Owlboy review – a real hoot

Owlboy (PC) – it’s good to have friends

Nine years in the making, this stunning new 2D platformer is finally ready to leave the nest and enter your games collection.

Every day we get sent press releases about indie games we’ve never heard of, their developers hoping that we, and others, will have the chance to review them and provide them with some much-needed publicity. But even if there was some way to guess which are worthy of further investigation we rarely have the time, especially in the run-up to Christmas. But thanks to the gorgeous pixel art, and talk of a nine-year development cycle, we took a chance on Owlboy. And now we’re here to say that you should too.

As is obvious almost at a glance, Owlboy is a labour of love. Its mammoth development time is due to the normal difficulties of indie development, but also lead designer’s Henrik Stafsnes Andersen’s struggles with depression. According to him the game is inspired by old NES games such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Kid Icarus, but as you can see the visuals are far beyond that, with a much more modern graphic style he refers to as ‘hi-bit’.

The game’s setting is a floating island in the sky, where a population of owl-people find themselves under attack by pirates. You take control of a young mute name Otus; a sad, bullied figure who starts the game in such a miserable state that it’s quite heartbreaking to watch. And although he and his friends eventually get into some typical world-saving adventures the storytelling is surprisingly complex and emotional, with serious themes always hiding just below the surface.

Although Otus can obviously fly he only has a simple spin attack with which to defend himself. And so one of the main gameplay elements is the option to carry others and make use of their special abilities. Otus has three best friends who he can always rely on, but there are also a number of other more fleeting alliances that mean you’re always on the lookout for new acquaintances. Weapons of various sorts are the most common kind of help, but there’s also a Metroidvania element where you’re teased with impassable obstacles and have to find the right person to help.

Allies can be teleported directly to you, thereby avoiding any problems with backtracking, but there’s still an impressive depth to the mechanics. Combat works like a dual stick shooter, and moves for both Otus and his friends can be upgraded with in-game currency. Most abilities also have dual uses as well, for both defence and puzzle-solving, which is where the game also bears comparison with The Legend Of Zelda.

This is also where the game most resembles WayForward’s Shantae, both in terms of the Nintendo-esque gameplay and the Metal Slug style 2D artwork. But Owlboy is easily the superior in terms of visuals, with some astonishingly beautiful backdrops and incredible animation. This is easily one of the best-looking games of the year, especially as the look is so unique. It’s not really retro, since old 16-bit games never looked this good, but instead Owlboy feels like the natural evolution of ‘90s pixel graphics if the art form hadn’t been side-lined by the adoption of 3D in the PlayStation era.

Owlboy (PC) – a long time coming

But just as remarkable is the soundtrack by Jonathan Geer, which again is one of the best examples of its craft all year. As with the graphics there is a retro tinge to the music, but given the prominence of live instruments, instead of digital, it feels just as unique and progressive as the visuals. It also manages to match the events of the game perfectly, whether action or drama, segueing from one to the other with impressive grace.

In terms of faults, we struggle to suggest anything of note. Otus is a bit slow, it could be argued, and his movement lacks a certain amount of precision, but that seems to be a design decision meant to convey his character via gameplay. It’s consistent enough that you soon get used to it, and no-one is likely to find it a problem after the first half hour or so. You could also argue that some of the dungeon puzzles are a little clichéd, if you’ve played a lot of similar games, but they’re still far beyond the switch-pulling banality of most mainstream games.

The only actively bad thing in the game is the final boss, which is a complete chore to defeat. But even that may be purposeful given how affecting the finale is, and how you’re suddenly made to feel guilty for wishing such a wonderfully made game would end. Owlboy is certainly one of the best games of 2016 and an incredible achievement for such a small team. It took them a while, admittedly, but then as Owlboy itself teaches you, no important victory ever comes easily…

Owlboy

In Short: A superbly crafted 2D adventure that is a near perfect blend of new and old influences, in terms of both gameplay and the stunning visuals and music.

Pros: Some of the best pixel art ever in a video game, with amazing animation. Heartful storytelling, superb music, and some very clever gameplay ideas – especially the interchangeable allies.

Cons: Controls could stand to be a little tighter. The final boss is a real pain.

Score: 9/10

Formats: PC
Price: £19.39
Publisher: D-Pad Studio
Developer: D-Pad Studio
Release Date: 1st November 2016
Age Rating: N/A

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Games Inbox: Overwatch breakout hit, Titanfall 2 release date, and World Of Final Fantasy love

Overwatch – does it count as a mainstream hit?

The morning Inbox asks who the Nintendo Switch games will be aimed at, as one reader recommends Depression Quest.

To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk

Slow lane

Does nobody else get a bit upset that, in terms of games that are successful, we’re all still playing the same games as last gen? FIFA, Call Of Duty, and Grand Theft Auto continue to be the only games some people play, with games like Battlefield and Assassin’s Creed a tier behind if they’re feeling adventurous. In fact there not being an Assassin’s Creed this year is about the only change to the status quo I can remember in ages.

The annoying thing is this year has actually been really good for games: XCOM 2, Dark Souls III, the PlayStation VR line-up, Darkest Dungeon… but none of them are appealing to the mainstream or will probably even be something they’ve even heard of (I wonder if that includes even PlayStation VR, because I’ve never seen a TV ad for it).

There is Overwatch, but although it has a huge online following it’s not something I’ve ever heard anyone in the real world talk about. And although it’s a shooter I know it’s something that my COD/FIFA only mates would never consider. I worry that we’re all too set in our ways and that there’s a sort of two lane video games industry: what we the fans know about and the much smaller number of games that ordinary people play.

I guess Overwatch is probably the closest to a breakout hit this year, but it’s clearly not going to change anything in the way I’m talking about. Unless you count Pokémon GO, but then again that’s an even older franchise…
Cortnad

Best of three

I played all three betas for the three first person shooter games released this autumn. And was surprised that (to me) Titanfall 2 basically wound up being the best. I never thought that was going to be the case. Especially as the first one died a death after a few months, with no real content or player base.

Last year I hadn’t pre-ordered Black Ops III, on the proviso that I thought the franchise was done for me. This year I had the standard version on pre-order so played the beta, but after what was quite frankly a horrific experience (I dislike quick scoping massively) I cancelled it. I wasn’t impressed with Battlefield 1 and I have distanced myself from it, I appreciate it’s a great game for some folks, just not for me, not this year.

So I decided that I’d take the plunge with Titanfall 2, and to be fair I’m happy that I did, because its great fun and exactly what I wanted. Something I can pick up and __play for 10 minutes or the weekend, depending on how I feel. It actually feels like there is enough content/options to say that this is really what the first game should have been. It’s sad really, that EA has sent it out to die, because it really could of done better had they either brought the release up to the end of September or bumped it to 2017. They’ve even said no season pass and content is free but I don’t think that will save it.

I just don’t understand some of these decisions that publishers make.
WAYNEOS

Inspiring quest

I am writing in response to the Reader’s Feature about depression. Firstly, I imagine it was quite difficult to open up and write it, but also to summon the energy to do so. If anyone would like to understand depression through our favourite hobby I recommend Depression Quest, which is free to __play via browser, or at least it was last time I checked. One might argue it’s not really a game at all, but the way the game removes certain courses of action from the player mirrors the effects of depression in a really clever way.

I haven’t had depression but I am married to someone that had depression for several years. I played depression quest long after the symptoms had subsided, but it still brought me to tears because it held up a mirror to the way I acted and the way I perceived my wife. I think Zoe Quinn, the developer of Depression Quest, created a brilliant way of exploring its effects on the person who has it but also, those around them.
Biglizafish
PS: Can’t get the song from the Switch ad out of my head. It’s called Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah) and it is by White Denim. Catchy indeed.

E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk

New chance

I’m one of those that doesn’t play multiplayer but is signed up to PlayStation Plus. I’d say it’s been great value. I have a huge library of PlayStation 3 games that have all come from the subscription, that I’m working my way through. It’s the main reason my PlayStation 4 has gone relatively untouched since I bought it.

True, probably half or more of the games I fire up for half an hour then delete. But there have been dozens of incredible games on there that I would happily have paid £40 for on their own. There have been some weak months that have made me want to cancel, but then the next month there’s been a great game or two. For less than £4 a month I don’t think you can complain at the quantity and variety offered.

Especially as GameCentral keep saying the perfect tonic to apathy is often trying something new.
thewearehere (PSN ID)

The plan

For me the most important question about the Nintendo Switch is who Nintendo is making the games for. Is it the casual audience they won and lost with the Wii or is it ordinary gamers (and their hardcore fans?). The first trailer certainly looks like gamers: slick hardware design, no sign of any kids, and popular core franchises. But is that going to last? The first whiff of mainstream success with the Wii and Nintendo were off, and I have trouble believing it wouldn’t be the same again.

You could argue that maybe they are aiming only at the core, based on the evidence so far, but what then about smartphones? Core gamers don’t need rubbish tie-in apps to tell them a new game’s out, so what’s their purpose? If it was just to make money on the side then all well and good, but Nintendo has already said it’s to encourage mobile gamers to get a Switch. But that’s never going to work, is it?

As soon as there’s a new Nintendo announcement I think certain fans just start imagining a best case scenario and don’t accept that it never works out that way. To me the Switch made for a slick ad but I don’t think Nintendo’s overall plan makes much sense.
Gluco

Out of this world

I had been looking forward to World Of Final Fantasy for such a long time, and when it finally got delivered by the postman I dived right in. Wow, what a game. As a massive Final Fantasy fan, and knowing the game was full of fan service, the game instantly bought me joy. It’s also been a huge pick me up in life in general.

Even better is the fact that it plays and feels like three of my favourite games. It plays and looks like a Skylanders game, without the financial implication of buying additional Skylanders figures, there’s even elemental gates. Next up is that it also plays like Pokémon GO. Throwing Prism balls at monsters, hoping it flashes three times to capture it, then upgrading your creatures, and even evolving them, (kind of).

Finally, it feels like an old style Final Fantasy game. With towns, dungeons, good characters to meet, random and turn-based battles, and exploring. This game is almost a dream come true. I am only twelve hours in so far, but I already placing it as my top game of 2016. Thank you Square Enix.
Dark Anima

Two to tango

I have had the PlayStation VR a few weeks now and I’m still loving it, but I have noticed the view shifting left which seem to be a common problem. I took the headset back to GAME and they phoned Sony, and the person on the phone said it’s a software problem that Sony have recognised and that there should be a patch soon to correct it. And that it’s not faulty headsets or cameras, which is a relief. But they don’t know when the patch will be ready.

I have a question, can you use just one Move controller on games like The London Heist or do you have to have two? I saw one controller going cheap but didn’t think it was worth getting if you have to use two, thanks.
robbie.j

GC: The London Heist is so short we’re not sure it’s going to be worth money. Some games, like Rez Infinite, only use one but you really need two for the full effect in something like Batman: Arkham VR.

Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here

Doing the numbers

I’ve been looking to jump to PC gaming but been balking by the cost of the hardware. A common argument I hear is the initial cost is offset by the cheaper games. So like ObsoletePaul I recently looked at my complete PSN transaction history to see how much value I get from the instant game collection and the PSN store in general. Unlike him though my conclusion is that both offer good value.

Regarding PS Plus, I’ve been a member for 3.5 years at a cost of £150. In that time there has been 43 instant game collection games across PS3 and PS4, at a cost of £3.49 each, that have interested me and been played for a sustained time. The common feeling is the instant game collection has dropped in quality now PS Plus is required for online play. I agree, but have still found in 2016 it offers good value at £3.64 a game, which are: Grim Fandango Remastered, GALAK-Z, Zombi, Tropico 5, Gone Home, NBA 2K16, Furi, Yakuza 5, Lords Of The Fallen, Resident Evil, and Transformers; Devastation.

Personally, I’d rather see sub money from PS Plus go into subsiding PS Plus discount sales so I can own a game and ditch the instant game collection. It’s main function for Sony is a good advertising draw for the service and to keep you bonded to the service, as you need to stay subbed to play the games. But as a feature of an online service that the competition also charges for it’s been good value.

The PSN store comes out well too. Over the 3.5 years I’ve amassed 130 games at a cost of £941.93 and £7.25 a game (this includes the 43 PS Plus games and the £150). Triple-A games at launch are to be avoided as they are very expensive, but thanks to constant sales that can only be rivalled by DFS my £941.93 has bought me a healthy spread of full and indie titles like:

Dark Souls II (£49.99), No Man’s Sky (£49.99), Bloodborne and DLC (£49.99), The Witness (£29.99), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (£19.99), Divinity: Original Sin – Enhanced Edition (£16.99), Soma (£4.09), Lumo (£5.14), Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons (£4.99), Day Of The Tentacle Remastered (£5.59), Valkyria Chronicles Remastered (£10.39), Dishonored Definitive Edition (£8.99), Wolfenstein: The New Order (£8.54), Oxenfree (£8.39), Team Ico HD Collection PS3 (£10.99), Mass Effect PS3 (£3.95), Monkey Island Special Edition Bundle PS3 (£4.95), Steins;Gate PS3 (£10.99), The Talos Principle (£14.39), Rayman Legends (£11.39), Firewatch (£14.99), Metro: Last Light Redux (£5.84), Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD PS3 (£2), and Tearaway Unfolded (£6.49).

I do have concerns about digital distribution and don’t regard the PSN store as the best place to shop. New releases are prohibitively expensive and if there’s no competition from bricks and mortar stores digital prices would remain high. I’m pretty sure most of the disc titles I’ve bought on PSN could of been found at the time for the same price or cheaper at a shop.

The three Triple-A launch titles – Dark Souls III, Bloodborne and DLC (or game of the year edition), and No Man’s Sky – could of been bought considerably cheaper than the PSN store price. But £941.93 for 130 high quality games (well except No Man’s Sky, to err is human I guess) at £7.25 (£9.10 if you deduct the instant game collection games and price) each means PS Plus and PSN store has been good value to me. Since the PlayStation launch and its cheaper price point than the Xbone, the one thing Sony has got pretty spot on this gen is its pricing.

Another point to consider when judging value is the quality of service. Sony’s is inferior to Microsoft’s, being more prone to downtime and attacks, but I’ve had problems with both services and consoles features like DVR on Xbox One refusing to work. Microsoft’s is better but I don’t consider Sony’s service to be poor, but good with room for improvement.

Having said all this I’m still going PC as I want to be on an open platform.
Simundo Jones

Inbox also-rans

I’m really impressed with the PlayStation VR Worlds games. Scavengers Odyssey in particular is an excellent example of how to implement first person locomotion without using teleportation. No one I’ve demonstrated the game to has had any motion sickness. The London Heist is also great fun.
Anon

GC: We’ve had the worst motion sickness of any VR game we’ve played with Scavengers Odyssey. Every game is different for every person.

RE: Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare. Do you know when your review will go up?
Simon

GC: No, to be honest. We’ve had Modern Warfare Remastered in, but are still waiting on Infinite Warfare. Hopefully it’ll be today.

This week’s Hot Topic

It’s Halloween this week, so the subject for this weekend’s Inbox asks the simple question of what game has ever scared you the most?

Whether it’s an actual survival horror or not doesn’t matter, but what game or moment in a game, have you found the most frightening? Was it a jump scare, or something more psychological? How impressed where you by how the game had managed to build up to it and how scary was the rest of the experience?

How good do you think games are at creating a horror atmosphere and inspiring fear, and how do they compare to movies and other media? With so few mainstream horror games at the moment, what are you hopes for the genre in the future?

E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk

The small print
New Inbox updates appear twice daily, every weekday morning and afternoon. Letters are used on merit and may be edited for length.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word 4Player viewer features at any time, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

If you need quick access to the GameCentral channel page please use: www.metro.co.uk/games

Pokémon Sun and Moon is most pre-ordered Nintendo game ever

And Nintendo has a lot of history…

The new Pokémon game has already broken records for Nintendo, as the recent demo also becomes their most popular ever.

The new Pokémon game for 3DS (essentially Pokémon 7) was always going to be a hit, but once Pokémon GO became a phenomenon during the summer all bets were off as to exactly how big it could get.

And according to Nintendo of America that’s exactly what’s happened, as they’ve just revealed that it’s the most pre-ordered game in Nintendo’s (127 year) history.

The recent Special Demo Version has also become Nintendo’s most download demo. Although since they don’t generally have many of those that’s not such an achievement.

The final game will be released, as both Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, on November 23.

As new Nintendo boss Tatsumi Kimishima has pointed out, when talking to Bloomberg, this seems to suggest that the idea of promoting games and brands via smartphones does actually work. And bodes well for future titles such as Super Mario Run.

‘In terms of expectations [for Super Mario Run], we all saw what happened when we delivered Pokémon GO. And honestly I was quite surprised by it myself’, said Kimishima. ‘There’s no doubt that more people are using smartphones to __play games. And as this time we’re using Mario, that’s a very important intellectual property for us. And that’s what Miyamoto’s team is working on now: making sure it spreads out just as quickly as Pokemon GO.’

‘Our main business is the hardware/software business. In addition, our smartphone business has helped sell a lot of our existing packages’, he added.

‘And it has really proved our original thesis: by releasing our software on the smartphone, it positively impacts our existing hardware and software business. And that’s precisely the synergy effect we were expecting. And as that has been proven correct, we have more confidence.’

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Games Inbox: Top 5 PlayStation VR games, Street Fighter V: Season 2, and Nintendo Switch

Thumper – definitely in the top 5

The morning Inbox recommends a Halo: The Master Chief Collection bargain, as one reader is saddened at the decline of StreetPass.

To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk

Not available in shops

Thanks for reviewing Tethered, after my request. I bought it, as I love strategy games. As so many of us trust your reviews, I hope your excellent review encourages more gamers to try this style of game so that more such games are released. Tethered is also surprisingly cheap.

It might be useful to do a top five VR games list around 1 December, for all those who buy the system for Xmas. My top (three and a half) games, which are must-buys, so far would be:

Tethered
REZ Infinite
Thumper
Batman: Arkham VR (the half game!)

Battlezone just misses out due to being too samey for the high price.

Why though are so many PlayStation VR games download only? I always buy a disc version of games or software where I can. Primarily because it saves hard drive space and also allows for resale. In short, I prefer physical to virtual software.

I’m still holding out for Inbox Magic to bring a version of Tempest 2000 to PlayStation VR.
KhalsaBlade (gamertag/NN ID)/Akali (PSN ID)/Blade (Steam ID)
PS: By the way, if it’s still available can I please have a code for Gears Of War 3 for Xbox 360 as I never did get around to playing that one.

GC: We would imagine it’s because most of them are much less than full price, and that there is/was uncertainty about how VR games would sell.

Congratulations by association

It seems Sony realised that the only thing that was going to sell PlayStation VR was the games, and judging by the reviews and comments they have done a stellar a job. I am yet to try one myself but GAME might be getting a fiver off me in not too distant future.

Sony had to have decent games to sell the uniqueness and experience of VR. It was a needs-must situation, which might explain the lacklustre PlayStation 4 launch games. Come the start of this generation we were all ready to fork out for more teraflops regardless of the games and they knew it. It also might explain why the Xbox One, after that E3 announcement, just had the edge with launch exclusives.

Hopefully Nintendo are in a similar situation and we can expect a launch line-up that blows our socks off.
PowerFeeling (gamertag)/ThePowerFeeling (PSN ID)
PS: I would love a Gears Of War 2 code please.
PPS. Here is a code for something called a shocker call sign in Titanfall 2 on PlayStation 4.

GC: Not to take anything away from Sony for a great launch, but none of the best PlayStation VR games were published by them. Thanks for the code, we’ll send out a Gears one later to you and everyone else that’s asked for one.

Passed over

Has GameCentral heard anything official from Nintendo about the StreetPass relay switch offs? I’m seeing more tweets about it now, confirming it wasn’t just me who lost the service in a September system update. All I had left was the GAME Nintendo Zones, and seeing that Nintendo UK’s updated map only showed them, I feared the worst. A free service, yes, but one that often saw me giving custom to local branches of Argos, HMV, Debenhams, and so on. My waistline may not miss the McDonald’s visits, but that was the most convenient place for long downloads…

Which will most likely never now include the recent StreetPass updates, which I was on the verge of purchasing. Not much point in adding a 100-hit capacity when I’ll barely ever get more than six again. The technology still seems to be in place – crack the 3DS open at one of the old haunts and the upper-left icons on the lower screen have a good-old think about it before they decide that they aren’t going to turn Internet blue – but whatever financial arrangement Nintendo had with its partners may have changed.

I remember your tip about Marks & Spencer being a good place to earn some hits, and so they were until early 2015 when that agreement must have expired, but losing all the rest is a definite shame.

And it was such a sudden breakup for me too. My connectivity and Miiverse posts largely depended on shop doors; often but not always out-of-hours. It was in the entrance of our O2 branch, on an evening in September, when I was prompted to perform the system update. The local relay point logged me into the Internet, downloaded whatever it needed to, and at that very second it abandoned me. Forever, I fear…
Mr Graham Addressing The Nation

GC: They’ve never spoken publicly about any of the shutdowns, so we wouldn’t expect anything. But we’ll mention it next time we speak to them.

E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk

Making do

I’ve recently had a few weeks off work so I got the chance to catch up on a few games in my backlog, which were mainly Games with Gold downloads. One of the ones I tried was the first XCOM.

In the past I used to love all sorts of strategy game but now I have considerably less time I can’t usually fit them in so I thought I’d give it a go. Unfortunately, it just didn’t grab me and I went back to easier to pick up and __play games like FIFA. I’m sure if this game had been around 15 years ago I’d have loved it!
Woodfish187 (gamertag)
PS: I got sent a Gears Of War code but it didn’t work but a kind reader in the under box set to me a code for number 1. If there is an abundance of codes for the others I would be a happy recipient!

GC: This email saddens us. It’s like saying you’ll just put up with cheap fast food forever because a decent meal takes too long.

Fast track

Any chance you could review the DLC for FAST Racing NEO and/or Furi, now that it’s coming to the Xbox One with bonus content? The new FAST Racing NEO tracks are outstandingly designed, superior to most all of the original 16 tracks, and edge Shin’en’s lightning fast racer ever closer to F-Zero GX territory of excellence, in my opinion.

I genuinely believe that with a little guidance from Nintendo, and F-Zero GX/AX director Toshihiro Nagoshi on board, Shin’en could make an amazing F-Zero game in the future. Besides, eight new tracks for £4.40 is fantastic value for money in my opinion!
Galvanized Gamer

GC: If it comes to Xbox One we’ll probably review it again.

Split attention

I’m interested in the Nintendo Switch due to the possibility that it will be their only console, combining both their home and portable systems into one. This could mean that we’ll finally get a console that receives Nintendo’s full focus and is properly supported with a steady stream of games from an early stage – though I am sceptical about how many will be available at launch.

Its price could reveal how much support the Switch will be given and how confident Nintendo are of its chances of success. If it’s high, I’m probably going to assume that there won’t be enough games released to compensate for a lower price. Personally, I’m not too worried about its battery life as I wouldn’t plan on using it portably. It’s obviously a lot bigger than the 3DS, so perhaps Nintendo’s changed attitude towards the mobile phone market was in part intended to bridge this gap.

Nintendo’s reliance upon their major franchises can’t continue as it is, though. Zelda is my favourite franchise, but I’ve essentially been able to skip the Wii U without missing out on a new entry. I know there have been some well-received games, including Mario Kart 8, but not enough for a self-described Nintendo fan to splash out on a new console.

Just once, I’d like to see them throw their full weight behind something instead of repeating the same old mistakes time after time after time. It’s not easy being a Nintendo fan!
Bodhi

Swap shop

John Ryan, I would be willing to loan you Rise Of The Tomb Raider on Xbox 360, as long as you return it at a later date. Previously I have done this through GC with Dark Souls, and that went very well.

If you feel like doing this then you can message me through Xbox, and if anyone else would like to get in on it then let me know. I got the game sitting waiting on a hard replay but it will not be for a while.
Bobwallett (gamertag/PSN ID/Steam ID)

Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here

Street Fighter XXXVII

On the topic of Street Fighter V, I still think it has a strong gameplay mechanic and as a fan I still enjoy playing it when I can.

Take the other week for example, me and my mate played a first to 10 set online, in which my mate won 10-7 (me being Balrog and him being Zangeif.) To be fair, I spat my dummy out a bit as his Internet provider is from Fisher Price or something. The week after he came to mine and we had an extremely tense first to 10 local set with the same characters, that came down to not only the final match but the final round with me being the victor! (Order was restored. But not convincingly enough. Ahem.)

The game still does have a strong following despite criticism, especially in the competitive scene. The entry numbers were over a record breaking 5,000 at EVO, of which the finals were played out in a packed stadium.

There are problems with it though, recent numbers suggest that it has only shifted 1.4 million copies, but only 100,000 within the last give months – making it Capcom’s 37th highest selling game. I believe a great deal of this is down to the way the game was handled for release.

Although the features are much more robust now, it did feel like an early access game which was, and still is, quite difficult to get into for casual and newcomers. This has to be because of the lack of an arcade mode and single-player content in general. You’re kind of forced to __play online and there are a lot of monsters there.

The ranking system I think can put a lot of people off, because you are now categorised in a medal system (rookie, bronze to gold, etc.). This brings you into reality how bad you are (I’ve been super/ultra bronze for the longest time).

Street Fighter IV had a D-A grading system for individual characters, but your overall stats were points-only. Which I believe for most people made them psychologically worry less about their position in rank, and more on the points in their level.

I also think it’s difficult to understand what moves are punishable, as some characters look like they are throwing something out unsafe, only to counter your answer to what seems to be you opening for attack. It also feels more about reads than reaction (I prefer the latter.) These could be just excuses on my part though.

There is still also some graphic clipping in the Vs. screen that still isn’t sorted and makes it look slightly unpolished. As good as the game looks, these minor faults can be fixed.

I think they will have to re-release it somehow, or make the basic package free-to-play or something. It’s almost set up that way anyway, with the way the DLC is handled and the option to earn stuff with fight money.

I recently got Guilty Gear Xrd -Revelator-. It’s gorgeous! Despite the overwhelming fight mechanics I’m really enjoying it. I wouldn’t dare to try it online yet, but it is hammered with stuff to do straight out of the box. Something Capcom could really learn from.

Overall, I love the game, and will be playing a long time to come. I hope season 2 is as big of a jump that Super was for vanilla Street Fighter IV.
Harmful Dazmos (SHIN_PALMONDOS – CFN ID)

Inbox also-rans

I see on this week’s edition of Swipe on Sky News they’ve just mentioned about the backlash at GAME over the controversy of charging £5 to try out the PlayStation VR units in their stores. And rightly so! Apparently GAME has come out in their defence for the charge and said: ‘It gives people a chance to try out the VR before you buy’. Really GAME?!
JAH

This is a phenomenal deal.
Basin79

GC: Halo: The Master Chief Collection for £5? Yes, that is pretty good!

This week’s Hot Topic

It’s Halloween this week, so the subject for this weekend’s Inbox asks the simple question of what game has ever scared you the most?

Whether it’s an actual survival horror or not doesn’t matter, but what game or moment in a game, have you found the most frightening? Was it a jump scare, or something more psychological? How impressed where you by how the game had managed to build up to it and how scary was the rest of the experience?

How good do you think games are at creating a horror atmosphere and inspiring fear, and how do they compare to movies and other media? With so few mainstream horror games at the moment, what are you hopes for the genre in the future?

E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk

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Skylanders Imaginators review – toying with your money

Skylanders Imaginators (PS4) – choose your own adventurer

This year’s new toys to life game adds character customisation and Crash Bandicoot, but makes even more demands on parents’ wallets.

And so we come to that time of year when we start to feel guilty about recommending video games. Despite the demise of Disney Infinity, the toys to life concept is still going strong when it comes to Lego Dimensions and concept originator Skylanders. We’ll be taking a look at the season’s new Lego releases next month, but for now we have to reveal the unfortunate truth that Skylanders Imaginators is a very good game, especially for children. However, that doesn’t mean it can be recommended quite that simply…

Although a new Skylanders game is released every year, they’re developed in rotation by two different studios, a bit like how Call Of Duty works. This year it’s the turn of Toys for Bob again, but although they created the franchise we’ve always felt their entries tended to be the weaker ones, with even the gimmicks usually proving less interesting. Imaginators has a great one though: the chance to design your own skylander, in what is one of the most powerful character creation tools ever seen.

The basics of the underlying game are still the same as ever though, and as usual the best way to describe it is as a child-friendly version of Diablo. Which is to say it’s a two-player action game with some light role-playing elements. Or rather they used to be light, since in Imaginators the role-playing side of things plays a notably heavier role, with more complex stats and upgrades, and even a loot system.

Creating a character requires a creation crystal, of which you get one in the starter pack, along with two Sensei characters and the Portal of Power needed to make them all work. Crystals can be one of eight different elements (you get a fire one to start with) and that dictates what your character will be as well. You also have to choose a battle class for them though, from one of 10 different role-playing staples, such as brawlers, ranged fighters, and mages.

Once these top-level decisions are made there’s a huge range of different body parts (all of which you can resize and recolour), weapons, voices (including your own catchphrases), music cues, and special abilities to choose from. Added to this are the loot drops, which constantly expand your range of options across all the different categories, including weapons and gear. They’re even ranked from common all the way up to rare, epic, and ultimate – and yes, you can pay for more random ones via microtransactions.

It’s only actually the gear and weapons that make any different to your stats, but, especially for younger players, the excitement of adding a new tail or selecting a new silly voice is just as entertaining as simply playing the game. That makes the new range of Sensei toys particularly desirable, as they’re able to give characters new weapons and techniques, as well as increase their level cap. But even though they also unlock new areas they’re not necessary to get to the end of the game.

This is the starter pack we were using

Looking beyond all the gimmicks and peripherals, the real reason to recommend Skylanders is that they’re genuinely well-made action games. But although the character creation is the best gimmick Toys for Bob have ever come up with the game design still pales compared to last year’s SuperChargers. The almost Nintendo-esque invention of the previous game is gone, replaced by more straightforward level design and puzzles. They’re never actively bad though, and since the combat has always been the series’ focus it’s more fun than ever in Imaginators – thanks to the increase in role-playing options.

A highlight of the game though, is the island based on Crash Bandicoot. Inevitably this also requires more toys, but we were sent a special edition starter pack that also includes Crash and Dr. Cortex. Their section of the game still plays like the rest of Skylanders but through their unique abilities it manages to replicate the look and feel of the Crash Bandicoot games very well, and is filled with in-jokes for fans.

Buying extra toys is entirely optional though, and as always the amount of content available in the game is actually extremely generous. It’s just that there’s even more to be had if you start forking out for the toys as well. But this year the biggest temptation is to go out and buy more creation crystals, and not just to get the other elements. The catch is that once you pick a battle class it is then locked to that crystal and cannot be changed. And crystals aren’t cheap either, at around £9 each.

Such cynical restrictions are hard to stomach, and threaten to undermine the rest of the experience. Apart from anything they seem so unnecessary given the appeal of buying the normal toys, the new microtransactions, and the fact that you’re even tempted to pay for a 3D printed version of your character. The sheer amount of monetisation is dizzying, and harder than ever to reconcile with a game that is fun, charming, and filled with content.

But Skylanders has always been a paradox: the best, most imaginative multiformat kids game around, and yet also a franchise clearly aimed at draining parents’ wallets as completely as possible. But as ever we can only warn of the issues and try to let you know what you’re getting in for.

In terms of reviewing the game itself, this isn’t the best of the series, and yet it does have some of its best features so far. On that basis it’s a game well worth playing for kids and parents alike, just think very carefully before you start spending any more money on it…

Skylanders Imaginators

In Short: The increased role-playing elements add another interesting angle to an already accomplished franchise, but the cynical attempts to fleece parents’ wallets are hard to defend.

Pros: The family-friendly combat and loot-farming is a lot of fun, with one of the best character creators ever. Well-designed characters and toys, and the Crash Bandicoot stuff is great.

Cons: The inability to delete or overwrite crystals is a shamefully cynically move, and the loot microtransactions aren’t much better. Less inventive level design than SuperChargers.

Score: 8/10

Formats: PlayStation 4 (reviewed), Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and Xbox One
Price: £39.99
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Toys for Bob
Release Date: 14th October 2016
Age Rating: 7

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A second look at World Of Final Fantasy – Reader’s Feature

World Of Final Fantasy – keeping fans happy

A reader reports back from a preview event for Square Enix’s latest game, and gets a chance to talk to its creator.

On Monday 3rd October I went along to an exclusive Square Enix fan event for the release of World Of Final Fantasy, at their headquarters in London, run by the community management team. Readers may remember I went to a similar do for I Am Setsuna a short while ago. I had already played World Of Final Fantasy at EGX 2016 and wasn’t to impressed, but I’m glad I gave it a second chance.

For the uninitiated, World Of Final Fantasy is a traditional Japanese role-playing game in which you lead the twins, Reynn and Lann, as they attempt to rediscover their lost memories and save the world of Grymoire from peril as they band together with familiar faces from the Final Fantasy franchise in an epic and adorable adventure.

After a brief introduction we were joined by the games director Hiroki Chiba for a Q&A session, via a translator. Chiba is a long-term employee of Square Enix and has worked on many mainline and spinoff Final Fantasy titles, but this is his directorial debut. Questions were fielded from both the audience and social media. Topics covered were the title’s influences, its difficulty, art style, and what iconic characters from the series would be included in the game. All replies were really in-depth and latest nearly a whole hour. The whole affair was also live streamed on Facebook.

Afterwards we were given some cool promotion items, including a sticker set and postcards, which I then got signed by the man himself. And he also posed for a photograph with me as well which was great.

We were then given a brief guided __play through of third chapter of the game and then shown the battle system and and its many mechanics. There is a return to the gameplay style from earlier classic Final Fantasy titles, with turn-based battles and random encounters. The speed of battles can be increased with a press of R1 and there is a choice of command menus with either classic look or where face buttons are already mapped to an action to further improve the flow of battle.

Guests were then allowed the chance to get their hands on with that we had just seen for themselves. The demo was only 20 minutes long, as you had to swap with other attendees. We played on the PlayStation 4 version, though the game is also available on the PlayStation Vita.

Most of the time was spent working through an ice dungeon trying to capture famous Final Fantasy monsters, or ‘mirages’ as they are called in-game, during the fights. It works similar to Pokémon but with a bit more depth, most enemies have different criteria you need to trigger before you can capture them. Some you just need to reduce their health, others require certain attacks be used on them or to be the last standing in the battle.

In battle players not only control the siblings but a party of tamed mirages which can be stacked upon each other to grant various boosts in battle, but decreasing the number of turns that can be taken. Stacks can be wobbled with the correct abilities, which then leads to being stunned and missing turns. A tough balancing act indeed! Foes can stack as well and mirages come in three sizes, with a chocobo chick being small and a behemoth being large. The types of mirages used affect the party’s available skills and abilities in battle. Reynn and Lann have the ability to switch between normal and chibi versions of themselves, increasing the possibilities of who partake in the fighting.

Befriended mirages can be utilised outside battle as well, with larger mirages acting as mounts or used to navigate environmental puzzles and obstacles. Each mirage can then be upgraded on the Mirage Board akin to the Sphere Grid in Final Fantasy X.

In the downtime there was a chance to grab some food and drinks, and talk to likeminded fans; not only about their impressions of the game but the state of the series in general, which seems to be in rude health at present. With Final Fantasy XV just around the corner, along with its associated media including the Brotherhood anime, Kingsglaive movie, and mobile title Justice Monsters 5. Not forgetting the Final Fantasy XIV updates and the HD remaster of Final Fantasy XII on the horizon.

The release date is the 28th October, with the PlayStation 4 having a normal and collector’s edition to choose and a physical version for the Vita as well. In addition I think there is also a Cross Save functionality between the two titles. There is a lovely looking official strategy guide from Prima games, which I will be picking up.

As the night was drawing to an end all attendees posed for a group photo and kudos to all the Square Enix staff for putting on such a great night. I love events like these and fingers crossed there will be one for Final Fantasy XV. Finally, there is a playable demo now out for both consoles, it is actually a different demo from what we played on the night but still well worth a try.

By reader Thomas Pozzetti/Eyetunes (PSN ID)

The reader’s feature does not necessary represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. As always, email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk and follow us on Twitter.

Weekend Hot Topic, part 2: What do you want from the Nintendo Switch?

Skyrim Special Edition on Nintendo Switch, sort of

Readers discuss what they want and expect from Nintendo’s new console, including its games and its price.

The reveal of the Nintendo Switch last week has been one of the biggest stories of the year, so for this weekend’s Inbox we asked what further announcements you want to see for the new console. What issues are you most concerned about, and what do you hope, and expect, the answers will turn out to be?

The response to the reveal trailer was almost unanimously, if cautiously, positive, and the worries were similarly uniform: how much will it cost, what’s the battery life, and what are the games? Although very few people seemed concerned about the graphics.

Nintendo aflame

I have always been impressed by Nintendo’s hardware reveals – as far back as the SNES. I personally was never confused as to what the Wii U was. I’ve never been in a position to buy one, but I am already sold on the Switch. Just for the new Zelda alone.

Will it set the world on fire as the Wii did? Who knows. And only Nintendo and their shareholders would care. Will it keep Nintendo afloat, though? Ah, now that’s the real question, isn’t it? And something many more players care about. I hope so.

As it is being marketed as primarily a home console, battery life for the portable tablet is not a major worry for me. As long as it’s a few hours on full charge at the very least, that will be fine. After all, you can’t __play something like Skyrim in less than an hour a go.

As for what’s possible on the system, the mind boggles. And like Han Solo, I can imagine quite a lot. I better get it.
DMR

Quiet party

As a fan of Nintendo games but not their consoles, I watched the Switch release with interest. The biggest issue for me has always been the relative lack of games. Nintendo’s combination of handheld and traditional console seems like a really smart way to mitigate this problem, with all their in-house developers getting on board for the same device.

However, I’m still concerned about the third party support. With new versions of the other consoles coming out, but the old ones still being developed for, it was a prime opportunity for Nintendo to achieve parity and get all those third party developers on board.

Sadly, the Switch seems to fall somewhere between the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in terms of power, which means I suspect we may see some remasters making their way to the Switch, but no too much else.

Still, at least there was marketing this time!
Anon

NDA jam

My chief concern, that I have over the Switch, is the ergonomics of it. Using it at home, with either the Joy-con Grip set-up or the regular controller seem absolutely fine, but using it as a portable with the Joy-Cons attached at the sides, or each one as separate controllers, is something I’d have to try out before buying. Second concern is the battery life, but I would be buying the Switch primarily as a home console, with the fact I could take it to bed to continue playing as a very nice bonus, so both my concerns are relatively minor.

When I was watching the video release last week, my immediate concern though was all the actors that appeared in the video and had to keep quiet about what the console actually looked like, and what it was called, before the video was officially released. That must have been difficult for them, unless they were oblivious to all the rumours beforehand. Either that or they filmed with various different designs and names just to confuse them.

Anyway, I’ve still yet to commit to either a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, and until more game info is released for the Switch I doubt I’ll make any decisions until then.
themattskilton

GC: The basic details of the Switch were leaked beforehand, maybe that was the actors.

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Death to TV

I have quite a simple request to make of the Nintendo Switch outside of expecting at least what was shown in the reveal. That request refers to Skyrim Special Edition. For me, it has to be available at launch and I want Nintendo to divulge their launch games ASAP so I can make a reasoned judgment. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in and will more than likely be pre-ordering. However, third party support is important to me as it adds value to the console itself, especially as I believe Nintendo will charge £349 for the console.

It seems odd to focus on the third party support but I already know I’m going to see Mario and friends on the console. So with that, Nintendo should in the very least have some third party games, especially Skyrim Special Edition at launch.

Here’s the thing, it wasn’t even referred to as Skyrim Special Edition, which concerns me. Part of me expects a ‘Switch Edition’ which is only slightly superior from the last gen and not comparable to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions.

The thought of playing games like Skyrim or Dark Souls III without the limitations of playing though a TV really excites me.
ObsoletePaul (PSN ID/NN ID)
PS: Sort out how online friends are dealt with, it’s 2016 so I shouldn’t have to go into a separate ‘Friends’ programme to see what my friends are playing/invite/join their game. This should be ironed out with a more modern user interface home screen.

Don’t do it again

My original hope for the Nintendo Switch was that they wouldn’t have one but instead make games on all platforms. Not for my sake, but for theirs. I love Nintendo and will of course, ahem… switch to the new console.

I won’t get excited for third party support. Each new Nintendo hardware sees developers not ruling themselves out but not ruling themselves in. A trailer with Skyrim in it is nothing. The set of people waiting for an old game like that on a Nintendo system could fit into a phone box. Third party games would be great but I don’t expect them. It’s hard to sell ports to Nintendo consumers and even harder to sell an original game without it getting buried under Nintendo’s own output.

I’d like to see a return to F-Zero and Metroid Prime like anyone else, but I would also like more surprises such as Splatoon. Painting the floor? In a first person shooter? Crazy boffins!

A Monster Hunter game would be able to take advantage of the capabilities (you know, the ones we don’t know about) of the new console. That would be my personal hope.

But more than anything I just don’t want them to mess it up again. There are so many great Wii U games that no one got to __play because they were on the Wii U. It would be a shame for that to happen again.

If I were Nintendo I wouldn’t bury the 3DS for a couple of years just in case…
Dave

Magic price

I’ve got a soft spot for Nintendo, there’s no denying it. I was fortunate enough to have a NES, SNES, and N64 bought for me as a youngster, and purchased a GameCube (albeit very late in the day) and Wii for myself as an adult. I also have owned the original Game Boy and a DS. I have many fond childhood memories of playing their consoles. I’ve experienced the indescribable ‘Nintendo magic’ numerous times over the years, but strangely I never could bring myself to buy a Wii U.

I recognise the classic games on the system and would love to play Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario 3D World, but I always got the impression that the console was a half-baked idea.

And now we have the (fully-baked) Switch! I liked what I saw, it’s a true hybrid. I’m excited by the prospect of Wii U remasters, and I think that’s a good idea to pursue in order for there to be a decent amount of high quality launch games. I don’t really like the grey colour of the Joy-cons, which seems very un-Nintendo.

I think the tablet will feature a 720p screen, and the dock will upscale to 1080p. I’d be very surprised if the tablet has anything more than three hours battery life, but expect less if Wi-Fi is on. As for the price, I think the minimum will be £250 for a basic package, while a bundle that includes a Pro Controller and maybe a game will be more like £320-£350.

I’d like it to be less but there seems to be some decent tech in the device. Saying that, I thought the NES Classic Mini was very reasonably priced, so who knows.
Matt
PS: What exactly are the reasons behind Nintendo not being able to set prices of their consoles in Europe? Surely, that could lead to us being charged an unreasonable amount compared to the US, as retailers over here could all try to inflate the price?

GC: They got caught price fixing and were fined by the EU.

The list

I’m cautiously optimistic about the Switch. Here’s what I am eager to know:

• Does it replace the 3DS as well as the Wii U? It appears it may do. If so this effectively kills off the dedicated handheld console, which would be a real shame.
• Battery life? Really needs to be 5+ hours.
• Tech specs? There isn’t room in the market for three similar machines. Nintendo are and need to be different.
• Games? There need to be first and third party exclusives to make the Switch a must buy.
• Functionality? Will it play Blu-rays, have iPlayer, or Amazon Instant? Would be nice, but not essential.
• Backwards compatibility? Nintendo pioneered this with handhelds and consoles. I wouldn’t expect it to play 3DS or DS games, but it would be amazing if it does. It also doesn’t appear to have discs for Wii U and Wii. I’d really like backwards compatibility of some sort. Can Wii controllers be used with it?

Price? It needs to be £250 or less.
half_empty80 (PSN ID/ NN ID)

Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here

Happy new year?

With regards to expectations of the Nintendo Switch, what I would dearly love to see is that portable Skyrim, first and foremost.

The very thought of a Bethesda role-playing game on a portable device, let alone a Nintendo device, seems almost ridiculous, but there it was.

With the video analysis afterward showing the games were pasted in post production, I was slightly disappointed, but still remain hopeful that it is real.

Also, Virtual Console as a part of the system from day one, with all previous purchases ported over from your account free of charge, to give the game library a hefty kick up the bottom to begin with, and purchases no longer tied to the hardware, so you can log out of one Switch and use another, or change hardware if there is a fault, for instance.

Battery power will be foremost on many minds too and, having seen the form factor of the device, I would be guessing it could be a conservative four hours, but wringing out play time on a portable device is something that Nintendo have always been good at.

Finally, the price. From what I can see of the amount of equipment on show, this could be the most difficult decision. Nintendo have a reputation of making a profit on every unit, and they have already stated that the Switch will be no different. However, they cannot make the same mistake as the Wii U and assume they can charge a premium price for something that the public didn’t perceive as a premium product.

I’m thinking £300 as an opening gambit, as that seems to be a new consoles sweet spot over the years. The price needs to be reasonable because people view Nintendo, rightly or wrongly, as a companion device to a PlayStation 4/Xbox One, and they need to penetrate the market quickly, with quality titles from the outset, to attract more than just the hardcore fans. Their shareholders will not, I fear, accept sales of 12 million units this time.

I haven’t spoken of graphics capability because, if they can get a HD portable console off the ground with great games, then the Tegra custom chip could well be good enough. And Nintendo can always make their own hardware sing, even if the third parties can’t. So, here is hoping for a grand January reveal. I’m really hoping to be impressed…
Zippi

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New Inbox updates appear twice daily, every weekday morning and afternoon. Letters are used on merit and may be edited for length.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word 4Player viewer features at any time, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

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Why I’m not worrying about Nintendo Switch’s battery life – Reader’s Feature

Nintendo Switch – how long will its battery last?

A reader shares his thoughts on Nintendo Switch, and why he’s not worried about rumours of a three hour battery life.

One of the key questions about the Nintendo Switch at the moment is how long will the battery last in its portable state? This is a valid and important question because, after all, it seems to be marketed as a handheld as well as a home console. Many people think that the battery will be poor, as it seems to be a much more powerful machine than many anticipated. So it’s fair to assume it will probably average about three, maybe four, hours in battery life at a stretch. Many people will probably view this as weak and not long enough.

I beg to differ, I think it will be just enough and here’s why.

First, let’s look at the controller(s), which I believe is the key to why battery life of the system doesn’t need to be as long as you think. It seems that the joy-cons will probably have their own battery supply. This is important because it means that they should last much longer that the device itself, which in turn means a smooth transition will take place from portable to TV without having to be fixed to a plug socket to play.

This ensures constant wireless __play for the most part. For example, I could be playing Zelda on a bus home from work. Get in, barely acknowledge my other half, completely ignore the kids, then bang my tablet into the dock to charge, take the joy-cons off and instantly be back in Hyrule wirelessly on the TV without worry of being fixed to the wall for another several hours if I wanted. (I’m sure she won’t mind.)

The DS Lite had a strong battery life, probably about 10 hours, making it a great portable -only device. Unfortunately, the original 3DS battery was three to four hours and that did feel weak. It was tailored as a portable-only device after all. So when your battery was low you had no other choice but to be next to a plug whilst you play. This felt inconvenient because of where wall sockets are located, and being uncomfortably attached by a thin lead that you’re worried of breaking. You are no longer portable. You are now fixed to a wall. But it was the only way you could carry your game on without the device dying on you.

The Wii U had the same problem. In fact, this seemed even more inconvenient because console sessions are usually longer. A three-hour battery life would ensure you the need to be fixed more often than not. In fact, most home consoles to date have this issue one way or another. Take the PlayStation 4 controller: low battery life and needs to be charged with a short micro USB. Usually whilst you’re playing because you forgot to charge it when you turned it off. Xbox One stock controller? ‘Damn! I’ve ran out of batteries!’

Where the Switch may improve on this is down to the controllers. And the dock. The dock looks sleek and neat. You want your tablet to sleep there. The controllers also look comfortable there too. But they could stay awake longer than the tablet and binge on the TV to all hours in the morning. Wirelessly. You probably won’t forget to charge the controllers because they have a place to sleep, and with the lack of screen in-between them, or blinding glow from the back of them, they should last the time you need from them and more.

Now, in regards to it being a portable device, remember that this thing is a hybrid. That means it’s no longer restricted to being just portable. How long would you __play this thing away from home? Probably on travel journeys or waiting for an appointment. Maybe even after a game of basketball, where you can compete and high five your sweaty mates on the court post game in a local park. Or even at a rooftop party on a semi-detached in Salford. Overall it will probably be less than three hours for the average gamer on and off at the very most, unless you’re waiting in line for a new iPhone or something.

Portable games in general, be it a 3DS or phone, are usually made with small bursts in mind. This is where the PS Vita kind of dropped the ball a bit. They aimed for a full console experience restricted to portable unit alone. (OK, the price of the memory cards probably didn’t help.) Again, more often than not you’re back with a lead attached to you. If the console experience was more flexible then you could spend the travel time doing side missions and the bigger moments on your TV.

I’m not saying you will never have a charge lead connected to your device. Just probably not very often.

Be all and end all, if you’re playing a portable console for more than three hours, as well as messing with your phone away from your house, as well as at home, you probably need to introduce a more active hobby or new skill into your life. Or become a bit busier in general. You may even have a great job that allows that. Most people don’t. If you do have the time to play all day though, (which is great) you will probably want to do it at home anyway for the optimal experience.

I’m not judging anyone, we all love a good game marathon every now and again, but too much of a good thing can be bad for you kids!

There are a few things that i think could benifit the switch battery life more though, (remember no specifics have really been announced) a fast charge capability would be great like what you get on modern phones. The thing could be fully charged in less than an hour if so.

A sleep mode that uses very little power. The original 3ds sleep mode was terrible. It would still die quickly regardless. Hopefully the switch will have a very low power consumption in this state.

And finally, a charge lead. It wouldn’t surprise me if it will be a micro USB job. This probably won’t get used nearly as much as the dock but it is still a useful addition. After all, for the odd time you are staying away from your house for a period of time this can come in handy. Beats dragging a home console around in a backpack.

Of course I’m guessing all this for the most part, based on my own lifestyle. Maybe three to four hours is too little for most people, but I do believe it being a hybrid console does make a difference when managing your battery, as opposed to it being a standalone feature.

I’ve only touched on the battery side of this product. I have no clue what it will do wth regards to storage, which is my biggest concern. I for one don’t want to be wandering around with an external hard drive strapped to my leg, so it will be interesting to see how they solve that. Regards to battery though, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

By reader Darren Palma (harmful dazmos)

The reader’s feature does not necessary represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. As always, email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk and follow us on Twitter.

Weekend Hot Topic, part 1: What do you want from the Nintendo Switch?

Nintendo Switch – what worries you the most?

Readers discuss what they want and expect from Nintendo’s new console, including its games and its price.

The reveal of the Nintendo Switch last week has been one of the biggest stories of the year, so for this weekend’s Inbox we asked what further announcements you want to see for the new console. What issues are you most concerned about, and what do you hope, and expect, the answers will turn out to be?

The response to the reveal trailer was almost unanimously, if cautiously, positive, and the worries were similarly uniform: how much will it cost, what’s the battery life, and what are the games? Although very few people seemed concerned about the graphics.

Trust issues

Like many others I’m concerned the Joy-Con controllers look a tad small, which can only be remedied by getting hands-on, but in the meantime I do think it would serve Nintendo well to be more forthcoming with information. They should publish the specs and in particular let gamers know how long that battery lasts. Nobody is expecting the best graphical performance from a device which doubles as a handheld, but if it’s within the vicinity of Xbox One/PlayStation 4, that’ll be sufficient for their fanbase.

I think Switch will do well initially, you can always count on the Nintendo faithful to rush out and buy their products. What has to be different this time is Nintendo themselves. If sales don’t go to plan can they be proactive? And above all, can they better support their product? Many are of the opinion this is last chance saloon for Nintendo, so hopefully that pressure inspires them to better things.

A good start would be publishing the launch line-up early. I think even some of Nintendo’s most loyal supporters would’ve been burned by the Wii U. So Nintendo need to restore faith; they can’t afford to take time out when it doesn’t go to plan. It is Nintendo themselves which makes me wary, nothing to do with Switch itself. Therefore I will be waiting to see how it pans out before I even consider parting with my money.
Anon

Deciding factors

Having taken to reading just about everything there is to know so far about the Nintendo Switch, there are two major concerns I still have.

1. What’s the storage size on the thing? With current gen rivals offering a minimum of 500GB space, I hope don’t go for the cheap approach like the Wii U’s puny 32GB. I’m hoping for the storage to be measured in terabytes, or is that being too optimistic?

2. Regional variations are also a major sticking point for me. There were rumblings before that Nintendo are considering region free consoles again, their last such one being the DS, right? With my Xbox 360 and One, I’ve been able to buy the Hong Kong release of games, which provides English and Chinese language options. If the Switch can’t offer this then I’d hope, at the very least, I’ll be able to use imported US games on a Japanese console.

If the above turn out in my favour, I might just ditch my original plan to get a PS4 Pro.
ttfp saylow (gamertag)
Now playing: Gears Of War 4, Pokémon GO, Top Eleven 2017

Only Nintendo

What do I want from the Nintendo Switch? Nintendo games. The Wii U has severely under-delivered for me, with only Mario Kart 8 and Xenoblade Chronicles X being so-called triple As.

The best Nintendo can hope for is second console status, people won’t buy the Switch to __play Skyrim. Nintendo consoles are for Nintendo games.

I’d like to see them match, never mind excel, the brilliance of Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 (3D World wasn’t in the same league) and a new F-Zero, Pilotwings, and a Paper Mario as good as Thousand-Year Door on the GameCube, the Wii one wasn’t that good.

Yeah, like they’re gonna happen. Their best games never sell that well. I’ll still get the Switch for Zelda alone
Chevy_Malibu (PSN ID)

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All about the games

Personally, there is only one thing I want from a future Switch reveal and that is game announcements.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of the very best video games I have ever played. Its music, level design, gameplay, and overall presentation and charm was in a state of utter perfection, even somehow managing to best the already stellar Super Mario Galaxy 1. The Mario Galaxy games are the reason why I have a Wii. In comparison, the Wii U had one 3D Mario that was a spin-off of a 3DS game. Yes, it got amazing reviews (and in all fairness, when are Mario games ever bad?) but it wasn’t groundbreaking enough to warrant a console purchase.

I’ve never really played a Zelda game before, but I really want to get into Skyward Sword, which is supposed to be one of the franchise’s best. Correct me if I’m wrong here, but the Wii U didn’t even have a new Zelda game, right?
If I am going to have a Switch in my house then it needs to have some new, fresh, groundbreaking games like the Wii had. The Wii U lacked such games (in my opinion, anyway) which is why I don’t own one. A Mario Kart would also be excellent, as taking local multiplayer on the go would be a dream come true.

Finally, and this is just a wild hope, but if Persona 5 came out on the Switch it would be perfect. Persona fits home console and portable gaming, so having Persona 5 in both formats would be brilliant.
ar1speedboy

GC: There are a couple of Zelda remakes, and Hyrule Warriors, but Breath Of The Wild is the only new mainline entry. And that now won’t be released until the same time as the Switch version.

Foot in the door

The Nintendo Switch. Firstly, let me say if it works as advertised I’m in. But I think for the Switch to be successful it needs good third party support but (probably) not for why you guys think. It needs a wider userbase so that there’s a good trade-in market, as games for big N consoles are always artificially high priced.

I just don’t see non-Ninty fans forking over £45 for a six-month-old Call Of Duty/Battlefield, whereas get them in the door, show them what the hardware can do and they are more likely to pay for the Marios/Zeldas.

A couple of 100 quid for the console and then 50 a pop for a game just won’t cut it with most non-Nintendo fans. For a console to be successful you’ve got to first get people through the door. Pretty soon we are going to have a generation of gamers who have never played a mainline Mario, and that’s the end I think.
Anon

What do the buttons do?

Lots of unanswered questions about the Switch hardware. As well as not knowing about touchscreen and motion controls, we don’t yet know whether the analogue sticks click in (they didn’t on pre-Wii U Nintendo consoles), whether there are analogue triggers, or whether there is any kind of IR support like on Wii remote. Rumble?

I also worry, based on glimpses of the back of the device, that I don’t see a panel for a removable battery.

Still, I’m confident the Nintendo games will be great. I hope they get good third party support.
pelago

*Not actual gameplay footage

Like many I too was impressed with the trailer… until I found out that none of it was real! I have to admit I didn’t see the disclaimer but from the leaks one of actors in the clip was stating all units were dummy units and none of the footage was real. In fact in one still from the reveal you can actually see where the ‘gameplay’ was pasted onto the dummy screen!

So given this fact I can’t wait to see an actual working unit as the concept I think is great and its small so I can find space for it but given how the trailer was ‘representative’ of the final product my hopes are for that seamless transition from big to small screen as well as decent battery life.

If true with three hours battery life mine would expire just after I arrived at the airport, never mind lasting a flight! That bit in the car with it attached to the seat is a real winner though, shame I’m the main driver in the household though!
Rob

Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here

Game changer

Main things I want from the Switch is a sensible price, the highest quality original launch games since the N64, frequent and ambitious first party support, and consistent application of its features.

I don’t think Nintendo in their current state can afford to market the machine for more than £250 with a game packed in (OK, I’ll stretch to £300 if the software line-up is an absolute classic). You can pick up its biggest rivals for way less than that now and there are still millions of gamers who would give priority to whatever existing current gen machines they don’t already have if they’re cheaper and already have well-established catalogues.

The main risk here is that Nintendo will be naïve and out of touch by thinking they’re giving people a good deal at £350, on the basis that it’s two types of machine in one. They need to show some humility here, especially considering how relatively expensive a new and already obsolete Wii U is.

In terms of software, I’m demanding a superior launch line-up purely on principle. There has to be a valid excuse for the Wii U’s treatment well before it officially expired. I mean, I don’t think there was a single ambitious AAA game announced since before Splatoon came out, two and a half years after the machine’s release.

So if it turns out a notable number of significant big projects weren’t moved over to the Switch to give it the best launch possible, I’ll have trouble trusting Nintendo to properly support their platforms ever again, at least with the sort of games that appeal to me. Even if it does have all its studios working on it, I don’t care if all we get are sequels inferior to their predecessors, party games, and 2D platformers that aren’t even as good as some you can get on rival machines.

Regarding consistency of application, it looks like it’s already winning on that front. I think I would’ve played the Wii U a lot more if all games without exception could be played without using a TV. Playing Mario Kart 8 every day in the living room while my wife watched TV had a bigger impact on my gaming than any resolution upgrade (which is why I cringe whenever people say such things are gimmicks).

Instead, we got fractured implementation of a feature that should’ve been applied across the board. I can see why Nintendo didn’t emphasise off-screen __play in the house during the Switch reveal trailer (it would’ve been going over old Wii U ground) but the feature helped change how gaming fit into my life, not having to hide away in my room while playing proper console games. It’s a shame sceptics already seem to think you need to take the new console out into the wilderness in your MC-Hammer-size pockets to get your money’s worth, otherwise you’re paying for a screen that you’ll rarely use.

In a nutshell, the main thing I want is reassurance that the platform isn’t going to reprise so much of what was wrong with the Wii U. That said, the technical specs don’t have to be any higher than the Wii U’s for me. Not once did I play a Wii U game on the gamepad or an HD TV and think ‘this needs to look better’.

I’m sure that’ll extend to Zelda: Breath of the Wild as well, and if the Switch can already run that, processing power is the least of its concerns. With that in mind, I think today’s Nintendo are a bit too well-mannered to have a dig at marketing trends but they could do worse than show those who are obsessed with what the specs say on paper how little that matters if those using the apparently insufficient tools are skilled enough.
Panda

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