Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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The Big Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered Interview: Launching Against GTA 6, Cutting Hedorah, and Staying (Mostly) Faithful to a GameCube Classic
Senior designer Simon Strange discusses the long-awaited remaster of Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee. He touches on the challenges of launching against Grand Theft Auto 6, the decision to cut Hedorah, and the effort to remain faithful to the original GameCube classic.
Resident Evil Requiem is "way too scary" says Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya, who'd rather Capcom put paper bags over all the enemies' heads: "It's not a joke"
Legendary Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya believes newer Capcom horror titles like Resident Evil Requiem are excessively scary and lack non-horror modes for players who are sensitive to frights. Kamiya expressed a desire for options like putting paper bags on enemy heads or having pleasant mood lighting to make the games more accessible.
"Sometimes you need fresh perspectives" – How external development helped Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
Crystal Dynamics is collaborating with Polish studio Flying Wild Hog on the remake of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, introducing new mechanics like crafting and a skill tree while removing tank controls. The partnership aims to bring fresh perspectives to the classic adventure, with Amazon publishing and producing a related TV series.
Lego Skylines' blend of city building and Lego click-clack needs to be heard to be believed
Lego Skylines, developed by Iceflake Studios, blends the complex city-building mechanics of Cities: Skylines with the charm of Lego. The preview build showcases a focus on personal customization of homes and city modules, alongside traditional infrastructure management. The game is slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis isn't classic Lara Croft, but it manages to dodge the worst excesses of modern…
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis aims to balance classic gameplay with modern sensibilities, as shown in a hands-off demo of the Damocles Trial. Developers Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog are incorporating features like crafting and enhanced enemy AI while preserving the original's level design, though some modern tools like a Scanner are optional.
Legacy Of Atlantis’ Beautiful Visuals Can’t Hide Its Weird Changes
While Legacy of Atlantis boasts beautiful visuals, its gameplay is hampered by peculiar design choices. The article suggests that the game's aesthetic appeal cannot overcome its strange alterations to the established Metroidvania formula.
Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis’ Beautiful Visuals Can’t Quite Hide Its Weird Changes
Crystal Dynamics' upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis features stunning visual redesigns of classic environments, particularly the "swords of Damocles" room. However, the preview highlights concerns about gameplay changes, including seemingly redundant skills, awkwardly implemented crafting mechanics, and an overly helpful scanner, which detract from the potential enjoyment.
Resident Evil 2's director believes Capcom has become 'completely numb to how scary' recent games have…
Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya believes Capcom has become desensitized to the horror in its recent games, finding titles like Resident Evil Requiem not scary enough. He suggests that giving players guns inherently reduces fear and even proposed a "not scary mode" with cute zombies and cheerful music. Kamiya expressed a personal difficulty in playing recent Resident Evil titles due to their intensity, even for someone who directed the original Resident Evil 2.
RE-veteranen Hideki Kamiya vill att Resident Evil ska ha valfri skräck
Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya expressed a personal dislike for horror, suggesting Capcom should implement an optional horror-free mode for games like Resident Evil. He compared this to Bayonetta's accessibility options, proposing features like paper bags on zombies or brighter environments.
Plain is the name of the game for the Orzly Carrying Case, but this impressive Switch 2 accessory is proof that looks can be deceiving
The Orzly Carrying Case for the Nintendo Switch 2 offers a simple yet functional design with ample storage for games and accessories, available in a wide range of colors. Despite its plain exterior, the case provides robust protection and thoughtful features like a deep-set accessory pocket, making it a solid budget-friendly option.
Wings of Beyond Review | TheXboxHub
Wings of Beyond offers an inventive take on the shoot 'em up genre with a unique sticker-book aesthetic and a tower-defense-like level structure. However, the review criticizes the controversial decision to reset all power-ups at the start of each level, making the initial gameplay feel sluggish and unenjoyable. While the game's varied level design is praised, the lack of meaningful weapon variety, distinct bosses, and unlockable content ultimately leads to a repetitive experience.
Best Open-World RPGs Like The Witcher 3 in 2026 — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
This guide recommends open-world RPGs for players who enjoyed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, highlighting games with similar elements like memorable characters, engaging side quests, and meaningful choices. Titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Ghost of Tsushima, and Elden Ring are discussed for their strengths in world-building, exploration, and atmosphere.
The Grand Theft Auto run button has changed after 25 years - GTA 6 no longer requires you to tap a face button to peg it
Grand Theft Auto VI will change its long-standing sprint control scheme, moving away from tapping a face button to clicking the left analog stick (L3). This shift aligns with modern shooter conventions and marks a significant departure from how running has been handled in previous Grand Theft Auto titles.
The Global Poker Platform Offers Console Players a Different Kind of Skill Curve
This article analyzes the skill curve in poker and compares it to the difficulty design in console games. It explains how concepts like 'flow' and 'difficulty spikes' are engineered in video games to maintain player engagement, and how poker's inherent variance creates a similar, albeit different, challenge-skill balance over a large sample of hands.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look Garnered 31.1 Million Views on Netflix
Netflix announced that the Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look showcase garnered 31.1 million views, making it the platform's most-watched video for the week and topping charts in 87 countries. The showcase featured 27 minutes of gameplay and cutscenes, with Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick calling pre-orders for the game "unprecedented and astonishing." Details revealed include a larger world than Red Dead Redemption 2 and more challenging vehicle mechanics.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Studio is Relieved With the RPG’s Positive Critical Reception
Developer Rebel Wolves has expressed relief following the largely positive critical reception for their open-world RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker, ahead of its September 3rd release. Creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz shared the team's nervousness and subsequent relief as reviews came in, with the game achieving a Metacritic score of 83. The game is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
5 top tips from World of Warcraft housing creators for making amazing masterworks
This guide offers five top tips from World of Warcraft housing creators for building impressive in-game homes. Tips include utilizing lighting, adding clutter for realism, mastering housing controls, developing a storyline for builds, and blocking out major shapes before focusing on details.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation boss is "very much aware" you hate Chadley for being a socially inept doofus, but he will soon have "a very integral part" in the story anyway
Final Fantasy 7 Remnant director Naoki Hamaguchi acknowledges fan dislike for the character Chadley but teases his integral role in the upcoming game's main story. Chadley, who was introduced in Final Fantasy 7 Remake as a researcher for Shinra, will have a significantly changed role in Remnant, potentially playing a strong part in the narrative.
Drive a train around an ash-covered world collecting ingredients for the last ever s'more as an anthropomorphic bird in the surreal and comically ominous Cinderline
Cinderline is a surreal walking simulator with platformer elements where players control a silent, anthropomorphic bird tasked with gathering ingredients for the last s'more. The game features a unique train mechanic for travel between towns and a comically ominous atmosphere, with a demo available on Steam.
GTA 6's story is too important for Rockstar to let you swap between Lucia and Jason whenever you want
Rockstar North's Rob Nelson explained that Grand Theft Auto 6 will limit protagonist swapping between Lucia and Jason during certain story missions to enhance player perspective, similar to Grand Theft Auto 5. While some missions will allow free switching, others will lock the player to one character to focus on specific narrative moments. Free swapping will still be available outside of missions.
