Balaam_

Balaam_

Give me discs or give me death

Comments 629

Re: PlayStation Stars Rewards Program Shutting Down, Sony Confirms

Balaam_

PS Stars was a neat idea that was incredibly poorly executed.

As an avid trophy hunter completionist, I avoided stars like the plague. The idea of being forced to play a game I may otherwise have zero interest in, a game that may have glitched trophies or trophies that are too tedious/time consuming/difficult in order to obtain some ps stars trinket is instantly Dead-On-Arrival. Add to that the time sensitive nature of how they handled the stars rewards, that ‘get it now or you’ll miss your chance and it’s done forever’—it’s highly distasteful.

Re: Poll: 10 Years Later, What Are Your Thoughts on The Witcher 3?

Balaam_

I’ve tried multiple times over the years to play Witcher 3, but can’t make it past the atrocious combat and walk/run cycle. From the few hours I’ve put in during each attempt, everything else seems incredible. Systems, exploration, level design, visuals, sound design, atmosphere etc etc etc are all S tier, but oh dear god the combat is repetitive slop. The exact same generic attack animation every single time is truly awful. I may have to seriously look into whether there’s a mod for the pc version that makes combat palatable, because the N64 era combat is a complete no go for me. Even Elder Scrolls has more instanced movesets and variety, and the melee combat in those games is also trash.

Re: Inquiry Already Underway Over Lacklustre DOOM: The Dark Ages Opening

Balaam_

Not sure what the pc crowd isn’t liking, but the only reason I didn’t gladly give iD my $70 is because there’s nothing on the physical disc to actually own. I don’t throw money away renting digital bytes of data, I BUY-TO-OWN

When they correct their mistake and put the full game on disc (mint two if that’s what it takes), then I’ll buy.

Re: Xbox RPG Avowed Should Be a Much Improved Game Once It Comes to PS5

Balaam_

This one’s such a waste. When they first showed the initial teaser for Avowed (that arrow flying down into the chasm, followed by the purple rune magic and sword) it looked freaking awesome.

Then we got what we got.

A hideously repugnant, garish visual aesthetic inspired by those ugly kids’ art supplies made by Lisa Frank in the ‘90’s. And that’s just the graphical downfall, not even mentioning the lifeless locales (NPC’s literally stand rooted in place waiting for you to talk to them), generic level design and other shortcomings. As far as I’m concerned, they can keep Avowed. Less clutter in the PSN store.

Re: Poll: Are You Playing DOOM: The Dark Ages?

Balaam_

I can’t vote, this poll doesn’t have enough options.

Where is the poll selection for

•When they put the entire game on disc without any ‘internet download required’ BS so I can OWN IT IN PERPETUITY I will buy it. I don’t throw money away on things I won’t own”?

Re: You Don't Have Much Time Left to Take Advantage of Expedition 33's Strongest Attack

Balaam_

Yet another reason digital rentals are inferior to permanent physical ownership. Not that Expedition 33’s devs are doing anything particularly nefarious here, but in those instances when other, lesser devs do decide to ruin something in a game it becomes an impossibility for them when we own physical copies (in games not dangling at the end of the ‘always online’ gallows, that is).

Physical ownership is for the liberated; digital rentals are for the subservient ‘step on me, corporate overlords’ masses.

Re: Oblivion Remastered Sales Explode in the US, Becomes Third Best-Selling Game of 2025

Balaam_

As a game, performance issues notwithstanding, it’s fantastic.

As far as content delivery is concerned, get this rented digital slop out of my face and give me something I can OWN in perpetuity. I want the game on-disc (mint two if that’s what it takes) and no ‘internet download required’ labels infecting the box art. I crave the security of knowing no matter how badly any future patch may or may not butcher the experience (either content or performance changes) I have something no company can alter or take away. That’s the beauty and the power of physical media.

Re: PS5 Exclusive Ghost of Yotei Rockets Right to the Top of PS Store Pre-Order Charts

Balaam_

Would have loved to pick up the collector’s edition off PS Direct, but someone decided to remove the physical disc version of the game in favor of a digital code.

Collector’s and enthusiasts are the ones interested in the boxed special editions, and we want a hard copy. The Everyman raised on madden and Fortnite might indeed try Ghost of Yotei, but he isn’t shelling out for an expensive special edition off ps direct. My question is, with the removal of the actual disc coveted by the hardcore collector, Who is this actually for?

I wish E3 were still a thing; I’d like to hear stories of ardent fans taking their Ethernet cables and a sharpie to have the Sucker Punch dev team sign their copy of Ghost of Yotei.

Re: LittleBigPlanet Erasure Continues as Sackboy Removed from PlayStation Productions Logo

Balaam_

Glad to see sackboy get tossed in the trash.

I have trophy hunter friends whose trophy lists are permanently screwed because of how Sony and MediaMolecule handled the LBP2 hack situation. Instead of fixing it, they simply shut the online servers down along with the possibility of anyone still needing the platinum to be able to obtain it. No patch, no Auto Unlock, nothing.

And that’s not to mention MM’s anti consumer decision to force players into buying expensive peripherals like a Vita and the PS Move in order to be able to obtain trophies for the lacklustre DLC’s.

No, I can’t say I’m sad to see Sackboy go. In fact, point me in the direction of his tombstone so I can kick it over.

Re: Oblivion Remastered Updates in the Oven, Bethesda Wants Your Feedback for Improvements

Balaam_

PHYSICAL DISC VERSION WITH THE ENTIRE GAME ON DISC (MINT TWO IF NECESSARY)

There are legions of PlayStation fans who prefer the security ownership of physical media provides. We have not sat with open mouths like baby birds ready to choke down whatever vomit the platform holder is regurgitating regarding the ‘benefits’ and ‘ease’ of digital rentals. We have no desire to flush money down the drain leasing digital keys; we buy-to-own.

Give us a hard copy, a tangible thing we can put on our shelves and look at now and again to remind us of this great game.

Re: Poll: Are You Playing Oblivion Remastered?

Balaam_

I can’t vote. I don’t see the poll option for

•’I would absolutely love to be playing Oblivion Remastered right now, but I refuse to flush money down the drain leasing digital games. When they release the full game on disc without any internet download required, I’ll be more than happy to buy it.’

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 563

Balaam_

Finishing up Alan Wake 2. What a fantastic game so far, very pleased with it. My only gripe is Saga’s horrific, god awful voice acting. She slurs her lines, leaves off word endings, can’t decide whether she wants to do a British or American English accent, or simply mispronounces words. It is the worst voice acting I have ever heard, essentially on par with “Oh hi Mark!” and “You’re tearing me apart!”. I honestly don’t know how they listened to this woman for more than 10 seconds after she opened her mouth at the audition. It is un-freaking-believable how awful her voice acting is; I cannot overstate it.

Anyway, I have zero issues with the rest of the game in its entirety, it’s been nothing but an epic tour de force of great gameplay, witty writing, eerie atmosphere, mind blowing graphics and a terrifying soundscape. I highly recommend it; just be sure to enable captions so you can mute the game whenever Saga opens her face hole.

Re: Hideo Kojima Is Still 'Building' Death Stranding 2

Balaam_

It’ll be a shame when these god tier developers from the golden age of gaming eventually retire or pass on and all we’re left with are the ones catering to the Minecraft/fortnite/CoD slobbering masses. May I go long before that bleak and worthless future happens.

Re: DOOM: The Dark Ages, Expedition 33 News in Next Xbox Developer Direct

Balaam_

Doom looks cool, but I won’t pay money for a game where the developers force multiplayer trophies into the main list. I have zero interest in the mp and don’t want my trophy experience penalized for something I won’t play. Campaigns and multiplayer elements in games should always have separate trophy lists. I’ll wait for it to come to ps+ and try it free on my alt rather than conrribute toward their gamer unfriendly decisions.

Re: Ken Levine Spills the Beans on Irrational Games' Closure Post BioShock Infinite

Balaam_

Love the Bioshocks, even the 2nd. If any games need a graphical remaster though, it’s these. The character models are a joke, the textures are flat and simplistic, animation quality is extremely poor etc. Don’t get me wrong; the artistic direction is Best in Class. Second to none really, particularly the first game. But man oh man the games do not hold up visually. And yes that includes the “Remastered” versions we did get. The games need a complete graphical overhaul a la Bluepoint’s work on SotC or DS. Then they’d be perfect. Fingers crossed Judas looks visually appealing.

Re: Poll: Do You Use PS Stars?

Balaam_

No interest whatsoever. It suffers from the exact same issues plaguing the Trophy system. Once you interact with that PS stars thing on the app, It can never be undone. I refuse to be shanghaied into playing a game I would never otherwise touch just to earn a few stars points. Oh, and those trophies you’d unlock in said game? You can’t erase them from your account once they’re unlocked. So you’re stuck forever with either an incomplete game or you’re forced into finishing it for the 100% platinum you rightfully deserve. Nope.

Limited time quests and little tchotchkes for your little ps stars shelf? So if I miss them, I can never obtain them any other way? Nope, piss poor design right there. Can’t ever disable or permanently erase your stars collection? Nope, trash design.

Knowing how horrendously bad the trophy situation is, I would not be surprised if Sony didn’t even let you rearrange or alphabetize your stars collectibles.

No sir, PS Stars is poison and I want no part of it.

Re: Do You Put Your PS5 in Rest Mode or Shut It Down?

Balaam_

I’ve had nothing but problems when using rest mode since I got my PS5 on launch day. I thought it bricked itself multiple times, and this would occur immediatelg after using rest mode. Eventually it wasn’t worth the hassle of holding the power button to enter Rebuilding Database mode and I was leery of losing saves and such, so I only ever turn the system off completely now. Never had this issue with any other console before.

Re: WWE 2K23's PS5, PS4 Platinum Trophy Is No Longer Obtainable

Balaam_

…Annnnnnnd that’s why I rarely if ever spend money on games with online, server dependent trophies.

Devs need to learn if they want our money, don’t butcher the trophy lists. Games built from the ground up around online connectivity/multiplayer are one thing, and everyone knows what they’re getting into when they get involved with them. But keep that trash out of our predominantly single player experiences. Either that, or build in a contingency. I believe Mass Effect 3 had the foresight to structure the trophy list wherein all online related trophies had alternative methods of unlocking that could be attained purely offline. That is competent, quality work—not the disgusting laziness most devs sink to nowadays.

Re: Ghost of Tsushima Legends Is an Upcoming Anime Inspired by the PS5, PS4 Game

Balaam_

Loved the base game. Hated that awful Legends multiplayer-centric dlc they shoehorned into it. Had to slog through that garbage to get back to 100% trophy completion.

Platform holders need to mandate there be no additional content bolted on if it doesn’t conform to what the base experience entailed. Not everyone wants a piss poorly designed raid, or the mindless, repetitive monotony of a low-effort wave survival mode. I never would have bought the game if I knew in advance that filth was going to be forced in.

What is it with Sony first party studios and the dichotomy of being able to craft nearly flawless single player masterpieces on command, and then butchering them with terrible DLC’s? Uncharted, The Last of Us, Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, GoW Ragnarok…WTF

Re: How Well Do You Know Uncharted?

Balaam_

Took me .0002 seconds to nail that multiplayer question.

Naughty Dog screwed over trophy hunting gamers the world over with the horrendous, god awful trophies they forced down our throats for that multiplayer in Uncharted 2. Absurd, stupidly outrageous criteria that I am eminently proud to have boosted with minimal effort. No way I would waste my time slogging through that trash a second longer than I had to. Finished that slop, dropped it and never looked back.

Naughty Dog are masters at crafting a near-perfect single player game and hurling it into an open sewer by bolting on multiplayer crap not everyone wants to deal with, and making trophy criteria as sadistic and selfish as they possibly can. I keep hoping they’ll identify the individual(s) responsible for forcing MP into otherwise perfect games.

Re: This New Xbox Controller Looks Exactly Like a PS5 Pad

Balaam_

The only thing preventing PlayStation controllers from being absolutely perfect (trom a design perspective) is their insistence on in line sticks. I much prefer offset sticks, but every other aspect of the PlayStation controller is exactly what I’d do if I were to design it. I understand why Sony won’t ever do offset sticks, but I don’t like it.

Re: PS5 Pro, Cash Bonus Rewarded to All Stellar Blade Dev Employees

Balaam_

Totally worth it. Stellar Blade was substantially better than I expected. I went into it with doubts, then it completely captivated me until I obtained that shiny platinum (perfect trophy list too btw, no garbage criteria like in so many other games). Absolutely brilliant from start to finish; by rights it should have won Best Action Game at the Geoffs instead of Black Mid Wukong.

Re: Poll: Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Essential Games for January 2025?

Balaam_

Usually there’s something in each month’s batch of freebies that I can find some enjoyment in, but this is a rare month where I’m not so sure. SS looks like the type of slop I’d rather die than play, and Need4Speed isn’t really my cup of tea. I don’t know anything about Stanley Parable, but it seems to have its fans. All hopes rest on that one, I guess.

Re: Almost 3,000 Massive PS5, PS4 Deals Added to PS Store

Balaam_

If anyone was somehow still on the fence, Stellar Blade is fantastic. Recently platinum’d it and it was a blast from beginning to end. Superb combat, amazing visuals, excellent pacing throughout. Good replay value (multiple cosmetic items and gear variations on NG+ to collect). The Geoff’s made a mistake; This was Best Action Game of 2024, not Black Mid Wukong.

Re: Game of the Year: Push Square Readers' Top 10 PS5 Games of 2024

Balaam_

I would bump Stellar Blade up a spot to replace FF7Rebirth, since Stellar Blade’s trophy list is practically perfect while FF7Rebirth’s is so incompetently curated the game’s own director had to publicly apologize for his miserable, selfish failure. That alone should bump FF out of podium position.

Re: Consoles Here to Stay, PS5 to Be Supported into Next-Gen, Says PlayStation CEO

Balaam_

Good. I have less than no interest in streaming any games through the cloud, and my interest in pc fades rapidly the more headaches and hangups and things that come between me and actually playing the darn game.

The recipe for fun isn’t complicated:
1) Sit in comfy chair
2) Hold controller
3) Turn on beautiful 4K 144hz OLED
4) Enjoy fantastic exclusive title that makes me glad I bought the console

Re: Game of the Year: Best PS5 DLC of 2024

Balaam_

Shadow of the Erdtree overshadowed almost everything; I forgot how much really solid DLC we actually got.

The Alan Wake stuff is brilliant, Stellar Blade’s was pretty nifty, and FF16’s was surprisingly good (aside from that survival mode trash that needed to have been left on the chopping block. What a tedious chore it was to slog through that filth. Wouldn’t have bothered if these scummy devs hadn’t forceably attached trophies to it. Thankfully you can use those boosters to sleepwalk through that garbage, which is exactly what I did because that crap isn’t worth playing legit).

Re: Nomura Known as 'Demon King of Retakes' During Final Fantasy 7 Dev

Balaam_

So who’s to blame for the trash trophy list in the first FF7R? Who is the selfish scum responsible, Nomura or someone he should have been policing but failed to do so? Will we get a public apology from him like we did with Hamaguchi-chan for his incompetence?

I should probably mention I have the platinum—but just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should be done. If I could design the best sports car ever made, do I have the right to mandate the steering wheel be made entirely of razor blades? Someone making decisions that stupid doesn’t deserve his or her job.