The Thursday letters page reflects on the early days of online gaming, as a reader laments the current state of video game music.
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Shadow of the colossus
With no new information since the first trailer, there has been little activity on the GTA 6 front recently. This leaves me somewhat concerned. Why? Well, GTA 5 is on the verge of reaching 200 million sales, far surpassing any comparable game and essentially existing in its own league. So, what will happen to all the other games next year?
GTA 6 will drain the life out of them before they even stand a chance. It will be like one of those giant lily pads on the David Attenborough show, killing everything else around it in order to claim as much space and light for itself. GTA 6 poses a threat and danger to every other video game.
I’m not placing the blame on Rockstar, but I feel sorry for any game, big or small, releasing within three months (at the very least) of that game. It's not just that people will play GTA 6, they will also spend their money on microtransactions for GTA Online 2 and simply play that instead of anything else.
I am actually relieved that the release of Switch 2 has been postponed until next year, as it will at least provide some competition and relief. It will likely do very well as an alternative, but as far as anything else is concerned…
Ratcatcher
Is Doom in trouble?
I’m not particularly interested in mods, which I assume will only be for PC, but what has happened to the next Doom? I thought Doom Eternal performed better than the first one and yet we haven’t heard even a whisper about it, aside from that Microsoft leak. Considering how much everything else leaks out, I don't think we've heard any reliable sources say anything about it.
That’s not a good sign and may indicate that it doesn’t exist at all, which would be a real shame. However, looking at the bright side, one would hope that adding mod support after all this time is an effort to reignite interest and prepare for a new announcement.
I hope so, not only because I enjoyed the last two games but because I remember when id Software was the most impressive developer and I would like to return to that.
Garnett
Star Wars online
It's fascinating how the best way to date the Star Wars: Battlefront games is by the films released at the time. In my mind, they don't seem that old, but at 20-odd years, it's interesting how ancient they feel now. The fact that the PlayStation 2 was mainly offline and yet three generations later we are mostly online is incredible, especially as that was already confirmed in the last generation.
I do remember playing and enjoying Battlefront 2, but I never got into the EA ones. They seemed empty to me, with insufficient content and maps. Also, like GC says, the gunplay is just not that great in these Star Wars games. You want it to be satisfying but very different from firing a bullet, but it never quite is.
Gordo
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Top-quality Fantasy
Not knowing how well games sell makes it hard to gauge the success of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth in comparison to Final Fantasy 16. It appears to be doing decently, but may not be exceptionally successful. The writer hopes for its success as they are thoroughly enjoying it.
For the writer, Rebirth encompasses everything they desire from a Final Fantasy game: appealing characters, enjoyable combat, and plenty of unique elements. On the other hand, Final Fantasy 16 was burdensome, with unlikable characters, a confusing plot, and uninteresting combat.
The writer wonders about the nature of Final Fantasy 17: will it be similar to the current game or take more inspiration from Rebirth? There have been hints about it possibly being Final Fantasy 16-2, which the writer strongly opposes. They express disappointment at the thought of the third game being the last, as they prefer the style of Rebirth.
Dieder999
Absolutely excellent
The writer expresses gratitude for the recommendation of Arise: A Simple Story on Nintendo Switch. They describe it as a beautiful and emotionally impactful game, praising its storytelling without words, exceptional music, and heartwarming cut scenes. They acknowledge the profound handling of themes such as love and death.
The writer is unaware of the critical reception of the game but emphasizes the importance of experiencing titles like this amid the prevailing negative outlook in the industry. They assert that games, at their finest, are truly a form of art equal to film and literature, and games like Arise enrich players.
Paul
The significance of gaming sound
I completely agree with Mr Uematsu regarding the current state of video game music, which, in the writer's opinion, often resembles movie music and lacks personal appeal.
In the past, video game music had its own distinct genre, utilizing unique sounds and designed to repeat if necessary. Nowadays, it consists of brief loops, much like movie music, and lacks efforts to create something distinctive that acknowledges the interactive nature of gaming.
Moreover, there is a lack of memorable compositions in recent non-Japanese games, which the writer finds unfortunate. They clarify that the tracks are not necessarily bad, but too commonplace.
The writer expresses concern about the eventual retirement of Mr Uematsu, as there are few individuals left who understand how to create a video game soundtrack rather than one tailored for movies.
Solidus
Would you like further information?
The writer is enjoying Helldivers 2 and appreciates the gradual introduction of new features. However, they express unease about the game seemingly imitating Starship Troopers blatantly.
The writer disapproves of the Super Earth concept, perceiving it as lacking the satirical nature of Starship Troopers and purely emulating it on a superficial level. They believe the developers are capable of creating original content without resorting to imitation.
Sieben
Opening hours
A letter from Cranston about open world games is interesting, but I believe open world games are not going away.
The top-selling game globally last year was Hogwarts Legacy. Also, Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom and Spider-Man 2 were among the top 10.
So, the best-selling game last year was an open world game, and three of the top 10 were open world games. Additionally, the most anticipated and talked about video game trailer from last year was GTA 6.
Without a doubt, the GTA games are definitely open world.
I really love well-made open world games. From the historical settings of Assassin's Creed to the diverse fantasy landscapes of The Witcher 3, from the depiction of the Old West in Red Dead Redemption 2 to the desolate post-nuclear wastelands of the Fallout series. Also, The Old House in Control was fantastic! Even though Far Cry 5 was enjoyable, the ending ruined the entire experience for me.
In my opinion, they are a showcase of video games. They truly accomplish something that no other form of art or entertainment can do. In a movie, TV series, or a book, the narrative is completely fixed (except for one Black Mirror episode and choose your own adventure books).
I like linear games – I recently played A Plague Tale: Requiem – but I don't lose myself in them the same way I do in an open world game. I was ready for A Plague Tale to end after about 20 hours. On the other hand, after 20 hours in The Witcher 3, for example, I was just getting started. I think I could have spent even more time just exploring Touissant from Blood And Wine.
I believe I spent around 90 hours on Assassin’s Creed Origins, and not only did I enjoy every minute, I learned more about the Ptolemaic dynasty and Caeser’s rise/Pompey’s fall than I ever did in the rest of my life.
Maybe Cranston is correct, considering that Need For Speed used to be the best-selling game series. However, I think there's something about open world that may just continue.
Regardless, enjoy your gaming!
The Dude Abides
Inbox also-rans
Is there a review embargo for Dragon’s Dogma 2?
LoRd SiNn
GC: There's a review embargo for everything, but we're rarely allowed to disclose it.
I have to say the hype for Balatro is justified. It's an incredibly addictive game, in a positive way, and I have never played a hand of poker in my life.
Columbo
The small print
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