Souls-Like Fans Should Look Forward To Enotria: The Last Song

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

Enotria: The Last Song is an upcoming Souls-like that received a lot of praise after its demo.
The game is set to release on September 19, 2024, so fans should mark their calendar.
There are many features I liked in the demo, so I am pretty excited about the release.

FromSoftware started a new genre that has become extremely popular in this era. Elden Ring brought a massive fandom to this genre, and there is now a proper dedicated fandom waiting for new Souls-like titles.

Recent titles like Rise of the Ronin, Stellar Blade, and Lies of P were pretty successful. I enjoyed Lies of P the most, as it even did some things better than FromSoftware. That said, I have noticed another upcoming game, Enotria: The Last Song. This Souls-like arrives soon, so fans should mark their calendars.

Why it matters: While more developers are chasing the Souls-like genre, not every release ends up being a success. Enotria: The Last Song has shown a lot of potential.

The Souls-like Genre Is Already Saturated

Souls-Like Lies of P Remnant 2 Lords of the Fallen — There Are Tons of Souls-likes On The Market Already

I am very well aware that the genre is saturated now. As I said before, almost everyone is chasing this genre. FromSoftware is among the only studios to have ever produced two GOTY winners, so it is understandable why other developers want to follow suit.

While this saturation could be seen as a bad thing, it also means that I won’t have to wait too many years for FromSoftware to release a great Souls-like. I’m all for new releases in this genre since no other type of gaming experience can really scratch the same itch.

This saturation can also make it hard for newcomers to stand out, but Enotria: The Last Song is different. Even if you’ve never heard about this game or its developers, the Souls-like does a great job clearing all doubts.

While the genre is saturated, I know fans like me can find quality titles. For now, Lies of P takes the throne for being my favorite non-FromSoftware release of this genre, but things might take a turn soon.

Enotria: The Last Song Is Amazing

Enotria The Last Song Combat — Enotria: The Last Song’s Combat Is So Satisfying

If you haven’t heard about this game before, I am sure you missed out on the demo. A demo was released on May 22 for PC and PS5. Unfortunately, it wasn’t released on the Xbox platforms, perhaps due to the complications of Series S. Not much is known on this matter, but I think this may have been the case.

Anyhow, I managed to play the demo on Steam, and it was amazing. At first, you might not like Enotria’s aesthetic and might find it a bit difficult, but believe me, it all gets better with time. The game heavily relies on you to parry the enemies, so getting the timing down is a major skill that you must learn early on.

As soon as you leave the starting area, you will realize how good the game looks. It might not have the best visuals in this genre, but they are not bad to look at. In my demo playthrough, I found many positives about the game, and I now look forward to its release.

Get Ready For Some Action

All Souls-like fans who like Bloodborne and, of course, Sekiro should be delighted. This game is for them! The parry timing is not as harsh as Sekiro’s, but it isn’t really forgiving either. Also, I can’t help but think that Bloodborne inspired this Souls-like in one way or another.

One of the main character’s outfits reminded me of Bloodborne’s classic hunter. Additionally, the dodge timing and animation seem pretty similar to FromSoftware’s forgotten PS4 exclusive. Other than that, I really liked the character movement; it was super fun.

Latest Updates

Other than your average levelling-up system, Enotria: The Last Song features something known as Path of Innovators, which I think is one of the best mechanics I have ever seen in the genre.

The skill tree is massive, meaning you can unlock numerous skills to experiment with. This seems to be inspired by Sekiro, so I have no objections here. Also, by beating a boss, you will get their Mask, meaning you can change into that boss’ outfit, and who doesn’t like dressing up as the big bad in a game?

All in all, I’m very excited about Enotria: The Last Song. This title is set to release on the 19th of September, so make sure you have this one on your radar next month.

Modern Warfare 3 Was The Worst Pick As Call of Duty’s Game Pass Debut

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

Xbox released Modern Warfare 3 as the first Call of Duty on Game Pass.
This is the worst-rated Call of Duty title, so this decision wasn’t ideal.
It would have been better to release games like Black Ops 2, Modern Warfare 2, or World at War instead.

Not too long ago, Xbox introduced a price hike to Game Pass, which became controversial quite quickly. Many fans were making a big deal out of the price hike, and even the FTC joined the parade. However, Microsoft managed to call out FTC and cleared some things.

Even though the subscription service is now more expensive, I think it is still a solid deal, especially the ultimate tier. Call of Duty is also on the service now, but Xbox couldn’t have picked a worse entry to debut the series on Game Pass.

Why it matters: Releasing the worst-rated game in the mainline series while fans were still worrying about the price hike was a bad move.

Modern Warfare 3 Is The Worst Call of Duty

For those unaware, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the worst-rated entry in the series. Even though the sales were pretty solid, the majority of the fandom didn’t like the game. The multiplayer wasn’t half bad, but the main problems lie with the campaign.

I didn’t enjoy the campaign at all since most of the things didn’t live up to expectations. Makarov would just come out of nowhere and be portrayed as smart just for the sake of being smart. Moreover, his plans didn’t really make much sense. The story was also just four hours long, while the launch multiplayer content was all recycled.

Due to all these negative aspects, it is considered the worst Call of Duty ever. However, despite such reception, Xbox decided to release it on Game Pass. The game is already available on the subscription service, but I don’t understand why the gaming giant made such a foolish decision.

Clearly, fans wouldn’t want to play Modern Warfare 3 for the campaign, and for multiplayer, there are way better options already. So, why would anyone bother with this negatively reviewed title? Xbox doesn’t seem to have thought much about this decision.

An Iconic Call of Duty Would Have Been Better

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 As The First Game Pass Release Would Have Been A Better Pick

In my opinion, it would have been way better if the gaming giant had released an old Call of Duty on the service to kick things off, as most of them are pretty solid. If it wanted to attract more of the fandom to Game Pass, wouldn’t it have been better to just release Black Ops 2, the original Modern Warfare 2, or World At War?

These are my favourite Call of Duty games, and I would have loved to see them on Game Pass. I would have definitely downloaded these titles from the subscription service for the nostalgia trip, and I think many would have done the same.

We already saw a resurgence for these first-person shooters last year, so there’s clearly plenty of demand for the older Call of Duty entries, with Black Ops 2 being the most beloved. I still find these older classics much more appealing than Modern Warfare 3, and I suspect the same is true for many others.

Imagine if Xbox had launched all the classic Call of Duty titles on the service at once. Game Pass could have been the go-to for those looking to replay the older campaign or multiplayer experiences. The current decision wasted all this potential.

Game Pass Can Still Do Better

Xbox Game Pass — Xbox’s Subscription Service Will Grow A Lot In The Future

Anyhow, what’s done is done. We can’t do anything about Xbox choosing the worst entry in a beloved series for Game Pass. However, it can still release big hitters and bring more people to the service.

If you enjoyed Modern Warfare 3, Game Pass is probably more valuable to you than it was before. Fans can still expect older releases in the future, so the service will only improve from here.

Latest Updates

More Call of Duty titles are bound to be released soon. The upcoming Black Ops 6 will arrive on the Ultimate tier from day one, and I have high hopes for this particular release since Treyarch is the lead developer behind the multiplayer.

Raven is also returning for the campaign, and this combination worked well for Black Ops Cold War. Black Ops 6 is set to release on October 25, so there is still some time left. However, Game Pass subscribers can currently jump into the early beta on PC, Xbox Series S|X, and Xbox One platforms.

Xbox Lost The Console War It Never Intended To Win

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

Xbox has been on a spree of losing console wars, but it doesn’t care anymore.
Microsoft has clarified that it is focusing on making its gaming division a subscription-based business.
The gaming giant is developing a console with the biggest technical leap yet, so the console wars will persist.

The console war has been going on forever and will never stop. The fandom is divided between PlayStation and Xbox, and of course, there will always be fans on both sides as long as both companies remain in the business.

Xbox had a pretty strong foundation in the era of the Xbox 360. I clearly remember those days since I chose Xbox 360 over PS3. Those were the golden days, and both gaming giants clearly had a strong presence in the market.

That said, one of them made a really bad decision, and you probably already know which one. The Xbox One led to the beginning of a downward spiral for the brand, and Microsoft’s gaming brand has already lost the console war. However, Xbox wasn’t really trying to win the war this time.

Why it matters: PlayStation has always been one step ahead of its competitors, but Xbox did give it a run for its money in the past.

PlayStation Has Dominated The Competition – Always

Sony PlayStation — PlayStation Has Crushed The Competition Due To Its Massive Fan Following

PlayStation fans must be delighted that their favorite platform has been continuously dominating the competition. The gaming giant has always been a dominant force, mainly because of its innovative and smart approach to the industry.

I say this because Xbox is backed by the biggest tech company in the world. So, how could its gaming division, which has endless funds, fall behind the competition? That is mainly because of poor planning, and Microsft is to blame here.

The company, of course, doesn’t know much about gaming, continuously disrupting the flow of how things work in its gaming division. That is one of the main reasons why it is falling behind in the competition.

You might remember that the upper echelon previously tried to wipe out hardware, which would have been a disaster. Now, Game Pass, while a great deal, has also become too confusing for consumers.

So, there have been multiple bad decisions that led to this point. The CFO has also clearly said that the company wants its gaming division to prioritize a subscription-based future.

The Comeback of Xbox?

Would it be fair to say that Xbox is making a comeback now? I think so. However, not in the console market, as the gaming giant isn’t really focusing on it right now. The hardware only made around 13% of the annual revenue for Xbox, which already speaks volumes.

You can clearly tell that the gaming giant is no longer focusing on its hardware. Instead, it is focusing on subscriptions since Game Pass has become a solid deal. You will be able to play most of the upcoming AAA releases from the gaming giant on day one via Game Pass Ultimate.

Also, it seems like Microsoft’s gaming division might be wiping out paid multiplayer forever. That said, Xbox still has a messaging problem. On the one hand, it touts upcoming hardware for the biggest technical leap ever.

However, it also says that the business will follow a subscription model. This is also a major reason why the gaming giant fell behind the competition in the first place.

Console Wars Are Dead – Are They Now?

PS5 And Xbox Series X — Xbox Vs. PlayStation Might Never End (Image via Digital Trends)

Microsoft’s subscription focus is clear, but as I said before, there is ambiguity. Why would it want to make a console with the biggest technical leap and aim to release it way before the PS6 if it aims to kill the console wars?

It doesn’t make sense, right? Suppose the console wars are over. Do you really think the fandom is going to stay quiet and let each other enjoy gaming in peace? That can never happen, as interviews with the upper echelon will always bring up such questions. Moreover, arguments will always exist between the fans.

Latest Updates

Also, Blizzard’s Mike Ybarra says that consoles will never die out. In my opinion, the same is the case for console wars, even if it seems like Xbox is leaving the console market behind.

Rockstar Should Remake Red Dead Revolver After GTA 6

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

Red Dead Revolver was released in 2004 and marked the beginning of a legendary franchise.
Despite it being a mainline entry in the series, the majority of the fandom isn’t aware of this particular entry.
The game was much better than most people give it credit for, so it deserves a remake.

Rockstar is completely focused on the upcoming GTA 6. The developer has reassured fans that GTA 6 is coming in Fall 2025, so fans are very excited. The first trailer has already surpassed 200 million views, and fans are now waiting for another trailer.

There is just over a year left before the release, and I think this is the perfect time to discuss a Red Dead Revolver remake. In my opinion, this Rockstar release rarely gets the recognition it deserves, so this should be the developer’s next big project.

Why it matters: A fan-made Unreal Engine 5 demo shows exactly why such a remake is needed. Rockstar would do an even better job.

Rockstar’s Most Underrated Work

Red Dead Revolver Is Very Underrated Despite Being So Good

I have seen a lot of people saying that Max Payne 3, Manhunt, or Bully are the most underrated Rockstar titles, but they are off the mark by a mile. Sure, Manhunt and Bully are both underrated, but not as much as Red Dead Revolver.

I have hardly seen anyone talk about this game. The majority of the fandom doesn’t even know that there is an installment in the series that was released way before Red Dead Redemption. Without this entry, the beloved series might not have existed.

The Red Dead Redemption fandom is huge, as Red Dead Redemption 2 is currently the seventh best-selling release of all time. The franchise has sold over 91 million copies, and the majority still don’t know where everything began.

I have seen many people praise Red Dead Redemption 2, and sure, it deserves that praise. However, it hurts me to see such a legendary game going unnoticed by millions of fans. I won’t say this is the best of the franchise, but it is certainly worth your attention.

Best Combat System In The Series?

Red Dead Revolver Combat — Red Dead Revolver’s Combat Might Be Better Than Red Dead Redemption 2’s

Even the biggest fan of Red Dead Redemption 2 would admit that its combat is flawed. It is not just slow but is also clunky and lacks challenge. The same is true with Red Dead Redemption; the combat system is far from perfect in both entries.

However, things are totally different in Red Dead Revolver. This game introduced the iconic Dead Eye mechanic that many love, and I was glad to see the earliest rendition of the mechanic. Overall, I think this combat is way better than anything that came afterward.

You might have noticed that the movement in Red Dead Redemption 2 is sluggish, and the animations take a lot of time to get going. That seems unnecessary, no? You won’t find such a thing in Red Dead Revolver, as the gameplay is actually fun. The combat is extremely aggressive and fairly challenging too.

You won’t be able to adapt to it quickly as the combat can be very hard at times. It does a better job portraying cowboy battles; at least, that’s what I think about the gameplay. In my opinion, the slow projectiles make the moment-to-moment combat more fun.

Being able to dodge the bullets and enemies doing the same adds to the challenge, and I am all in for it. In my opinion, Max Payne 3 is the only Rockstar release that comes with a better third-person combat system.

It Deserves A Remake

Both Red Dead Redemption titles are quite famous and have been praised for their open world, right? You won’t find such a thing here, and this isn’t exactly a drawback. If you want pure action and nothing else, this is the game for you.

There is a starting point and an ending point where you have to shoot countless people. However, whatever you do in the middle is up to you; you have freedom, which is pretty rare in a Rockstar production.

Latest Updates

You won’t have to follow any unnecessary NPCs to progress the story. It is just you, your cowboy hat, and your revolver. There is so much action that you will be hooked at all times. In my opinion, no modern Rockstar title offers such an experience.

It’s a no-brainer, then, to re-release this iconic Red Dead entry and treat it with the respect it actually deserves. Try it for yourself, and you won’t be disappointed.

Tekken 8 DLC Has Left With Me With Nothing But Disappointment

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

Tekken 8 DLC characters have been very underwhelming.
Eddy and Lidia were already disappointing, so bringing back Heihachi wasn’t a good move.
I don’t have any hopes for the last character at this point.

Being a huge Tekken fan, I tried out Tekken 8. While many didn’t like this game due to it being more offensive than its predecessor, I actually liked it a lot. I am aware certain characters are just straight-up unfair, but it has always been like in Tekken.

While I enjoyed playing the matches in Tekken 8, I didn’t enjoy the story that much. To make it even worse, Bandai Namco released DLC, which left me with nothing but disappointment.

Why it matters: DLC often makes up for what the base game lacks, so gamers look forward to it. Expectations are also high from paid DLC, particularly when it comes to fighting games.

Bringing Back Eddy & Lidia Was A Mistake

Eddy Tekken 8 — It Wasn’t A Great Decision To Bring Eddy Back

I was furious when I learned that the first character appearing in Tekken 8 DLC was Eddy. This character has been in the roster of Tekken for a while and is known as one of the most toxic characters. So, I didn’t really mind him not being in the latest entry.

However, the developer had to surprise us with this character in such a bad way. Some streamers just spammed a single button with Eddy and managed to climb the ranks. That says enough about the character.

There are some people who like him, and that’s fine. However, I think he should not have been a DLC character. Eddy could have been part of the roaster from the start, but paying for a legacy character is unfair.

After Eddy, Lidia was released as a DLC character, and this one is even more problematic for me. Lidia was a DLC character in Tekken 7, so Bandai Namco had already done most of the work.

Unlike Eddy, she wasn’t an outdated character. Instead, Lidia was built from scratch during the very end of Tekken 7’s lifecycle. As such, she would’ve been much easier to port over to the new game, like Leroy.

The fact that Bandai Namco sold the same character as DLC twice is insane to me. Why has nobody complained about this yet?

Heihachi Mishima Is Back, But How?

Heihachi Died — Heihachi Mishima Was Thrown Into Lava By His Son In Tekken 7

How is Heihachi Mishima back in Tekken 8? Harada, loud and clear, said that he was completely dead and he is now back. This doesn’t make any sense, and it just adds to my disappointment.

I didn’t think it was possible for Bandai Namco to let me down after Eddy and Lidia, but the studio somehow managed to do it again. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore Heihachi Mishima; in fact, he is one of my favorite characters, and I wouldn’t mind maining him again.

However, his return doesn’t make sense; he doesn’t belong in Tekken 8, and that is a fact. Kazuya killed him fair and square, and this time, his death was supposed to be permanent. So, bringing back such a character shows that the game is headed in the wrong direction.

Reina was released in Tekken 8 as Heihachi’s replacement, and she filled his shoes perfectly. She instantly became a fan-favorite, so that should have been it. However, Bandai Namco just wanted to bring back a fan-favorite character for fan-service. What was the point of coming up with Reina’s character then?

There Is Still Hope?

If you are like me and are disappointed with the DLC so far, I would say that there is no hope. It might seem like there is, as one character has yet to be announced. However, Bandai Namco has already scored a hat trick, so I think it wouldn’t mind disappointing us again.

An unexpected guest character showing up as the final DLC also seems unlikely at this point. Remember when Tekken 7 got Geese in the first season? I miss when the DLC wasn’t comprised of reused characters.

Latest Updates

At this point, I wouldn’t even be surprised if the fourth character is yet another re-release. Perhaps it’ll be Marduk or Armor King this time. One thing is for certain: the first season of DLC has been a huge failure.

Bandai Namco seems to have run out of ideas. The studio seems more interested in microtransactions despite the negativity. Tekken 7’s success was built upon passion for the franchise, and while that passion may still be there, it’s clear that profitability is the current driving force behind Bandai Namco’s decisions.

With Starfield DLC Approaching, Can It Pull A Cyberpunk 2077-Like Comeback?

August 31, 2024

Story Highlights

It will be very difficult for Starfield to make a huge comeback like Cyberpunk 2077 for multiple reasons.
The game offers a very bland storyline and characters that are hardly memorable.
Shattered Space will bring back Starfield’s popularity, but it probably won’t last too long.

Starfield was supposed to be one of the biggest games of this generation. The excitement was so high that Microsoft expected it to be the first-party launch that would put Xbox back on top. Additionally, the marketing budget for the RPG was huge.

Microsoft even partnered with big names like Imagine Dragons for the title song. However, despite so much effort and promise, Starfield was a huge letdown. One of the biggest deal-breakers for many was the lack of 60FPS on the Xbox Series X at launch.

While Bethesda has addressed many problems, including the frame rate and lack of vehicles, there’s still a lot wrong with this RPG. With the Shattered Space DLC approaching, can it finally make a huge comeback like Cyberpunk 2077?

Why it matters: Cyberpunk 2077 has a similar story to Starfield. It was massively marketed and set up as the next big thing in gaming. However, the launch was disastrous, and since then, CDPR has done wonders and turned the game from rags to riches.

Starfield Lacks A Solid Narrative & Memorable Characters

In my opinion, even if Starfield’s DLC exceeds expectations, the damage is now beyond repair. It will undoubtedly see a surge in popularity, but that would only be momentary. In my opinion, the RPG has far too many problems to ignore.

I don’t really get Starfield’s narrative decisions. The plot has a lot of potential with all the different factions and planets, but that has been wasted. An advanced species outsmarting humans is something that has been seen many times before.

A much more nuanced narrative with fleshed-out side missions could’ve done wonders for the game. Then, there is the feeling of being unrewarded for your exploration. Starfield has a gargantuan map with over 1000 planets.

During my playthrough, I only found about 10 or so planets interesting. The rest had almost nothing going for them, so there was almost nothing rewarding about the exploration. The companions or side characters aren’t that great either.

As part of a space exploration team, you have a lot of partners. However, not even a single one of them has an interesting story or a memorable personality. Every encounter with them felt robotic.

On the other hand, Cyberpunk 2077 has Johnny Silverhand played by the legendary Keanu Reeves. And for someone you only hallucinate about, he was remarkable and one of the best characters I’ve seen in a video game.

Cyberpunk 2077 Was A Perfect Recipe

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty — Cyberpunk 2077 has one of the best comeback stories for any modern game.

There was essentially nothing wrong with Cyberpunk 2077 except that it didn’t run on, well, anything. It was terribly optimized, but the formula CDPR used was phenomenal. The RPG only needed additional polishing before it was ready to be shipped.

With the release of the 2.0 patch and Phantom Liberty, CDPR showed everyone how a modern RPG is done. The same, unfortunately, can’t be said for Starfield, as it was doomed from the very first day.

Still, I won’t deny some of the fun elements with Starfield. For one, space combat and just wandering around in space for the sake of it were two really fun elements. The powers that you gain and the general weapons were also quite cool.

However, when I look back, nothing else particularly stood out. With the launch of Shattered Space, Bethesda is bound to improve on many elements. I also believe the story of the DLC will be decent.

It integrates horror elements, and I’m all for more horror in my sci-fi RPGs. It will also introduce new gameplay mechanics and weapons designed specifically for the expansion.

Before heading to the DLC, you’ll have to go through the story or at least some of it. For me, this is where things start to fall apart. The story only gets interesting in the very later stages of the game, to the point where most will skip it because they are already bored.

Latest Updates

Anyhow, Shattered Space comes out on September 30th, and I will be going into the expansion with an open mind. Having completed the base game, I hope Bethesda does a better job with the DLC, but I won’t get my hopes too high.

The Best of 2024: Looking At The Year’s Biggest Games So Far

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

After an incredible year of gaming in 2023, 2024 has been quite surprising so far.
Titles like Helldivers 2, Palworld, and Black Myth: Wukong have surprised everyone time and again this year.
The rest of the year also looks promising as the likes of Stalker 2, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and more are yet to be released.

Last year was my personal favorite for gaming, as it brought so many blockbusters that I struggled to keep count. Titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, Hogwarts Legacy, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and many others offered distinct experiences and kept me engaged throughout the year.

Following a year like 2023, my expectations weren’t too high for 2024. However, after eight months in 2024, it has become clear that 2024 is no slouch since it has a plethora of innovative experiences.

Why it matters: 2024 has given us unexpected surprises, genre-defining DLC, and so much more. It’s also important to realize that a lot more is yet to come.

2024 Has Been Full of Surprises So Far

Helldivers 2 Became PlayStation’s Biggest PC Launch

The year started with one of my most anticipated releases, Tekken 8, which I had waited for years to play. It saw a massive launch, selling over 2 million copies in three weeks. The gameplay was also satisfying and lived up to the expectations of an innovative combat system.

Following that, Palworld kept the momentum going, seemingly perfecting the formula Pokemon failed to master. I liked the core gameplay, but I never expected it to beat Counter-Strike and become Steam’s second-biggest title of all time.

Little did I know that another surprise was coming just one month later. Helldivers 2 took everyone by storm and completely shattered PlayStation’s expectations. It provided a sense of community that I’ve rarely seen in live service games, making it satisfying to see the co-op shooter selling millions and breaking records left and right.

Then came Black Myth: Wukong and triumphed over everything. I don’t think there’s much to say here except that Game Science did the impossible and delivered an incredible action RPG that deserved to become Steam’s second-biggest title.

Great Ports And DLCs Were Also Released

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Has Already Sold 5 Million Copies

After years of waiting, the PC port of Ghost of Tsushima was finally released in May, which was great for me as a PC gamer. As expected, Nixxes delivered a well-rounded and optimized port.

After enjoying the beautiful open world of the Ghost of Tsushima, June was a cruel month for me as it brought the most anticipated Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. As excited as I was, I have to admit that I wasn’t ready for FromSoftware’s ultimate challenge.

Still, it was incredible to finally return to Elden Ring and immerse myself in its daunting world yet again. From the beginning of the year until today, 2024 has delivered amazing yet surprising gaming experiences for the past few months.

I never thought I would spend hundreds of hours in a DLC like Shadow of the Erdtree or play a live-service game like Helldivers 2, but 2024 proved me wrong more than once.

Things Are Still Looking Promising

Assassin's Creed Shadows — Assassin’s Creed Is Finally Heading To Japan

I’ve been thoroughly impressed so far, but let’s not forget that September, October, November and December are still left.

September may not have any major releases, but it will finally bring God of War Ragnarok to PC. October is going to be a treat for horror genre fans as both Silent Hill 2 and Until Dawn remakes are coming in the same month.

Of course, November isn’t going to be any less exciting, as titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Stalker 2 are confirmed during this month. This makes the rest of the year as interesting and exciting as the past few months.

December will see the return of MachineGames after many years, with the studio launching Indiana Jones And The Great Circle for Xbox Series S|X and PC. Also, Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be launched for RPG fanatics before then.

Latest Updates

Let’s not forget that a new look at GTA 6 is long overdue. I’m confident Rockstar will reveal more information at some point in the coming months. All in all, 2024 has been a fruitful year full of surprises, excitement, and joy for the gaming industry.

AC Shadows Ignoring Historical Accuracy For Crowd Satisfaction

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

A major controversy looms over Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
While fans expected historical accuracy from Ubisoft, the developers went for crowd satisfaction.
Ubisoft should use the current feedback to avoid repeating this mistake in the future.

I was quite excited when Assassin’s Creed Shadow was first announced. Although Ubisoft had disappointed me several times, I was hopeful that its upcoming release would finally improve things.

While the idea of Assassin’s Creed Shadow taking place in Japan was exciting, a huge controversy began when it was revealed that the developers had somewhat misrepresented Japanese culture.

From the main character to the open-world setting, most of it seems far from historically accurate, which made me realize something. Ubisoft is only chasing after crowd satisfaction and doesn’t care much about historical accuracy, which is disappointing for a massive publisher.

Why it matters: Ghost of Tshunima has proven in the past that accurate depictions of history and culture should be the biggest focus for such an experience.

Research Falls Short In Quality, And It’s Hard To Ignore

While Ubisoft recently claimed that it loves to make its titles historically accurate, that the studio takes pride in this process, and that it spends a lot of time on research, I can’t understand how it thought this approach was a good idea.

Yasuke was indeed an actual figure of African origin in Japanese history; his story is not entirely fiction. He was Oda Nobunaga’s retainer from the Sengoku period but was never rewarded with samurai status.

Although no actual history proves Yasuke was rewarded with samurai status, Assassin’s Creed Shadows goes the opposite route and portrays Yasuke as a legendary samurai with great status.

While this was already enough to earn criticism from Japanese audiences, Ubisoft went ahead and included LGBTQ+ elements in the RPG, further exacerbating the current controversy.

If this wasn’t enough, there are also geographical mistakes in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as some of the temples shown in the game are from the Edo period, which came years after Yasuke’s life.

All these things show that Ubisoft’s research was far from thorough. This was a complete failure on the studio’s part since the setting needed to be treated carefully because of the fan demand.

Ubisoft Mixing Up Its Words

What has been really surprising for me is that a massive publisher like Ubisoft doesn’t know how to deal with criticism.

Soon after the game received negativity for its take on Japanese history, the developer stated that it didn’t care much about historical accuracy and that Assassin’s Creed Shadows was developed solely for fun.

However, it didn’t take fans long to dig up past statements where a developer proudly boasted the historical accuracy of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Needless to say, both statements directly contradicted each other.

The team’s own words being contradictory tells me everything I need to know. Ubisoft may have high expectations for this release, but I’m not ruling out the chances of a major flop.

Ubisoft Doesn’t Care About History

Amid the controversy, a former Ubisoft developer claimed that the studio rejected his historically accurate pitch for a progressive narrative, which makes me wonder why the team would even discuss historical accuracy.

Latest Updates

Ultimately, all I have seen or heard about the title has been negative. From one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has gone downhill to nothing but another game in 2024.

I hope that Ubisoft learns the right lessons from this controversy. A series like Assassin’s Creed needs to be well thought out and represent its historical background in a meaningful manner. Chasing crowd satisfaction is one thing, but the latest entry seems to have done more harm than good for the series.

Jason Bourne Conspiracy: The Game Nobody Knows About

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

Jason Bourne Conspiracy was a tie-in to the Jason Bourne movies from High Moon Studios, known for developing Activision’s licensed Marvel games.
Despite suffering from repetitive gameplay and subpar graphics, the adaptation delivered decent action sequences and takedowns.
While tie-ins like Jason Bourne Conspiracy have declined since the 2000s, adaptations of popular film IPs have seen a resurgence in recent years.

Direct gaming adaptations of movies were common in the 2000s, and it’s no secret that the transition from film to gaming was rough. While the curse has been lifted now, some really bad abominations have been produced because publishers thought projects with small budgets and limited time were great ideas.

One prime example is Jason Bourne Conspiracy, a tie-in based on the Jason Bourne movies. While it wasn’t a direct adaptation of any of the films, the title borrowed elements from the books and some from the movies.

It was developed by High Moon Studios, the same company behind the weirdly fun and satirical Deadpool from 2013. In my opinion, the team did a great job despite a limited development timeline and budget.

However, the question still arises: Was the adaptation any good? How well did it fare against the movie? Does it even respect its source material?

Why it matters: For a massive franchise like Jason Bourne, an unknown adaptation is surprising. High Moon Studios was also behind the development, making the lack of awareness even more shocking.

Was Jason Bourne Conspiracy Any Good?

jason bourne conspiracy gameplay — Jason Bourne Conspiracy Gameplay | Credits: Gamer’s Little Playground On YouTube

During the IP’s prime, Matt Damon was asked to play Jason Bourne in the gaming adaptation, but he declined, saying he didn’t like violence in gaming.

Speaking of violence, Jason Bourne Conspiracy has a lot of it, and on paper, it seems like a typical game that you would see actors playing in the background of a movie. To be honest, some of the gameplay seems ripped straight out of a tech demo.

Despite not featuring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, the game was surprisingly decent. Jason Bourne Conspiracy’s gameplay falls somewhere between Splinter Cell’s stealth actions and Gears of War’s cover-based gunplay.

The action elements are genuinely well done. There is a lot of gunplay, which I wasn’t a huge fan of, but the hand-to-hand combat involving environmental takedowns was amazing.

The chapters eventually get repetitive, but the chasing sequence involving cars was pretty decent. Still, the cover mechanics could have used additional work, and the graphics were subpar for a 2008 release. You’d be forgiven for thinking it looked like something made for the PS2.

The adaptation could have been so much more if it featured other elements, like puzzle sequences and a cinematic touch. Instead, it blended in with every other Gears of War clone from that time.

As such, I understand why most ignored this adaptation. The story was all over the place, and the developer’s attempt to capture the movie experience worked against the gaming medium’s strengths.

I’m not a fan of the dark and gritty theme, which doesn’t suit the environments or graphics at all.

We Need More Film Adaptations

Ubisoft Has Recently Adapted James Cameron’s Avatar Series Into A Game

Gaming and cinematic universes have gained traction in recent years, and it’s only fitting that we get more adaptations like Jason Bourne: Conspiracy again. These are good ways of experiencing more stories from existing universes from a different perspective.

Latest Updates

Licensed games slowly became irrelevant in the early 2000s, but things have been looking encouraging before.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora ties in with James Cameron’s universe and explores a never-before-seen side of Pandora. James Gunn’s DCU has also confirmed adaptations that will be relevant to the DCU canon.

Kill Switch: Hidden Gem That Pioneered Cover Systems In Third Person Shooters

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

Kill Switch revolutionized third-person shooters by perfecting the cover system and introducing blind firing.
Despite its lack of popularity, the game was ahead of its time with its tactical gameplay and crisp shooting mechanics.
Although Kill Switch is one of Bandai Namco’s most influential IPs, it remains largely forgotten.

While reflecting on third-person shooters, the likes of Gears of War, Uncharted, and Metal Gear Solid come to mind. Something that you’ve probably noticed is the similarities between all these games and how they play alike in terms of mechanics.

The cover system and blind firing have become crucial to the third-person shooter experience, but these mechanics were established in Bandai Namco’s Kill Switch, released in 2003 during the PS2 era.

While not exactly a well-known game, this title is one of the most influential in the industry. It basically defined the current cover system, or what Bandai Namco would call the Offensive Cover System, by perfecting it.

While the game may not be quite popular with fans, its influence on modern-day shooters is undeniable, and we’ll explore what makes the IP so special. Despite being eventually overshadowed, Kill Switch had a lot of strengths.

Why it matters: For a game this obscure to have such a big impact deserves some recognition, even if it was far from perfect.

Perfect Third Person Shooter Gameplay

killswitch gameplay — Player Firing From Cover | Credits: FirstPlays HD On YouTube

Despite being released in 2003, Kill Switch was ahead of its time in many ways. The gameplay feels fresh to this date, not to mention the shooting and how it feels so crisp to handle all the weapons.

It emphasized more tactical gameplay and was set in a future where a super soldier was mind-controlled from a distance. The enemy AI knew exactly how to combat the player when they got under cover, forcing players to use different mechanics such as blind fire, melee, or rolling between covers.

Still, the experience did feel bland at times, and there was room for developers to do more. Even for a title from 2003, the graphics were subpar, but the game made up for these weaknesses with its core gameplay.

While Kill Switch didn’t invent the cover system in gaming, 1999’s Winback for Nintendo 64 is credited for this invention; it refined the mechanic to perfection. Moreover, one invention unique to Kill Switch is blind fire, which allows players to shoot guns without aiming down the sight or sacrificing cover.

This mechanic was quite advanced for the time. Unfortunately, the game fell short in the narrative department. Bits of story elements were added to the lore after every mission, leaving the player yearning for more and eventually giving up on whatever scrapes they were given.

Kill Switch Deserves Recognition And Love

It is crazy to think that without Bandai Namco’s work, we probably wouldn’t even have Gears of War. Gears of War is built perfectly on this blueprint, cover system, and tactical approach with better characters, graphics, shooting, and story elements.

Even Cliffy B, the lead designer of Gears of War, admitted that the series first started out as vehicular combat but was later transitioned into a third-person shooter after the team played Kill Switch.

Konami also used similar mechanics for Metal Gear Solid. The same blueprint was used as a base for the likes of GTA, Uncharted, and practically every other third-person shooter to date.

Latest Updates

This alone should make the IP Bandai Namco’s magnum opus and put it in the same conversation as Super Mario Bros., Legend of Zelda, etc. Unfortunately, the IP is not well-known and is often disregarded.

In my opinion, a remake could bring more recognition for this title. With fleshed-out story-telling, more maps, modern graphics, and more, the third-person shooter gameplay could shine anew.

Why GTA 6 Building On GTA 5’s Blueprint Is Actually Great

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

GTA 6 is set to release in Fall 2025, with high expectations fueled by the long wait and numerous leaks.
While GTA 6 may not differ significantly from GTA 5, it aims to build on the latter’s near-perfect formula, which could lead to even greater success.
Despite concerns about similarities, refining the GTA 5 blueprint could make GTA 6 an outstanding game.

We’ve been waiting for the next entry in the GTA series for many years now, and after more than a decade, GTA 6 is finally expected to be released in the Fall of 2025. The wide interval between the last release and all the recent leaks and rumors have contributed to the hype and raised expectations.

As such, many expect the title to be revolutionary, and while that may be the case in some instances, GTA 6 won’t reinvent the wheel. A former Rockstar employee recently stated that Rockstar’s next release won’t be too different from its predecessor.

While this may be disappointing on paper, GTA 5 was already almost perfect, and building on its blueprint is actually a great thing, giving its successor more chances to succeed.

Why it matters: While many people may be disappointed by this news, it’s important to keep expectations in check. Everyone should remember that GTA 6 will still be a solid AAA release, even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.

GTA 5 Was Already Amazing

GTA 5 Trevor — GTA 5 Received Nearly Flawless Reviews For Its Story Mode

GTA 5 was the pinnacle of the series; there’s a reason it stands head and shoulders above everything Rockstar has done. The game is vast, has many things to do, and is almost perfect, down to the last-minute details.

It serves as the ultimate sandbox experience, and gaming doesn’t get any better. Whether it’s the open-world recreation of Los Angeles, the driving and flying sequences, which feel amazing, by the way, or even the shooting mechanics that are the best to date, this entry is Grand Theft Auto at its best.

Revisiting Los Santos after such high expectations set by GTA San Andreas was wonderful and didn’t disappoint me. It perfectly blended technological innovation with the mainstream portrayal of the internet and social media. Meanwhile, pop culture references kept the core of the series intact.

GTA 5’s story is amazing too. The way it intertwines characters from different backgrounds, whether it be Michael, a retired criminal living a luxurious life, Franklin, a capable young man looking to enter the criminal world, or Trevor, the crazy maniac willing to go to extreme lengths, each character was perfectly written and portrayed.

Mission variety in the story mode is also impressive: rescuing Tracy from the guys at the TV show audition, looting banks and jewelry stores, or even pulling some of the biggest heists in history; each mission is as memorable as it gets.

GTA 6 Will Be A Refined And Better Version

GTA 6 protagonists — GTA 6 Seems To Be A More Serious Take On The Series

Despite spending hundreds of hours playing GTA 5 over the years, I couldn’t get enough of it. After all, there’s the online mode, but I would do anything to relive the day I first started playing the story mode.

Interestingly, GTA San Andreas and GTA 5 were quite similar, and nobody complained. I’d assume GTA 6 will be everything that GTA 5 is in terms of gameplay, missions, side activities, and then some.

Saying that the two games won’t be different is a vague statement because every Grand Theft Auto release until GTA 4 was very similar. Nobody has ever complained about the series becoming too repetitive or even drawing similarities from past titles because Rockstar is the best at what it does.

Beyond that, the latest entry will likely feature many returning features from past Rockstar releases, such as weight loss and gain from GTA San Andreas and body dismemberment from Red Dead Redemption 2. This should keep things fresh and exciting.

Latest Updates

Revisiting Miami won’t be a disappointment, considering what we’ve already seen from the trailer, which is full of real-world references. The story of Lucia and Jason also looks a lot more interesting than GTA 5’s narrative.

Rockstar will soon ramp up marketing, and gameplay screenshots are expected in the coming months. These should give us a solid idea of what to expect from the developer’s latest and greatest AAA production.

Insomniac Should Not Limit Its Work To Just Marvel Games

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

Insomniac has established itself as a top-tier developer, primarily known for the Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise.
Despite the team’s success with superhero games, Insomniac’s focus on Marvel projects limits its creativity.
As such, the studio isn’t able to focus on its other IPs, sidelining franchises that deserve more attention.

Insomniac Games has cemented itself as one of the best gaming studios recently, having made the best Spider-Man titles. The developer is currently part of PlayStation Studios and creates exclusive first-party titles for them.

While this team has worked on other games, such as Ratchet & Clank and Spyro, it has become best known for 2018’s Marvel Spider-Man, which arguably saved this character’s gaming reputation.

As such, the developer’s name is associated with superheroes today. Currently, this team is working on other Marvel IPs, such as Marvel’s Wolverine, slated to release in the next two years, and an X-Men game, reportedly set for a 2030 release date.

Insomniac is currently busy with its Marvel releases, but I think the team is wasting its potential. Its work goes way beyond superhero IPs, and it needs to work on original IPs just as it did in the past.

Why it matters: Gaming is all about creativity and passion. Forcing a team to stick to a limited set of options can harm this creativity and ultimately lower the quality of the final output.

Limited Creativity And Output

Spider-Men — Insomniac’s Latest Release Is Spider-Man 2

Using existing source material to make games isn’t that innovative and productive if a developer does it all over again. Sure, the result was superb with Spider-Man, but overall, creating more and more Marvel adaptations would limit the team’s creativity and output.

Just take this for instance: since 2018, we’ve had a remastered version of Spider-Man, the Miles Morales spin-off, and last year’s smash hit Spider-Man 2. If this isn’t too much Spider-Man, a Venom spin-off is expected to launch next year.

Marvel’s Wolverine will be the developer’s next big AAA production. From there, the studio is expected to focus on more Marvel projects, so there is no time left to focus on older or original IPs.

What About The Studio’s Other IPs?

Aside from Marvel adaptations, the team is best known for the Ratchet & Clank series and Sunset Overdrive. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the only AAA release from the studio over the last six years that isn’t related to Marvel.

However, with leaks practically confirming that Insomniac will have its hands too full with Marvel in the future, Ratchet & Clank might not even get more attention anytime soon. Even Sunset Overdrive, which I believe is a very underrated gem and everyone should check out, has been completely forgotten at this point.

A sequel to Sunset Overdrive was previously considered, but it was canceled in favor of Spider-Man. A PS5 port was also considered but ruled out in favor of Wolverine. Going even further back, the Resistance series showed how the developer was proficient in first-person shooter gameplay.

For those not familiar, Resistance is a first-person shooter set in the 1950s following an Alien invasion. The game had enough potential to rival Call of Duty, and I have no reason to believe that it wouldn’t absolutely shine with modern hardware today.

Latest Updates

The game had many unique concepts bolstered by an amazing art style and gameplay. Over the years, the Resistance series has formed a cult following demanding a remake, but all they can do is hope for a miracle.

Perhaps my biggest regret is that we won’t see such new projects from Insomniac now. I never thought of this studio as one that would produce high-quality AAA projects. Instead, the team was always willing to take risks and tackle creative yet compelling concepts.

With Marvel now dictating the developer’s future, I sadly think the old Insomniac is gone forever.