July 1st 2024.
Do you ever wonder if you'll still be playing PlayStation 4 five years from now? The Monday letters page featured a reader's thoughts on smartphone owners refusing to pay full price for games, along with speculation about an Elden Ring movie. If you'd like to join the discussion, send an email to email. It's just a force of habit for me to check the letters page, and I found myself nodding along with many of the points made in the Reader's Feature about Sony's decision to stick with the PlayStation 4 instead of releasing the PlayStation 5. While Microsoft had a valid reason for creating the Xbox Series X/S due to the poor performance of the Xbox One, I'm not convinced that Sony had a good enough justification for the PlayStation 5. It seemed to be more of a tradition for them to release a new console at this stage, rather than a well-thought-out strategy.
It's interesting to note that no one has really explored the idea of longer console generations, except for Nintendo, who always seem to do things differently. Perhaps a PS4 Pro Ultra would have been a better option than the PlayStation 5? We can't know for sure unless Sony takes the risk and tries it out. It's possible that they're just playing it safe, but as always, playing it safe means potentially missing out on opportunities for improvement.
Personally, I think it would have been beneficial to keep graphics at the same level for a few more years until the technology was more cost-effective. Of course, that opportunity has now passed, and I suspect there are a few people at PlayStation who regret the decision to move on to the next generation. But who knows, maybe there are some unexpected competitors out there who will challenge the status quo.
I agree that another Dead Rising remaster is not something we need. However, if it is just a remaster, hopefully it won't take up too much of Capcom's resources. On a more positive note, I have a feeling that a new Marvel Vs. Capcom game might be in the works. Despite Sony owning the X-Men license, I think they would be open to sharing the profits if it means releasing a game that they couldn't make on their own.
What I love about these games is the inclusion of obscure characters from both Marvel and Capcom. Who could forget Shuma-Gorath's appearance in Marvel Super Heroes? That's why I have a soft spot for Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom – I may not know all the characters, but I can feel the passion that went into turning them into fighting game characters. While it would be fun to see Squirrel Girl or other lesser-known Marvel characters in the game, I'm more interested in seeing which unexpected Capcom characters will take the spotlight.
It's disappointing that the upcoming Dead Rising is only a remaster. I would love to see a remake that incorporates more open-world elements from 3 and 4, without the overbearing Christmas theme or super-infected enemies. If the remaster does well, maybe Capcom will consider making a new entry with improved AI. Personally, my favorite part of Dead Rising was having a team of characters armed with AR-15s take down bosses. I hope that aspect stays in the game.
Speaking of games, I wanted to share my thoughts on Stellar Blade. It's been my game of the year so far, but I've struggled with the boss battles. The Unidentified Naytiba was my breaking point, and I had to switch to story mode. I know it's not ideal, but I just couldn't handle spending all that time chipping away at its health only to be killed by its instakill fireballs. That's also why I won't be getting the Elden Ring DLC – I just don't have the patience to repeatedly die at the hands of annoying bosses.
It's funny how sometimes we quote catchphrases from years ago without even realizing it. My wife and I still say "OL Yade" and "I keep for you" when handing each other random items, and we just realized that we've been saying those phrases for over 20 years. I bought the original Beyond Good & Evil based on your review, and I'm glad to hear that the game still holds up today.
It's refreshing to see someone like Shigeru Miyamoto stick to the Nintendo ethos, even in the face of changing trends and pressure from corporate higher-ups. It's not hard to imagine that other companies may succumb to the temptation to chase after the latest fads and try to keep up with their competitors. But we know the big brands, and we know that sometimes it's the smaller, more genuine companies that truly stand out in the industry.
Do you think you would still enjoy playing PlayStation 4 for another five years? The Monday letters page featured a discussion about smartphone owners not wanting to pay full price for games. One reader even shared their thoughts on a potential Elden Ring movie. If you want to join in on the conversation, send us an email at our email address.
I couldn't help but agree with the points made in the Reader's Feature about Sony's decision to stick with the PlayStation 4 instead of releasing the PlayStation 5. While Microsoft had a valid reason for releasing the Xbox Series X/S, given the poor performance of the Xbox One, I can't seem to find a solid justification for Sony's move to the PlayStation 5. It almost feels like they did it simply because it's what they've always done at this point in their previous console's life cycle.
Interestingly, not many have explored the possibility of having longer console generations, except for Nintendo, who always seems to do things differently. I can't help but wonder if a PS4 Pro Ultra would have been a better alternative to the PlayStation 5. Sony will never know unless they take the risk and actually give it a try. By playing it safe, they might be missing out on the opportunity to improve and innovate.
In my opinion, it would have been beneficial to keep graphics at their current level for a few more years until there was a cost-effective way to take advantage of the advancements. Unfortunately, that opportunity has passed, and I suspect there are people at PlayStation who are now regretting their decision to move on to the next generation.
Moving on to a different topic, I agree with the reader who mentioned that they don't want Capcom to waste their resources on another Dead Rising remaster. However, if it is just a remaster, I hope it won't take up too much of their time and effort. On a more positive note, I am hopeful that a new Marvel Vs. Capcom game is in the works. Despite Sony owning the rights to the X-Men franchise, I believe they would be open to sharing profits to release a game that they can't create on their own.
One of the things I love about these games is the inclusion of obscure characters, such as Shuma-Gorath in Marvel Super Heroes. That's why I particularly enjoyed Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom - the developers clearly put a lot of love and effort into turning these characters into playable fighters. While it would be fun to see more popular Marvel characters like Squirrel Girl, I'm more excited to see which unexpected Capcom characters will get the spotlight.
Moving on to a different game, it's a shame that Dead Rising is only getting a remaster. I would love to see a remake that incorporates more open-world elements from the third and fourth installments, minus the Christmas theme from the fourth game. I also hope they get rid of the super-infected enemies, as they were a major annoyance for me. Hopefully, if the remaster does well, Capcom will consider making a new entry with improved AI. My favorite part of Dead Rising was having a team of characters armed with AR-15s and taking down bosses effortlessly. I hope that stays in the game.
Our readers have also shared their thoughts on other games. One mentioned that while they have been enjoying Stellar Blade, the boss battles have been a nightmare. They even resorted to switching to story mode to progress in the game. Another reader is not interested in the Elden Ring DLC, as they don't want to deal with frustrating boss battles for now.
On a lighter note, one reader shared a personal anecdote about how they still quote lines from Beyond Good & Evil, which they originally bought based on our review over 20 years ago. It's a testament to the game's lasting impact and quality.
Finally, one reader touched on the topic of company ethics and how they can change over time. They mentioned Shigeru Miyamoto's philosophy and how some companies might prioritize keeping up with trends and competition instead of staying true to their values. It's a reminder that behind every brand are real people who may have different priorities and motivations.
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