The morning Inbox suggests replacing the 3DS with the Game Boy, as one reader admits a Horizon Zero Dawn prequel is not likely.
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Sister series
So, like many I got a new console for Christmas and it was a PlayStation 4, after not having owned a Sony console since the PlayStation 2 era. It’s a powerful console to be sure, but one of the things I was really looking forward to was all the exclusives. In particular the stuff by Naughty Dog, which I haven’t played before. But… I’m not really liking it so far?
I started with the Uncharted remaster collection but found the first one to be really rough: terrible combat and some pretty basic/boring platforming. I didn’t finish it and then moved onto the second one, which I’d heard was the best, but again got bored after a few hours. There’s much more shooting than I imagined and while the characters are well acted the story doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
So I popped on Uncharted 4 as well and while the graphics are really amazing it seems the same mix of not-very-good fighting and simple platforming. The other game I’ve got is The Last Of Us but I’m now really wary of putting that on as that was the one I was particularly looking forward to. So my question to the readers is will I like the game if I haven’t been impressed with Uncharted so far? My impression is that the gameplay is quite similar, and that has me worried…
Vleeper
Return of the Game Boy
I always liked the idea that Nintendo would replace the 3DS by bringing back the Game Boy name and making a lower cost portable that was for kids/those that couldn’t afford the Switch. I don’t see any point in making a 3DS 2, or whatever, but I can see how Nintendo would want to not throw away their portable-only business. Especially if that’s their entry level side of things and they need to keep people on board that aren’t willing to pay £200+ for a console.
The question is what to do about the games, but I think it could work with a mixture of scaled down versions of Switch games (assuming the portable was at least a bit more powerful than the 3DS) and remasters of mobile games. Especially as Nintendo are now making their own. I know that may not sound too exciting to some gamers but it makes sense to me and I’m sure we could get some gems in there that wouldn’t exist otherwise. New Advance Wars anyone?
wbug202
Battlefield Royale
On the question of what games would benefit from a Battle Royale mode, I think Battlefield is the obvious answer. There’s already been some talk about where the next one should be set, with not much agreement, but I think focusing on Battle Royale would make a lot of sense.
As another reader pointed out, Battlefield is already known for its massive maps so taken advantage of that already seems like a no-brainer. But I also feel the basic gameplay and modes are starting to get a bit old. It’s still a great shooter, but it feels like you’ve just done it all before even when they change things up by setting it in WW1 or whatever.
Obviously it wouldn’t have to be the only mode, but PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds with better vehicles and destructions effects sounds pretty good to me. Plus they could set it in the modern day again without it seeming to similar to Battlefield 4.
Gungslinger
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God of waiting
Just going through your release schedule preview for 2018 and I have to ask whether you really think God Of War will be out this spring. It’ll be great if it is, but I don’t see how it’s going to be out before the end of March if all we’ve had is a couple of brief trailers. I don’t remember seeing any previews about it, least of all hands-on, and that can’t be a good sign.
I don’t like to seem like I’m complaining, but it’s my most anticipated game of the year and I’ve just got this horrible feeling it’s going to get delayed till Christmas or something. Sony have a habit of doing that sort of thing, and that Spider-Man game seems to have been floating around forever.
I imagine I’m like many readers and into quite a few geek things, especially movies, but it only ever seems to be video games that always leaving you waiting. Waiting for an announcement, waiting for a release, waiting for a patch, none of which ever come out when they’re supposed. I don’t think it’s healthy to be only ever waiting for what’s around the corner. And yes, I realise it’s mostly my fault.
Jacks
GC: Officially, Q1 is still the release ‘window’.
Minus Zero
I agree with the reader that it’s hard to see where a sequel for Horizon Zero Dawn can go in terms of story. I’m all up for another game in terms of gameplay, but the interesting thing about the plot was finding out what was going on and there doesn’t seem any obvious way to go now except adding on some new layer of stuff that we should’ve known about already or, as he says, making it just about the tribes.
What I think would be a better idea is a prequel, because then you’ve got new locations, potential for new robots, and adding more backstory will make more sense. However, I very much doubt you’re going to get that because Aloy has been a hit and I really don’t see a new game not using her as the main character.
It’s the price of success I guess, but it won’t put me off it. I hope Sony announce the new game at E3.
Sellers
Market values
An interesting point made on Monday, about the value/cost of games in relation to when they were released. Due to it being Bayonetta it made me think about why Nintendo games keep their prices almost indefinitely. Regardless whether it’s a game like Mario, Zelda, or Pokémon that is going to have a high attachment rate or an obscure title that sells 10 copies you rarely see them significantly discounted.
I got my niece a 3DS for Christmas (I still want one for Metroid: Samus Returns) and games over five years old are basically still full price, with the only exception to this is if Nintendo make them Nintendo Selects games.
Compare this to PlayStation and Xbox games where virtually every game drops in price and stay cheap after barely a few weeks, with even games that were initially hard to get, like NieR: Automata and Persona 5, being available half the original cost. Is there any reasoning for this and who between the stores or publishers decides, and why is Nintendo exempt from this?
Mr.Saveloy
GC: The simplest explanation is that people are willing to pay that much for the games. Nintendo did have quite a good eShop sale recently though, so there are occasionally bargains to be had.
New distraction
The thing that gets me about these Xbox One ‘Career’ rumours is that once again their attention seems to be on anything but games. Will they just stop messing around and make some! Seriously. If they had to get the Xbox One X out of their system then so be it, but why is their priority now the awful avatar system that nobody liked in the first place?
Obviously they could be, and hopefully are, working on a bunch of unannounced games, but I hope they’re not going to wait until E3 to reveal them because I’m not sure I can last till then. Just get on with it!
NeoZoof
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Direct questions
As ever, I have more than enough games to be playing at the moment but I can’t wondering what the rumoured Nintendo Direct might show. One game I’ve not heard many people talk about is the new Fire Emblem. I missed out on Fates but put 200 joyful hours into Awakening and I have fond memories of the GameCube entry Path Of Radiance. It’ll be really interesting to see how it is updated for another outing on home consoles. The extra horsepower should mean some really cool attack animations, if nothing else. If released this year, it could easily be a potential contender for my game of the year.
As for other games, I’m as interested as everyone else in hearing about what’s going on with Metroid and Pokémon but hopefully there are some nice little surprises too. As some other readers have mentioned Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker 2 would be very welcome, it was such a lovely, heart-warming game. I’d love a sequel to Super Mario Maker to scratch my creative itch, maybe even a Zelda or Metroid Maker if they could make it work.
A follow-up to Kid Icarus: Uprising might be a bit too much to hope for but I really think the series deserves another outing, especially as its main flaw was the awkward control system on the 3DS – which shouldn’t be a problem on the Switch. The really big ask is a new F-Zero, preferably from the Mario Kart 8 team. Their F-Zero tracks were the highlight of the whole game.
Perhaps above all this, an even more exciting surprise would be something brand spanking new. It feels like Nintendo are at their most creative again and I’d love them to take the opportunity to really push themselves. They’ve already created a new modern classic multiplayer with Splatoon so I’d love to see a new fresh single-player game to rival Mario and Zelda. I’d tell you what that is but unfortunately I have absolutely no idea! Hopefully Nintendo do!
Ryan O’D
Inbox also-rans
Either Dynasty Warriors is a lot more realistic than I realised or that new Total War game is playing pretty loose with historical accuracy. It’s a good idea though, surprised they haven’t used that setting before.
Doop
GC: The Total War games have never been that historically accurate, but we think you can guarantee there’ll be no magic spells in this one.
The thing that gets me about Nintendo’s amazing 2017 is it’s so close to what their worst ever year must’ve been. Although I’m not sure which really counts? 2016 for the death of the Wii U or 2012/3 for its launch?
Gibbs
This week’s Hot Topic
Since it’s the first weekend Inbox of the new year there’s only one obvious question to ask this week: what 2018 video game are you looking forward to the most?
You can find our list of the biggest name releases here, which includes the current best guesses as to whether games will or won’t be out this year – so do try and keep your choices as realistic as possible (for the sake of argument let’s assume that The Last Of Us Part II will be released this year, even though the real chance is probably no better than 50/50).
What we’re most interested in is why you’re looking forward to your chosen games, and what you expect from them. What do you think of the current line-up compared to previous years, and are there any major forthcoming games you’ve already discounted?
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