What would you want in a mini-console? (pic: Sony)
The Friday letters page asks why Nintendo doesn’t buy more developers, as one reader is confused at Naughty Dog’s view of The Last Of Us.
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Second try
Considering the mess that Sony has made of PS Plus Premium I wonder if they might be tempted to try and make another mini-console? The PS1 one was pretty bad but apparently it was a rush job that didn’t have the full company backing (that was obvious). So if they did a PlayStation 2 one maybe they could take some care to make sure they have all the necessary games and decent emulation.
I do feel Sony is losing touch with its early games and consoles. Perhaps it’s a little embarrassed of things like Ape Escape, and even early God Of War, now but for me they were important games of my youth and I’d like to play them again and have them all in one place (i.e. not behind a subscription).
So anyway, what would everyone else include? Obviously all the Sony-made games, especially ICO, but also GTA 3, Beyond Good & Evil, Burnout 2, Katamari Damacy, Silent Hill 2, and Metal Gear Solid 2. I don’t see why this couldn’t be possible, especially if some more obscure games are sprinkled in there, but does Sony have the dedication to make it happen?
Gorf
Make Konami great again
I know it’s just not their style but I really don’t understand why Nintendo doesn’t buy up some of these developers they work with. They might prefer not to, in an ideal world, but in a non-ideal world what happens if Microsoft or Sony come along and buy MercurySteam or PlatinumGames or the team that made Mario + Rabbids?
Why are the being so short-sighted? It seems so silly leaving the future of these franchises up to fate. The pros of buying them seem to enormously outweigh any cons, which are… they don’t like spending money?
In an idea world they would’ve snapped up Sega and Konami as well, to save them from themselves, and yet we’ve never had so much as a rumour about it. Capcom would be great too, but at least they can tie their own shoelaces and make some use of their back catalogue. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate showed how much Nintendo obviously respects these companies so why not buy them, give them a cash injection, and return them to their former glory?
Cranston
Anti-love story
Yeah, I really don’t know what Neil Druckmann is getting at when he says the two The Last Of Us games are a ‘universal message and statement about love’. The first is about love being a selfish and destructive force and the second… it’s just people fooling themselves they’re in love or using it as an excuse to do terrible things.
Maybe that’s what he meant but it sure doesn’t sound like that. It makes me wonder how the series will end, and if it will be different to the game, because I’m beginning to wonder what Druckmann thinks the games are saying. People often say the second one is too positive towards Ellie, given the things she does, but now I’m beginning to think that Druckmann is the main cause of that.
Diegesis
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Accept no substitute
I never really liked Dead Space either. Borrowed it off my friend, because he said it was like Resident Evil 4, and I never even bothered to finish it. Maybe if I’d played it before Resi it would’ve seemed better but there’s no way anything can stand up to Capcom’s classic, not in my book.
I’m so looking forward to the remake you can’t believe, especially as it sounds like it’s going to be just like the Resident Evil 2 remake in terms of honouring the original but also adds lots to it and modernising the controls. If it doesn’t end up being my game of the year I’m going to be very disappointed.
Lemoangel
Welcome fodder
Hi-Fi Rush’s shadow drop was a pleasant surprise. Along with last year’s Grounded’s full release and Pentiment I like seeing these slightly smaller, more experimental projects from Microsoft’s acquisitions.
I think the reason for their greenlighting is content for Game Pass and I’ve the seen the now tedious slur of Game Pass fodder slung at them. But if this is the quality and variety of that fodder then great.
I’m going to get stuck into Rush over the weekend, while also having a nostalgia session with GoldenEye 007. I also want to see how Age Of Empires 2 Definitive Edition works on a controller, with the console release on the 31st. The console real-time strategy dream is still alive.
Simundo
Except the unexpected
I know I shouldn’t but I just can’t resist joining in with the Nintendo speculation at the moment, especially as, minus Zelda, it’s a completely blank slate of what to expect this year. I think we can conclusively rule out a new console this year and yet whatever their Christmas game is going to be I haven’t a clue.
I don’t understand why they didn’t delay Scarlet and Violet until this year, as they had two mainline Pokémon games last year and none this year. Add in the problem with the bugs and it makes no sense, unless there was a reason they wanted to get it ‘out of the way’ before this Christmas.
But what were they getting out of the way of? Nothing we know of at the moment and, like I said, surely not a new console. I don’t know what they’ve even got left, that hasn’t been on the Switch so it’s either an obscure franchise sequel, that’s going to come out of the blue, or a brand new IP, which seems an odd thing to release at the end of a console’s life.
The thing is, because it’s Nintendo, it could easily be the case that they have nothing and they’ll just limp by with some remasters and, as the rumours suggest, DLC. I have no idea, no one has any idea, and that’s kind of exciting.
Ragman
Novel idea
I really enjoyed the Life Is Strange: True Colors DLC. I could quite happily play a full length Steph game, playing records, reading out ads, and pottering about in the shop.
For fans there is a Steph’s Story novel out that you can pre-order now.
Halfempty
GC: We’re assuming it’s this. We’ve heard the comic book tie-ins to the first Life Is Strange are also good.
Time sensitive
Absolutely loved the original Dead Space and the sequel. Couldn’t wait to play The Callisto Protocol and smashed it in less than a week, coming away very happy with the overall experience. I won’t be buying Dead Space remake for two reasons: The Callisto Protocol is still recent in my mind and it’s a similar experience in my opinion, so not bothered. Also, I have already completed the original! Why would I play it again?
This got me thinking: I used to have time to play, what felt like, every game that came out! Nowadays I have to pick my games carefully.
Biomutant was free on PS Plus last month and even though it was free I didn’t bother playing it!
There is only one game I will be buying in February and that’s Sons Of The Forest on PC. Would rather buy it on PlayStation 5 but it’s not on that.
TommyFatFingers
Inbox also-rans
Can anyone please advise how to play a GameCube on a modern TV?
Lovely Boy
Here’s an exclusive rumour for you: Naughty Dog’s next game is going to be a third person shooter with some stealth and a story that takes up the majority of the running time. Prove me wrong.
Karl
This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Paulie, who asks what is more important to you: graphics or gameplay?
Even if you consider both to be important do you have minimum requirements for either? Does it really not matter to you how bad the graphics are if you enjoy the rest of the game and how bad does the gameplay have to get before it becomes a problem, if you are appreciating other elements such as the visuals and story?
What are your best examples of games that excel in one area but not others and was it something you could still appreciate, or does everything have to have a good balance of features?
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The small print
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The Friday letters page asks why Nintendo doesn’t buy more developers, as one reader is confused at Naughty Dog’s view of The Last Of Us.
