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Still worth a read?

Still worth a read?

The evening Inbox names the best boss battles of the past and present, as one reader tries to overcomplicate the definition of exclusive.

To join in with the discussions yourself email [email protected]

Place on the shelf

I think in this modern age of everything being available on the Internet, magazines still have a place in general media. I have been a subscriber to various magazines over the years. I started on PSM3, then onto Official PlayStation Magazine when PSM3 died, and then I changed to my current subscription to PC Gamer.

I understand the readers point that any news can quickly become out of date, but these days the news sections are very small compared to what they used to be. My experience of PC Gamer in the past couple of years is a focus on previews, reviews, in-depth features, and re-installs of old games. All of which would be interesting to read no matter when you read them.

Another advantage that magazines have for me is that I prefer to read any really long articles in physical form, rather than on a screen. There have been lots of online articles I have seen which have sounded interesting put are pages and pages long. Maybe its just my eyes, but Id much prefer to read the same article on paper. I really hope that magazines are able to survive into the future and dont go the way of the dodo.
Angry_Kurt (Twitter)

Relative exclusivity

I always find it quite difficult to fairly compare exclusives between platforms. Does the PC count? Is it reasonable to regard Nintendos exclusives as exclusives, given they dont have the same multiplatform base (if you are choosing between an Xbox and a Switch, is The Witcher 3 an exclusive?). Do remasters and backward compatible games count?

Presumably the whole point of comparing exclusives is to help gamers decide which platform is for them. On that basis Id argue that rather than compare exclusives across all platforms, comparing the games available on platform A versus platform B (less the games you already own) is a more helpful way of comparing libraries.

Semantics aside, for the PlayStation 4, Id probably go for Bloodborne, Persona 5, and Horizon Zero Dawn. And the Xbox I guess Cuphead, Forza Horizon, and Sea Of Thieves. Or maybe Ori And The Blind Forest. The Switch ones look to have been nailed in the first letter.
Matt (he_who_runs_away – PSN ID)

GC: Exclusives are games that only appear on one format per generation. The only grey area is those that are on one console and PC, as is the case with most Microsoft games, but that only requires the qualification console exclusive.

Tipped over

I go along with the recent comments about God Of War, I think it is a bit overrated if Im honest. GC saying they added a point because of how well it ended is how it was for me, only I would probably rate it 8 overall. The story was rather uneventful and quite dull, and literally was saved by the ending.

Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is probably the game to beat this generation, and I think Red Dead Redemption II will be the game to top it. In my opinion Rockstar are the best developer in the world. Yes, even better than Nintendo, sorry if that upsets some people.
anon

GC: We wouldnt describe it as adding a point because of the ending, it was more that the score was hovering between an eight and a nine and that pushed it over.

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Free match

Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is probably the best game of this generation, maybe until Red Dead Redemption II is released.

But if you were to ask the general public, or even Premier League football players Im sure they would say Fortnite. I personally havent played it but my nephew and his whole generation seem to think its the best thing in the world!

Is it really that good?
Mr Spacefoxy

GC: No, but it is free.

Big fridge

RE: yourhomeisatrisk. Just a few days after I brought my 1TB Xbox One S Id used over 750GB, so purchased a 4TB Western Digital HDD for £130 from Argos. I purchased a white one to match the Xbox One S and there are eight colours available. Plugs straight into Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and doesnt require a power unit.

Folks suggested to me that 4TB was overkill but Im now down to 1.7TB (with 132 games installed) and its more than half full. Much better than buying a 2TB (for only £25 less) and finding you need another one a few months later.

EDIT: £99 from Amazon in eight colours here or £1 less from John Lewis here.
Chaosphere616 (gamertag)

Big business

Has there been an update to the story of King explicitly cloning an indie game they declined to publish, and then trying to beat that developer to market?

It makes me sad to see favourable coverage of their latest endeavours with this cloud of reprehensible actions hanging over them. Both versions of the game clearly owe a debt to Namcos Pac-Man, but its Kings calculated attempt to outright betray someone that deters me from ever downloading an app with their name on it, be it Pac-Avoid, Candy Crush Saga, or Legend Of Solgard.
Dynamite Headdy

GC: We struggle to think of any major publisher that hasnt had their share of reprehensible scandals. If it helps, King is only the publisher of Legend Of Solgard and the developers are independent.

Start from scratch

Sorry, I did mean to clarify exactly what I meant. Here is an example. I bought Witcher 3 on disc for the PlayStation 4 when it first came out. But not long ago it was in a digital sale on the Xbox.

Despite having played it to death I bought it again because it was just so cheap. I probably will play it again at some point. Ive done this many times, with lots of games. Physical copy on one format and then a bargain digital copy on the other. I just wondered if I was alone on doing this?
TheRatman5469 (gamertag)/TheRatman (PSN ID)

GC: And did you play through it again on Xbox? Thats a big time commitment.

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Modern equivalent

Retro Ryan in the house with an anachronistic missive. Alien Soldier embodies everything that made Treasure such an extraordinary game developer for me: its bold, inventive and has supremely refined game design.

Could you imagine a developer today possessing the singular focus, tenacity, and talent to create an entire game that is comprised of 25 consistently excellent boss battles fought in rapid succession?

Treasures exquisitely crafted game must be the ultimate boss rush experience. The level of confidence and mastery in the structure, bosses, and gameplay mechanics on display here is quite astonishing. Alien Soldiers creative weapon system is almost up there with stablemate Gunstar Heroes as the best in gen too if you ask me.

Verily, I am in retro heaven with the recent Sega Mega Drive compilation. The new VR app literally magnifies the nostalgia in the 90s Sega-themed bedroom. So many golden oldies to plough though, oh boy, tons of joy ahoy!
Galvanized Gamer
PS: Who do you think are/were the best developers of boss designs in gaming, GC? For me Treasure and PlatinumGames/Clover Studios would be in joint first place. Followed by the Soulsborne developers at FromSoftware, then Nintendo and Konami/Kojima Productions. Special shout out to Capcoms Mega Man, Onimusha, Devil May Cry and Resident Evil 4 teams too for their great work. And, of course, Team Icos wonderful work on Shadow Of The Colossus and Taito for the Darius series.

GC: The recent Cuphead is nothing but bosses, and its great.

Inbox also-rans

Star Wars Battlefront II is £9 with Xbox Live Gold on Xbox One until Monday.
stanley71

RE: Smash Bros. Ultimate ghost-related game mode. I appreciate the gesture GC, but an apology is not necessary! Though if I may Id like to exchange it for a little Inbox magic to make true a Luigis Mansion 3 game, sub-headed Luigis Ghost Thanks in advance!
Bad Edit

GC: Wed second that wish.

This weeks Hot Topic

The subject for this weekends Inbox was suggested by reader Franky, who asks whats the one game annoucement you never expect to hear?

With Gamescom coming up next week whats the one thing youre confident wont be revealed? Whether its a sequel, reboot, or some kind of hardware annoucement what do you think is the least likely, without being completely silly.

What annoucement have you given up any hope of hearing about and why do you think itll never happen? Whats the most surprised youve ever been by an annoucement and how did the final product turn out?

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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