May 27th 2025.
There's been a lot of buzz around Mario Kart World lately, and I've been following the reviews closely. I have to admit, I'm curious to see if it will live up to the hype and get a perfect 10. While I trust the reviews from GC, I've noticed that other sites tend to overhype games at console launches, resulting in higher scores than usual. But from what I've seen so far, it looks like World might actually deserve all those 10/10s, just like its predecessor. I haven't heard a single complaint about the game, so I can't imagine what it could possibly be lacking.
However, I also have a feeling that some sites might mark it down just to avoid being too predictable with their praise for the Switch 2. Others might try to appease their readers by criticizing the price. It's a shame that there always seems to be a political aspect to review scores. That's why I don't see the point of sites like Metacritic. I barely recognize half of the sources they include in their average scores, and yet those are the ones giving out perfect scores left and right.
Speaking of controversial opinions, the Tuesday letters page has been abuzz with discussions about The Last of Us season 2. Some readers are disappointed with it, while others argue over whether video games have become too expensive or not. If you want to join in on the conversation, send us an email with your thoughts on a scale of 1 to 10.
Personally, I have to agree with the dissatisfied readers. I haven't been enjoying season 2 at all. In fact, it's been so bad that it's actually made me think less of the first season. Without giving away any spoilers, I have to say that none of the changes they made to the game were for the better. And yet, they missed so many obvious opportunities to improve upon the original. One of the biggest issues, in my opinion, is the way they handle Ellie's character. The casting choice was questionable, and the show fails to sell her character development as effectively as the game does. It just doesn't feel natural, and there's no sense of the five-year time jump that has occurred since the first season. Furthermore, none of the characters are particularly likeable or sympathetic when you're just watching them, as opposed to playing as them. So I do agree with the idea that being a video game makes a big difference in how we perceive the characters.
I found it interesting that the best episode of season 1, in my opinion, was the one with Bill. And yet, that wasn't even in the game. In contrast, season 2 introduces some new storylines, but none of them have the same impact as that episode. I'm starting to think that they should have just created entirely new stories with new characters, but set in the same world.
One of the biggest mistakes of the show, in my opinion, was revealing Abby's backstory so early on. And I have a hard time seeing how they will handle the other controversial plot points that fans of the game are familiar with. The game was already too long and poorly paced, but knowing that the show will run for four seasons just means they will make the same mistakes all over again.
Switching gears to a different topic, it's a shame that Mortal Kombat 1 hasn't done well in terms of sales. I'm afraid that Warner will take the wrong lesson from this and try to play it safe in the future. They might assume that the reason it didn't sell well was because they took a risk with the storyline, and now we'll get a Rise of Skywalker style direction change that will rely heavily on nostalgia. But in my opinion, the game played very well and the only thing it needs is some improvement in the single-player aspect. It's not about the story, but rather about having more engaging and interactive gameplay, like Street Fighter 6's World Tour mode, where there's exploration and role-playing involved. But now, all we're going to get is fan service and a fear of taking any risks or being original.
On a different note, let's talk about the cost of games. Are they too expensive? Absolutely. In what world does it make sense to price physical and digital versions of a game at the same price? As someone who exclusively plays digitally, I struggle to afford all the games I want to play. I occasionally buy games for myself and my friend when we find a good cross-play option, but by the time I have enough money, it's often too late and the excitement has passed. It's frustrating and ridiculous.
Sometimes, I find myself longing for the simpler times of the PlayStation 3. Things were easier back then, and I had a lot more games that I played on a daily basis. Maybe it's time to go back to those simpler times. But for now, it's worth mentioning that Switch 2 games are actually cheaper digitally than physically. So at least there's that silver lining.
The anticipation for Mario Kart World is building as reviews start to come in. While many seem to be showering it with praise, some are wondering if it will live up to the hype. It's always a tricky situation with console launches, as some sites tend to score games higher than they normally would in the excitement of a new release.
But despite this, it seems like Mario Kart World is on track to receive a lot of perfect 10s, just like its predecessor. I haven't heard a single complaint about the game so far, so if there are any flaws, they're not obvious to me. However, there is always the possibility that some sites may intentionally mark it down in an attempt to be unpredictable, or to gain favor with their readers by complaining about the price.
There's always a lot of politics involved when it comes to review scores, which is why I personally don't put much stock in sites like Metacritic. It's rare that I've even heard of half the sites they include in their average scores, yet they seem to have a big impact on overall ratings.
Switching gears, I have to say I've been disappointed with The Last of Us season 2. In fact, it's been so underwhelming that it's actually made me reevaluate how I feel about the first season. Without giving away any spoilers, I just didn't feel like the changes they made were for the better. In fact, they missed some obvious opportunities to improve upon the original game.
One of the biggest issues for me was the portrayal of Ellie. Not only was she poorly cast, but the show failed to sell her character development in the same way that the game did. It just didn't feel natural, and there was no sense of the five years that had passed since the last season. And to make matters worse, none of the characters were particularly likable or sympathetic when watching them as opposed to playing as them. This just goes to show how much being a video game can enhance the overall experience.
It's interesting to note that the standout episode of the first season, in my opinion, was the one featuring Bill - a character who wasn't even in the game. And while season 2 does introduce some new elements, there's no equivalent of that episode. I can't help but think they would have been better off creating entirely new stories with new characters, and just setting it in the same world.
The decision to reveal Abby's backstory so early on was a major mistake, in my opinion. And I can't see how they're going to make the other story elements work, especially for fans of the game who are familiar with what's to come. The game was already too long and poorly paced, and now that I know the show will span four seasons, I fear they'll make the same mistakes again.
Switching gears once again, it's a shame that Mortal Kombat 11 didn't do well in terms of sales. I have a feeling Warner Bros. will take the wrong lessons from this and try to play it safe with the next installment. Instead of trying something different with the storyline, we'll likely see a return to fan service and nostalgia in an attempt to please everyone.
In my opinion, the series doesn't need to focus on the story, but rather on shaking up the single-player experience. Perhaps something similar to Street Fighter 6's World Tour would be a welcome addition - providing a bit of exploration and role-playing. But sadly, it seems like we'll just get more of the same safe, predictable content.
Now, let's talk about the cost of games. Are they too expensive? Absolutely. It just doesn't make sense to price a physical disc and its digital counterpart at the same price. As someone who primarily purchases games digitally, I struggle to keep up with the costs. Occasionally, I'll buy games for myself and a friend to play together, but by the time I have enough money, the moment has passed or the game is no longer relevant.
Sometimes I yearn for the simpler days of the PlayStation 3, when things were easier and I had a wider variety of games to play on a daily basis. But alas, we must adapt to the current state of the industry. And in the case of the Switch 2, at least digital games are cheaper than their physical counterparts.
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