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vg247’s-the-best-games-ever-podcast-–-ep.45:-the-best-game-that’s-rubbish-after-ten-hours VG247

VG247’s The Best Games Ever Podcast – Ep.45: The best game that’s rubbish after ten hours

Some games are incredibly front-loaded, but which has the best, er, front? Welcome to VG247’s Best Games Ever Podcast: Episode 44: The best game where you’d swap places with the main character. Video games are very long-form pieces of entertainment, and as such, they have to work hard to hold our attention. Statistically, most single-player games are left unfinished by a staggering majority of the people who buy them, as much as 90% by some estimates. But is it any wonder, when a lot of games just get a bit naff after the first act? Once the New Game Novelty…

oblivion:-somehow,-17-years-have-passed-since-the-elder-scrolls-went-mainstream-and-changed-gaming-forever VG247

Oblivion: Somehow, 17 years have passed since The Elder Scrolls went mainstream and changed gaming forever

From Fallout to The Witcher, Oblivion paved the way for console-friendly RPGs to become the dominant force they are today. It’s completely absurd that the best part of twenty years have chundered along since The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion came out. I barely feel old enough to have fully formed memories of doing things that long ago. But yes, fine, calendars don’t lie, and it really has been seventeen years, three console generations, and an entire global pandemic between the time that Oblivion first graced our monitor screens… and now. It’s difficult to remember just how different the gaming landscape…

starfield’s-latest-tease-shows-that-bethesda-is-embracing-its-fantasy-roots VG247

Starfield’s latest tease shows that Bethesda is embracing its fantasy roots

On the one hand, their space bound epic depicts a realistic sci-fi future. On the other, it’s got a big swirly thing in it. It’s a pretty good week to be a Bethesda fan, because now we have two very important dates to mark in the calendar: firstly, on June 11th, we’re getting the much promised Starfield focused direct (which was recently reported to be imminent, but I guess we’re going to have to wait until the magical E3 period for any more reveals, like usual). Secondly, on the 6th of September, the thing will actually – probably, hopefully –…

vg247’s-the-best-games-ever-podcast-–-ep.41:-the-best-game-that-you-can’t-forgive VG247

VG247’s The Best Games Ever Podcast – Ep.41: The best game that you can’t forgive

When a video game annoys you for the last time, the grudge stays with you forever. Welcome to VG247’s Best Games Ever Podcast: Episode 41 – The best game that you can’t forgive. Sometimes even great video games are associated with bad memories. Maybe the last boss was just too annoying for you to finish. Maybe it was the game that made your 360 red ring. Maybe the day you got it was the day your dog died. Whatever it is, we all have that one game we can never go back to because it’s just too traumatic. Or, you…

never-mind-the-arkhamverse,-the-only-good-batman-game-is-assassin’s-creed-2 VG247

Never mind the Arkhamverse, the only good Batman game is Assassin’s Creed 2

Suicide Squad’s descent into live-service hell only accelerates an inevitable process of diminishing returns. So, the long awaited next foray into the Arkhamverse, Suicide Squad, looks like a pretty miserable experience from what we’ve seen so far. A screenshot doing the rounds on Twitter puts the spotlight on a dreary looking set of stat modifiers that reads like a tech manual for transistors. The fact that it’s a live-service looter shooter with no true single-player mode (‘co-op with bots’ doesn’t count), and the horrifying red flag of requiring a constant internet connection to run, shows just how far Rocksteady has…

no-remake,-no-remaster-–-what’s-made-metal-gear-rising-revengeance-stay-so-popular-for-so-long? VG247

No remake, no remaster – what’s made Metal Gear Rising Revengeance stay so popular for so long?

To celebrate Metal Gear Rising Revengance’s 10-year anniversary, composer Jamie Christopherson and Senator Armstrong actor Alastair Duncan reflect on the title’s legacy. It’s wild to think that 10 years ago today, I got Metal Gear Rising Revengeance through the door. I sat down at my Xbox 360 and played through the entire game that day. I couldn’t put it down. I got stuck at the final boss – because I was a cocky guy who picked hard for my first playthrough – but defeated him the next morning. At this point in my life I was a fresh fan of…

vg247’s-the-best-games-ever-podcast-–-ep.39:-the-best-game-that-completely-flopped VG247

VG247’s The Best Games Ever Podcast – Ep.39: The best game that completely flopped

Being the best is no guarantee of success. Just ask my bank manager. Welcome to VG247’s Best Games Ever Podcast: Episode 39 – The best game that completely flopped. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how good something is, it just never gets the right break, or it arrives at entirely the wrong time. An artist may die a pauper, unappreciated in their time, but be considered among the greatest painters in history in the centuries following their demise. This is a form of cruelty we call “existing”. Anyway, this is a podcast about Shenmue and things. It’s good. Check out VG247’s…

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Oblivion’s connection to Discworld is a legacy worth celebrating

From The Elder Scrolls to Tomb Raider, Terry Pratchett had a profound influence on the world of video games. ^Stay tuned for the video version of this article. I’ve been thinking recently, apropos of absolutely nothing, about the word “Legacy”. How it’s a particularly loaded word when it comes to authors, artists, filmmakers… any kind of creative, really. A prolific author, unlike the vast majority of us, leaves behind a body of work full of clues as to their real character: Terry Pratchett, for example, who is Britain’s best and most beloved author after Tolkien, published a bewildering 41 Discworld…

vg247’s-the-best-games-ever-podcast-–-ep.38:-the-best-game-you’d-never-believe-was-from-that-developer VG247

VG247’s The Best Games Ever Podcast – Ep.38: The best game you’d never believe was from that developer

Sometimes a game developer just goes off-piste, and the results are wonderful. Welcome to VG247’s Best Games Ever Podcast: Episode 38 – The best game you’d never believe was from that developer. Hi-Fi Rush is a joyous cel-shaded rush of a rhythm combat game with a tone and art style not unlike Jet Set Radio, and it’s surprising, because it comes from a studio most widely known for Evil Within, a spiritual follow-up to Resident Evil, and Ghostwire Tokyo, which is sort of like Far Cry: Shibuya via Siren Blood Curse. It’s not the only example of a surprising or…

team-fortress-2-to-receive-first-“full-on-update-sized-update”-in-years VG247

Team Fortress 2 to receive first “full on update-sized update” in years

This is, surprisingly, not a joke. Team Fortress 2 didn’t exactly go anywhere, but I couldn’t tell you the last time myself or someone I knew actually played it. What was once at the height of popularity on Steam slowly faded into obscurity, became plagued with bots, and later was bereft of any major updates. Here’s the Team Fortress 2 trailer for a trip down memory lane, if it’s been a while. That is, until, yesterday. Team Fortress 2 shared a blog post with fans and players, detailing that the game will receive a “full on update-sized update,” and will…

vg247’s-the-best-games-ever-podcast-–-ep.37:-the-best-game-with-followers-you-would-never-hang-out-with-irl VG247

VG247’s The Best Games Ever Podcast – Ep.37: The best game with followers you would never hang out with IRL

NPCs are annoying, needy, and dumb. But unlike your kids, you don’t need to like them. Welcome to VG247’s Best Games Ever Podcast: Episode 37 – The best game with followers you would never hang out with IRL. Video Games often, through necessity, make us hang out with people we wouldn’t necessarily want to in any other context.. Looking after rich idiots? Helping demon-possessed adventurers find peace in hell? Chatting with disembodied skulls who have terrible behavioural issues? (it’s amazing how often that last one crops up). NPC followers or party members might be useful in a scrape, usually, but…

steam-deck-proves,-once-again,-that-skyrim-will-never-die VG247

Steam Deck proves, once again, that Skyrim will never die

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has seen yet another victory in 2023, as it tops the Steam Deck ‘most played’ charts – will anyone ever get bored of this game? It’s been 12 years, now, since Bethesda launched its all-timer of an RPG. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has a seemingly endless appeal, and as of 2016, the publisher announced that the game had racked up an impressive 30 million sales. One thing about Skyrim: it should never, ever, be a TV show. You’d think that would mean that pretty much everyone has played it, and already owns it. But the…

naughty-dog-co-president-says-the-studio-is-“moving-on”-from-uncharted VG247

Naughty Dog co-president says the studio is “moving on” from Uncharted

Was A Thief’s End a farewell for the series, or just Drake? Looks like Naughty Dog might be finished with the Uncharted series. Speaking with Buzzfeed, studio co-president Neil Druckmann said the team is “moving on” from it. “Uncharted was insanely successful,” said Druckmann. “Uncharted 4 was one of our best-selling games, and we’re able to put our final brushstroke on that story and say that we’re done. We’re moving on.” Does this mean the studio is finished with the series for good, or just Nathan Drake’s story? Only Naughty Dog knows for sure. But, that’s not to say another…

dragon-age-dreadwolf-production-director-departs-bioware-after-19-years VG247

Dragon Age Dreadwolf production director departs BioWare after 19 years

The veteran developer is currently taking a career break. After working at BioWare for more than 19 years, Mac Walters, who served as lead writer on Mass Effect 2 and 3, is leaving the studio. As reported by Eurogamer, Walters publicly shared the news of his departure over the weekend in a LinkedIn post. The BioWare veteran served as a writer on Jade Empire, later taking on the role of lead writer for the second and third Mass Effect games, and prior to leaving he was production director on the upcoming and highly anticipated Dragon Age Dreadwolf. “With a new…

ahead-of-the-remake,-can-we-all-agree-that-dead-space-2-is-better-than-the-first-one? VG247

Ahead of the remake, can we all agree that Dead Space 2 is better than the first one?

As much as I loved being spooked aboard the USG Ishimura, playing through Dead Space 2 over a decade later is more engrossing and fun than I remembered. Released 27 months after the original game – back when development cycles weren’t absurdly long – Dead Space 2 found success in early 2011, but history and online discussion haven’t elevated it to cult status like they did with the 2008 classic. Going back to it, ahead of this month’s shiny remake of the original, to confirm my suspicions, I can now proudly declare it’s the best installment of Visceral’s trilogy. Come…