Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
Latest coverage
Dawn of War 4 clearly loves the Warhammer 40K strategy games that came before, but it misses that they loved to reinvent themselves
Dawn of War 4, developed by King Art Games, is a competent but unexciting Real-Time Strategy game that feels dated due to its reverence for the original 2004 title. While it offers unit customization and improved visuals, it struggles with managing large armies and making meaningful tactical choices, a weakness inherited from its predecessor. The Adeptus Mechanicus campaign shows more promise with tactical unit specialization, but ultimately succumbs to the same 'bolter-blob' strategy that plagues the Ork campaign.
I've played 2 of Dawn of War 4's campaigns, and they're everything I hoped they'd be
The author has played two campaigns, Orks and Adeptus Mechanicus, for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 and is highly impressed, alleviating fears stemming from Dawn of War 3. Both campaigns offer distinct experiences with unique missions and characters, featuring engaging mechanics like wargear customization and a robust cover system.
Even Call of Duty has a parry now and it's kind of brilliant - but do we need it in every game?
The campaign for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 features surprisingly deep melee combat and parry mechanics, which the author finds brilliant and a welcome addition. While the article praises the implementation, it questions whether such mechanics are necessary in every game, suggesting that borrowing mechanics from other genres can enrich gameplay experiences.
Choose My Adventure: Aion 2’s routines begin to slowly settle in
The author is beginning to feel the routines of Aion 2 settling in, finding the progression systems and combat to be average despite some initial curiosity. While the game has not revealed all its mechanics, the core gameplay loop is becoming apparent, leading to a sense of predictable progression. Despite the game's average nature, the author remains engaged and is participating in community polls regarding future gameplay choices.
Arc Raiders devs know PvE has been "polarizing," promise to prioritize the game's "overall health and enjoyability" when deciding what to do next
Embark Studios has acknowledged that the recent PvE playtest for Arc Raiders has been polarizing among players. The developers are analyzing feedback and data from the test, with a decision on the mode's future to be made in November, prioritizing the game's overall health and enjoyability.
I accidentally severed my finger with a butter knife as I panicked in a messed-up game of Five Finger Fillet
500 Finger Fillet is a roguelite game where players repeatedly stab a knife between their fingers, with the goal of reaching 500 stabs. The game features a meta-progression system, item purchases, and strategic weapon choices, offering a balance of challenge and reward. A demo is available as part of Steam Next Fest, with the full release planned for November 12.
Hard-läget i Final Fantasy VII Revelation är upplåst från start
Square Enix has confirmed that the Hard difficulty mode in Final Fantasy VII Revelation will be available from the start, unlike its predecessors Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Director Naoki Hamaguchi stated this change allows players seeking a challenge to experience it immediately, as Revelation features significant end-game content beyond the main story.
Final Fantasy Resonance is a fantastic example of how to rewrite battle mechanics to suit a full-fat RPG release, it's just a shame about all the actual writing
Final Fantasy Resonance offers a fantastic rewrite of battle mechanics for a full RPG experience, but is hampered by its weak story and shallow writing. While the combat system, inspired by previous Final Fantasy titles and Octopath Traveler, is compelling and deep, the narrative and character development feel underdeveloped, stemming from its origins as a mobile game. Despite these flaws, the latter half of the game, particularly its boss fights and exploration, provides a satisfying experience for those prioritizing combat puzzles over storytelling.
The Evercade Nexus is Blaze's best retro handheld yet, but I wouldn't compare the physical cartridge champion to similarly priced rivals
The Evercade Nexus is Blaze's most advanced retro handheld, featuring a larger screen and dual thumbsticks for 3D games like Banjo-Kazooie. While it improves upon previous models and supports the full Evercade cartridge library, it retains some operating system quirks and lacks features like sleep mode and HDMI output, making it a strong contender within its ecosystem but not directly comparable to similarly priced rivals.
Steel Ranger 2 - An epic game for your Commodore 64 by Protovision
Steel Ranger 2, the sequel to the acclaimed 2018 side-scrolling action-adventure, has been released for the Commodore 64 by Protovision. Developed by Covert Bitops, the game features an overhauled engine, smoother performance, and new weapons, set in the year 2224 where players must investigate reactivated defense systems on Earth.
The Daily Grind: What lesser used historical setting or mythological world would make a great MMORPG?
This article discusses potential historical or mythological settings that could be used for a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG). The author suggests the Meiji Era of Japanese history as a compelling option, while also inviting readers to share their own obscure or underutilized setting ideas.
GTA 6 is so detailed no single Rockstar employee knows it all - which is how we got shrinking horse testicles in Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Games' development philosophy, highlighted by the autonomous creation of Red Dead Redemption 2's detailed horse testicles, emphasizes individual developer creativity. This approach, where no single employee knows every detail of a game as vast as Grand Theft Auto 6, allows for unexpected features and a high level of realism, though it also contributed to the game's lengthy development cycle.
Subnautica 2 is heading for 'Early access 2.0,' which brings 'one of our scariest regions we've ever…
Subnautica 2 is preparing for an "early access 2.0" update, which Unknown Worlds creative director Anthony Gallegos describes as its most substantial yet. This update will introduce a new playable region with new biomes, story elements, creatures, and a scarier region described as dark and threatening. The Collector Leviathan's behavior will also be updated to be scarier.
Ghost of Yotei Complete Edition Review: Most Wanted Shines — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Ghost of Yotei: Complete Edition offers a fantastic roguelite combat experience in its "Most Wanted" mode, particularly when playing as Jin Sakai, but is hampered by a drawn-out and poorly written main campaign. While the visuals and performance are excellent, and the Japanese voice acting is superior, the narrative and English dub fall flat. The "Most Wanted" mode is considered the highlight, making the game potentially worth it on sale.
Games Inbox: Is the PS5 the last real console generation?
Readers debate whether the current console generation will be the last, citing rising costs and diminishing returns in graphical fidelity. Discussions also touch upon the anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6, the music of The Legend of Zelda remakes, and Microsoft's 'Disc to Digital' feature.
Chronoscript: The Endless End Releases in Early Summer 2027, Also Coming to Xbox
Chronoscript: The Endless End has been delayed from its original 2026 release to summer 2027, with a new trailer showcasing its unique premise and art style. The game is also confirmed to be coming to Xbox. The developers are taking extra time to ensure a polished experience.
Silent Hill: Townfall Celebrates Positive Critical Reception With New Accolades Trailer
Screen Burn and Konami are celebrating the critical success of Silent Hill: Townfall with a new trailer showcasing gameplay and positive reviews. The game, set in 1996 Scotland, features classic horror elements alongside unique mid-90s technology integration. Writer Jon McKellan highlighted the era's suitability for horror due to limited technology.
Not even Rockstar heads know everything that's in GTA 6 because devs will just add stuff – which is also how Red Dead Redemption 2 got its absurd horse testicle physics
Rockstar Games' development process for Grand Theft Auto 6 allows for individual creativity, a philosophy exemplified by the detailed horse testicle physics in Red Dead Redemption 2. This autonomy within a structured framework is highlighted as a key factor in the studio's ability to create beloved and detailed game worlds.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation's Hard Mode is available from the start this time, so you won't need to replay the mammoth RPG to get to the good stuff
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will feature Hard Mode available from the start, unlike its predecessors Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth, which required players to complete the game first. Director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the Hard Mode experience has been reimagined for the upcoming title, allowing players to engage with challenging gameplay and new content from their initial playthrough.
This LA Noire Spinoff Idea Sounds Incredible
Actor Rahul Kohli has proposed an exciting concept for a new L.A. Noire game, suggesting a spinoff that would allow players to investigate crimes across different historical periods, such as Victorian England or the 1980s. Kohli expressed admiration for the original game's facial-capture technology and engine, hoping a new installment would retain these elements.