Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Full Metal Sergeant 2 Eliminates RNG from Combat — Every Shot Counts
Developer Flaick has released Full Metal Sergeant 2, a sequel that overhauls traditional tactical combat by removing RNG and hit chance, making every shot count. This change emphasizes positioning and strategic decision-making, rewarding skill over luck. The game also features a revamped recruit system and improved visual clarity to enhance the player experience.
PRAGMATA Review: Capcom’s Adorable PS5 Pro Satire Wins Over Critics
Capcom's new IP, PRAGMATA, has been released on PlayStation 5 Pro, offering a unique blend of adorable characters and biting satire on lunar capitalism. Critics are praising its innovative combat system and its ability to leverage the hardware for unique visual effects. The game is noted for successfully combining cute aesthetics, social commentary, and engaging gameplay, marking a refreshing departure from typical Capcom releases.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Should You Play It in 2026?
Assassin's Creed Shadows offers a beautiful rendition of feudal Japan with strong parkour and stealth mechanics, despite a less compelling narrative. Post-launch updates have significantly improved gameplay, adding features like Nightmare difficulty and New Game+. While not the series' absolute best, it's a worthwhile entry for fans of the genre.
Pragmata – 15 More New Details You Need to Know
Pragmata will feature a tense lunar base escape for protagonists Hugh and Diana, with gameplay details emerging about its systems. The game includes AI-generated environments, demanding platforming sections, and a hack-and-shoot combat loop that may occasionally feel clunky. Players will utilize suit augmentations, environmental hazards as weapons, and special abilities like Diana's Overdrive Protocol. The demo offers eight possible endings, and audio cues are critical for situational awareness.
Games Inbox: What video game has the most bugs and glitches?
Readers discuss which video games are the buggiest, with Fallout: New Vegas and Cyberpunk 2077 being frequently mentioned. The conversation also touches on the merits of retro gaming versus modern titles and the challenges of releasing major games during the holiday season.
Why Pragmata Could End Up Dividing Players
Pragmata's experimental design, featuring a dual-protagonist combat system with integrated hacking mechanics, has the potential to divide players. While its unique approach could offer a fresh experience compared to conventional AAA titles, the high mental load and unconventional gameplay may not resonate with everyone. The game's narrative also explores themes of identity and artificial life, which could further contribute to its polarizing reception.
Masahiro Sakurai Discusses Kirby Air Riders' Development Philosophy
Masahiro Sakurai shared insights into the development of Kirby Air Ride, detailing the design philosophy behind its Road Trip mode, narrative, and player-focused features. He explained how the Road Trip mode was added to increase single-player engagement through challenges and branching paths. Sakurai also discussed the unconventional narrative centered on machines, the design of unpredictable route characters, and the emphasis on accessibility and customization options for players.
Kirby Air Ride City Trial Map Considered for Kirby Air Riders’ Skyah
Nintendo Director Masahiro Sakurai revealed that the team considered bringing the City Trial map from Kirby Air Ride to Kirby Air Riders' Skyah mode. However, due to technical limitations and the significant cost and effort involved in adapting it for modern multiplayer features, it was ultimately not feasible. Sakurai also noted changes in the development process, with more people involved in balancing adjustments for Kirby Air Riders compared to the original Kirby Air Ride.
Solo Dev’s Loot Loop Proves Size Doesn’t Matter in Gaming’s New Frontier
Solo developer Patryk, under the studio GGal, has launched their game Loot Loop on Steam for PC. The game features a three-hour playtime with a four-character party system, a skill tree, and a prestige system, aiming to offer a focused experience rather than a lengthy one. This release highlights the growing trend of solo developers creating impactful games with limited resources.
People of Note Review | TheXboxHub
People of Note is a music-based RPG that centers on Cadence, a pop debutant aiming to become a star. While the music doesn't directly impact gameplay, the game offers a surprisingly deep RPG experience with a creative world and engaging story. Despite some narrative and gameplay omissions, it's a lengthy and enjoyable title for fans of music and RPGs.
DEFLATE Rhythm Game Adds Leaderboards in Major Community Update
Indie rhythm game DEFLATE has received a major update introducing online-only song leaderboards and personal profiles, transforming the gameplay into a competitive experience. The update also includes performance improvements, bug fixes for offline crashes, and adjustments to song levels, demonstrating the developers' commitment to refining the player experience.
Wisdom of Nym: What’s at stake for Final Fantasy XIV’s Beastmaster
This article discusses the potential impact and design challenges for the upcoming Beastmaster job in Final Fantasy XIV, particularly in relation to the existing Limited Job, Blue Mage. The author argues that for Beastmaster to be successful, it must offer a substantially different gameplay experience than Blue Mage, which has increasingly focused on group content. If Beastmaster fails to innovate, it could signify a dead end for the concept of Limited Jobs in the game.
THYSIASTERY Interview: DIRGA Team Talks Roguelike Design, Difficulty Feedback, and Post-Launch Plans
In an interview, the DIRGA team, including CEO Thành Nguyễn and Creative Director Saska Liiman, discussed the development of their roguelike game THYSIASTERY. They detailed its origins, the challenges of balancing its difficulty, and plans for future updates focusing on metaprogression and player feedback. The team also clarified the pronunciation of the game's title.
Dosa Divas Review - An RPG With Sauce, Please
Dosa Divas is a food-themed RPG that blends turn-based combat with cooking mechanics, featuring a story about family reconciliation. While its narrative and charm are highlights, the game is hampered by limited combat depth, a short runtime, and padding in its final sections. It functions as a competent proof of concept with potential for future projects.
Dosa Divas (PS5) Review: A Charming Bite-Sized RPG
Dosa Divas is a charming and fun 13-hour turn-based RPG for the PlayStation 5 developed by Outerloop Games. It features gameplay mechanics similar to the Mario & Luigi RPGs, with engaging combat, a deep cooking system centered around South Indian dosa, and a story that critiques capitalism in a lighthearted way. The game is praised for its solid depth, charming dialogue, and for not overstaying its welcome.
Todd Howard says Starfield's NG+ was misunderstood and defends Bethesda's new U-turn on how it works: 'You can tell us if we're done our job right'
Todd Howard and Tim Lamb of Bethesda discuss the misunderstood implementation of Starfield's New Game Plus mode and recent changes made in the Free Lanes update. The update allows players to retain some items when entering The Unity, a change made to encourage more players to experience the NG+ loop.
Follow a game's rules, not its story: Exit 8 director Genki Kawamura on the secret to a successful movie adaptation
Director Genki Kawamura discusses the successful adaptation of the indie game Exit 8 into a film, emphasizing the importance of adapting game rules and design rather than just story. He highlights how the film blurs the lines between mediums, drawing inspiration from game streaming culture and concepts like liminal space. Kawamura also mentions the influence of classic horror films and the unique collaborative process with the game's creator, Kotake.
Overwatch's hero ban system is being reworked, which means we may be able to ignore the role-limit rule and ban a…
Blizzard Entertainment is reworking Overwatch's hero ban system to allow for more informed player choices. Associate game director Alec Dawson stated that the team is exploring options for players to share hero preferences more effectively during the ban phase, potentially including a 'Lobby Ban' that could ignore role limits and consider votes from both teams.
Pragmata Review – Hack and Dash
Pragmata, a sci-fi shooter announced over five years ago, has finally been released and is considered worth the wait. The game features a unique blend of familiar shooter mechanics with innovative hacking gameplay, set in a compelling narrative on the moon. Despite a long development cycle and periods of silence, the game delivers a visually striking experience with engaging combat and character dynamics.
Pragmata review: Capcom's confidence peaks with a sci-fi shooter that dares you to like it or leave it
Capcom's Pragmata is a unique sci-fi shooter that blends intense combat with grid-based puzzles, offering a challenging experience reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era. The game features a compelling narrative about loneliness and humanity, centered on the relationship between the protagonist Hugh and an android named Diana. Despite a slow start, the game's innovative combat system and technical prowess on platforms like the PlayStation 5 make it a standout, experimental title.
