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Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
What Two Seemingly Dissimilar GOTY Contenders Have In Common
At face value, two potential Game of the Year (GOTY) nominees, Dogubomb's Blue Prince and Kojima Productions' Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, seem like very different games, but both aim to reinvent our genre expectations. One of the things I like about the Game of the Year Awards—and gaming in general—is how titles from vastly different genres are appreciated and discussed alongside one another. Last year, for instance, Balatro, a poker roguelike by solo developer LocalThunk, competed against Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, an action RPG from industry giant Square Enix. These games couldn't be more different in genre, story, and mechanics—and they also diverge radically in production budgets, marketing power, fan base size, and development team scale. As someone coming from the book world, I find the fact that such different games can compete against each other striking. Literary prizes are often far narrower, not only in genre but also in the types of publishers and authors considered. The prestigious Man Booker Prize, for example—which is supposed to be open to all genres—heavily favors literary fiction from a specific kind of author backed by a certain caliber of publishing house. That's not to say the Game of the Year Awards offer a perfectly level playing field. The awards, which are 90% determined by jurors from the media and 10% determined by fan vote, have a tendency to favor AAA and AA games. Arguably, indies don't get the attention they deserve. Still, it's significant that a game like Balatro can share the stage with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. This year, we may see a similar face-off: an indie breakout hit (Blue Prince) against an industry heavyweight (Death Stranding 2). Blue Prince is a complex puzzle game with a lot of layers. Story-wise, you play as a young man trying to reach the hidden 46th room of your late uncle's mansion to claim your inheritance. To do so you have to fit the mansion's shifting rooms together in the right way. You accomplish this by drawing and selecting different rooms from a randomized pool. The rooms reset every day. Rooms have different orientations, properties, and abilities that can help you, or hinder you, as you attempt to get to the 46th room. Fitting them together in a way that lets you progress is deceptively difficult. Blue Prince involves spatial puzzle solving (trying to arrange the rooms on a 2D grid) with first-person environmental storytelling (you then have to walk through the rooms to solve puzzles within the rooms). Shuttling between these two different forms of puzzle creates an experience unlike any other game I've played. The result is a sort of weird mashup of something like Tetris and Gone Home. Developed over eight years by first-time developer Tonda Ross, Blue Prince launched to widespread critical acclaim. Ross largely worked on the project alone, at least at first. At present, Blue Prince looks like a strong contender for a GOTY nomination. On the flip side, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic future. You play as the currier Sam, delivering packages across treacherous terrain while facing enemies that range from ghostlike BTs to samurai mechs to run-of-the-mill brigands. The Death Stranding series builds its gameplay loop around delivery and traversal, even though its world often resembles a third-person shooter. While Death Stranding 2 leans more into shooter elements than its predecessor, it still devotes a lot of attention to walking and inventory management: e.g., deciding whether to deploy a ladder or a zipline, balancing cargo loads, and plotting safe routes. In a setting more reminiscent of Fallout or Horizon Zero Dawn, the mechanics sometimes feel closer to a cozy game. Death Stranding's creator, Hideo Kojima, is one of the most recognized names in gaming. While exact numbers are not known, his production company likely had around 150 people working on the game, plus a slew of actors (including Norman Reedus and Elle Fanning) and creatives hired specifically for the project. Thematically, stylistically, and mechanically Blue Prince and Death Stranding are incredibly different. But both creatively arrive at gameplay loops that feel quirky and unexpected. Both games are hard to describe. The uniqueness of how you play these games is a major strength, but also a source of frustration. Both games, for me, took a good while to settle into, in part because I didn't know what to expect. The blending of genres can be disorienting. Ultimately though, it made my attachment to both games stronger, and the experience of playing them more memorable. Neither Blue Prince nor Death Stranding are completely 'new.' Like all games, they borrow from well-established predecessors. But they do so in a way that is genre bending. While both games have received positive reviews, blending genres isn't without risk. Some players report Blue Prince is too challenging. The focus on walking and routing in Death Stranding left many players feeling bored. Not all acclaimed, successful, or great games go the route of Blue Prince and Death Stranding. Games like the Witcher 3 and Red Dead 2 are innovative in their own right. They are beautiful and tell compelling stories. They are incredibly fun to play. But they are built on improving, rather than subverting, what players expect from a genre. One of the pluses though, of genre bending experimentation, is that it can bring new players into gaming, or at least bring players to new types of games. Because of Blue Prince's board game like qualities and spatial reasoning, I've introduced it to friends and family who don't game. Despite being a little hesitant at first, they've enjoyed it. Similarly, I don't think I would have found Death Stranding 2 to be such an intensely emotional experience if it didn't jarringly combine the soothing mechanics of logistic management with a deeply disturbing world. While I doubt either Blue Prince or Death Stranding 2 will win GOTY (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which looks excellent, is currently the frontrunner), it's encouraging to see risk taking, genre bending titles receive attention and success. It's also encouraging to see such radically different games celebrated alongside one another.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Final Fantasy fans have been saying character's name wrong for over two decades
Final Fantasy fans have been left baffled after realising they've been saying one of the main characters' names incorrectly for over two decades Final Fantasy is one of the most successful video game franchises in history, boasting a staggering 16 numbered entries in the main series along with a plethora of spin-off games, films, anime, manga, and novels. Predominantly an anthology series, each main game presents a unique plot and centres on a distinct cast of characters, though several recurring elements maintain a connection between the Square Enix franchise entries. Given the sheer number of characters to remember, it's hardly surprising that even the most devoted fans have difficulty with some of them. Indeed, there's one character in particular that some Final Fantasy enthusiasts are only now realising they've been mispronouncing since his game was launched - more than two decades ago. Final Fantasy X, released in 2001, follows the protagonist Tidus as he embarks on an adventure with a summoner named Yuna and her guardians Wakka, Auron, Luna, Kimahri, and Rikku. However, at the beginning of the game, players can rename Tidus to any name they choose, meaning his default name is never spoken aloud by other characters. And now, 24 years after the release of Final Fantasy X, fans are just discovering they've been pronouncing it incorrectly. A TikTok video posted by a Final Fantasy enthusiast has revealed that Tidus' name should be pronounced "Tee-dus", despite countless fans spending over twenty years calling him "Tide-us". The content creator explained this stems from the original Japanese name meaning "sun", which clarifies why the character wields the Sun Sigil within the game. The fan said: "Did you know that the name of the lead protagonist in Final Fantasy X is pronounced 'Tee-dus'? In Katakana, it's pronounced 'Tee-da', which is Okinawan for sun. That's why he has the Sun Sigil. Because his name is Sun." However, it appears the clarification isn't quite so straightforward. The character appears in the Kingdom Hearts series, where other characters speak his name aloud, and they pronounce it in two contrasting ways. One viewer highlighted: "In Kingdom Hearts, Wakka pronounces it 'Tee-dus'. But in Kingdom Hearts II, Selphie pronounces it 'Tie-dus'." Another viewer alleged that in a video examining the 2013 remaster of Final Fantasy X, the game's creators confirmed they "never settled on an English pronunciation" of the name. Others declared they would simply refuse to stop calling him "Tide-us", as water plays such a prominent role in his narrative, connecting to the "tide" concept. They also maintain the alternative pronunciation simply "sounds better". One wrote: "I'll be deep in my cold grave before I recognise Teedus." Another stated: "I know this is true, but I choose to deny it, and no one can make me change." The discussion surrounding the correct pronunciation of Tidus' name has been reignited amidst whispers of a potential Final Fantasy X remake, following the triumph of the Final Fantasy VII remake. Although Square Enix has not officially announced a remake, speculation suggests that the game could be launched next year to mark the 25th anniversary of the original release.
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Mina The Hollower to Shinobi: Best free game demos you can play right now
If you're looking for something new as the release schedule dries up, there are a wealth of great demos you can try for free. With subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus offering a vast library of games, it's easy to forget about the bitesize demos available on stores for upcoming titles. While they perhaps aren't quite as common as they used to be, demos are the perfect way to see whether a game is worth your cash and attention – especially if you're on the fence about a particular title or genre. It might be the relatively dry summer slate, or some good fortune in the air, but there have been an abundance of great demos released over the past month. So, if you're in the market to try something new, here's some of the best free tasters up for grabs. The studio behind Shovel Knight returns with another retro-inspired throwback, albeit this time a love letter to the Game Boy Colour era. Mina The Hollower was already one of 2025's most anticipated titles, but this demo will show you why. Aside from the sumptuous visuals, the standout is the movement itself – with Mina possessing a very satisfying dig mechanic to bury under walls and catapult to far away platforms. Unlike its clear Zelda inspirations, the combat is surprisingly tough too. If you're interested, the demo is available now on Nintendo Switch but only until August 21, 2025. The full game launches across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC as well on October 31. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. This role-player from Square Enix might look reminiscent of Octopath Traveler, Bravely Default, and Live A Live with its HD-2D style, but gameplay wise it has a stronger action focus with real-time battles. As such, it's perhaps the most accessible of all – that is, if you can stomach location names like 'Philabieldia' and 'Kingdom Of Huther'. While save data from the demo will not carry over to the final version, it's nevertheless worth checking out if you've been put off by the turn-based nature of the aforementioned titles. The Adventures Of Elliot is slated to launch in 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. However, the demo is only available on Nintendo Switch 2. Ahead of its launch in September, this sci-fi action adventure takes cues from Zelda with its emphasis on unguided exploration. We played it earlier this year, and while we weren't sold on every aspect, it's still a fascinating and ambitious title which could click with those who have a particular affinity with Bloodborne or The Elder Scrolls. The limited-time demo is available across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC until August 28, ahead of the game's full launch on September 4, 2025. The return of Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi in the same year may have been an odd coincidence, but based on their quality so far, it's even more surprising how well they're both shaping up. This Shinobi reboot is from the creators behind Streets Of Rage 4, another successful rejuvenation of an old IP. Based on the demo, this might be even better. It's slick, flashy, and unlike Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, the levels have elements of Metroidvania-style exploration. The demo is available across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, ahead of its launch on August 29, 2025. If you have some spare time, why not try a mech tactical role-player series which began in 1991? Super Robot Wars has accrued a hardcore fan base over the years for its amalgamation of mechs from different anime shows, and it might just find a new audience with this next entry. More Trending The demo, which spans the entirety of the first chapter, is available across Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, ahead of the game's launch on August 28, 2025. Your progress can also be carried over to the final game. An open beta might not technically qualify as a demo in the traditional sense, but few betas have been as popular as Battlefield 6. If you missed out on last weekend's debut, you can try the second beta across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC from Thursday, August 14 at 9am BST to Sunday, August 18 at 9am BST. The second beta will include all the same maps and modes as before, with some new additions. These include one new map called Empire State, and two new modes in Rush (a staple of the series) and Squad Deathmatch. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Football Manager 26 shows off revamped engine in first trailer MORE: Average gamer in Europe spends less than £100 on gaming in a year MORE: Resident Evil Requiem will be Leon Kennedy's final game claims insider
SoraNews24
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
New One Piece video game requires you to throw real punches to win
Luffy's latest adventure is a (sonic) blast from the past. Fans of One Piece will tell you that protagonist Luffy's greatest strengths are his indomitable optimism and charismatic draw that turns not just strangers, but even one-time adversaries into true-blue friends and allies of the Straw Hat Pirates. It's impossible to deny, however, that whether they eventually become friends or not, Luffy's hero's journey also often involves him punching people really, really hard, and it's this part that the new One Piece arcade game is going to focus on. 【#ONEPIECEDAY'25速報⑬】『ONE PIECE』のアーケードゲームプロジェクト始動🥊その名も『ONE PIECE ドーンストライク』大海賊時代没入型パンチングゲームで、ロケテスト版ではドフラミンゴとカイドウと対戦可能！ 👇生配信をみる👇 — ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official (@Eiichiro_Staff) August 10, 2025 The official One Piece Twitter account has announced that One Piece Do-n Strike is currently in development. Don't bother looking for a joystick, though, because this is a game you play by throwing actual punches. So how does that work? Towards the front of the cabinet is a protrusion that pops up, shaped like a floor-mounted striking bag. After putting a coin in the machine, you slip on a boxing glove (righties and lefties are both accommodated), then, when prompted to by the on-screen text/graphics, you punch the target as hard as you can. The machine then measures how hard the impact was and converts that into a numerical value used to calculate how much damage you did to your on-screen opponent. The preview image shows space to list the results of three punches, suggesting you've got three strikes in which to topple your foe. Now, cultured gamers looking at these images are no doubt immediately thinking of Sonic Blast Man, a 1990 Japanese arcade release by developer Taito, now a subsidiary of Square Enix. Sonic Blast Man used a similar setup to One Piece Do-n Strike's , but with an American comic book-style hero punching out giant monsters, criminals, and asteroids, among other threats to humanity. ▼ Sonic Blast Man being played The history of punching games in Japanese arcades goes back even further, to Namco's Knock Down in 1981, but it, and its 1991 sequel Knock Down 90 , were a bit more like carnival games than video games, since they simply display a numeric score with no video monitor for graphics, characters, or story. ▼ Knock Down 90 (the Hajime no Ippo illustration has been added by the arcade operator, and wasn't an official part of the game's branding) Most recently, in spring of 2024 Genda GiGO Entertainment, the successor to Sega's arcade operation business, partnered with Japanese mixed martial arts promotion organization BreakingDown to produce BreakingDown Hard Puncher Arcade. The front section for the cabinet looks to be an exact match for One Piece Do-n Strike , but the newer game will have a vertically oriented monitor. As for One Piece Do-n Strike's title, don , elongated to do-n for extra emphasis here, is the Japanese onomatopoeia for a forceful impact (it's the same don that's part of the kabedon /wall pound romantic trope that appears in anime and manga). There's a bit of wordplay going on too, as the teaser image shows Donquixote Doflamingo as the player's opponent, and the game's announcement says he'll also be the available enemy in the game's upcoming arcade location test, the date for which has yet to be revealed. There's also no word as to when the game's final version will get a general release, but there are plans to live-stream the location test on YouTube here. Considering there's a permanent One Piece gym now open in Japan, maybe some of its bodybuilding members will show up at the test to test their strength. Source: Twitter/@Eiichiro_Staff via Anime News Network/Anita Tai Top image: Twitter/@Eiichiro_Staff Insert images: Twitter/@Eiichiro_Staff, Wikipedia/物売り ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Metro
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
July Nintendo Direct removed three games at the last minute claim insiders
Insiders claim there's a good reason last week's Nintendo Direct was so disappointing: it's because Nintendo cut at least three games from the line-up without telling publishers. Video game rumours have become a cottage industry in recent years, with almost no major annoucement being made without first being leaked earlier. As a result, certain sources have become known as more reliable than others, so when NatetheHate said there would be a Nintendo Direct in late July most people believed him. He was right too, although in the end it turned out to be a Partner Direct, featuring only third party games, which is not what anyone anticipated. However, he's subsequently revealed that not only did he not know it was Partner Direct but neither did the publishers involved, in an interesting insight into how the video game rumourmill works and how close Nintendo, in particular, keeps things to their chest. According to NatetheHate, third party publishers are told they're in a Nintendo Direct but not the format of the show, presumably to stop leaks. Normal Nintendo Directs, featuring first party games, usually always feature at least some third party titles, so there's no way for publishers to know what the format will be, unless Nintendo tells them. Nintendo probably tells large companies like Square Enix, who are a close ally and had three titles in the Partner Showcase, but assuming NatetheHate's source is a smaller publisher it seems they're told as little as possible. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. What's also interesting is how late in the day Nintendo seems to have made the decision about what would and wouldn't be in the Direct. This uncertainty has been common practice since the day of live reveals at E3, with publishers having multiple options that they only decide on literally at the last minute. Which is why even usually good sources can get information wrong when it comes to reveal events. The Game Business's Christopher Dring didn't participate in the initial rumours, but after the Direct he revealed that there were 'at least three games' that he was told were '100%' going to be a part of the Partner Showcase. More Trending His source was the publishers themselves, which implies the actual Direct was as big a surprise, and disappointment, to them as it was to everyone else. Dring gave no indication of what any of the games were, but many fans were disappointed that previously announced games such as Elden Ring and Final Fantasy 7 Remake were not part of the event. That doesn't guarantee they were amongst the games cut at the last minute but perhaps the bigger question is why did Nintendo remove them and when will they be revealed? With the Direct featuring so few big name titles it's hard to understand why Nintendo went through with the event at all, and didn't just postpone it to later, but then understanding Nintendo has always been near impossible, even with insider leaks… Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Games Inbox: What year will PS6 be released? MORE: Gradius Origins interview – 'This is truly a wonderful thing' MORE: Gradius Origins review – shooting the core in Salamander 3
