The morning Inbox discusses the varying quality of role-playing side quests, as one reader calls for EA to make some Need For Speed remasters.
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Real games
I thought that was a really solid Nintendo Direct and I’m glad to see one devoted just to indie games (not sure about the name ‘Nindies’ though). I know the format and the fact there aren’t that many other games coming explains why they’re popular on Switch but I also think it has something to do with PS Plus and Games for Gold, which I think have devalued the concept of indie games in many people’s eyes.
They’re basically used as filler by both Microsoft and Sony when deciding what’s free each month and I think many people are immediately turned off them because they didn’t get a ‘real’ game instead. I have known multiple friends that will not even try the free indie games they get and consider them beneath their notice. One even insists that they shouldn’t get normal review scores or be considered the same thing as triple-A games (which he seems to equate to anything that isn’t indie).
That’s an extreme example but you don’t have to go far on the Internet to find people with similar views and I think that’s really sad. To me indie games are consistently he most interesting and imaginative around and I increasingly find myself playing them more than ‘real’ games. I know the Inbox is generally a more enlightened crowd, but I’m curious to know whether my experiences are common – including knowing people that just refuse to play them.
Gastronaut
Gore blimey
Speaking as an unabashed Kratos fanboy, I’m cautiously optimistic about the next step in the God Of War series. Although, judging from your write-up, it seems it is going to be a lot less acrobatic and gore drenched, which would be a shame but hopefully we might get more of that as the game progresses. I wasn’t a huge fan of The Last Of Us/Horizon Zero Dawn style of gameplay so to see it adopted for my favourite series is a concern.
However, it is good to see the series try something different, I have played the previous titles to death (gory, gory death) and to have more of the same and only that with better graphics would probably get dull. I think they really took it as far as they could with Ascension.
Typically, it’s finally out a few weeks before my birthday, so even when it’s out I’ll still have to wait. Hopefully Far Cry 5 will maintain my interest long enough to cope until then.
The-Deleted
GC: Kratos is definitely not as acrobatic, but it’s a bit hard to tell about the gore as most of the early enemies are zombies with lava for blood. We do suspect it’s less gory overall though.
Natural progression
I completely agree with Daz’s point regarding player progression in Sea Of Thieves. Personally, I get much more enjoyment from games which start with a level playing field and player skill is the only differentiation. If a game is enjoyable, progression and the associated improvement are reward enough. To me, it is a far more noble approach than the behaviourist strategies modern games employ of giving you a trophy or power-up at selected intervals to keep you addicted.
I think I read on the Inbox previously that this psychological manipulation started in mobile games but has now become the norm in the games industry. Having said all that, the strategy makes bucket-loads of money (which is all that matters in today’s society) and is therefore here to stay.
Suspect
GC: We’re not sure an exact starting point has ever been pinpointed, but certainly Bungie hire behaviour psychologists to advise on their games and we’re sure many others do too. We asked whether Rare did for Sea Of Thieves and they laughed and said no.
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Witcher women
I know I’m very late for the Hot Topic, but I was recently replaying The Witcher 3 and was struck by how scared I am of Yennefer. As it was my second playthrough, I decided to make the opposite decision from my first so I could see any bits of the game I’d missed. But, when it came time to make the choice to pursue a romance with Triss I was terrified. Yennefer will kill me… that’s going to be a horrendous conversation. So I didn’t. This doesn’t automatically make her a great female character, but it’s worth noting that it may be the first time in my gaming history that I’ve been influenced in this way.
Speaking of The Witcher 3, I’d thoroughly recommend playing through the game on Death March mode. I thought It’d be a real struggle, and it is difficult, but it’s completely doable. I’m following a different branch of the skill tree and levelling up my alchemy stats, which seems true to The Witcher lore and feels great. It’s really satisfying to take on an over-levelled enemy on the hardest setting and win thanks to tactical use of blade oils, bombs and signs.
deckscrubber02
Licence to print money
After reading up on the GPU shortages and after hearing about the mining rigs people are setting up here’s my idea on how to combat this problem.
If both Nvidia and AMD updated the drivers and firmware to automatically scan the GPU to see if it is being used for mining, which would then block the GPU from being used for these activities, this could halt this problem fast.
If however they chose an alternate route, that required those with mining rigs to purchase a licence, they could use that money to purchase and set up more production plants, reducing the GPU shortages even further.
The licence requirement could also be used to ensure a steady flow of income which would over time build even more production facilities and create jobs for countries with high unemployment.
Just an idea to fix a problem like this for desktop/gaming rig gamers.
gaz be rotten (gamertag)
GC: Why would Nvidia or AMD want to stop mining? Their products have never been in more demand.
Bit on the side
I’m glad to see Ni No Kuni II getting good reviews most places, it seems like the only consistent problem is the side quests are boring which I have to say is a common problem in role-playing games. So much so that I think you can almost tell the good games from the bad simply by how much effort they put into side quests.
Ni No Kuni II only seems to get round this by tying them to the strategy stuff, so I guess that means they realised it was a problem and tried to find a solution – but not just making them better?
For me two of the best examples are The Witcher 3 and Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. The important thing here is that almost all the side quests are unique. Sure, some of them use the same basic template but all of the major ones are different and have some kind of interesting story or character attached to them. You can tell they’ve all been carefully designed to be different and unexpected and not just a bit of padding given over to the intern to do.
You never know what you’re going to get with a side quest in these games and that’s the key. I’m surprised developers don’t give them more emphasis because in most role-players you spend the majority of your time not actually doing the story missions. And if that other stuff is not interesting, or worse repetitive and grindy, then it can leave a real bad impression no matter how good the rest of it is.
Soup-con
Back up to speed
After the universal panning that Need For Speed Payback received and the subsequent fast-tracking of a Burnout Paradise remaster, can I put forward two fantastic previous Need For Speed games for remaster treatment… Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted 2012 edition.
Both are getting a lot of playtime on my PlayStation 3 and they both hold up exceptionally even now, much better than any of the current gen iterations in my opinion.
Inbox magic do your stuff…
KingShomari (PSN ID)
GC: They’re also both by Criterion, the same team behind Burnout Paradise.
Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here
FilmCentral
Count me in the Under The Skin appreciation club. I’ve championed this wonderfully enigmatic and profoundly dark film on the GC Facebook film group on so many occasions. It’s one of those cerebral films that encourages discourse (plus lots of arguments!) and openly invites different interpretations.
I honestly believe there aren’t enough films today that espouse such ambiguity and metaphorical potential with artistic abandon. Arrival was the last film I watched that set my mind on fire in that regard, and I’m really looking forward to watching Annihilation real soon.
Under The Skin’s aesthetics are also worthy of high praise, the sinister soundtrack and visual storytelling are among the most potent I’ve ever experienced on the silver screen. Not to mention Scarlett Johansson is dazzling as the otherworldly femme fatale.
Did you guys also know that some of the male characters that are approached by Ms Johansson in the film weren’t even real actors and were oblivious to the fact that they were in a movie? I hadn’t a clue! No wonder the actress’s interactions on the streets of Glasgow felt so realistic.
Galvanized Film Lover
PS: What were your thoughts on Black Panther, GC? I haven’t watched it yet but do you side with the critical consensus that it’s a great Marvel flick?
GC: It’s good, yes. A little formulaic in plot and structure but we enjoyed all the characters, particularly Okoye and M’Baku.
Inbox also-rans
As if by magic after my letter on Monday, Titanfall 2 Ultimate Edition is on sale on Xbox Live for only £8.75 or an amazing £5.25 for Gold members! An absolute steal at either price! Offer ends 10 April.
PsillyPseudonym (PsillySeudonym – gamertag)
GC: That really is a shockingly good deal. It feels like you should leave a tip at that price.
Never mind Tomb Raider, I know one video game movie GC must be desperate to see… Dynasty Warriors! And yes, this is a real actual thing.
Sampson
This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader R1CH5TER, and asks what is your most played console or computer?
What video game format have you spent the most time on overall, over the years, and how comes? Do you count it as your favourite format and do you still have it plugged in, ready to play, today? Do you keep your old consoles and if not do you regret getting rid of them?
How interested are you in retro gaming and what benefits, if any, do you feel there are in owning the original console itself – instead of a replica or just an emulation of its games?
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
The small print
New Inbox updates appear twice daily, every weekday morning and afternoon. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length.
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word 4Player viewer features at any time, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
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