PS4

Diary Entry #4: Why Sony Is Skipping E3 2020?

Welp, once again Sony is going to be skipping out on E3 for 2020. There are numerous of reasons as to why Sony has been absent for E3 for the past two years in a row. Here’s going to be a breakdown as to why Sony may not want to be involved with E3 anymore and not just these past two shows.

Here’s a good reason as many bought up from Twitter and even other gaming forums, E3 as a whole from influence and cultural relevance has been slowly evaporating. From last year there’s only been 60,000 people that was in attendance last year. This is a bit of a troubling number even when you compare it to other gaming events and conventions who will pull out hundred thousands of people from all of the country or the world. Conventions such as PAX, GamesCom, TooManyGames, are starting to take over and fill in the gaps in between the year and not just for one part of the whole year.

Don’t E3 can still be an exciting show and event to go to. Though without Sony, it does feel like a BIG gap is missing in between the other two big dogs being Nintendo and Microsoft. Another thing as to why Sony has been skipping E3 may be the cost to put on a show. It’s probably expensive to hold and host a part on the show floor.

So, I do think money could be a factor, but not the MAIN factor. Sony does have other ways they could be able to show off their own stuff and their own announcements. Probably the biggest thing they have for this is their State of Plays. As of now, it’s not currently as popular as the Nintendo Directs has gotten over the past couple of years, but whose to say it won’t get to Nintendo Directs levels of popularity.

If given the time and patience this could be Sony’s new way of giving out announcements. If Sony’s State of Plays ends up getting bigger for them, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this is how they do their E3 formats like how Nintendo has been doing their E3’s through Nintendo Direct presentations and pre-record them and send it to E3 to be streamed.

Honestly, the news of Sony skipping E3 again, doesn’t surprise me! Another reason is that they could just not be ready to show much of anything for the upcoming PS5. Even if that were also the case, Sony doesn’t really need E3. It’s really E3 that needs Sony. Again, the attendance level from the past two years haven’t been that great from what been said by press who actually do go to that event. It almost feels somewhat empty. While it’s probably easier to manuever around for press, that does sound a bit not worth to attend. Sony may also be feeling, is it worth it to go to an event, where’s there not many eyeballs watching as their once use to be.

As of these days it feels like E3 doesn’t feel like much of a big thing anymore. Every time the summer rolls around, for gamers it’s like an early Christmas because of E3 and to see what companies have in store for not just the rest of the year, but also for the holiday season as well.

So, in a way it kind of sad to see how much E3 has somewhat fallen, but with Sony not going again, isn’t much of a big deal for them. It’s more of a big for E3 and the event itself. With the hype around PS5, who knows maybe after the reveal this could be Sony’s return to E3 and this is just them waiting for PS5 to be revealed, known, and released to the general public and we could end up seeing them back again at E3 2021.

As far as what I think reasons for Sony has been for not possibly attending goes to three things: money for hosting a booth and room for press, E3 almost not being relevant, having their own event to showcase news (i.e. State of Play), and they could just not have much to show. Well, I guess that’s technically four things, but whatever.

Who knows what this could mean for E3 going forward. Not to mention Microsoft has already put their confirmation of attending this years show almost shortly after Sony dropped out. So, there goes monkey-see-and-monkey actually not do. As far Nintendo we don’t know their status as of yet, and we probably won’t know until maybe April or May of this year if I had to guess on a confirmation of Nintendo’s status for E3.

What do you guys think about Sony dropping from E3? Do you guys think Sony needs it or don’t? What do you think Sony’s reasonings are for not going to E3 2020. Please, let me know in the comments.

Square Enix Delays Both Final Fantasy VII Remake and Marvel’s Avengers

Today has been crazy in terms of gaming news both good and bad. The good well, if you are a Smash fan we are getting a 35 minute long presentation to be held on Thursday (only downside, is that it’s very early morning). The bad news for today, if you look delays as a bad thing, Square Enix has announced that BOTH highly anticipated games being the Final Fantasy VII remake and Marvel’s Avengers game has indeed been delayed that Square announced from earlier this morning.

The Final Fantasy VII Remake didn’t get delayed by much though. Only month of it’s original release. For the Final Fantasy VII Remake, producer Yoshinori Kitase did give a reason for the games delay, being wanting to give it more of an “extra polish.”

As it was going to be an April release game. The somewhat concerning one to look at of these two delayed games is Marvel’s Avengers. Marvel’s Avengers was bumped from May, to now being a September release instead. The heads of Crystal Dynamics has also said something similar for the game’s delay.

“To that end, we will spend this additional development time focusing on fine tuning and polishing the game to the high standards our fans expect and deserve.”

Retro Flashback: Resident Evil 4

Another Retro Flashback and this time we are focusing on one of my favorite video game franchises and not to mention is up there as one of my favorite games ever, being Capcom’s Resident Evil 4!

BACKGROUND

Resident Evil 4 is a third person shooter survival horror game that was developed by Capcom Productions Studio 4 and published by Capcom. While it may be the fourth game in name, but technically its the sixth game in the Resident Evil series at that point in time.

Resident Evil 4 was originally planned for the PlayStation 2 as early as 1999. Resident Evil 4 went through many developmental issues, before actually seeing the light of day. The original first attempt of developing the game was game director Hideki Kamiya alongside with producer, Shinji Mikami. The game was part of a deal that was with Nintendo for the GameCube, that was called the “Capcom Five”.

Resident Evil 4 received much critical acclaim, from it’s narrative, gameplay, voice acting, and characters. It was announced as Game of the Year for 2005 by many critics and fans alike. It would be one of the first many third-person shooter games that would influence many others that came after from that genre. This was also the game that pioneered the “over the shoulder” third-person view perspective from many other shooting games that would come after it.

GAMEPLAY

Gameplay wise this particular Resident Evil significantly departs itself from other entries that came before it. The game starts Leon S. Kennedy, who the player can control from the third-person perspective.

Leon Kennedy shown through the “over the shoulder” perspective

Unlike the previous games from the series, you can only shoot straight, up, or down. Players can also shoot down projectiles, such as, thrown axes or scythes. The gameplay focuses more so on the action than it does on the survivor horror elements. For weapons in this game, there are no crosshair for firearms and every firearm has a laser light.

Something that Resident Evil 4 adds is context-sensitive controls. While it does depends on the situation, players can interact within the environment; examples being kicking down a ladder, jumping out of a window, or dodging an attack or executing a finishing move on weakened enemies. There’s also quick-time events where players press the buttons on-screen to execute attacks such as dodging a falling bolder, or wrestling an enemy to stay alive. These quick-time event are also incorporated into many boss fights where the player has avoid instant-kill attacks from the enemies.

The inventory system features a grid system by an attache case, that has each item take up a certain number of spaces. Throughout the game, the case can be updated many times. Weapons, ammunition, and healing items are kept in the case, while key items and treasures are kept in the menu. First aid sprays, weapons, allows for weapons to be upgraded and buys various treasures that Leon can find. The various that’s found throughout the game all have their advantages and disadvantages.

There was extra content added for the PS2 version of the game. The biggest addition being “Separate Ways” which was a mini game that focuses on another character Ada Wong and her involvement with Resident Evil’s 4 plot and her connection to the series villain, Albert Wesker. The “Ada’s Report” is a five-part documentary series that analyzes Ada’s relationship with Wesker and his role in this game. Some other unlockable content includes other mini games such as, “The Mercenaries” and “Assignment Ada” that will give new costumes for both Leon and Ashley, new weapons, and a cut scene browser.

GOING FORWARD

Resident Evil 4 is one of those games that has been ported many times over, and might be on every system, since the GameCube and PS2 era. The game has since made it to the Wii, the PlayStation 3, XBox 360, PlayStation 4, XBox One, and the Nintendo Switch.

Resident Evil 4 has become regarded as one of the most influential games from the 2000’s decade and influenced a number of games from the third-person shooter genre since then. Not only did impact a genre but also the Resident Evil series itself. The over-the-shoulder viewpoint has really became somewhat of a standard in both third-person shooters and action games from Gears of War to Batman: Arkham Asylum.

It also established the “precision aim” for other action series such as Dead Space, Grand Theft Auto, Ratchet and Clank Future, Fallout, Uncharted, Mass Effect, and the Last of Us.

While Resident Evil 4 has redefined the genre with the third-person shooter, and survival horror genre it also developed reflexes and precision aiming towards your enemies making their series broadened with it’s gameplay from the wider action genre.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Resident Evil 4 is definitely up there as one of my favorite games of all time. You cannot deny the influence that this game has over the third-person shooter genre. I still can’t believe that this game still looks good and holds up to this day! I’ve played both the original releases of the game on the PS2, and the GameCube, it’s hard to say which version of the game may actually be my favorite, but I may have to go with the PS2 version of Resident Evil 4. Also, I’ve liked the story behind RE4 compared to some of the other earlies games of the series. While it does gets a bit lengthy in some areas, it’s still got some great storytelling.

Shooting your enemies has never felt so satisfying. I’m not that big into shooting games, but Resident Evil is a series that pulls me into the shooting genre, which is a genre I’ve never been a big fan of depending on the series.

There’s very more few words I can go on and on about this game more than I have already. While yes, RE4 does somewhat step away from the horror elements in this game, it at least does it in the best way possible because of it’s limitations. Great and amazing storytelling, always tense and it does get scary in some moments. It truly deserves title, “Greatest of all time!”

Retro Flashback: Bayonetta

This would be the first in a new series! Retro Flashback is a new series where I will be discussing games on the day of their anniversaries. How this will work, is if a game turns 5, 10, 20, 25 and so on, it will be celebrated on the year and day of that anniversary that it was originally released. The first one to kick this off will be Bayonetta!

BACKGROUND

Bayonetta was first released on this day 10 years ago on the PS3 and the XBox 360 in Europe and North America. In Japan, it was released on October 29th, 2009. The first Bayonetta game would eventually make it’s presence on the Wii U, alongside with it’s sequel, Bayonetta 2 which was released in Septemeber 2014 in Japan and then worldwide within the following month.

Development for Bayonetta began back in January of 2007, with Hideki Kamiya as the game’s director. According to Kamiya, he wanted the game to have originality, and was heavily inspired by Scandanivian mythology, and was also inspired by Devil May Cry 4 template.

The game was met with tons of critical acclaimed from it’s great combat system, presentation, and it’s amazing soundtrack. Some other elements that game was widely praised for was also it’s great storytelling and its quick timed events.

THE GAMEPLAY

Bayonetta is a single-player third-person 3D action game that was made and published by SEGA. The combat is very familiar to another series that was also created by Hideki Kamiya, being the Devil May Cry series. The player plays the protagonist of the game, Bayonetta, a witch, that is controlled and played with using melee and long ranged attacks, complex combo strings, use of multiple weapons, the player is encouraged to use many ways to dispatch her angelic enemies with as much flair and style as possible.

Some of her special commands come through in the forms of quick time events, finishes, execution, and the very unique, “Torture Attacks,” where Bayonetta can be able to summon a variety of devices to with some devastating blows for her enemies.

Bayonetta using “Witch Time”

She is also abe to use some very unique but, very limited abilities such as “Witch Time.” Witch Time is where the player has to make a very well timed doge in order to attack. This move is also able to slow down time to make Bayonetta inflict massive amounts of damage before her enemies can attack.

The player can also perform some other tricks that are very acrobatic, such as, back flips, and being able to destroy objects and doors while exploring an area. With some her unlockable abilities the player can also make Bayonetta become a panther or one of the various other creatures to enhance her abilities. Healing can be used through lollipops, that will also enhance her magic, induce invincibility, and be able to increase her overall strength. The player can also use enemy weapons to either directly attack back or use for props for movements.

The game is in a book format with multiple chapters, with each consisting of several versus. Depending on how well the player performs a level, the player will receive one of the following medals at the end of the versus, being, Stone, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Pure Platinum. At the end of the chapter, there’s a final score and award that is given depending on the medal that was achieved through that level. score may get deducted depending on how many items that were used and how many amount of deaths.

There is also a mini game that taken in between chapters called, “Angel Attack.” Angel Attack is when players use Arcade Bullets that is found in the main levels to shoot at angels to earn points. These points can also be used for trading in items, with any leftover points to exchange for Halos.

The game has five difficulty modes going from: “Very Easy,” Easy.” “Normal,” “Hard,” and “Non-Stop Infinite Climax.” There’s also an even more easy mode called, “A Very Easy Automatic” mode. This mode is available when the game makes Bayonetta to perform attacks on enemies, and the player only needs to press one button to execute elaborate combos. According to Kamiya, he expects for most players to be able to the beat this game within 10 to 12 hours and believed that the game’s rating system and the pursuit of wanting a high score would make players to come back for replay value.

GOING FORWARD

As of 2012, Bayonetta did receive a sequel that was published by Nintendo on the Wii U, called Bayonetta 2. The sequel was released on September 2014 in Japan, and was released in North America and in Europe in December 2014.

There was also a port of the original Bayonetta, which adds costumes from Nintendo franchises with their characters, which included Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, and Metroid.

A third sequel is currently in development, was announced during the 2017 Game Awards and is to be an exclusive Nintendo Switch title. It was also announced alongside of two Switch ports from the two previous games.

There’s even a compilation called Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle that would include a 4K remaster of of the original Bayonetta, and is to be paired with alongside another Platinum Games remasterd title.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’ve personally always enjoyed the original Bayonetta and I’m so happy that Nintendo is making people be aware of this game and gave it a chance unlike Sony and Microsoft ever did. When I first heard that this was made behind the same people that made the Devil May Cry series (from the early days) I completely jumped in on it and gave it a chance. I have it on the PS3 and also on the Wii U and on the Switch. So, I’ve pretty much have played in most of it’s forms. For some reason I skipped out on it on the 360, but I think I just forgot that it was on the 360.

If your a fan of action adventure, hack and slash, and the Devil May series I would completely recommend giving the original Bayonetta a chance. You don’t have to go on the PS3, its available on the Switch. So, just play it on the most recent console. It’s great over the top beat em up adventure game. It really is a stand out from it’s genre with great style, characters, story, and great combat system. If you are a fan of third-person action games, I cannot highly recommend this enough.

A New Dragon Quest Game Has Been in Development Since 2019

After the amazing success and the much critical acclaim that Dragon Quest XI: Age of Illusion for the PS4 and Dragon Quest XI S for the Nintendo Switch has received many fans have been wondering when could we possibly be getting the next big mainline entry of the Dragon Quest series. Well, series creator Yuji Hori has shared some statements from yesterday that answers this question.

In it, Horii has revealed that the next main series Dragon Quest title, Dragon Quest XII, has been in development since 2019. It’s been 33 years since the first Dragon Quest game was originally released, and 2 years since Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age launched on the Playstation 4 and Nintendo 3DS. Horii also said that “I don’t know how long I can go on, but I feel like I want to do my best just a little bit more”

Here’s more of Horii’s message in full down below.

“Last year we started with publishing the movie Dragon Quest: Your Story, then releasing the Switch version of Dragon Quest 11, the mobile version of DQ Walk, the announcement of The Adventure of Dai anime along with its game adaptation, the production of [DQ]12 and more; even now after 33 years have passed since I made the 1st game, I feel very glad that I can do new challenges like these. Thank you very much to all users who have cheered on Dragon Quest until now, and also to all of the many staff members who have supported me. I don’t know how long I can go on, but I feel like I want to do my best just a little bit more. I hope this year will be an amazing year to everyone. I’m looking forward to work together in this year.”

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