The Soulsborne Identity

March 04, 2022

Hi all

Welcome to The Week in Games!

Last week a little game called Elden Ring hit the shelves. You might have heard of it? So of course this week the internet has been lit up by the age old debate over difficulty.

FromSoftware games are tough - hugely intimidating to newcomers and to those who have previously dipped a toe in the water only to have their leg bitten off. They're punishing and unforgiving from the outset, and just as many people bounce right off them as succumb to their charm.

I’m not a fan of the "git gud" mentality, or of the Souls fans all too happy to tell people "this game isn't for you". Not all games are for everyone, and nor should they be, but seasoned fans should take the time to explain exactly why these games are so worth persevering with, rather than encouraging them to stay away. Souls games require dedication, no doubt, but once it becomes clear how their worlds and shortcuts work, they become much more manageable and much more compelling. A lot of people give up before this becomes apparent.

The difficulty is a huge part of the experience, and that's by design. In an interview with the New Yorker (see 'recommended articles' below) FromSoftware boss Hidetaka Miyazaki explains "...in our games specifically, hardship is what gives meaning to the experience. So it's not something we're willing to abandon at the moment. It's our identity."

It's true, of course, but it's unfair that the identity of these games is so often pointed squarely at their difficulty, rather than the fact that they offer the best worlds and the greatest adventures gaming has ever known.

Playing through Dark Souls became one of the greatest experiences of my life not because of its difficulty, but because of its staggering world and the consistently surprising way in which it unfolded as I explored it. I hate the thought of people missing out on that just because the game is so hard, but above all else, I believe that it's the prerogative of developers to make the games they want to make, and these just wouldn't be the same without that difficulty. Each and every one of those staggering views you're treated to is earned.

Ultimately, I think the fact that there's a studio like FromSoftware operating in the AAA space on its own terms, creating incredible yet divisive masterpieces like Elden Ring is something to be celebrated. Even if its very identity risks alienating as many people as it enthrals.

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I'd love to include more voices in this newsletter, so if you have an opinion on difficulty, Elden Ring, or... pretty much anything video game related at all, then please reply to this email alongside the name and/or social media handle you’d like to be credited as, and you could be featured in an upcoming issue!

NEWS

Boss Encounter

Valve's much anticipated handheld gaming PC Steam Deck has started to trickle out into the world over the last week or so. The critical consensus is mostly very positive, despite some early software problems and compatibility issues. Digital Foundry were suitably impressed too, saying performance "far exceeds" expectations in their review.

To celebrate the release, Valve president Gabe Newell and his wonderfully appropriate Santa-beard took to the streets to hand-deliver autographed units to a few lucky buyers.

  • After a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, Volume 003 of premium gaming journal [lock-on] is now available to pre-order online.

  • Issue 5 of Sega Mania - another excellent magazine - is also available to pre-order online now.

  • The Tokyo Games Show returns in September 2022 as a physical event for both business and general visitors.

  • The London Games Festival will also return in 2022.

  • Shadow Warrior 3, Crysis Remastered and a couple of others hit PlayStation Now this week.

  • Xbox Game Pass subscribers can now play Guardians of the Galaxy, Kentucky Route Zero, and Far: Changing Tides, among others.

  • Voting is currently open for the public-voted BAFTA Game of the Year award. Votes close on April 1st.

  • Resident Evil 2, 3, and 7 are getting free next-gen updates.

Quote of the Week

"Let's just celebrate the fact that so many great games are coming out from so many creators, and realise that's such a foundation for where this industry is going to go" - Xbox boss Phil Spencer speaking in an IGN interview.

NEW RELEASES:

This week saw Square Enix's tactical RPG and Octopath Traveller spiritual successor Triangle Strategy release for Switch, alongside the first numbered entry in the Gran Turismo series since 2013's Gran Turismo 6.

Triangle Strategy earned a recommended badge from Eurogamer, and Gran Turismo 7 launched to hugely positive reviews, with many comparing this new entry with the series' PS2 glory days. It may also make the best use of Sony's new DualSense controller yet.

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC) - March 1

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC) - March 1

(PC) - March 1

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC) - March 1

(PS4, PS5, PC) - March 3

(Switch) - March 4

(PS4, PS5) - March 4

UPCOMING RELEASES:

(Xbox, PC) - March 9

(Switch) - March 10

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC) - March 10

(Switch) - March 10

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC) - March 10

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC) - March 10

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC) - March 10

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC) - March 11

GAME OF THE WEEK

A randomly selected game each week! Any and all games are eligible for selection regardless of age, platform, popularity, or otherwise.

This week, the honour goes to…

Gran Turismo (1997)

As Gran Turismo 7 arrived this week to mark the series' 25th anniversary year, it seems fitting to go back to where it all began. Released in 1997 on the original PlayStation, Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo was a monumental achievement for the racing genre, introducing realism on an unprecedented level for the time.

Hundreds of cars (ranging from the mundane to the exotic), stunning visuals, and a truly revolutionary physics model kept it ahead of the pack until its own sequel arrived two years later.

RECOMMENDED READS

This week's recommended articles see Simon Parkin interview FromSoftware boss Hidetaka Miyazaki, Game Informer serve up some tips for Elden Ring newbies, and Sega mega-fan Dan Driver rank all of Sega's home consoles.

Simon Parkin - The New Yorker

Miyazaki has created the most difficult games of the century. In his latest, Elden Ring, he wants a broader audience to feel the pain.

Alex Van Aken - Game Informer

Game Informer offer up 9 essential tips to help new players find their feet in FromSoftware's astonishing Elden Ring.

Dan Driver - The Mega Driver Mega Blog

Life-long Sega fan Dan Driver ranks Sega's hardware portfolio in an entertaining and informative article to kick-off his new "not all Sega" gaming blog.

CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGNS

Precision Game Storage Boxes

By Book4Games - campaign ends March 13

High Quality storage boxes for your Game Boy, Nintendo 64, Famicom, Game&Watch, Mega Drive/Genesis, Zelda and Metroid collection!

Shenmue World: Issue 2

By James Brown - campaign ends March 29

An Unofficial Shenmue fan magazine, including Blu-ray disc, Corey Marshall Signed Print, A3 Poster and more!

...and that's it for this week!

I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Week in Games!

If you have any comments, suggestions or enquiries please reply to this email directly, write to [email protected], or catch me on Twitter!

Thanks again, and I hope to see you next week!

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