The Tuesday Inbox wishes Sony had moved the analogue sticks on the PS5 DualSense, as one reader plans his first Soulsborne game.
To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
Be lucky
I understand the arguments about not buying consoles day one, I really do, but after GC’s Demon’s Souls review my mind is made up: I’m getting a PlayStation 5 as soon as I can. There’s at least three games I want from day one and which seem really good (Demons’ Souls, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and The Pathless) and I can’t remember that for any modern launch, even from Nintendo. And that’s not even counting Astro’s Playroom either.
I’m very much in the camp that says I’d rather have one game I really want than 10 I don’t, which is basically what the choice between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X has come down to, from my perspective.
The real question though is that now I’ve come to this decision can I get one this year or, dare I say it, this week? What are the chances of being able to order a PlayStation on launch day? Has Sony said anything or is it just a case of trying your luck? I refuse to use eBay and scalpers though, I really wish there was a way to stop them.
Ishi
GC: It’s been implied that there will be new stock on Thursday, a reader in the also-rans claims Amazon are already warning customers of exactly that. It’s likely to be pretty limited though.
Don’t You (Forget About Me)
While Sony have been praised for the haptic feedback in the DualSense controller, you have to wonder how much developers are going to use it.
Likewise, the HD rumble in the Switch Joy-Con was amazing the first time you feel it… in that single mini-game in 1-2-Switch. I can’t think of another game that has used it at all.
I mean, I’m glad Sony are finally doing something with their controllers, as the DualShock range hasn’t changed much over multiple generations.
Of course, the upshot of all this technology in controllers is that they’re getting ridiculously expensive…
ttf saylow (gamertag)
Now playing: Ring Fit Adventure, South Park: The Fractured But Whole (rescued from the backlog after two years!)
Too proud to change
With all the positive feedback of the new Sony controller. The thing that got me was why haven’t Sony moved the left analogue stick? I could understand with the DualShock as it was sort of iconic, but they have essentially redesigned their controller with the DualSense.
You do lose the aesthetics of the symmetrical controller, but I would prefer comfort. This will be controversial, but I find the symmetrical analogue stick placement to be the work of the devil, it really is arthritis inducing.
Alek Kazam
GC: It’s purely an aesthetic/branding thing, it’s a shame but there it is.
E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
Taking sides
After many years the console wars continue, I mean some of us remember back to the days where Sega and Nintendo was our only choice.
Nowadays we are left with two huge giants in Microsoft and Sony, I’m not going to sit here and judge one console over another because that would just make me one of the tribes ready to fight.
This current console war has seen game companies taking sides as I see it, either via company purchase or just by agreement. With Bethesda being taking under Microsoft’s claw and Square Enix already under Sony.
I feel like this will just be the beginnings of a much greater fight, I understand consoles require the best to shift endless units to the masses, but what will be the overall cost to us?
Little by little our choice will no longer be about which console we preferred and more about which games we want. But I now feel like we will all suffer in the long run by limiting our access to the games we want. I hope that the Sony and Microsoft can resolve these issues and just let the machines do the talking.
Aaron wright
GC: Sony are no closer to Square Enix now than they have ever been.
Day one-ish
Regarding some people banging on about day one purchases of the new next gen consoles, everyone just presumes it’s always the hardcore elite of the gaming community or some kind of techno geeks that’s got to have the latest tech no matter what the improvements are. However, there’s also the consumers like myself, and I expect many other parents, around the world what with Christmas coming up.
So for me personally pre-ordering a PlayStation 5 and an Xbox Series X has done me a big favour this year because for my two younger sons at 15 and 18 years old it’s not the same old for them. They will have a new console to open and play with, hopefully with all their friends online. No, I don’t think they are spoilt either and no I’m not loaded or rich by any means. I just try to do the best what any parent tries to do this day and age and if I can afford it and I’m not going to put myself into debt I will pay for my two younger son’s consoles.
Because at the end of the day that’s what they want for this Christmas and finally if I couldn’t afford it they both wouldn’t be getting one either! Like I’ve said before, I will be a proud owner of a hand-me-down PlayStation 4 and Xbox One X on 25th December, so it’s win-win all round.
JAH
GC: Technically, Christmas is not day one.
Why not both?
Silly question but interested to hear your thoughts on how to enter the Souls series:
A. Get new Demon’s Souls on PlayStation 5 when I have the money (in a year or two).
B. Get cheaper Dark Souls remaster on PlayStation 4 now.
C. Get Bloodborne on PlayStation 4 now.
D. Wait for potential (unannounced, un-rumoured) Bloodborne remaster on PS5
How likely do you think D is? Secretly that’s what appeals to me most, but can you outline what the main differences are between Demon’s Souls and Bloodborne?
Owen (NongWen – PSN ID)
GC: A Bloodborne remaster has been rumoured but it seems more likely to just be fans convincing themselves of the possibility, as there’s never been any proof. Considering how cheap they are now we don’t know why you don’t go for both B and C. All Soulsborne games plays similarly, although Bloodborne is slightly more action-y and its Lovecraftian setting is a little more horror-orientated than Dark Souls’ dark fantasy.
Maximum enjoyment
Loving the C64 Maxi, I have the other minis but the C64 is the only one where I never played the original when I was younger so nostalgia isn’t playing a part.
I recommend everyone to download a new game for it called Neptune Lander Elite, it’s a free download but you can voluntarily contribute to the developer (which I recommend). it’s a brilliant Lunar Lander clone. Just Google it and download!
Atomicbud (gamertag)
Worth a pass
After recently getting Game Pass and discovering what it has to offer I landed on a lovely little game called Ikenfell.
Wrapped in a cute role-playing shell the game, although mechanically simple, is surprisingly deep. The story is full of intrigue and the characters all relatable and a joy to learn more about.
The music impressed across the board, ranging from classic 32-bit tunes to fully voiced pop and R&B boss themes which are quite cheesy but still really fun.
The world is semi-open and opens up as you go along, leaving loads of secrets and mini-puzzles to get better gear, etc. You do earn EXP too, to level up, learn new skills, and increase stats to take into combat.
The combat is where the game shone most for me. It’s almost a grid style Paper Mario (1 and 2, not the recent ones). You have to line up characters on a grid to attack and all your skills require a Paper Mario-esque button press to do more damage. Same goes for blocking. It’s just as addictive as the aforementioned Paper Mario.
It can get a little repetitive in the longer dungeons, as you fight similar enemies a lot, but it never outstayed its welcome.
If GC has the time I would love to hear your opinion.
Anyone with Game Pass give it a go I hope you like it as much as I did.
Anon
GC: We’re not going to, we don’t think.
Limited response
I’d just like to start saying how much I enjoyed reading your articles, especially reviews, GC, which I use before making a decision on buying a game. Keep up the good work! Especially love reading the GameCentral Inbox everyday, from which I’ve made quite a few friends over the years too.
Just out of curiosity what happened to the second part of this weekend’s Hot Topic I looked everywhere but couldn’t find it?
marcs73 (PSN ID) Add me!
GC: To our surprise we didn’t have enough letters to fill it out. We think maybe people thought they had to have an Xbox Series X/S to write in, but that wasn’t our intention.
Softly, softly
I’ve just watched a Sky News piece covering the recent study that finds playing games for long periods of time improves well-being. You might think hurrah! Finally some positive coverage of our hobby, but the entire piece was framed as ‘games are for children’ with discussion about the types of games children are playing. This really winds me up as we enter a new gen of consoles the mainstream media STILL perpetuate the stereotype that gaming is a kid’s hobby. It’s always non-gamers making the assumptions as well.
I had hoped that when Sony entered the market with the PlayStation that their marketing towards late teens/young adults would help shift the mainstream views on gaming but it seems outside of core gaming channels, gaming is still viewed as a waste of free time, puerile, and devoid of art and culture. Obviously, all GC readers will know that’s not the case.
How can we move the discussion on when non-gamers and mainstream media continue to think our hobby is childish?
Bristolpete
GC: All we can do is chip away and allow gaming to seep more and more into mainstreams culture, which it continues to do at a slow but steady rate.
Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here
Red Five standing by
I hope Motive really are working on a sequel to Star Wars Squadrons as I think they did a fantastic job on the game. It did take a little while to adjust to the mid-budget graphics, which despite some lovely visual set pieces are a little step down from Battlefront 2’s Starfighter Assault, but once I adjusted my expectations I had a wonderful time.
The story campaign is surprisingly good. I would advise anyone playing through the campaign to go for the medals. I didn’t fully take in what was happening on each mission first time around, just lurching from objective to objective, but replaying them gives you a much better appreciation of their design. Going from memory I actually think the Squadrons missions are superior to those in the Rogue Squadron series (I never played X-Wing Vs. TIE Fighter to compare).
Both multiplayer modes are great fun too. In the beginning I gravitated towards Fleet Battles, which offers a little more space to learn the ropes and obviously offers the spectacle of the capital ships. But once I knew what I was doing Dogfights became my go to mode. I had some absolutely amazing one-on-one fights, dodging between asteroids or buildings to make some unbelievable escapes. Flying through the explosion of an enemy starfighter you have just deftly destroyed never fails to exhilarate.
Even with all my praise though, it is easy to see how the game can be improved further. More content for both the campaign and the multiplayer, planet-based levels and, of course, even better graphics. Let’s hope as rumoured the developers get the chance to improve on their good work.
Ryan O’D
GC: We agree. Although the Star Wars nerd in us gets a nervous twitch every time there’s a planet level. They’re starfighters not airfighters! Whoever designed the TIE Striker for Rogue One, which was purposefully aerodynamic, knows what’s up.
Inbox also-rans
Just wanted to alert my fellow gamers to a recent video I watched on Ray Tracing. It was really informative and despite what you might think he actually seems like a really nice guy.
Dan (grimwar85 – gamertag/PSN ID)
I have just got the following email from Amazon this afternoon (Monday) at 3.20pm: ‘The Sony PlayStation 5 will be available for order again on Amazon.co.uk on 19 November 2020 after 12:00 noon GMT. Stock is limited.’
Andrew J.
PS: The Butcher game is free on GOG for the next 48 hours at time of writing this message.
This week’s Hot Topic
The topic for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader CarrotCakeIsYum (PSN ID), who asks what are your unpopular gaming opinions?
What things in gaming do you disagree with the majority opinion on, in terms of the quality of games, developers, consoles, or anything else?
Do you tend to disagree with a lot of accepted wisdom or are these examples exceptions to the rule? What’s the most surprised or disappointed you’ve been by something you expected to be either very good or very bad?
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 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.
MORE : Games Inbox: PS5 day one UK launch, Xbox Series X/S games, and Need For Speed Underground 3
MORE : Weekend Hot Topic, part 1: Are you getting an Xbox Series X or S?
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