The storm, included heavy rain, thunder and frequent lightning, slowly headed eastwards throughout the evening.

The Met Office placed the area under a yellow weather warning for heavy showers and thunderstorms for Sunday, August 30, which concluded at midnight.

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At around 8pm, the storm hit York moving steadily east with frequent lightning, thunder and heavy rain.

Christopher H Drinkwater’s photo of the storm (Image: Christopher H Drinkwater’)

One reader said the horizon was ‘flashing and flickering for almost four hours’.

Another described it as ‘a spectacular show all over’.

Other comments added: “We were in Whitby and it was beautiful weather all day but drove home in this thunderstorm! We had just stopped to charge the car up when we heard the biggest crack of thunder we’ve ever heard.”

A amazing photo of the lightning by Estelle Drye (Image: Estelle Drye)

Some people commented that they were ‘terrified’ and ‘petrified’ by the storm, while one said: ‘the power of nature can be both destructive and awesome at the same time.’

The Met Office forecast for today (Tuesday) is for dry and settled across much of England and Wales, with variable amounts of cloud. Cloudier elsewhere, with a band of rain affecting Scotland, which will sink southwards during the day.

Kelly Pennock captured this image (Image: Kelly Pennock)

The outlook for Wednesday to Friday, remains changeable with showers or longer spells of rain for most, although some drier and brighter spells also developing. Temperatures near normal for early September, although often mild by night.

Eilidh Bell was last seen around 1am on Friday, August 28 on Meadowburn Place in Campbeltown and was reported missing from her home on Sunday

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A body has been discovered during the search for a missing woman in Campbeltown. Eilidh Bell was last spotted at approximately 1am on Friday, August 28 on Meadowburn Place in the town and was reported as missing from her residence on Sunday.

Police Scotland initiated an urgent hunt for the

25-year-old whose vanishing was described as “out of character” as worries mounted over her wellbeing. The force issued a public appeal alongside a description in an effort to locate her.

Officers have now tragically confirmed that a woman’s body was discovered in an area close to Kilkerran Road on Monday, August 31. Formal identification is yet to take place but Eilidh’s family has been notified.

They have requested that their privacy be respected. The death is being treated as unexplained but investigations continue.

A report will be forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal in due course, reports the Daily Record.

Heartfelt tributes have already been paid to Eilidh from devastated loved ones online. Morgan Irwin penned: “A sunshine in human form the most beautiful girl inside out. Sending so much love to Jenny, Eilidh’s family and all those close to her! A sad day.”

Linda Robertson scribed: “RIP Eilidh, a beautiful girl who was always smiling,” while Rhiannan Brown wrote: “So sad, such a beautiful girl taken too soon! Rest easy Eilidh, childhood memories to cherish forever”.

Keira Mehigan added: “Absolutely devastated, she was the best girl! Sending my love to all her family.”

The development follows heartfelt appeals made by Eilidh’s loved ones on social media. Her mother, Jenny Bell, posted on Facebook: “We are really worried about her and have been to the police to report her missing… we just want to know she is ok. It is very out of character for Eilidh not to be in touch with any of her friends or family.”

Eilidh’s aunt, Laura McEwan, also took to Facebook to implore the public for assistance, writing: “She’s a friend to so many in so many places. Please, I’m begging you to keep sharing. She is adored and loved by her family – she would never have missed her wee sister’s birthday… God, you’re too precious.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed: “On Monday, 31 August, 2026, the body of a woman was found in an area near Kilkerran Road.

“Formal identification has not yet taken place, however the family of Eilidh Bell, who was previously reported missing, is aware. They have asked for their privacy to be respected.

“The death is being treated as unexplained but enquiries are ongoing. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”

The action marks a “sharp escalation of the industrial dispute” and follows three weeks of strikes

The supply of some leading UK brands including Fridge Raiders and Richmond Sausages could be disrupted due to strike action at a Co Fermanagh factory, a union has said.

Unite which represents approximately 130 workers employed by Pilgrims Europe at its Enniskillen production facility has announced it will begin all out (continuous) strike action beginning at 6.30am on Wednesday, September 2. The union said the action marks a “sharp escalation of the industrial dispute” and follows three weeks of strikes.

The site produces a range of leading UK and Irish food brands including Fridge Raiders, Richmond Sausages, Mr Brains Pork Faggots, Denny sausages (Republic of Ireland), Rollover sausages (sold at football grounds) and vegan sausages.

Fridge Raiders are one of the most successful Pilgrims products and are targeted at lunchboxes and for younger consumers.

Unite said workers at the factory are seeking a decent pay increase and “an end to the current regime where morning shift workers are the only shift workers not getting fully paid breaks.”

The union added: “The lowest paid workers receive an hourly rate of £12.82 – only eleven pence above the minimum wage. Pilgrims Europe’s latest reported after-tax profit was £128 million.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Pilgrims is a hugely profitable company making massive profits while its workers earn just pennies above the bare legal minimum. It can easily make its workers a fair offer but is choosing not to.

“Our members are determined to win an improved deal – they have the total support of Unite for as long as it takes to achieve that.”

Unite regional officer Greg O’Kane said: “Management intransigence has left workers with no alternative but to escalate the strike. Strikes have already heavily impacted production and stocks.

“Pilgrims’ management needs to act now to end this dispute and avoid the risk of empty shelves just when schools are returning and demand for these products surges.”

Pilgrim’s Europe has been contacted for comment.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The seven-minute test is part of a national health initiative to improve early detection of cardiovascular risk, aiming to reduce deaths from heart disease and stroke.

NHS England has announced that the pin-prick test will be piloted at around 100 pharmacies across England.

It will be available to eligible patients aged 40 to 84 who are not pregnant and have not had a blood test in the past year.

The tests hope to reduce heart disease and stroke deaths. (Image: Getty)

Free cholesterol checks across England

David Webb, chief pharmaceutical officer for England, said: “Your local pharmacy can be a vital first line of defence against serious illness.

“By making it easier for people to get a quick and convenient cholesterol health check on their local high street, we can spot ticking time bombs earlier, helping people take action, and prevent heart attacks and strokes before they happen.

“This is the latest in a series of initiatives involving pharmacies in delivering care previously only offered in GP surgeries as part of the 10-Year Health Plan to bring care closer to where people live.”

Patients will also be offered a blood pressure check, and will receive a copy of their results by email.

The pilot follows a north London scheme run by Barts Health NHS Trust in collaboration with UCLPartners and HEART UK.

Between January 2025 and March 2026, 2,493 patients were tested at 61 community pharmacies.

Of those, 19 per cent were found to need medication, and 88 people began statin treatment.

Dr Rani Khatib, NHS England’s national specialty advisor for cardiovascular disease prevention, said: “Everyone should strive to be aware of the most common risk factors including high cholesterol and blood pressure and ‘know their numbers.’

“This initiative will help people manage their risk factors earlier and reduce their risk of having heart attacks or strokes.”

Dr Sotiris Antoniou, divisional director for clinical services at Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “This national programme builds on our experience of developing a robust, quality-assured model for point-of-care testing in community pharmacy.

“By scaling this approach across England, we can support pharmacists to identify cardiovascular risk earlier and, importantly, act on the results through timely advice and treatment.

“This has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities, particularly in communities where the burden of cardiovascular disease is greatest.”

Chris Laing, chief executive of UCLPartners, said: “We’re committed to helping proven innovations reach and benefit more patients so it’s great to see this initiative go from north London to pharmacies across England.

“Our evidence showed that one in five people tested in north London were found to be at high risk of heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years.

“By detecting risk earlier, pharmacies were able to offer lifestyle advice or refer people to a GP for treatment sooner – benefits that can now be replicated for people across England.”

Ms McGovern said: “This programme is exactly the type of innovation we want to see across the NHS.

“By making it possible to get a cholesterol check in just seven minutes at a local pharmacy, we’re making it easier for people to spot potential problems earlier and take action to protect their health.

“Early detection can help prevent serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, helping people stay healthier for longer while reducing pressure on NHS services.”

The pilot will begin this autumn and run until spring 2027.

Will you be getting a free cholesterol test when they are available? Let us know in the comments. 

Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) was recently dumped by Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) in Coronation Street, and he is already on the rebound.

Sarah has confessed to the murder of Theo Silverton and is currently awaiting trial behind bars.

Unfortunately, this put Kit in a difficult position professionally, given that he is a detective. This was the reason Sarah gave for ending their relationship, as she was worried that he would resent her for harming his career prospects in the long run.

Kit was understandably gutted to have been dumped, but actor Jacob Roberts pointed out that he needs to move on.

‘I think because it’s been going on for a while and he knew that he was always second choice, his ego has been damaged. He still tries, but the more he tries to help Sarah, the less he’s going to help himself and it’s going to affect his career.

‘So I think he’s thinking that it’s maybe too much now, because he’s done all he can.’

This week, Kit is set to go on a date with Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown), which causes a stir with Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon), who loses her temper when she sees them together in the Bistro.

She’s not the only one to try to persuade Kit to rethink his choice of date, as Shona Platt (Julia Goulding) later warns him that Jodie is bad news and he should steer clear.

It seems that Kit is set to take their advice to heart, as next week Jodie receives a voice message from him explaining that he doesn’t want to see her again.

The message comes after Kit wakes up on the sofa as a mystery woman scuttles past him and out of the door.

As he looks at a photo of him and Sarah, he is awash with guilt.

‘Technically, Sarah let him go, so Kit hasn’t cheated,’ Jacob defended. ‘Obviously it’s still raw.’

Having been ditched by Kit, Jodie masks her anger as she slips out of the house before letting herself into Sarah’s flat to snoop around.

It is there that she listens in on a hushed conversation between Kit and Bethany, and is floored by what she hears.

Could Kit have found the guilt too hard to bear and confessed to his night of passion? And what will Jodie do with the knowledge if he has?

MORE: Sally Dynevor supporting Jacob Roberts amid Coronation Street breast cancer storyline for Kit

MORE: Coronation Street cancer story for Kit is really polarising everyone

MORE: Kit rocked by Coronation Street death as terrifying news follows in new spoiler video

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 19:54 BST, 31 August 2026 | Updated: 02:46 BST, 1 September 2026

A British activist who was reportedly kidnapped by Israeli settlers and assaulted in the West Bank at the weekend is now set to be deported. 

Finn Joughin was moved into police custody following the ordeal in the southern West Bank village of Umm al-Khair on Saturday. 

The 22-year-old was engaging in protective presence, a tactic used to deter Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, his lawyer, Inbar Shaked Vardi said.  

Mr Joughin’s lawyer said that children from Israeli settler families had entered the village’s sports centre and attempted to break down fences built to protect Palestinians from attacks. 

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‘Finn only stood there holding on to the fence in an attempt to stop the break-in; at that point settlers began yelling at him accusations in Hebrew that he did not understand,’ Ms Vardi said.

‘Settlers started accusing him of sexually harassing one of the children which is not something that happened,’ she said, before armed settlers took Mr Joughin to the Carmel settlement by force.

Ms Vardi continued: ‘He was put in a headlock and his hands were tied behind his back and he was forced to sit on the floor in the shed for 30 minutes while settlers filmed humiliating videos that they later posted.’

The lawyer added that the kidnapping was ‘a violation of both his right to privacy and his right to a good name’.

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Finn Joughin was taken into custody by Israeli settlers on Saturday in the village of Umm al-Kheir in the West Bank

The 22-year-old British activist pictured wearing a brown t-shirt and shorts sitting on the floor

Israeli police were then called to the settlement where Mr Joughin was arrested before officers ‘interrogated him under the sole suspicion of assault’.

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While awaiting a hearing at Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court on August 30, police said that Mr Joughin would be moved to Israel’s immigration authority and then to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

Israeli authorities decided to deport the Briton after a pre-deportation hearing on the same day, Ms Vardi said.

Mr Joughin’s flight back to the UK was scheduled for around midday GMT on August 31.

In a statement, Israeli police said officers arrested a ‘foreign national who disturbed public order’ near the Carmel settlement.

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‘A complaint was also filed against him on suspicion of assaulting a minor and other suspected offences,’ it added.

‘After sufficient evidentiary basis was established regarding his actions, the investigation materials were transferred last night to the Population and Immigration Authority for a hearing and a decision regarding his removal from Israel.’

Sid and Bassett Siddiqui have spoken ahead of the new series of Channel 4’s Gogglebox

Gogglebox stars Sid and Bassett Siddiqui have said the programme is a “true reflection of a multicultural society” as they opened up about being part of the show, 13 years after making their debut.

The hit Channel 4 show, which takes audiences into living rooms across the country to watch everyday families and households react to what is on television, first aired in 2013.

This week, Gogglebox will return for its 28th series and see some familiar faces, including the Siddiquis, one of the show’s original households, back casting their views on the latest TV programmes and big news moments getting people talking that week.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Ahead of the new series, Bassett and his dad, Sid Siddiqui, reflected on the past 13 years and why they believe it continues to resonate with audiences. Speaking to the Press Association, Bassett said: “Going back to the idea of connection, I think that’s what it’s really about.

“We’re just everyday people, all the different families in this cross-section of the country, and they’ve all got their different opinions and attitudes towards different things that are happening in the world of television and media and politics.

“So, it does feel like when you do have a proper conversation with someone who’s a fan of the show who knows you, it is like having a chat with old friends because they almost have a sense of what you’re like, what your mindset, what your character is, and you can have some really lovely conversations.”

He added: “All the different families bring that for their different people that resonate with them as well, which I think is what makes it such a lovely show.”

Bassett also said he was “super” proud of being part of the show, which he said acts as a “time capsule of all the things that are happening in the world”.

He shared: “The nice side, the happy side, the levity side, the silliness of it, but also those really important moments as well, like … Covid, Donald Trump, Brexit. All of those things that we bottled and just been those first reactors to it. I think that’s something that I’m super-duper proud to have been a part of this time capsule.”

He went on to describe the experience of filming episodes as “lots and lots of fun”. with his father, Sid, adding that it has been “an amazing journey”.

Sid said: “Starting from having no connection with the media or TV world to where we are now, and we still feel, or I still think that we are the same people, but we do have enough knowledge now to understand all of that. One unique thing about Gogglebox is it’s a true reflection of a multicultural society, which is amazing.”

He added: “When you meet people in events and stuff like, and you meet all different nationalities, colours, shapes, and they all tend to agree with this thing that it’s amazing what you do. So, it’s fantastic.”

Gogglebox will return to screens on Friday, September 4 at 9pm

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Malaysia (AP) — It’s that time of year when the living make room for the dead. Malaysia’s Hungry Ghost Festival is held during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which this year began in mid-August.

“It is centered around the worship of Da Shi Ye, also known as the Guardian God of Ghosts, and has become one of the major traditional Chinese religious celebrations in Bukit Mertajam,” said Lee Kim Fong, general affairs coordinator for the event.

The city is in Malaysia’s northern state of Penang, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur.

“It dates back to 1888, when there was a serious plague in Bukit Mertajam,” Lee said. “After that, our ancestors began worshipping Da Shi Ye.”

For 15 days, devotees pray and make offerings before a towering paper-and-bamboo effigy of Da Shi Ye. The celebration culminates in the ceremonial burning of the effigy, symbolically sending the deity back to the spirit world.

Lee estimated that more than 10,000 people attended the burning ceremony this year, with crowds sometimes reaching 20,000.

“The main purpose is to look after wandering spirits, especially spirits who have no one to worship or make offerings to them,” Lee said. “Some may have died in accidents or may have no family members to pray for them.”

Similar celebrations are held in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Devotees travel to Bukit Mertajam from across Malaysia as well as Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

A towering effigy stands at the center of the celebration

The Da Shi Ye effigy in Bukit Mertajam is traditionally made about five centimeters (two inches) taller each year. In 2026, it reached 8.9 meters (about 29 feet).

Ng Chi Wong, 69, has spent more than four decades crafting the figures. He said completing the towering effigy takes about a month and a half, with a team of seven or eight people working on it.

“We have the measurements and a general idea of the structure, but there are no formal drawings,” Ng said. “Most of the design and construction details are already in our minds.”

The artisans begin with the head, the part that requires the most work, before building the main frame and shaping the body. The outer layers are then added and painted.

Ng said that the process has undergone some small improvements over time. Yet the craft requires more than technical skill.

“You also need to understand the tradition and the beliefs behind it,” he said.

The festival honors spirits with no one to remember them

Lim Han Cong, a University of Malaya master’s graduate in Chinese studies, described the Hungry Ghost Festival as a counterpart to another traditional Chinese observance: Qingming, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, when families honor their ancestors at their graves.

While Qingming focuses primarily on one’s own ancestors, the Hungry Ghost Festival extends offerings to wandering spirits and the unclaimed dead. “This tradition reflects a synthesis of Buddhist, Taoist and Chinese folk religious beliefs,” Lim said.

In Taoist ceremonies during the festival, priests recite sacred scriptures and perform rites to help the deceased find peace and salvation. Such practices are intended to provide comfort, nourishment and liberation to those who have no descendants to care for them.

“At its core, the Ghost Festival expresses the belief that the living and the dead remain connected through enduring moral and emotional bonds,” Lim said. “The living, therefore, have a responsibility to honor, support and help the deceased attain peace.”

An old tradition finds new roles in Malaysia

Offerings and rituals like those held in Bukit Mertajam eventually took on a broader community role. Starting in the 1970s, Malaysian Chinese celebrations incorporated charitable activities such as auctions of blessed offerings and fundraising campaigns for schools.

“As a result, the Ghost Festival in Malaysia has evolved beyond a festival devoted solely to honoring the dead,” Lim said. “It has also become an important platform for strengthening community solidarity.”

That broader role is also evident in Bukit Mertajam. Money raised through fundraising efforts helps the organizing committee provide assistance to people with medical needs and support Chinese-language education.

Alongside that community work, organizers are looking for new ways to broaden access to the tradition. Participation is no longer limited to those who can make it to Bukit Mertajam.

“We introduced online worship for devotees who are overseas or unable to return,” Lee said. “So they can still take part in the prayers and make offerings.”

A professional team documented the celebration from Aug. 14 through Aug. 29. Organizers plan to upload the footage to Facebook so people around the world can see the Da Shi Ye festival in Penang.

“This is a Chinese tradition that has been passed down for more than a hundred years,” Lee said. “As descendants of the Chinese community, we have a responsibility to preserve it.”

___

Hernández reported from Beijing. AP video journalist Syawalludin Zain contributed to this report.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Police, paramedics and the air ambulance were called to Britannia Place around 5pm today (Monday, August 31).

Cleveland Police said officers were called to reports a man had been assaulted, and on arrival found him with knife wounds.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital where he remains. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Picture shared on social media show a cordon in place as an investigation gets underway.

A force spokesperson said: “Officers are at the scene of an incident in the Doormanstown area after responding to reports that a man had been assaulted.

“The incident happened shortly before 5pm in Britannia Place.

“Upon arrival, officers discovered a man who had been wounded with a knife. He was treated at the scene and subsequently transferred to hospital, where treatment is continuing. His injuries are not currently believed to be life threatening.

“Officers remain at the scene conducting enquires to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information, is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting reference number 174954.”

The public have been urged to refrain from speculation.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to an incident at a private address in Dormanstown, Redcar shortly before 5pm on Monday, August 31.

“We dispatched one ambulance crew, one clinical team leader and were supported by Great North Air Ambulance Service.

“One patient was taken to hospital by road for further treatment.”

The Tuesday letters page thinks retro gaming is on the rise, as one reader wants to know what Capcom has planned for 2027.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Back to the past
Very happy to learn that the rumour of CeX opening a dedicated retro shop is true. Especially as it’s in Birmingham, which is quite close to me. I’m sure I’ll be disappointed when I see it, but I hope not. I have a very happy memory of visiting a CeX in London, somewhere behind Oxford Street, maybe 25 years ago.

It was an absolute treasure trove of things and games that I had only read about in magazines, from obscure SNES games (I distinctly remember Chrono Trigger) at a real Virtual Boy. Of course, that was a long time ago, when these things were less than a decade old, but I hope this new shop can get at least somewhere close to it.

I’ve felt retro gaming has become more and more popular lately, in terms of actually owning the original hardware and not just playing ports (most of which are not very good emulations). Playing a retro game is only part of the equation, in my opinion, it’s the fact that you’re experiencing the game as it was, not a replica.

Of course, that gets more expensive as time goes on but it’s become an increasing hobby to me, and I feel I’m not the only one. With the death of physical media Sony’s not encouraging me to go digital-only, it’s making me want to go retro-only.
Bonce

The next year
Great review of Onimusha: Way Of The Sword, GC. I was expecting it to be good after the demo and knowing Capcom are on a roll at the moment. I was never the greatest fan of the original games, but I will definitely be trying to pick this up now.

I didn’t realise it was out this week but then I remembered that Capcom brought it forward, out of the traffic jam at the end of the month. That actually makes it more appealing to me, because it increases the chances I can get it finished before you-know-what is released.

It also makes me wonder what Capcom has planned for next year. I know it’s impossible to keep up a release schedule like 2026, which must’ve just been the way things fell out as much as anything, but the only thing I know of at the moment is Resident Evil Veronica. If Onimusha is a success that’s got to give them confidence for even more revivals.
Janson

GC: Thanks. Apart from Resident Evil Veronica there isn’t much so far, just the Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance expansion and Mega Man: Dual Override. And Ōkami 2, but there’s no indication when that’s due.

Come back later
After the 26 minute look and barring any unpleasant surprises – given it’s Rockstar, I’m interested in how it controls – GTA 6 is day one for me.

I’ve picked up a £70 PSN voucher on ShopTo for £57.80 with a 5% off promotion on the already discounted price.

The graphics were, of course, stunning. From the detail and density of the world to the facial animation and lighting. It’s a significant new high bar for console graphics.

The gameplay looked more of the same. Shooting, driving, mini-games, and light role-playing elements. Was hoping to see something a bit more there to be honest.

The new wanted and relationship systems have me intrigued. How creative will you now have to be fleeing the cops and what actions affect the course of Lucia’s and Jason’s bond.

But as exploration is a core pillar of gaming for me it was the map revealing base jumping shot that was my favourite bit of the reveal and caused me to get the PSN voucher.

It looked spectacular and I just want to explore every inch of what was displayed.

I’m ignoring any more now in case of spoilers and will read your and a few other reviews before buying.

Have review embargo dates been communicated yet? I’m guessing it’s too far out.
Simundo

GC: Much too far out. It was still August when you wrote this and it’s not out until mid-November.

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Short answer
I need to ask a question: when did Sonic The Hedgehog games ‘git gud’ again?

I know they’ve been slated by you on here at GamesCentral over the years, but I played and still haven’t finished Frontiers, which I liked. I’m playing Sonic X Shadow Generations, am playing Sonic Unleashed on backwards compatibility through Xbox, and used to love Sonic 1, 2, 3, and Knuckles on the Mega Drive and had Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast, which I quite liked at the time too. They’re all pretty good games. OK, yeah the werewolf is a bit like Marmite but the games are actually pretty good, in my opinion.

I’ve been checking the timelines for Sonic games over the years and various top 10s by other sites but you’re the one I follow religiously, so I’d like to hear your take on it.

Any Sonic fans out there. Would love to hear your takes on it too. I remember the backlash there for his proposed movie look, so I know he still has a big fan base.

I’m also surprised at how big Sega is when reading up about them. It seems its parent company won’t move into the console market again when they’re sat on gaming gold.
Nick The Greek
PS: Still smashing plates in Apotos with Sonic.

GC: Sonic Frontiers is the only one we’ve really liked in the last couple of decades.

Trust issues
Two State of Plays on the same day and the second one is aimed at Asian made games. But the only game we know is definitely going to be in the Western one is… a game made in Asia? I dunno, sometimes it seems Sony is physically incapable of being normal. Now I suspect them of lying even when its unimportant things like this.

I’m not hoping for much from either State of Play but maybe a proper, non-AI look at Stellar Blade: Blood Rain. I’d like to hope there’ll be some surprise reveals too but when your mic drop is Final Fantasy 7 Revelation it doesn’t exactly raise expectations.
Kris

Unconditional love
It certainly is a tale of two halves. Grand Theft Auto 6 is heavily anticipated on one side of the coin and sceptically received on the other side of the coin. At least, judging by the Inbox letters and the recent Reader’s Feature. Which brings up the old age statement, that children should be kept away from such a title. This has been a topic of discussion for over two decades now. Why continue to beat a dead horse?

Controversy was present during the fifth game, I don’t expect any different for this instalment. I’m personally excited for this, over any other title releasing this year. Wolverine looks stale and seems a weekend game, before you either sell it or move on immediately. Phantom Blade 0 looks fun, but it reminds me much of Sekiro and Wukong. I’ve taken the liberty of pre-ordering the GTA 6 Ultimate Edition, from the PlayStation Store, at a price of £89.99. Which in turn makes it my most expensive game purchase, I wouldn’t have spent that much for any other title.

I chose to wait until the gameplay was released, many will say it looks disappointing, underwhelming, and below par. But it looks miles ahead of anything releasing this year or even next year. The features seem phenomenal as well. A nudist town is insane. Who else has included that? The gym is a true simulation. The police system is realistic and layered. The relationship between Jason and Lucia, seems far more complex than other titles and not just tacked on, or an afterthought. It’s taken cues from Baldur’s Gate 3, instead of Skyrim or Starfield.

No matter what the naysayers complain about or choose to facilitate their negative outputs on a title that I and billions are naturally and deeply anticipating. It’s empty space. It is genuinely the title I have dreamt about for years, when it comes to this franchise. From the third title in 2001 and the revolutionary inclusion of the 3D universe to a world that will certainly stand as the most immersive and detailed crime simulation ever seen.
Shahzaib Sadiq

Your reveal is in another Direct
Since it would be the most annoying, master troll level thing to do, I fully expect there to be a Nintendo Direct when rumoured and it still won’t be about the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake or it will have only a minute or two and then you’ll be told to watch the next one.

All I can say after all this is that it better be worth the wait. It probably will be, but as everyone has said why is a remake the one thing that Nintendo get ultra secretive about?
Neillifier

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The long haul
This is a serious question and I’m honestly not trying to cause trouble or wind people up when I ask it.

My problem, if you can call it that, is regarding the purchase of GTA 6.

I am lucky enough to own both an Xbox Series X and a PlayStation 5 (both of which were bought to me as gifts from my wife).

I really want to pre-order GTA 6 but I’m torn as to what console I should get it for.

After watching (and enjoying) the amazing Rockstar/Netflix extended preview video I decided I need to finally make my preorder.

Then came the problem:

I’ve had my Xbox for some time now and I absolutely love it and this would normally always be my first choice to play anything on. However, I have recently read that Sony done some sort of deal with Rockstar and this has made me question my decision!

Will the PlayStation version be better? Will it have extras because of the deal they did? Will they have early access to any DLC that happens to appear?

I’ve only had the PlayStation 5 since Christmas but I am enjoying the controller and what it can add to a game.

I know this is a first world problem but I’m 54 now and due to working long hours I don’t get anywhere near the time gaming as I used to do.

This is why I want to get the best version.

Sorry for the long letter but I hope someone out there can help.
Rob Lilley (LilleyJnr)

GC: Sony does have a marketing deal for GTA 6 but if that’s resulted in any preferential treatment, in terms of content or performance neither company has mentioned it yet. The main problem with getting the Xbox version is that GTA 6 is likely a game you’ll be playing for the next decade, but we’d be less confidence of Microsoft remaining in the games business for that long – which creates problems with being part of that ecosystem.

Inbox also-rans
Short of being free I really don’t see what Xbox could possibly do to make a next gen console seem appealing. I don’t know what they’ve convinced themselves of but no-ones spending money on a new machine just to play Gears Of War.
Wnik

Loving Star Wars Zero Company at the moment. Just unlocked secondary specialisations for characters, which is something I never expected. I’m going to use a sniper medic!
Taylor Moon

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