Dance, dictator, dance: the first footage of Dreamlore's Stalin vs. Martians

ridl

#1 – 7:27 AM March 7, 2009

I expected to enjoy that, but I don't think I've ever seen anything less appealing.

Stalin was one of the most atrocious mass murderers our poor species has ever spawned. He ruled over a terror state that pales only in comparison with Nazi Germany. From this preview, it looks like the game will treat him like any other piece of context-free pop ephemera, disposable and meaningless. The designers could have chosen Michael Jackson, or Hillary Clinton, or the Stay-Puft marshmallow man as the poorly animated dancing celebrity at the center of this game (or at least this ad) and changed nothing else except font. This Stalin bears more of a relationship with those dancing baby commercials from a few years ago than it does with a psychotic dictator from whose atrocious crimes his country, and the world, have never fully recovered. Worse, the dancing baby ads were written better.

This is a 30-second Family Guy throwaway gag made into a video game (and family guy would at least have made me laugh). History and the thousands upon thousands that uniformed monster killed deserve more than this drivel. Even a reference to "siberia" or a "comrade" could possibly have salvaged it. Some proof that they didn't just pull a name out of a hat of 20th century military leaders before turning back to the bong and the funny alien designs.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe this RTS will treat its subject as more than a completely decontextualized gag. But I don't see any evidence of that from this preview.

I like irrelevance, I like shock value, I like absurdity. But I like it done with intelligence and wit. This just looks stupid. And, honestly, I find that offensive.

Trent Hawkins

#2 – 10:41 PM March 7, 2009

I would agree with you, but the subject at hand is too absurd to warrant scrutability.
This does not remotely resemble any link to reality aside from the likeness of Stalin. It's like the Che Guevara shirts.

Anonymous Anonymous

#3 – 1:47 AM March 9, 2009

The soundtrack isnt cantopop but eurohouse. The song is "calling mr. vain".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar0UTfEab_4

mzo

#4 – 7:00 AM March 9, 2009

RIDL I find your seriousness about humor offensive. Especially when its ok to make fun of modern day mass murderers like Bush. ;)

Axx

#5 – 10:15 AM March 9, 2009

RIDL,

I command you to dance.

Rhythm is a dancer, after all.

Ratdog

#6 – 11:20 AM March 9, 2009

MZO: "RIDL I find your seriousness about humor offensive. Especially when its ok to make fun of modern day mass murderers like Bush. "

That is a really good point.

But, we can all agree, Stalin is a better dancer than Bush.

Dungeonbrownies

#7 – 6:57 PM March 9, 2009

I agree somewhat with RIDL, but also make the point that "Art is what we can get away with." (Warhol) and is absurd enough that I dont believe it is meant to offend. Its almost been long enough, but just a tad too soon maybe.