16BitHero

Reader voted huh. I guess folks forgot about another sequel that was an improvement on the original in every way - Destruction Derby 2! Otherwise, a great list for an amazing generation!

I'm going to to preface this comment by saying that a 'Gamer' is not merely someone that plays games but also someone who is interested in video gaming in general therefore someone who might watch gaming related content, read gaming related content or even purchase a book called 'A Perfect Organism - An Alien Isolation companion' like this nerd/enthusiast did! Also keep in mind that not everyone can afford to buy all the games they want to play or might want to get a' feel' for a game through another person's experience before committing to a purchase.

I like a high quality TV drama or film like anyone else but I'd certainly say as a passionate gamer, I'd rather watch/listen to another passionate gamer talk about our mutual interest in the form of an video essay/critique rather than the mindless and/or mediocre TV being consumed en masse nowadays.

Some years ago I would have said I was firmly in the camp playing more than watching but as a big fan of gaming since the 80's with limited time for either, I've found myself enjoying some extremely well articulated critiques, way beyond the simplistic stuff you get in regular gaming journalism. I do however appreciate Push Square/PureXbox for their quickfire informative articles!

Edit: go to YouTubers - Chris Davis, Noah Calwell-Gervais, Whitelight.

Even in my tiny village of 100 we were all gamers in the 90's. I was still enjoying my Sega Megadrive when my friend across the road got a PS1 with Battle Arena Toshinden and Ridge Racer. I managed to persuade my parents I needed this new entry from Sony for Christmas a year or two later. My favourite games were Resident Evil 1+2, Tomb Raider, Die Hard Trilogy, Destruction Derby 2, Tekken 2, Wipeout 2097 and FIFA 97 (indoor football, unlimited fouls and invisible walls). Another friend just had to be different and got the Saturn but that meant Sega Rally, Virtua Fighter 2, Panzer Dragoon, Nights into Dreams etc. We had the best of both worlds on our quiet country lane. Then came Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast...I honestly think these were the most exciting times of my gaming life. I now have almost every platform and a backlog of excellent games but the joy of anticipation, patience and limited Internet (not to mention no money) made for a really magical time.

@vyseofhr good shout. I liked the og 2001 Xbox too.

Who makes these decisions? What does the standard PS5 startup do for Sony in the privacy of our homes exactly? Nostalgia is a powerful thing and I'd be grateful to keep the PS1 jingle.

I'm just finishing this up on Steam with my wife. My GOTY so far but it's certainly not for everyone. Picture Resident Evil 1 (including actual PS1 era visual segments) but with much more varied/cryptic puzzles and no zombies. You have to buy in to a lot of the weird back story but it's worthwhile and unlike most other games out there.

My GOTY is Lorelei and the Laser Eyes which releases on PS5 this week I think. Astro Bot will be my holiday backlog title so it still has a shot too.

I'm playing through Lorelei and the Laser Eyes with my wife this weekend - it might be my GOTY so far (haven't started Astrobot yet).

I'm also finishing up Killer Frequency on Quest 3. What a great idea this game was and it's perfect for VR.

@TurboTom it looks and plays great in 40fps mode.

Aliens Dark Descent is popping up everywhere, first Gamepass and now PS plus. It's an essential for Alien saga fans in my opinion. I'm not an RTS gamer ordinarily but I made an exception here and the accessibility/difficulty options are excellent. The story is very decent, aesthetic and sound design excellent and moment to moment gameplay very tense and engaging. Definitely worth a try if you're an Alien geek like me!

I love this combined universe, I love Remedy's unique storytelling/narrative style. Take my money.

I'm really looking forward to this. Between Alien Isolation all those years ago and the recent and fantastic Aliens Dark Descent, we're finally being rather treated as Alien saga fans.

Too many folks biting a teenage troll comment. Let's keep the focus on our collective excitement! I'm hoping the soundtrack will sound like John Williams composed it himself and I'm also hopeful that the transition between countries will include that classic map and plane trail just like the films.

I personally think recent/current technologies such as social media and AI (deep fakes etc) have completely regressed civil society. The ratio of considerate, informed and generally decent folks is at an all time low. We should do something to protect children but adults are equally compromised. Who knows what the answer is? A phone ban in schools would be a good start. (I work in an NYC school).

Last generation I had a PS4.

This generation I got a PS5. Then I got my wife a Switch when her dad died (Animal Crossing is a pretty decent grief counselor). Then I got a Series X for Flight Simulator. Then I built a PC for the first time in 15 years. Then I took the plunge and got the Quest 3 (and am totally enamored with VR).

If I get a PS5 Pro, my wife WILL kill me.

@NeonPizza I didn't mention it here but I had both PSVR 1 and 2 for two week trials from Sony when they released. I enjoyed my time with both but ultimately felt the cost too high for the relatively small amount of games at launch and the PSVR 2 lens issue/sweet spot config was concerning. I can't remember why I jumped on the Quest 3 last winter but I've never looked back. The support its getting is wonderful and it coincided with me building my first new gaming PC for 15 years. I have a question, how does Resident Evil 4 compare between PSVR 2 and Quest 3? I know they're different builds. I haven't seen any comparisons on YouTube.

@NeonPizza I got the Kiwi comfort head strap weeks after getting the Quest 3 and never looked back, I can't imagine sticking with the simply awful included strap. I have a regular USB c backup battery but rarely use it as 60-90 minutes in VR is my average length session. I occasionally use it for streaming downloaded films from my PC and playing Steam/Epic/Xbox games on a 'cinema size screen'. I recently discovered free live court side NBA streams and there is just so much interesting content like documentaries and live music. My one regret is getting a 128GB model.

@DennisReynolds you are likely right but I hope you're wrong! 😁

@DennisReynolds I would have believed that previously but just look at where technology is heading, it's always making strides forward and with all the toxicity and complaining this generation, you'd think that's the minimum manufacturers and developers would aim for. I guess we'll find out in a few years...

As a big fan of the Metro series I'm very happy to hear the VR game is getting a good reception. VR is really taking off for me personally and as a gamer since the late 80's I think it has finally become an essential platform for gaming enthusiasts. It took me until late 2023 (Quest 3/PCVR) to take the plunge but between Microsoft Flight Simulator, Half Life Alyx, Asgards Wrath 2, Batman Arkham Shadow, Lone Echo, Assassin's Creed Nexus and many other incredibly immersive and unique experiences, I spend more time in VR than on console at this point. The Moss games for platforming, Thrill of the Fight for exercise and heck even Walkabout Mini Golf are great examples of the immersion the medium can provide. We've still got Behemoth and (please be good) Alien Rogue Incursion to come this year. My console backlog is also growing. What a time to be a gamer.

This generation is such a transitional mess. Next gen, everything should run at 60fps or higher and AI upscaling technology should do away with all these ridiculous settings based on your platform of choice, TV, monitor etc

@nessisonett I concur. The PS4 version running on PS5 with backward compatibility looks almost as good as Forbidden West in my humble opinion.

@carlos82 It sure was demanding. I had to settle for mid range settings with my 3070 on a 1440p monitor but it still looked amazing for the most part. I can run Robocop on max settings however so you just never know with PC gaming. Unless you have a high end rig of course!

I credit this studio with getting my wife into co-op gaming. I'm in their debt!

@GamingFan4Lyf Same. The uncertainty and slow burn release of exclusives this generation prompted me to take the plunge and build a PC for the first time in 15 years. It's now my most played device as I've cancelled subs on PS5 and Series X. Multiplayer gaming is free. Steam, Epic stores etc have insane sales. It's simply a better eco system with more variety and choice for gamers - if you can make that initial investment. Upgrading won't be cheap but I'm glad I'm in, especially with the big console games eventually finding their way to PC. Saying all that, I'd still get a console next gen for physical convenience and single player games if the price is right.

@roe Darn it, same thing here. Need more coffee.

@Bagwag82 The VR mod for Isolation on PC is incredible. It made the scariest game ever made even scarier in my opinion. I sincerely hope they make this both regular and VR compatible!

While I've tired of many open world games for to this particular feature/flaw, Ghost of Tsushima is to this day, the only game I have completed to 100%. 'Platinum' the young folks call it?

@nomither6 You are correct, my comment was a knee jerk reaction based on my dislike of the genre - one seemingly being attempted by every publisher out there and having felt somewhat saturated for years already hence several high profile failures. I am nevertheless a hypocrite for putting hundreds of hours into Warzone during the pandemic and finding Helldivers 2 to be just about the most fun multiplayer game I have experienced since I started gaming in the late 80's .

For kids and teenagers.

@yazzika I agree. Kojima isn't for everyone but I'm glad he's doing what he's doing. I arrived late too, MGSV (despite gaming since the late 80's) but many years after it's release then, Death Stranding (PS5) became one of my favourite games of all time. Now I'm paying close attention to anything out of his studio.

I only buy Sony first party at launch and even those games get minor performance/improvement patches within a few months. I'm a huge Star Wars fan but I'm definitely waiting on a discount for Outlaws and when that arrives, the necessary patches will hopefully have been implemented.

Queued for three hours - finally got in - 'not currently available'. That's limited edition for you!

The US line is currently 'paused' after I was down to 12 minutes but that was just for a random place in the overall queue that starts at 10 eastern. I'm in it for the anniversary pro or nothing. Good luck everyone!

The only acceptable PS5 version of PS4 games are ones that were either free upgrades like Cyberpunk or $10 like Ghost of Tsushima. They made sense because you could enjoy a much better/stable frame rate. Xbox's fps boost tech however is something Sony should have done instead of shoving paid upgrades or full price remakes/remasters from only a few years ago in our laps. I agree that the pandemic likely played a big part in this generations woeful number of new ips and exclusives but I hope this trend ends soon and we can look forward to more creativity and fresh ideas at AAA level (AA and indie games are still generally flourishing in my opinion).

Can't wait for Death Stranding 2. I'm a recent Kojima convert (only played through MGSV and Death Stranding PS5 edition) - he truly has a unique vision for his style of games.

@Titntin Same, I've been gaming since the late 80's and while I know there are some unsavoury aspects of gaming, there is truly something for everyone and this is only going to continue and evolve. If something isn't for me, I don't complain, I move on to what does interest me. Some of our favourite franchises and ips might pivot in ways we're not happy about but that's the same with literally everything in life through generational change. Don't dwell on it. Find what is worth your time, what you do enjoy. As you mentioned - my personal buzzword for this generation is BACKLOG.

Sony and Nintendo have different target audiences. Many gamers own both consoles as they have decidedly different catalogues when it comes to 'console sellers'. It's my impression that younger generations don't favour power and graphics as much as more established gaming generations. There are as many female gamers in the younger generations now too so I'd be interested to see statistics on console choice and other gaming habits across a wide age spectrum. Mobile gaming has proven that handheld is here to stay. Sony are only competing with Microsoft for now but that could change as the generations shift. Despite industry upheaval, a serious lack of first party exclusives this gen and a relentlessly hard to please gamer base, I can say that we've never had such overwhelming choices as gamers - including Xbox players.

Situation sounds similar to the PS5 version of Ghost of Tsushima - mostly unnecessary unless they're trying to court a significant number of newcomers to the franchise. Both of these games' PS4 versions run on PS5 at 60fps and look sublime on a 4K TV.

This might actually sell less than PSVR 2. A mostly pointless hardware endeavor. I'll wait for PS6.

Looking forward to some Whipping only speed runs.

As an adult who rarely games online these days and has an astonishingly robust backlog, I always wait for sales and discounts. I can understand younger folks buying day one if they're in school surrounded by peers or play online frequently. I also get that some folks just want certain games day 1 and to be fair, a 30 plus hour game that is thoroughly enjoyed is worth whatever an individual is willing to pay for it. I think price hikes are par for the course considering how quickly the discounts come now. Companies want to rake in that initial cash knowing the majority of us won't be paying full price anymore.

It's worth bearing in mind that games like Street Fighter 2 on Sega Mega drive were £59.99 back in the early 90's. I'd say we get a lot more value nowadays. The single most cynical and ongoing farce in gaming is charging console gamers to play online necessitating a subscription.

@Andy22385 @nessisonett I'd argue the majority of the best looking games for PS5 can hit 60fps - GOW, LOU, Horizon, Spider-Man, COD campaigns etc Developers are letting gamers down, not the hardware. If they're pushing for the latest graphical techniques but can't hit 60 fps then those should probably be left to PC development only. Just my opinion.

A 'free to play' style game at full price. No surprises here.

@AhmadSumadi @NEStalgia As I finally play through Ragnarok for the first time these past few weeks, I'm glad I'm not the only one to feel this way. It's objectively a magnificent game with staggering visuals, excellent voice acting and top class mechanics. The last GOW was fantastic but I don't remember pining for the original series like I am now. The pacing, atmosphere and character elements are all markedly different. I know that was the point and I'm still glad they shook things up and evolved the series but we can still be nostalgic for a shorter, darker, less character driven bit of chaotic and epic mayhem right?

@NEStalgia All fair points, I just like the freedom to move in roomscale apps without the concern for tripping over a cable. Saying that, Asgards Wrath 1 actually looks better than 2 due to the spec compromises of Quest 3 being standalone. I will say if you have good bandwidth then streaming Half Life Alyx for example, looks really incredible. I think as things stand VR is still an emerging technology which means compromises are made for the sake of accessible pricing. I'm nonetheless excited to see where it goes from here.

@HotGoomba I second this. I was definitely a doubter from the moments I returned both PSVR and PSVR 2 after two week trial periods (thanks anyway Sony). For reasons I can't really remember I took the plunge again with Quest 3 and I've never looked back. VR is in a good place at the moment, the variety of games was always an issue but we're seeing some incredible experiences now beyond the gimmicky stuff most people think of. The mixed reality mode is brilliant for a lot of apps like fitness and sports like boxing and table tennis, the latter of which has just incredible physics. I'll never get bored of mini golf and then you've got contemporary masterpieces like Asgards Wrath 2, a fabulous amalgamation of God of War and Breath of the Wild with a runtime to match. I did feel the effects of motion sickness at first but the accessibility options are brilliant for most titles. I'm more likely to put the headset down because I'm sweating rather than feeling nauseous and that's mostly my humid apartment. The library for Quest is excellent and even better if you've got a PC. Microsoft Flight Simulator in VR is truly wondrous. Software sales are frequent, games are good value and I think the medium is here to stay no doubt about it. Sony should have 1 made the device less expensive and 2 made it stream from PS5 rather than have that old fashioned wire running across your room. It was a smart move to eventually make it compatible with PC but the pancake lens' of Quest still give it a huge advantage in my opinion. Anyway, if you made it through this comment, never say never to VR is my humble advice as a gamer of 35 years.

I generally game more in the summer - I work at a school in NYC so I have two months off but then it's warm and humid outside so I like to stay at home gaming/reading/playing the Sax with the AC blasting away! Working on my backlog currently and my goodness is GOW Ragnarok gorgeous.

Hard to disagree, it deserved all it's game of the year awards and will go down as an all time classic. I wasn't a turn based RPG or D&D gamer at all but this game has converted me. It's why we play games, for escapism, immersion and storytelling beyond what TV and film can do and altogether different from a good book. Simply outstanding.

It actually led me to giving Wasteland 3 a try and I'm almost finished - another highly detailed turn based RPG with immersive writing - recommended if you are interested in anything post apocalyptic.

@PlayStation_Dawg1994 My thoughts exactly! Hopefully this dev have taken note from those two outstanding games. Double Dragon on NES and SOR on Genesis have a special place in my gaming history.