Comments 488

Re: Poll: Five Years of PS5 - How Would You Rate Sony's Console?

16BitHero

@nessisonett I agree with this to some extent but, one thing that sticks out in my mind is how long these first party AAA titles take to develop these days. The cycles are significantly longer than PS4 let alone PS2. Look at Rockstar for a third party example. If console generations continue along a similar timeline then this issue will only become more frustrating for some gamers. I'm not sure what the answer is but I've been very satisfied with this generation all things considered.

Re: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (PS5) - The Most Absurd Game in Series History

16BitHero

I'm not sure whether the current development teams are just not very good or their corporate overlords are making bad decisions. Could be both I suppose. Either way they'll be forced into a rethink with the amount of competition finally stifling sales. I don't know why anyone on Xbox or PC would buy this mediocre product if they have Gamepass but for the multiplayer die hards it'll always be good value.

It's frustrating because the mechanics in COD have always been fairly solid and up there with the best in the genre. If they could just manage a good campaign with a coherent story, interesting characters you actually care about somewhat, properly implemented AI and lasting say, eight to fifteen hours - I and many others might consider buying it again.

Re: 'Morale in the Studio Is at Rock Bottom': Rockstar Whistleblower Alleges Union Busting as GTA 6 Is Delayed

16BitHero

Sheesh, I know the US has virtually no worker protections outside of a small percentage of established unions such as my own but the UK... same old story no matter what aspect of society or where in the world you're looking. The big fish prevails. A French style revolution on a global scale will be needed to stop our future selves living in the smog at the bottom of Night City.

Re: GTA London Will Remain a One-Off, as the Series Needs Guns and American Culture, Says Dan Houser

16BitHero

America is perfect for GTA. America is the real world's freak show. Surreal in so many aspects. In 2025 it's really next level. A prequel to Idiocracy. The world's most robust economy yet high levels of poverty, a high ratio of people on food stamps, bankruptcy by healthcare, the poorest health outcomes and now a dysfunctional backsliding version of democracy... the list goes on and on.

The US has larger than life characters and is inspiration for all matter of TV, film and gaming media because it practically doesn't need satirizing. Just read/watch local news in any state on any given day. You'll see something insane.

As a Brit who lives in the US I fully agree this series should remain here. London might have it's issues like any big city but it's night and day from what NYC (one of the safest cities in the US) is to people who actually live here. There is no comparison.

The US is a developed country only in relation to giant, low taxed, unregulated corporations propping up it's economy/GDP.

Its absolutely perfect for GTA.

Re: Talking Point: If Xbox Drops the Cost, Would You Be Happy Still Paying for PS6 Multiplayer?

16BitHero

It really comes down to where your friends are playing and what hardware you own. I might get a PS6 but multiplayer has been PC only for me since I finally built one a few years ago. Most multiplayer games are multiplatform so I'm not going to pay for no reason. Some folks will stay on the PS ecosystem and may not have a choice but compared to many of our entertainment expenses nowadays, it's still worth it for those folks in my opinion.

Re: Rumour: Halo 2, Halo 3 Remakes Also Purportedly Planned for PS5

16BitHero

Without multiplayer they should all be lower priced imo. I'll get them on Gamepass anyway but for other gamers, I think $29.99 would be fair or just stick them in a bundle like an updated Master chief collection. I'm all for these full remakes opposed to rubbish remasters but in a gaming world of plenty, I think they would reach more people at lower prices.

Re: Review in Progress: Battlefield 6 (PS5) - You Won't Be Buying This One for the Campaign

16BitHero

The older I get, the less interested I am in mindless multiplayer. I love a good fps campaign but we've had slim pickings with only Doom, Wolfenstein, Halo, Farcry Titanfall, Metro and a few others doing it for me in the last ten years. The cinematic and bombastic COD campaigns were fresh in 2009 but always lacked a sense of progression which is kinda key for many video games not to mention they have poor/predictable/repetitive AI.

I was hoping for a return to form a la Bad Company only with contemporary production values but the money is in the MP these days.

Edit: I will say Ready or Not is still great fun in single player (if better with friends).

Re: Amazon's God of War TV Adaptation to Start Filming in Six Months

16BitHero

@naruball those are good and fair comparisons. Red Dead Redemption 2 comes to mind. Rockstar went for realistic character motion/movement but a lot of people found it a little sluggish and unwieldy compared to what we're used to in games. Like everything else, each game/TV show/film should be judged on it's own merits and will always be subject to personal opinions/preferences.

Re: Amazon's God of War TV Adaptation to Start Filming in Six Months

16BitHero

@naruball I understand your point but games have come a long way in the last 10-20 years in terms of storytelling and nuanced characters. Yes TV and film can be enthralling with the right set of circumstances but that's just it - the majority of game adaptations have second rate writers and underwhelming actors (much like the majority of Netflix shows and I suppose entertainment in general nowadays). Fallout is another worthy exception to the rule but you really need a good screenwriter and quality, well cast actors which most adaptations aren't getting. Money talks and they'll keep making crap if people keep paying to watch it.

Re: Amazon's God of War TV Adaptation to Start Filming in Six Months

16BitHero

The vast majority of video games will not translate well to TV/film. To be honest I couldn't care less if my favourite games became TV shows or films. The likelihood is they would be a lesser version where I can't make my own choices and direct the action as one can in a game. These are basically all cash grabs with very little creative passion and mostly clueless writing. The Last of Us is a decent exception but for those of us who enjoyed the games, it was still lacking for obvious reasons.

Re: 'The Vast Majority of Players Don't Post on Reddit' - Helldivers 2 Boss Warns of Online Tunnel Vision

16BitHero

There are plenty of intelligent and civilized threads on Reddit too. No online site is immune to nonsense. With gaming/film/music etc, I generally look for a consensus or particular points or subjects that speak to me. I then (a little snobbishly perhaps) look for good grammar and articulation. After that's it's a matter of my personal opinions, feelings and expectations meeting other people's and, erm, going from there!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 596

16BitHero

@Perturbator @Zuljaras ok one last recommendation - if I had to choose the most transformative and convincing VR experience I've had to date, it's Eye of the Temple - it's cheap, a tiny file size and just crazy immersive providing you have a good amount of space to move in (I think 6-8ft squared).

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 596

16BitHero

@Zuljaras I had motion sickness in the beginning, I returned PSVR 1+2 because of it but then jumped in again with Quest 3/PCVR. I now use smooth locomotion with snap turning and haven't been motion sick since. Resident Evil 4 was fab in VR too! Didn't fancy replaying 7+8 but I've heard they're excellent in VR too. And yes Google Earth is great fun! Enjoy!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 596

16BitHero

@Perturbator @Zuljaras RE Alyx - I think it's just the mechanics they came up with at that time but you could be onto something re motion sickness. I recently started playing through it again and it's still up there with the very best VR has to offer five years after it's release. Saying that I think VR has had some incredible titles over recent years and I for one am glad I jumped in. Microsoft Flight Simulator, Asgards Wrath 1+2, Batman Arkham Shadow, Assassin's Creed Nexus, Metro Awakening, Lone Echo 1+2, Red Matter 1+2, Alien Isolation, Alien Rogue Incursion and many more are so immersive and a huge departure from flat screen gaming. I even use VR mods for Cyberpunk, Truck/Train simulators, Ready or Not, Robocop etc. The opportunities are limitless but the VR part of the industry still needs better marketing in my opinion. It's been revelation for me personally.

Re: American and Euro Truck Simulator PS5 Leak Confirms Series Is Finally Speeding to PlayStation

16BitHero

I never gave these titles a second thought until this summer when I read some Steam reviews. Both were on sale along with the dlc. I got myself a force feedback wheel (used with Dirt Rally 2, Automobilista 2 also) and never looked back. It also plays perfectly with a controller once you customize the layout. I'm now hopelessly addicted but liken them to Power Wash simulator only a little more involved. They are very relaxing and cathartic games. If you have any experience driving in the US or Europe then that's a bonus as despite the scaled map, you'll recognize a lot of places, large and tiny. All in all, great news for console gamers.

Re: Clair Obscur Director Says Turn-Based JRPGs Are Still Seen as 'Uncool'

16BitHero

Not my cup of tea ordinarily but what is certain is that turn based games and JRPGS are widely enjoyed in this day and age. The popularity of Persona, Metaphor, Like a Dragon are just a few recent examples but there are countless Western developed examples in recent decades from indie games like Into The Breach to AA/A like Divinity and Baldurs Gate 3. Expedition 33 has undoubtedly done great things for the genre. Cool? That's very subjective! Looking back, was the jock or most popular girl at your high school actually cool? The 'geeks and nerds' were way cooler in my book!

Re: Star Wars Outlaws Sequel Reportedly Cancelled, Will Stay in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

16BitHero

No one but themselves to blame (Ubi execs). I loved the game for what it's worth. I only played it this spring after all the patches and gameplay modifications. It's my favourite Star Wars game - for immersion/attention to detail at least but also has good characters, great voice acting and stunning graphics. KOTOR still wins for story perhaps but Outlaws will hopefully become a cult classic/gem in it's own right.