While writing my favorable review of Screamer, I wanted to remind myself of Milestone’s original Screamer, released in 1995.
I was transported back to the days of classic arcade racers like Cruis’n World, California Speed, Daytona USA, Sega Rally, San Francisco Rush, Ridge Racer, and so many others. I literally felt this tingling in my brain, as if I was liberated from the harsh commercialization of the video game industry. I was reminded how simple games were—and thought about how unvarnished they should be in this trying landscape.
Not to wax poetic, but it was simpler in video games 30 years ago. The industry wasn’t nearly as capitalistic. If it was, I couldn’t tell. Now, capitalism is unavoidable. It’s in the FOMO battle passes, games released as minimum viable products, pay-to-win schemes, restrictive DRM, desperate acquisitions, destructive layoffs, and the unwarranted push for AI. This isn’t what I grew up with.
I should make more time to play games that aren’t part of the monoculture. It’s to the point where it feels like an act of resistance, but it’s truly refreshing to reconnect with the history of this industry and be reminded of a better time in video games.
By playing older games, we glimpse a hopeful world where we can restore the distinctive parts of the industry we’ve lost. So, until the industry is healthy again, I’m going to keep reminding myself.
Check out these reads
Reviews
Crimson Desert launched to what I think is a healthy mix of reactions from critics. Some think it's extraordinary, others aren't impressed. Ron Burke and Joe Morgan landed on high praise end of the spectrum. Its received our Editor's Choice Award, and they believe it is a bona fide contender for RPG of the year. Peep their review!
Ron Burke
David Burdette got a chance to look at GreedFall: The Dying World and came away conflicted. He loves the story, the lore, the universe; but he does not like the combat and feels the skill tree system is bloated.
David Burdette
Impressions
It's a good thing Sony doesn't own Kojima Productions. They could have reversed releasing Death Stranding 2 on PC. Thankfully, that's not a reality. Death Stranding 2 came to PC and David Flynn replayed it. He loves the port.
David Flynn
That's it for this week. The Crimson Desert review alone will keep you occupied for a while. I'll be back next week. Hopefully, we get some good news around the industry, yeah?
Catch you next week,
-ANTHONY SHELTON
