August 15th 2023.
Starfield – a true contender?
The talk around town has been all about the 10/10 reviews and how well Baldur’s Gate 3 and Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom are ranking in the list of the all time greats. So, it begs the question – does Starfield have a chance of matching them? Can it even come close? It’s a valid concern, especially as Bethesda have a reputation for producing games with shonky dialogue and familiar gameplay.
The answer may depend on where you live. It’s quite common to see US reviews and European reviews vary somewhat, and in this case, the difference could be quite pronounced. Thankfully, the game is free on Game Pass, so it’s not a major issue. But for Microsoft, they’re hoping this will be their Zelda or The Last Of Us moment.
Personally, if Starfield delivers on its promise of being the ultimate space exploration game, it’ll be my game of the year. But even if it’s not the best of anything, I’ll still be happy with a good game. Unfortunately, it seems some people expect more.
The Tuesday letters page thinks both Pokémon and Call Of Duty need more development time. Considering the current set-up only gives developers three years, which was fine a few generations ago but is now only half of what is needed for an amazing game, the extra time to work on the game would be welcome. I'd love to know how long development on next year’s game has been for.
A reader worries that Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom is too big. It’s a valid concern as the game takes place on three planes – sky, ground, and underneath – and it’s a lot to take in. Perhaps the Reader Feature from Ryan O’D was a good attempt to show us the beauty of Hyrule, but it’s impossible to capture it all in a few screenshots.
Finally, Assassin’s Creed going back to its roots – is it good or bad? It’s a bit of nostalgia for old players, but may not be attractive to new players. Black Flag was well-received when it was launched due to its naval warfare, but Ubisoft has used the same formula again and again, so it’s time to enhance the assassination in the current games instead.
So, what do you think? Share your thoughts by emailing us at email.
Starfield - Is It a True Contender?
With all the hype surrounding 10/10 reviews and the latest releases like Baldur's Gate 3 and Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom, the question is: can Starfield measure up? Will it be able to compete? It's a difficult one to answer, but it's clear that Bethesda is making sure that the game is the best it can be.
Assuming it lives up to its promise, there may be a divide between US and European reviews. This isn't uncommon for American-made games, but it shouldn't matter too much as the game will be free on Game Pass anyway. Still, Microsoft will be hoping that this is their big moment - the equivalent of Zelda or The Last Of Us.
For me, if the game succeeds in its goal of being the ultimate space exploration game, then it's a no-brainer - my game of the year. But even if it's just a good game, I'd be happy. Sadly, it seems that attitude may be too lax for some.
Hortense
Gotta Catch More Time
The discussion around the Tuesday letters page recently has been focused on the lack of development time for Pokémon and Call Of Duty games. It's true that three years isn't enough to make a top-notch game, and it's a little strange that Microsoft are spending $69 billion on Activision Blizzard when Overwatch 2 and the next Pokémon game could have been released in another year or two for much cheaper.
Dobbie
Low Priority
It's no surprise that the Xbox has such issues with split-screen, as Microsoft has always given it a low priority. It's why I've always gravitated towards PlayStation, as Microsoft's focus has been on online multiplayer above all else, even single-player. This only further underlines that they don't care and are unlikely to change their minds.
Campbell
Losing Faith
The new PlayStation 5 is a huge disappointment in my eyes. It's not much smaller than the original and is far too similar, whereas previous PlayStation Slims have had very different designs, some of which were very impressive. It seems like Sony pride and arrogance has gotten in the way again, as they've missed a great opportunity to create something better without losing face.
Kaneable
Never Look Back
The Assassin's Creed series is heading back to its roots, but I'm not sure if it's the right move. Nostalgia might be a factor for some people, but for new players it won't be attractive. Black Flag was great because it was new and innovative, but Ubisoft has been using the same formula again and again. Instead of reverting to old models, they should just improve the assassination gameplay in the current games.
Anon
Too Much of a Good Thing
The immense size of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom is too much to handle on three planes: sky, ground, and below. The Reader Feature from Ryan O'D was a great attempt, but it's impossible to show all that Hyrule has to offer in a few screenshots. A few years ago I said I'd pay £100 for the money's worth of a Bethesda game, but now I'm having to pay £100 to pre-order the edition I want for Starfield.
On another topic, we now know the release date for Super Bomberman R 2 - September 13th. It has a new 16-player mode and other features, according to the official website. All in all, there's a lot to look forward to.
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