Games Inbox: Bloodborne success, Zelda: Majora’s Mask 2, and Red Dead Redemption 2

I can’t say I’m said to see The Order: 1886 falling down the charts, although I have to say it’s a faster fall than I would’ve expected. Although I suppose it’s hard to tell exactly how any of these games are doing without actual numbers.

Although there’s a part of me that actually hopes it does do quite well anyway, because what would be worst is if Sony took that as proof that people don’t want single-player only games anymore. They absolutely do (or at least I do) but just good ones and not lame interactive movies masquerading as Gears Of War clones.

What I think would be the best outcome is if Bloodborne does better than expected and that convinces Sony that quality is all that really matters, not the subject matter, the difficulty, or the online features. Odd thing is I know that’s a lie: many poor quality games do very well, but I’d love it if publishers began to think otherwise.
Franky

I have to wonder what effect the success of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D is going to have on the new game and future Zeldas. It seems pretty obvious it’s done a lot better in the US and Japan than Nintendo ever imagined and they’ve already been hinting that the mask seller guy is going to appear again in something. Does that mean a Wii U game or will Nintendo try to make a sequel to Majora’s Mask itself?

I think I’d prefer to leave Termina exactly as it is. That game is pretty much perfect to me, at least in terms of the story, and going back would cheapen it. However, I’d love to see some of the creepy atmosphere leak its way into the other games.

The mask seller was strongly hinted as being some kind of very powerful being, maybe a god or demon or something in between. I’d like to see him take a much bigger role, and there be no Ganondorf. As others have said Ganondorf is just a dumb comic book villain and I’d much rather see something more subtle and insidious. Even if not in the Wii U game then at least a new portable Zelda.
Gary Bannister

I was playing Sid Meier’s Starships over the weekend and I agree it’s a great little game. It was sad to hear it said in your interview that strategy games are basically always going to stay a niche on PCs and that it’s even hard to get people to play them on tablets. I realise that different folks enjoy different things but to just ignore anything that doesn’t involve straight action seems so backwards to me.

Like the great man said a strategy game engages your imagination much more than any other game. Not just because the graphics are often rubbish but because you start to think up all the little back stories behind what’s happening and why you’re doing certain things. Especially in Starships, where there isn’t really that much of a story, I was imaging all these little scenarios about why I was helping out certain people and not others.

Compare that to an hour long cut scene telling you what you’re supposed to think and do and I’ll take Starships rubbish graphics and vague story every time. Although I am furious they won’t let you name your spaceships.
Big Mike

I was wondering if GC have been sent a review copy of Pillars Of Eternity on PC? It’s due for release, I think, on the 26th March and is looking good.

Also, with yourselves not reviewing Divinity: Original Sin I was wondering would it be OK for me to supply a review when I’ve completed the game? I’ve currently sank over 110 hours into it and would say I will have the game finished pretty soon.
Yankernator (Steam ID)

GC: Obsidian’s old school isometric role-player? We haven’t got a review copy yet, but we will be covering it when it’s released. As for Divinity: Original Sin we always encourage reader’s reviews of any game, but particularly if it’s one we’ve missed.

Playing as a Lego Jeff Goldblum is obviously my life long dream but I’m still a bit confused by the concept of a Lego Jurassic Park game. Exactly what are you going to be fighting? Small dinosaurs? I mean it’ll seem a bit odd and in bad taste if you just pummel hundreds of baby dinosaurs into Lego bits and then run away from a bigger one occasionally.

Maybe this is actually a Lego game with a new focus or mechanics then. It’s just getting ridiculous now how they haven’t changed the basic formula in 10 years. Even the most hardcore fans must be getting tired, I’ve only played several of them and by Lego Marvel am feeling some serious fatigue. Surely a new generation would be a perfect time for a complete revamp.

On the subject of Achievements, it’s kind of pointless but quite nice how the Xbox One gives you Achievements for non-game related things. For instance, when I first controlled the YouTube app with my phone it acknowledged this. I suppose it encourages people to explore all the different features.
@PjDonnelli

GC: It seems to focus more on puzzles than action, much as the Harry Potter games did. Those two featured very little combat compared to something like Star Wars or Batman.

Can’t say I’m too surprised at the relative lack of interest in a new Titanfall game. I’d agree with most people that it’s a great multiplayer shooter but its backstory and characters are a complete non-event. I get that they weren’t interested in doing a single-player campaign but there’s got to be something about your universe that inspires you to want to know more.

If I were them I would scratch everything they’ve done so far except for the gameplay and start again. Maybe say it’s set 100 years in the future or something and then you don’t have to be held back by anything that happened in the first one. There’s a great game in Titanfall but in my opinion they won’t help it by making the new one the same with just a few extra bells and whistles.
Piman

Now that online heists are finally working what does GC think is next for Rockstar? Will we finally get an announcement on Red Dead Redemption 2? Considering how good that game looked last gen I can’t imagine how amazing it’s going to seem on the new console. Thing is though I’m not sure what I’d add to it other than better graphics, as the first game was pretty much perfect.

I guess they’ll add in GTA V style online, but what else? A cattle ranch owning sim? Something to do with the Civil War? I don’t have a clue but I trust Rockstar to come up with something interesting.
Donnie Draco

GC: We’d imagine that Grand Theft Auto V’s story expansions would be their next priority, but announcing Red Dead Redemption 2 at one or other of the E3 media briefings has got to be a strong possibility.

Upon reading your review on the Metroid Prime review I decided to go on an adventure to get hold of the original GameCube version (you guys had said the remake didn’t have the original control scheme, which you were a fan of). I borrowed a controller off one mate and a memory card off another. I bought a disc version of the game for £6 off eBay (no case mind you) and I was all set.

I am disappointed to say I am not getting on with it at all. I’ve played nearly four hours and am not getting the urge to carry on and spend another 10 hours playing through this. Personally, I find the controls very awkward (probably because of modern first person controls) and the story is not gripping me. I guess having to scan everything is their way of encouraging exploration and add to this isolated feel, but I’d prefer if it was a bit more proactive sometimes. I am not a fan of the backtracking and the puzzles are decent at best.

I must say the atmosphere is a bit special, I read this and wondered what people meant, but you certainly do feel it whilst the soundtrack is beating away.

I think I am going to have to bin this like I did with Resident Evil 4 in 2013. I really don’t like dropping things midway, even if I am not enjoying it, but I just can’t get on with this. Maybe I’ll give the Wii version a bash, as I personally don’t think it has aged too well.

Here’s a question or two, if a brand new shiny IP came along with very similar ideas, same control scheme and good execution would it still be seen as one of the best games of all-time? Have modern principles and trends wrecked my perception of this classic title and could a game get away with such a bizarre control scheme these days?
Joe Apps from Dimp Digital

GC: The control system was always unusual, after all it’s not as if traditional first person shooters have changed much in that time (more’s the pity). The IP is irrelevant too, as Metroid is really not that famous and at that time there hadn’t been a new game for eight years. Metroid Prime and Resident Evil 4 are two of our favourite games ever, but there’s nothing wrong with you if you don’t like them – or any other critically acclaimed game. At least you made the effort to try them, which is all anyone can do.

Friendly fire in Helldivers is the most aggravating thing ever! I love it! Funny how having to look out for your team-mates completely changes the way you play the game.
The Bishop

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I’d want to know anyone that didn’t at least admire Ori And The Blind Forest. Game is gorgeous!
ILT