As someone who is chronically stricken with stubborn cynicism, setting realistic expectations on a regular basis feels like an absurd prospect.

Though no other way has ever made any more sense to me by days end

As I continue my playthrough of Mixtape, I remind myself of a phrase I once heard in reference to reading philosophy, in relation to digesting the material, as many philosophers tend to either write quite densely about complex topics, or sometimes they just write in a horrendously unclear fashion about matters that are right in front of us, but cryptic in the analytic approach taken to understanding them. Either way, it takes not just a special mind to make the observation, but equally special minds to appreciate the thoughts involved. The phrase I speak of is “knowing how to swim in the authors waters”, and I think the concept has a broad enough application to apply to most forms of imaginative consumption, making it a vital processing strategy for even something like video games, a wisdom which has been of great assistance in wrapping my mind around Mixtape as I dive further in

To reiterate on behalf of the games premise, in case you missed part one; it is a narrative heavy, coming of age story, revolving around a group of teenage friends last night together, with a heavy emphasis on nostalgia, music, wild antics, and the woeful angst that comes with growing up. Due to the more linear structure of the game, in terms of keeping the player on track, I’ve mentioned that the interactivity is limited, in that a lot of the time, you are more or less appreciating the aesthetic, being absorbed in clever conversation, or investigating the environment for context clues involving backstory. I make this distinction not to demean the game, but just to be clear about the intensity behind its design, and the likely demographic involved with its storytelling focus and gameplay on offer, as players who grew up with a more traditional gameplay experience may feel as if there isn’t enough to sink their teeth into…different strokes and all that, of course.

Players come in all shapes and sizes of course, so to hard code a singular individual as one thing or another is far less common than stereotypes would lead one to believe, so it’s more rare than one may think to meet only a player who only plays Call of Duty, or someone who exclusively plays MMO’s and nothing but. That doesn’t mean those people don’t exist, but generally speaking, many within the realm do tend to be more eclectic than one would assume.



Mixtape works for me on some level, as while there have been times I’ve been known to practice speedrunning in Super Meat Boy, or going for the platinum trophy in Elden Ring, I’ve also greatly enjoyed watering flowers in Animal Crossing, or being swept up on the breeze in Flower. In my humble purview, anything that helps express the medium in a new way is a good thing overall, as I think gaming has the ability to do things no other medium can do, so to be able to explore all of those types of self-expression is key in creating a grander diversity of artistry and players to encounter and cater to.

That’s how I look at it, anyways, though I’m not naive to certain realities within the gaming industry, and the harsh truths that placate them. There is a reason Madden sells insane amounts every year, or why Mario games don’t deviate from a formula that much, or why GaaS gaming ends up being an attractive prospect to so many who are in front of their mouse and keyboard or with hands on a controller all day: they like what they like, and to them, this hobby isn’t about self-expression in a broader sense; it’s about ego placation and showing off their skills to their friends and climbing leaderboards. Bragging rights, and late night hours of shit talking and being offensively absurd while screaming in post games lobby. Folks like that will likely roll their eyes at something like Mixtape, which does put the game into a more limited field of relatability than most titles would. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, I think one just has to be realistic in coming to terms with how broad of an appeal the content involved will have, though I do agree with wise echoes of the past that have declared “if you try to make a game for everybody, you end up making a game for nobody”, so context is key in crafting the experience you want to see in the world, as like minds will do the same.

I know this seems like more of a dictation on gaming trends and player attitudes than a straight up deconstruction of Mixtape’s gameplay, but as has been the case in the past, like my coverage of Expedition 33 for example, a lot of what made that game so evocative and enrapturing, was the story beats that helped to create this grand narrative, or the characterization of the people you interacted with, or the realness of the dialogue and emotional connection you felt when they related to each other.



Mixtape has a lot of the same attractively compelling properties in similar manners, so going on about them in detailed written format almost feels like an injustice to those who haven not experienced it first hand; spoiling the majesty of what they have to offer the player, so splurging on the matter in details of excess almost feels cruel upon reflection, which is why I speak to a broader picture involving the gaming landscape and the players within it, as Mixtape is a surprisingly complex piece of media, so the conversations about it should reflect that, if one is approaching the title with good faith in mind.

I’ve been breaking up my play sessions into smaller chunks, which almost feels antithetical to the experience, as the production values involved with the pacing of the game, from carefully curated soundtrack, to the flow of dialogue that interstich the gameplay segments, have such a vibe to them, one minute you might be listening to Stan Bush’ “You’ve got the touch!” while slamming homeruns, to enjoying the magical realism of the youthful adventure involved, as you skateboard down a road, blowing up objects with your mind listening to the Smashing Pumpkins in a fit of rebellious rage. Mixtape is an emotional Rollercoaster, if you have the capability of opening up to connect with the experience, and both the charming dialogue and relatably human characters help to create a vibe that makes you just want to binge the whole thing in one session.

Mixtape is an interesting proposition, for sure, and I can see why opinions are so divided amidst the gaming zeitgeist that keeps the conversation about quality moving forward. There’s still more for me to see before delivering some final thoughts, though I’m looking forward to how many more feels the game has in store for me.

-Pashford