The morning Inbox celebrates ARMS games as a service record, as one reader is afraid to hear the truth about Amnesia.
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Next gen demands
As much as I’m enjoying this gen, like many I’ve been mulling other the next gen and what I want from it.
60fps is a must, I don’t think I will buy into the next generation if the machines struggle as much as the current gen to hit 60fps. Of course developers may not want to use the inevitably limited resources of a £350 console for 60fps but as long as it achievable without too much compromises or optimisation if they want to target it. I hope it’s informing the design of the consoles, probably meaning much better CPUs, and we see Pro and X options of prioritising resolution, graphical detail, or frame rate as standard.
Unless the status quo radically changes I will be buying PlayStation 5 and want to it to be backwards compatible with my now large PlayStation 4 library, preferably with enhancements to the games. Basically, what Microsoft is doing right now.
I’d like the DualShock thumbsticks to get some attention. I really like the DualShoock 4 and have no issue with the placement of the thumbsticks. The problem with them is the way your thumb will slide off the stick when pushing up for long periods and that they just seem less precise than the Xbox’s, with what feels to me like a larger dead zone. I know you can get grips for the first problem but it’d be nice if it wasn’t a problem that needed a fix on DualShock 5.
I’d like the consoles to release with a killer app or two. I am fed up of the strategy of releasing games to cater for all taste: a racing game, a football game, a shooter, etc… It was really nice Switch released with a stone wall great in Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and I want PlayStation 5 to have a game of similar stature on release too. Cyperpunk 2077 simultaneous PlayStation 4/5 release would be awesome as some have been speculating recently.
PlayStation VR 2. If it does come I can’t imagine it would be until midway through the life of PlayStation 5. Being able to produce a better headset with vastly improved tracking than the Move controllers and camera offer doesn’t seem to me feasible for a while at the price point Sony would want to release it at, which I expect will be £350 too.
Simundo Jones
Expect nothing, hope for everything
So what does everyone think will happen with today’s Nintendo Direct? It’s a late one, which usually means it’s one of the important ones, and I’m sure Nintendo have picked up on the fact that everyone’s a little bit underwhelmed by the Switch’s 2018 line-up.
I suspect they’re keeping Metroid Prime 4 back for E3, but I’d really like to see something on the new Fire Emblem, and I hope it is not just one of the portable games blown up for the big screen. An action role-player with strategy element would be perfect if you ask me.
A new IP or another new game of some sort would be great too. Maybe Pikmin 4 or some kind of race game (F-Zero by preference, but I’d settle for Wave Race). That’s probably E3 too though, so maybe this is finally the time for Super Smash Bros.? They could announce it now and then still have plenty of new characters to reveal in June. Splatoon and ARMS characters are a must!
Soap
GC: The press release sent to us emphasises Mario Tennis Aces so, as ever, we’d keep your expectations in check.
Teamwork is king
RE: Captain’s letter. As far as I can tell, disregarding Battlefront, almost all the recent Battlefields have been modern day (certainly Bad Company 2, 3, 4, and Hardline), the exception being the most recent Battlefield 1.
The main draw for me of the Battlefield series is the teamwork, but several recent design decisions are somewhat baffling. Allowing vehicles to self-repair, ammunition and grenades to automatically regenerate (though this has been rolled back), and encouraging one man vehicles (especially jets and the heavy tank) to wage isolated risk free, long range rampages runs counter to the series’ teamwork ethos.
Personally I’d like to see pilots less protected (helicopters, requiring two men to operate effectively, a delayed exit from the vehicle and viable AA weapons would help), longer ranges less favoured and more encouragement to be involved and play the objective. Smaller team sizes (16) to allow Rush mode to function properly would also be excellent. Bigger is not always better.
Can WW2 work? Possibly. I’ve enjoyed Battlefield 1, and like the skewing of the points away from kills, but Battlefield V could break the series if they aren’t careful.
Matt Woolley (he_who_runs_away – PSN ID)
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Rubishness confirmed
In reply to Matt’s letter regarding my love for Dead Space, I admit the games aren’t scary. I’ve never claimed them to be. But personally I don’t find any games scary, or films for that matter, and I find it surprising when adults admit they can’t play a particular game because they’ll be scared.
Maybe I’m just too accustomed to horror, as it’s been my favourite genre since I was a kid. None of it scares at all.
And the people saying it’s overrated still admit the games are good, so technically not a bad word either. Nothing needs to be added about Dead Space 3 as we’re all pretty much in agreement about it’s rubbishness (totally made up word but I’m sticking with it).
Jack_the_Ripper9 (PSN ID)/mickylynch9 (NN ID)
Scared to ask
I am not sure if I want you to say yes but would you recommend Amnesia Collection that is currently on sale £7.99 on PlayStation store. I reread your review so I assume a strong yes.
Currently three quarters way through SOMA and glad you increased the score, the sound design is amazing. The whole thing is very Alien Isolation at times.
Emmet
GC: We’re afraid the answer is yes. The first is one of the best, and arguably still the scariest, survival horror of all time.
Suffer like G did
Very disappointed to hear how badly Bravo Team has turned out. While Until Dawn: Rush Of Blood wasn’t perfect by any means I enjoyed it and felt it laid down some good groundwork for the future. Both it and The London Heist have me convinced that a lightgun style game is a perfect fit for VR. A remastered version of House Of The Dead 2 (though I’d like them to keep the terrible voice acting) would be greatly welcomed.
Strategy is another genre that has a distinct lack of presence on consoles that VR would be perfect for. The problem has always been the lack of a mouse but the headset is a fine substitute. Tethered has shown it works very well but I’d love if something like the Total War franchise was adapted for VR.
Hovering above the battlefield, zipping across the map to keep an eye on a potential ambush or warping down into the action, all while directing the battle would be amazing. I wouldn’t expect it to be one of the more up to date sequels, even the original Rome one from 2004 would be grand.
SuoTempore (PSN ID)
GC: We agree on The London Heist, that had some really great moments. The problem with Total War is the resolution, but we certainly agree we’d like to see a lot more strategy games in VR.
May the good blood guide your way
RE: Bloodborne being free on PSN, I highly recommend anyone who is wanting to play it but having cold feet to watch the first hour’s gameplay on YouTube.
This helped me immensely, you will get an idea of how best to approach the game, (slowly at first) and a sense of the timing for the gun parry.
I would definitely say Bloodborne is the PlayStation 4’ best exclusive game and to get to play it for free is just awesome in my opinion. Good luck to everyone taking the plunge, enjoy.
mitchell
Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here
ARMS has legs
Really good to see Nintendo are still updating ARMS. I foolishly wrote the game off within six weeks of launch, mostly because Splatoon 2 and other big hitters on the Switch demanded my time. Now with the Switch’s second year so far mostly characterised by excellent ports of games I have already played to death I have revisited ARMS and discovered that over the last nine months its evolved into something very special.
The Party Crash events are great fun, mixing up the lobby with new modes I didn’t even know existed. Nintendo seem to be aware of the fact that a lot of gamers were put off by ARMS due to beginners having a tendency to only try to spam grabbing, and generally not playing the game in the way the designers want you to, and have added helpful video guides to the eShop news channels.
Revisiting the game now the casual crowd have moved on to other online games has generally been a revelation and I strongly suggest those with it on the backburner give it another go. There are constant rewards with a lot more money to get new ARMS for characters dished out than I remember at launch.
I am glad to have my opinion on this game changed and hope others will give it a second try.
Bristolpete
GC: It’s an excellent example of games as a service done right, with no DLC or microtransactions of any kind but tons of free content over a long period.
Inbox also-rans
I’m totally okay with Black Ops 4 being this year’s game. Especially if it’s set in the modern day. I really enjoyed WWII and am back on board the Call Of Duty fan train.
Grackus
So how was God Of War, GC? I’m dying to know more about the game, it’s kind of worrying that they’re being so secretive about it.
Fancy Dan
GC: The embargo for previews isn’t for a while yet, so we’re not allowed to say anything at the moment.
This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Tom Meadows, who asks what single game have you put the most hours into?
Some games actually list the number of hours (and days) you’ve played them for, but even if you have to estimate what one would you say you’ve played the most and over what kind of time frame? How did the game hold your attention for so long and do you consider it to be your favourite video game?
Do you tend to play a small number of games for long periods of time or try to play as many as possible and never stay on one for too long? Do you think you were addicted to the game you spent the longest time on, and do you regret playing it for so long?
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The small print
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