Games Inbox: Will Starfield be worth waiting for?

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TV tropes
How come rumors of delays are always right, no matter what? Can’t say I’m surprised with Starfield though, the fact that they didn’t give a date for the showcase was a big red flag, although this is still later than I assumed. September is also a somewhat strange choice; I wonder if that leaves room for another big Christmas play or if it is? Although I suppose it could be for Forza Motorsport, which I don’t care about.

I wouldn’t trust Todd Howard to tell me his name, but I have to say I’m optimistic about the game. It’s all designed before the Microsoft acquisition and while they have their blind spots, I think Bethesda cares about what they’re doing and they’re really trying to do something different here. I think it’s pretty obvious they’re aware of their bug issue, and I’m assuming the delay was more about fixing that than anything else.

The only thing I’m a little concerned about is the plot, which is always the weakest part of their games. The stories and characters can be good, but the story is mostly a big fat nothing. If this turns out to be just another precursor race, which is exactly what it looks like so far, I won’t be impressed. Do something more original!
Fuji IX

take your time
It’s always a disappointment when a game gets delayed, but personally I’m glad Bethesda is taking the time for Starfield. As you said, they need to get this game right and I don’t think it’s going to make any financial difference to Microsoft whether it comes out or in the lead up to Christmas.

If Starfield turned out bad, the whole business of buying Bethesda would be called into question and Xbox would once again look like it can’t play first party games. If it’s right, though, it could flip that story and follow the old idea that you’re only as good as your last game.
Scooter

Quiet birthday
Since everyone likes to remind people of inconspicuous birthdays I’d like to say that this week is the 12th anniversary of Dragon Age 2, which I think I’m right in saying that for most people this is the least favorite of the series was. It was certainly a bit of a jerky response to the first one being rather slow and strategic, but as always they went too far and there was too much bland action.

I forget the reason why it all took place in the same town, with only the dungeons around. I think it was because the game was taking too long and they had to redesign it at the last minute? Whatever it was, I really think it worked. Sure, it was repetitive in terms of dungeon crawling, but it gave the characters a chance to shine and the locations started to feel a lot more real.

Sure, the next one went completely open world, trying to copy Skyrim, but while it was probably a better game, I felt it had less of a unique personality. I’m sure Dragon Age 4 won’t take much inspiration from 2, but I’d welcome a remaster. Mass Effect has one and yet Dragon Age is the bigger seller so it doesn’t seem entirely fair.
Caleb

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The last raid
Well, that Tomb Raider mobile game looks and sounds horrible. I guess that must have been the last thing Square Enix greenlit before they sold everything, so I think that might have been for the best because I don’t think their heart was really in it.

I enjoyed the reboot trilogy well enough, but it never really felt quite like the original games and I resented the more it went. In terms of personality, Lara was just a dumb hypocrite, not a sassy it-girl, and while there were more puzzles in the later game, platforming was still not a major part of the game. The original games were primarily platform games and that has been completely lost these days.

I think for many it would have been the first 3D platformer they played unless they happened to own an N64, and I’m sad that the series has forgotten that legacy. Sure, you’ll be jumping around on platforms a lot, but it’s all completely skillless and off-limits, no better than Uncharted. I hope for more in the new game.
Tank

GC: It started under Square Enix, yes.

Just Lego
Sad to hear about the problems at Traveller’s Tales, with the Lego games. I have very fond memories of playing those with my kids, when they were young, and we still had a lot of fun with the most recent Star Wars game. I imagine they would also enjoy the Harry Potter game, although the thought of going through everything again doesn’t fill me with that much excitement.

I’m not sure what the problem was with the studio – it sounds more like behind the scenes business stuff and the unfair deadlines they were working with more than anything, so I doubt we’ll get the full story.

It’s hard to say where they’re going with the concept, as The Skywalker Saga was already as complicated as you could get without really overdoing it. I’d say this new company might be able to expand things without the limitations of a Lego game, but I can’t say a Funko game sounds like a step up.
Clank

This is the side quest
I know people have already joked that The Mandalorian was written as a role-playing game, but this season it’s more obvious than before. The first episode is basically Mando just going back to places he’s already been to see if any new quests have popped up. Then episode 2 is a fetch quest with a bit of backtracking and a boss fight.

This can’t be a coincidence, they should be leaning into it now, but I don’t really see what the point is other than it’s a quick and lazy way to summarize an episode. To be honest, this season has been a major disappointment so far, with very little plot and a much more cartoony tone than the actual Star Wars cartoons.

I’m also going to enjoy the irony that when the inevitable video game version comes out, it won’t end up being a role-playing game. Though to be fair, if this season doesn’t get itself into momentum, I wonder if interest in the show will dry up much faster than Disney anticipated.
Winston

My uncle works at Nintendo
Everyone assumes the next Nintendo console will be more powerful than the Switch, but from what I hear it will be about as powerful as the NES. The logic is that indie games are very popular, and as long as it can run those, that’s enough.

The good news is that it costs just £29.99 and can play VHS and Betamax tapes.
Tim Keeling

Character action
I’d love to see the next Legend Of Zelda game after Tears Of The Kingdom be something that uses the same graphics engine as the Switch version of Link’s Awakening.

Obviously I want to see a new game and not just a remake of A Link To The Past.

A Link Between Worlds was probably the last proper original overhead Zelda 2D action adventure we saw, I’m not counting Triforce Heroes because that always felt like a side project to me.

Failing that, I wouldn’t really cry myself to sleep if the next big 3D adventure copied The Wind Waker’s graphic art style.

I’ve had a weird relationship with that game, I’ve gone from the first one completely hating it until it grew on me and now I consider it my second favorite Zelda game of all time, second only to Ocarina Of Time.

Then again, this is probably the least excited I’ve been about a new release of Zelda games in as long as I can remember.

Breath Of The Wild was fine, but I played it once and never went back to it. I suspect Tears Of The Kingdom is just more of the same with a few added features.

I’m really putting my head on the chopping block here, but I’m going to say that Breath Of The Wild lacked character.

There isn’t a character in that game that I like to remember or want to revisit.

Not a lonely old man stuck on the mountainside who needs help getting down, or a monkey who can get you into a dungeon because he can get to places you can’t go, not a sweet old granny who cares about you, no sick child in his bed that needs to feel better, no cheeky little masked boy bothering you.

All of these things may not seem like much but they all add up to the bigger picture, I believe Twilight Princess suffered the same lack of character I’m talking about with Breath Of The Wild.

Midna was amazing and I’m not taking anything away from her, she’s one of my favorite sidekicks, but after her it gets pretty sterile as a game. However, you can’t beat Navi in ​​Ocarina Of Time.

I’m going on a tangent here and I’m sorry I didn’t mean it.

I’m just saying Nintendo needs to do this Tears Of The Kingdom thing and move on.

I totally understand their mindset behind it, but they need to get this game off their chest and bring back another character in the Zelda games.

I don’t want my favorite series to fall into the trap of constantly trying to tempt the audience with how big the world is, we’ve had enough of those games.

I’d rather have something half the size with characters I care about and feel like I’m making a difference to them.
highway 77

Inbox is also running
Is anyone else being deterred from playing Call Of Duty by constantly hearing about it from all these acquisition cases. I’m just sick of hearing the name!
Campbell

So will Resident Evil 4 be the least surprising game ever? I’m in a position where I’m more confident in its quality than the new Zelda. I can not wait!
Final8

Hot topic this week
The topic for this weekend’s Inbox was inspired by reader Xane asking what famous game or franchise you’ve never played?

Many video games can be considered all-time classics, but which one have you never played yourself? Did you avoid the game on purpose or is it just something you never got around to – or couldn’t play because it was in a format you didn’t own?

Do you make an effort to play critically acclaimed games, even if they don’t seem quite your cup of tea? Have you ever been surprised by a classic game because it was something different than you thought?

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