November 4th 2024.
Get ready for a long wait, because Black Ops 6 is here and it's creating quite the buzz. In the latest Monday letters page, fans are debating the merits of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Elden Ring. One reader even provides a detailed summary of high-end Xbox gamepads. If you want to join in on the discussion, be sure to email us your thoughts.
As a gamer in my early 40s, I've been playing video games since the days of Super Mario Bros. on the NES. However, with a busy family and professional life, I rarely feel the need to buy games when they first come out. I usually wait a few months before picking them up, unless there's a particularly exciting release that I just can't resist.
When it comes to the Call of Duty franchise, the last one I bought and loved was Infinite Warfare. The campaign was superb, but at the time it seemed to be quite unpopular. Since then, I've lost interest in the subsequent releases and have instead turned to playing more indie games and enjoying my trusty Nintendo Switch. It's been a reliable source of entertainment throughout its lifetime. In fact, I'm not even planning on getting the PlayStation 5 anytime soon. It's not because of a lack of budget or anything, but simply because it doesn't offer anything that appeals to me.
So, imagine my surprise when I decided to pick up the latest Black Ops game last Friday. I knew there would be long load times, but I was still hoping to play on Friday night or at least on Saturday. I have a PS4 Pro, a great Wi-Fi connection, and plenty of hard drive space. I even have two PS4 Pros that I could switch between depending on the availability of my family's TV. However, to my disappointment, it's now Sunday and I still haven't had a chance to play the game. After a lengthy day one download, which required me to clear a ridiculous amount of space, I then had to deal with a strange game launcher. Apparently, it's some kind of game hub that informed me that I needed to install a whopping 36GB for the campaign alone, not to mention the other parts of the game. I left it to do its thing on Saturday afternoon, but by Saturday night at 10pm it was only halfway done.
Frustrated, I decided to download Europa on my Switch instead. It only took 10 minutes and cost me £13, and I was able to play and have a great time. At this point, I can't help but feel disillusioned with AAA gaming. Even when I do finally get to play Black Ops, I doubt it will erase the sour taste that this experience has left in my mouth. I'm eagerly anticipating the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 and I hope it continues the tradition of providing quick and easy access to fun games.
Moving on to other topics, I don't necessarily believe any of the specific rumors about GTA 6 Trailer 2. However, if it doesn't come out this year, that would be very strange. It's been over a year since the first trailer was released, which makes me think it might be delayed until 2026. It's interesting to note that the two most unpredictable and uncommunicative companies in the gaming industry - Nintendo and Rockstar - also happen to be the best at making games. Perhaps their secret is to simply focus on creating quality content without feeling the need to constantly hype it up. Sony, on the other hand, seems to struggle with this approach and often comes across as arrogant and distant.
In other news, I'm a bit shocked to see the Monster Hunter Wilds beta performing so well on Steam. Although I have no interest in the game personally, I'm happy to support it if it means more revenue for Capcom. Of course, I hope they use that money to make more games that I actually enjoy. Speaking of which, I think it's about time they made good on their vague promises of bringing back classic franchises. As much as I love Monster Hunter, I'm sure fans would be ecstatic to see the return of other beloved titles like Ghosts 'N Goblins, Bionic Commando, 1942, Knights Of The Round, and Strider. I'm giving Capcom until March next year to announce something, otherwise I might just have to start a riot.
On a different note, I'm a huge fan of Totally Spies! and I'm thrilled to hear that new games are in the works. I'm particularly looking forward to Rita's Rewind, but in the meantime, I'll be playing Totally Spies! - Cyber Mission, which I picked up on launch day. I'm curious to know if you will be reviewing either of these games?
And finally, I have to mention how much I'm enjoying RetroRealms: Halloween Vs. Evil Dead. It's a fan's dream come true, with countless references to both franchises. It may not have the most complex combat or combos, but it more than makes up for it with its setting and challenging boss battles. I highly recommend it, especially for fans of the classic horror films. On a side note, I also watched the behind-the-scenes extras and thoroughly enjoyed them. One of the developers even mentioned that their favorite horror film was The Void, which doesn't get enough love in my opinion.
Thank you for reading my lengthy email. Keep up the great work and I look forward to your reviews!
Are you eagerly anticipating the release of Black Ops 6? Well, get ready to wait a while longer. The Monday letters page is buzzing with discussions about the highly-anticipated game, with one reader even providing a detailed roundup of top-of-the-line Xbox gamepads. If you want to join in on the conversation, be sure to send us an email.
As a gamer in my early 40s who first started with Super Mario Bros. on the NES, I've learned to be patient when it comes to buying games. With a busy family and professional life, I rarely feel the need to purchase new releases right away. However, I couldn't resist the latest Black Ops and decided to get it last Friday, despite knowing about the long load times. I had high hopes of playing it on Friday night or even Saturday, but to my disappointment, I still haven't had the chance to play it on Sunday.
In the past, I've enjoyed the Call of Duty franchise, particularly Infinite Warfare, which had a stellar campaign mode. However, I noticed that it was not well received at the time. Since then, my interest in the series has dwindled and I've turned to indie games and my trusty Switch. As a result, I'm not too excited about the PlayStation 5 generation. Even with a good budget and resources, there's just nothing that appeals to me.
So, I was surprised when I decided to give Black Ops 6 a chance. I have a PS4 Pro, excellent Wi-Fi, and plenty of storage space, but the game still took a significant amount of time to download. After clearing up a ridiculous amount of space and setting up the launcher, I was informed that I needed a 36GB install just for the campaign. Even after leaving it to download on Saturday afternoon, it was still only halfway done by Saturday night at 10pm. Frustrated, I turned to my Switch and downloaded Europa in just 10 minutes for £13, and I had a great time playing it.
At this point, I'm starting to feel like triple-A gaming is not worth it for me. And when I finally do get to play Black Ops 6, I doubt it'll erase the sour taste it has left in my mouth. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Switch 2 and hoping that it will continue the tradition of having good games that are quick and easy to play.
Moving on to other gaming news, I'm not sure what to believe about the rumors surrounding GTA 6 Trailer 2. However, if it doesn't come out this year, it'll be quite strange considering it has been more than 12 months since the first trailer. I find it interesting that Nintendo and Rockstar, two notoriously secretive companies, are also the best at making games. Maybe their approach of focusing on the game and not the hype is the key to their success. I wonder if Sony is trying to follow suit but is struggling to find the right balance, as they often come across as arrogant and distant.
On a different note, I was surprised to see the Monster Hunter Wilds beta doing so well on Steam. Although I have no interest in the game, I support anything that makes Capcom money, as long as they use it to make more games that I actually enjoy. After a streak of great games, I think it's about time they make good on their promises of reviving classic franchises. I, for one, am hoping for a sequel to Dragon's Dogma 2, but I know that's not what everyone wants. With so many options to choose from, such as Ghosts 'N Goblins, Bionic Commando, 1942, Knights of the Round, and Strider, I'm sure fans would be delighted to see one or more of these get a full-on reboot or a quality indie sequel by someone who truly loves the original. Otherwise, I'll be joining the riot that Benjy Dog is predicting.
In other news, as a fan of Totally Spies!, I was ecstatic to hear about the new games in the works for both series. While I wait for Rita's Rewind to come out, I've been playing Totally Spies! - Cyber Mission, which I picked up on launch day. I'm curious to know if you'll be reviewing either of these games.
Lastly, a reader recommends RetroRealms: Halloween Vs. Evil Dead, a fun 2D beat 'em-up that pays tribute to both franchises with its many nods to the films. Although the combat may not be particularly deep, it makes up for it with its settings and challenging boss battles. Plus, the Myers pitchfork weapon is a must-try! The reader also mentions that the game has some interesting behind-the-scenes extras, including a segment where someone praises The Void, a lesser-known horror film. We were planning on reviewing the game, but it got delayed and we missed our chance.
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