The evening Inbox puts Nintendos development record on the Switch under scrutiny, as one reader looks forward to Battle Princess Madelyn.
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Slow start
Just for anyone thats interested but theres now a free demo of the beginning part of Shadow Of The Tomb Raider, Im not sure how long it lasts but its the whole proper game – it just shuts off after a certain way and then if you decide to buy it, it carries on from where you left off.
An interesting idea, although I imagine its only because the game obviously didnt sell that well to begin with. Im not sure the first hour or two is necessarily the best bit of most games either, considering how long some tutorials can go on for.
I actually liked Shadow Of The Tomb Raider (I got it cheap) but I do remember it was fairly slow to start and it didnt get good until about three or so hours in, maybe more? You dont tend to remember the openings I find, if you play the full game, because its the later stuff thats always the best. Even Red Dead Redemption II had a really slow and boring opening few hours.
On the other hand I remember Zelda: Breath Of The Wild being really good as it basically threw you straight into it and there was very little hand-holding or explanation. Which is personally how I prefer it.
Gorf
Successful record
Great to see Smash Bros. getting such good reviews and that it actually seems quite different to the others in terms of the single-player. Its not often a long-running series actually fixes one of its major problems, so thats good to here.
Its not a franchise Im super into but I may now pick it up given all the fan service. But it makes me realise that Nintendo are running pretty much on 100% so far with their Switch offerings, especially in terms of established series.
The only thing I can think theyve slipped up on so far is 1-2-Switch, but then again I think its that the idea itself was bad not that they failed to execute on it. I guess you could say that Mario Tennis Aces was also not as good as it could be, but I havent played it and it still seemed to be pretty well liked. When even Mario Party has been successful updated I think youve got say theyre doing pretty well at the moment so cant wait to see what theyve got at The Game Awards.
Rooster
God killer
So when do we think the next God Of War is going to get announced? I assume at this point were looking at a PlayStation 5 release, but I think theres probably a good chance theyll remaster the last one for the new console as well – assuming theyre making some kind of new trilogy. Im guessing the big bad will escalate in each one from the Stranger to Thor to Odin, or is that maybe a bit too obvious?
I dont think there was any real indication in the last game (I keep think to call it the first, but of course its not) but Im interested to see where the crossover is between Norse and Greek myth and whether they interact.
Are all gods more or less the same in God Of Wars world or are they like competing families or realities? Is there a one-above-all (yes, Im a Marvel fan) that Kratos is eventually going to have to take down? Ill admit Im no expert on God Of War lore so Id be interested to see how it views thing. I assume the ultimate point the series is mans ultimate rejection of gods, literally and figuratively, so itll be interesting to see how thats handled given how much more religious America tends to be than Europe.
Terryball
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Scale of disappointment
Im not feeling encouraged by StevenskiChans letter. I was saving Red Dead Redemption II for the holidays but… the most disappointed hes ever been in a game? Say it isnt so.
I envy Stevenski because he must have avoided some of the dreck Ive played. Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness was quite awful and to many Lara Croft fans very disappointing.
Conflict: Denied Ops was even more disappointing because I loved the Conflict franchise and the final instalment was not only dreadful, it killed the series.
Fallout 4 was slightly disappointing. Hitman: Absolution was initially disappointing but eventually I almost liked it.
It has to be said, life is full of disappointments but surely some disappointments are a lot more disappointing than others.
msv858 (Twitter)
GC: You can be disappointed in something and still really enjoy it, while a terrible game can be exactly as you expected.
In control
Great review for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Im glad I pre-ordered it now.
One thing I was sure you would mention in your review but didnt was which controller(s) you used and which you preferred.
I have an official Pro Controller but I also have GameCube controllers including the magnificent Wavebird and the adapter.
Should I dig the Wavebird out of the cupboard?
Does the Pro Controller not having analogue shoulder buttons affect the game at all?
Fatys Henrys
PS: Hope Celeste picks up best soundtrack at the awards!
GC: We primarily used the Pro Controller but also the grip and a single Joy-Con, depending on who was playing multiplayer. All worked fine as far as were concerned. Were not ones to get funny about using a GameCube controller and youll need an adapter for that anyway.
Avoiding scandal
So, came across this story when browsing the internets and was genuinely perplexed at this decision by Apple to ban a strategy game because it features the Taliban. There is a certain arguable logic behind the motive to avoid certain nations or more contentious elements of history being targeted in a vitriolic way, and given the events depicted are of recent history there is an argument to be had around decency.
But even a cursory inspection of this title would suggest a title attempting to present a balanced perspective of this conflict as opposed to a pro-American guns-blazing Doom style clone you may expect from this style of censorship action.
Given the influence and scope of power Apple has, it does fuel the fear of Silicon Valley becoming the moral arbiters of history.
ATBonfire (Facebook)/around.the.bonfire (Instagram)/ATBonfire (WordPress)
A new hope
I dont think its been hinted at yet but Id love if The Game Awards features some new Star Wars games. I am so sick of the way EA has handled the licence but at least there was a hint that Respawns game was nearing some kind of point where it could be shown off, and theyre a developer I respect.
EA has been at The Game Awards before too, so Im hopeful. Or perhaps thats the wrong word to use given the way Star Wars has been going lately. Less pessimistic than usual?
Dot
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No help
Excellent review of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, GC, I really felt the enthusiasm in that one. Of greatest interest to me was the fact that youd never been that into Smash Bros. before, even while accepting it was a good game. Thats basically my position, to the point where I skipped the last one and didnt really feel Id missed anything.
The single-player sounds great though and Im kind of shocked its so long. So Ill definitely be looking to get my teeth into that. Bit disappointed about the museum stuff, that seems a bit of an own goal seeing as its not a tech thing at all.
My biggest issue is the lack of help or tutorials, I do not understand why when you still cant play the first 20 minutes of any shooter without it explaining the controls in detail – even though theyre exactly the same as every shooter ever – fighting games are still so awful about easing you in. It 4put me off both Street Fighter V and Tekken 7 and I imagine theyre probably more welcoming than some of the more obscure ones.
I dont know if this is a Japanese thing, since thats were most of them are made, but it just seems weirdly off-puting for a genre that is already pretty niche.
Carlton
Inbox also-rans
Hey, will you be reviewing Battle Princess Madelyn? Looks in the footage I have seen to be a very good Ghouls N Ghosts clone?
Dan Chambers
GC: Yes, but we were sent the Switch version, which has been delayed till next week – which has delayed the embargo as well.
Simple question really: is Smash Bros. Ultimate worth getting if Im unlikely to play local multiplayer? None of my friends are really gamers so Id be exclusively playing online and single-player.
John
GC: Absolutely, we said as much in our review.
This weeks Hot Topic
The subject for this weekends Inbox was suggested by reader Preston, who asks what older game would you still like to see get a remake or remaster?
With games even as obscure as Toki now getting full-blown remakes, and following the huge success of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro The Dragon, we want to know what games you think still need to make a comeback and whether you think they could really be a hit again.
It can be any game from any era, even if theyve still got current sequels, but we want to know exactly what you would – and wouldnt – change about the game. How much would the graphics have to change and how outdated will the gameplay seem to modern gamers? And most importantly, do you honestly think itll ever happen?
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
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The small print
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