February 5th 2024.
The recent release of Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice has left many of us feeling disappointed, but wasn't it something we all saw coming? As we flip through the Monday letters page, we come across discussions about Xbox's plans for Hi-Fi Rush and other exclusives, and one reader shares their experience of beating their first Zelda game. If you want to join in on the discussions, feel free to email us at the provided address. But let's put a hold on that for now.
Let's talk about Suicide Squad and how it's been received. Watching the movie stumble into its own demise was like watching a slow-motion train wreck. It's disheartening to see such potential go to waste. As an average gamer, I don't think it's fair to point fingers and speculate on the reasons behind its failure. Was it corporate interference, as some suggest? Maybe. But one thing is for sure, AAA video games have become uncontrollable. And this may just be the tipping point.
Since the start of this generation, it's been evident that the production and development of AAA games have spiraled out of control. It's not just about the money, but also the amount of time it takes to create these games. As mentioned in the Reader's Feature, Suicide Squad took so long to make that it missed the boat on multiple trends and now feels outdated and unwanted. We all love great graphics, but let's face it, they're not sustainable. Even Spider-Man 2, a highly successful game, ended up costing an exorbitant amount and resulted in job cuts. This cannot continue. It's time to accept that the PlayStation 4 era is as far as graphics need to go, unless there are significant changes in technology. But will publishers actually do this? Only time will tell.
Moving on to other news, it's evident that a Rush is coming. Although it wasn't officially announced at their Developer_Direct, it's clear that Hi-Fi Rush will be going multi-platform. And it's highly likely that this won't be the only one. Microsoft has been hinting at a shift towards a more inclusive gaming experience, similar to Sony's PC policy. It started with random experiments, but now they're speeding up the rate at which they're bringing games to different platforms. Will we see Halo on PlayStation? That's the big question. But it seems like Microsoft is open to the idea, as they're limiting their profits by keeping it exclusive to the Xbox.
Now, let's talk about Suicide Squad again. Assemble your thoughts, because I have to agree with the Reader's Feature about the game. The fact that it took so long to make is the biggest issue, resulting in its release at a time when it's least appealing. I also have concerns about Rocksteady's future. Even if the game sells well, I doubt it will have the same longevity as games like Destiny. And if it's anything like Marvel's Avengers, it might meet a similar fate. It's a tough time for developers, and my heart goes out to Rocksteady and others in the industry.
Shifting gears, let's talk about The Short Message, a recent freebie that I just completed. I have to agree with the review – it's just not scary. The in-game cutscenes being played out in third person takes away from the immersion, and the poor facial animations don't help either. The constant monologuing also breaks the atmosphere. And let's not forget about the audio and sound effects, a crucial aspect of any horror game. They're too quiet and don't contribute to building tension. And while the concept of suicide has potential, it's not executed well. The voices could have been more demonic and guttural. The monster sections feel disconnected from the rest of the game and become repetitive quickly. And let's address the elephant in the room – it's heavily inspired by P.T. to the point where it feels like plagiarism. While it's not as bad as Ascension, it's another nail in the franchise's coffin. Maybe it's time for Naughty Dog to take over the Silent Hill 2 remake.
On a different note, can we take a moment to talk about the recent violent threats towards the developers of Spider-Man 2? It's appalling to see that people who enjoyed the game and are fans of PlayStation are threatening the developers with death. These are serious threats, and they could potentially know where the developers live. This kind of behavior is unacceptable, and it's not just limited to gaming. How can someone get so obsessed over a New Game+ mode that they resort to making violent threats? It's a clear and present danger, and I hope society addresses this issue.
Lastly, I have a question for GC. Could you shed some light on a recently released game called Project Downfall? I remember seeing it in an article featuring up and coming indie games, and I was struck by its visuals. I'm not sure if it's the same game, but Shadows Of Doubt is the closest match. I hope it is, because the game looks amazing and I'd love to invest in it. Better late than never, right?
Phew, that was a lot to take in. But before I sign off, I just wanted to share my experience of completing Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on the 3DS XL. It's the first Zelda game I've ever completed, and I have to say, it's an amazing game. The gameplay is varied, and the puzzles aren't too difficult. And let's not forget about the 3D effect, which was spot on. I might be a little late to the party, but better late than never, right?
It's no surprise that Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice has turned out to be a disaster. We all saw it coming from a mile away. It's like watching a slow-motion train wreck. As much as I want to point fingers and blame someone for this mess, I can't because we don't know the full story. But I can't help but feel like corporate interference played a role, especially with Warner's recent focus on live service games.
Let's face it, AAA video games have been spiraling out of control since the start of this generation. And Suicide Squad is just another example of that. The game took so long to make that it missed the boat on multiple trends and now it just looks outdated and unwanted. We all want stunning graphics, but they're just not sustainable. Even Sony's highly successful Spider-Man 2 ended up costing a fortune and resulted in job cuts. This is not a sustainable model. We need to accept that the PlayStation 4 era is as far as graphics need to go and stop pushing the boundaries until there is significant change in technology. But unfortunately, I doubt publishers will see it that way.
Speaking of new releases, it's pretty obvious that Hi-Fi Rush will be going multi-platform. And it's not going to be the only one. Microsoft may have drawn a red line with Halo, but with their recent statements, it seems like they might be willing to cross it. It's a smart move for them, as limiting their games to just one console is limiting their profits unnecessarily.
I have to agree with the Reader's Feature about Suicide Squad. The game took so long to make that it's now coming out at the worst possible time. And I fear that Rocksteady might not make it through this. Even if people buy the game, I don't see them sticking around for years like they would with a game like Destiny. And if it's anything like Marvel's Avengers, it's not going to end well.
Now, onto a different topic. I recently played The Short Message and I have to agree with the review. There are a lot of reasons why it's just not scary for me. The in-game cut scenes being in third person really takes away from the immersion, especially with the poor facial animations. And the constant monologuing just kills any tension that might have been building up. The audio and sound effects, which are crucial in a horror game, are not only too quiet but also not very effective. The concept of suicide could have been a traumatic experience, but unfortunately it fell short.
The game could have benefited from more demonic and guttural voices. And the monster sections just feel like a maze to run through, completely disconnected from everything else. It's also very reminiscent of P.T, to the point where it feels more like plagiarism than homage. While it's not as terrible as Ascension, it's still another nail in the franchise's coffin. Let's hope that Naughty Dog takes over the Silent Hill 2 remake and saves it from a critical panning.
On a more serious note, I'd like to address the violent threats that the developers of Spider-Man 2 have received from fans. These are people who enjoyed the game and are most likely big PlayStation fans, yet they are threatening the developers with death. It's concerning to see this level of obsession over a New Game+ mode. It's a reminder that this type of behavior is not limited to just the gaming community. It's important to remember that these developers are real people with families and homes, and these threats can have serious consequences. It's just not acceptable.
Lastly, I recently completed Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on my 3DS XL. It's the first Zelda game I've ever finished and I have to say, it's an amazing game. The gameplay is varied and the puzzles are just challenging enough. And the 3D effect is top-notch. Sure, I may be a little late to the party, but better late than never, right?
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