Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is in two weeks and this might be the least exciting year in a while. PlayStation will not be attending, Nintendo has their Directs throughout the year which makes big expos less entertaining, and the lack of rumors have made E3 2019 so boring.
Most of the games have been announced previously. The Last of Us Part 2, Halo 6, Pokemon Sword and Shield, and Marvel Avengers are the only games I have been actively looking forward to. Almost all of those games have been showcased in little ways but I am hoping for more extensive trailers at E3 where the games have more time to shine on stage. Microsoft may showcase their next-generation Xbox which could add new reinvigoration to the console gaming industry. Sony Interactive Entertainment has stated they will not announce the new PlayStation at E3 and it wouldn’t be released this year. Nintendo may announce the smaller Switch version but they may not improve it’s hardware capabilities.
I wonder if game companies have become better at keeping their announcements secret. I hope E3 will actually be excited this year.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis a new game from From Software (Dark Souls series, Bloodborne). The director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, is known for creating difficult games and telling stories through limited text descriptions. Sekiro is no different but the gameplay is more intense and fast-paced in comparison to the Dark Souls series.
Why is everyone arguing about Sekiro?
As usual, many people are complaining about the difficulty of the game. However, an article from PC Gamer where a journalist used cheats to beat the final boss has greatly spread across the internet. The writer wrote about how he didn’t feel guilty about using cheats because he had lost patience constantly dying and challenging through the gauntlet to fight the final boss. In From Software’s games, respawning after death makes all the previous enemies revive which forces the player to kill them all over again. It can be extremely frustrating, especially if you’re mentally exhausted from dying often (which will happen). James Davenport, the writer, used a slow-mode option for the PC version of Sekiro that allowed him to beat the final boss more easily. He wrote about how he still felt good about defeating the final boss despite using cheats. This has sparked much argument through Twitter, Reddit, and other forums about whether all video games should have difficulty options. Sekiro has none.
For Easier Difficulties:
Many games have difficulties settings. What has been a great addition is adjusting difficulty based on your experience with the game type or if you prefer just playing for a story.
Deus Ex Human Revolution difficulty settings
Deus Ex Human Revolution received grand praise for its difficulty settings by changing the easy difficulty to Tell Me a Story. In single player RPG’s, some people prefer to play the game for a story rather than playing for the gameplay. Some people think Sekiro should have an easier setting or accessibility mode for players who want to experience the story of Sekiro.
The argument against Cheating:
The comment that spawned the argument
Memes aside, the other side of the argument is that you shouldn’t cheat because it robs you of the experience of success. It feels unearned and the writer or other players who cheat shouldn’t boast about cheating. There are also arguments that the difficulty is part of the game experience of Sekiro and to make the game experience is against the game’s artistic views.
My Opinion:
I don’t particularly care whether a person cheats on a single player game. It doesn’t affect my enjoyment but with the huge range of social media, I can see how people can be angered by it. I haven’t played Sekiro Shadows Die Twiceyet but I have played Miyazaki’s previous titles and beaten them. I personally enjoy the difficulty of the games but I understand that the game isn’t for everyone. Miyazaki has never wanted to make his games easy so asking for it from the internet seems pointless. Although Activision published the game, Miyazaki stated that they were given full directing control of the game. I don’t understand why people are asking for it. There are plenty of amazing games out and if you want to experience the story, watch a let’s play on YouTube.
EVO 2018 had some great moments. As the premier tournament for all great fighting games, Evolution brings in the top competitors for Dragon Ball FighterZ, Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, Guilty Gear and more! There were many upsets and surprises throughout the games. Surprisingly, this tournament had a lot of awkward moments that annoyed and even angered fans. Fighting game communities (FGC) are incredibly vocal about their opinions and aren’t afraid of censorship. (See r/kappa NSFW)
Bad
Tekken 7 DLC
Tekken 7 has been releasing new DLC characters since the console release. The inclusion of Akuma from Street Fighter was the start of a string of guest characters to join the Tekken 7 roster. Geese from The King of Fighters series was well received while Noctis from Final Fantasy XV got mixed responses for their Season 1 DLC. The newest addition for Season 2 announced at EVO was Negan from The Walking Dead. While two returning favorites from the franchise, Anna and Lei, were well received, most people are confused on why Negan was added. He doesn’t really fight characters or humans in his TV show.
Many fans wanted different characters and constantly asked Katsuhiro Harada, Executive Producer of Tekken 7, on Twitter for their favorites. In particular, Kiryu Kazuma from Yakuza was a popular request. The Walking Dead is an incredibly popular franchise and most players reactions have been positive on YouTube.
Super Smash Bros 4 Grand Finals
Super Smash Brothers for Wii Uis an awesome game but competitively there is one character that tops the rest: Bayonetta. Known for her agility, recovery, strong moves, and the ability to launch and combo you in the air to death has made her the best character in the game. The tournament was intense by Top 8 and there were plenty of upsets but the final two players decided to troll and ruin the most exciting moments for everyone.
TL; DW: The Smash community hates Bayonetta because she is OP. The two players were friends and decided to just talk and waste time while the audience actively booed them; both online and physical. They wasted so much time that the tournament officials forced them to finish. It was an embarrassment for the game, community, and it sends Smash 4 off with a whimper.
Dragon Ball FighterZ Grand Finals Delay
Dragon Ball FighterZ was the biggest game at EVO 2018. It had the most players and highest viewership. Grand finals were between SonicFox and Go1 who have been the biggest competitors in the scene. They have faced each other in various tournaments before EVO and have won several different tournaments. They are considered rivals in the Dragon Ball FighterZcommunity due to the numerous time they have played against each other.
Grand Finals being between the two was considered fate and was awesome. Go1 was coming from losers bracket so he had to win 6 games to earn the championship. Not only did he reset the bracket, he won convincingly; 3 straight games against SonicFox. Go1 was incredibly serious and not his usual cheerful demeanor. He wanted the win. Then a 5-minute stall occurred. SonicFox asked to switch sides. After a coin flip, he moved to the left side and then 3 – 0 Go1. Fans were elated and SonicFox won an EVO tournament at the most popular game. Some viewers believed the delay threw off the momentum for Go1 and gave SonicFox time to mentally recover. You are allowed to switch sides according to the tournament rules at EVO but it still led to controversy. Also, SonicFox came out of the closest but who cares, he is a furry and godlike at fighting games.
im gay
also the best dbfz player on this fucking planet dont forget it.
Last year, Nintendo set the gaming world on fire with the launch of the Switch. Within one year of its launch, it has sold more than 1.5 million units. Despite a very strong last year, 2018 has made fans and investors spectacle on the future of the Switch. Nintendo has stated they will sell 20 million units before the end of the consoles’ life cycle but investors are uneasy.
Investors POV
Nintendo rarely listens to investors or their insights. It took many years for them to start in the mobile market despite it being a multi-billion business. Gaming investors and shareholders generally push for companies to start in the mobile industry. After this year’s E3, Nintendo didn’t impress and their stocks dropped dramatically. Their highest this year was in March but has dropped by 34%. The drop is so drastic that Nintendo’s former President Tatsumi Kimishima had to reassure shareholders that Nintendo still has more games to be announced for 2018.
The two big games Nintendo has announced for 2018 are Pokemon Let’s Go and Super Smash Bros: Ultimate. Despite the new Pokemon entry, it is not a new mainstream Pokemon title. Smash is also more of an updated port of Smash 4 rather than an entirely new title. This has led to investors’ lack of confidence in the company. Despite this, Nintendo has made over three million dollars in profit from their new title, Pokemon Quest. Their other mobile games such as Mario Run, Fire Emblem HEROES!!!!!!! and Pokemon Go have also made millions in profit. Despite fears, GameStop has seen massive sales increase for the Switch.
Switch Sales grows at GameStop
While the digital purchases continue to grow, GameStop still remains a prevalent store for young consumers. After E3, Switch sales doubled over the course of the week. Super Smash Bros: and Pokemon received a multitude of pre-orders including the Pokeball accessories. However, the sales of the Nintendo Labo still remains to be heard but based on all of the boxes left at stores, I don’t think it is going well.
Opinion
I have complete faith in Nintendo. Despite the slow year, I am having a blast with the Nintendo Switch. Although many of their games this year have been ports, Nintendo will continue to work on great games. They take their time and are willing to take fan complaints without succumbing to pressure from investors or public demand. How well do you think Nintendo will finish their 2018?
The Gaming News Corner 