The evening Inbox asks whether Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition is a CRPG, as one reader dares to dislike Hollow Knight.
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Drop in the ocean
I completely sympathise with CD Projekt RED being reticent to share footage of a game currently in development. Everything in gaming gets over examined and then people angrily demand to know why things have changed when the finished product is different.
Ive just read a thread on Twitter where people are complaining that Spider-Man has been downgraded because a puddle has changed in size since last years E3. Insomniac have replied saying its not a downgrade and that in the process of development somebody would have had a reason to change it. They even had to say, No. We have plenty of other places with tons of puddles. in response to an accusation theyd changed it to make it less technically demanding.
How can any creative process survive such intense scrutiny? Why are some gamers so certain they know more about the development processes than the people actually making the games? Have the people complaining about puddles never looked forward to a Peter Molyneux game and had their expectations tempered accordingly?
Lord help CD Projekt RED if something from that demo is a different colour, or they move a chair or something.
Euclidian Boxes
Surface resemblance
After reading your review of Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition Im extremely tempted to pick up a copy. I love role-playing games so Im very intrigued by this game and I trust your review to be very accurate and representative of the game.
But heres the thing: I have been playing Pillars Of Eternity in my Xbox One for a while now and I was wondering how similar they are? I have to admit that I loved it at the beginning but it became a bit of a chore with the massive amount of reading text and background lore.
That, and the long loading screens in between every single part of the map which started to really grate, making the whole experience incredibly slow and tedious. I eventually gave it a break and started Metal Gear Solid V instead (which by the way is an absolute masterpiece).
Come on GC sell it to me!
Dj Kj
GC: Although both games have the same evolutionary roots Pillars Of Eternity is purposefully retro and certainly goes overboard on the text. Original Sin is much more progressive and much less similar than it appears from the screenshots. When we spoke to them, Larian said they dont even consider it to be a CRPG in the traditional sense.
66% success rate
I have finally started making some headway into my indie backlog (mostly so I can justify getting new stuff like Hollow Knight, Owlboy, and Into the Breach) and found some absolute crackers (mainly recommended by you). Invisible, Inc. is a superb tactical stealth game which somehow manages to create a palpable sense of tension despite being turn-based. Your heart actually starts beating faster after every close call and each decision, especially on your escape from the level – feels crucial. Most big budget action games struggle to achieve this. Anyone who loves Fire Emblem or XCOM should give this game a go.
The other game I really loved was What Remains Of Edith Finch? which, along with the Stanley Parable, is the pinnacle of the walking sim. I never really got on with Dear Esther or The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter as they felt a little leaden and didnt really connect with me. Edith Finch on the other hand is beautiful with a real emotional weight behind it. The way each story unfolds in a unique and genuinely interactive fashion is wonderful, really bringing out the spirit of each character. Its hard to say more without spoiling it but the ending brings the whole game together and has something important to say.
The one indie game I wasnt entirely taken by was Nex Machina. Obviously it had a glowing GameCentral review and I love arcade action games but it all felt a bit slight. I finished both rookie and experienced difficulties on my first go without too much effort. Although veteran would have been a much bigger challenge, I just didnt feel motivated to put that much effort in. You see all six worlds on experienced so there would have been no new content and it just felt like it would have been a slog. I realise its a high score attack game and as such purposely short but it definitely could have done with at least a few more worlds. Housemarque could have split them into two or three campaigns if they didnt want to make the arcade mode too long.
Anyway, two out of three isnt bad and Im just so thankful to have indie games as an exciting, innovative alternative to the big budget releases. Its almost at the point where you could do without triple AAA games with the sheer number of indie titles available. I really wouldnt want to miss out on the likes of Sekiro and Cyberpunk 2077 though, with both games shaping up to be something special. Luckily we can have the best of both worlds!
Ryan OD
GC: Its a real shame Invisible, Inc. wasnt more successful, as its a real hidden gem. Mind you, we wouldve said that about Nex Machina as well.
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Left on the starting grid
On the subject of Project Gotham Racing it amazes me 3 and 4 havent been given the backwards compatible treatment with the Xbox One, especially with them being Microsoft Studios games.
I would be happy to be able to play them on the Xbox One, in the case of project Gotham Racing 3 just being able to play it would be nice, since switching to a slim Xbox 360 a good few years ago Ive not been able to play it and never understood why. It doesnt work on the slim but does on the original Xbox 360 machine.
Talking of backwards compatible games Ive had a good sort out and put all the games I have that work on Xbox One together (over 40 games so far). Still a few I rate highly that I like from the original Xbox and 360 to make the list but can only applaud Microsoft for their continued efforts with this.
R1CH5TER
GC: We just dont think Microsoft sees a need for the franchise now they have Forza, especially given how racing games in general have declined in popularity in recent years.
Should One upgrade?
I dont want to start huge debate or anything, just need some advice. Ive been thinking of upgrading my Xbox 360 for Xbox One, some people suggest not doing so and other have said go for it.
I do have a really good gaming PC so most Xbox One games I can run on my PC and hence why I wondered if its worth it. Id like some advice, just Ive got quite a large Xbox 360 collection.
What do you guys think?
Chris
PS: Also, will you guys be reviewing the new Stardew Valley update? As it got loads of new content and mutli-player and plus it was 100% free which is amazing.
GC: Well, it all depends on whether youre playing everything you want to on your PC. If you are then getting an Xbox One isnt really going to change anything beyond giving a slight upgrade to some backwards compatible Xbox 360 games.
PC trainer
Im hoping to get some good advice from any of our PC readers. One of my sons wants a gaming PC for his birthday and I know the type he wants is around the £2,000+ range which is never going to happen! So I went to my local Currys to have a look and see what they had to offer around the £600 price range and to be fair it wasnt a lot even in todays standards.
Now I know if you can get one built yourself to a specific requirement this is probably the better option than buying a bog-standard PC straight off the shop shelves. However, Ive come across a Zoostorm gaming PC and I just wondered readers if this would be any good for a 13-year-olds first entry into PC gaming.
Now the price Ive seen it for is only £429 and that includes a three year no quibble warranty too! I know this PC will never compete with a high end gaming machine, etc. but me personally I think for the money I dont think I can get anything better spec-wise?
Spec: Bluetooth: NDepth: 381 MMDisplay Size: 24inDongle Required: NAMD A10 9700 Core
Processor2x4GB DDR4 Crucial Memory2TB SATA 6.0Gb/s 64MB HDDOn-board Radeon R7 GraphicsAsus Prime A320M-K MotherboardRed LED Fans500W FSP Power Supply24in Full HD BenQ monitorWindows® 10 HomeWiFiGraphics: Onboard, AMD R7Hard Drive Storage: 2 TbHeight: 456 MMProcessor: AMD A10-9700RAM Memory: 8 GBScreen Resolution: 1920x1080Touch Screen: NWidth: 208 MMWifi Enabled: Y.
JAH
GC: We have no idea how to punctuate that spec list.
Non-definitive edition
Despite my anticipation, Ive got to admit I was really put off by the news of the upcoming Spider-Man DLC, to the extent that I cancelled my pre-order.
Im sure the finished product will have a substantial amount of quality content, but I personally feel that I would be buying an incomplete package. With an ever-increasing backlog of games, Im going to hold out for a Game of the Year or Definite Edition, if it ever gets one in the foreseeable future.
Lord Summerisle
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Dare to dislike
GameCentral, Im worried theres something wrong with me; Im just not feeling that into Hollow Knight…! Phew, that felt good to type out loud (err, so to speak… but not *speak*… oh look, you get what Im saying).
It might just be a confluence of smaller matters that built up to that;
I really dont like the jumping (it feels both not sensitive enough to jump off from the right spot, but also too sensitive for mid-air adjustments).
New abilities seem to come slower than Id like (currently have the first two traversal major upgrades which have made a big difference, but upgrading notches, health, damage, etc. seem well out of reach considering the cost of these upgrades, both in Geo and in items needed for some things).
The map acquisition system is awful in my opinion (cant map without finding the dude in each area, and even after that the map parts youve traversed wont fill in until you rest at a bench?? What madness).
And Im really not a fan of games where you have to find the story yourself. Im at a point where I finally know what I am actually there to do (mechanically, anyway) but I have no clue why. Some context would really help, game. I keep finding the tableaus around the place that say little bits of lore(?) but theyre so abstract in trying to sound profound that they come across more as just obnoxious.
I do love the look and animation (is it all hand done?) and the magic system (which reminds me a lot of Ori And The Blind Forest, now thats an amazing Metroidvania that satisfied all the gripes I have above) but the greater game of it all just isnt clicking.
Im about seven hours in and about five areas down, will give it another five or so hours but with word that its such a massive 30-40 hours long, around 10 to 12 hours total will be as much time as Im willing to invest without some sort of connection.
aelfin (gamertag)
GC: Those arent unreasonable complaints. If its not clicking with you then thats fine – its not as if there arent plenty of other Metroidvania games to choose from!
Inbox also-rans
I wrote in the other day moaning with my entitlement that Cyberpunk 2077 didnt look that great. Well, Ive since watched the proper 4K version of it and it looks so much better. Especially the colours. I must have watched the sub 1080p footage before YouTube had a chance to properly process it.
bigdaddy watt
Was just wondering when your review for PES 2019 is going to be appearing? Having been a recent convert to the franchise I am eager to see what your verdict on this years iteration is.
Charlie
GC: Hopefully Friday or Monday.
This weeks Hot Topic
The subject for this weekends Inbox was suggested by reader Gannet, who asks what game have you beaten the greatest number of times?
It doesnt matter how old the game is or whether its exactly the same version every time (it can be the same game but on different formats) but which game have you beaten again and again (including New Game+) and still enjoyed? What makes it so replayable and are you still finding new things each time you play it?
Do you often replay games or is this one an anomaly amongst your collection? Do you consider replayability to be an important part of the gaming experience or do you generally only play them once to completion?
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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