Priye

Yes, the Splinter Cell series is really great in how it offers players to have different approaches for completing a mission. And, in that regard especially, Blacklist really did well. I've always found myself naturally leaning towards the 'Panther' playstyle. Also, can totally relate with the liking for the old HUD. The one thing I remember kind-of missing in newer titles, like Blacklist, was the split-jump that Fisher used to do in narrow corridors in past games. (BTW, props to you for doing SC missions on the hardest difficulty!)

I think the beat-em-up and shooter games of the late '80s and early '90s, such as Double Dragon II, Contra Force, and Mighty Final Fight, are big reasons I got deep into gaming. Later games, including the GTA 3D era titles, pulled me even deeper.

But, if I have to pick one for having the deepest impact, it would be either What Remains Of Edith Finch or Detroit: Become Human. While the former taught me how modern-day games did not necessarily need to have several hours of gameplay to offer memorable experiences that stay with the player for a very long time, the latter showed me how it feels to have true freedom in a game through its intricately branched narrative and how stories that take shape based on the player's own choices can overwhelm them with emotions at each major turning point.

Cool! I too feel there's a good possibility GTA VI can get delayed again. But, I think we can't really compare the build-up to its launch to Cyberpunk 2077's too much. The hype around CP2077 was more because of what it promised (and QUITE a bit because of Keanu Reeves, in the final year leading up to its launch), which happened only after its reveal. On the other hand, the hype for GTA VI—or rather just a new GTA—existed before such a project was even confirmed. Simply put, I think the big hype around CP2077 was there because people wanted to play a game like that, and the big hype around GTA VI is there because people want to play exactly that—not anything that is similar but just it, the new GTA.

I feel pretty confident about GTA VI doing great commercially again and probably setting new sales records in the process, but I'm a bit unsure about how it's going to fare critically because of the loss of the creative powerhouse that Dan Houser is.

Absolutely true! Thanks to Marvel's superheroes galore, NetEase is not running out of inspiration for new roster additions anytime soon. Maybe, some years down the line, it could be interesting to see them shake things up a bit and ship an original hero to test the waters.

Yeah, I'm afraid that does appear to be the likely scenario right now. Besides, Cyberpunk 2077's poor launch was mostly down to issues on PS4 and Xbox One, whereas the PC version was well-received. But, MindsEye has been panned across all platforms and for more reasons than just technical issues.

Hopefully, Build a Rocket Boy recovers from this and comes back stronger with something much more polished.