There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but Zelda has always been a wonderfully diverse series. Not to the extent of Mario which has crossed all manner of genres in its years, but it is diverse all the same. It has shaped the RPG genre numerous times since the ‘80s, inspiring the likes of Dark Souls, Secret of Mana, Shadow Of the Erdtree strength Build of the Colossus, and now, the aforementioned Genshin Impact. You can see how much the RPG genre varies with Zelda’s inspirations alone and that’s telling. After Breath of the Wild 2, it needs to do something different again. Going back to the classics might not scream new. In fact, it sounds like a step back, aye? Well, that’s the thing. The triple-A space seems to be scared of its own history, desperate to move past it and become more cinematic, more graphically domineering. It’s all about tech and visual prowess. But art style is just as import

As a VR enthusiast, it’s hard to understand why the Oculus Quest 2 still hasn’t hit critical mass. It’s not a matter of cost: the Quest 2 is half the price of the PS5 and Xbox Series X and less than a third of a 30-series GPU, and unlike all of those, is widely available. It’s not due to a lack of content either. There are hundreds of games on the Oculus store, and at least a dozen I would consider must-plays. There are even more if you have a decent computer to link to, like Half-Life: Alyx , Star Wars Squadrons, and my personal favorite, Insomniac’s Stormland. I don’t think it's an accessibility issue either - at least not for the vast majority of potential VR players. Resolution and high refresh rates have virtually eliminated the disorientation of early VR, and even if you’re especially squeamish, every game has plenty of settings built in that help eliminate any discomfort. If you ask me, the Quest 2 ought to be as ubiquitous as the equally-priced Nintendo Switch, but as of this past July, the Quest 2 has only sold four million units to the Switch’s

There are several moments in Little Nightmares that feel like direct references to Spirited Away , with the design of the Maw being the most notable of the lot. Fans of Studio Ghibli movies who don't mind a bit of horror should definitely check out Little Nightmar

Aside from this, the storytelling in Breath of the Wild is very much what you make of it. If you’ve played the game before, you’ll know that Link has access to a number of cryptic photographs on his Sheikah Slate that represent locations spread across the open world. You are given no map icons or hints as to where these places are, you simply need to look at the images and work things out for yourself. It’s a wondrous journey of discovery, and providing us with nuggets of narrative as opposed to temporary rewards makes seeking them out all the more satisfying. I love this approach, but mostly for what it represents as opposed to how it contributes to the game’s overall pacing.

Resident Evil 4 was a major departure from the rest of the series when it was first released. While there first three games in the series were methodical, strategic survival horror experiences, Resident Evil 4 was an intense action shooter first and foremost. While there was some doubt about fans' willingness to accept this new creative decision, Resident Evil 4 achieved the improbable by being so outrageously good that players couldn't help but feel excited about the new direction the series was tak

I can’t play the Spyro trilogy for the first time again, nor can I approach it with the same innocence and sense of wonder that I did when I was ten years old. I still love the series, but games have changed a lot since Spyro first came out. There have been 20 years of evolution and innovation since Spyro the Dragon was made, and I’ve seen how games have been refined and enhanced since then. I’ve changed a lot too. I’m a critic now, and I pick games apart and analyze them for a living. I can revisit Spyro from a new perspective, but now I experience it as an echo of the original - a snapshot of my childh

For example, the mysterious Weapons Merchant in Resident Evil 4 , who happens to pop up at various intervals in Resident Evil 4 to help the player buy, sell and upgrade equipment, just seems out of place in Resident Evil's more realistic oracle. Whether the merchant and currency system will be in a Resident Evil 4 Remake will be an interesting beacon point to keep an eye on over the direction of Resident Evil 4 Rema

While the original Resident Evil 2 and 3 are fairly similar games, Resident Evil 4 is an action-oriented title with a faster pace than its predecessors. This variation in source material means that the Resident Evil remake series is likely pushing into new territory, leading to debate on what should and should not be changed from the original g

RE4 isn’t the first game to get a VR remake, but it is the first to really capitalize on the nostalgia potential. Skyrim VR, No Man’s Sky, and LA Noire VR are all modified - and in some ways, compromised - versions of modern games, but RE4VR is entirely modernized and enhanced by VR. This isn’t just an alternate way to play RE4, it’s the best way to play it in 2