February 13th 2025.
Were you as excited as I was about the Days Gone remaster? The Thursday letters page seems to be in uproar over the decline of GAME and physical releases. One reader even thinks that Indiana Jones And The Great Circle is slightly overrated. But don't worry, you can join in on the discussions yourself by emailing us at our healthy state email address.
But let's talk about something positive now – the latest State of Play. Surprisingly, it was actually pretty decent this time. The pacing may have been a bit off, but the ending was satisfying. Personally, I'm not as big of a fan of Returnal as GC is, but the announcement of a new single-player only IP got me really excited. And that's not all, there were also some other interesting games showcased, like that Chinese Dark Souls/Devil May Cry set in London, the stop motion horror game called The Midnight Walk, a new Onimusha, and Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance. However, I can't help but worry that Saros was the only new game from Sony, except for the Days Gone remaster. Are we still going to have to wait at a snail's pace to find out what their developers are working on? But if it means they're focusing on creating proper single-player games instead of live service ones, then I can live with that. Overall, I'd give the State of Play a B+ and I hope the next one will keep up the momentum. Although, it seems like it will be solely dedicated to Borderlands 4.
Moving on to another topic, I have to agree with the reader who wants to see what the "real" next game from FromSoftware is. This Elden Ring spin-off just seems like a minor thing to me. I hate to say it, but it might end up being known as a cash grab. But, as a fan of all their work, I don't mind giving them my money. The mid-budget price tag also suggests that Nightreign might not be a full game, but just a quick money-making project. Some people even speculate that it was originally intended as DLC. However, it's set to release in May, so hopefully that means we'll get to see something new at the Summer Game Fest in June. I don't really mind what the game is, but it would be great if it's something completely new and not a sequel or remake. Maybe it's that sci-fi Soulslike game that fans have been asking for?
Speaking of games, I just finished playing Indiana Jones And The Great Circle on Xbox. I have to say, they really nailed the Indiana Jones aesthetic and feel. The slapstick combat was also a lot of fun. I especially liked the non-linear level design in the first few locations, which made exploring them worthwhile. The side missions were also more creative than what we usually see in games these days and felt like they added to the overall experience. Although, I did encounter a few bugs, including one where the game crashed during a cutscene and I had to rewatch it in its entirety. But overall, it was a slick and enjoyable game. However, I did feel like it dragged a bit towards the end, so I wouldn't rate it as highly as some others. It's an 8/10 for me. A special mention to Tony Todd for his performance, which was even more poignant given his recent passing. Don't forget to email us your thoughts at our email address.
Now, let's talk about something a bit different – the stock market. For the first time in my life, I'm actually going to buy a game that will make me money. I have so much faith in GTA 6's success that I bought shares in Take-Two Interactive a couple of weeks ago. And it's already paid off, with a 14% return after their recent earnings report. Just imagine how much the share price will jump when the next trailer drops, or when the game finally releases. The returns might not be life-changing, but the fact that the game I'm so excited to play will also fund our next family holiday is pretty incredible.
On a different note, I'm surprised at how little Alan Wake 2 has sold. Only 2 million copies? That seems low for a game that received so many awards and was constantly in the news when it was released. And then I found out that it didn't even get a proper physical release and isn't available on Steam – something I didn't realize. Did they not want the game to succeed? Was it just a secret tax write-off? And on top of that, I don't recall any marketing for it either. It seems like they spent all that time and money making it, only to send it out to die.
Finally, let's address the recent controversy surrounding GAME scalping Pokémon cards. My initial reaction wasn't about the fact that they were doing something wrong, but rather the fact that they still exist. It's been over a decade since I set foot in a GAME store, and it feels like it's been even longer since I've seen one in person. It's a shame that the company has resorted to these tactics, especially since I haven't heard about any actual marketing for their products in recent years. But I guess that's just how it goes nowadays. Don't forget to email us your thoughts and comments at our email address.
Hey there! Did you catch the Days Gone remaster news? It sure got a lot of people talking, especially on the Thursday letters page. Some folks are really unhappy about the decline of GAME and physical releases. One reader even mentioned that they think Indiana Jones And The Great Circle is a bit overrated. But, let's join in on the conversation by sending an email to email and sharing our thoughts.
Now, let's talk about the recent State of Play. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from it. The pacing seemed off and I was afraid it was going to be a boring one. But, boy was I wrong! The ending was great and I was thrilled to hear about a new single-player only IP. And that Chinese Dark Souls/Devil May Cry game set in London? Count me in. Plus, the stop motion horror game [The Midnight Walk - GC], the new Onimusha, and Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance all caught my attention. However, I couldn't help but notice that Saros was the only new Sony-made game, aside from the Days Gone remaster. It's a bit concerning that we're only finding out about their new games at a snail's pace. But, if it's because they've shifted their focus from live service games to proper single-player ones, then I'm all for it. Overall, I'd give the State of Play a B+ and I'm looking forward to the next one. Although, I have a feeling it won't be as good since they mentioned it will be dedicated to Borderlands 4 only.
Moving on, I have to agree with the reader who wants to see a new game from FromSoftware. The Elden Ring spin-off just doesn't seem to have the same excitement surrounding it. I hate to say it, but it almost seems like a cash grab. Don't get me wrong, I love all of their games and I'm happy to support them. But, I can't help but feel like this is just a quick money-maker for them. It's set to release in May, so hopefully that means we'll get a reveal of something new at the Summer Game Fest in June. Remember when Elden Ring made its debut there? Personally, I don't care what the game is as long as it's something new and not a sequel or remake. Maybe the sci-fi Soulslike that fans have been asking for?
On a different note, I just finished Indiana Jones And The Great Circle on Xbox. I have to say, they really captured the Indiana Jones aesthetic and feel. The slapstick combat was a lot of fun and I appreciated the non-linear level design. The side missions were also a nice touch and felt worth exploring. I did experience a few bugs, including a crash during a cutscene that I had to rewatch in its entirety. But overall, it was a smooth experience. I do have to say though, the game felt like it dragged a bit in the final quarter. So, it's not quite as amazing as some people are saying. For me, it's an 8/10. And I have to give a shout out to Tony Todd for his poignant performance, especially given his recent passing. Don't forget to email your comments to email.
Now, onto some exciting news for me personally. I recently bought shares in Take-Two Interactive for the first time in my life. And guess what? It's already making me money! I'm convinced that GTA 6 is going to be a huge success, so I took a chance and invested. And I was right, because after their recent earnings report, I'm sitting on a 14% return. Just imagine how much the share price will jump when the next trailer drops, let alone when the game comes out. It won't be a life changing amount, but it's still pretty crazy to think that the game I'm so excited for will be funding our next family holiday. Currently playing: the stock market.
On a different note, I'm surprised to hear that Alan Wake 2 hasn't sold as well as expected. Only 2 million copies? That seems low for a game that received so many awards and had a lot of buzz surrounding its release. And to make things worse, it didn't even get a proper physical release and it's not available on Steam. What's going on? Did they not want the game to succeed? Or was it some sort of secret tax write-off? It's a shame because it seems like they put a lot of time and money into making the game, only to send it out to die.
And finally, let's talk about the recent news of GAME scalping Pokémon cards. My initial reaction wasn't about them doing something wrong, but rather that they still exist. I haven't been in a GAME store in over a decade and I rarely see one in person anymore. It's a shame that they resorted to this kind of behavior. Share your thoughts by emailing email.
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