The evening Inbox wonders if theres any truth to Rocksteadys Outlaws rumours, as one reader has already been put off Mortal Kombat 11.
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Its a trap
So now that we have an idea of what the spec is for the PlayStation 5, giving Microsoft plenty of time to prepare their own, are we assuming that the Xbox Two will definitely be more powerful? It seems so obvious that Phil Spencer wouldve let the Xbox One be so underpowered and Id be willing to bet a substantial amount of somebody elses money that the new Xbox will be super powerful.
But if thats obvious to me then it must be obvious to Sony as well, so I wonder what their logic is behind given Microsoft such a helping hand. Id like to think theyre not simply so arrogant that think it doesnt matter and they have no competition, but maybe theyre trying to tempt Microsoft into making a machine thats too expensive. Although that seems like a bit of a long shot.
Maybe theyre actually lying about the specs, and are lulling Microsoft into a false sense of security, and will then one-up them once theyve announced? I hope its something excitingly elaborate like because it gets boring watching companies make nothing but stupid mistakes. Whatever happens though I definitely think Microsoft should aim to have the most powerful console, always.
Clappers
Last minute changes
Nice review of Mortal Kombat 11, GC. All the more so because the complaints you had are exactly what NetherRealm has announced theyre going to change. What exactly theyre going to do remains to be seen, but it seems pretty obvious to me that the whole thing with the Towers of Time was fudged to make you want to buy microtransactions.
Maybe Warner thought they could get away with it if the rest of the game was good but the fact that theyve been so un-subtle about it has kind of given the game away and it sounds like theyre going to rebalance things and make it easier to beat them without any modifiers.
Its already put me off the game though. I thought theyd learnt their lesson with Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War but I dont want to play a game where everything has been designed to fleece me for small change. If nothing else, suddenly changing that at the last minute, when its such an important part of your game, does not inspire confidence that the thing has been well tested and balanced. Maybe theyll learn to sort things out for Mortal Kombat 12.
Purple Ranger
Take your time
I am fine with Uncharted 5 for a long while. Im already upset that Naughty Dog did The Last Of Us Part II and think it would be a terrible waste if they went from that to yet another unnecessary sequel. In the last 14 years theyve only worked on two different franchises and that seems like a terrible waste to me.
Besides, Id say it is obvious who the new protagonist should be and youd have to wait at least another five years or so until that was viable. Im totally fine with that. Come back when people are hungry for me, not while theyre wishing youd go and do something else.
Im curious to see what Uncharted would look like on the PlayStation 5 but Im in now rush. Let the new tech mature and then make the best sequel possible. Nobody needs Uncharted to become a yearly franchise.
Cranston
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Totally guessable
I was looking at that Outlaws stuff at the weekend too, the rumours about what Rocksteady are working on now. As you say, one of the main leaks was proven to be false but theres another big one that hasnt yet. The basic idea seems to be that you play as Batman, Green Arrow, and a bunch of other vigilante superheroes – street level guys instead of Superman or Wonder Woman.
Its all very vague about the gameplay but it definitely is a game as a service title and it sounds like its trying to be a loot shooter, except without actual shooting. It sounds a pretty good idea for a game to me, to be honest, and I wonder whether the truth is actually still pretty close to it.
I have my doubts as to whether its a leak but the concept is something you could come up with knowing Rocksteady are working on a Destiny style game (as per previous rumours) and that its a DC game. Even the name Outlaws is guessable if you know your comic books. Im going to guess its either true or the reality is very similar.
DragonPie
Currying favour
I wonder if BioWare would consider a remake of Dragon Age Origins as a way to get themselves back in the good graces of fans? Theres always been a lot of talk about Mass Effect remasters, but those games have been re-released a few times and yet I dont think Origins ever has. The more strategic combat may have put EA off but itd please fans to be reminded of it and maybe make it easier for the new game to have something similar.
I worry that BioWare are on the precipice here and their next game has to be a hit, either critically or commercially. A remake, to me, seems like the easiest and more reliable way to do that, then build out from there.
Its a shame about Anthem but it was obvious that game was a dud from very early on and I think BioWare need to cut their loses and get onto something else ASAP.
Bruce
The Marvel formula
I think its a good point about the lack of jokes in most video games. Plenty of games try to be funny but the number of actual decent jokes – the sort of thing you can repeat to friends and reminiscence about – are tiny.
When you see a good action movie, even a relatively serious one, the best bit is often accompanied by a one-liner or some kind of joke but I cant think of that ever being pulled of successfully for games.
Avengers: Endgame is just about to earn a quadrillion dollars and apparently its filled with jokes too, despite starting from a very sombre story point. The Marvel movies have made a science out of having both action, drama, and jokes and its a lesson that games have never got close to understanding.
One of the few exceptions is Uncharted and there you can see what a difference it makes. If you take out Nates sense of humour (and the amazing graphics) youre left with a pretty mediocre third person shooter with mostly on-the-rails platforming. But its dialogue and sense of humour elevate it to something else. Tomb Raider does everything the same or better but it seems like a slog in comparison precisely because its so dreary and humourless.
Ashton Marley
Think harder
What I dont understand about the datamining for fighting game DLC, etc. is why, when they finally realise the need to use codenames, do they still give them names you can guess at? Instead of calling Joker Jack why not just make his codename Flitzenburger or some other nonsense. They obviously knew the problem but by trying to be clever still let the game away.
Its always disappointing when news leaks out in such an underwhelming way and I wish publishers care a bit more about keeping their secrets.
Plisken
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