Tag: Columns - Page 1
Feature Push Square's PlayStation Predictions For 2012
It's 2012; the future is upon us
You didn't notice? Seriously, stop reading this article right now and find your nearest window — don't worry, we'll wait. Good, you're back. Did you notice the flying cars and newly built steel sky-scrapers on the horizon? Yeah, exactly. The future, huh? Unfortunately the future isn't quite as exciting as late 70s...
Feature Why The Last Of Us Looks Like More Than Just 'Another Zombie Game'
As gamers we've probably dismembered thousands of zombies over the years
Reanimated corpses have become a crux for game designers wanting to add a "horror" edge to their action games, and as a result we've all got a little tired of them. It's unsurprising to see a corner of the Internet dismiss Naughty Dog's latest franchise, The Last Of...
With Other Ocean Interactive preparing to unleash its dark re-imagining of H
G. Wells' timeless War Of The Worlds novel onto the PlayStation Network, we sat down with producer Andrew Acerbo to discuss the game, some of the team's influences and what it's like to work with Jean-Luc Picard himself, Sir Patrick Stewart. What attracted you to the War Of...
Feature Free Realms on PlayStation 3 Hands-On Impressions
Sony Online Entertainment's free-to-play PS3 MMO, Free Realms, is a little bit like a drug addition
We know it's rubbish and bad for us, but for some reason we can't help getting pulled back in. There's a relaxing tone to the casual MMO that causes hours to fly by, even when you're doing very little of anything at all. Available on the PC for some...
Feature Gamers Are Far Too Influenced By Sales Figures -- 'Twiggy' The Push Square Opinionator
A game is only as good as its sales figures
At least, that appears to be the mentality of some forum posters, unevenly illustrating their opinion in forums across the Internet. The NPD group released sales figures for the North American market this week, ranking Resistance 3 in seventh position for the month of September. "Reasonable," I...
Feature Variety Is The Spice Of Life -- 'Twiggy' The Push Square Opinionator
Earlier in the week Deep Silver announced a PlayStation Move enabled sports mini-game compilation called Winter Stars
The news was met with little fanfare, but I couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation. Thing is, I adore games packed with variety. I love the idea of being able to play around with different mechanics, jumping from one...
Feature Tokyo Game Show 2011: The PlayStation Headlines So Far
The Tokyo Game Show is go, with Sony already holding its big coming out party
The general consensus from the video game community was one of disappointment — while Sony's been announcing PlayStation Vita titles left right and centre for the past couple of months, the lack of any real megatons was a real blow. Many were expecting Monster Hunter,...
There was a point in the Nintendo Wii's lifespan where the console was dominating the sales charts but disappointing hardcore gamers
Long-time Nintendo fans were tired of Wii Fit and Wii Play, they wanted something meatier to get their teeth into. But with developers ploughing the majority of their resources into the more traditional XBOX 360 and...
One of the few downsides of writing about PlayStation games day-in-day-out is that we rarely get time to experience the content on other platforms
While we keep up to date with the release schedule and details of competitive platforms, we never really get the time to play them any more. When your work includes knowing everything there is to know...
Featuring one of the most influential survival horror games of all time, it's hard not to include the Silent Hill HD Collection on our list of most anticipated overlooked Holiday games
There are a number of high-definition remakes coming to the PlayStation 3 this year; most of them from big-name franchises. But despite the popularity (and quality)...
It's curious isn't it: you long for a good co-operative platformer and two come along at once
We've only just finished championing Sony and Insomniac's four-player opus Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, and now we're moving directly onto Rayman Origins. Ubisoft's delightfully French platformer series was iconic on the original PlayStation, but has...
In at number five...
Earlier in the year we took a look at our top-five most anticipated PlayStation games of Holiday 2011. Since the beginning of time (sort of!) developers and publishers have used the run-up to Christmas to release their very best games. This year the charts are set to be dominated by some monstrous titles, such as Uncharted 3:...
Feature Sony Bullish After Another Promising GamesCom -- 'Twiggy' The Push Square Opinionator
Each year, the hardcore video game community ignites with debates over which platform holder 'won' E3
It's a topic that's been adopted by industry analysts and high-profile journalists, with fictional grades awarded to the manufacturers with the most surprises and best content. But GamesCom — now the world's largest video game event — has a very...
Feature What Is Sony Going To Announce At GamesCom 2011? -- 'Twiggy' The Push Square Opinionator
Sony always has a big presence at GamesCom in Cologne
In 2009 it used the European show to reveal the PlayStation 3 Slim. And last year it made some huge software announcements: Virtua Tennis 4, Resistance 3 and Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One all got their debuts at the German event. But what can we expect from this year's show? Plenty of...
We always knew it was a likely scenario, but we chose to believe otherwise
Sony never officially said the PlayStation Vita would get a worldwide launch this year, only ever really committing to a Japanese launch. "Phased global rollout" was the textbook buzzword Sony used. But we believed because it made sense. How could Sony not put the...
On paper it sounds like a dream scenario: a future where Sony and Microsoft work together to build the ultimate system
Sony's knowledge of hardware architecture coupled with Microsoft's dominance in the software sector. Sony's outstanding first-party output supported by Microsoft's (supposedly) superior networking talents. Combining both Sony and...
Feature What Do You Mean You're Not Playing SuperSonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars?
The online communities of PlayStation Network titles tend to dwindle quickly
But despite being released in the hazy days of 2008, the obnoxiously titled SuperSonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars is still brimming with activity. Given a new lease of life via PlayStation Plus this month, we hopped into the part-racer, part-soccer title to find...
Feature Let's Give EA Some Credit -- 'Twiggy' The Push Square Opinionator
Over the last three weeks I've played two niche games which I thoroughly enjoyed
Neither of the games were particularly successful at retail, but both enhanced my appreciation of EA as a publisher. Alice: Madness Returns was scorned for being derivative and classical in design, while Shadows Of The Damned was dismissed because of some poor gameplay...
Feature Push Square's Most Anticipated PlayStation Games Of Holiday 2011: Let's Recap
We counted down our most anticipated PlayStation games of the holiday season this week, touching on what we think are the five most intriguing titles of this year's end
Some of the games were included out of curiosity — Battlefield 3 and Sonic Generations might not be the best games of the year, but they are titles that we can't wait to play...
What other game could top our most anticipated list?
Naughty Dog's adventure opus, Uncharted, has gradually become one of the biggest franchises in video games The original launched to muted praise, but got a second wind of enthusiasm when it was one of the first retail titles to boast trophy support. For many, that patch introduced them to the...
Feature Push Square's Most Anticipated PlayStation Games Of Holiday 2011: #2 - Batman: Arkham City
Rocksteady came out of nowhere
Batman: Arkham Asylum looked promising pre-release, but no-one really expected it to be quite the critical and commercial smash-hit that it was. We vividly remember spending a few moments with the demo before our review copy showed up the following weekend, and recall being blown away by the game's moody tone. But...
Feature What's The Sodium 2 Space In PlayStation Home About?
Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that Sony's tweaked the splash-image for PlayStation Home
Previously touted as a virtual world for PlayStation 3 owners, Sony now refers to the service as a "social gaming network". It's a transformation we've witnessed take place over the past several months, and it concludes with the implementation of...
Feature Push Square's Most Anticipated PlayStation Games Of Holiday 2011: #3 - Battlefield 3
Our anticipation for DICE's Battlefield 3 is a more a situation of curiosity
There's a venom in the gaming community that's wishing Call Of Duty would fail. The philosophy behind that sentiment is clear: Call Of Duty is a mainstream hit and people really dislike that. Battlefield is a popular alternative — an underdog if you will. Everything we've...
Feature Push Square's Most Anticipated PlayStation Games Of Holiday 2011: #4 - Sonic Generations
Sonic's been stuck in a loop for years
We often feel like the franchise's heritage is a detriment to the series going forward. Those original SEGA Mega Drive titles were so important that it almost feels like nothing the publisher can do will please its fanbase anymore. But there is always the nostalgia card. Celebrating Sonic's 20th anniversary,...
Feature Push Square's Most Anticipated PlayStation Games Of Holiday 2011: #5 - Team ICO Collection
Look: we get it
You've spent the past few years learning about how pivotal the Team ICO titles are, but you've never actually experienced them for yourself. You've looked on eBay, but the original PS2 titles fetch a packet. You've all but given up. Thankfully HD remasters do serve a purpose after all. With Sony readying a bundle of both ICO and...
Feature Why PlayStation Vita Changed Perceptions At E3 2011 -- 'Twiggy' The Push Square Opinionator
Nintendo might have announced a new platform at E3, but if you listen to the buzz bubbling beneath the Wii U, you'll notice the perception of Sony's PlayStation Vita has changed dramatically
The spiritual successor to the PlayStation Portable already convinced some when it was announced earlier in the year. With dual analogue sticks, a gorgeous...
Feature Opinion: Quit Dallying And Put The PlayStation Vita On Store Shelves Already
Like many others, we came away from Sony's press conference grinning from ear-to-ear
Not only had Sony demonstrated a substantially more capable handheld platform than its peers, it also seemed to show a reasonable understanding of the current market-place. Handheld platforms need to both accompany the home-console experience, and differentiate from...
E3 2011 Sony Press Conference Recap, Here's What You Missed
While a little rough in places, Sony's E3 press conference was clearly all about strength in depth
After a fairly lop-sided showing from Microsoft earlier in the afternoon, Sony's showing felt much more balanced and pointed firmly towards the traditional gamer. While PlayStation Move was in full attendance, demonstrations ranged from the...
Feature Dream E3 Announcements: The Return Of The Getaway 3
Every once in a while a franchise comes along that you love in spite of its gameplay
The Getaway is one of those franchises. Its early incarnations are near unplayable due to shoddy controls and poor level design, but they are still amongst some of our favourite games on PlayStation. It's mostly to do with the setting. The Snatch-inspired British...
Feature Dream E3 Announcements: Zindagi Games Announce True PlayStation Move Tennis Title
Regular readers will know we have a minor obsession with tennis games
We're probably one of the few video game blogs that actually discusses tennis games on a regular basis. For that, we apologise to our non-tennis fan readers — but just give us 1,000 more words to talk about one of our dream E3 announcements: a PlayStation Move tennis game...
E3's crept up on me
I've known it's been coming for some time, but am only just starting to get that pang of excitement for the event and all its impending announcements. A lot of gamers describe E3 as their equivalent of Christmas, and it really does feel that way. But I also sense the tide has been changing for some years. While the spectacle of...
Have you heard, the PlayStation brand is in decline
That's according to an opinion piece crafted by Gamasutra's Colin Campbell. Does it sound familiar? It sure as hell does to me. In fact listening to podcasts and reading editorials this week has made me question whether I took a ride in a tripped out DeLorean against my will: it's 2007 all over...
Downtime
The issues Sony's been having with its PlayStation Network service are well documented across the web. I'm told the folks at this very publication have been frantically clamouring for more information on the situation, but Sony's remaining tight-lipped. Honestly, it's probably for the best. No matter how big or small the problem is, Sony...
Feature Don't Kill The 'Mid-Tier' Game -- 'Twiggy' The Push Square Opinionator Returns
Jeff Cannata coined a phrase on the Weekend Confirmed podcast that will probably stick with me for as long as I write about entertainment products
Desperately struggling to balance his positive opinion of Square Enix's Nier against the game's catalogue of flaws, Cannata concluded that the title is "more fun than it is good". It's a...
This week the PSP reclaimed its crown at the top of the domestic hardware sales charts in Japan, despite Nintendo's 3DS releasing just a month ago
Numbers for Nintendo's systm were also disappointing across Europe, with exact figures in North America seemingly hush-hush. It's worth stressing that the 3DS represents Nintendo's best ever launch, but...
Feature Why System Exclusives Need To Stay -- 'Twiggy' The Push Square Opinionator Returns
It's been a while, friends
There's been a lot of great games, some huge announcements (good grief, the NGP!) and a lot of familiar sentiments around the online gaming community since I left you. One thing that's really been yanking on my metaphorical chain is the idea that all game franchises should be multiplatform. For me system exclusives are...
Feature Yakuza 4 on PlayStation 3 Half-Time Impressions
Our character is huddled over a group of feral kittens, desperately trying to prompt a response from the litter
The homeless people that appealed for our help tell our character that they think the animals may be injured, and have attempted to tame them without success. Our character tries to reason with the animals, making recognisable...
Feature Why Top Spin 4 Is Disappointing With The PlayStation Move But Ace With The DualShock 3
Sports Champions just doesn't get enough credit
Its art-style might be as flat as a pancake, but some of the package's mini-games come closer to true simulation than sports franchise's that have been iterated upon for years. The reason behind its success is the PlayStation Move, which is a wildly responsive unit when used in the right regard. It may...
Feature Opinion: PlayStation Suite Is The Ace In Sony's Portable Strategy
PushSquare editor Sammy Barker follows up his original reaction to the NGP with discussion on why PlayStation Suite is the overlooked ace in Sony's portable gaming strategy
</em> I've had a few days to analyse the reaction to Sony's NGP announcement this week, and I've been overwhelmed by how much positivity I've read. People seem to get it...
Opinion Why Sony's Next Generation Portable Sounds Like The Perfect Device For Me
PushSquare editor Sammy Barker delivers his first reaction to Sony's new handheld announcement, the Next Generation Portable
I often feel like I'm the only person in the world not caught up in the iOS hype hurricane. I think Apple's devices are fantastic pieces of kit, but as gaming systems they don't come anywhere near meeting the kind of...
Feature Going Through The MMOtions: DC Universe Online on PlayStation 3 - #2
PushSquare editor Sammy Barker jumps into the gigantic world of PlayStation 3 MMO DC Universe Online
This on-going feature serves as an evolving review of the game, complete with personal anecdotes and opinion. For more editions of Going Through The MMOtions, click here.</em> As an MMO newcomer, I'm starting to appreciate that the beauty of...
Feature Going Through The MMOtions: DC Universe Online on PlayStation 3 - #1
PushSquare editor Sammy Barker jumps into the gigantic world of PlayStation 3 MMO DC Universe Online
This on-going feature serves as an evolving review of the game, complete with personal anecdotes and opinion. For more editions of Going Through The MMOtions, click here.</em> I've never played an MMO. Not a proper one anyway. The closest I've...
Feature Overlooking The Depth In Sports Champions -- "Twiggy" The Push Square Opinionator
I've spent a good chunk of my week playing table-tennis
Don't be silly, I've not risked my life sharing the Youth Club's beaten down excuse for a table-tennis table with a group of hoods — I've been playing the sport in my living room via PlayStation Move. I've always been a fan of motion controls and, in particular, motion controlled sports...
Feature Five DLC Characters We'd Love To See Added To Sports Champions
Our biggest complaint with the excellent Sports Champions is that on a presentation level it's pretty flat
Let's be honest here, who is going to remember what Kenji and Giselle look like? Zindagi might have done an excellent job programming personality into the AI opponents, but their art team weren't on form designing the characters. That's fine,...
The PlayStation Move launch went better than I imagined
Word of mouth is extremely positive within the hardcore circles. Conceptually the device bares resemblance to the Wii; but there's a sense that this is what many of us were originally expecting from Nintendo's foray into motion controls. It's the hardcore gamers that Sony have been targeting...
Feature Late To The Party #4: MegaRace 3: Nanotech Disaster on PlayStation 2
Ever since I was a young boy, Lance Boyle has haunted my nightmares
The fictional character, played by Christian Erickson, has always been the hook of the car-combat franchise, MegaRace. He's largely the reason I grew up with the franchise — every two-three years the dusty old Panasonic 3DO would come out of the cupboard, and the first port of...
Feature Is There Still A Place For Duke Nukem? -- "Twiggy" The Push Square Opinionator
The re-announcement of Duke Nukem Forever this week has put my thoughts to the test
I was semi pleased when the game was cancelled. Obviously, my thoughts went out to all those who had worked hard and were losing employment — but at the same time, I feel like we've moved on from the Duke Nukem character. Does he even matter anymore? I vaguely...
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories proved to me that survival horror benefits from motion control better than most other genres
The game placed you in a particularly threat-free world; opting instead to create tension through interaction and atmosphere. Simply moving your flashlight across the game's eerily dark setting was enough to place you in the...
Feature Late To The Party #3: Pursuit Force on PlayStation Portable
I'm racing down a busy high-way, the glow of syncopated red and blue sirens light up my face
My lips curl as I take aim at my pursuer and pull the trigger. "You ain't getting away so easily," I whisper to myself with all the aggression I can muster. White knuckled I close in on the damaged car. I stand up in my vehicle and try to maintain...
Feature What A Great Week For PlayStation -- "Twiggy" The Push Square Opinionator
I've got absolutely nothing to moan about
This has been an excellent week for the PlayStation brand; so good, in fact, that even reports of a jailbreak weren't able to subdue the mood. I predicted before GamesCom that it would be a low-key show - but Sony's found their stomping ground. Last year Sony dominated the European event with the headline...
