The evening Inbox has more questions about the best of Metroidvania, as one reader returns to PC gaming after a long absence.
To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
Unsolicited advice
I’m not being arrogant here but how do I contact Konami about Pro Evolution Soccer? I would like to make a few suggestions about the game and have looked everywhere for a
contact email.
I doubt very much whether my ideas would be entertained but worth a try. Any clues?
Geoff
GC: We think you’d probably get on better with Twitter or the official forums.
You cannot be serious
Already missing the tennis, there was nothing quite like getting home in the afternoon, switching Wimbledon on, grabbing my GamePad and indulging in some Mario Kart 8. The scarcity of the blue shells really does make the game far more enjoyable, no more do I have to worry about racing too well and forcing myself to slow down and drop a position as not to incur the wrath of the blue shell.
The slightly improved balance means that I’ve only once had to urge to throw my GamePad across the living room. Although the graphics are brilliant it’s the handling that really sets the game apart for me, I grabbed my 3DS to play some Mario Kart 7 and the game felt almost bad in comparison.
I was perusing the Metro pages recently when I stumbled upon a video of Joan Rivers storming out of an interview and I couldn’t help but notice that the characters in L.A. Noire actually have more expressive faces than she does. I think she’s one of the few people that the Motion Scan technology would be wasted on.
iLike Fat Ladys (gamertag)
Shockingly untrue
So The Sun newspaper strikes again saying video games are as addictive as heroin! Do we really have to go through this all over again?! Why no positive stories on how video game marathons have helped raise thousands of pounds for charity?
Or how about the studies which show how video games help those with illnesses or how they improve qualities like decision making and problem solving? Happily however, the expert The Sun used in this story has stated the story is untrue.
For anyone who wants to see an informative look on video game violence, Penn and Teller did a fantastic video on the subject on their show. The last few minutes though truly sum the whole thing up. I’d urge anyone to give it a watch as it really nails it on the head.
bouncer0304 (NN ID)
GC: Unfortunately that YouTube link is dead, due to copyright infringement. But for readers’ reference it was episode 72 of season seven of Penn & Teller Bulls***!
E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
Speaking out
What a fantastic interview with Lorne Lanning. Great to see someone who isn’t afraid to speak out about what really goes on in the games industry. I hope consumers will keep his comments in mind when they are contemplating buying the next big budget first person shooter sequel.
ste_the_legend (PSN ID)
I’d take my hat off to Lorne Lanning if I was wearing one. I admire him for his stand against the men in suits and his refusal to allow Oddworld to become just another property to be cannibalised by big business.
I’ve played all the Oddworld games at one time and another and loved them all; particularly Stranger’s Wrath,w hich I think is a great game and was very poorly served by EA. I’m looking forward to New ‘N’ Tasty and I hope it does well.
Gill C.
PS: Another excellent interview, thank you.
I’d just like to congratulate whoever did that interview with Lorne Lanning as he or she deserves a medal or something. It was a really interesting, thoughtful interview with two people who are obviously passionate about games and what’s happening in the industry.
Let’s just say I was very surprised to see this calibre of journalism on metro.co.uk and not IGN, Gamespot, or Edge, etc. Quality journalism from a surprising source. Send the interviewer my regards!
Cormac
GC: Thanks, it was David Jenkins.
PlayStation only
I was also a huge Guacamelee and Shadow Complex fans and was wanting similar games to play on PlayStation platforms. I have a PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PS Vita. Anything that GC can recommend? I heard that Strider was a similar type game but I might be wrong.
Truk_Kurt (PSN ID)/Angry_Kurt (Twitter)
GC: The Metroid games are the definitive examples of the sub-genre, but Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night is on PSN for PlayStation 3, PS Vita, and PSP. Strider is a Metroidvania game, and so is Knytt Underground, and Outland. We’d also describe Batman: Arkham Asylum as the best third person Metroidvania, although the subsequent games are relatively different in style.
Pass it on
I would like to be in the running for the very generous offer of Zelda: Skyward Sword by DarKerR. I would be more than happy to pass it on to another reader when I have finished it. Even if I do not receive it can I just say what a lovely place on the Internet this is. I doff my cap to DarKerR.
PowerFeeling (gamertag)/Koozebane (NN ID)
GC: Yes, it was a very generous offer and you were lucky enough to be randomly picked for the prize.
Welcome advice
Big thank you to Tim Keeling for all the arcade machine info. I really appreciate him giving me a much better idea of where to start. I’m also relieved that its possible to get my feet wet without forking out a fortune. A real Gauntlet machine would be so awesome, but I don’t think its a realistic proposition. Still, there are a lot of other options and I’m sure I can find something I like.
Mitchell
Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here
God bless the GamePad
It’s been a while since I’ve written to GC, just wanted to start by saying there’s been some really good Reader’s Features lately. Especially the how to be a parent and still play video games one, which I very much related to. For parents with young children and only on TV in the house the Wii U Off-TV mode is an absolute godsend.
I don’t mind if Nintendo don’t come up with fancy ways to use the GamePad, the Off-TV mode is enough for me. Being able to play something as good as Mario Kart 8 whenever I want with no compromise on the controls and not having to scratch about for the odd hour to get to the TV is just brilliant.
I’ve also really enjoyed your E3 coverage and the interviews since have all been excellent.
I’ve also almost accidentally gained a new games machine. We needed a new laptop for the family, my son is nearly seven and likes to go on the Internet occasionally now, and our old laptop was approaching 10-years-old and would run nothing. I shopped around and found something pretty decent within our budget but also happens to have a pretty good mid-range graphics card (I’ve nearly convinced the missus it wasn’t deliberate that I picked a laptop that would play games!). I’ve tested it on a demo of Diablo III and it’s running that on its highest setting very smoothly and Crysis 2 on medium settings so I think it will cope with most newish games.
The problem is I’m not sure what to try out on my new laptop, Steam has hundreds of games to choose from that I’ve never heard of and I’ve not really played games on a PC since the mid-to-late 1990s. I used to love things like Command & Conquer, Starcraft, Sam & Max Hit the Road, X-Wing and TIE Fighter, Stronghold, and also Diablo.
I’m completely out of touch with what’s available, other than high profile games like Starcraft II which I’m keen to try. If GC or readers have any suggestions for games from the last few years I’ve missed out on it’ll be much appreciated. I’d like to try some things that I can’t play on the Wii U or Xbox 360.
PE
GC: We had a similar question to this just the other day, and you can read our answer here. But it’s worth pointing out that most of those games you mention have a sequel or modern equivalent that’s reasonably recent, so it may be interesting for you to try them as well. As for the Reader’s Features, we’re always impressed by the quality. But we are starting to run low again, especially as we try to avoid using the same reader two weeks in a row.
Inbox also-rans
Anybody else miss the good old days during boss fights, were the boss would flash white when you hit it? Just a nostalgic thought!
adams6legend
Currently playing: Donkey Kong Country 2 (SNES) 10/10, Mickey Mania (SNES) 7/10, Cybernator (SNES) 6/10.
RE: Jamesdowling in the Monday Inbox. That’s easy for you to say.
Mitchell
This week’s Hot Topic
Although this year isn’t as bad as some we’re now well into the traditional summer games drought, with not a single retail game of note released all month.
So for this weekend’s Inbox we want to know what you, as gamer, do during this time? Do you take the hint and not play much in the way of video games, or does the lack of new titles make no difference to your usual routine? Do you find the uneven release schedules, where most games are released in the autumn and winter, irritating or does that match up well to when you actually play/buy them?
How important are video games in your life, in terms of the amount of time you spend playing them and compared to to other interests and hobbies? And does it bother you that even the industry itself doesn’t seem to consider them something you do all the year round?
E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
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