May 16, 2023 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
Littered throughout the many incredible titles that FromSoft is responsible for, one can find a myriad of issues. Even in what many call their best, Dark Souls 1, a newbie might find that the standard of boss difficulty employed is lacking. Or, in Dark Souls 2’s case, the game is strikingly flawed from the ground up. Dark Souls 3 might be a little too linear, while Serkiro might lack in the roleplaying department. All of this to say that, despite the quality these titles possess (yes, even Dark Souls 2’s quality), they also are riddles with flaws that might hinder the gaming experience in one way or another.
When it comes to Elden Ring, there’s a glaring flaw embedded deep within its design that is unseen to the naked eye, Youtube videos detailing various builds, and every other generic review to date: The game disrespects the player.
Even with Dark Souls 2, one could argue that the clunky controls and highly experimental gameplay mechanics were issues of poor craftsmanship and not a matter of laziness. Elden Ring has no such luxury when it comes to the excuses one can dull out: the game is well crafted on a technical level, plain and simple. Maybe it isn’t as well crafted as Dark Souls 3, but it’s fairly close, and one look at the consistency observed in its control scheme and mechanics will tell the player that, yes, the talent on deck for this game’s development is top tier.
So, then, it naturally follows that any criticisms made of the game cannot be tossed out as a “skill issue” on the part of the developers. Anything that is wrong with the game, is wrong because of a fundamental stylistic choice or, in much of Elden Ring’s case, laziness.
Let’s start with the most obvious glaring issue: the boss design. In many, many cases, the bosses in Elden Ring have HP bars the size of Europe and feature mechanics that are widely considered unfair if not outright impossible to outplay other than tanking and outhealing. The most famous of these examples can be seen with Waterfowl Dance, which is a move employed by Malenia. This move is not only next to impossible to dodge without extreme preparation (staying out of the fight altogether), but also asks the player to learn how to avoid it by either googling the correct moveset or by dying repeatedly to achieve a ungodly level of experimentation. For an experienced player, this moveset is unfair and annoying, but to a player who hasn’t even seen or beaten Malenia before, this move is downright insulting.
This problem was so bad with some bosses that FromSoft are still digging in deep trying to fix them with alterations to their numbers to help balance out the problem. All the same, at the core of Elden Ring’s difficulty is a design choice that opts for borderline impossible challenges for a blind runthrough matched with high HP bars to force the player into meta gaming and grinding out levels to achieve god-like status before undertaking the challenge.
This problem is bad enough on its own, but when the player eventually realizes that they will be fighting many of these bosses multiple times in a single playthrough, it multiplies over on top of itself. In what world is Elden Rings copy and paste template worthy of player respect? Make no mistake, copy and pasting enemies in FromSoft games is nothing new, but at least in previous titles, this design choice made sense. In Dark Souls 1, the demon bosses at the beginning of the game could be found again in literal hell. Perhaps it felt lazy seeing their assets sprawled out over this area over and over again, but at least it made sense for them to be there. In Elden Ring’s case, enemies will be found time and again in various areas regardless of lore. And this problem extends to enemies and bosses that aren’t just small fries. Godrick The Grafted, one of Elden Ring’s most iconic bosses AND a shardbearer can be found again at another instanced evergaol, albeit under a different name. The fact that Godrick himself isn’t immune to this type of asset sprawling shows just how deep into the barrel FromSoft was to meet what is dubbed the “boss quota” for the game. The boss quota simply being the number of bosses each area needs to have for advertising purposes and flesh out their empty world building.
Elden Ring sports a ton of bosses, yes, but it also repeats many of those bosses so many times that the game experience feels less like an adventure of magnitude and more like a chore of repetition. Combine that with the boss design of huge HP bars and ridiculous mechanics and what a player is left with is a ton of time wasting, which brings us to the ultimate point of this article.
Elden Ring wastes the player’s time. The game is designed around making the average player grind out levels to have reasonable access to victory. The game’s bosses are designed around the player having to sacrifice time in experimenting not with a huge number of possible solutions, but with a huge number of wrong answers and a minor number of correct ones. The game also needlessly wastes the players time with copy and pasted bosses to flesh out an otherwise empty and soulless world, excuse the pun. Again, these are aspects of the game that simply waste the player’s time, or, in other words, disrespect the player base as a whole.
In surprising fashion, the game has been well received. There’s no argument to be made on that front: Commercially, Elden Ring is a massive success. That said, there’s every reason to believe that the game simply won’t age well once people manage to get a good look at it and, subsequently, boil it down to its essence. Almost everything that can be said about the game that’s positive (and there are positives) are found on the surface level. Deeper digging into the game’s design leads a player to find that, ultimately, Elden Ring is not only problematically designed from a gameplay perspective, but also only feels as big as it does because it repeats itself so many times over.
Poor balancing, repeated content, unfair design, and a huge amount of time spent simply traversing an empty (and yet somehow bloated) world, Elden Ring only delivers on one thing consistently: wasting the player’s time. That cannot be said for any other FromSoftware title since the creation of Dark Souls 1 and, even when faced against the disaster that was Dark Souls 2, Elden Ring manages to arguably become the worst game FromSoftware has put out in their Souls-Like lineup.
Guest Author: Everett Zarnick
Apr 11, 2023 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
If you’ve got it then flaunt it, right? When you’re gaming, it’s easy to really feel good about yourself when you’re winning. You’re in your element and all of your skills are on point, so you start to get a little cocky about it. Who hasn’t been there before? It’s so much fun to tease your friends when you’re beating them at a game. Maybe you start to lose, so they start taunting you right back. However, when you’re playing with someone you don’t know, is it good to taunt?
It Can Distract Your Opponent
I’ve had my fair share of taunting while playing Smash Bros. I’m usually a “They started it” kind of person. I won’t start tea-bagging unless they do. But what does taunting really achieve? When it’s done to me, I definitely get angry. I can lose focus and feel bad about myself. When I taunt, I can see that it throws some players off of their game. They get more offensive and open, not defensive. Taunting can be a useful mind game that even pro boxers or MMA fighters use before matches. In that way, gaming is even more like a sport. You not only have to overcome your opponent, but also your own mind.
It Might Just Be Unsportsmanlike
In some games, you can get reported for bullying, and taunting falls under that umbrella. In games where you can communicate with players, the taunting can get pretty heated. Cursing, insults, and even threats can come out. If it gets to the point where you’re going overboard, you might have to take a step back. Taunting might be a tool to express your anger or even an unhealthy outlet that can signify some abusive or psychological problems. Try to practice surrounding yourself with positive energy. It’s not a game of words; it’s about skill.
It Should be Fun
In the end, taunting can be fun, but you have to be a good sport. I’ve played against gamers who taunt quite frequently. I’ve even taunted right back after finally defeating them, but then I’m surprised to receive a friend request from them. Even saying “Good game” can keep the mood light. Don’t take yourself too seriously when you game. Just focus on doing your best.
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
Mar 27, 2023 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
By Gabrielle Muniz
We all want to be the very best. Here are five ways for you to improve as a gamer.
1. Meditation
Gaming can be pretty stressful. There can also be a lot going on, which adds to the pressure and can make it hard to focus and stay calm. By meditating, you can learn tools that will relax your mind and body. Even yoga can relax both the mind and body to bring out the best responses. With some relaxation techniques, you can make a more informed and rational decision while gaming.
2. Eat Healthy
You may not think it, but gaming can take a toll on the body. Since you’re seated for an extended period of time and holding a controller, you’re more likely to develop arthritis and other body ailments. By eating certain fruits and vegetables every day, you’ll be able to get the nutrients that your joints need to stay strong. Don’t just go for the chips.
3. Play Puzzles
It’s essential to keep your mind sharp as a gamer, especially as we get older. What else keeps the mind sharp? Puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, and even Tetris can improve multiple aspects of your brain, such as your short-term memory. As a result, your reaction time can improve while you’re gaming.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Watch Playthroughs
Once you think you’re the best, you stop learning. Once you stop learning, you stop having fun. By opening yourself up to finding tips, tricks, online playthroughs, and tutorials, you may discover things you’ve never known about your favorite game. Developers take years to come up with your favorite games, so it could take years for a player to master them.
5. Listen to Music
This works especially well for anxious gamers and…well, me. If you find yourself getting a sensory overload or becoming too anxious about your game, then try muting your television and putting on your favorite song. Music can help your brain to focus, can improve your mood, and can help you relax. Try out different types of music to see what you respond to the best.
No matter what we’re playing, gaming is just like any other sport. You have to keep training to keep your skills. With these tips, you can find out just how good you can be. Try to reach your maximum potential!
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
Mar 13, 2023 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
Nintendo is spoiling us with four waves of DLC (downloadable content) for Mario Kart 8: Deluxe. They’ve included new tracks, old tracks, and some classic tracks with new twists! Here are five must-see tracks that will have all Mario Kart fans driving for hours.
1. Maple Treeway (Mario Kart: Wii on Nintendo Wii)
You can get some serious height in this giant forest. Watch out for Wigglers, some sharp turns, and piles of leaves with hidden banana peels! I absolutely love the music to this track. It’s so lively and really embodies the autumn season. There is some great scenery, too, as you drive through falling leaves and elaborate tree houses.
2. Daisy Cruiser (Mario Kart: Double Dash on Nintendo GameCube)
It’s one of the more challenging and exciting levels of this game. This course lets you drive around on Daisy’s large cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. Look out for the pool on the deck, some sliding tables in the dining area, and a surprise trap door that can give you a great shortcut through the engine room.
3. Merry Mountain (Mario Kart Tour on Android and iPhone)
If you love the holiday spirit, then this level is the ultimate playground for you. This is one of the best looking levels in the game, as you race through an ornately decorated Christmas village. There are lights, mountains of presents, and even a toad driving a holiday train in the air! This would go great with a December release for the third wave of DLC: just in time for the holidays!
4. Wario Colosseum (Mario Kart: Double Dash on Nintendo GameCube)
This is another hidden gem of a level. As you race through Wario’s Colosseum, you only get two laps. However, these laps are filled with long, winding turns that can really be hit or miss for even the most experienced gamers. Make every drift count!
As we anxiously await the next wave of DLC, it’s clear that Nintendo has some amazing courses to choose from. They can surprise us with some all-new tracks, but the courses on this list are just too good to forget. Stay ready for anything, as the 3rd wave of DLC will dash up before we know it!
Feb 21, 2023 | Gaming and Your Body, The Whole Gamer
With the esports landscape evolving and increasingly more game developers appealing to the competitive aspect of video games, it feels almost overwhelming to pick a new game to focus on. At the same time, one thing that can be said for certain about the rise in esports is that there’s a danger of gaming-related injuries. With that in mind, we wanted to put together a little cheat sheet of injuries for the different types of competitive games out there.
Whether it be a fast-paced shooter or a methodical card game, many esports have some amount of risk of injury associated with them, so let’s break them down!
Shooters (Battle Royales, FPS, etc.)
Shooters tend to be the most problematic of the genres for injuries. They focus on a lot of fine motor skills and general movement of the arm and wrist. As such, some professionals in these esports, such as Call of Duty’s ZooMaa, have been forced to retire due to wrist and hand injuries. These injuries can be caused by actions such as excessive flicking motions and overuse due to long hours.
We recommend preventing these injuries by wearing equipment such as arm braces and wrist guards which can provide support and relief. We also recommend taking breaks when possible and resting your arms and wrists during gaming sessions.
Strategy Games (TCGs, RTSs, etc.)
Strategy games, while not very physically intensive, do require a lot of focus and attentiveness. Card games like MTG: Arena or Yu-Gi-Oh rely heavily on one’s ability to keep track of what cards you and your opponent have played. They may also require you to read small card text from time to time, which can lead to eye strain if you are trying to climb the ranked ladder or are practicing for long hours. Other strategy games may not require as much attention to fine detail but will require more APM (Actions Per Minute). Games like Starcraft involve additional clicks and button presses, which can definitely wear harder on the joints in your hand.
For most strategy games, we recommend a set of blue light glasses to lessen the amount of strain on your eyes and compression gloves to lower the strain on the joints in your hands and fingers.
Sports Games
While sports games may not dominate esports, the competitive scene is still very much alive and well. These games are played on controllers in the highest-skill division. As such, a lot of injuries that occur from playing sports games tend to be in the wrists, fingers, and thumbs.
Because of this, we recommend wearing compression gloves during practice times and less strenuous gaming sessions.
MOBAs
MOBAs are somewhere in between both Shooters and Strategy games because they rely on mouse movement and quick, precise inputs. Consequently, the number of injuries you may encounter when main gaming a MOBA can vary greatly depending on your playstyle and champion pool. Many professional League of Legends players such as Cloud9’s Hai and Royal Never Give Up’s Uzi have cited various health concerns as the reasons for their retirement as a result of playing LoL in a professional capacity. Whether you play a high APM character or a more methodical one, injuries are bound to occur if you keep grinding out a MOBA.
We believe it is best to play it by ear and seek a remedy for whatever is stifling your play the most. Blue light glasses for your eyes, compression gloves, and wrist guards for your wrist and hands, and compression sleeves for your elbows are all good preventive measures for whatever injury you may feel coming on.
We hope this helps you stay safe in whichever genre you choose to play next!
Guest Author: Kyle Nakasaka
Jan 17, 2023 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
With all of the hype that surrounded Super Mario Odyssey back in 2017, it was sure to be the greatest Nintendo platform game yet. As much as Odyssey impressed many, I was left comparing it to an earlier platform game: Super Mario Galaxy. Released ten years prior to Odyssey, Galaxy had quickly become a classic in the series. Here are some reasons why Galaxy is still the definitive Mario game.
Engaging Story and Characters
In Odyssey Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach, plans to marry her, and wreaks havoc in other kingdoms. It’s a harmless and fun story, but the stakes aren’t as high as with Galaxy. Galaxy’s story involves Bowser stealing stars from the Comet Observatory, the home for Rosalina and the Lumas. As you collect the stars for the Observatory, you learn more about Rosalina and the Lumas through storybook renderings. Throughout, you really want to help such loveable and memorable characters. Also, Bowser is fierce, as he creates a Galaxy Reactor to rule the galaxy in the center of the universe. It’s his most dangerous plan yet.
Enchanting Music
Galaxy was the first Mario game to feature an orchestral sound, giving it a grand and cinematic feel. Odyssey follows suit, but I honestly cannot recall many memorable tunes from it. Fossil Falls comes close, and “Jump Up, Super Star!” is certainly a lively number, but Galaxy‘s score is more captivating. The main theme, the theme for the Comet Observatory, and the Space Junk Galaxy are just a few that stand out. Personally, Koji Kondo, a composer of both games, just couldn’t present the same kind of magic in Odyssey that he did so successfully in Galaxy.
“Luigi time!”
Once you have collected all 121 stars in Galaxy, you get the chance to play through the game once again as Luigi. In Super Luigi Galaxy, you can move faster, jump higher, and have an overall change in game play. In Odyssey, Luigi really gets the short end of the stick, as he hosts an online mini game, Balloon World, where you must find hidden balloons in a certain amount of time. The mini game is just fine, but no Luigi Odyssey? Super Mario Galaxy is a masterpiece in gaming. The puzzles, the music, and the story all work seamlessly to create an incredible experience. However, both Odyssey and Galaxy will go down in gaming history as some of Mario’s greatest adventures yet.
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
