The latest GameCentral letters page has sparked a fiery debate among nostalgic gamers, with one central question dividing opinion: was Sega's short-lived Dreamcast actually a better console than the legendary PlayStation 2?
The Retro Console Wars Reignite
In a week dominated by talk of next-generation hardware, one reader, Grackle, has shifted the focus backwards, declaring the era from PlayStation 2 to Xbox 360 as the pinnacle of gaming. They argue that by the PlayStation 4 era, development costs had ballooned and the diversity of big-budget genres had shrunk. The PlayStation 2, they recall, was a wild west of creativity where any company could come up with practically anything.
However, the reader's allegiance is torn. They credit the Dreamcast with being the first console to deliver truly good 3D graphics, moving beyond the compromises of the original PlayStation. Yet, its brief lifespan and arcade-heavy library give them pause. If the Dreamcast had boasted more role-playing games, the decision would be easy, but its lack of them leaves the ultimate verdict uncertain.
Outrage Over Total War's Teaser & A Hit New Console
Elsewhere in the inbox, frustration is directed at Creative Assembly and Sega. Reader Lieve expresses genuine shock at a recent Total War livestream, where the much-anticipated reveal for the second game was merely an instruction to tune into The Game Awards the following week. They describe it as a purposeful waste of viewers' time, noting even the presenter seemed embarrassed. GameCentral's editors concur, calling the move absolutely outrageous.
Another hot topic is the unexpected success of the NEX Playground in the United States, a new motion-sensing console that has reportedly been outselling established rivals. Reader Trepsils is sceptical of its single-camera technology and AI-powered marketing claims, comparing it unfavourably to older tech like Kinect. However, they see its success as a stark lesson to Sony and Microsoft, arguing both have foolishly ignored the family market where low price and kid-friendly games are king.
From Missed Reviews to Gaming Setups
The inbox also features more personal tales from the gaming community. Ben writes in with festive cheer to share the joy of introducing his children to the indie game Tricky Towers on his new PlayStation 5, creating a rare moment of shared fun away from Roblox. His search for an old GameCentral review of the 2016 title came up empty, prompting the team to admit they had never even heard of it.
Simundo discusses the eternal battle between couch and desk, detailing their recent purchase of a Samsung S90D OLED TV. Despite the stunning image quality, they find they cannot game comfortably slouched on a sofa, preferring an upright position close to a monitor. All their consoles are therefore being moved back to a 27-inch screen, with a potential future upgrade to a 32-inch monitor on the cards.
Other letters celebrate the 10th anniversary of the beloved roguelike Nuclear Throne, share a handy app for Gran Turismo 7 VR players called Victory, and ponder the dual-format future of gaming with the impending Switch 2. The week's correspondence closes with brief musings on the lack of GTA 6 news and the doomed legacy of Legacy of Kain.
GameCentral's Inbox is updated every weekday morning, with readers' letters used on merit and may be edited for length. You can join the discussion by emailing gamecentral@metro.co.uk.
