Not a cheap present (pic: Sony)
The Friday letters page is pleased to hear about the Sonic Frontiers DLC, as one reader has some ideas for the Uncharted roller coaster.
To join in with the discussions yourself email [email protected]
Christmas present
Like most people I’m struggling a bit at the moment in terms of finance. The rent has gone up, we’re having to keep the heating on for longer now the weather is colder, and food prices are getting ridiculous. Christmas is coming too and while I was planning to get a PlayStation 5 that’s now been put on the backburner. My kids need their Christmas to be good more than I do, so that’s my priority.
Game prices also play a part and, to be honest, I’ve considered getting an Xbox Series S and Game Pass, but I’m not sure I’ve liked any Xbox exclusive, ever, while almost every Sony one seems to strike a nerve with me. The PlayStation 5 is what I what and I’ve got to accept that I can’t afford it. I guess I’m still in a privileged position that it was even a question but still, I can’t pretend it’s not disappointing and a bit depressing.
So there it is, I’m not particularly asking for sympathy or anything but I just wanted to get it off my chest and to say to all those people that are wishing there were no cross-gen games, that actually they’re necessary for those of us that can’t afford to upgrade consoles right now.
JoshC
Strictly average
While I agree that 30 or 60 hours is way to long for any non-open world game I have to point out that The Callisto Protocol is still £50. I don’t like to reduce art down to a question of just money but it is a factor. There may be games out there that are best suited to being an hour or two long (A Short Hike is one I know) but that doesn’t mean you get to charge top dollar for it, no matter how good it is or how long the graphics took to make.
The Callisto Protocol looks good, and I’m interested, but the reviews are going to have to be really good to justify that price if it really is only 16 hours long. Personally, the ideal solution was to have 15 hours be the average maximum and £30 the average price, but I don’t think any of those things are going to happen.
Gaston
Character depth
I found the letter which was criticising the Mario movie amusing. ‘A decent character arc’ – has this person played a Mario game? We barely have a story in Mario games but somehow he is supposed to be a complex character. As for the plot point of an unwitting hero saving the world, it isn’t exactly original even in the games. No one is going to expect the movie to be nominated for a best adapted screenplay Oscar.
The film’s target audience isn’t gamers, it’s supposed to be for the casual to non-gamer audience. The film’s point is to raise awareness for the Mario and Nintendo brand. Gamers will buy the games regardless, everyone else may be tipped in to buying the games after watching the movie.
Alek Kazam
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Free gift
Nice to hear that Sega are planning a lot of DLC for Sonic Frontiers. I’ve really enjoyed the game and don’t really understand the complaints. It’s not amazing in terms of graphics but I can’t say I’ve had any issues in terms of bugs or frame rate.
Either way, I don’t care as long as the game is fun and if these new characters give an excuse to replay it then great, especially as there seems to be new story content as well.
I’m not sure I really understand this new trend of releasing free content for single-player games but I’m sure not going to complain about it. I guess it’s an attempt to make sure people keep buying the game but given the inevitable price cuts is that really cost effective? Or does the fact that most sales are digital nowadays, where there’s less sales, means it works out? The fact that publishers keep doing it means it does I guess.
Lossy
Stone and sky
So the finale of Andor sure was something. Some of the best TV I’ve watched in years and so much better than anything Star Wars since the original trilogy that it’s almost kind of embarrassing. I already thought Fallen Order was better than anything in the prequel or sequel trilogy so I’m really looking forward to Survivor.
Rumour says it’s out early next year though and yet we’ve had virtually nothing on it. It’s getting hard to tell whether this sort of thing is on purpose or just more fallout from the pandemic. If it is on purpose though I wish they’d cut it out. Hopefully it’ll be at The Game Awards and we’ll get an official release date.
The movie industry is starting to get back on track – a lot of new trailers dropped to day – so I really wish gaming would as well. It’d be neat to have something to look forward to that was more than just two months out.
Incopq
Review requests
Couple of games to go back to as the new releases dry up. Tinkyun (might need to check the spelling on that one) and Islets. Now obviously I sent in a wonderfully written reader’s review of the latter but I’m a garden designer and not a video game critic, so it’d be good to get your opinions on it. I can do you a smashing garden layout as payment if that helps.
Matt
GC: Assuming you mean Tinykin, that one’s already on our list.
Just wanted to put a shout in for the brilliant Shatter Remastered, which came out a month or so ago for GC to review. It’s one of the best brick breakers ever made, with a superb soundtrack and will be in my top three of the year.
Also, if you’re wanting another XCOM like game there is the excellent Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters on PC which I haven’t seen many places review.
Angry_Kurt (Twitter)
Now playing: Evil West (Xbox Series X)
It’s probably a bit of a time sink this close to Christmas but I’d love it if you could have a look at the console version of Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord. Not sure whether it’s a bit niche though.
Nathan
GC: Yeah, that might take a bit too long and we’ve never really got on with the series.
Authentic experience
RE: Focus’ thoughts on how you would know you were on an Uncharted roller coaster… there’d be no brakes and it’d crash. The carriages hang off the rails and break apart as you climb back up.
Baddies will shoot at you with Nerf guns and throw water balloons… and a guy with a moustache will keep cracking jokes as this happens, to keep your spirits up.
Furegious
First person intro
Picked up Resident Evil 3 remake on Xbox Series X over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday period for a bargain £8.
Resident Evil 3 on the original PlayStation is an all-time favourite (S.T.A.R.S.) so as you can imagine I’m very excited to play.
Finally finished downloading at 8pm Wednesday evening, so what a perfect time to start a playthrough.
Going in I believed the remakes had a next gen/Xbox Series X patch (so higher resolution, stable frame rates, and better assets).
Unfortunately, within 30 seconds of actually being able to play (after all those cut scenes) trying to navigate that bedroom in first person and low resolution I got the worse motion sickness and had to stop playing.
My actual gaming time these days is beyond limited, so this will get permanently archived to my hard drive and chalk it up as a loss.
Anyone who says resolution and frame rates aren’t important probably aren’t affected by/as sensitive to first person games as some are.
Am I missing a great game GC/readers? Is it worth trying to battle through the motion sickness or should I just move on?
TheSpectre N8 (gamertag)
PS: Currently playing Forza Horizon 4
GC: That’s the only first person section and it lasts mere seconds if you just go straight into the bathroom. The remake isn’t a patch on the Resident Evil 2 one, though, so you’re not missing much.
Inbox also-rans
I can never get over how late and how long The Game Awards are. Could they really not just make it an hour or so earlier so it’s at least the same day as America. I guess they’re trying to copy the Oscars or something?
Greybeard
I just finished Return To Monkey Island and I really liked it. Very funny, just the right amount of nostalgia and proper puzzles. Do we have any idea how it did?
Cuit
GC: No idea at all. It’s almost impossible to tell with digital only games.
This week’s Hot Topic
It’s The Game Awards next week which, especially in the absence of E3, has become the biggest single venue for new game announcements and footage of upcoming games, so we want to know… what are you hoping to see?
It doesn’t matter whether the game has already been announced, as long as there’s a reasonable chance of it being revealed next week (we’d say GTA 6 is very unlikely, before everyone writes in about that – but who knows).
If it’s a game that’s been announced but for which little or no footage has been shown, what are you hoping for in terms of the first trailer and what the game itself will be like? Overall, what is your most anticipated game of 2023 and beyond?
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The small print
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MORE : Games Inbox: Best Marvel video game, The Callisto Protocol length, and Starfield bugs
MORE : Games Inbox: Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer 2 reaction, BioShock reboot, and Red Dead Redemption 3
MORE : Games Inbox: Best horror video game, Gran Turismo 7 on PC, and Sonic Frontiers bargain
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The Friday letters page is pleased to hear about the Sonic Frontiers DLC, as one reader has some ideas for the Uncharted roller coaster.
