Richarlison had given Robert de Zerbi’s disappointing side hope, after Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos gave the hosts a deserved two-goal advantage, when Chelsea‘s combative left-back Marc Cucurella unceremoniously dragged Spurs defender Micky van de Ven to the floor.
It came as Mathys Tel prepared to take a corner and Spurs demanded a penalty that never came, their disbelief doubled when Cucurella was cautioned over the incident.
Video assistant referee (VAR) checks detected his foul came seconds, maybe even one second, before the ball came into play, meaning a penalty could not be awarded.
Referee Stuart Attwell could only take action against Cucurella with a yellow card, and once VAR confirmed the ball had not been kicked there was no room to initiate a review and subsequent spot-kick.
Advertisement
Former Chelsea and England striker Daniel Sturridge told Sky Sports: “One second difference and it is a guaranteed penalty. Cucurella is so lucky.”
It was the tightest of calls.
Spurs boss De Zerbi refused to dwell on it, but said the Everton game was arguably “more important” than the club’s Europa League final against Manchester United last season, which they won in Bilbao.
He added: “It is not my business. My business is to focus on preparing the next game and to get the points we need because Sunday is the final for us.
Advertisement
“This game is important, more than playing for a trophy. Last season ended with playing for a trophy. We play for something more important than a trophy because of the pride and history of the club.
“You can win a trophy but it does not change anything. The most important thing is the pride and dignity of the club, so that we can go on holiday, in the Premier League.
“We have to stay alive. Sunday against Everton is a big day for us.”
Three gardens at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show have found themselves mired in controversy rather than the more usual mud.
This year’s show gardens include one designed by Matt Keightley, who has used Spacelift, a design app he developed that incorporates AI. Advocates of such tools praise their potential to democratise garden design and make it more accessible. Critics, however, argue that these technologies risk reproducing or appropriating existing designs, and could ultimately threaten the livelihoods of professional garden designers.
Happily, gardening is an ancient practice and has long been managed and enjoyed without the use of technology. Here are six tech-free lessons from history to help you get started designing your garden without turning to AI.
1. Get back to books
Not sure where to start? A book is still one of the richest sources of guidance, and the history of gardening bestsellers offers a revealing window into changing tastes, practices and traditions.
And it’s not just books from today that have something to offer. I’d recommend travelling back to the 17th century with diarist and polymath John Evelyn. His Elysium Britannicum, written in the 1650s, records a deep fascination with nature and design, showing that ingenuity and gardening have long gone hand in hand.
2. Go for a walk and imagine what is possible
The landscape painter and designer William Kent is said to have “leapt the fence and [seen] that all nature was a garden”. This moment is often taken to mark the shift away from the formal aristocratic gardens of the 17th century towards a more naturalistic style.
This philosophical turn helped shape the development of the English landscape garden, but it can also speak to the present moment, when we are being encouraged to make our own gardens – most of which are not landscape-scale – more welcoming to nature.
Advertisement
One of the simplest ways to begin is to look closely at your surroundings: explore your neighbourhood, observe what thrives and take note of what you like and what works well.
3. Consult the genius loci and start with the bones
Cartoonist Osbert Lancaster and his wife Anne Scott-James lightly ribbed 20th-century suburban gardens in their 1977 book The Pleasure Garden: An Illustrated History of British Gardening. Post-second world war urbanisation gave many more people the opportunity to have their own gardens, reflected in a kind of “consistent inconsistency” of patios, lawns, borders and vegetable plots.
The eclecticism they observed can instead be read as an invitation to consult the genius loci – the “spirit of the place” – and to engage with the features and atmosphere that give a garden its character, rather than treating it as a blank slate.
Indeed, in her 1971 book Down to Earth, Anne Scott-James recognised that most gardeners do not have perfect sites. Working with “the bones” of a garden, she argued, is therefore essential, achieved through creating harmony within the broader context.
Advertisement
4. Follow the rules and put things in perspective
There are plenty of principles and approaches that can be applied to garden design, from formal symmetry and a carefully chosen material palette to planting styles that range from sculpted topiary to naturalistic meadow.
Beginning with an aspiration can help to focus these choices, and looking at what has constituted garden design through the ages through the ages can be a useful way of anchoring your own vision.
5. Visit gardens
In 2027 the National Garden Scheme will be 100 years old. It represents a wonderful continuum of curiosity and conviviality as members of the public gain access to otherwise private gardens.
The scheme was set up by Elsie Wagg, a council member of the Queen’s Nursing Institute and has subsequently evolved into an organisation that funds a range of health charities.
Being able to see what other gardeners have achieved – and the effort that has gone into making those spaces – is one of the most effective tech-free ways of learning. Taking a camera or sketchbook can be a simple way to observe more closely and carry those ideas back into your own garden.
When economic historian Roderick Floud turned his attention to the history of gardening in An Economic History of the English Garden (2019), he revealed the scale and long-term economic impact of the sector.
Did you know that many innovations in central heating, water engineering and glasshouse construction have their roots in gardens? It’s a point many people may not be aware of, making it a useful story to share when showing visitors around your dahlias – while also quietly recognising that technology has always been embedded in gardening, even when we don’t immediately see it.
What’s your favourite gardening tip from history? Let us know in the comments below.
Advertisement
This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something, The Conversation UK may earn a commission.
Contractors began removing and replacing defective cladding at Durham Bus Station this week as part of a redevelopment project.
Durham County Council said the repairs are needed after an external company originally installed the cladding.
It means the scaffolding and fencing that have been in place around the building will remain for several more months.
Contractors began removing and replacing defective cladding at Durham Bus Station this week as part of a redevelopment project. (Image: The Northern Echo)
The bus station opened to passengers in January 2024 after a £10.4 million redevelopment – but the construction experienced several delays due to the building’s conditions. It was initially set to open in Autumn 2023 before being pushed back several months.
Advertisement
Today, the main entrance to the bus station, on North Road, still has scaffolding over it, while the surrounding pavements are blocked off by fences.
A lane closure will be in place on North Road throughout the works, but will be temporarily reduced during Durham Miners’ Gala in July.
Durham County Council said: “We’re doing everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum and would like to thank residents and visitors to Durham City for their patience and understanding while these works are carried out.”
In 2024, the authority said it hoped the new bus station would be a major transport hub for the county and would attract more shoppers and tourists to the area.
Advertisement
Contractors began removing and replacing defective cladding at Durham Bus Station this week as part of a redevelopment project. (Image: The Northern Echo)
The facility is located on the site of the former bus station, which was demolished to make way for the redevelopment after becoming outdated.
It was designed to increase the overall space for passengers, which includes increasing the reversing area for buses leaving bays and widening the exit onto North Road to improve visibility, with additional pedestrian access also created.
Elsewhere in County Durham, a brand new bus station has opened in Bishop Auckland, while work is ongoing to improve the existing facilities in Stanley.
What do you think of the work on the Durham Bus Station? Let us know in the comments.
More than half the world’s population now lives in cities that are often much hotter than their rural surroundings. Roads, buildings and paved surfaces absorb and store heat during the day, then release it slowly after sunset. This is known as the urban heat island effect.
Discussions about why cities overheat tend to focus on buildings, which is understandable. As well as absorbing solar radiation, residential and office buildings consume a lot of energy through lighting, heating and air conditioning. They release waste heat, and shape the flow of air through surrounding streets.
But another source of urban heat receives much less attention: traffic.
Motorised vehicles release heat directly into the urban environment. This is especially true of petrol and diesel vehicles, where much of the fuel energy is lost as waste heat from internal combustion engines and exhaust systems. Tyres, brakes and friction with the road surface all add to these heat emissions.
Advertisement
In streets with heavy traffic and limited ventilation, traffic can be a significant source of human-made heat – as my recent study with colleagues of two major European cities shows.
In the southern French city of Toulouse, our modelling found that traffic heat increases the average annual air temperature by about 0.4°C. In Manchester, a typically cooler city in the north of England, the average annual air temperature increased by around 0.25°C thanks to its traffic.
Our past research has shown how the intensity, frequency and length of urban heatwaves are projected to increase in many parts of the world by 2070 (see maps). This includes cities in North America, Europe, India and China. Our latest work suggests these rises could in part be mitigated by reducing urban petrol and diesel traffic.
The Community Earth System Model is a widely used open-source model for simulating interactions between land, atmosphere, climate and human activity – launched by the US National Center for Atmospheric Research in 2010.
However, traffic-related heat was not considered by the model – so we developed a new module for it which estimates heat generated from factors like traffic volume, vehicle type, road characteristics and weather conditions. Our results change depending on the time of day, according to the nature of the traffic and local weather conditions, for example.
Advertisement
We found that the most heat-polluting elements are generally high traffic volumes – and which kind of vehicles predominate in these traffic jams. Conventional petrol and diesel vehicles release substantially more waste heat than electric vehicles. In cities with lots of these vehicles, peak-period rush hours can become important sources of heat emissions.
We modelled traffic in two European cities – the central Capitole area of Toulouse and central Manchester – using traffic data provided by Transport for Greater Manchester and other opendatasets.
Toulouse and Manchester have quite different climates, urban landscapes and traffic patterns – all of which affect not only how much heat is released by traffic, but how that heat affects each city.
The heating effect of traffic was greater in Toulouse than Manchester. Ensapa37/Shutterstock
In Toulouse, morning traffic heat built up through the day and persisted into the night. In contrast, Manchester’s evening rush hour contributed to stronger overnight warming, with its air temperature from traffic peaking around 3am, on average.
In both cities, the traffic-related warming effect was stronger in winter than summer. In Toulouse, our modelling found it raised air temperature by an average of 0.5°C in winter and 0.3°C in summer, while in Manchester the increase was 0.35°C in winter and 0.16°C in summer.
The role of traffic in urban heating
Awareness of urban heat risk is increasing, but the role played by traffic is still rarely considered in urban climate adaptation and transport planning.
As cities continue to grow and climate extremes become more common, governments need better tools to understand where urban heat comes from and how it can be reduced. Our work is another step towards more realistic simulations of future cities.
Our model could offer more accurate answers to important questions such as: how much will electrification of vehicles reduce heat levels? How will changes in road design, vehicle use and congestion patterns affect local heat exposure? And to what extent can changes in urban transport methods limit the effects of predicted future heatwaves?
Advertisement
These are, of course, not just scientific questions but policy and design issues. Concerns around cities getting hotter often focus on trees, parks, cool roofs and building design. But traffic is not just a source of pollution and carbon emissions – it can also be part of how we plan cooler, healthier and more resilient cities.
Cats are naturally drawn to soft soil and secluded spots when seeking a place to toilet, which can lead to persistent garden fouling disputes between neighbours
Discovering cat poo in the garden is enough to test the patience of even the most patient homeowner, particularly when it turns into an ongoing nuisance. Yet while many assume there’s precious little they can lawfully do to deter these wandering animals from visiting, there are in fact numerous solutions at hand.
Advertisement
According to Cats Protection, cats instinctively roam outside their owners’ properties and are legally permitted to venture into neighbouring gardens across the UK.
Nevertheless, the charity confirms that householders can still employ safe and humane methods to prevent cats from using outdoor areas as makeshift litter trays. The Express has compiled several recommendations.
1. Citrus peel
Cats are renowned for their aversion to potent scents, making orange and lemon peel a favoured natural repellent. Gardening specialists suggest positioning peel close to flowerbeds or garden boundaries may help discourage return visits.
Advertisement
2. Motion-activated sprinklers
According to the RSPCA, unexpected jets of water can safely put off cats from entering gardens without causing them harm. Motion-activated sprinklers are frequently employed to deter wildlife and stray pets.
3. Cover exposed soil
Cats typically favour soft earth when digging or relieving themselves. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommends using gravel, stones or bark to make flowerbeds less attractive as toileting spots.
4. Chicken wire
Some gardeners position chicken wire flat across flowerbeds to prevent cats from excavating the soil. Plants can still emerge through the openings while making the surface uncomfortable for animals to traverse.
5. Ultrasonic deterrents
Ultrasonic devices produce high-frequency sounds intended to discourage cats from particular areas. These products can be found readily in garden centres and DIY retailers throughout the UK.
Advertisement
6. No food zone
Cats Protection caution that leftover pet food, bird seed and overflowing bins can draw cats into gardens. Properly securing rubbish and feeding areas may help minimise repeated visits.
7. Prickly shrubs
The RHS suggests dense or thorny plants can deter cats from entering flowerbeds or digging around plants. Shrubs including holly or other spiky varieties are frequently recommended.
8. Cat-proof fencing
ProtectaPet reports specially designed fencing rollers and barriers are growing in popularity amongst homeowners dealing with persistent feline visitors. These systems are designed to prevent cats climbing over fences while keeping them safe from harm.
Advertisement
9. Open dialogue
Consumer experts typically advise discussing the matter diplomatically if a particular cat is causing ongoing problems. While owners aren’t normally legally liable simply for cats wandering, constructive conversations can sometimes help ease tensions.
Online debates reveal how divisive garden fouling disputes can become, particularly during warmer months when families spend increased time outdoors. Nevertheless, animal welfare organisations consistently emphasise that any deterrents employed should remain humane and avoid causing harm to cats.
Fire crews were called to the hospital shortly before lunchtime following reports of a strike, which left four people with suspected electric shocks and another trapped in a lift.
The incident also caused electrical issues across the hospital site.
One reader described the experience from the hospital car park.
They said: “I was stood at the parking ticket machine on the car park opposite the main doors.
“Never saw any lightning, but the colossal bang made me, and folk near me, think there had been an explosion in the hospital.
“Then we got drenched. I’m nearing my 90s and don’t think I have ever heard such bad thunder.”
Advertisement
Many described fearing there had been an explosion at the hospital, with some worrying the building was “collapsing”.
Another person inside the hospital said: “I was there visiting my uncle, the lightning seemed to come straight through the window first, then this almighty bang.
“I have never heard thunder so loud in all my life – I must admit I was frightened.”
A resident from Farnworth added: “I was walking the dog close by, everything was eerily ‘still’ immediately after.”
Advertisement
One reader who had been attending an appointment at the hospital when the strike happened said: “We were in a room with no windows, and knew nothing until we came out.
“The good news was, the car park ticket machines weren’t working as there was no electric, so we didn’t have to pay.”
It was not only those in Farnworth who experienced the unusual weather, as readers in Harwood and Bradshaw also reported hearing “one hell of a bang”.
Shortly after the incident, Rae Wheatcroft, chief operating officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, told The Bolton News: “We can confirm that earlier today a lightning strike at Royal Bolton Hospital caused some electrical issues across the site.
Advertisement
“These have now been largely resolved, with the exception of some communication equipment, for which backup systems are in place.
“A small number of staff affected by the incident are being assessed as a precaution.”
After the incident, the sun returned and conditions appeared calm once again.
Mary Kelly Foy, MP for the City of Durham, joined the winners of a competition aimed at raising awareness of the vital medical devices, which can restart a person’s heart in an emergency.
The competition was organised by Tom Sharples, a resident and organiser of the One Life campaign, and tasked primary school pupils with designing eye-catching defibrillator covers to promote visibility and community awareness.
Winning designs came from Skye at Brandon Primary Academy and Matilda at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Langley Moor.
Ms Foy said: “I am so incredibly proud of Skye and Matilda for their wonderful designs.
Advertisement
“Defibrillators are absolutely vital pieces of kit that save lives in our communities every single day, but they need to be highly visible so people can find them in an emergency.
“Their bright and bold designs will certainly make sure that these two units will stand out from the crowd, and of course, in Brandon, we now have two totally unique defibrillators.”
Ms Foy congratulated the winners during a visit on Friday, May 15, joined by school staff, Mr Sharples, and the One Life campaign mascots, Casey and Sparky.
Mary Kelly Foy MP with local residents, the team from the Lord Boyne pub, Casey, Sparky and children from St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School (Image: Office of Mary Kelly Foy MP)
The two decorated defibrillators are now installed at the Beech Park Convenience Store in Brandon and the Lord Boyne pub in Langley Moor.
Advertisement
They form part of a network of 13 defibrillators installed across the Brandon area through the efforts of the One Life campaign.
Mr Sharples said: “Engaging young people in their communities at an early age is one of the most powerful ways to foster pride, responsibility, and a lasting sense of belonging.
“The aim of this design competition goes beyond raising awareness of these life-saving devices; it is about giving children a sense of ownership and pride in the places where they live.
“I’m so pleased for both Skye and Matilda that their designs are now proudly displayed in our community.”
Advertisement
Ms Foy also thanked the hosts of the defibrillator units, as well as everyone involved in the competition and wider campaign.
It’s not always the big cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh that offer the best breaks closer to home, as a walkable city has been highlighted as one of the best places to visit
The best staycation in Scotland has been named, and it’s not where you might think.
Advertisement
The UK, including Scotland, is gearing up for some balmy weather, with warm rays set to arrive in perfect time for the upcoming bank holiday weekend. And with warmer temperatures finally on the horizon, it might just be the perfect time to book that staycation, as Brits opt for a getaway closer to home.
Data from Airbnb revealed that British holidaymakers have shown a greater interest in staycations, with a year-on-year increase of more than 11 per cent. The rental platform also found that those seeking a staycation are looking for “metro-fringe destinations”, as UK travellers opt for cheaper alternatives in smaller cities or areas on the outskirts.
Not only does it allow travellers to still explore a bustling city, but it also lets them stay in a slightly quieter destination that typically offers cheaper accommodation. There are plenty of destinations across Scotland that offer a blend of rural and city escape, but one has been highlighted by Airbnb as it soars in popularity.
The charming city of Stirling, which is often known as the ‘gateway to the Highlands’ and a ‘little Edinburgh’, has seen a staggering 79 per cent increase in searches for the summer of 2026. Situated in central Scotland, nestled on the River Forth, Stirling is steeped in history, with its iconic landmarks and access to some of Scotland’s most scenic landscapes.
Known as a walkable city, there are some impressive attractions to explore, including the famed Stirling Castle, a clifftop fortress offering views across the city, which was the childhood home of Mary, Queen of Scots. There’s also the National Wallace Monument with around 246 steps to access sweeping views over the Forth Valley, and the Battle of Bannockburn for a look back at the past.
With ample green space surrounding the city, there’s an array of walking trails to take advantage of during the warmer weather, with Stirling expected to reach highs of 20C from Friday, 22 May to Saturday. Or if you’re looking for a weekend escape later in the year, why not plan to walk around the stunning landscapes of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, just a short drive from the centre.
While it’s considerably smaller than the likes of Glasgow or Edinburgh, Stirling still offers an array of eateries and shops to browse if the weather turns. There’s also the Old Town charatised by cobbled streets, charming cafés and the former jail, which will feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.
Top 5 UK escapes on the fringe of a city
Richmond upon Thames, London (+140% increase in YoY searches for summer 2026)
Milton Keynes (+96% increase in YoY searches for summer 2026)
Stirling, Scotland (+79% increase in YoY searches for summer 2026)
Harrow (+78% increase in YoY searches for summer 2026)
Stretford (+77% increase in YoY searches for summer 2026)
Top 5 UK rural destinations
Herefordshire (+76% increase in YoY searches for summer 2026)
Staffordshire (+50% increase in YoY searches for summer 2026)
Worcestershire (+48% increase in YoY searches for summer 2026)
Forest of Dean District (+34% increase in YoY searches for summer 2026)
Shropshire (+32% increase in YoY searches for summer 2026)
Lisa Marçais, general manager for Northern Europe and MEA, Airbnb, said: “This summer, UK travellers are rethinking how and where they travel – embracing emerging destinations both at home and abroad. From off the beaten path UK towns like Halton to rising European destinations like Novalja in Croatia, people are searching beyond the usual favourites to find better value for money, more space and a slower pace for some real rest and relaxation.
“At the same time, the growth in group travel shows Brits are getting savvy – taking advantage of the variety of Airbnbs available for big bookings to find ways to travel more, and travel better, by sharing costs and making the most of their summer breaks.”
For more information or to book accommodation for your next staycation, visit the Airbnb website.
Advertisement
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
All eyes were on Guardiola at Vitality Stadium for City’s must-win game.
He was greeted by the flashing cameras of 22 photographers as he entered the dugout before kick-off, while one City fan raised a bedsheet with ‘Pep Stay’ scribbled on it.
“One more year, one more year, Guardiola,” was chanted during the game but, by the end, the manager was the first to make a hasty exit down the tunnel as his disconsolate players took the applause of the travelling supporters.
The shock developments, should they officially be confirmed by the club, mean it is now shaping up to be a significant summer of change at City this summer.
Advertisement
Until last Friday, Guardiola – who will undoubtedly go down as one of the finest managers to grace English football – had continued to insist he had “one more year” left on his contract.
But it now appears to be the end of the road after a successful spell in charge since he replaced Manuel Pellegrini in 2016.
Guardiola masterminded historic achievements at City, such as becoming the first top-flight side to achieve 100 points, the first English team to win the title in four successive seasons, and a Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League Treble in 2023 which he has described as his greatest achievement with the club.
A domestic cup double was secured this season, but the title has eluded them for a second straight campaign – something which has not happened before in Guardiola’s distinguished managerial career, which included spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Advertisement
And if it does transpire to be his final week, he will no doubt depart with a tinge of regret.
City had the title in their own hands 15 days ago, but the trip to Everton proved to be a turning point, dropping two points in a thrilling 3-3 draw that Arsenal fully capitalised on.
Sunday’s game against Villa will now be viewed as an emotional farewell to a man who has brought so much joy, and success, to supporters over the past 10 years.
“Pep Guardiola’s DNA has spread to other teams as well,” former City defender Nedum Onuoha told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I think Pep at Man City will be remembered as an icon.
Advertisement
“For them to find so much success, trips to Wembley on such big occasions. He will be remembered as the greatest ever. The success that came at this time came when it was very competitive in the league.
“The fact he is going to step aside, and someone has to come and try to build another legacy will be very different. Guardiola at Man City has been a constant. There is a huge void, but then huge potential.”
Police are investigating an allegation over ‘false statements’ regarding paperwork for a newly elected Reform councillor. The candidate papers for the newly elected councillor are being investigated over alleged false statements in the recent local elections.
Cambridgeshire Police is investigating alleged false statements on the candidate nomination paper for Ryan Coogan, who has recently been elected as the Reform group leader for his area.
Mr Coogan was elected to the Ramsey ward in the Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) local elections on May 8. He was also the party’s candidate for the 2025 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoral election where he finished second.
Advertisement
Cambridgeshire Police has confirmed an investigation has been launched. A police spokesperson said: “We are investigating an allegation of false statements on a candidate nomination paper and the investigation is on-going. This relates to Ryan Coogan and May’s HDC elections.”
The council says it is aware of the investigation. A HDC spokesperson said it is “aware of a police referral” in relation to the recent elections. The spokesperson added: “As this matter is a live investigation, it would not be appropriate for the council or the Returning Officer to comment further at this stage.”
Reform UK and Ryan Coogan have been approached for comment.
Only multiplayer games will be going to PC in the future (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
The Wednesday letters page is intrigued by Yoshi And The Mysterious Book, as a reader dreams of a big budget Transformers game from Hasbro.
Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Slow realisation So it’s pretty hard not to take the news about Sonyabandoning the PC as anything but good news. For starters it’s an acknowledgement that it was a dumb idea in the first place, to remove a big reason for buying a PlayStation 5. For second, it implies they’re also moving back from live service games and concentrating more on single-player.
I know they didn’t say that exactly (they’d see it as showing weakness, even if it is true) but if even Hasbro can realise that chasing live service games is a fool’s errand then it’s about time Sony woke up as well.
Advertisement
I’m going to be the millionth person to say it, but they’ve wasted this generation with their nonsense and it’s only because Xbox has failed harder that they haven’t been punished for it. Just go back to making games like you did on the PlayStation 4 and stop thinking you can make the next Fortnite. That’s not what fans want, they want the next The Last Of Us and God Of War – and I don’t mean actual sequels but games of equivalent quality. Clem
Sloppy lies Every time I hear Xbox running their mouth about big changes and amazing innovation all I can think of is AI. I can’t think of anything else they could possibly do that would change anything and considering it’s Microsoft… it’s definitely going to be AI. And it’ll be awful.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
Advertisement
In short, I don’t believe a word they’re saying about anything. There is no way they’re going back to having exclusives, even though they keep pretending they will, and as much as they say they understand people not liking AI slop I don’t believe that either. Or they wouldn’t have employed all those people who were AI experts and know nothing about games. Limpton
One good game Having over 1,000 pokémon is crazy but I do kind of admire it as well. I don’t recognise any but a fraction of them nowadays but I find that kind of cool, because it means there’s so many that come as a surprise, even beyond the new ones they add with each new sequel.
After enjoying Pokopia, I’m feeling surprisingly enthusiastic about Winds and Waves, especially as the trailer looked good, with some nice graphics. Even if you don’t care anything about Pokémon, it’s useful proof that there’s nothing wrong with a struggling franchise that can’t be solved by a good game. Halo and co. should bear that in mind. Tridangle
Time travel The visuals, sound, and driving is pretty much faultless on Forza Horizon 6. Turning up the Japanese radio station and entering those over-the-top, crazy events is the closest feeling I’ve had to being in an arcade in the 90s since being in an arcade in the 90s.
I thought it’s going to be much of the same and it is in a way, but it doesn’t feel like it for some reason, absolutely more refined, no doubt.
The loading is notably quicker between driving and menus, having cars appear as roadside bargains always makes me stop what I’m doing to see what it is and how much.
Advertisement
Tokyo city itself, now I’ve gone round it a little bit more, seems like a mix of Metropolis Street Racer and Need for Speed Underground 2, they’re the vibes it’s giving me with how the road layouts are. It’s ticking all the boxes for me.
I’m not sure what they’d do to improve it apart from getting rid of all the Horizon festival nonsense. It’s the weakest part for me but I know it holds the whole game together. Been playing it since it’s early release last week and it’s very impressive. Nick The Greek
Don’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source
As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.
Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
GameCentral has been delivering unique games news and reviews for over a decade
Roll out I can only imagine how happy GC is about the idea of big budget Transformers. I’d say I don’t believe it, because it just seems too much money for what is not quite big enough a franchise, but $1 billion is a lot of money for Hasbro to be investing.
Actually, reading the guy with the unfortunate surname’s comments he sounds completely on the ball, especially in terms of saying no to live service games. It seems that lesson is finally being learnt, even though it should’ve just bene common sense. But better late than never, eh?
Advertisement
Let’s hope we get an annoucement of something cool this summer or at The Games Awards. Gantz
Great shot kid, that’s one in 300 million! One of my favourite arcade games ever was mentioned by Grackle on Tuesday, so I thought it was about time I showed off mine! I collect vintage arcade machines from the golden age of arcades. I have 12 in my flat, including Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Defender and Star Wars, which cost me a fortune and continues to do so!
Classic arcade machines were not built to last. They were meant to make money for an arcade operator/chip shop owner/pub landlord, etc. for a year or four and then be skipped, burnt on a bonfire, or pushed off the end of a seaside pier into the sea! Yes, that did actually used to happen! So it takes a lot of skill and effort to keep these old machines working.
I can do the very basics, testing voltages with a multimeter, pushing down on chips that might have become unseated, cleaning the edge connectors, etc., but if anything else goes wrong you have to send your PCB, or monitor, or the whole machine off to an expert to repair them. When I bought Star Wars it was working, when it left the seller, but by the time it was delivered to me by a courier it had developed a fault. Every time I turned it on it tripped my fusebox.
Advertisement
After trying several things suggested by the seller, I eventually gave up and hired a courier to take it to a company to repair. They couldn’t sort it, so I had to get the courier to take it back to the seller who repaired it for me for nothing, which was fantastic, but it was costing me £90 each time I used the courier. I got it home and enjoyed playing it for a good few months until the PCB developed a fault. I sent it off for repair and got it back in working order again soon after. Last year it got another fault on the PCB and I have now had it repaired again.
So you see, owning these machines is a dream for some, myself included, but the initial cost isn’t the only cost. If you want to relive your youth and play Atari Star Wars again, they have the cockpit and upright versions at Arcade Club Bury, AC Leeds, and AC Blackpool. I loved the game so much that when I was a kid I would make a 16 mile round trip to an arcade in Tamworth on my bicycle to play the cockpit version.
My friend Robert Mruczek, who was in the film The King of Kong, is a world record holder on Star Wars. In 1984, he scored over 300 million points! It took 49 hours. Obviously, you can’t pause an arcade machine. He told me that he didn’t go to the toilet at all during those 49 hours! Tim Keeling
Look at the size of that thing (Tim Keeling)
Dark horse Interesting review of Yoshi And The Mysterious Book. I had forgotten the game even existed but it’s got an 81 on Metacritic, which is really good. It seems that Nintendo is doing well with these less anticipated games, especially Pokémon Pokopia, but it’s the ones with all the expectation on them that they’ve struggled with.
I don’t know if that’s going to be a thing going forward but if there’s one thing Metroid Prime 4 and Mario Kart World proved, it’s that no matter how long a game has in development or how big the name is you can still get a disappointing game. Nobody was going to be disappointed by Yoshi, just surprised if it turned out good. Zeiss
Advertisement
Endless Horizon Forza Horizon 6 is here. It’s been a long wait. I pre-ordered. That’s something I very rarely do these days, but I couldn’t resist. Is it worth it, though ?
Where to start? Well, the game looks great, runs great on Xbox Series X. 60fps. I had a frame rate problem the one time I used quick resume, otherwise no issues; smooth. The car handling, excellent. The amount of stuff to do (race events, stunt events, collectibles, barn finds, and much more) is mind-boggling; a bit overwhelming if you’re a Forza Horizon newbie.
Over 500 cars at launch, expect this figure to rise up to 900 or more in the coming months. It doesn’t break the Forza Horizon mould; it’s evolution, with some new stuff added, rather than revolution. But, the real star of the show this time around is the map. It is huge! The design is absolutely incredible! Awesome!
A few new game modes will be added to the evolving world of Forza Horizon 6 in the future; the festival playlist starts on May 21st, offering the chance to win rare cars and provide more longevity. I’m expecting several hundred hours of playtime from this game.
Advertisement
So, the answer to the question ‘Is it worth it?’ is, of course it is. Definitely. But then, I never expected it not to be. Having played the previous five games and loved them all (1,105 hours, single-player, out of Forza Horizon 4) it was never in doubt.
9.5/10. Possibly a 10. Paul C. PS: Arcade racers are a bit of a dying breed these days. All the big name franchises seem to have fallen by the wayside. A shame, that is. Would love to see a new Project Gotham Racing and a new Burnout. There’s still a big market for this type of racer. The Horizon series is proof of that.
Inbox also-rans If there is not a Nintendo Direct in June, in the usual slot or close to it, that will be absolutely crazy. When is Nintendo going to tell us about their big Christmas game? Christmas Eve?! Jonno
Am I the only one that doesn’t like the Ghost Of Tsushima games? People talk about Assassin’s Creed being bland but I got bored of both these games in a couple of hours (I only borrowed the second one). Qwent
The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login