Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Denshattack! Review
Denshattack! is a unique and polished indie game that blends train-based trick-action with an anime-inspired narrative. Players control a novice Denshattacker named Emi, performing kickflips, wall-jumps, and ollies as a literal train across stylized, rail-filled environments. While the game excels in its varied set-pieces, boss fights, and replayable score-chasing gameplay, it lacks depth in unlockables and customization options beyond new trains and decals.
Respawn Monday #9: Palworld's Endgame Grind Meets Tokon: Fighting Souls Beta — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
The author discusses the endgame grind in Palworld after 80 hours, noting the satisfying progression despite repetitive dungeons and high material requirements. They also share their experience with the Marvel's Tokon: Fighting Souls open beta, finding it a fun and accessible fighting game with an auto-combo system that aids newcomers, though the story mode's pacing and writing were less impressive.
Games Inbox: Are people still excited for Tomb Raider games?
Readers discuss the declining popularity of the Tomb Raider series, questioning if remakes can revive its former glory. Other topics include the potential of ad-based game streaming, the perceived lack of excitement for the Switch 2's second year lineup, and the business decisions behind game pricing and remakes.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s Enemies Borrow Elements From Previous Games and “Remixes” Them
Onimusha: Way of the Sword director Satoru Nihei explains that while the game lacks direct narrative connections to previous titles to appeal to newcomers, its enemies are inspired by and "remixed" from older games. These new enemies incorporate elements from classic foes like Reynaldo Genma and Bazuu, offering a familiar yet fresh challenge for long-time fans. The game is set to release on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Guide – 20 Tips and Tricks You Need to Know
This guide for Halo: Campaign Evolved offers 20 tips and tricks for both new and returning players. It covers strategies for using vehicles like the Plasma Pistol and Scorpion, managing Marines, utilizing portable Overshields and Active Camo, and adapting to intelligent enemy AI. The guide also touches on co-op gameplay, emphasizing role specialization and the use of personal difficulty modifiers.
Beast of Reincarnation Could Be Game Freak’s Biggest Breakout Yet
Beast of Reincarnation presents a significant opportunity for Game Freak to shift its public perception beyond its established Pokemon franchise. The article compares its potential impact to that of Black Myth: Wukong, highlighting Beast of Reincarnation's ambitious action RPG gameplay, mature dystopian Japanese setting, and unique dual-character combat system as key differentiators. Success for the game, available day-one on Game Pass, will be measured not just by sales but by its ability to establish a new identity for Game Freak and prove its capability in creating original, mature titles.
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced Reveals What’s Really Wrong With Assassin’s Creed
This analysis argues that while recent Assassin's Creed titles like Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla have shifted towards an RPG formula, the franchise may be suffering from a tendency to confuse meaningful evolution with constant expansion. The success of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced is highlighted as evidence that a more focused approach, centered on core identities like the pirate fantasy, can resonate strongly with players, suggesting a need for better balance between broad reinventions and cohesive design.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Wants to Avoid Open-World Fatigue By Offering More Guidance
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi discussed the game's approach to open-world design, aiming to mitigate player fatigue by providing clearer guidance. He also detailed improvements to the combat system, evolving from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's mechanics with a new FITS system for greater party role flexibility. The game is set to conclude the Remake trilogy on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Interview – New Setting, Asymmetrical Warfare, Console Performance, And More
Developers discuss the shift of Hell Let Loose to a Vietnam War setting, highlighting how asymmetrical warfare, new environments, and faster pacing will change gameplay. They also detail performance targets for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, including support for Ultrawide resolutions and advanced graphical features like DLSS and Lumen on PC.
God Of War Laufey release date announced alongside first details of new game
Sony Interactive Entertainment and Santa Monica Studio announced that God of War Laufey will be released on February 16, 2027, exclusively for PlayStation 5. The game will star Kratos' wife, Faye (Laufey), and is described as a mainline entry that continues the story from God of War Ragnarök, taking place in the 'afterlife of the gods'.
The Legend of Zelda movie's Link actor couldn't play Breath of the Wild when it launched because he was too…
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who will play Link in the upcoming The Legend of Zelda movie, revealed he was too young to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when it launched in 2017. He watched playthroughs of the game before being cast in the film. The Legend of Zelda movie is set to release on May 7, 2027.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Review – The Legend Lives On
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a successful remake that updates the classic Halo: Combat Evolved with modern mechanics and graphical enhancements, including a new movement system and improved vehicle handling. While it omits competitive PvP, the addition of new campaign missions, randomized gameplay options, and extensive Skull modifiers offer significant replay value. The game performs well on PlayStation 5, with its SSD ensuring fast load times, though some minor frame rate drops were noted in intense scenes.
Final Fantasy 14 boss Yoshi-P doesn't get the deal with Chort
Final Fantasy 14 director and producer Naoki Yoshida expressed surprise at the popularity of the sub-boss character Chort, stating he didn't fully understand the appeal despite its meme status. Yoshida is curious about what players find appealing about the character, though he acknowledges the visual humor of a large character rolling. He also encouraged the community to share their feedback on future content.
Task Bar Hero has normalized real money item auction houses, and Blizzard must be raging
Task Bar Hero, a popular side-scrolling RPG on Steam, features a real money auction house where players can buy and sell in-game items for very low prices. This mechanic draws parallels to Diablo 3's controversial real money auction house, sparking debate within the community. The article questions the normalization of such systems in modern gaming, especially given the game's design that encourages long playtimes and potential pay-to-progress elements.
'The last time I liked everything about a game was probably Baldur's Gate 3': Raphael Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios, talks us through the games installed on his PC
Raphaël Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios and WolfEye Studios, discusses the games installed on his PC, highlighting Baldur's Gate 3 as the last game he "liked everything about." He shares his thoughts on current plays like Mewgenics and Cyberpunk 2077, his enduring love for immersive sims like Thief and Deus Ex, and his early PC gaming roots with Ultima 7.
Yoshi-P's "huge list" of FF14 Evercold plans range from helping you through MSQ, to battling World of Warcraft's housing
Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida detailed extensive plans for the game's future, dubbed 'Evercold,' which will include significant overhauls to player housing and the main story progression. Yoshida also discussed the team's approach to incorporating player feedback, the challenges of integrating crossover content like Final Fantasy VII, and his personal commitment to the game as his life's work.
The Daily Grind: When do deaths in MMOs go from funny to annoying?
This article discusses the point at which player deaths in MMORPGs transition from being a humorous or neutral occurrence to an actively annoying one. Using an example from Palworld, the author explores how repeated deaths while trying to recover lost items can detract from the core gameplay experience.
The Sunday Papers
This article discusses various topics including the game Troubleshooter, analyses of science fiction and fantasy in big tech, and a piece on Scottish novelist Lewis Grassic Gibbon. It also touches on gender dysphoria through the games Stellar Blade and Brush Burial: Gutter World, and reflects on the creation of the game Sir, You Are Being Hunted. Additionally, it explores art history through the lens of Rembrandt van Rijn and the use of oil paint, and mentions the Pervert Jam 2026 game jam.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Director Has “Looked Into” Mirage’s Challenge System
Richard Knight, game director for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, has "looked into" the possibility of implementing a challenge system similar to Assassin's Creed Mirage. While acknowledging the technical hurdles due to different game engines, Knight expressed interest in the concept, drawing from his experience with the Hitman franchise. Ubisoft Singapore is developing a roadmap for Resynced, which has already surpassed sales expectations.
Shigeru Miyamoto believes that people “are no longer just looking for specs” with gaming systems
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto believes players are prioritizing unique gameplay experiences over raw hardware specifications when choosing gaming systems. He cited the success of the Wii and Nintendo Switch as examples of consoles that offered innovative playstyles despite not being the most powerful on the market. Miyamoto emphasized Nintendo's focus on creating exclusive gameplay and efficient development environments.
