a game and I’m not even that deep in. I just spent almost 10 minutes in a room debating whether I should discard a bunch of crafting components to pick up a shotgun with 4 shells, first time I have ever thought that deeply for that situation. I can already see the game doesn’t just have choices through the story but you constantly have to make choices through gameplay too, like is it worth saving this person and then guiding them to the safe house, is it better to save all my equipment for the upcoming battle, your supplies are always in your mind, using even a single grenade takes thinking. I realise I’m early in but if the game doesn’t take some sort of drastic change then this might end up being right up there in my personal favourite games. I hope this game does gain a bigger cult following, unfortunately square enix did an awful job with it marketing wise, they also pushed it out way too soon judging from the review I remember watching. I feel like it was misunderstood from the beginning, I remember reviews complaining about the shooting mechanics and one section where you have to take out an entire squad starting with just a shovel, that’s what the game is, the shooting isn’t meant to be great, you aren’t meant to be able to take out a bunch of people in a pure fire fight, the whole point of the game is to use whatever you have at your disposal to survive. Anyone who enjoys survival games should try this.

Yes. We need Zone of The Ender 3

I remember when this game was announced I was actually kinda hyped. It was giving me more classic MGS vibes than any MGS game since MGS4. I'm kind a bummed to learn the game stinks like asshole. I still might play it though to see if I can force myself to like it.

I think the thing that REALLY sets this back, even as a Cult Classic, is that the systems don't really work together at all, and even systems that are pushed to you(Like the traps) are just too slow and ineffective compared to running away. And I know that was part of your point, but since running away is not really a system or a solution the game seemed to acknowledge at all, even going against the cinematic tone of some mission setups(rolling away constantly kinda takes that away), that survivalist approach feels more like you're cheating the game rather than a purposeful mechanic. There's a lot of loveable jank in the game that I feel rewards more those willing to fuck around with it's broken parts, feels like less of a Cult Classic that is discovered with no expectations and more like a weird recommendation you give, with some major caveats.

I really want to pick this up in like 5 years. Some of my favorite games are niche Japanese low-budget PS2 clunkfests. There's something so charming about them. Only the sound design is a turn off for me here.

Playing as Steve Rambo is the correct way of playing a video game.

Somebody randomly brought this game up to me last week. I forgot it ever existed and never played it, but I remember it being by far the game I was most anticipating when it was announced. The names attached to it made it sound like a dream team I would put together if I was funding a game made entirely just for myself to enjoy. I’ve been a massive fan of every game/anime these people have worked on since I was like 10 years old. I love mechs and have always felt they were severely underutilized in games. I thought this was going to be Square’s big comeback. Then it came out at some point with no fanfare, apparently wasn’t very good, and I didn’t even know any of this until last Tuesday. It’s really sad. I wish this game would have lived up to what I had imagined it to be all those years ago.

What makes me sad about Left Alive is how it’s one of the few “high-profile” Mech games from a big name studio and it flopped hard. Granted, they didn’t seem to really have much faith in it to begin with, but when something sells this poorly, there’s a very small chance of there being any more Armored Core/Front Mission games being made in the future :(

I love this perspective of going in fresh and appreciating a game for the vision the devs had as opposed to what magazines or reviewers told you it would be.

To be really honest, the Front Mission universe didn't rip off MGS over the whole proxy war scenario. It has been a staple since the first release; Front Mission (1995) on the Super Famicom. I just came from watching your Front Mission 3 review, and being a 17 year old at the time of release, that game was like gold to me. It further expanded on the Front Mission world in a very big way and my soft teenage brain was SUPER impressed because I was invested in the franchise lore at the time. I gave so many concessions to Left Alive as I did for Front Mission Evolved and got burned so hard for it. It's really tough to deal with how little care SE has given this franchise, but it is also sort of understandable; the geopolitical landscape right now would not have let a game like Front Mission 3 release today. How FM3 characterised China (or the People's Republic of Da Han Zhong) is scarily similar to the policies the PRC is currently heading towards. It would make sense for SE to create future FM games that are not so expansive of the whole world now. But before China had become such an economic force in current times, two FM games had come out that followed the turn-base formula. Front Mission 4 was essentially The Phantom Menace of the whole franchise. SE overestimated the game's potential sales following FM3's success and it flopped. FM4 was literally about a trade war between the EU and Russia (known as the Republic of Zaftra in Front Mission). Not to shit on FM4, but it went from action hero movie (FM3) to brooding political thriller (FM4). Graphics were really nice though. Front Mission 5 spanned across a few decades in the FM world, following the lives of three kids during a proxy war which happened in Freedom city (from the FM1) and ended at the start of FM3 where MIDAS was stolen from a USN Alaskan base. Front Mission Evolved was essentially a white-washed impression on what anime would be like. It was hard to immerse in the world considering after all that has happened prior to Evolved. Left Alive felt like it was a game about redemption, but somebody dropped the ball in a major way. Its success felt like a guarantee but yet it turned out like it did. Sigh. JFC I'm disappointed at Square-Enix with what has happened to Front Mission :(

No

This game had potential.

I kinda like to play it, too bad I don't have enough patience to endure the sloopy Gameplay. I don't think that it will end up being something as big as a cult classic, but I can definetively see It gainig a few more fans over the course of the time. Anyways, love your videos

Oh no, not MINDJACK. I had to review that game and I had forgotten about it. What have you done!? It's ALL COMING BACK.

Y gonna give it to ya But X is gonna leave you dissapointed

You should play Ring of Red on the PS2. The similarities are uncanny, despite the different gameplay genres. It was an absolute steal for the 5€ I paid but robbery for even a cent more. Famitsu also kinda liked Left Alive (31/40) but it´s proven to be a corrupt magazine, especially if SE is concerned.

Great review and unique look at this game^^ Its true you can learn so much from what seems to be "the worst". But even if it would be about "cowardice" it should have better dodging mechanic than the silly looking dodgeroll I think. But I gotta say I love the games World and character design

someone i was friends with always kept telling me mindjack was a good game we are no longer friends. obviously

Hi, to sprint faster than the normal run speed, you need to press R1 two times. To change to the over the shoulder view, aim with L1 and also press R1 :)

I'm sorry, I was done when what should've been a stealth kill didnt kill and the enemy soldiers didnt even die after 2 explosive traps, Spy Fiction on the PS2 did stealth better than this and that was a pretty blatant MGS knockoff!!!

Have you ever thought about streaming like on twitch? I would love to see you play your playstation collection live!

Every modern shooter switches weapons with triangle\Y.

It will probably be for 5$ in 2 or 3 years.

I just want a Front Mission Game you a GOOD one

The patch improved the gameplay a LOT. Instant headshot kills and instant stealth kills are a major PLUS. If you like ps2 era games like spy fiction, metal gear solid, hitman etc. This is your hidden gem.

You know I almost had the same experience with Left Alive when I played it. It's one of those games where you can see that there is a potentially really awesome game that is overshadowed by bad mechanics and shoddy execution. but I did enjoy the game as an experience, I do it is one of those games those flowed games that can still provide a fun experience. Infact some of those games you mentioned are some of my favorite games, Mainly Neverdead(the goat game), and Left Alive feels like one of those games, which I'm glad is still somewhat around this gen. Another thing, Left Alive's Wanzer designs are fucking based, especially the Volk.

Future Fucko Reviews sounds like a great channel name. I might use that.

this really looks like them just trying to squeeze any money out of whats left of the front mission fanbase so i'll pass

I subbed as soon as you said "she had a child once but it got dead in war"

So in other words, this is "Run like a Bitch!" The Game.

People should've looked at the actual developers instead of the flashy name dropping. The devs have one shitty anime game under their belt, that was my first clue. My main problem is that there's no sense of gratification or reward for outsmarting the game or making it through a particularly difficult section. It all feels so randomly hard for the sake of it.

Caution. It's on sale right now.

I bought this game absurdly cheap, and just for knowing Shinkawa was involved, I thought I would give it a go. I can see how it appealed to me and many others, but I spent two hours in the first section of the game and died so many times that I just gave up. Even in the easiest difficulty, this game is excruciating difficult and not so rewarding as Dark Souls, that you feel that you are progressing. Definitively not for me

the fire thing is funny "hay look a fire, better investigate"

Literally just discovered your channel and its already an instant favorite

Stupified final thoughts: Nah...-but yea

I personally like deadly combat in videogames.. more satisfying. As long as it's spaced out and methodical and you're not dying from BS every 10 seconds like in COD

I paid 45 quid for this...I feel rather salty. But as a talking piece of certainly is going to be eternally interesting. Gameplay Garbo tho

Nop

Don't put vanquish on the same level next to Mindjack

I saw the copyright mark at the end of this video and had to do a double take. This game was just released in 2019?? I honest to god thought you were reviewing another underloved PS2 hidden gem from 10 years ago. My mind is blown!

I enjoyed the game for what it was but I'm still somewhat disappointed, considering some of the people who were involved in Front Mission, Metal Gear and even Armored Core worked on this game so you would expect it to be legendary. In the end, it's just okay, and I can see why most were disappointed with the game.

Front Mission Dog Days is doing Left Alive better than Left Alive and it's not even a videogame

I do love me some dumpster fires my dumpster fire was "Deadly Premonition" it makes my pickle hard missed you're past videos man finally catching up on them

Nah man, the fact Square Enix had the odacity to basically low key rip off MGS series + double down on FM Evolved shenanigans instead of actually making an actual NEW Front Mission TB Tactical RPG is detrimental enough that this game is nowhere near "cult classic." I love Binary Domain, Deadly Prominition, Vanquish, & FEAR 3. Left Alive definitely NOT in the same level of those games. Hell, I even love FM Evolved more than this game & that saying something.

I bought this game with the same mindset as you, maybe it was one of those games with low scores that turn out to be gems that will one day have a cult following for its story or interesting concept or characters, you even showed one of these games that I was thinking about, Deadly Premonition, but no, Left Alive turned out to be just bad, I fundamentally disagree with your point here. The only thing that saves itself here is the character design from Yoji Shinkawa, everything else is so bad. The gameplay is stiff and unresponsive, the animations are trash, stealth is so limited, the shooting is terrible, the AI is completely stupid and bugged, the performance is lacking, I honestly feel bad for who purchased a digital copy of this game on consoles and won't be able to refund it. This is a ''The Quiet Man'' level flop.

I appreciate that you legitimately try to find the good in every game you review, while acknowledging the flaws.

Yeah I'm still waiting for it to be 10$. I come from loving the Front Mission series (which when I found out about it a few days ago that its set in that same universe my heart sank a lil) so getting a new game in English since Evolved should be great.Fine don't be a traditional style game i'll take more regardless. Instead its a non optimized MGS, despite what your saying. I like your thoughts about how its a game that isn't trying to make you fight or stealth it up, but to run like hell. However I ain't got time to fight controls or the game itself to get a chance to be in a wanzer in a 2019 Front Mission game for a few minutes. I get where your coming from, but this game gets a "Boo you stink/10".

Now when's the Vampire Rain review?

Finished Left Alive today on Hopeless difficulty and I can tell you that I never got so much pissed playing a video game.

Another thing... the fact the game outright calls them mechs rather than wanzers.

I want to see Front Mission make a return.

Dude I beat the notification, that's a first.

The proxy war shit has been part of the series since BEFORE MGS4.

Maybe this is a part of Kojima's idea during the early development where in reality, most of us wouldn't be able to be Rambo badasses gunning down an army or sneaking about in tight suits seemingly being undetected. We'd just fucking hide and run like hell..Since he was barely involved, he likely didn't gave a shit if the ideas sounded bad or whatnot. Uhhh...or some meta post-modern shit like that IDK. At l;east MGS2 was fun yet had those mindfuck moments. This one sounds more like you'd end up with a migraine..

Gotta give it to Thor for giving a game a chance rather than do the easy thing and parrot what every other ass with a camera said already.

For some reason I thought of extermination, an obscure ps2 gem. No real point here, just though, just overcome by nostalgia.

a couple of years more and this game could have been a worthy MGS successor. Stealth, survival and action in pure state. What a shame...

I was too intrigued, had to play it. Game is only playable in the update "casual" difficulty and that doesn't make it like a shooter the as they alleged, it allows to play mostly like a stealth game (adds one shot death from head shots). The scope and subject are interesting and the mechanics give you options but the frustration mostly comes from the clunky controls and just weird unpredictable AI behavior that ruins your strategy and tactics.

16:00 Love the weird ass Lego map reference

A game where isnted of empowering you like a supersoldier, isnted put you in the shoes of (rational) cowards while hiding from an invading army, tanks, and Mechs I mean even a soldier with all there training would also be logical inoff to know that taking on an army alone is a bad idea

U know what, I'm watching dis kinda drunk, and it's just SUPERB, thx dude

watching this reminded me of playing hitman, trying to find the optimal route through a sprawling map without getting seen and ending up cheesing your way through

You make any random shitty game seem worth a play. Seriously my favorite gaming channel!

Caution: The Office Chairs Are Approaching.

They need to just make an old school front mission again

Yet this game still intrigued me and is still pulling me towards playing I think mainly because I’m a sucker for anything with designs and artwork from yoji shinkawa and mechas and with both this game has a gravity for me I can’t explain ugghhhh!

*Abridged version:* No

Did you buy this game? I am sorry.

Not really. I think a cult classic is better defined as "quality, but an acquired taste". Left Alive is not quality and is an educational showcase in how to botch good ideas and waste the talents of some of the people involved, like the MGS artist, as well as wasting the Front Mission license in general. Lemme put it this way: Aliens Colonial Marines got more post launch support and fan attention than Left Alive.

They keep trying to push a strategy game into a 3rd person shooter. This is what you get. I could forgive them except for Evolved 9 years ago. This is an okay game. It does have some heart, which is still rare to see today in the industry. Its a game where I would have have given $30 for it but not $60.

Why can't they just release a proper Front Mission game instead of using the Front Mission world to make unsatisfactory third person games without any flagship respect for this property? Glad they didn't put the name "Front Mission" in the title for this I finally got to play Front Mission 5: Scars of War - they could have built on that tactical RPG aspect, or maybe even some realism-based mech squad game with all weapons balanced (instead of that FM: Evolved macguffin shootemup that is tone deaf to the feel of the series) I wanted to love these Front Mission offshoots, but it felt Squenix always rolls their eyes whenever they're "obliged" to give part of the budget to this IP just to maintain it.

I just need to say the hotel dusk music caught me off guard

I thought this game was gonna be like Alpha Protocol, really rough around the edges but has a lot personality and a good story to keep you invested I might've been wrong

The weird part is that running like a bitch is essentially meant to be your _first_ run. Once you beat the game, you can buy skill upgrades for successive playthroughs so that you can actually be.. kinda less ass. Your first playthrough? You're gonna make bad cutscene choices and get people killed, and you'll barely be able to save anyone if at all - and thus you'll get the bad ending. New Game+ playthroughs, you'll save more people, be able to handle forced combat better, and be able to work towards the best ending. It's a game where everything is broken and your first impressions will be godawful, but you're expected to play it repeatedly to do better and see more of the game. It's ambitious, too bad it completely falls apart otherwise.

1:14 on his journey to find CHAOS. As it were

it IS stylish as hell... gotta say

Dude that office chair part fucked me up lol love your videos!

15:16 The failure of Left Alive in a nutshell.

This was great man

I hope you get 1 million subscribers soon. Every. Video. Is interesting. Thank you, just subscribed.

Hey, I just wanted to say I appreciate the Hotel Dusk/Last Window music in this! Nostalgia struck me big time as soon as it started playing

Say it with me fellas WE. NEED. MORE. MECH. GAMES.

No. Buggy mess, crap AI, Rolling faster than initial running speed and makes AI confused, mech sessions are dull. There's cult classics, and then there's broken messes. Sonic 06 is a broken mess, but only a classic, because people love making fun of it. This is just bad, and I'm sure most want to forget about it

Got that FM3 soundtrack in the back haha

Jim Sterling just pissed all over this game, especially that AI caution aspect. Like, I understand, but damn. You really went in, and when you pointed out the cowardice angle, it just clicked. I started watching your stuff semi-ironically but you are an underrated and underviewed commentator.

Considering that Yahtzee and Angry Joe are idiots with mindless zombies for fans, that's not entirely going against the grain.