Switch: Finally burning out a bit on MHR:Sunbreak, and just keeping myself fresh with 1 or 2 hunts per day... My build is pretty much where I want it to be, running Greatsword with Dereliction & Resentment (alongside full CritEye / AB / CB / WEC). Using this build with RageSlash/ACS, cultivating a nice 'hit and run' style.
I'm actually really really enjoying 'Return to Monkey Island' on Switch also, and just hit Act IV. My only critique is that it is perhaps a little on the easy side, albeit there have been a few moments I've got stuck. Keen to explore this genre more once I beat it.
PS5: Returnal CO-OP! Love this game so much, and have enjoyed helping out new players via the co-op DLC function. Nearly caved and got TLOU remake, but held back and decided to wait until its inevitable sale.
I'm ok with this, and actually prefer a lack of difficulty options - but please don't confuse this statement with being an 'elitist gamer' (!)
I'm certainly no gaming pro, but the games I've enjoyed most in the last couple of years include Returnal, Elden Ring, Sekiro and Nioh. All of these can only be played via difficulty 'as the developers intended', albeit there are functions in-game to ease the pain. (Mimic tear in Elden Ring can trivialise a lot of boss fights)
I sometimes feel a bit of anxiety when choosing a difficulty option from a given range, usually finding 'normal' a bit too easy and then 'hard' tends to be absolutely brutal. Elimination of this choice is nice I think, as you know you're playing the game the 'right way'.... and surely no dev wants to make a game so hard it is impossible to beat?
Just because this suits me though, I do appreciate it can be seen as gate-keeping + it hardly caters for disabilities and such.
This will always be an interesting debate, and I hear Steelrising did a good job recently, in allowing the player to adjust difficulty sliders to certain functions?
@PenguinLtd Ha oh wow.... one playthrough was enough for me, especially after the 2 week period it took me to beat Ishiin at the end! Do you agree yet it is the best FromSoftware game??
@ErrantRob I was in exactly the same boat - IMO the game does a terrible job of explaining the 'spirit bar'! Basically I was using too many heavy/triangle attacks, which put spirit into orange (negative). To get spirit into blue (positive) you need to use a lot of light/square attacks, and take as little damage as possible. When spirit is blue, the parry/deflect window is much more generous and you are more difficult to stagger.... Also, first time I beat the demo I played with an Earth build using spear - which is solid for blocking. I'm still not convinced Wu Long will measure up to the Nioh series though.
I saw your earlier post re Steelrising, how are you finding this? I'm quite on the fence as to whether to buy or not
PS5: My Bloodborne playthrough was unintentionally derailed last week, due to picking up 'Thymesia' at a decent price (indie Souls-clone game, similar to Sekiro). Thymesia is relatively short, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.... scooped the platinum in about 30hrs. Then this week I've played, and managed to (finally!) beat the 'Wu Long' demo released by Team Ninja. Began really not enjoying this, but now I understand the mechanics better I've done several run throughs with different weapons - really really like it!
N.Switch: As always, playing some Sunbreak and just finishing off a couple of new builds for Greatsword. TU2 update is released in a week, and looking forward to taking the new builds for a spin... Otherwise my main focus in the next week will be a nice change of pace - aiming to play (and hopefully beat) the new Monkey Island game. I grew up with Point-and-Click games, and am genuinely excited for this one!
@KundaliniRising333 Thanks man, and I would definitely stick Thymesia on your wishlist... I'd assume in coming months it will be subject to sale, and would be an amazing purchase with 20-30% discount. If you're into Platinums, its a pretty decent trophy roadmap with only a bit of grind - most trophies unlocked via MSQ and beating bosses etc. Based on your Steelrising comments, I'd expect you'd like it.
You mention Steelrising is quite short, but IMO this is actually a pro! I think so many games today are open-world 100+ hr epics.... there are only so many hrs in the day to play! I recently got the platinum on Nioh (1) and that took 80-90 hours, so something a third of that length would be ideal.
I'm travelling this month, and also digging into the new Monkey Island, but hoping Steelrising might land a sale before Xmas - you've convinced me to buy
@KundaliniRising333 Thanks for taking the time to put your thoughts out into the wild…
I recently got hold of a cheap copy of Thymesia, another recent Souls-clone… and found it to be a really enjoyable experience. It has a much shorter run time than a lot of its peers, taking me around 20-25hrs for the platinum. Level design and enemy variety are somewhat lacking, but the combat is seriously tight with some awesome boss battles. The whole experience was very akin to Sekiro, and it was well worth the admission price.
I nearly went with Steelrising (over Thymesia) but instead went for the cheaper option. Steelrising seems to have a fairly steep price tag, Would you say it’s worth it? I understand that a bag relating to one of the trophies (making the platinum impossible) has now been patched?
The release window 'summer 2023' is an interesting one...
I expect, and also partly hope, that SE will allow a few months of breathing room between FFXVI and Zelda TotK.
I'm personally very excited for both games, and I wouldn't want to see FF's success impacted/diminished from a release too close to TotK (similar to the impact felt by Horizon FW due to Elden Ring).
Also I partly hope that this gets an August/September release to allow me to play through TotK in entirety, then fully devote myself to FF16. Can't wait for both!
2023 in general is shaping up to be killer across all platforms, and pretty exciting in terms of high-profiles releases.
@BlackMayge Nice to hear Steelrising getting some love...
I recently took a punt on Thymesia, another recent Souls-Clone - and have genuinely been really pleasantly surprised. I'm really enjoying its linearity and short play-time (circa ~10-12hrs) and am now going to push for the platinum on this. It plays very similar to Sekiro and the combat is remarkably tight and well orchestrated. Level design and enemy variety are quite poor, but the combat mechanics and boss battles are pretty decent. I picked it up for 20 £GBP, and would recommend anyone interested puts in on their wish list. It is bound to be discounted soon, and would be a steal for 10-15 GBP.
Souls-clones are very much in trend at the moment, and it is difficult to discern which are worth the time and which are not... based on your SR comments I might keep an eye out for it on sale
Nintendo Switch - Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, just finishing off some builds before the TU2 drops at the end of this month. I've finished all the A5 Anomaly Quests and managed to attain Anomaly Research Lv100, which is the current cap (to increase - - > 120 upon TU2 release). Then from Monday I plan to sit this aside and begin the new Monkey Island!
PS5 - Took a break from Bloodborne to play Thymesia, a Sekiro/Souls clone by an indie developer. A pleasant surprise, with a really great combat system. A short length also, and I plan to push for the platinum. Just hit a wall with a particularly rough boss ('Urd') but am pushing through! Also want to try out the Wu Long demo. My last platinum was Nioh1, and I'm a huge fan of Team Ninja... hoping for good things!
Really want to see/hear the Switch performance on this game…. Come December I’ll be needing a decent Switch game for travel and hoping this would fit the bill. I have some concerns about performance though!
Got the plat in March, and then moved on to other games... so weird hearing all the music 6 months down the line - really does bring back all the feelings (anxiety!) of playing!!
For anyone wanting to scratch the 'Bloodborne itch' - I'd recommend Thymesia.
Pretty cheap, 20 £GBP, and plays like a mix between Bloodborne/Sekiro.... with a lot of skill-tree & build diversity.
Its apparently quite a short campaign, and platinum estimated at <15hrs.
The boss battles are pretty decent! Of course it is shamelessly 'imitation-FromSoftware' but plays well and is a nice shorter game. I'd give it a solid 7...
Keen to check Steelrising, but not committed yet.
For sure though, Lies of P could potentially dethrone my favorite Souls-Like (non-From) of all time - which is Salt & Sanctuary
@PenguinLtd Sekiro remains my favorite FromSoft game, but the very final boss nearly ruined the experience for me. Even my FS standards, he is obnoxiously difficult... and not not enjoyable in any way. Took me 2 weeks to beat him, eventually I resorted to a semi-cheese 'stab-once-and-run' strategy (took >20mins to do him this way).
This is good for Housemarque, which in turn is good for PS5 owners - considering the recent acquisition of the aforementioned by Sony.
More exposure for HM, not to mention further sales of Returnal, will likely work to support the developer with their next project... both financially and commercially.
Returnal is one of the finest games I've ever played, my personal GOTY 2021, and I can't wait to see what HM come out with next...
I'm a PS5/Switch owner (never gamed on a PC) but I'm genuinely thrilled for PC gamers who now get to experience this amazing game.
Nintendo Switch: Still hunting daily in Sunbreak, and still having such a blast! Have now cleared all the 5* Anomoly Quests, and working towards AR100 (currently AR87). I’m fairly happy with my build now, but I still have 1 Armor piece in my main set that has potential for a better Quirio roll. Still maining GS - using the Lucent Narga variant, love the aesthetic and the skills are solid as well. Currently doing a lot of Multiplayer anomoly investigations to build my AR, mainly with ransoms, and having a good time. I’m hoping TU2 gives me a reason to keep playing, maybe new armors that lend themselves to GS skills etc PlayStation 5: Carrying on with Bloodborne, and managed to beat Vicar Amelia first try last night… albeit I must confess I’ve been doing a lot of exploring/grinding, so perhaps my level (34) helped me out there! Found VA to be far less punishing than Father Gascoigne, who was a real wall. Flirting with the idea of going for the platinum, which seems to be doable based on some guides I’ve read
Next up: Xeno3 on Switch, and maybe Thymesia on PS5 (still can’t decide, reviews have been divisive…)
Generally I avoid platinums that take multiple playthroughs to achieve... although I'm certainly not adverse to save-scumming multiple endings in order to attain (Elden Ring, I'm looking at you...!)
I only have 5, but they were/are all games I love - Returnal / Demons Souls / Ghost of Tsushima / Elden Ring / Nioh(1)
@PenguinLtd that’s interesting as I’ve beat Sekiro, alongside the other titles you mention, but have yet to play Bloodborne - which I’ll be starting this weekend!
IMO - and this is probably a bit contentious- Sekiro is FromSoft’s ‘magnum opus’ and their finest game to date. It’s a strange take on their usual formula, as there is no scope for builds, summoning or levelling up…. It is just ‘Git Gud’ gaming at its finest!
Once the combat clicks it’s a hugely fun ride, with some of the most memorable boss fights in their catalogue
Nintendo Switch: 'Monster Hunter Rise - Sunbreak' - Still loving the expansion, and the new Title Update has opened up some massive possibilities for new sets/builds. Nearly every weapon is viable, and I'm enjoying the ride so far. Just hit MR100, and enjoying also the online MP hunts. PS5: 'Bloodborne' - its been sat in my backlog for some time, and is one of the remaining FromSoft titles I've not played. Many seem to rank this as their #1 FS game, even above Elden Ring, so I'm really keen to see what all the fuss is about! Shame that there is no patch for 60fps..... but luckily I've been playing a lot of Switch, so the 30fps performance likely won't bother me too much.
Ghost of Tsushima is an excellent example of a Platinum 'benchmark' IMO.... it doesn't obnoxiously ask you to spend 100s of hours finding every last collective, and most of the trophies can be obtained just playing through the main game (Which is a pleasure).
@BlackMayge I agree 100% with your comments on Sunbreak... such a great 'pick up & play' game, almost quite arcade-style! I've probably poured more hours into that game than any other in recent years, by a huge margin. I just hit MR40, but the difficulty is stepping up big time! What is your weapon? Let me know if you ever do multiplayer, I'll add you mate!
PS5: Finally kicked of Resi3Make... been holding off for months, waiting for PS5 upgrade! Enjoying it so far, about 2 hours in. I hear the campaign is relatively short, which is what I'm looking for at the moment (coming off the long hard 80+ hr grind for Nioh1 platinum!).
Switch: MHR Sunbreak, where the difficulty curve is no joke. Hit MR40 now, but there have been plenty of stumbling blocks along the way... New GS switch skills are great, as is the skill swap option. Being able to take Rage Slash and TCS into each hunt is brilliant.
Immortals was the most pleasant of surprises! I picked it up on Switch when it released, and played it non-stop through the Christmas holiday period. It shamelessly borrows a lot of concepts from BOTW, but in the best possible way (!). A lot of fun, and I wish Ubisoft would take more chances on new IPs like this. The DLC was fairly solid too
PS5: Having got the Nioh platinum this week, I’m looking to start a shorter game before diving into Nioh 2…. Probably Re3Make, which I understand has quite a short campaign
Switch: Really pushing forward now with MHR: Sunbreak and wanting to escape the MR cap and start crafting some endgame builds for Greatsword. Currently in MR5 and the difficulty curve has really stepped up…. Need to upgrade gear asap to avoid getting stomped! Very fun expansion though, multiplayer is also pretty good
@Keyblade-Dan coincidentally I platinum’d Ni-Oh yesterday… and had a great time with it. The mechanics are quite intricate, but the combat is absolutely sublime once it clicks. Give the first couple of missions a go, and you’ll know if it’s for you! I loved it so much that I’m going to dive into the sequel after a small break
PS5: Nioh 1 - just completed the final ‘main mission’ from the last region, “The Demon King Revealed”. Got a few more side-missions and busy-work to finish off, as I’m determined to pop the platinum! Some of the side-missions left seem ridiculous and mainly made up of double-boss fights…. Where’s a good mimic tear when you need one?!
Nintendo Switch: MHR Sunbreak - loving this expansion and taking my time with it. In the midst of MR3 quests and have just upgraded from HR gear into some new MR Armor and weaponry. Tons of new QoL features and mechanics to wrap my head around, and definitely feeling the challenge - especially when solo’-ing monsters. Well up for multi-player if anyone is looking to team up 👍
For those who haven’t played the original, and are not too clued up regarding the narrative threads, this is probably a great introduction to the franchise. I’ll probably buy this as I’ve played neither P1 or 2…
But for long-standing PS fans, especially those who played the PS4 remaster, this surely must seem somewhat not needed?
For me, the ‘issue’ is more about how ND chose to allocate resources here. How great would it have been to have this team kick off an exciting new IP, with a new story and mechanics etc?
On PS5 - Nioh 1, finally made it to Region #6 (of 6) and am gunning for the platinum trophy still! Plan is to hopefully have this wrapped in next week or so, and then move on to Resident Evil 3
On Switch - just started Sunbreak and made it up for MR2 now. Still using my existing HR set and weapon (GS Narga with full Valstrax Armor set) which is doing ok for me so far. Up for group hunts if anyone else is playing! So far really enjoying the expansion, and can’t wait to start farming a new set and upgrading my weapons (+ new fashion of course ha!)
A battle system similar to FFVIIR would be great, as I felt that the combat system was the best part of that game. Excited for this game, but will probably try to pick it up on Switch instead of PS
@PenguinLtd Sekiro beckons…! IMO this is FromSoft’s ‘Magnum Opus’ and just an utterly fantastic game. Incredibly punishing, but there is also a beautiful simplicity to it - no ‘builds’ per se, or stat allocation to worry about, you simply just pick up and play.
MHR: Sunbreak on Nintendo Switch… but purposefully limiting myself to small sessions so as to prevent burnout! Only just kicked it off and excited to try the new Switch Skills for Greatsword (hear that they’re great) This will basically be my ‘travel game’ while I’m away with work
Then when home, still on that Platinum grind with Nioh 1 - finally made it to region 5 (of 6) and still loving it. IMO - not quite as polished as the FromSoftware outputs, but would argue that Nioh combat is far superior… just excellent fighting mechanics!
Expand on the great elements of Remake - eg Combat System / Characterisation - and cut out / omit some of the filler content and side-quests.
I'd rather have a really tight 20hr game vs a 60hr+ game with tons of uninteresting time-sinks.
Maybe also unlock hard mode from Day #1, with no need to play through base story first on easy/normal.
I'm a fan of the original, but totally fine with this new entry being its 'own thing'. I enjoyed the narrative beats of Remake, and look forward to the direction that will follow in Rebirth.
IMO, the original FF7 (and story/narrative) will ALWAYS stand tall... and whether Remake/Rebirth stay faithful or diverge will never take away from the greatness of the OG.
@TraCuz- Elden Ring is such a rare example of a game actually living up to all the pre-release hype. It’s reception, from critics and ‘gamers’, was so remarkably positive also… I’m really excited for whatever FS come up with next!
I think my ranking would perhaps still put Sekiro above Elden Ring, but it’s a tight race! I really like that Sekiro has a tight narrative, and also ‘forces’ the player to git gud. Lady Butterfly took my upwards of 50 attempts, and I felt amazing when I finally beat her!
@TraCuz- if you could integrate Nioh’s combat mechanics into a FromSoftware game, then you would have one hell of an experience for sure! I’m enjoying Nioh, but honestly feel like Elden Ring spoilt me earlier this year… and nothing else is quite filling the void! What is your favourite souls game? (FromSoft or imitation)
This statement might get me shot- so I’ll try to phrase it carefully (!)… I think Hollow Knight is an ‘objectively’ stronger game than Salt&Sanctuary, but i personally much prefer S&S!
@PenguinLtd Well done! Dark Souls is nowhere near as hard as people make out
If you want a souls fix, but with a twist, I highly recommend ‘Salt & Sanctuary’ which is a 2D-style souls game with some Metroidvania elements. Excellent build diversity and really does a great job in capturing the atmosphere of FromSoftware’s games (albeit in 2D)
IMO - Salt and Sanctuary is the best non-FromSoftware Souls-esque game! Also on Nintendo Switch, and plays great on it
(NB there is a sequel, Salt and Sacrifice… but honestly it is IMO nowhere near as good as the original!! So, I recommend the original game Salt and Sanctuary - just to be clear!!)
Ploughing on with Nioh (1) and just made it to region #4 - which I believe is the halfway point. A great game and effort by Team Ninja, but I still think it can’t quite measure up to most of FromSoftware’s portfolio! The Nioh combat is slick though, and just looks/feels so good when it clicks
On Switch I’m meaning to try the Sunbreak demo at some point, but I’ve been blasting some TMNT Shredder’s Revenge… so much fun!
I feel we are long overdue for an 'epic' mainline entry in this series, and the team behind this game (inc. YoshiP) have my confidence.
FF7R left me slightly cold for a few reasons. I loved the combat system, and actually enjoyed the story beats and changing narrative...... but so much of the game seemed like unnecessary filler.
If the length of FF7R had been halved, and 'Hard Mode' available from the outset, I would rank it much much higher.
The Yufi expansion is pretty great though, and Fort Condor mini-game is awesome
@theMEGAniggle I've never formulated an official Top 10 (would like to though) but I would 100% put Returnal in there somewhere, maybe even top 5 territory.
I can't wait for this game to get some decent exposure via PS++.... there must surely be many fence-sitters who are hesitant to shell out £70 to buy, but will give it a whirl via the new service.
This game will sell by the truckload.... Capcom seem to be on such a roll of late!
As well, let's not forget that Elden Ring has probably introduced a whole new player-base into fantasy-style open world games... who will probably be hungry for a similar dish upon the release of DD2.
Really exciting!
RE4Make, Village DLC, MHR Sunbreak and SF6 all on the periphery.... what a time to be alive
Returnal still holds a special place in my heart.... my personal 2021 GOTY without doubt! The DLC drop was immense also, and can't wait to see what Housemarque have up their sleeve next.
Of course Returnal had flaws, and it was slightly obnoxious not to include 'suspend' from Day 1 (!), but I'm really hopefully that HM will learn from these aspects and create an incredible experience with their next offering
Comments 233
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 448
Switch: Finally burning out a bit on MHR:Sunbreak, and just keeping myself fresh with 1 or 2 hunts per day...
My build is pretty much where I want it to be, running Greatsword with Dereliction & Resentment (alongside full CritEye / AB / CB / WEC). Using this build with RageSlash/ACS, cultivating a nice 'hit and run' style.
I'm actually really really enjoying 'Return to Monkey Island' on Switch also, and just hit Act IV. My only critique is that it is perhaps a little on the easy side, albeit there have been a few moments I've got stuck. Keen to explore this genre more once I beat it.
PS5: Returnal CO-OP! Love this game so much, and have enjoyed helping out new players via the co-op DLC function. Nearly caved and got TLOU remake, but held back and decided to wait until its inevitable sale.
Re: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Won't Have Difficulty Options, Producer Says It's 'Not an Easy Game'
I'm ok with this, and actually prefer a lack of difficulty options - but please don't confuse this statement with being an 'elitist gamer' (!)
I'm certainly no gaming pro, but the games I've enjoyed most in the last couple of years include Returnal, Elden Ring, Sekiro and Nioh. All of these can only be played via difficulty 'as the developers intended', albeit there are functions in-game to ease the pain. (Mimic tear in Elden Ring can trivialise a lot of boss fights)
I sometimes feel a bit of anxiety when choosing a difficulty option from a given range, usually finding 'normal' a bit too easy and then 'hard' tends to be absolutely brutal. Elimination of this choice is nice I think, as you know you're playing the game the 'right way'.... and surely no dev wants to make a game so hard it is impossible to beat?
Just because this suits me though, I do appreciate it can be seen as gate-keeping + it hardly caters for disabilities and such.
This will always be an interesting debate, and I hear Steelrising did a good job recently, in allowing the player to adjust difficulty sliders to certain functions?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 445
@PenguinLtd Ah fairplay mate! Demons Souls was my lowest ranked tbh (Sekiro #1, Elden Ring/Bloodborne @ #2)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 445
@PenguinLtd Ha oh wow.... one playthrough was enough for me, especially after the 2 week period it took me to beat Ishiin at the end!
Do you agree yet it is the best FromSoftware game??
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 445
@ErrantRob I was in exactly the same boat - IMO the game does a terrible job of explaining the 'spirit bar'!
Basically I was using too many heavy/triangle attacks, which put spirit into orange (negative). To get spirit into blue (positive) you need to use a lot of light/square attacks, and take as little damage as possible. When spirit is blue, the parry/deflect window is much more generous and you are more difficult to stagger....
Also, first time I beat the demo I played with an Earth build using spear - which is solid for blocking. I'm still not convinced Wu Long will measure up to the Nioh series though.
I saw your earlier post re Steelrising, how are you finding this? I'm quite on the fence as to whether to buy or not
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 445
PS5: My Bloodborne playthrough was unintentionally derailed last week, due to picking up 'Thymesia' at a decent price (indie Souls-clone game, similar to Sekiro). Thymesia is relatively short, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.... scooped the platinum in about 30hrs.
Then this week I've played, and managed to (finally!) beat the 'Wu Long' demo released by Team Ninja. Began really not enjoying this, but now I understand the mechanics better I've done several run throughs with different weapons - really really like it!
N.Switch: As always, playing some Sunbreak and just finishing off a couple of new builds for Greatsword. TU2 update is released in a week, and looking forward to taking the new builds for a spin...
Otherwise my main focus in the next week will be a nice change of pace - aiming to play (and hopefully beat) the new Monkey Island game. I grew up with Point-and-Click games, and am genuinely excited for this one!
Re: PS Plus Premium Adds Two Hour Steelrising Trial for PS5
@KundaliniRising333 Thanks man, and I would definitely stick Thymesia on your wishlist... I'd assume in coming months it will be subject to sale, and would be an amazing purchase with 20-30% discount. If you're into Platinums, its a pretty decent trophy roadmap with only a bit of grind - most trophies unlocked via MSQ and beating bosses etc. Based on your Steelrising comments, I'd expect you'd like it.
You mention Steelrising is quite short, but IMO this is actually a pro! I think so many games today are open-world 100+ hr epics.... there are only so many hrs in the day to play! I recently got the platinum on Nioh (1) and that took 80-90 hours, so something a third of that length would be ideal.
I'm travelling this month, and also digging into the new Monkey Island, but hoping Steelrising might land a sale before Xmas - you've convinced me to buy
Thoughts on Wo Long demo?
Re: PS Plus Premium Adds Two Hour Steelrising Trial for PS5
@KundaliniRising333 Thanks for taking the time to put your thoughts out into the wild…
I recently got hold of a cheap copy of Thymesia, another recent Souls-clone… and found it to be a really enjoyable experience. It has a much shorter run time than a lot of its peers, taking me around 20-25hrs for the platinum. Level design and enemy variety are somewhat lacking, but the combat is seriously tight with some awesome boss battles. The whole experience was very akin to Sekiro, and it was well worth the admission price.
I nearly went with Steelrising (over Thymesia) but instead went for the cheaper option. Steelrising seems to have a fairly steep price tag,
Would you say it’s worth it? I understand that a bag relating to one of the trophies (making the platinum impossible) has now been patched?
What would you say are the major ups and downs??
Re: Final Fantasy 16 Set to Return in October with a New Trailer
The release window 'summer 2023' is an interesting one...
I expect, and also partly hope, that SE will allow a few months of breathing room between FFXVI and Zelda TotK.
I'm personally very excited for both games, and I wouldn't want to see FF's success impacted/diminished from a release too close to TotK (similar to the impact felt by Horizon FW due to Elden Ring).
Also I partly hope that this gets an August/September release to allow me to play through TotK in entirety, then fully devote myself to FF16. Can't wait for both!
2023 in general is shaping up to be killer across all platforms, and pretty exciting in terms of high-profiles releases.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 444
@BlackMayge Nice to hear Steelrising getting some love...
I recently took a punt on Thymesia, another recent Souls-Clone - and have genuinely been really pleasantly surprised. I'm really enjoying its linearity and short play-time (circa ~10-12hrs) and am now going to push for the platinum on this. It plays very similar to Sekiro and the combat is remarkably tight and well orchestrated. Level design and enemy variety are quite poor, but the combat mechanics and boss battles are pretty decent. I picked it up for 20 £GBP, and would recommend anyone interested puts in on their wish list. It is bound to be discounted soon, and would be a steal for 10-15 GBP.
Souls-clones are very much in trend at the moment, and it is difficult to discern which are worth the time and which are not... based on your SR comments I might keep an eye out for it on sale
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 444
Nintendo Switch - Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, just finishing off some builds before the TU2 drops at the end of this month. I've finished all the A5 Anomaly Quests and managed to attain Anomaly Research Lv100, which is the current cap (to increase - - > 120 upon TU2 release). Then from Monday I plan to sit this aside and begin the new Monkey Island!
PS5 - Took a break from Bloodborne to play Thymesia, a Sekiro/Souls clone by an indie developer. A pleasant surprise, with a really great combat system. A short length also, and I plan to push for the platinum. Just hit a wall with a particularly rough boss ('Urd') but am pushing through! Also want to try out the Wu Long demo. My last platinum was Nioh1, and I'm a huge fan of Team Ninja... hoping for good things!
Re: Hands On: Crisis Core Is a Welcome Reunion with Final Fantasy VII
Really want to see/hear the Switch performance on this game…. Come December I’ll be needing a decent Switch game for travel and hoping this would fit the bill. I have some concerns about performance though!
Re: Listen Up, Tarnished! The Elden Ring Soundtrack Is Now Available on Streaming Services
Got the plat in March, and then moved on to other games... so weird hearing all the music 6 months down the line - really does bring back all the feelings (anxiety!) of playing!!
Re: Deliciously Dark Soulslike Lies of P Gets 40 Minutes of Director's Cut Gameplay
For anyone wanting to scratch the 'Bloodborne itch' - I'd recommend Thymesia.
Pretty cheap, 20 £GBP, and plays like a mix between Bloodborne/Sekiro.... with a lot of skill-tree & build diversity.
Its apparently quite a short campaign, and platinum estimated at <15hrs.
The boss battles are pretty decent! Of course it is shamelessly 'imitation-FromSoftware' but plays well and is a nice shorter game. I'd give it a solid 7...
Keen to check Steelrising, but not committed yet.
For sure though, Lies of P could potentially dethrone my favorite Souls-Like (non-From) of all time - which is Salt & Sanctuary
Re: Assassin's Creed Mirage Likely Won't Take 100 Hours to Beat
This actually interests me now.... I just don't have the time for a 100hr Valhalla-esque romp!
15-20 for campaign is solid, assuming another 10ish for the plat?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 443
@PenguinLtd Sekiro remains my favorite FromSoft game, but the very final boss nearly ruined the experience for me. Even my FS standards, he is obnoxiously difficult... and not not enjoyable in any way. Took me 2 weeks to beat him, eventually I resorted to a semi-cheese 'stab-once-and-run' strategy (took >20mins to do him this way).
A sad blemish on an otherwise immaculate game
Re: PS5 Overtakes Switch as UK's Best-Selling Console of 2022
I'm fortunate enough to own both, and IMO they are both pretty great in their 'own lane'.
I am quite surprised with this outcome, but I agree with someone else's post I saw earlier... perhaps now nearly everyone already owns a Switch?!
Re: Housemarque Appears to Have Confirmed PC Port of Returnal During GDC 2022
This is good for Housemarque, which in turn is good for PS5 owners - considering the recent acquisition of the aforementioned by Sony.
More exposure for HM, not to mention further sales of Returnal, will likely work to support the developer with their next project... both financially and commercially.
Returnal is one of the finest games I've ever played, my personal GOTY 2021, and I can't wait to see what HM come out with next...
I'm a PS5/Switch owner (never gamed on a PC) but I'm genuinely thrilled for PC gamers who now get to experience this amazing game.
Returnal 2 would be a dream come true!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 442
Nintendo Switch: Still hunting daily in Sunbreak, and still having such a blast! Have now cleared all the 5* Anomoly Quests, and working towards AR100 (currently AR87). I’m fairly happy with my build now, but I still have 1 Armor piece in my main set that has potential for a better Quirio roll. Still maining GS - using the Lucent Narga variant, love the aesthetic and the skills are solid as well. Currently doing a lot of Multiplayer anomoly investigations to build my AR, mainly with ransoms, and having a good time. I’m hoping TU2 gives me a reason to keep playing, maybe new armors that lend themselves to GS skills etc
PlayStation 5: Carrying on with Bloodborne, and managed to beat Vicar Amelia first try last night… albeit I must confess I’ve been doing a lot of exploring/grinding, so perhaps my level (34) helped me out there! Found VA to be far less punishing than Father Gascoigne, who was a real wall. Flirting with the idea of going for the platinum, which seems to be doable based on some guides I’ve read
Next up: Xeno3 on Switch, and maybe Thymesia on PS5 (still can’t decide, reviews have been divisive…)
Re: PS Plus Essential PS5, PS4 Games for September 2022 Leaked
Bit of a 'fall from grace' after the amazing selection last month, but I appreciate not every month can be 5*... will keep an open mind
Re: Video: Top 10 PS5 Platinums for Beginners
Generally I avoid platinums that take multiple playthroughs to achieve... although I'm certainly not adverse to save-scumming multiple endings in order to attain (Elden Ring, I'm looking at you...!)
I only have 5, but they were/are all games I love - Returnal / Demons Souls / Ghost of Tsushima / Elden Ring / Nioh(1)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 440
@PenguinLtd that’s interesting as I’ve beat Sekiro, alongside the other titles you mention, but have yet to play Bloodborne - which I’ll be starting this weekend!
IMO - and this is probably a bit contentious- Sekiro is FromSoft’s ‘magnum opus’ and their finest game to date. It’s a strange take on their usual formula, as there is no scope for builds, summoning or levelling up…. It is just ‘Git Gud’ gaming at its finest!
Once the combat clicks it’s a hugely fun ride, with some of the most memorable boss fights in their catalogue
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 440
Nintendo Switch: 'Monster Hunter Rise - Sunbreak' - Still loving the expansion, and the new Title Update has opened up some massive possibilities for new sets/builds. Nearly every weapon is viable, and I'm enjoying the ride so far. Just hit MR100, and enjoying also the online MP hunts.
PS5: 'Bloodborne' - its been sat in my backlog for some time, and is one of the remaining FromSoft titles I've not played. Many seem to rank this as their #1 FS game, even above Elden Ring, so I'm really keen to see what all the fuss is about! Shame that there is no patch for 60fps..... but luckily I've been playing a lot of Switch, so the 30fps performance likely won't bother me too much.
Re: Video: Top 10 PS5 Platinums for Beginners
Ghost of Tsushima is an excellent example of a Platinum 'benchmark' IMO.... it doesn't obnoxiously ask you to spend 100s of hours finding every last collective, and most of the trophies can be obtained just playing through the main game (Which is a pleasure).
Re: Sharpen That Buster Sword, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion Rated in Australia
December would be amazing, would be a great holiday game. I'll likely grab this on Switch, assuming the performance isn't too poor
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 437
@BlackMayge I agree 100% with your comments on Sunbreak... such a great 'pick up & play' game, almost quite arcade-style! I've probably poured more hours into that game than any other in recent years, by a huge margin. I just hit MR40, but the difficulty is stepping up big time! What is your weapon? Let me know if you ever do multiplayer, I'll add you mate!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 437
PS5: Finally kicked of Resi3Make... been holding off for months, waiting for PS5 upgrade! Enjoying it so far, about 2 hours in. I hear the campaign is relatively short, which is what I'm looking for at the moment (coming off the long hard 80+ hr grind for Nioh1 platinum!).
Switch: MHR Sunbreak, where the difficulty curve is no joke. Hit MR40 now, but there have been plenty of stumbling blocks along the way... New GS switch skills are great, as is the skill swap option. Being able to take Rage Slash and TCS into each hunt is brilliant.
Re: PS Plus Essential PS5, PS4 Games for August 2022 Announced
'Objectively' this is probably one of the best months ever for 'PS+ Essential'.
Honestly, if the next couple of months continue like this then I'll likely upgrade from Essential - - > Extra.
Keep it up Sony!
I actually already own THPS1+2... but appreciate just how awesome this game is, and am stoked for others to play it!
Re: Rumour: PS Plus Essential PS5, PS4 Games for August 2022 Have Leaked
Wow! This is more like it...!
I already own THPS1+2... but this is really awesome for anyone who doesn't have the game.
I've been interested in LAD for some time, but haven't wanted to commit to buying. Same for LN. This would be such a solid month!
Re: Rumour: Immortals Fenyx Rising Spin-Off Is Inspired by Polynesian Mythology
Immortals was the most pleasant of surprises! I picked it up on Switch when it released, and played it non-stop through the Christmas holiday period. It shamelessly borrows a lot of concepts from BOTW, but in the best possible way (!). A lot of fun, and I wish Ubisoft would take more chances on new IPs like this. The DLC was fairly solid too
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 436
PS5: Having got the Nioh platinum this week, I’m looking to start a shorter game before diving into Nioh 2…. Probably Re3Make, which I understand has quite a short campaign
Switch: Really pushing forward now with MHR: Sunbreak and wanting to escape the MR cap and start crafting some endgame builds for Greatsword. Currently in MR5 and the difficulty curve has really stepped up…. Need to upgrade gear asap to avoid getting stomped! Very fun expansion though, multiplayer is also pretty good
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 436
@Keyblade-Dan coincidentally I platinum’d Ni-Oh yesterday… and had a great time with it. The mechanics are quite intricate, but the combat is absolutely sublime once it clicks. Give the first couple of missions a go, and you’ll know if it’s for you! I loved it so much that I’m going to dive into the sequel after a small break
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 435
PS5: Nioh 1 - just completed the final ‘main mission’ from the last region, “The Demon King Revealed”. Got a few more side-missions and busy-work to finish off, as I’m determined to pop the platinum! Some of the side-missions left seem ridiculous and mainly made up of double-boss fights…. Where’s a good mimic tear when you need one?!
Nintendo Switch: MHR Sunbreak - loving this expansion and taking my time with it. In the midst of MR3 quests and have just upgraded from HR gear into some new MR Armor and weaponry. Tons of new QoL features and mechanics to wrap my head around, and definitely feeling the challenge - especially when solo’-ing monsters. Well up for multi-player if anyone is looking to team up 👍
Re: Poll: Is The Last of Us: Part 1 Really a 'Cash Grab'?
I’m in the middle here…
For those who haven’t played the original, and are not too clued up regarding the narrative threads, this is probably a great introduction to the franchise. I’ll probably buy this as I’ve played neither P1 or 2…
But for long-standing PS fans, especially those who played the PS4 remaster, this surely must seem somewhat not needed?
For me, the ‘issue’ is more about how ND chose to allocate resources here. How great would it have been to have this team kick off an exciting new IP, with a new story and mechanics etc?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 434
@Fuzzymonkeyfunk Haha tell me about it, I’ve spent an absolute fortune on a ton of garbage from that shop… and the trophy still hasn’t popped!!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 434
On PS5 - Nioh 1, finally made it to Region #6 (of 6) and am gunning for the platinum trophy still! Plan is to hopefully have this wrapped in next week or so, and then move on to Resident Evil 3
On Switch - just started Sunbreak and made it up for MR2 now. Still using my existing HR set and weapon (GS Narga with full Valstrax Armor set) which is doing ok for me so far. Up for group hunts if anyone else is playing! So far really enjoying the expansion, and can’t wait to start farming a new set and upgrading my weapons (+ new fashion of course ha!)
Re: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion Has a 'New Menu-Based Battle System'
A battle system similar to FFVIIR would be great, as I felt that the combat system was the best part of that game. Excited for this game, but will probably try to pick it up on Switch instead of PS
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 433
@PenguinLtd Sekiro beckons…! IMO this is FromSoft’s ‘Magnum Opus’ and just an utterly fantastic game. Incredibly punishing, but there is also a beautiful simplicity to it - no ‘builds’ per se, or stat allocation to worry about, you simply just pick up and play.
I’d love sequel!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 433
MHR: Sunbreak on Nintendo Switch… but purposefully limiting myself to small sessions so as to prevent burnout! Only just kicked it off and excited to try the new Switch Skills for Greatsword (hear that they’re great) This will basically be my ‘travel game’ while I’m away with work
Then when home, still on that Platinum grind with Nioh 1 - finally made it to region 5 (of 6) and still loving it. IMO - not quite as polished as the FromSoftware outputs, but would argue that Nioh combat is far superior… just excellent fighting mechanics!
Re: Rumour: PS Plus Essential PS5, PS4 Games for July 2022 Leaked Early
OK this is more like it! Crash 4 is in, IMO, a solid game for those of us who have stuck with PS+ Essential.
Good job
Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (PS4) - Brilliant Beat-'Em-Up Is Best in Co-Op
Very fun, simple mechanics and a great time when doing co-op....
A refreshing and streamlined experience for sure!
Re: Feature: What We Want From Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and How It Needs to Improve on Remake
'More Killer... Less Filler!'
Expand on the great elements of Remake - eg Combat System / Characterisation - and cut out / omit some of the filler content and side-quests.
I'd rather have a really tight 20hr game vs a 60hr+ game with tons of uninteresting time-sinks.
Maybe also unlock hard mode from Day #1, with no need to play through base story first on easy/normal.
I'm a fan of the original, but totally fine with this new entry being its 'own thing'. I enjoyed the narrative beats of Remake, and look forward to the direction that will follow in Rebirth.
IMO, the original FF7 (and story/narrative) will ALWAYS stand tall... and whether Remake/Rebirth stay faithful or diverge will never take away from the greatness of the OG.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 431
@TraCuz- Elden Ring is such a rare example of a game actually living up to all the pre-release hype. It’s reception, from critics and ‘gamers’, was so remarkably positive also… I’m really excited for whatever FS come up with next!
I think my ranking would perhaps still put Sekiro above Elden Ring, but it’s a tight race! I really like that Sekiro has a tight narrative, and also ‘forces’ the player to git gud. Lady Butterfly took my upwards of 50 attempts, and I felt amazing when I finally beat her!
Enjoy your gaming this weekend mate
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 431
@TraCuz- if you could integrate Nioh’s combat mechanics into a FromSoftware game, then you would have one hell of an experience for sure! I’m enjoying Nioh, but honestly feel like Elden Ring spoilt me earlier this year… and nothing else is quite filling the void! What is your favourite souls game? (FromSoft or imitation)
This statement might get me shot- so I’ll try to phrase it carefully (!)… I think Hollow Knight is an ‘objectively’ stronger game than Salt&Sanctuary, but i personally much prefer S&S!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 431
@PenguinLtd Well done! Dark Souls is nowhere near as hard as people make out
If you want a souls fix, but with a twist, I highly recommend ‘Salt & Sanctuary’ which is a 2D-style souls game with some Metroidvania elements. Excellent build diversity and really does a great job in capturing the atmosphere of FromSoftware’s games (albeit in 2D)
IMO - Salt and Sanctuary is the best non-FromSoftware Souls-esque game! Also on Nintendo Switch, and plays great on it
(NB there is a sequel, Salt and Sacrifice… but honestly it is IMO nowhere near as good as the original!! So, I recommend the original game Salt and Sanctuary - just to be clear!!)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 431
Ploughing on with Nioh (1) and just made it to region #4 - which I believe is the halfway point.
A great game and effort by Team Ninja, but I still think it can’t quite measure up to most of FromSoftware’s portfolio! The Nioh combat is slick though, and just looks/feels so good when it clicks
On Switch I’m meaning to try the Sunbreak demo at some point, but I’ve been blasting some TMNT Shredder’s Revenge… so much fun!
Re: Poll: Which Final Fantasy Game are You Most Looking Forward to?
Honestly.... XVI.
I feel we are long overdue for an 'epic' mainline entry in this series, and the team behind this game (inc. YoshiP) have my confidence.
FF7R left me slightly cold for a few reasons. I loved the combat system, and actually enjoyed the story beats and changing narrative...... but so much of the game seemed like unnecessary filler.
If the length of FF7R had been halved, and 'Hard Mode' available from the outset, I would rank it much much higher.
The Yufi expansion is pretty great though, and Fort Condor mini-game is awesome
Re: Housemarque to Incorporate Unused Ideas for Returnal into its Next Game
@theMEGAniggle I've never formulated an official Top 10 (would like to though) but I would 100% put Returnal in there somewhere, maybe even top 5 territory.
I can't wait for this game to get some decent exposure via PS++.... there must surely be many fence-sitters who are hesitant to shell out £70 to buy, but will give it a whirl via the new service.
Hopefully it converts more players!
Re: Dragon's Dogma 2 Officially in Development
This game will sell by the truckload.... Capcom seem to be on such a roll of late!
As well, let's not forget that Elden Ring has probably introduced a whole new player-base into fantasy-style open world games... who will probably be hungry for a similar dish upon the release of DD2.
Really exciting!
RE4Make, Village DLC, MHR Sunbreak and SF6 all on the periphery.... what a time to be alive
Re: Housemarque to Incorporate Unused Ideas for Returnal into its Next Game
Returnal still holds a special place in my heart.... my personal 2021 GOTY without doubt! The DLC drop was immense also, and can't wait to see what Housemarque have up their sleeve next.
Of course Returnal had flaws, and it was slightly obnoxious not to include 'suspend' from Day 1 (!), but I'm really hopefully that HM will learn from these aspects and create an incredible experience with their next offering