June 21st 2024.
Could Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth be the standout game of the year so far? The Friday letters page seems to think so, with one reader praising Microsoft for taking inspiration from Sony's successful PS4 formula. Another reader is eagerly anticipating the release of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom.
As we approach the halfway point of the year, it's time to reflect on the best games we've seen so far. Will Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth remain at the top or will there be a new contender? And what can we expect in the second half of the year? Will there be a top 10 or top 5 list at the end of the month? Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to play any games released this year yet.
But fear not, as we might have something for you on July 1. At the moment, our top contenders are Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Animal Well, and Balatro. However, there are plenty of unknowns in the second half of the year that are worth keeping an eye on. Personally, I'm particularly interested in Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess, Thank Goodness You're Here!, Star Wars Outlaws, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Astro Bot, Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom, Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, and Slitterhead - among others. It looks like it could be a great year for new releases.
It's interesting to see the contrasting approaches of PlayStation and Xbox at the moment, especially with their Gamescom and showcase strategies. I can't quite understand Sony's logic, unless they're trying to save money. On the other hand, it seems like Microsoft is copying everything that PlayStation 4 did at its peak - and surprisingly, it's working for them. Personally, I found their showcase much more enjoyable than Sony's and their lineup of first party games is impressive. Yes, they may have spent $70 billion on buying up companies, but at the end of the day, it's the type of games they're producing that matters. And so far, they haven't forced any of their developers to make live service games.
I've always been a PlayStation fan, but I have to admit that Microsoft's current approach feels more in line with the classic PlayStation style than whatever Sony is doing. It's refreshing to see.
It's finally Friday and that means one thing - Shadow Of The Erdtree day! I can't wait to dive into FromSoftware's latest release and put my level 200+ character to the test. I have purposely avoided spoilers and the launch trailer, so I'm looking forward to being surprised, amazed, and probably a little frustrated. Prepare to die, everyone!
In response to Farquinn's letter, I have to point out that the name Zelda's Adventure has already been taken by one of the Phillips CD-i titles. And yes, the main character in that game was actually Zelda. So it seems like Nintendo didn't want any confusion or to be associated with those games. And just to clarify, there were three CD-i titles starring Zelda - The Wand Of Gamelon, The Faces Of Evil, and Zelda's Adventure. On a side note, Mario also had a game on the system called Hotel Mario.
I'm excited to learn more about the new Beyond Good & Evil remaster, as I'm a big fan of the original. However, in all my years of gaming, I've never actually met anyone in real life who has even heard of it, let alone played it or enjoyed it. It makes me wonder if our perception of video game popularity is skewed, especially when you consider that a majority of console owners only ever play a select few titles like Call Of Duty and FIFA, or Fortnite and EA Sports FC. Maybe the reader who suggested raising the prices of games had a point - perhaps it would make them more profitable.
It's hard to believe we're already halfway through the year, but here we are! And with that, the discussion begins on what could potentially be the best game of the year. GC has mentioned a few top contenders, including Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Animal Well, and Balatro. But with so many unknown releases in the second half of the year, it's hard to say for sure who will come out on top. Perhaps GC will do a top 10 or five at the end of the month to give us a better idea.
Speaking of upcoming releases, there are quite a few that have caught our interest. Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess, Thank Goodness You're Here!, Star Wars Outlaws, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Astro Bot, Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom, Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, and Slitterhead are just a few that we're keeping an eye on. It's shaping up to be a great year for new games.
Switching gears, the differences between Xbox and PlayStation's approaches to Gamescom and showcases have been quite intriguing. While it's unclear why Sony has chosen to scale back, Microsoft's decision to mimic PlayStation's formula seems to be paying off. Their first party game lineup is particularly strong, and they haven't fallen into the trap of making live service games. As a longtime PlayStation fan, it's interesting to see Microsoft taking on a more traditional approach.
In other news, Shadow of the Erdtree Day is fast approaching and I couldn't be more excited. FromSoftware's Elden Ring is, in my opinion, one of the best games of this generation. I've avoided spoilers and the launch trailer, so I can fully immerse myself in the experience. Bring on the challenge!
Moving on, there was a suggestion to name the new Zelda game The Legend Of Link, but unfortunately, that name is already taken by one of the Phillips CD-i titles. Fun fact: there are actually three CD-i titles featuring Zelda, with Link as the playable character in one of them. It's always interesting to learn about lesser-known games, as it's easy to get caught up in the popularity of games like Call Of Duty and FIFA.
Speaking of lesser-known games, GC mentioned the upcoming remaster of Beyond Good & Evil, a game that has a dedicated following despite not being well-known in the mainstream. It's a testament to the power of name recognition and shows that sometimes, quality games can fly under the radar. With that said, it's important for game developers to be fairly compensated for their work, as suggested by a reader. Maybe then, we'll see more innovative and lesser-known games get the recognition they deserve.
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