Just in case anyone is wondering, my Twitter got banned recently. Not planning on trying to get it back, so if it seems like I've disappeared from the internet I haven't, I just can't tweet 😅

Truly, the worst consequence of 9/11 has been the resulting lack of lightning guns in first-person shooters of the 2010s.

Hard agree. I think a lot of power weapon's core design ended up becoming the modern ultimate ability. Power weapons have been kind of commodified so that every player has access to some kind of WMD, but that also means it's no longer a controllable resource. You can't really stop a Soujourn from getting an Overclock, or a Genji from getting a Blade. Pretty similar to what you said about COD killstreaks I think we mostly just landed on a system where players of all skill levels have access to a spike in power, making power a map asset pretty much alienates every player on the bottom half of the bellcurve from accessing it Slamming vid btw

The awp in counter strike may not be a power weapon in that you have to fight over its spawn, but if you watch high level play, the game absolutely revolves around being able to completely lock down angles with the awp. If you’re walking towards one of the sites and you hear that noise, youre turning around and going somewhere else as fast as you can.

"unbalanced" weapons also gave you a room to surprise the players with skill expression. You could get really good with one of the 'mid' weapons and stake your strategy around them. Learning to lead your shots with a slow projectile weapon, or learning some obscure trick, and then you didn't have to secure a powerful weapon everyone was aiming for to be strong.

your animation and editing has gotten so good, man

I love the crime investigation type vibe in this video!

YES NEW LEON MASSEY VIDEO

Really going hard on the 3D work - love to see it! LA Noir OST also an excellent touch

I will always hold out hope for their return. As extraction shooters become more mainstream, I feel like power weapons could find their footing again. The nature of their limited resources and select spawns would feel right at home. Imagine when Marathon releases, you have a squad taking down an NPC camp for a homing rocket launcher, only to have two other squads notice the action and jump in last minute for the steal. The tension building as the enemies thin out and PvP firefights begin, and the sudden shift in power when one player finally gets the weapon. Or maybe a lone solo player is hiding in that camp for the exact moment to steal it, turning a disadvantage into a fair fight. The possibilities for emergent gameplay are everywhere.

If somebody told me 9/11 was partially responsible for the disappearance of power weapons before I watched this video, I would’ve laughed at them

You missed a very, very important aspect: Power weapons require the player to know the maps. A game is easier to pick up and play casually, if you don't have to remember where power weapons spawn. Great video though, thought provoking and well edited!!

Honestly, I don't think the AWP is too far from a power weapon. High risk, high reward. It just doesn't spawn into a map, but both teams will certainly fight over control of it once somebody's got it. It changes the entire dynamic of how the game is played.

You can't hide that Poker Night at the Inventory OST from me, Leon. Lovely choice

3:28 Really enjoying the Bungler cameos. The editing in your videos is always a treat to watch.

Your production quality just keeps on going up and the narration is always on point Every Leon Massey video is a banger

"Missing: Power" woah is that a reference to "Touhou 7.5 Immaterial and Missing Power" the hit fighting game spin-off Touhou game from 2004?

NEW LEON MASSEY VIDEO WOOOOOO

I've thought about this quite a bit recently. As the game industry morphed into the biggest entertainment industry of them all, and as game design became formalized and, in a way, standardized, I think some became overcome with this obsession for balance. And this balance became easier to implement. To the extent that even in single-player games, all options should be about equally as strong as each other. And if they are not that is considered a game design flaw. (See example: Skyrim, where several aspects of magic were nerfed for being "too powerful.") Along with the great analysis and reasons detailed in the video, I wonder if this balance-centric mindset could be a cause for the modern lack of Power Weapons? Like, that "gap" power weapons created in earlier titles was seen as unbalanced, and a flaw in game design. Anyways, excellent video!

12:00 is such a clean transition. The quality of your videos across the board is not just visible but tangible within the experience of watching them. Fantastic stuff, good sir.

Destiny 1 (and to an extent, 2) actually kept the power weapon going even with it's loadout system. It just had power weapons tied to the loadouts that could only be used if you got the power ammo that appeared on a timer on the map

Loving the evolution of how you build and light scenes, it’s seriously inspiring

The production quality of this video is off the charts! I wouldnt even mind a behind the scenes kind of deal how you managed to pull all of this off Looking forward to what you're going to come up next.

The quality of your videos are unmatched. Your such a big inspiration.

It is incredible to see how much you've grown in your content since I found your channel, great work dude!

it's crazy seeing how good your editing (and animations now!!) are compared to your older fighting game videos i still love those videos and literally was binging them when you uploaded this but GOD the improvement is insane

I know the game is a bit of a meme nowadays, but back in the day, Turok: Rage Wars had both. You could pick a loadout AND had power weapons on the field. Truly innovative gameplay back in '99

I agree with the last point, It seems power weapons were replaced by the tier system in games like Fortnite and such

This makes me immediately think of Splatoon, in which, by painting, you can get a special. Some of these are utilities, like big bubbler, but many are powerful weapons such as crab tank or kraken. These are kind of power weapons, in a way. Not to mention the rainmaker gamemode, where you essentially take a kind-of-power weapon to a pedestal, like payload but you’re carrying it and the payload can shoot large bombs.

I was laughing throughout the whole video, just at how classy the editing was. Always appreciate your insights as well.

This was unreasonably good. I've always really enjoyed your videos, but even so this was a cut above. The presentation is perfect. Thank you!

I was rushing your channel yesterday, now im a big fan, your videos are perfect! Thanks for helping me go trough my bad days man, continue doing this pls❤❤❤

ROCK IT LAWNCHAIR

rocket to rail in Quake or shock rifle combos in UT are such a dopamine rush.. most FPS players don't even know what they're missing. great editing btw!

I love the little 3d renders you make for your videos. they add so much to the vibes. great video as always king.

Been watching your videos for a while now. They've always been good, but the level of quality and editing you've reached now is amazing.

Excellent, as always. it's a privilege to continue watching you grow.

love ur channel man, every video is amazing

the progressions of ur videos' aethetics is amazing, keep it up

I've really enjoyed watching your visual storytelling just blossom after implementing more 3D elements! always looking forward to your videos

this is such a great vid. In my opinion your best edited video so far, defiantly worth the wait.

I think I was something like Subscriber 100 or so to your channel Leon, and it's been just a blast to watch your videos improve while you developed a pretty clear 'Leon Style'. Please keep making videos - I really enjoy them!

This video was incredible, keep up the good work!

Great Videos dude! Love your channel, and the new editing style. Keep it up

Always a treat when one of your videos pops up

Another brilliant video excellent work. I love these I hope you continue to make more videos

I know you said you weren't happy with how the parts came together but I think this is one of your more coheisive videos in terms of feel. No part feels under baked to me. Great as always!

I watch a lot of KZfaq, and I am certain you are one of the best - Scripting - Voice-over - Visuals - Editing I just don't know what you could do better, you are an amazing creator, and I applaud you!

Great animation homie, your work paid off

The presentation and little intermissions are amazing, keep doing that please

Just wanted to say this video is excellent and put together so well

I love the 3D animation based editing, it really gives your videos a very distinctive style and mood

such a cool video visually I really like that you actually go for a specific visual style

I love how your videos have improved to the point where I prefer them over errant signal

I just gotta say. When i watched your video on Character Archetypes, however long ago, i did not expect your future videos to have the graphics, and cinematography, and animation quality that you've been putting out recently. That's not even to mention the writing. That video was great as well, it's the thing that made me Subscribe. But i feel like you deserve huge props for what feels like an insanely rapid improvement in quality 👌👌👌

Damn boyyyy, thats quality video, animation and script *chef kiss*

This quality is outstanding. What a video!

Leon you do some of the absolutely most incredible videos. god speed and thank you for sharing your ideas with us all. people like you are exactly what youtube is all about.

i think this is your best made video so far you all ways got good topics to talk about and your scripts/writing are great but now with this animation/art style i think that you are going to glow up and i miss power weapons man

With each video this new style gets even cooler

beautiful storytelling and editing for such a niche topic!

Leon has posted a new video today. Today, is a good day. Thank you again for such an incredible perspective into a particular niche of (probably many) childhoods. Each one of your videos is like a Five Star Meal at an overtly expensive restaurant and I relish in every savory bite. The magnificently crafted script is the silverware, and your lovely voice is the host. I could spend eternity here, but alas, the metaphor is getting weird. You make things good and I hope you can understand the appreciation I feel for all the hours of hard work you put into everything that you do. I can't afford to help out on the patreon atm, but just know I'm quietly rooting for you every step of the way.

I love the 3D work you've started doing

All this editing is a work of art. (Wish i had a better comment then the 50th one about the edits tho)

Amazing visual style man you just keep it going! Make great content, get money!

The quality on this is bonkers. Great job

Masterful editing.

amazingly well made video! love the professor layton ost too 👌

Holy shit Leon, this video is incredible. Your growth as a creator is staggering. This video is beautifully produced and researched very well. keep up the work dude

There are like half a dozen channels with the bell on whose videos are so well crafted that I immediately watch them. You're firmly in that category now.

As someone who has been watching you for some time now, I believe the first release I watched when it was released was the first air dasher, I've loved seeing your content evolve. While I do still enjoy videos like Jump Arcs and old fighting game mechanics, I have enjoyed your past couple releases more than ever. Thank you for making this content, and I hope to see more of it.

Great production quality!

"The ability to aim was just the _pin_ that held together ideas of map understanding, player tendencies, and resource control." Something that I've started toying with in my head again recently is an arena FPS where everyone has autoaim. Different weapons might autoaim within wider or smaller cones, to make them better at different ranges, but if you can keep a target near the center of the screen, you'll shoot toward it. In other words: an AFPS that focuses entirely on movement and territory control by making aim skill _obsolete._ This is, of course, a deeply fucking weird idea. But I love deeply weird ideas.

I wanted to add that the recently released Valorant Team Death Match has a similar concept to map specific power weapons. They have a phased economic system that contain spawn location for weapons at a higher economic tier, think getting an smg during pistol round. This is counter-balanced with the abilities and ultimate of agents bringing the old and modern together.

Honey wake up Leon uploaded a new banger!

Amazing video man!

An early morning upload. Can't wait to crack open my vintage box of Hal-O's for this one

this was nicely done

Eyoooo one of you best videos yet!

Hell ye, new Leon Massey vid.

new leon and funke vid on the same day? its gonna be a good one lads

i think that power weapons still exist, albeit in other forms depending on the game and the character (golden weapons in fortnite and apex/ ultimates in overwatch and paladins, killstreaks in cod) however its not like they are very different from how they started, but theyre alot less scarce than it used to roaming in the map waiting for that one guy who remembers all the spots it spawns in, its a trade for more accessibility in exchange for a part of its identity, which sounds sad but also reassuring that they didnt leave i hope. awesome video as always i love ur perspective on this kind of topics in games

It's such a short part of the video, but that transition that you put in when switching to the shotgun was so cool

I adore the thesis of this video. Another masterpiece from Leon Massey

This video is a nice companion to Innuendo Studios' "CO-VIDs: what makes an fps arsenal good?" Weapons in fps games have really taken on different roles.

hearing you mention Brink at the end gave me whiplash

THIS INTRO IS SO GOOD!

so what you're saying is that COD4 truly was the 9/11 of gaming.

Came thinking this was about energy-based weapons. Stayed for the great video.

I've never played an FPS game a day in my life, but I sat enthralled by this video

Subscription well and truly earned my friend!

idk why but this made me very emotional

God it’s 1:55 AM in Canada why am I doing this? Probably cause this guy makes some absolutely incredible videos.

I love how you use a virtual 3D room to play with the monitors and all the other assets. 😍 Also I like that you give a possible reason why F-Zero did not sell very well with the drop of interest in Sci-Fi in the media.

I saw the preview for this, insane vid time

I'd personally argue that the AWP in counter strike has more bones of a power weapon that it would seem. It's not the just the change the "heatshot zone" but the fact that its increased range makes the map and match warp to its influence with plenty of strategies around dealing with a team that has one or more awps. Additionally with the economy sure a team could always just save up to get an awp, theyre giving up precious rounds in a best of 30 game meaning if youre keeping track of, and impacting the opposing teams economy enough you can still influence their access to that weapon.

Thank you very much!

holy shit all the good gaming essayists are publishin videos

YOOOO NEW LEON MASSEY Just played Xrd for the first time cuz of this guy

This is probably the best video you've made. I can go on about how great your visual have gotten but it seems like the other comments have already covered that. I wanted to say I don't think I've seen somebody have this good of an insight on the evolution of FPS gameplay from its inception to today. As a hardcore arena shooter fan seeing this dissection of the weapons in the genre really puts together a possibility as to why games like Quake have completely fallen of the map. I'm a big fan of Titanfall as well and after always believing EA was the reason for it's lack of success I believe now it more has to do with how much the genre has changed and how the tastes of people who play games (or just games in general) has also changed with the times. Keep up the awesome work. If videos in the future are going to be more retrospectives on these niche topics I am very excited for what you have in store for us.