Game Design
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"I should have listened properly to Miyazaki": Ex PlayStation boss admits giving FromSoftware "the lowest number possible" for physical copies of Demon's Souls after getting stuck in its "demanding" starting area
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida admitted to making a significant mistake with Demon's Souls by underestimating its potential and requesting the lowest possible number of physical copies. This lack of support for FromSoftware's challenging title led Sony to reject signing Dark Souls. Yoshida reflected on his initial difficulty with the game's demanding nature and opaque systems, contrasting it with his later appreciation for the Soulslike genre, even achieving a platinum trophy in Bloodborne.
Halo: Campaign Evolved PS5 review - the multiformat remake you never expected
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved for PlayStation 5, featuring updated graphics and gameplay elements from sequels, alongside new bonus missions. Despite its historical significance, the remake suffers from technical issues like slowdown and inconsistent visuals, and its innovations are now commonplace. The new missions are a highlight, offering a more modern experience, but the overall package feels like a compromise.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Review – Remaster Chief
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, featuring updated visuals with Unreal Engine 5 and incorporating gameplay elements from later entries. While online multiplayer is absent, it includes expanded co-op and new prequel missions written by Troy Denning. The game preserves the original's art direction and captivating story, offering a refined first-person shooter experience with faster movement and additional abilities.
I played the Halo: Campaign Evolved remake and original Halo back-to-back, here's my review
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a modern remake of Halo: Combat Evolved that aims to update the classic shooter with Unreal Engine 5 visuals and gameplay inspired by later Halo titles. While the remake boasts impressive graphics and smoother controls, the reviewer finds that many of its changes, such as the addition of a sprint button and altered vehicle physics, detract from the original's unique design and tension. The package is also criticized for lacking PvP multiplayer and offering a sparse selection of content compared to The Master Chief Collection.
Should you play the bonus missions first in Halo: Campaign Evolved?
This guide discusses whether players should tackle the bonus missions first in Halo: Campaign Evolved. While these missions are set before the main story, it's recommended to play the main campaign first to better appreciate the gradual introduction of weapons and the overall narrative flow. The bonus missions offer a more sandbox-like experience with all weapons available early on.
Halo: Campaign Evolved review: "I'm not sure this can be called an evolution when it's so afraid to add much of substance to the iconic FPS"
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, praised for its satisfying core gameplay and modernized features like smart-link aiming and sprinting. However, the review criticizes the game for its minimal evolution of the classic formula, largely pointless bonus missions, and minor performance issues on PlayStation 5. Ultimately, it's recommended primarily for PS5 players as the sole option for this experience, while others may find The Master Chief Collection sufficient.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is more successful at being a reinvention of an FPS classic than it is a reproduction - and that needn't be a bad thing
Halo: Campaign Evolved offers a reinvention of the classic FPS, successfully capturing the feeling of the original while introducing modern mechanics like aiming down sights and sprinting. Developed by Halo Studios, it aims to be a worthy successor to Bungie's masterpiece, though it struggles to fully replicate the artistic pacing and mechanical genius of Halo: Combat Evolved. The game includes new missions and gameplay variations, making it an appealing entry point for newcomers and a worthwhile experience for veterans, despite some jarring differences from the original.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Review
Halo: Campaign Evolved offers a decent set of new missions that speak to the series' timelessness. However, it is largely a retread that serves as a test run for future installments utilizing Unreal Engine.
Virtua Fighter Crossroads is a Turning Point for the Oldest 3D Fighter | IGN Preview
Virtua Fighter Crossroads is poised to usher in a new era for the long-running 3D fighting game series. While specific details like the body part damage system remain unknown, the ambition behind the project is evident. The author expresses excitement and hope for the future of the franchise, despite not having played the game yet.
It Feels Wrong For Halo To Feel Better Than Ever On PS5
Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, is surprisingly enjoyable on PlayStation 5 despite its Xbox origins. Developed in Unreal Engine 5, this reimagining features new missions, redesigned levels, updated gameplay mechanics like sprinting and aiming down sights, and improved narrative connections to later Halo titles. While the new prequel missions introduce underdeveloped characters and the checkpoint system can be finicky, the overall experience enhances the classic story and serves as a new gold standard for playing the first Halo game.
After years of failed MMO efforts, I have finally found my place in the genre with Warframe as a newcomer in 2026
A newcomer to the MMO genre finds a satisfying experience in Digital Extremes' Warframe, despite initial reservations about the genre's endless nature. The author contrasts Warframe's power fantasy and engaging combat with other MMOs like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14, and expresses excitement for the developer's upcoming title, Soulframe.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse devs say their female protagonist was a "natural fit" because the "role…
Lead developers of Castlevania: Belmont's Curse discussed the creation of protagonist Rose Belmont, explaining that the role was a natural fit for a female character due to the game's themes of mother-daughter bonds and revenge. Initially, the protagonist's gender was undecided, but the narrative evolved to center around Trevor Belmont's daughter inheriting her mother Sypha's curse. The developers emphasized that the game's challenging nature is core to the Castlevania identity.
Agefield High: Rock the School Is Far From the Bully Successor We Were Hoping For | IGN Preview
Agefield High: Rock the School is described as unpolished and uninspired, with buggy gameplay and wonky physics that detract from the experience. Despite the game's approaching August release date, the preview suggests significant improvements are needed to make the game redeemable.
The Incident At Galley House review – an enthralling deduction game that can't escape the genre's classic problem
The Incident At Galley House is an enthralling deduction game that uses a unique machine to let players piece together a murder mystery from 1936. While the early hours are captivating, the gameplay can become methodical and tedious as players focus on filling in the timeline. The game improves upon its text-based predecessor, Type Help, by automating administrative tasks and adding visual elements, though it shares a common genre pitfall of late-game pacing issues.
From New Vegas to Balatro: Why Video Games Keep Sending Us to the Casino
This article explores the persistent use of casinos and gambling mechanics in video games across various genres, from Fallout: New Vegas and Red Dead Redemption 2 to Grand Theft Auto Online and Balatro. It examines how these elements serve as world-building shortcuts, add texture to game worlds, and can even form the core of a game's design, while also discussing the distinction between fictional stakes and real-world financial risk.
Essential Features for an Optimal Online Casino Experience
This article analyzes the persistent use of casino and gambling minigames across various video game genres, from Fallout: New Vegas and Red Dead Redemption 2 to GTA Online and Balatro. It explores how these elements serve as world-building shortcuts, enhance immersion, and provide gameplay variety, while also discussing the distinction between fictional stakes and real-world financial risk.
Shigeru Miyamoto talks Nintendo remakes
Shigeru Miyamoto discussed Nintendo's focus on remakes in a Famitsu interview, defending the practice by stating it allows younger generations to experience classic games. He highlighted the importance of revising and updating these titles for modern audiences.
Neon Depth Wants You To Fail – Because That’s How You’ll Succeed
Neon Depth, a new puzzle platformer from developer and publisher Afil Games, is now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for £4.19. The game challenges players to use their failures as part of the puzzle-solving process, with each mistake leaving a lasting impact on the environment. It features retro-inspired neon visuals and demands precision platforming skills.
Hideo Kojima's worked out exactly how he wants to die: Kicking the popcorn bucket
Hideo Kojima, the creator of Metal Gear and Death Stranding, has shared his thoughts on how he wishes to die, stating he wants to pass away in a movie theater just as a film is about to begin. Kojima, who is known for his deep passion for cinema, sees this as a fitting end given his lifelong obsession with movies, which he describes as making up 70% of his being.
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Leak Reveals More Than 100 Scrapped Designs, Including Unseen Creatures and Missing Evolutions
A leak has revealed over 100 scrapped designs from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, including early creature concepts, entirely new species, and cut evolutions. This unofficial release offers fans a glimpse into the development process and unreleased content for the Nintendo DS titles.