Push Rewind

Wow, what a negative week it’s been in the PlayStation Nation – it must be karma for Sony’s awesome Gamescom showing. When we haven’t been moaning about awful avatars, the PlayStation Network has been being attacked, and Crystal Dynamics has been apologising over that increasingly ridiculous Rise of the Tomb Raider exclusivity deal. Let’s hope that things are a little more positive over the coming days, huh?

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Reviews

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition - 9/10

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition still has flaws – a boneheaded narrative, minor framerate hiccups, and an inventory system that lacks the elegance of its PC counterpart – but these small niggles fail to dent what is an otherwise exceptional experience. It’s a bit mindless, yes, but collecting loot and slaying enemies is seldom as sweet as it is here. Quite simply, this is an excellent action RPG.

Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment - 6/10

Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment is let down by its desire to stick too closely to its source material. In attempting to recreate the fictional game at the heart of the animated series, it fails to really deliver on its own merits. Though a lot of the gameplay is forgettable, fans of the anime will certainly find fun in reliving elements of the television show. If you’re not already familiar with the series, though, there are better RPGs on the Vita to consume your time.

Other Reviews

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Features

Feature: Push Square's Gamescom 2014 Game of the Show - WiLD

Love it or loathe it, the industry is changing. There are fewer big-budget, boxed releases than ever before, which is a symptom of the high risk medium in which we currently reside. However, while the shelves at your local GameStop may be starting to thin, there is a wealth of creativity blossoming on online shopping plazas like the PlayStation Store; from Tokyo Jungle to inFAMOUS: First Light, there’s something for absolutely everyone. Sony’s big Gamescom press conference this week highlighted this change, as it pointed the platform holder’s spotlight at a selection of incredibly imaginitive first-party ventures, each unlike anything that you’ve ever played before. WiLD was the highlight.

Feature: 21 of the Most Awful PlayStation Network Avatars

Buzzfeed is so ridiculous that it’s already broken the fourth wall and started parodying itself, but there’s definitely a degree of entertainment to be derived from human stupidity. While we’re not diving down that rabbit hole, we thought that it was time to pad out the post-Gamescom hangover with an article that’s been sitting at the top of our ‘To Do’ list for some time: a rundown of the worst PlayStation Network avatars ever. Seriously, it’s a bit of a secret, but the European PlayStation Store has been receiving some of the most atrocious profile icons for months now. Here are some of our favourites – or, er, least favourites.

Other Features

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News

Is PSN Offline? Yes, and the Scheduled Maintenance Doesn't Start Until Tomorrow

We know that Sony’s planning to run some Bank Holiday tests on the PlayStation Network, but the manufacturer’s servers appear to have come crashing down a day early. While status reports from the Japanese giant claim that its online platform is currently up and running, we can’t log in using any of our consoles in the UK – and it seems like a similar story is taking place around the globe.

September PlayStation Plus Update Information Incoming Next Week

It’s once again time to get hyped over your latest selection of free software downloads, as the September PlayStation Plus update is set to get outlined very soon. In response to an eager fan on Twitter enquiring about the quality of next month’s refresh, PlayStation Blog manager Fred Dutton maintained his poker face, merely stating that all will be revealed “mid next week”.

You Won't Have to Worry About Watch Dogs' Infamously Tedious Drinking Game Ever Again

Even those who haven't played a minute of Watch Dogs may have heard about its infamous drinking minigame, especially if you frequent popular gaming forums. The incredibly tedious optional activity has long been the bane of many a Platinum Trophy hunter, purely because of the awkward nature in which you need to press and match buttons within a time limit without full control over your analog sticks.

Don't Worry, Crystal Dynamics Considered Your Feelings Over the Whole Tomb Raider Ordeal

Rise of the Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics definitely didn’t mean to upset you when it agreed to an exclusivity deal with Microsoft. In the aftermath of last week’s Gamescom 2014 backlash, the studio has posted a new message on the franchise’s official blog, reiterating once again that the release will be a timed exclusive on the Xbox One and Xbox 360.

This Is What Shenmue Would Look Like on the PS4

Despite it being one of the most requested sequels of all time, SEGA seems utterly uninterested in making Shenmue III. While that’s to be expected given the dismal sales of the first two games, though, we had hoped that the Japanese publisher would have ported the Dreamcast entries to the PlayStation Network by now. It hasn’t, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to.

Other Noteworthy News

Video of the Week

Watch a Staggering 37 Minute Gameplay Walkthrough of The Witcher 3 Right Here

We love a good gameplay demo here at Push Square. Cinematic trailers are usually enough to keep the hype flowing – especially around big events like E3 or Gamescom – but it's always the raw gameplay or developer commentary videos that grab us by the collar and demand our attention.