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Enough With the Pointless Skill Trees | Semi-Ramblomatic (Patreon)

Published:
2025-08-21 15:06:29
Imported:
2026-06

Content

This week's episode of Semi-Ramblomatic is now available!

Files

Enough With the Pointless Skill Trees | Semi-Ramblomatic

This week on Semi-Ramblomatic, Yahtzee's taking a look at video game skill trees... and how they're often extremely pointless. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SecondWindGroup Second Wind Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/second-wind https://sharkrobot.com/collections/second-wind

Comments

Swift Justice

I was wondering indeed why a Donkey Kong game of all things has a skill tree in the usual modern lackluster implementation, then suddenly it hit me; Bonanza has a LOT of references to Donkey Kong 64, the last major 3D platformer entry to the franchise, and unfortunately seems to have tried to emulate it in the gameplay including in some ways it probably shouldn't. That game can be a lot of fun but it absolutely has all the worst design pitfalls of 3D platformers taken to extremes... I could go on all day about that, or at least spend more than I'd care to making a list, but a lot of it comes from the late 90s equivalent of redundant skill trees; a little too much pointless and repetitive backtracking and having to spend currencies on unlocking what feels like should be basic features. (MULTIPLE TIMES for each of the five characters, who despite the DK Rap's assurances really don't actually play remotely differently enough to justify it!)

Matthew McGuire

Ok... just a tip of my hat to James Elsey for the closing credits music for Semi-Ramblomatic. Every time it starts I can't help but sit and enjoy the hell out of it. It makes the industrial synth musician in me grin ear to ear every time. It's superb and I just can't skip it. Well done good sir, well done!

William Alexander

Love this series. Wish there were more like them outside of SW.

Kirk Schneider

I love human revolution but it is true...

Tim Carroll

I know Yahtzee hates the Borderlands games, but I find that they tend to have rewarding skill trees. Yeah, they start with +5% stuff, but they also force you to really commit to a play style if you want the really good rewards.

David C

Yeah during the Nintendo Direct, the skill tree in Bananza was the one and only thing that I raised an eyebrow at. I distinctly remember asking "really?" with my wife and kids in the same room watching it. I would add the spin jump and the surfing over water upgrades to that list of useful ones to get. But I agree with your point, on why they couldn't just be in there from the beginning and cut the tree out.