The Tuesday Inbox wonders why Xbox owners don’t like Resident Evil, as another reader admits they don’t enjoy Red Dead Redemption 2.
To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Rogues gallery
I think I’m near the end of Resident Evil Village now and it’s a real shame about Lady Dimitrescu not really being in it that much. That’s a decision that was obviously made before the marketing made her up to be a bigger part of the game then she is, or was it the fans? I wonder what the chances are of her being in a spin-off or the sequel? I’m not sure she’s going to work so well outside of her castle setting but then I guess we never thought Wesker would be a weird Matrix style superhero after the first game either.
There’s many things I love about Resident Evil, like pouring magic herb juice on your hands to restore your health, but one thing is the great cast of characters. It’s fairly diverse, at least in terms of women (I really don’t know why they don’t bring Sheva back), and the memorable characters aren’t just limited to the good guys or bad guys.
I can’t think of any other franchise that has a rotating cast where you’re really looking forward to your favourite coming back, sometimes after waiting years. The only obvious exception is Nathan Winters, who you never get to see. That’s the fault of the first person view but even his dialogue and voice is pretty meh. Ironically, I think he’s the only time you’ve had the same playable character twice in a row. Although in his case character may be stretching the phrase a bit.
Johnson
A new era
So there we have it, the PlayStation 5 is going to be hard to get hold of until at least next Christmas. You can’t argue with the sales figures, especially with the problems that are not Sony’s fault, but this is going to drag out the start of this generation in a way we haven’t seen before. And I have to say it but Microsoft are much better prepared to cope with it.
The Xbox Series X/S is set up for there to be as little barrier between one generation and the next as possible, so it kind of doesn’t matter what console a game is made for as long as long as the new ones are able to beef up the performance. The PlayStation 5 isn’t really like that and it’s best games are PlayStation 5 exclusives, which is a problem when more people than planned are still stuck in the previous generation.
If Microsoft start to get some exclusive games of their own to add to the pot (and they’re actually good) then this year and next could end up going very well for them. We’ll have to wait and see but it’s an interesting time in game, feels like a new age is coming in more ways than once.
Mick
Think small
I’ve seen a lot of people reminiscing about Dead Space 2 lately but has there ever been any talk of a remaster, or a remaster trilogy ideally? I’d love an actual new sequel but that seems even more likely. I know it just comes down to money with EA but I wish they’d do just something for the hell of it. It’s not just EA but Activision, Ubisoft, and all the big publishers. There never seems to be any such thing as a passion project.
If it costs too much, then just limit the budget. The things some indie teams are able to make nowadays is amazing, on what seems to a budget 10 times smaller than this big companies are dealing with. Sometimes I think these ‘industry giants’ are just stuck in their way and don’t dare to think smaller when it suits the situation.
Montor
GC: There’s never been any hint from EA of a remaster or new sequel. There is the spiritual sequel The Callisto Protocol though.
E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Elite hopes
It might just be a few sketches but I actaully really liked the look of that leaked Starfield artwork, assuming it’s real. Everything looked very futuristic and cool, whereas I was worried they were going for a more grounded NASA style look that I would’ve found quite boring.
I’m not sure what the reason for all the secrecy is but I imagine it’s just a cross between the pandemic and getting bought by Microsoft that killed all the marketing plans. Will definitely be interested to see it at E3 next month and if it’s not there… I guess we better give up any idea of seeing it before next Christmas?
Personally I’m hoping this is going to be the dream version of what I imagined Elite 4 to be. Not the boring Elite: Dangerous but something a bit livelier and more accessible. I’d almost say a bit more fun but I don’t think Bethesda are really known for the levity. Still, it’s definitely one I’m keeping an eye out for.
Benson
Golden ticket
I got a PlayStation 5 VIP code for Currys PC World but due to circumstances outside my control I can’t afford to get it this month, so I’d like to offer it up to one of your readers.
Feel free to put whatever rules around it that you like – must submit a Reader’s Feature or letter or just first come first served – figured it’s best used by someone who actually wants it, rather than a scalper!
DanL66712 (gamertag)
GC: That’s very good of you. Although we should warn people that it may not be transferable. If anyone wants to give it a try though, we’ll pick a random person who sends us a useable, interesting Inbox letter and send you their details.
Discouraging words
Just read Capable Jones’s Reader’s Feature, that Red Dead Redemption 2 is the most boring video game ever made, and the predictable backlash in the Underbox. As I wrote in a previous letter regarding Red Dead Redemption 2, when you have an opinion about a fan favourite game that goes against the general consensus, you can take a lot of flack. I still haven’t gone back to Red Dead Redemption 2 since stopping weeks ago, refusing to partake in what feels like a chore rather than a pleasure.
Why do video games players feel they have to attack anyone with a dissenting voice to their own? They may love a game, but not everyone else has to, nor should they. I’ve been personally attacked on YouTube whenever I say anything other than a popular game is the best thing since sliced bread. Someone actually trolled me on Xbox Live using a quite vile direct message until I reported it, just for a game review I left that didn’t include five stars.
Considering what is going on in the real world, and the serious problems we all have in our lives at times, I sometimes feel that gamers really need to get some perspective on our pastime.
Spooky Dreamer
High heels
I may have written in about this before, but I can’t remember. What is it with Japanese games and their footstep sounds? All the survival horrors, all the Souls games, NieR Automata; many, if not all Japanese role-playing games. These are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. You walk around like you’re wearing hobnail boots all the time.
Yet in Western games you don’t get this. You get a much less noticeable footstep instead. Why?
All the best.
Chris Hard
GC: We can’t say we noticed, to be honest.
The PlayStation problem
Is it me or is it not a bit odd that the Xbox – next and last gen combined – only accounted for 20% of Resident Evil Village sales? That seems incredibly low to me and I can’t think of any reason for it. It didn’t have any exclusive content and I’d say Resident Evil is pretty firmly considered a multiformat franchise nowadays.
Some people are keen to paint Game Pass as a silver bullet but I think the sales numbers, or the implied ones at least, don’t necessarily support that. The PlayStation 5 hardware sales literally couldn’t be better and Sony is knocking it out of the park with their games. And on one hand I’m glad of it because I’d much rather see that rewarded than Microsoft just buying it’s way to success. And yet… the PlayStation 5 is such bad value for money.
I still haven’t bought Returnal for the simple reason it costs £70 and that is a lot of money to spend on something you’re not even sure you’ll like. I’ll get it at some point but what I’m hoping is that sometime soon Sony are going to announce either their version of Game Pass or a price drop for their first party games.
I’m hoping that that they’re holding one of those two options back to counter Microsoft when they need it. I know that’s probably not’s what’s going on, but hope springs eternal, eh?
Foyles
GC: It is odd, about Resident Evil Village. Sony did some pre-release marketing with Capcom, like the Maiden and early access demos, but nothing extra for the games themselves. And while Resident Evil did start on the PlayStation it’s not as heavily associated with it as something like Metal Gear Solid is.
Inbox also-rans
Do the 14-year-olds playing Call Of Duty even know who Rambo and John McClane are? I know it’s the 80s theme and everything but even so. I want to know the percentage of players who think they’re real historical people.
Gambo
Baten Kaitos is coming to Switch? Now that would be something I’d buy for a dollar. Except, is this a sign that now Nintendo’s run out of Wii U ports it’s having to resort to the GameCube?!
Alf
This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Dory, who asks what game do you think is better than its reputation suggests?
It can be a game that’s thought to be terrible that you like (or don’t think is so bad), one that’s considered mediocre, or even one that’s acknowledged to be good but you think is even better.
How often do you tend to agree with reviews and the general consensus about games and does it bother you at all? Are there any games you can think of whose reputation has improved over time, despite being initially disliked?
E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk
The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
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