The morning Inbox asks about the best Pokémon games on DS and 3DS, as one reader blames Microsoft for ruining their Christmas.
To join in with the discussions yourself email [email protected]
New year shortages
Happy new year to GC and its readership, I hope everyone had a good Christmas!
Over the break I bought myself a PlayStation VR and having never even tried one prior to purchase have literally been blown away! Ive been exclusively playing Astro Bot: Rescue Mission and Driveclub VR, as well as having fun with the kids using the Playroom and PlayStation camera.
Ive got a few other games waiting to be played, but I literally cant find PlayStation Move or Aim controllers in stock anywhere, unless Im happy to pay double the RRP to a third party seller on Amazon or eBay – its so frustrating! Im guessing that PlayStation VR sold incredibly well over Christmas, its just a shame there wasnt stock of the accessories to meet the demand.
Rickandrolla (PSN ID)
GC: To be honest, the Move controllers have been hard to get ever since launch. We hope Sony release an upgraded version soon because as useful as they are the tech is getting very long in the tooth.
Slow Christmas
So, I realise Im a bit late to the party but I finally took the plunge this Christmas and bought the kids an Xbox One S. Now, I thought ahead and connected it online prior to Christmas, knowing it would need an update, then wrapped it ready for the kids to play on Christmas morning. However, what I hadnt realised was that every disc-based game I bought them needed to be installed prior to being able to play them and that these installs take hours!
I bought them seven games and they were only able to play one on Christmas Day, what on Earth were Microsoft thinking? So far Ive installed four games and thats taken up 20% of my 1TB hard drive, what an absolute joke! How is this beneficial, I dont have these issues with my PlayStation 4, how can this be acceptable?
Also, why are the controllers not rechargeable either! Sony has had rechargeable controllers for two generations now, why are Microsoft still stuck in the dark ages? The Xbox One is not only the worst console Ive ever owned (and Ive been gaming since the 80s), its the worst piece of electronic tech Ive ever had the misfortune of using.
Neil Bailey
Happy start
Well, first Id like to wish everyone at GC, and everyone who reads, a happy new year. But its a very happy new year for me, for until now I had no idea the first two excellent The Legends Of Heroes games that appeared on the PS Vita are making their way onto the PlayStation 4.
I really enjoyed these games and I assume/hope this means the third will be released over here. I never got to finish my game as the third wasnt on the Vita (you continued your save over the games) so even though Ill have to start again, which I do not mind at all, I hopefully will be able to complete the story now.
Liam
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To those who wait
I bought Star Wars: Battlefront II at launch and when I tried the code with the game for the items it said the code had already been used. Even though it was a brand-new game and sealed. It took me a day of going back to GAME and them telling me I must contact EA.
So I did and they said its GAME who should deal with it. In the end I got my money back. I did like the game but as I got burnt with the code not working I decided to wait for it for free on EA Access. I checked on December 28th and I noticed it is now free, so Im downloading the game right now.
woz 007 (gamertag)/woz_007 (NN ID)
Wake it up
A little late to the pre-2018 weekend topic but recently I have played nothing but the Dishonored series.
Over the years Ive tried the first and second games a few times but they just didnt grab me. Given the universal praise the games received I always felt I was missing something, so every now and then Id give them another go, but to no avail. Until a couple of month back, something just clicked and I was suddenly hooked.
Interesting characters and story, fantastic visual and audio style, but it is the way the gameplay mechanics and world design are tied so tightly together that results in an experience that is almost Nintendo-like in its genius. Every encounter can be approached in any way the player wishes, with a level of freedom that empowers the player and is utterly satisfying to play.
After securing the platinum trophy on all three games and the amazing DLC, I still want more. It is disappointing that the series has not seen the sales it deserves and that Arkane have announced the franchise is currently resting.
In my humble opinion the series is amongst the greatest in gaming history. Lets hope it doesnt rest too long.
BWWPSFOUR
Not bored
Happy new year GameCentral and all its readers! (Its 23rd of December as I write this, Im thinking ahead).
I just wanted to write in as a counterpoint to the Underboxers who keep getting annoyed about GameCentral featuring articles about board games.
Personally, I welcome it (I realise its probably out of your hands, whether you approve or not). The title of the section is GameCentral not VideoGameCentral so theres no issue there. People also have the option, and I realise this is controversial, of NOT READING articles that dont interest them.
Until a time comes when coverage of board games is widespread enough to warrant them getting their own section of the Metro website I dont see a problem with them cosying up here, I cant think of a better place.
If some of our horizons get broadened then that cant be bad.
Dominic
Collect em all
Having picked up a DS and 3DS recently (late to the party I know!) I would like to know which are the best Pokémon games on each as the choice is overwhelming! (Maybe a top 5?).
Many thanks, Happy New Year.
Tony TR Rushton
GC: Well, Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon on the 3DS is the most recent and very good – so thats an obvious place to start. Were not sure if you meant just mainline entries but HeartGold/SoulSilver on the DS is also very well regarded and the best of the retro remakes (not counting Lets Go on the Switch). If you want to sample something from each of the other generations then III through VI are covered best by Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, Platinum, Black 2/White 2, and X/Y. If you want more off-beat spin-offs then consider Pokémon Conquest, Pokémon Link!, and Detective Pikachu.
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Tribute band
Astro Bot is a triumph, and what I envisage a Nintendo VR game would look and play like. Its a resoundingly successful and heart-warming paean to Mario and Nintendo in general.
A more jaded gamer could argue such seemingly, unremittingly patent reverence comes across as a tad slavish – the game features elements that were clearly inspired in some capacity by various Mario games, Pikmin, Donkey Kong Country Returns: Tropical Freeze, Nintendo Land and a few others – but Id instead see it as a humble developer showing due respect to one the masters of the arts, and proving to them that they can not only follow in their footsteps but leave an indelible mark on the genre themselves.
The stunning creativity and intuitiveness in Astro Bots level design and mechanics should be lauded by all, and the way the game plays around so artfully with perspective and depth transforms the 3D platformer into something really special. It handles and looks so dreamy.
Speaking of looks, the fluorescent, endearing art direction is like a magical mixture of Mario and Pixars WALL-E. The jaunty, spirited soundtrack also complements the distinguished work elsewhere.
I was beaming throughout the entirety of the titular robots breathlessly inventive adventures. The levels feel taut and the platforming ideas are beautifully orchestrated. Theres a commendable variety in the enemy designs and the boss encounters are fantastic spectacles, with the final battle proving particularly noteworthy – not to mention having a whiff of Splatoon about it.
My only gripe is that the game can feel a little ephemeral. Whilst in actuality its a decently sized campaign, lasting around six hours long, with the challenge trials and completionist end game goals probably adding another six hours to the total play time. But I cant help but feel like if it was at least twice as long, and with just as consistently creative and more challenging level design, it wouldve edged even closer to the best 3D Mario games. I guess that will be the true test in a potential sequel.
Another pernickety observation, and one I had with the otherwise near perfect Yoshis Island, is that the music would often repeat itself too much and lacked change. But enough of the party pooper-ing. Astro Bot: Rescue Mission is a wonderful technical and artistic achievement, and arguably the new golden standard for VR gaming, and a challenger to Resident Evil 7s crown. I doth my hat to you, Sony Japan Studio!
Galvanized Gamer
PS: Do you plan on reviewing Danmaku Unlimited 3 on the Switch, GC? Ive been having a blast with this excellent shmup and think its well worth the recognition on your site. Still cant believe that it was the work of an extremely talented one-man Canadian developer (and an indie Japanese rock band providing the sensational soundtrack!).
GC: Considering it came out in March we think that boat has been missed. We always welcome readers reviews for older titles though.
Inbox also-rans
God Of War and The Last Of Us are probably the best story-driven AAA games of the last decade. Which do you think did it better?
Jag
GC: If youre asking us, God Of War.
Just beaten World of Light in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to 100% and its taken me almost exactly 60 hours! What a game! And now dare I do the New Game+?!
Torse
This weeks Hot Topic
As the first Hot Topic of the year the subject for this weekends Inbox is obvious: what new games are you most looking forward to in 2019?
You can find a list of all the most prominent titles here, but feel free to suggest anything else that is confirmed for this year – but please dont use games that are either unannounced or have only vague release dates (so no Half-Life 3 or Bayonetta 2).
Why are you looking forward to the games so much and how well do you expect them to do in terms of sales and reviews? What do you think of this years line-up in general, in comparison to 2018 and other recent years?
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
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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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