Time flies when you’re selling consoles (Nintendo)
The Monday letters page replays the original version of Silent Hill 2 after the remake, as one reader prepares to play a recreation of P.T. in VR.
To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Yesterday’s anniversary
Just wanted to point out that Sunday is the eighth anniversary of the reveal of the Nintendo Switch, which will mean it’ll be eight in March. But as of today, we’ve know about the Switch for exactly eight years and one day. So, I guess Nintendo weren’t as crazy as everyone thought, when they originally said the console would last for 10 years.
Knowing that now is when it was announced makes me feel old but other than that I’m not sure what else we can draw from it. As has been pointed out, Nintendo had nothing to lose, in terms of putting people off buying the Wii U, so it didn’t matter that they announced it just before Christmas. This year is very different though and with the Switch still selling I just cannot believe that anything other than January/February makes sense.
But who knows, I certainly wouldn’t put money on any particular prediction. But I do think all this speculation is already helping Nintendo. People are excited and interested to know what the new console is even before Nintendo has said a word or shown a thing. It does make you think though, to go from the Wii U to the Switch is some whiplash. Eight years later and it’s one of the top three selling consoles of all time.
Tacle
Breath of Evil
100% agree that Resident Evil 5 is grossly underrated, and I would definitely welcome a remake. I think it’s likely too, based on the fact that Capcom are running out of other things to do and the whole portrayal of Africa could definitely do with a rethink.
If and when that will happen I don’t know but I definitely hope that Resident Evil 9 will have co-op. All the rumours about an open world though, make me think that’s not all that likely. My guess is that it’s going to be Capcom trying to do Zelda: Breath Of The Wild but with Resident Evil.
I have no reason to think that, expect a hunch, but I demand royalties if I happen to be right. My preference though would be something much more tightly designed, where you can play with multiple people at once, maybe something a bit more like Dark Souls. Although I guess I’ll take Elden Ring as a compromise!
Hasker
Silent Hills VR
It’s finally the Season of the Witch. I’ve tried to parry many hopes of not doing it but I’m going to do it. The P.T. VR re-do on PlayStation Dreams in VR (Shout out to Dr Joness, Ape monkey, Lampaulmorgan, and the crew).
I’m feeling verily enriched for some PlayStation VR1 action. I’ve promised myself Moss: Book 2 as a palette cleanser. Shenanigans that entail… I just can’t wait to get into this, and I’ll need a cup of tea with a slice of Battenberg to get me back in the room. Rock on Halloween.
D Dubya
GC: Battenberg is a good call.
Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Fallen at the last
I just wanted to share my thoughts on the evolution of combat in the Legend Of Zelda games. I’ve been a massive Zelda fan since I discovered Ocarina Of Time on my N64 and I have played and completed every game up until Breath Of The Wild. However, with Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom I find the combat significantly harder.
First, is the issue of weapons degrading which, although I have got used to it and even enjoy fusing my own badass weapons, I still find very frustrating. The main problem though is the focus on parrying and dodging; two techniques I just cannot seem to master no matter how hard I try. Now, in the main games of Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom this isn’t too much of a problem, as there are many ways to defeat or avoid enemies without those techniques; I even took down a Lynel once!
However, the final battles are very different, and finely honed combat skills seem essential to win through and free Hyrule from darkness. So, with both these games I’ve found myself playing through the whole storyline but unable to complete them, which means I am denied the pleasure of seeing the final scenes of the game and seeing Hyrule return to peace. I know I can watch play-throughs on YouTube (Mr A-Game is my favourite) but it is not the same, and I am constantly amazed at the combat skills shown by the players.
To be fair, there is a lot of content in both these games and I have spent many happy hours completing side quests and collectathons, however, this is no substitute for experiencing the final completion of the storyline. To add some context, I am 58 and have been playing video games since I got my first ZX81 and ZX Spectrum in the early 80s. Maybe I’m just getting old and my reactions are not what they were, but I do find it sad that I cannot complete Zelda games any more. I would be interested to hear what your other readers think.
Julian
GC: Are you making sure your armour has been upgraded and using lots of meals and elixirs to temporarily upgrade defence and attack, before the final fights? They can make a big difference if they’re powerful enough.
On the list
Do you intend to review Kill Knight which came out earlier this month? I’ve been having an absolute blast with it. It straddles the difficulty curve that usually comes with these types of games very well (don’t get me wrong though, it’s bloody tough!)
It’s perhaps the most fun since a GC top-down shooter favourite, Nex Machina. Many Thanks!
Spudley
GC: It is definitely on our radar. If we don’t get a chance to review it this week, we’ll make sure we do in our round-up of missed games in December.
Old school priorities
Good feature on the N64, which is also one of my favourite consoles. Xbox 360 remains my absolute favourite. I have fond memories of booting up Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire, along with Super Mario 64.
That was when platform holders put all their effort into launch titles. Halo: Combat Evolved on the OG Xbox was another highlight. Call Of Duty 2 multiplayer on Xbox 360, also. But it’s been a struggle to reflect upon memorable launch titles since then.
I can’t even remember all the launch titles for this generation? A remake of Demon’s Souls wasn’t exciting. That game has pretty much set the tone for remakes and remasters, especially from Sony.
GoldenEye 007 was the main game I played on the N64. I spent countless hours with friends playing the multiplayer. Mario Kart 64 was special also. Those were the days.
Hopefully Switch 2 has a strong launch line-up. I don’t want to jinx it, but I’m confident Switch 2 will have a strong launch line-up. I am of the opinion a console should be delayed if it doesn’t have at least one great game at launch.
Si
Something for the weekend
For anyone that lives in Ireland and might be interested, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra is doing a night of classic gaming scores in Dublin, from games like Final Fantasy 7, Shadow Of The Colossus, and Skyim.
It is in the National Concert Hall this coming Saturday, on the 26th of October. There are still quite a few tickets left; I am hoping more tickets will get picked up to encourage more of these type of concerts.
Carlos
GC: This seems to be the event, it’s called Beyond The Console.
Going back
I’ve just played through the excellent Silent Hill 2 remake and was curious how it compares to the original.
It originally released on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC, with HD versions on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 but still a pain to play legitimately on current machines outside of the Xbox Series X/S consoles. The oft criticised HD collection is available digitally on the Xbox store, as part of the Silent Hill HD collection.
The first obvious difference is the graphics. We live in a time of ever more diminishing returns. But I think we have to acknowledge the point we have reached in how good games now look and be less critical of a natural slowing of generational leaps.
The controls and camera aren’t too bad to be honest. The controls you can choose between Resident Evil tank controls or, more preferably for me, an option it calls 2D that feels more like what I’m used to. It will always feel weird though, not being able to manipulate the camera with the right stick.
The load screens are a reminder of how seamless games are now. Entering the gates at the opening graveyard gets a load screen, as does leaving it, then entering the next section to get into town also. Once there the small enclosure with a save point requires a load screen to enter, as does leaving it.
The voice acting seems, so far, less professional. But I’m really looking forward to seeing how the story beats are handled because, for all the welcome modern upgrades that’s the part of the game that really grabbed me.
Simundo
Inbox also-rans
Not sure how I feel about a modern sequel to Black Ops 2, but I can’t say it’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard. But what are they going to call it? Will they take a leaf out of Final Fantasy’s book and name it Black Ops 2-2?
Tonfu
Interested to see Marvel’s Wolverine but I’m much more interested to know what Naughty Dog are working on at the moment. I saw a rumour that it was something open world, but that’s not exactly much to go on.
Sonix
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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 and content.
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