The console stock heads-up thread

[Fade]

I'm not gonna get Returnal

Not a fan of meteoodveinias/rogue likes

[CuriousOyster]

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/gaming/co ... 6-pdt.html

PS5 in stock, expensive bundle but still

[Jenuall]

Returnal is definitely in "pick up when it reaches bargain bin price" territory for me

[OrangeRKN]

If it had been the price it is now on release I probably would have bought it, but it's not release and I've already missed that release hype so now I expect it to be cheaper still. It's a victim of Sony price hiking.

[Victor Mildew]

Returnal is definitely in "pick up when it reaches bargain bin price" territory for me

[Fade]

Returnal is definitely in "pick up when it reaches bargain bin price" territory for me

I don't think I'll get it because I don't understand the appeal of those two genres

Rogue likes exist to be able to recycle content and make the game last longer by forcing you to grind. Only one I've ever liked was Hades because it's just so good.

Metroidveinias are like half assed open world games. They're linear as gooseberry fool, they just pretend not to be by showing you areas you can go once you have a certain upgrade to give the illusion of complexity.

I completed Bloodstained and by the end I wanted to throw it in the ocean. Completely proves my point. You have to do things in a linear order but the game never explicitly tells you where to go next so about 3 times I was wondering round the castle trying to figure out what to do because I'd forgotten a tiny detail. It doesn't add to the game at all.

[Saint of Killers]

There isn't a game out there that doesn't recycle content; 99% of games are padded to the gills with gameplay you're repeating sooner or later.

Edit: And Returnal is more rogue-lite than Metroidvania; there aren't that many nooks and crannies to miss; you'll never be stuck for a place to go.

[OrangeRKN]

I don't think I'll get [Returnal] because I don't understand the appeal of those two genres

Rogue likes exist to be able to recycle content and make the game last longer by forcing you to grind. Only one I've ever liked was Hades because it's just so good.

Metroidveinias are like half assed open world games. They're linear as gooseberry fool, they just pretend not to be by showing you areas you can go once you have a certain upgrade to give the illusion of complexity.

Roguelikes are skill tests - the purest form has no permanent progression at all between runs, so getting better at the game is purely down to learning its mechanics and getting more skilled at playing it - the opposite of grinding! Procedural generation prevents you from learning levels by rote and is there to both keep things fresh and ensure it's the mechanics that are testing you.

Metroidvanias test memory and recall, I personally find it very satisfying to get a new upgrade, remember some location that was gated by it (even better if that requires some lateral thinking in realising how to apply the upgrade to progress), and then return to it and be rewarded for that recall by some other upgrade or progress.

[Lagamorph]

I'm not picking up Returnal until I can get a brand new copy for sub-£25

[Saint of Killers]

That you play it is the important thing. (I mean I rented it so I can't tell people how much it's worth buying for.)

[Fade]

I don't think I'll get [Returnal] because I don't understand the appeal of those two genres

Rogue likes exist to be able to recycle content and make the game last longer by forcing you to grind. Only one I've ever liked was Hades because it's just so good.

Metroidveinias are like half assed open world games. They're linear as gooseberry fool, they just pretend not to be by showing you areas you can go once you have a certain upgrade to give the illusion of complexity.

Roguelikes are skill tests - the purest form has no permanent progression at all between runs, so getting better at the game is purely down to learning its mechanics and getting more skilled at playing it - the opposite of grinding! Procedural generation prevents you from learning levels by rote and is there to both keep things fresh and ensure it's the mechanics that are testing you.

Metroidvanias test memory and recall, I personally find it very satisfying to get a new upgrade, remember some location that was gated by it (even better if that requires some lateral thinking in realising how to apply the upgrade to progress), and then return to it and be rewarded for that recall by some other upgrade or progress.

I get that, but you can have tests of skill and procedural elements without forcing the player to play the same content over and over. Often times it's a design choice made to save money.

I get that, but when that's the only positive and the downsides are so plentiful I would definitely just prefer the game to be linear and put the effort to hide upgrades behind interesting puzzles rather than essentially time gate them. Mile wide, inch deep is how I'd describe a lot of MV games. And I know Guacamlelee wasn't super deep or anything, I just liked the unga bunga combat and pretty colours

[Peter Crisp]

I really enjoyed 12 Minutes which is a game set in pretty much one tiny apartment.

Then again I enjoy a good time loop story as it's always fun to see how they solve the problems.

[OrangeRKN]

I get that, but you can have tests of skill and procedural elements without forcing the player to play the same content over and over. Often times it's a design choice made to save money.

Definitely! Procedural generation gets abused, but good procedural generation design can still be very good design.

Obviously tastes are going to vary on genres anyway and that's fair enough, I just wanted to point out what I think is the core appeal of those genres, at least to me.

[Saint of Killers]

I really enjoyed 12 Minutes which is a game set in pretty much one tiny apartment.

Then again I enjoy a good time loop story as it's always fun to see how they solve the problems.

Couldn't stand the naff animation. Quit soon after starting.

[Robbo-92]

just got an email from ShopTo saying they have Series X consoles in stock if anyone was looking for one!

[KK]

Also in stock at Argos (at least at my local Sainsbury’s stores). Pick up only though, from the 27th.

[Saint of Killers]

HotUKDeals saying Game has stock of Series X as well.

[LewisD]

Yep, Series X consoles ready to be ordered for collection on the 27th near me too.

What is this madness.. is the drought finally over?

[Preezy]

Showing for me too. If only I actually wanted one, curse my PlayStation addiction

[Saint of Killers]

Would love to think so, but I think this is just the feast before the famine kicks in. Again.