Seen any good "Let's Play" videos lately?

Now that I don't have as much time for gaming as I used to, I sometimes find myself watching Let's Play videos on youtube rather than actually picking up a game and playing it. Sometimes it's a game I started a few years ago and never really forgot about, but will never pick up again; sometimes it's the first in a series and I want to play the sequel; sometimes, I just don't like a game enough to play it, but I enjoy watching other people bash their heads against it (like the old days on the couch). Every now and again it allows me to remember what it was like playing a classic for the first time.

For whatever reason, good Let's Play videos have become some of my favorite video game experiences of the last year.

So I wanted to ask, does anyone know of some spectacular/funny/heartwarming Let's Play videos they would recommend?

I'll start. I recently got hooked on these two fellas playing Minecraft.

I should note that their misadventures are entertaining enough that they convinced my fiancée to put down the wedding planner for the first evening in months and buy the game immediately. Four hours later, she was still playing, and I was configuring a home Minecraft server.

Probably the best one I've seen in recent memory is Giant Bomb's Endurance Run for Deadly Premonition.

http://www.giantbomb.com/endurance-r...

They actually ran two consecutive games with Vinny & Jeff and Brad & Ryan, though I thought the VJ duo was the best.

That was a messed-up game, that's for sure. I hope they do another ER soon, though. Fun stuff.

I'm becoming obsessed with Farming Simulator 2011.

Hypatian wrote:

That was a messed-up game, that's for sure. I hope they do another ER soon, though. Fun stuff.

I'm not sure they're going to do another one. They don't seem to like doing them and they really hate it when people ask about it.

For some reason, this guy's Assassin's Creed Brotherhood commentary cracked me up just today:

It's really just goofy.

I often find Bad Company 2 multiplayer gameplay to be very cinematic with all the stuff that can happen.

And I can often was Starcraft 2 or Dawn of War 2 gameplay, even though I play neither competitively.

Let's Play Deus Ex with veriax. My parents will probably never play a video game, but they love watching veriax succeed (sometimes despite himself and ladders) while taking the failures in stride. Last night, my mom even asked "What's the best way to kill a karkian?" after seeing veriax/J.C. get chewed up. It's the best way I've found so far to explain and share some of the video games I play to them.

The best LP I ever saw was by a guy called McKain from Something Awful playing (most of) Thief: The Dark Project. The videos used to be on Google Video, but they disappeared a year or so ago, and the thread is in the SA archive. Which is sad, because they were really great: his commentary was just in subtitles, and it included a lot of background info on the design and history of Thief, he was pretty informed about the game and Looking Glass, and damned funny to boot. I miss those videos.

I think he may have done another LP for Thief 3, but I'm not going to brave SA to find out.

Otherwise, does Freeman's Mind count?

This is the best Let's Play series ever made:

Mass Effect 2 One Mission at a Time

The fact that I made the series is not influencing my opinion at all.

BadKen wrote:

This is the best let's play series ever made:

Mass Effect 2 One Mission at a Time

The fact that I made the series is not influencing my opinion at all.

u r {ableist slur} then warp is made for armor and barriers sentinels r there becasue they can destroy every type of defense including BARRIERS use warp

The best Let's Play I've personally ever seen is Jurassic Park: Trespasser (PC) by "Research Indicates".

http://lparchive.org/Jurassic-Park-T...

Trespasser is a busted-ass FPS from '98 with a really interesting development history. The LP recorder, Research Indicates, knows all this and more as he eloquently goes through the finest minutia about the game and it's creation (game engine, developers, marketing).

It sounds potentially droll, but RI is an awesome speaker with a friendly baritone that reminds me of the host of those old Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom nature programs.

Killer stuff.

I wish the Endurance Runs were as fun to make as they are to watch. I really enjoyed the Persona ER.

iaintgotnopants wrote:
BadKen wrote:

This is the best let's play series ever made:

Mass Effect 2 One Mission at a Time

The fact that I made the series is not influencing my opinion at all.

u r {ableist slur} then warp is made for armor and barriers sentinels r there becasue they can destroy every type of defense including BARRIERS use warp

I was so confused by this comment until I clicked on the link

aznsteve128 wrote:

has anyone ever told u tht u REALLY sound like michael cera?

This is false.

MannishBoy wrote:

For some reason, this guy's Assassin's Creed Brotherhood commentary cracked me up just today:

I can't say I found his actual commentary funny, but wondering what in the world people being taken over in Brotherhood multiplayer must be thinking is genuinely intriguing.

Aaron D. wrote:

The best Let's Play I've personally ever seen is Jurassic Park: Trespasser (PC) by "Research Indicates".

http://lparchive.org/Jurassic-Park-T...

Trespasser is a busted-ass FPS from '98 with a really interesting development history. The LP recorder, Research Indicates, knows all this and more as he eloquently goes through the finest minutia about the game and it's creation (game engine, developers, marketing).

It sounds potentially droll, but RI is an awesome speaker with a friendly baritone that reminds me of the host of those old Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom nature programs.

Killer stuff.

A game where your boobs are your HUD? Genius!

iaintgotnopants wrote:
Hypatian wrote:

That was a messed-up game, that's for sure. I hope they do another ER soon, though. Fun stuff.

I'm not sure they're going to do another one. They don't seem to like doing them and they really hate it when people ask about it.

I dunno. I recall Jeff saying that it annoys him when people ask them if they're going to do Catherine or one of the other Persona games, but I don't think they are annoyed by people liking the videos they made. Deadly Premonition, as bad as it was in many ways, figured heavily in their Game of the Year discussions and I think Francis York Morgan actually got a nomination.

I am hoping they do ~1 Endurance Run a year (maybe only have 2 guys doing it per year and switch off), because that stuff is great.

4xis.black wrote:
iaintgotnopants wrote:
Hypatian wrote:

That was a messed-up game, that's for sure. I hope they do another ER soon, though. Fun stuff.

I'm not sure they're going to do another one. They don't seem to like doing them and they really hate it when people ask about it.

I dunno. I recall Jeff saying that it annoys him when people ask them if they're going to do Catherine or one of the other Persona games, but I don't think they are annoyed by people liking the videos they made. Deadly Premonition, as bad as it was in many ways, figured heavily in their Game of the Year discussions and I think Francis York Morgan actually got a nomination.

I am hoping they do ~1 Endurance Run a year (maybe only have 2 guys doing it per year and switch off), because that stuff is great.

It does create a lot of work - it's not like they can just sit down and start playing... recording, compressing and uploading the video all takes time and resources. What makes GB a unique site though (and I think they are aware of this) is its video content - from the standpoint of reviews I can take it or leave it - especially because I am not really in tune with the tastes of most of those guys. Despite that they have a lot of personality and seeing that in action is great - particularly Jeff, Vinny and Dave. Those three always get a laugh out of me and are generally pretty open-minded about trying crazy stuff.

Schmutzli wrote:

I recently got hooked on these two fellas playing Minecraft.

I should note that their misadventures are entertaining enough that they convinced my fiancée to put down the wedding planner for the first evening in months and buy the game immediately. Four hours later, she was still playing, and I was configuring a home Minecraft server.

You bastard....this did what even a GWJ front page article couldn't. I tried Minecraft and bought it 15 minutes later. No more progress on my backlog for 2011.

...thanks so much...

AUs_TBirD wrote:

You bastard....this did what even a GWJ front page article couldn't. I tried Minecraft and bought it 15 minutes later. No more progress on my backlog for 2011.

...thanks so much...

Heh nice.

Thanks for the suggestions, keep em coming!

Schmutzli wrote:

I recently got hooked on these two fellas playing Minecraft.

Just started watching these. I am now getting nothing done this evening. Thanks!

There are two that I love:
http://lparchive.org/Knights-of-the-...
http://lparchive.org/Star-Wars-Rebel...

The first shows just how badly Obsidian screwed the ending of KotOR 2. The second is just hysterical.

damo2986 on Youtube does some pretty classy Let's Play videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/damo2986...

Watched Kikoskia's playthrough of Ultima 7 and Serpent Isle this past summer. That certainly ate some time.

I want to throw out a recommendation to check out northernlion on Youtube. He has a good sense of humor and presentation and most importantly a non-annoying voice.

And if you like Binding of Isaac, dude's got you covered hardcore. I never played the game myself but love watching his playthroughs.

Oh hai thread!

Just wanted to point out a new up and coming go-getter in the "LP" world. It's some guy playing Black Mesa. Seems familiar. I think he used to do one of those "magazine" things or something.

Umm, so who's that guy? He's interesting, but searching for Jeff Black just sends me to a Nashville singer/songwriter (not bad)

Also, wow that remake looks great. It's funny but that's how I remember Half Life in my brain : s

Mex wrote:

Umm, so who's that guy? He's interesting, but searching for Jeff Black just sends me to a Nashville singer/songwriter (not bad)

His name's not Jeff Black, it's Jeff Green. You misread the video title

He's been on the GWJ podcast at least once I think. Used to do the GFW podcast with Shawn Elliot and that bunch. Was good times.

This morning my kids and I watched an LP of The Neverhood. My son is interested in freeze frame animation. He's been animating his Lego Star Wars figures with the help of an iPad app. He was super impressed with all that clay animation.

http://lparchive.org/Galactic-Civili...

Galciv 2 with characters from Alpha Centauri, it's hilarious.

I follow a few of the minecraft people on youtube, BdoubleO100, Etho, VintageBeef, one of the first lets plays that bdouble0 and Guude did on vechs map was pretty entertaining.

I like these ones: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

Let's Plays are just more fun with two people.