June 28th 2024.
Has Shadow Of The Erdtree taken things too far? This question has been raised on the Friday letters page, as readers discuss their thoughts on smartphone owners not wanting to pay full price for games. One reader even goes as far as imagining an Elden Ring movie. If you want to join in on the discussions, don't forget to email us your thoughts.
Speaking of Elden Ring, I recently completed Shadow Of The Erdtree and I have to say, I have mixed feelings about it. While there is a lot of content and I can't deny its value for money, I didn't particularly enjoy it, especially the second half. It felt a bit scattered and inconsistent compared to Elden Ring. One moment, things were surprisingly easy and the next, they were impossibly difficult for no apparent reason.
I also found the bosses to be a bit disappointing. Many of them seemed to act randomly and it would take forever to learn all their moves and cues. After dying for the 50th time because one of them suddenly changed direction in mid-air, I gave up and called for some help from other players.
Furthermore, I've grown tired of the endless castle dungeons and the repetitive catacombs. It feels like the game has become too bloated and unfair with the DLC. As a fan, I'm not sure it's even worth playing anymore. It might be better to just stick with the good memories of the original.
Moving on to a different topic, it's interesting to hear about the behind-the-scenes drama with Soulcalibur. While the reason may be unexciting - office politics - it's clear that the series peaked with the second game and has struggled to find its footing since then. In my opinion, it's simple: focus on creating a top-notch story mode, ensure it doesn't play like Tekken, and please, make sure Link is playable in the Nintendo version.
As a weapons-based fighting game, Soulcalibur should feel unique, but the last one just felt cheap and half-hearted. They also need to embrace the cheesy aspects of the game. The intro for Soul Blade is still the best thing ever, but they've never been able to top it. Unfortunately, I don't have much faith that they ever will.
On a different note, I've been thinking about the possibility of an Elden Ring movie. While it's possible to recreate the look and feel of the game, I'm not sure how they would convey the story. Or rather, the lack of story. Let's face it, the plot is pretty straightforward: Tarnished kills all the demigods. There's not much dialogue or character development, just a lot of action.
In my opinion, Elden Ring is too much of a pure video game to be adapted into a movie. There's not much to work with in terms of a two-hour story. They could just make up a new story and characters, but I doubt that would satisfy fans. Maybe they could create an original movie with a similar aesthetic instead?
Now, let's take a break from video games and talk about the current heatwave. How is everyone coping? Personally, I'm struggling to concentrate and have barely played any console games in the past few days. I've resorted to playing mobile games, but even that is a struggle. The heat drains my energy and I just feel like slowly baking in my room with only a noisy fan and an open window to save me.
Am I the only one experiencing this? Are any of you able to play for a few hours at a time, or is that just a dream until the weather cools down?
Lastly, I'm not surprised that not many copies of Resident Evil 4 and Assassin's Creed Mirage are selling on mobile. Aside from the high price and the need for a high-end phone, there are also other issues to consider. For example, Divinity: Original Sin 2 received outstanding reviews but many complained about the high memory requirements and how it turned their iPad into a mini furnace. Similarly, Resident Evil 4 caused iPhones to overheat to the point where they couldn't even be touched. And the install size for a smaller memory phone could take up over half of the storage space. It's no wonder why these games aren't selling well on mobile.
Is the game Shadow Of The Erdtree pushing the boundaries too far? The recent discussions on the Friday letters page seem to suggest that smartphone owners are not willing to pay full price for games. One reader even went as far as imagining an Elden Ring movie! If you want to join in on the conversation, you can email us at the given address.
Speaking of Shadow Of The Erdtree, I recently completed the game and I have to say, I have mixed feelings about it. While there is definitely a lot of content in the game, I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the second half. The difficulty level seemed unbalanced, with some parts being surprisingly easy and others seemingly impossible. The bosses were also a disappointment, with their unpredictable moves making it difficult to strategize. In the end, I had to call in some friends to help me defeat them.
Moreover, I feel like the game has become too bloated and unfair with its DLCs. The endless castle dungeons and catacombs, which are essentially just recycled levels from the main game, were a tedious and repetitive experience. I believe it would have been better if they were left out altogether. Overall, I think the game has lost its charm and I'm not sure if I would recommend it to fans. It's better to stick with the good memories of the original game.
Moving on to a different topic, it's interesting to hear about the behind-the-scenes drama that led to the decline of the Soulcalibur series. In my opinion, the franchise peaked with the second game and has been struggling to find its identity ever since. The key, in my opinion, is to have a solid story mode, unique gameplay mechanics, and fan-favorite characters like Link in the Nintendo version.
As a fan of weapons-based fighting games, I believe Soulcalibur should stand out from other fighting games. However, the last installment felt lackluster and half-hearted. The creators should embrace the cheesy and over-the-top elements that made the first game so great. But unfortunately, I don't have much hope for the future of the series.
Recently, there has been talk about an Elden Ring movie and whether it would be successful in capturing the essence of the game. While it is possible to recreate the visuals and atmosphere, the biggest challenge would be translating the story into a two-hour movie. The truth is, there isn't much of a plot in the game, just a lot of lore. The main objective is for the Tarnished to defeat all the demigods, with minimal interaction and dialogue. It's a pure video game experience and I don't think it would translate well into a movie.
Speaking of video games, the current heatwave has made it difficult for me to fully enjoy gaming. As I get older, my tolerance for extreme temperatures has decreased, making it hard for me to focus on console games. I have resorted to playing mindless mobile games, as they require less mental effort. Is anyone else facing the same struggle or am I just getting old?
Lastly, it's not surprising that not many copies of Resident Evil 4 and Assassin's Creed Mirage are being sold on mobile. Apart from the high price and need for a powerful phone, some games also have a major flaw - they overheat the device. I have personally considered buying Divinity: Original Sin 2 on my iPad, but the reviews mentioning its high memory requirements and overheating issues have deterred me. It's a shame that these issues are preventing players from fully enjoying these games on their mobile devices.
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