The Monday Inbox looks forward to new Japanese role-playing games in 2020, as one reader recommends RollerCoaster Tycoon.
To join in with the discussions yourself email [email protected]
Late next gen
Now that Final Fantasy 7 Remake is out (or rather the first part is) I started to wonder what the next holy grail for gaming would be and the first thing that came to mind is Elder Scrolls 6. We’ve heard nothing about this except it exists and it’s probably going to be several years away by now. I don’t know why it’s taking so long, considering how old Skyrim is, but that is setting up some serious expectations for when it does arrive.
It’s obviously going to be late next gen, if not the gen after, so I think we can dream big about this one. Perhaps a game world that takes in the whole of Tamriel would be feasible at that point? I’m not sure if that’s what Elder Scrolls Online does, because I have no interest in MMOs, but a sort of GTA approach but with Elder Scrolls would be great.
And of course it has to have a new engine. Bethesda games have looked terrible for years now and this is the big chance to leap frog the competition and have something that for once is state of the art. That’s what I hope anyway. I’d also love to see a bit leap in artificial intelligence too, so my computer-controlled allies feel more like real people and have initiative. That’s one thing I’ve been hoping for for years but never seems to happen, next gen or not.
Klomp
Too famous to change
The furore over the PlayStation 5 controller raises some interesting questions.
Regarding sticks, I’d be curious to know what proportion of gamers prefer Sony’s symmetrical style over the asymmetric alternative. I suppose it’s a matter of what you’re used to, but I suspect most people have to agree that asymmetric is better for most games.
In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if even Sony execs privately admitted it. But what can they do? They know the vocal minority of fans are pathologically conservative. They can’t even change the colour scheme without fierce resistance.
Then again perhaps the controller design is like a logo. It’s the recognizable face of the PlayStation brand. And Sony can’t change it too radically without changing the brand itself.
As for me, a key selling point of the PlayStation 5 would be the option to play it with an Xbox controller…
Phil
PS: Does anyone else miss the GameCube’s quirky face button layout? Lovely big A button, with X and Y buttons moulded around it. Just perfect.
Variable rates
Interesting sales figures breakdown for The Witcher 3. I wonder what the format split is for digital distribution – is it just that PC is the main format, and digital is the main distribution method for PC, or are the console sales also increasingly digital?
FoximusPrime81 (gamertag/NN ID/Twitter)
Currently playing: The Witcher 3 (Switch)!
GC: Overall, digital games are around 80% of the market but the figures are much more complicated than that suggests and sales for a big name, mass market title like FIFA can be as much as 75% for physical.
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
New Adventure
I know Sega being late to its own party is not a new thing but is not really bizarre how they still haven’t announced a new Sonic The Hedgehog game? You can already buy it digitally online (because of coronavirus) and pretty soon people are going to start forgetting it and we haven’t even seen a hint of it yet. (As a side note, it seems nobody can be bothered to leak anything about Sega games, which is sad in its own right.)
I really felt that the rumours about Sonic Adventure 3 were building up steam and could’ve turned out to be true. Maybe they could still but I don’t think I’m being too paranoid when I say I have zero confidence in Sega nowadays. I always worry about who they’ll get to make it, probably just Sonic Team again. At this point I think it’s got to be someone else, a fresh pair of eyes. I wish they could get Insomniac, pity Sony own them.
Tavo
Unproven idea
Sparky the Yak asked in Friday’s Inbox about an old game that sent you emails in the real world, as clues to a crime. It sounds like Majestic, published by EA in 2001.
It would also send you faxes, instant messages, and even make phone calls. I remember reading about it at the time, thinking it sounded interesting, but never actually played it myself. That seems to have applied for many people, as it apparently didn’t sell very well.
Billy Bunter
Company policy
I’ve definitely decided that I’ll be picking up an Xbox Series X console instead of a PlayStation 5. I have never owned a PlayStation 4 and never intend to.
What’s lead me this way is, at the time of writing this, I have 191 games spread across a 4TB external hard drive, external SSD (that’s done little for load times), and the 1TB of internal hard drive. Around 30 of these games were obtained via Game Pass, which means I’ve purchased a lot of Xbox One games (and Xbox 360 titles thanks to backwards compatibility).
There’s a lot of unplayed, not-even-started games on my Xbox One S and I want to be able to continue having easy access to them (especially as most are digital purchases, a setup I’m happy with). I’ve only so much room and all HDMI sockets on my amp are full so it’s now a case of one device in, one device out.
Even if I did relent and purchase a PlayStation 5 I would still have to purchase an Xbox Series X because I refuse to use the PlayStation Plus service and I need to be able to access online gaming on a regular basis.
Sony still haven’t changed their policy on PS Plus games. which means I’m still unable to purchasea PS Plus game for permanent use. I consider this unacceptable, especially as Microsoft allow for this and have done from the beginning of the generation.
I refuse to have a multi-million dollar corporation dictate to me on what games I can and cannot buy. Even if it is an oversight. I simply do not want to be stuck in a position where I am stuck perpetually renting games that I really wish to own.
I have emailed Sony about this but they say there are no plans to change the system, so going forward I will not be buying any more Sony consoles.
For people who do not understand what I’m trying to say about PS Plus service I have included a picture from the Xbox One store with this email which better explains what I mean, so I hope GameCentral includes the picture.
Chaosphere616 (gamertag)
GC: Couldn’t you just buy a physical copy, if you felt that strongly?
Roller coaster retro
The retro game I think would be perfect right now is RollerCoaster Tycoon on PC. It is one of my favourite games ever and going back has aged very well. You can follow the career scenarios or just have fun designing your own dream theme park with roller coasters you can design yourself, the only limit is your imagination, therefore you can spend hundreds of hours in the game doing whatever you please.
The customisation options still hold up to this day. New games have come, like Planet Coaster and Parkitect, which I love as well but RollerCoaster Tycoon is where it all started and has a better level of accessibility and simplicity that the newer games don’t have.
Angry_Kurt (Twitter)
Now playing: Judgment (PS4)
Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here
Year of the JRPG
As I won’t be able to play the Final Fantasy 7 Remake for a while I just wanted to shout out the upcoming Trials Of Mana game.
I’ve brought it on the Switch because, agonisingly, it is another game where the Xbox doesn’t get a port/has to wait a ridiculous amount of time for one, etc.
Have GC played it yet/when is the review embargo up?
I’m hoping some of you guys at least download the free demo/buy it because it’s been really fun in my experience so far.
Because of the above, and despite owning them on other formats, I instead picked up the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts 3 (all for less than £50!) on Xbox One.
I hope some of our fellow readers, if they haven’t already purchased them, do so as well, just to show these games companies that we want these kind of games on the Xbox platform.
Outside of the Xenoblade Chronicles remake are there any other big Japanese role-playing games due out this year, GC?
Lastly just wanted to say I enjoyed my experience with The Complex (glad to see GC did review it!).
I would recommend most of Wales Interactive FMV games.
I think their best one has been The Shapeshifting Detective and their worst of the bunch was The Bunker.
Have to say I really can’t wait for Dark Nights With Poe and Munro due later this year.
Hope everyone is staying safe during these strange times and getting plenty of gaming in!
TheSpectre N8 (gamertag)
PS: My (not so little anymore!) sister asks if you are going to review the Ty: The Tasmanian Tiger HD remaster that was released recently as she doesn’t want to spend all of her pocket money on it if it’s not a significant upgrade over her PlayStation 2 version she still plays.
GC: Ah, no. We didn’t think much of the original so that wasn’t a priority. As for other Japanese role-players there’s a remaster of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, plus Bravely Default 2, Tales Of Arise, Sakura Wars, Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Phantasy Star Online 2, and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (the new game by Vanillaware). Trials Of Mana isn’t out for two weeks, so we haven’t had a review copy in yet.
Inbox also-rans
I am a diehard fan of Capcom games. If they can revive the Chaos Legion game on PlayStation 4 that would be awesome. Well, just for a thought.
Anon
GC: Wow, that is a deep cut.
Personally I’d love to see remakes of Final Fantasy 6 and Chrono Trigger but I don’t see it happening. Square Enix are going to be busy with Final Fantasy 7 for at least the whole of the next generation. It’s crazy what they’ve begun really.
Bronco
This week’s Hot Topic
The question for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Cranston, who asks what game would you like to see get a major remake in the style of Final Fantasy 7?
Despite once being very rare, remakes have become more and more prominent in recent years, thanks to Resident Evil and Final Fantasy, but what games would you like to see get the same treatment? Bear in mind that these would be full remakes, not simple remakes, with perhaps little in common with the original gameplay.
What would you change about the story and graphics and what elements would you ensure were exactly the same as before? Are there any games you wouldn’t want to see undergo a remake or are they all fair game?
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
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 Reader’s Feature at any time, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.
Follow Metro Gaming on Twitter and email us at [email protected]
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
Source: Read Full Article