History TearJerker / ZeroPunctuation

* On November 6th, 2023, Yahtzee resigned from ''The Escapist'' after Nick Calandra was fired by their corporate owners, ''The Embracer Group''. Yahtzee didn't fancy being the only viable series on the site again, so he left in solidarity to join ''Second Wind''. On the one hand, it's more than admirable that Yahtzee stuck by his team, and even more admirable that he's still producing reviews how he sees fit. Other hand, it's sad that ''Zero Punctuation'' is over, since he doesn't own the IP and couldn't take it with him. Decades of work, and it didn't even get a proper sign-off.

* His comparison of the ''Franchise/MetalGear'' franchise to [[Literature/OfMiceAndMen Lennie]] in his "Ground Zeroes" review. While he uses this to explain that he can't bring himself to hate it for its shortcomings and occasional screw-ups (since they are not done out of malice), [[spoiler:the comparison [[ForegoneConclusion ultimately gives away]] his thoughts on the game right off the bat]].

* The Extra Punctuation video, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdqhbW6kipM "Dark Souls is the Ultimate Game of All Time?"]], has Yahtzee candidly confess to some of his darker thoughts and fears concerning the state of video games as an industry and art form - and, indeed, society as a whole. As a man who champions games as art, he fears that not only has the concept of auteurism died in today's corporate design-by-committee practices, but that to move the industry away from such practices would require massive societal reform that, he worries, is no longer possible, since the systems that allow the big corporations to continue their anti-consumer practices are far too entrenched. At this point, in his mind, it's already too late to stop said systems from dragging society into inevitable collapse and apocalypse, and by then video games won't even matter.

* The Extra Punctuation video, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdqhbW6kipM "Dark Souls is the Ultimate Game of All Time?"]], has Yahtzee candidly confess to some of his darker thoughts and fears concerning the state of video games as an industry and art form - and, indeed, society as a whole. As a man who champions games as art, he fears that not only has the concept of auteurism died in today's corporate design-by-committee environment, but that to change anything would require massive societal reform that, he fears, is no longer possible, since the systems that allow the big corporations to continue their anti-consumer practices are far too entrenched.

* In his review of ''VideoGame/HellbladeSenuasSacrifice'', he makes a passing remark about him having a mental disorder, complete with Yahtzee’s avatar taking anxiety medication. It doesn’t leave much to the imagination, getting straight to the point that our favourite Mean Brit has anxiety.
** He even mentions in an episode of Let’s Drown Out that he has attempted suicide in the past. [[TheWoobie Poor guy..]]
** On a similar note, a brief line in the Extra Punctuation video "For Everyone That Says I Hate Video Games" has him describe video games as "[His] respite in an unhappy childhood." It's a sad reminder that life hasn't always been so great to the guy.

* Towards the end of his ''VideoGame/HuntDownTheFreeman'' review, Yahtzee launches into a long rant on the state of present-day video games, and by the end of it he sounds genuinely disheartened and sad. [[MoodWhiplash Then he blames it all on]] Creator/JohnRomero.
-->'''Yahtzee:''' Twenty years ago, ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' was a focal point in gaming's ongoing development as an artistic narrative medium; the next few years [[VideoGame/DeusEx saw a]] [[VideoGame/ThiefIITheMetalAge slew of titles]] [[VideoGame/SilentHill2 that combined AAA]] [[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime game design with]] [[VideoGame/ShadowOfTheColossus genuine emotional story]]. But ''what happened between then and now?!'' Why are the games routinely [[VideoGame/Destiny2 rewarded with AAA]] [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOrigins status and income]] exclusively [[RevenueEnhancingDevices loot box-infested live service bullshit]], games designed not to inspire or stimulate our emotions, but to ''numb'' them and hypnotize us into lab rats, [[BribingYourWayToVictory mindlessly pawing the button that makes treats come out]], while [[VideoGame/AHatInTime the games created with love and artistic integrity]] drown beneath waves of bottom-feeders like ''VideoGame/HuntDownTheFreeman'', that tear chunks of rotten flesh from the corpses of Creator/{{Valve|Software}}'s [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 children]] as Valve itself, once-habitual founders of new ages of narrative gaming, merely waves them on, [[MoneyDearBoy barely glancing up from their tax paperwork?!]] What happened to you?! [[ArmorPiercingQuestion What happened to us?! To the people we were supposed to become?!]] ...I don't know, [[MoodWhiplash but it's probably]] [[TakeThat safe to blame]] Creator/JohnRomero.

* The second half of the Extra Punctuation column on ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' has him [[DearNegativeReader address yet another round of vitriol from Nintendo fanboys]]. But unlike the Mailbag Showdown, where he was his usual snarky self, his writing comes across as genuinely tired, frustrated and fed up. For all that he tries to seem aloof to the worst of the FanDumb, the accusations of anti-Nintendo bias really do upset him and having to deal with the bile time and time again drains him a lot more than he lets on. The last paragraph in particular reads somewhere between an angry shout and a desperate plea:

-->'''Yahtzee:''' Twenty years ago, ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' was a focal point in gaming's ongoing development as an artistic narrative medium; the next few years [[VideoGame/DeusEx saw a]] [[VideoGame/ThiefIITheMetalAge slew of titles]] [[VideoGame/SilentHill2 that combined AAA]] [[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime game design with]] [[VideoGame/ShadowOfTheColossus genuine emotional story]]. But ''what happened between then and now?!'' Why are the games routinely [[VideoGame/Destiny2 rewarded with AAA]] [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOrigins status and income]] exclusively [[RevenueEnhancingDevices loot box-infested live service bullshit]], games designed not to [[DoingItForTheArt inspire or stimulate our emotions]], but to ''numb'' them and hypnotize us into lab rats, [[BribingYourWayToVictory mindlessly pawing the button that makes treats come out]], while [[VideoGame/AHatInTime the games created with love and artistic integrity]] drown beneath waves of bottom-feeders like ''VideoGame/HuntDownTheFreeman'', that tear chunks of rotten flesh from the corpses of [[Creator/ValveSoftware Valve's]] [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 children]] as Valve itself, once-habitual founders of new ages of narrative gaming, merely waves them on, [[MoneyDearBoy barely glancing up from their tax paperwork?!]] What happened to you?! [[ArmorPiercingQuestion What happened to us?! To the people we were supposed to become?!]] ...I don't know, [[MoodWhiplash but it's probably]] [[TakeThat safe to blame]] Creator/JohnRomero.

* In his review of ''VideoGame/HellbladeSenuasSacrifice'', he makes a passing remark about him having a mental disorder, complete with Yahtzee’s avatar taking anxiety medication. It doesn’t leave much to the imagination, getting straight to the point that our favourite MeanBrit has anxiety.

** It becomes more poignant in that his ''Let's Drown Out...'' of ''Duke Nukem Forever'', he revealed that he'd been asked to write a script for ''Forever'', and he came up with one that examined the character -- and got rejected because the developer stated that they didn't want to make commentary on Duke or even have jokes about him, just everything going on around him [[StaticCharacter because Duke had to be perfect and unchanged.]]

** Speaking of which, when describing ''Spiritfarer'', he admits that he cried upon having to send Alice -- the grandmotherly hedgehog who gradually suffers through Alzheimer's who briefly remembers the character before the dementia returns -- into the Everdoor. How much so? Said quote is on the tear jerker page of ''Spiritfafer'' itself.

** Speaking of which, when describing ''Spiritfarer'', he admits that he cried upon having to send Alice -- the grandmotherly hedgehog who gradually suffers through Alzheimer's -- into the Everdoor.

** If that doesn't get you emotional, the VisualPun at the very beginning of the video should give you a clue. Notice how Yahtzee lies down on his back in front of the TV with the controller on his stomach, turning his head toward the side and letting out a sigh at [[https://i.imgur.com/DPpAJ8T.png?1 the very first shot]]? This gives away the implication that [[spoiler:Arthur lies down on his back and lets out his final breath with his head turned toward the sunrise in one of the High Honor endings]]. And the part after that shot when Yahtzee says, "...and I have to say, I'm quite shook"? This is another implication giveaway that [[spoiler:Arthur's death happens as the song "Crash of Worlds" (a reprise version of "Unshaken") plays in the background (hence, the word ''"shook"'')]], thereby giving away the ending without saying how it happens.

* Throughout most of Yahtzee's more recent reviews, he would use an image of Pepper (his old dog) whenever he could. The last use of this image was on a tombstone for his Top 5 of 2020 when describing ''VideoGame/{{Spiritfarer}}'', considering Pepper [[https://twitter.com/YahtzeeCroshaw/status/1328007284660736000 had passed away in November of that year.]]

* The second half of the Extra Punctuation column on ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' has him [[DearNegativeReader address yet another round of vitriol from Nintendo fanboys]]. But unlike the Mailbag Showdown, where he was his usual snarky self, in the artile he sounds more tired, frustrated and fed up than anything. For all that he tries to remain aloof, the accusations of anti-Nintendo bias really do upset him, and having to deal with the bile time and time again drains him a lot more than he lets on. The last paragraph in particular reads somewhere between an angry shout and a desperate plea:

** His voice in the beginning perfectly sets the tone of the review- rather than launching himself into his usual loud, obnoxious rapid-fire wit, he sounds somber and even sad. And no, [[ToiletHumor the farting noises do not make us feel any better, Yahtzee.]]
--->'''Yahtzee:''' *[[OOCIsSeriousBusiness sigh]]* Do you remember when shooters were about [[VideoGame/{{Doom}} killing demons from hell]]? Those were good days
* His review of ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever'' (For Real This Time) verges into this territory. You can just tell that when he expects a more mature kind of ''VideoGame/DukeNukem'' game, one where Duke is forced to learn that his actions have consequences, in a way growing up, that he was almost certainly grasping at straws, hoping that it would be good. For the rest of the review, though, he knowingly tried and failed to like the game, to find at least some small level of pleasure as he played it, while aware he was failing miserably at that and eventually admitting that he's "[[VideoGame/BioShock2 pushed games off subway platforms]] when they had less flaws than this!". Summed up in one sentence:

* While not explicitly stated, it is clear that Croshaw really wanted to like the sequel of The Last of Us. Considering that he didn't like the predecessor, it's not hard to see why he would be willing to give it a second chance. However, with all the controversies happening regarding the game, he felt he had to rip it a new one. The voice really tells the viewers that he is regretful of his decisions and further dividing the already-fractured fanbase of the Last of Us.

-->'''Yahtzee''': The turning point is when [[spoiler: the depressed girl commits suicide]]. That's the definite point of bollock descent into icy water, although her depression had been portrayed with a slightly uncomfortable authenticity so it wasn't creepy in an enjoyable psychological horror kind of way, it was just really fucking sad. (''Imp playing "Hurt" by Music/NineInchNails'') [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption It happens regardless of what choices you pick,]] [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot which, in itself, might be an effective premise for a game about depression]]: [[GroundhogDayLoop constantly reliving the same few days]] [[spoiler: [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong trying to save her]] and failing every time because [[RealityEnsues her problems are too deep-seated to be fixed just because you accidentally felt her up on day 3]].]]

* While not explicitly stated, it is clear that Croshaw really wanted to like the sequel of The Last of Us. Considering that he didn't like the predecessor, it's not hard to see why he would be willing to give it a second chance. However, with all the controversies happening regarding the game with an extra layer of disappointing story, he had no choice but to rip it a new one. The voice really tells the viewers that he is regretful of his decisions and further dividing the already-fractured fanbase of the Last of Us.

* The second half of the Extra Punctuation column on ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' has him [[DearNegativeReader address yet another round of vitriol from Nintendo fanboys]]. But unlike his Mailbag Showdown, where he was his usual snarky self, his writing makes him sound tired and fed up of having to deal with the bile yet again, admitting that the accusations of anti-Nintendo bias really do upset him since it's a cheap way to dismiss his arguments and hurt his credibility as a journalist. The last paragraph in particular reads somewhere between an angry shout and a desperate plea for it all to stop:

* The second half of the Extra Punctuation column on ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' has him [[DearNegativeReader address yet another round of vitriol from Nintendo fanboys]]. But unlike his Mailbag Showdown, where he was his usual snarky self, his writing makes him sound tired and fed up of having to deal with it yet again, admitting that the accusations of anti-Nintendo bias really do upset him since it's a cheap way to dismiss his arguments and hurt his credibility as a journalist. The last paragraph in particular reads somewhere between an angry shout and a desperate plea for it all to stop:
-->"So can we please drop this infantile, butthurt, meaningless fucking argument that I’ve got an irrational personal grudge against a company whose games you’ll note it has somehow never occurred to me to just stop buying if I hate them so much. Why is this argument only ever used against me? I’ve never heard anyone say “Oh, Nintendo brought out another shit game. They must have some kind of automatic bias against Yahtzee Croshaw.”"

* The second half of the Extra Punctuation column on ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' has him address yet another round of Nintendo FanDumb. But unlike his Mailbag Showdown, where he was his usual snarky self, his writing makes him sound tired and fed up of having to deal with the fanboy vitriol yet again, admitting that the accusations of anti-Nintendo bias really do upset him since it's a cheap way to dismiss his arguments and hurt his credibility as a journalist. The last paragraph in particular reads somewhere between an angry shout and a desperate plea for it all to stop:

* The second half of the Extra Punctuation column on ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' has him address yet another round of Nintendo fanboy vitroil. But unlike his Mailbag Showdown, where he was his usual snarky self, his writing makes him sound tired and fed up of having to deal with it yet again, admitting that the accusations of anti-Nintendo bias really do upset him since it's a cheap way to dismiss his arguments and hurt his credibility as a journalist. The last paragraph in particular reads somewhere between an angry shout and a desperate plea for it all to stop:

* The second half of the Extra Punctuation column on ''Kid Icarus: Uprising'' has him address yet another round of Nintendo fanboy vitroil. But unlike his Mailbag Showdown, where he was his usual snarky self, his writing makes him sound tired and fed up of having to deal with it yet again, admitting that the accusations of anti-Nintendo bias really do upset him since it's a cheap way to dismiss his arguments and hurt his credibility as a journalist. The last paragraph in particular reads somewhere between an angry shout and a desperate plea for it all to stop: