September 18th 2024.
Is Astro Bot better than Mario? The letters page of Wednesday is buzzing with anticipation for the reveal of Nintendo Switch 2, and one reader shares their disappointment in EA's decision to abandon Dead Space. If you want to join the conversation, email us at [insert email here].
I just finished Astro Bot over the weekend and I have to say, it's the best game Sony has released in years. Though there's not much competition at the moment. The GC review was spot on, especially in pointing out the similarities to Super Mario and the simplistic platforming compared to Nintendo games.
Having said that, I still believe it's better than Super Mario Sunshine and shares some similarities with the way Astro's rocket boots work. It's also better than Super Mario 64, but that's not a fair comparison considering its age. I wouldn't put it on par with the two Galaxy games, but as someone who didn't enjoy Odyssey as much, I'd say they're pretty close.
For a franchise as weird and unique as this, with Astro's Playroom being the first "proper" game, it's an impressive achievement. It's definitely better than any other 3D platformer I've played, including Ratchet & Clank and Jak And Daxter. This just goes to show that Japanese developers are masters at this type of game.
I'm intrigued to know what happened during the meeting between Nintendo and developers this week. I saw a picture of a guy posing with the sign, so they were definitely there. Were they picking up their Nintendo Switch 2 consoles? Or were they being briefed about it for the first time? Perhaps they were being asked if their game could be featured in the reveal trailer. The possibilities are endless.
Some may argue that Nintendo wouldn't bother with things like the PS5 Pro, but I do believe they want to make a big impression and showcase their third party support. This likely involved schmoozing with various companies, many of whom may not be as good at keeping secrets as Nintendo.
I'm always amazed at EA's persistence in keeping franchises like Battlefield and Need For Speed going. In my opinion, they've been past their prime for quite some time now, with recent sequels being major disappointments. Yet they keep getting second chances, while other projects get abandoned for seemingly no reason.
The Dead Space remake received glowing reviews and decent sales, but it's unlikely to get another game based on current information. Why is it not given endless chances like the other franchises? Perhaps because it never sold as much as they hoped. It seems EA's logic is to never give up on a franchise if it was once a massive success, as it could potentially regain its popularity.
Can we take a moment to acknowledge that another year has gone by without the release of Half-Life 3? Despite the optimistic rumors, it seems like it may never happen. Sometimes I question whether the previous games were just a dream, especially the decision to release a couple of episodic games that were never completed. It's like if Star Wars stopped after The Empire Strikes Back, or if Marvel decided Infinity War was enough and didn't bother with Endgame. Valve will always be the most peculiar company in the gaming industry.
I recently completed the magnificent Astro Bot and started playing The Plucky Squire last night. Both games are wonderful and have a Zelda-like charm to them. It's refreshing to play such enjoyable games, especially with all the negativity and controversy surrounding the industry this year. I highly recommend giving them a try.
Speaking of games, I'm excited that Capcom and Marvel have finally resolved their rights issues and released a fighting game with all the beloved characters. The X-Men, Avengers, and others are all in one package for the first time, and they have a vocal fanbase. I won't go into individual reviews, but I will say that they are all fantastic and offer a great selection of characters. It's amazing to see how far these games have come since the first X-Men: Children Of The Atom, which was a game changer with its over-the-top graphics and move-sets.
Is Astro Bot really better than Mario? That was the question being debated on the Wednesday letters page, as readers eagerly awaited news of the rumored Nintendo Switch 2 reveal. One reader lamented EA's decision to abandon the Dead Space franchise, wishing for a new installment.
I recently finished playing Astro Bot and I have to say, it's the best game Sony has released in years. Of course, there isn't much competition at the moment, but I still think GC's review was spot on. While some elements may seem similar to Super Mario, the platforming is actually quite simplistic compared to Nintendo's games. However, I still believe it surpasses Super Mario Sunshine and is on par with Super Mario 64. I wouldn't put it in the same league as the Galaxy games, but that could be due to my personal preference as I didn't enjoy Odyssey as much. Overall, I think it's a remarkable achievement for a franchise that was relatively unknown before this "proper" game.
I was also intrigued by the recent meeting Nintendo had with developers, as seen in a photo that circulated online. I wonder what they were discussing - perhaps picking up their new Switch 2 consoles or being shown the final model for the first time? It's possible that Nintendo was trying to charm these developers, in hopes of gaining their support for the console's launch. As one reader pointed out, Nintendo probably isn't too concerned about Sony's rumored PS5 Pro, but they do want to make a big impression and show off their third party support. It's likely that many of these developers aren't as skilled at keeping secrets as Nintendo, so we may hear some leaks in the near future.
I've always been amazed at EA's persistence with franchises like Battlefield and Need For Speed, despite their declining popularity. Yet, they seem quick to abandon other titles, like Dead Space, even after receiving rave reviews and decent sales. Perhaps it all comes down to sales figures, as EA seems to only continue with games that were once massive hits. It's a shame, as I would love to see a new Dead Space game.
On a separate note, I couldn't help but notice the absence of Half-Life 3 once again. Despite rumors, it seems like we may never see the highly anticipated sequel. It's almost like the previous games were just a dream, especially with the bizarre decision to release it in episodic installments which were never completed. It's like if the Star Wars franchise ended after The Empire Strikes Back or Avengers: Infinity War was the final movie in the series. Valve is definitely one of the most peculiar companies in the gaming industry.
Finally, I wanted to briefly mention the Capcom and Marvel fighting games, which have always been beloved by many. It's exciting to finally have all the characters in one package, and I appreciate the vocal fanbase that has been clamoring for this release. Each game in the series has its own unique charm and gameplay, and it's up to individual players to decide which one is their favorite. Personally, I've always been a fan of the first game, X-Men: Children of the Atom, with its over-the-top graphics and moves. But all of them are worth playing and I highly recommend giving them a try.
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