The Friday letters page starts making a list of most wanted PS1 games on PS Plus Premium, as one reader defends Earthworm Jim 2.
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Proven consistency
As disappointed as people have been, I’ve noticed that most have taken the surprising well. Is this because people just trust Nintendo enough at this point that they’re happy for them to take as long as they like? The first game turned out so well I’d like to think people have realised that it’s far better to hope Nintendo don’t rush it then complain when it gets delayed.
That’s certainly how I think, as Nintendo, at least for the big games, have long since passed the point where I need to read a review or wait till their games get cheaper. For me, there are very few companies or franchises in that same position. FromSoftware are another, especially after Elden Ring, and I’ll probably always buy a new mainline day one, but that’s about it.
There are others that come close, like Naughty Dog, but I’ve never really liked The Last Of Us. Valve would be another, as they existed 15 years ago, but now they don’t really count either. I know virtually nothing about Breath Of The Wild 2 right now, but I find it very hard to imagine it won’t be worth the wait. They certainly have my money already.
Onibee
Out of time
I can’t believe how blatant that rips off Pokémon, although I have to admit the graphics are kind of cool and much better animated than the actual 2D Pokémon games. I have to agree with the review too, that Scarlet and Violet are headed into real trouble if they’re just Sword and Shield with a different setting, which is what they currently look like.
It’s obvious to everyone that Pokémon Legends is the way to go, as much improvement as it currently needs. It should have been the formula used for Scarlet and Violet and yet once again the ridiculous schedules Game Freak work by have spoiled their chance of improving things.
They released Pokémon Legends at the beginning of the year and now they’re going to release a mainline sequel at the end of it. Even accepting it’s a separate team it’s still the same studio and people in charge, so how can you ever expect to have time to innovate and experiment on that kind of time frame?
They should’ve seen that Pokémon Legends was popular and worked on that some more, instead they were already halfway through the next game, with no time to change plans.
Layne
Turn the worm
I had to laugh after seeing your headline today about and them being not very good… and then clicking on the article, seeing the picture of Earthworm Jim 2 and getting really excited.
I loved the first game back when I was a kid, but never got round to playing the sequel, so this is definitely next on my to-play list (once I get my Switch fixed, can’t get the damn thing to turn on at the moment)
No doubt I’ll end up agreeing with you once I’ve played it for a few hours but still, this story was welcome news- for me at least!
Manchester
GC: If you enjoyed the first then maybe you won’t, but we never liked it: all style and no substance.
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Zombies identified
You received an email from a gamer wanting to know what Amiga spooky/horror game featured Prokofiev’s Dance of the Knights as it’s music… well, I think I know what the game was. It was Horror Zombies From The Crypt published by Millennium in 1991.
Hope this helps.
Chris Norman
To answer Dancin’ n’ Shootin’s question from Thursday’s Games Inbox, a quick Google search on the Amiga plus the soundtrack unearths Horror Zombies From The Crypt. Not one I remember myself, but it looks like that’s the game they were after!
Jason
GC: Nor us, but that jumping animation is hilarious.
Proustian memory
Has a certain aroma ever reminded them of a game? A kind of soap, the smell of food being cooked, or a nostalgic perfume or deodorant? I like to buy Palmolive Milk & Honey for use in the bathroom and the other day the smell of it reminded me of Phantasy Star of all things!
I don’t know why, I first played the game six years after its initial release, given to me by a friend who couldn’t really get on with it. I quite enjoyed it but got very stuck when I had to find and build a robot to pilot a spaceship.
I know I have other examples: chicken Kiev probably makes me think of the Death Egg boss in Sonic & Knuckles 3… but I couldn’t tell you for sure.
DMR
Perseverance is all you need
All the recent talk about gaming difficulty got me thinking back to my own achievements. I wouldn’t class myself as a particularly gifted gamer, but I also do like to challenge myself.
Back in the day I was able to win the Special Cup on Super Mario Kart and complete Street Fighter 2 on the highest difficulty level. This was from no great skill but total perseverance! In more recent times I’ve defeated all the Valkyrie in God Of War and completed the Darker Side of the Moon on Super Mario Odyssey.
But no, I think my proudest recent gaming memory comes via Cuphead on the Switch. Completing in on normal was a challenge in itself but it was Dr Kahl’s Robot I had my true moment of euphoria. I’m pretty sure this is considered one of the hardest, if not the hardest level in the game. I honestly don’t know how many times I died on this level but I would guess not too far off three figures.
Then finally I did it, I’d beaten the big metallic b! And to my complete shock I’d only gone and got an A+ ranking, having taken no hits whatsoever. I was pretty stunned and then elated at my achievement, especially as this would be only clean run in the whole game.
Anyway, I thought this could be a good subject for a Hot Topic, what’s your proudest moment or achievement in a game. By that I don’t mean by Trophies/Achievements you’ve unlocked. But more the single moment in a game when you achieved what seemed like the impossible!
DuckOfDeath82 (PSN ID)
GC: We’ve done similar Hot Topics in the past but perhaps now is a good time to give it another go.
A lot over
The PS Plus Extra service is certainly exciting, but I have to say I’m confused by the claim, made by GC and others, that the ‘up to 400’ games promised is significantly larger than the selection on Game Pass.
Games are added and removed from Game Pass on a regular basis, so there’s no constant number, but at the moment there are 448 games on the console version of Game Pass, plus more for PC.
TGN Professor
GC: Microsoft themselves state the total, for both console and PC, as ‘over 100’ so we were just quoting them. We didn’t realise they were underselling themselves to that degree, so thanks for making us aware.
Alternative soundtrack
Just writing in again to thank another reader, this time it’s Dan Street for their Gran Turismo 7 music tip.
Thought I’d give it a bash, so I downloaded Spotify onto my PlayStation, selected the original Gran Turismo playlist and switched back to Gran Turismo 7, which resulted in no more terrible in-game music!
You can even control the volume and skip songs using your phone if you have the app installed. I’m guessing the same would apply to Apple Music too, but I don’t use it so can’t be sure.
This is definitely the way forward, as the music in the Gran Turismo series has been awful for a very, very long time. I miss the old intros, with music from bands I’ve actually heard of, except Gran Turismo 2’s awful Cardigans remix. In fact, now that I think about it, the Gran Turismo 2 soundtrack was bad in general and I used to pop the PS1 lid open to stop it playing songs I didn’t like during races. I just had to remember to close it before crossing the line or the game would break.
So thanks again to Dan Street for the tip and I’m open to any reader suggestions for good driving songs/playlists.
Trailbreaker83
Inbox also-rans
I’m sure when I really think about it, I will mention more PS1/2 games I want in this new PS Plus tier system, but what came straight to mind was Alundra. This is one of my favourite games ever, it’s a timeless classic I believe. Give me this and I’m happy!
Liam
It was said before this happened but Microsoft has got a massive problem ahead of them trying to sort out Activision Blizzard and all their other companies. 10,000 employees, and they can’t even stop a studio with 100 people from losing half its staff!
Calibre
This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Xane, who asks what’s your favourite retro video game format?
With TheA500 Mini creating a surge of interest in the Amiga 500, we want to know what’s your favourite retro format of all time – assuming that retro means anything up to and including the Xbox 360 era. Any kind of gaming device counts, including consoles (both home and portable), home computers, and the PC. Although if it’s the PC please be specific about the time period in question.
What is it you like about the format and how much does nostalgia have to do with your choice? What were the format’s best games and is there anything about it that you miss from modern devices?
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
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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