The Monday Inbox thinks there are already too many video game remakes, as one reader worries about PC Engine Mini pre-orders.
To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
Small leap
So what does everyone think PlayStation 5 (and Xbox Series X) games are actually going to look like? We might not have seen any Sony games yet but we have already seen Godfall for the PlayStation 5 and other PC games that are going to be next gen, but I’m not sure anybody that’s not a gamer is really going to be able to tell the difference.
I have a friend with a high-spec gaming PC and while it does look better than current gen consoles it’s not mind-blowing. He can run some games with ray-tracing and it’s one of those things that looks good when you catch it in a good moment but it’s not a game-changer or anything, at least not in anything I’ve seen. But is that going to be a problem? The jumps between console improvements has been getting smaller every time, so are people going to be upset at the next gen not being much of a leap or are they just going to accept it?
This friend also has an SSD in the PC and to be honest that doesn’t make that much difference either. It’s faster but it’s not like it completely gets rid of loading or anything. I’d like to think that this means companies are going to have to make their games the real selling point rather than the technology but that’s probably not realistic. We’ll see I guess, but I wish they’d get a move on and just show something. I hope the slow reveal isn’t because they think people won’t be impressed.
Carl
Same old story
Am I one of the few that has no interest in games being remade? You’ve told me the story once and I enjoyed it, but now crack on with some original content and move the story forward.
Same with films; King Kong 1976, 2005, and 2017. OK, so the ape’s hair looks better but I still know how it ends (spoiler alert) atop the Empire State building.
If we are to keep being lumbered with remakes, then why not stagger them annually with original stories. Resident Evil for example;
One year a remake in the traditional perspective. The next year an original story using first person view?
Maybe original ideas and stories just don’t sell.
James
GC: If the rumours are true that seems to be what’s happening with Resident Evil.
Mini situation
Is anyone else weighing up the PC Engine Mini situation? I am definitely getting one on a point of principle. I’m showing my age here but, many years ago, I saved up my paper round money for a year to buy an imported PC Engine, only for the Mega Drive to launch in Japan at the exact moment I had enough saved. I bought the shiny new Mega Drive instead. No regrets there, but it’s the console I always wanted and never owned.
Anyway, now I’m older (and can just buy one without having to save for a year) I’ve got my pre-order in to be on the safe side, but I can’t decide whether they will be like hen’s teeth and hard to get after the initial launch or whether they will plummet, PlayStation Classic style, to a budget price. I can’t risk missing out again so I’m resigned to paying the £100, but I will be fuming if it’s half price by May!
Simjhpy (Twitter) aka Ace Attorney
GC: This is one occasion where a pre-order makes sense to us. It seems unlikely Konami would release that many in the UK, given how obscure the console is here.
E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
Baby kart
Seeing as how there is TV talk on here. I have purchased a Sony Bravia AG855. Can someone recommend a good sound system? I know the TV has acoustic surface audio. Is this sufficient for sound? As one reader said that a good TV needs a good sound system to go with it.
Gaming related now, are there any parents here that have got their kids in to gaming at the age of four? My son likes to play Mario Kart on the iPhone. I say play, he just has the character going round the track in autopilot and only presses the screen for items. I want to give him the full fat version but is four years too young for him. Are there any other games that parents have tried? I only have a Switch console.
Alek Kazam
If…
For a massive publicly listed company like Microsoft, I’m pretty sure the shareholders aren’t that concerned about the falling console sales if things like Game Pass subscribers keep increasing.
For them, having a regular and consistent revenue stream is probably far more attractive than the sales fluctuations you get from consoles and its games. Get people subscribing and you’ve locked them in. As past rumours suggested, Microsoft would probably get Xbox Live and Game Pass on ‘rival’ consoles if they could thrash out a desirable deal.
ttfp saylow (gamertag)
Now playing: Dragon Quest 11, Red Dead
Nothing but Fortnite
I’ve spent money on mobile games before. I spent around £20 on Clash Of Clans in 2014 when I really got into the game. I also bought Super Mario Run.
The game I’ve spent the most money on though is Fortnite. I was a founder for Save the World mode, buying the premium edition, and I’ve spent about £100 on battle passes and V-bucks. But considering I’ve been playing the game for over two years now it has been pretty good value for money. The game constantly updates and this month we will be getting a new graphics engine for the start of Chapter 2: Season 2.
It’s also saved me money in the fact I haven’t really bought as many games as I normally do. I’ve noticed I no longer crave the new release but rather I can happily keep playing Fortnite until a sale is on and I can get them much cheaper.
Anon
Currently Playing: you guessed it, Fortnite.
Real buzz
That new trailer for Final Fantasy 7 Remake was great. I like that they’re going full-on with the Honey Bee Inn stuff, as I felt sure they would probably just cut all that out. I’m not sure what Red XIII is doing in the story at this point but I guess they want to introduce some elements early, especially the characters, so that people don’t feel too short changed about it all being set in Midgard.
The summonses look great too. It really does all seem too good to be true. Very glad that this was only delayed by a month as I’m not sure I could wait till the autumn. Although I hope they make it clear how many episodes it’s going to take to complete the whole thing soon.
Cantwell
Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here
Switching secrets
I can’t say I’m surprised to read that there’s going to be a Switch Pro this year. I never thought they’d do something like that it’s too… obvious. But if they’re not doing that then it begs the question of what are they being so secretive about?
Nintendo are secretive by nature, everyone knows that, but this year they are being really weird about it. Not announcing a single new game is the sort of thing they only do when a new console is coming up, so from that point of view I can fully understand why people would think a Switch Pro is coming.
But if that’s not the reason for the secrecy then what is? Every year since the Switch came out they’ve had a Nintendo Direct in January but the only ones this year have been for games that are already out. Are they worried they’ve got something that Microsoft and Sony are going to copy for the next gen? That seems unlikely. Some kind of new peripheral, like the Ring Fit Adventure thing maybe? Perhaps, but you wouldn’t expect it to be used for all new games.
Maybe a new service then? A streaming service even? Maybe, although I doubt it – and why would that stop them announcing new games ahead of time. There’s only two real options: they’ve got something groundbreaking to announce or… they’re just being weird. Yeah, you’re right. It’s probably just the second option…
Dempsey
Inbox also-rans
I don’t know if this offer applies nationwide, but I just picked up a Sony Bravia 85-inch 4K TV at Costco for £2,400. The games I have played so far on it look absolutely amazing and that’s running off a basic PlayStation 4, not a Pro.
captainbloodsnot (PSN ID)
RE: Phendral. I wouldn’t mind a Super Mario 64 remake since there were some sections that were pretty unplayable due to the camera – I have no experience with the 3DS remaster. I’d only be interested in an Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake if they did something different, like making it 2D instead.
Bodhi
GC: A 2D Ocarina Of Time is basically A Link To The Past.
This week’s Hot Topic
The question for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Coolsbane, who asks what’s the worst game in your favourite video game series?
What do you consider to be the worst entry in your favourite (or at least one you really like) video game franchise? Is it actively bad by other standards or does it just look that way compared to the others? Is it a mainline entry or a spin-off and are the reasons you don’t like it something that could’ve been fixed or was it just a fundamentally bad idea?
Do you usually buy all entries in the franchise in question and did the game affect whether you bought the next one or how you feel about the series in general?
E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. 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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MORE: Weekend Hot Topic, part 1: Favourite retro game of 2019
MORE: Weekend Hot Topic, part 2: Favourite retro game of 2019
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