There will be numerous people who are laughing at this supposedly 'major disappointment' who will no doubt be found going into battle on behalf of many other games with similar or lower review scores.
I'm still undecided on this. Which is the one outcome I didn't think would happen. I thought it would either be a must buy or a total disaster.
That said, the wording of this headline and accompanying article is downright embarrassing. 'Major disappointment' is a ridiculous misrepresentation. And that kind of attitude towards divisive games will only encourage less risk taking.
I think some people are sore that however divided opinion might be on this, it isn't another Mindseye or The Day Before situation. And why anyone would wish for that sort of thing is bizarre.
Looking on the plus side, even if this game is a disaster it will hopefully serve as a salutary lesson for game developers about over-promising and under delivering and for consumers about the perils of pre-ordering and falling for yet more *****. It will be referred to in the same way as No Mans Sky and Cyberpunk 2042 and...oh. bugger. Yeah. Nothing will be learnt.
Aside from the questions about the technical aspect, my trepidation is that they're throwing too many ideas at it. A bit like one of those restaurants with a suspiciously long menu as opposed to a place that knows what it's good at and excels at it. Also a truly great open world needs it's own atmosphere and identity to keep you hooked. The best ones are those when you can be quite happy doing nothing much at all and still being invested in it. Crimson Desert looks a bit...noisy. A bit much.
@Haruki_NLI That's an interesting comparison you make with colour blindness. As you say, there is only so much they can do to accommodate people because it's a wide spectrum but efforts to enable people to play games, when they're done with that intention ARE good. Like with cinemas making better provision for those with disabilities to have fair and decent access. That's entirely different to changing the actual creative content.
I read someone the other day who was ranting about how 'unfair' it was because they wanted to play the more recent Zelda games but they struggle with the inventory system/crafting/open world structure and it's not to their taste. So they were arguing those things should be changed or watered down just so they can enjoy them. That's just ludicrous. Some people these days have a real problem with being told 'this isn't for you, move along'.
@Haruki_NLI If i've misread your post and you're not in any way suggesting that the content be altered to enable you to play it then fair enough. But there are some people with that mindset these days and it's highly irritating. I have a fear of heights. I don't hang around Thorpe Park asking them to modify their rollercoasters. I just don't go.
'Personally, I’d prefer options as I think it would open the games up to more people.'
Personally I think trying to make games/movies/music appeal to as many people as possible has been utterly ruinous. There is nothing wrong with things having a dedicated and niche audience. 'Mass appeal' invariably means diluted down mediocrity. Occasionally you get those rare gems that transcend genre or demographic and genuinely connect with people on a large scale but they are gold-dust. As they should be.
Of course companies love chasing this because the wider appeal = more £££ but it is usually a creative dead-end.
@Haruki_NLI Well yes. Or if not grow up then certainly use basic self-care techniques to avoid things that upset you. This sort of thing really isn't that complicated and yes it is on you to do it. No one else. And certainly not video game developers.
They don't have to release any footage and equally people don't have to pre-order it.
Quite rare these days to have something still be such an unknown quantity so close to launch. It feels like it could be anything from absolute classic to complete disaster at this point. Anything but mediocrity would be nice.
Is the closure of the studio unfortunate? Yes. Is the selective, tokenistic, self important outrage from the 'Cause of the week' social media morons utterly insufferable? Yes. Will the boycott fail, the entire thing be forgotten about and no meaningful change happen once they all move on to something else? Yes. Next!
The 'you don't have to buy one if you don't want it/can't afford it' argument is one so facile, so shortsighted, so utterly bereft of any insight beyond demonstrating the childish 'i'm a very good consumer and want my over-priced technology NOW! (and a pony!)' attitude that is helping ruin the games industry in general, that I'm quite surprised the author is apparently a senior member of staff on this site!
@DennisReynolds Not defensive from me I can assure you. I was just saying that if you want to get into an argument about which opinions are more valid than others (and you seem very keen) then I'm afraid by every single metric Jaffe's opinion, whether you agree with it or not, certainly carries more weight and is of greater interest to most people than yours. Or indeed mine. I see from your other comments that you seem to have 'issues' with Jaffe because of his politics. Interesting.
@DennisReynolds I'm not overly familiar with his previous rantings because why would anyone be interested in the personal views of a game developer? But I would say in the grand scheme of things his opinion on this subject certainly carries more weight than most. Hence why there's a news article about it that you're commenting on. And if his opinion is meaningless then what does that make yours?
@johncalmc Perfectly said. Fair and without hyperbole either way. I'm glad people enjoy them but there's something about this kind of game I'm not keen on, aside from the actual gameplay. It seems like maximum reward for minimum creative risk. A bit low effort all round.
Spiderman 2 would be a great one. I've twice now almost pushed buy since it's started dropping to £30+ but would be even better if free. Only put off buying it a while back by some rather tepid reports on its longevity and open world.
GTA since V has become this monstrous, obnoxious and loud distraction. It's not even about the game itself at this point. Instead of all this tabloid rubbish there should be more discussion about what happened to Rockstar between IV and V and how they went from a genuine force for good that was pushing the envelope creatively to the embodiment of everything wrong with the industry in general. Understandably RDR2 has probably deflected some of the legitimate criticism that should be heading their way.
Any improvements that just make it all run a bit smoother and maybe some QOL updates to bring it in line more with 2 would be great because hopefully it might persuade those who jumped off it early to give it another try. Because once you get past that rather unforgiving first hours it is in many ways the equal of 2 and in a few ways it is superior. It's just getting far enough that it clicks and then everything else is so good you don't even notice the flaws (though they are glaring and it's not in a charming way). I'm not sure I could pick between 1 or 2 as which is my favourite. The fact I got The Royal Edition with all DLC for about £3.79 still feels like I personally robbed Warhorse Studios. Ridiculous!
Didn't like the first one at all but Watch Dogs 2 was a genuinely fun game with a brilliant open world and alot of the missions were far superior to many from GTA V. Whilst I wouldn't make any claims for Legion being a great game (the central mechanic might have seemed like a clever one initially but the way it was implemented didn't work and rather than adding depth it made the entire thing seem shallow and unengaging) I would argue that their version of London was and is absolutely fantastic. I am always a sucker for any game set in the UK and so despite the gameplay drawbacks I enjoyed so many hours just in the open world. Now it seems quite clear that Rockstar have no intention of ever moving GTA back out of the USA the time really has come for a remake/reboot/copy of The Getaway! Sadly I think a true Triple A title set in London is unlikely so for the time being Legion (and Syndicate) are the best we have.
@ButterySmooth30FPS Haha! That's a good point. And so true what you say...some absolutely baffling amount of plaudits get thrown at certain games like that and then you play it and it's a whole lot of nothing.
Absolutely zero interest in playing this game but I'm forever thankful for the originals existence as it gave us Limmy's play-through which were some of his funniest streams of all time. A classic!
Quite getting into this Core Keeper. But there doesn't seem to be any online games? List always empty and no one joins mine either. Is it mostly played solo?
When you play a mediocre, run of the mill, lazy cut and paste platform family game (Mickey Rebrushed) you really end up appreciating just how brilliant and cleverly designed the great ones are (Astro Bot etc).
@LikelySatan haha! Same. Skyrim took me three attempts and then something just clicked and it became an all time favourite. Just can't get into The Witcher. Even with the slight upgraded sheen of the PS5 version it still just feels too clunky. Frustrating because every single other thing about it should be ideal for me. Having not owned a new console from about 2015-2023 it was one of the games I was most excited to catch up on. I even enjoyed the previous game on my 360. But the combat, the movement and the bloody horse riding just take the fun out of existing in what is obviously a brilliant open world. I'm sure I will try again. I picked up the full edition for less than £5 and it's just sitting there waiting. It's probably no coincidence that I have found the same problem with Cyberpunk so maybe it's something a out their style of games? Could really do with something to sink 300 plus hours into. Might have to just buy Ghost of Yotei.
@Northern_munkey I dunno. I think they were referring to the fact that it's ultimately just alot of hunting in drawers and cupboard for scrap to upgrade your weapons interrupted by occasional gun fights. And I happen to agree that it's a pretty apt comparison.
I definitely see the appeal. I also think if this had come out 17 years ago when I had a core group of friends I played with pretty much daily it might possibly have become a firm favourite. But the a reality of playing it now, especially as a solo? It's not for me. I've seen glimpses of what makes it so much fun for everyone else but they were just glimpses. And then as soon as the surprisingly friendly nature of the community suddenly seemed to completely switch after the first few weeks it became actively irritating and then frustrating and then just plain dull. At first I actually liked the quick and easy bitesize nature of each raid being 20-30 minutes but now it just seems shallow and pointless. And it actually works against the atmosphere and sense of survival. Then when I read (might have been on here) someone describe it as a thinly veiled steal of TLOU mechanics just with worse gunplay and slow awkward movement I realised sometimes you just have accept a game is not for you and no amount of trying is going to change that.
Despite apparently being a certified 'hater' I generally think it's good value especially for those only just buying a PS5 who might have been out of the loop with gaming for the past few years and I have recommended it as such.
But the entire premise of this article is utterly ridiculous. I mean come on fellas.
Games industry going the same way as Television drama with interminable and often unexplainable wait times and delays, announcing things too early and then over promising and under delivering. It's all well and good if they take their sweet time and produce a classic but as happens far too often there is a sense of 'is that it?' and there's a lot more scrutiny and room for disappointment. No one wants things being rush released but questions have to be asked about why it seems to take so damn long to make anything these days.
I'm happy to see any game made with care and love like E33 win awards (meaningless as they are). Despite KCD2 being my own favourite I can see how well liked E33 is.
But do not underestimate just what a deal breaker turn based game play is for many people. I have played all kinds of games across all sorts of systems for decades but however well made a game might be if it's turn based then it's just a complete and total no go for me. Unlike other things which can be overlooked or ignored, that central gameplay mechanic is so key that if you're not into it then it makes it unplayable.
So with that in mind I don't quite see why it should be seen as a shoe-in to win and spoken about as if it's one of those rare games that has massive wide appeal across the board.
But like I say, the most important thing is does the wider list of nominees present a fair view of the last year in gaming and I'd say for the most part it does. (KCD2 missing out on performance category is still a glaring error though).
@nessisonett Dananananaykroyd is a great example of amusing name Vs silly career choice. I loved 'Black Wax' and that first album it came from but I couldn't be arsed to recommend them to anyone because the name was such a mouthful. Even typing it out then wound me up.
Looks utterly appalling on every single level but as a grouchy 44 year old British male who has probably only genuinely enjoyed about 10 games since 2006 I'm quite sure I'm not the target audience so the dev team can rest easy.
Despite having played the base game too many times to mention since release day and it being one of my favourite games of all time I never got around to playing Undead Nightmares. No idea why. Just one of those things I always intended to get round to and never did. So I am delighted about RDR being on there.
Might even give the main story another go around. What's this version like? Is it a remaster? I've only ever played RDR1 on my original 360.
Despite having played the base game repeatedly since release day and it being one of my favourite games of all time I never got around to playing Undead Nightmares. No idea why. Just one of those things I always intended to get round to and never did. So I am delighted about RDR being on there.
Might even give the main story another go around. What's this version like? Is it a remaster? I've only ever played RDR1 on my original 360.
@GirlVersusGame Yep. Agree with you 100%. Not usually one to support the studios but this sort of lazy slop is damaging to everyone except the talentless little chancers earning a few quick bucks. And there is definitely a case there that the scheer number of them and the way they are pushed by the various algorithms leads to genuine confusion and damage to the brands. Plus it would be nice to see them go after the right people for once because too often studios go after the genuinely creative sorts who are producing decent content and should be protected under fair usage.
@GirlVersusGame The amount of time I spend pressing 'not interested' on those awful YouTube channels that exist on a constant stream of terrible fake trailers for upcoming movies. And there's always another one popping up with the same old clickbait drivel. But the sad thing is they almost always do big numbers whether it's because people watching are gullible, irritated or simply don't care. So people just make more of them.
Like you mention, I'm surprised (or maybe not...) that YouTube leaves them to get on with it because alot of them are going out of their way to genuinely mislead people. It's rather worrying they succeed and people can be so credulous but that's rather besides the point.
I'm sure quite alot of people are now starting to suffer from GTA 6 fatigue. And Rockstar fatigue in general? It's not even their fault by the way. It's just the constant hyperbole and fuss from the gaming media and public that is making it tiresome. This entire cottage industry that's sprung up with every tedious opportunist trying to make a name for themselves (and often succeeding) by exploiting people's ludicrous anticipation for this game is rather draining away the enthusiasm for it. To a much lesser extent it's also the same with the RDR2 port. I realise this is old man shouting at cloud stuff but I'd quite happily hear nothing about this game again until it's ready to play.
And let's not even get started on the very legitimate question marks around the likely quality and creative importance of the product itself. The fact that almost seems a minor non-issue just about sums up what a silly circus it's become.
Haven't played a COD game at all since Ghosts. Haven't played one at any great length since Black Ops 2.
Saw some footage of the zombies mode on BO7 and it is completely unrecognisable from the game I remember. And it's not a case of just me getting old or nostalgia. I wasn't even a massive fan of BOP2 or the zombies mode in general. But this was a downgrade in every possible way. The entire feel of the game has been changed. The mood and aesthetics are just way off so it's COD zombies in name only. None of the genuine horror elements remain, just a cheap looking cartoon with one of the most hilariously terrible UI's I've ever seen.
I'm sure there are many reasons and causes for this but as a first step I'd suggest the devs put down the Monster drinks. The saddest thing is though that you can see exactly the kind of user base they're targeting. It would genuinely be a win for the games industry in general if they took a financial hit and not just a critical one because the sloppiness on display suggests a combination of greed, contempt and laziness that will only get worse if they think they can keep getting away with it. (See also every big game developer currently operating).
Seems very harsh that neither of the two main fellas from KCD2 got a nomination for best performance. They are brilliant and there's a certain genuinely funny and idiosyncratic humour to the KCD games that you don't see too often.
Would rather play noughts and crosses than any turn based game but I can appreciate why people like E33 so much (though I don't think it should sweep the board). But Silksong? I just don't get it.
Despite how glossy it seemed on the surface it still felt trashy and it's FTP nature was obvious. No real artistry or immersion. Just being bashed over the head with information and noise. A glorified mobile game. Of course no one has to play it and for those that enjoy it then all lovely jubbly. But this sort of game is holding back the industry and will continue to do so as long as they prove popular.
Left, Right, Up, Down (Triangle, Square, Circle, X)- it doesn't matter what part of the political spectrum or what the spurious reasoning or motivation is for these kinds of boycotts. There is one thing you can be certain of. They are always a complete and utter embarrassment.
@Northern_munkey thank you! That's really helpful to know and a very kind of offer. Will do if I pick it up. I watched a 30 minute gameplay video of it earlier today and it looked great and also decent to play solo as well as in a squad. I expect my B6 fatigue will pass or else I will need to find some people to play regularly with.
Is it just me or has the culture of online gaming really changed alot? I remember back in the old days of Battlefield and COD and Left 4 Dead everyone was adding one another and joining parties and sending friend requests. I guess alot of people now stick to other platforms like Discord and private chat lobbies rather than being at the mercy of randoms!
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Re: Round Up: Crimson Desert Reviews Are a Major Disappointment
There will be numerous people who are laughing at this supposedly 'major disappointment' who will no doubt be found going into battle on behalf of many other games with similar or lower review scores.
Re: Round Up: Crimson Desert Reviews Are a Major Disappointment
I'm still undecided on this. Which is the one outcome I didn't think would happen. I thought it would either be a must buy or a total disaster.
That said, the wording of this headline and accompanying article is downright embarrassing.
'Major disappointment' is a ridiculous misrepresentation. And that kind of attitude towards divisive games will only encourage less risk taking.
I think some people are sore that however divided opinion might be on this, it isn't another Mindseye or The Day Before situation. And why anyone would wish for that sort of thing is bizarre.
Re: Site News: Where's Our Crimson Desert PS5 Review?
Sounds like those who predicted it will be better to pick it up later down the line were bang on the money.
Think I might get Ghost of Yotei instead.
Re: Starfield Finally Lands on PS5 in April with New DLC and Huge Updates
Is the game still ***** though?
Re: Crimson Desert Release Times: When Can You Start Playing?
Looking on the plus side, even if this game is a disaster it will hopefully serve as a salutary lesson for game developers about over-promising and under delivering and for consumers about the perils of pre-ordering and falling for yet more *****. It will be referred to in the same way as No Mans Sky and Cyberpunk 2042 and...oh. bugger. Yeah. Nothing will be learnt.
Re: Opinion: Crimson Desert Could Be PS5 Game of the Year, or a Total Mess
Aside from the questions about the technical aspect, my trepidation is that they're throwing too many ideas at it. A bit like one of those restaurants with a suspiciously long menu as opposed to a place that knows what it's good at and excels at it. Also a truly great open world needs it's own atmosphere and identity to keep you hooked. The best ones are those when you can be quite happy doing nothing much at all and still being invested in it. Crimson Desert looks a bit...noisy. A bit much.
Re: Resident Evil 2 Director Says Requiem Needs a 'Non-Scary' Mode for Fraidy Cats Like Him
@Haruki_NLI That's an interesting comparison you make with colour blindness. As you say, there is only so much they can do to accommodate people because it's a wide spectrum but efforts to enable people to play games, when they're done with that intention ARE good. Like with cinemas making better provision for those with disabilities to have fair and decent access. That's entirely different to changing the actual creative content.
I read someone the other day who was ranting about how 'unfair' it was because they wanted to play the more recent Zelda games but they struggle with the inventory system/crafting/open world structure and it's not to their taste. So they were arguing those things should be changed or watered down just so they can enjoy them. That's just ludicrous. Some people these days have a real problem with being told 'this isn't for you, move along'.
Re: Resident Evil 2 Director Says Requiem Needs a 'Non-Scary' Mode for Fraidy Cats Like Him
@Haruki_NLI If i've misread your post and you're not in any way suggesting that the content be altered to enable you to play it then fair enough. But there are some people with that mindset these days and it's highly irritating. I have a fear of heights. I don't hang around Thorpe Park asking them to modify their rollercoasters. I just don't go.
Re: Resident Evil 2 Director Says Requiem Needs a 'Non-Scary' Mode for Fraidy Cats Like Him
@Kienda
'Personally, I’d prefer options as I think it would open the games up to more people.'
Personally I think trying to make games/movies/music appeal to as many people as possible has been utterly ruinous. There is nothing wrong with things having a dedicated and niche audience. 'Mass appeal' invariably means diluted down mediocrity. Occasionally you get those rare gems that transcend genre or demographic and genuinely connect with people on a large scale but they are gold-dust. As they should be.
Of course companies love chasing this because the wider appeal = more £££ but it is usually a creative dead-end.
Re: Resident Evil 2 Director Says Requiem Needs a 'Non-Scary' Mode for Fraidy Cats Like Him
@Haruki_NLI Well yes. Or if not grow up then certainly use basic self-care techniques to avoid things that upset you. This sort of thing really isn't that complicated and yes it is on you to do it. No one else. And certainly not video game developers.
Re: 'We're Not Hiding Anything': Crimson Desert Dev 'Sick' of Claims Around No PS5 Footage
They don't have to release any footage and equally people don't have to pre-order it.
Quite rare these days to have something still be such an unknown quantity so close to launch. It feels like it could be anything from absolute classic to complete disaster at this point. Anything but mediocrity would be nice.
Re: Wolverine PS5 Release Date Reveal Sparks Bluepoint Cover-Up Claims
Oh no! 'Y'all are so desperate' said someone on Twitter! Sony must be rethinking their entire strategy.
Re: Sony Returns to Social Media After 72 Hour Hiatus But Fans Still Aren't Happy Following Bluepoint Closure
Is the closure of the studio unfortunate? Yes. Is the selective, tokenistic, self important outrage from the 'Cause of the week' social media morons utterly insufferable? Yes. Will the boycott fail, the entire thing be forgotten about and no meaningful change happen once they all move on to something else? Yes. Next!
Re: Opinion: The Euphoric Reaction to PS6's Rumoured Delay Really Confuses Me
The 'you don't have to buy one if you don't want it/can't afford it' argument is one so facile, so shortsighted, so utterly bereft of any insight beyond demonstrating the childish 'i'm a very good consumer and want my over-priced technology NOW! (and a pony!)' attitude that is helping ruin the games industry in general, that I'm quite surprised the author is apparently a senior member of staff on this site!
Re: 'One of the Worst Decisions Ever Made': God of War Creator Tears 'Total Crap' 2D Title Apart
@DennisReynolds Not defensive from me I can assure you. I was just saying that if you want to get into an argument about which opinions are more valid than others (and you seem very keen) then I'm afraid by every single metric Jaffe's opinion, whether you agree with it or not, certainly carries more weight and is of greater interest to most people than yours. Or indeed mine. I see from your other comments that you seem to have 'issues' with Jaffe because of his politics. Interesting.
Re: 'One of the Worst Decisions Ever Made': God of War Creator Tears 'Total Crap' 2D Title Apart
@DennisReynolds I'm not overly familiar with his previous rantings because why would anyone be interested in the personal views of a game developer? But I would say in the grand scheme of things his opinion on this subject certainly carries more weight than most. Hence why there's a news article about it that you're commenting on. And if his opinion is meaningless then what does that make yours?
Re: 'One of the Worst Decisions Ever Made': God of War Creator Tears 'Total Crap' 2D Title Apart
@johncalmc Perfectly said. Fair and without hyperbole either way. I'm glad people enjoy them but there's something about this kind of game I'm not keen on, aside from the actual gameplay. It seems like maximum reward for minimum creative risk. A bit low effort all round.
Re: PS Plus Extra Games for February 2026 Leaked, Full Lineup at State of Play
Spiderman 2 would be a great one. I've twice now almost pushed buy since it's started dropping to £30+ but would be even better if free. Only put off buying it a while back by some rather tepid reports on its longevity and open world.
Re: GTA 6 Fans Reportedly Attempted Using Drones, Fake IDs to Get a Glimpse at Rockstar's Game
GTA since V has become this monstrous, obnoxious and loud distraction. It's not even about the game itself at this point. Instead of all this tabloid rubbish there should be more discussion about what happened to Rockstar between IV and V and how they went from a genuine force for good that was pushing the envelope creatively to the embodiment of everything wrong with the industry in general. Understandably RDR2 has probably deflected some of the legitimate criticism that should be heading their way.
Re: New Kingdom Come: Deliverance PS5 Version Seems Real in PS Store Leak
Any improvements that just make it all run a bit smoother and maybe some QOL updates to bring it in line more with 2 would be great because hopefully it might persuade those who jumped off it early to give it another try. Because once you get past that rather unforgiving first hours it is in many ways the equal of 2 and in a few ways it is superior. It's just getting far enough that it clicks and then everything else is so good you don't even notice the flaws (though they are glaring and it's not in a charming way).
I'm not sure I could pick between 1 or 2 as which is my favourite.
The fact I got The Royal Edition with all DLC for about £3.79 still feels like I personally robbed Warhorse Studios. Ridiculous!
Re: Ubisoft May Have Put Watch Dogs Down for Good
Didn't like the first one at all but Watch Dogs 2 was a genuinely fun game with a brilliant open world and alot of the missions were far superior to many from GTA V.
Whilst I wouldn't make any claims for Legion being a great game (the central mechanic might have seemed like a clever one initially but the way it was implemented didn't work and rather than adding depth it made the entire thing seem shallow and unengaging) I would argue that their version of London was and is absolutely fantastic. I am always a sucker for any game set in the UK and so despite the gameplay drawbacks I enjoyed so many hours just in the open world. Now it seems quite clear that Rockstar have no intention of ever moving GTA back out of the USA the time really has come for a remake/reboot/copy of The Getaway!
Sadly I think a true Triple A title set in London is unlikely so for the time being Legion (and Syndicate) are the best we have.
Re: Captivating Historical Italian Adventure Becomes PS5 Console Exclusive to 'Deliver the Best Experience'
@ButterySmooth30FPS Haha! That's a good point. And so true what you say...some absolutely baffling amount of plaudits get thrown at certain games like that and then you play it and it's a whole lot of nothing.
Re: Captivating Historical Italian Adventure Becomes PS5 Console Exclusive to 'Deliver the Best Experience'
Another overrated 'indie' game incoming.
Re: Life Is Strange: Reunion Revives One of Gaming's Iconic Relationships on PS5
Absolutely zero interest in playing this game but I'm forever thankful for the originals existence as it gave us Limmy's play-through which were some of his funniest streams of all time. A classic!
Re: Hardware Review: Sony INZONE H9 II - The Perfect Gaming Headset?
£300 for a headset? What an age we live in.
Re: January 2026 PS Plus Essential Games Are Available to Download Now
Quite getting into this Core Keeper. But there doesn't seem to be any online games? List always empty and no one joins mine either. Is it mostly played solo?
Re: January 2026 PS Plus Essential Games Are Available to Download Now
When you play a mediocre, run of the mill, lazy cut and paste platform family game (Mickey Rebrushed) you really end up appreciating just how brilliant and cleverly designed the great ones are (Astro Bot etc).
Re: The Witcher 3 Really Could Be Getting a New Expansion on PS5 in 2026
@LikelySatan haha! Same. Skyrim took me three attempts and then something just clicked and it became an all time favourite. Just can't get into The Witcher. Even with the slight upgraded sheen of the PS5 version it still just feels too clunky. Frustrating because every single other thing about it should be ideal for me. Having not owned a new console from about 2015-2023 it was one of the games I was most excited to catch up on. I even enjoyed the previous game on my 360. But the combat, the movement and the bloody horse riding just take the fun out of existing in what is obviously a brilliant open world. I'm sure I will try again. I picked up the full edition for less than £5 and it's just sitting there waiting. It's probably no coincidence that I have found the same problem with Cyberpunk so maybe it's something a out their style of games? Could really do with something to sink 300 plus hours into. Might have to just buy Ghost of Yotei.
Re: The Witcher 3 Really Could Be Getting a New Expansion on PS5 in 2026
It's almost time for my annual attempt to actually get into The Witcher 3 and not drop it after a few hours. Again.
Re: Game of the Year: #6 - ARC Raiders
@Northern_munkey I dunno. I think they were referring to the fact that it's ultimately just alot of hunting in drawers and cupboard for scrap to upgrade your weapons interrupted by occasional gun fights. And I happen to agree that it's a pretty apt comparison.
Re: Game of the Year: #6 - ARC Raiders
I definitely see the appeal. I also think if this had come out 17 years ago when I had a core group of friends I played with pretty much daily it might possibly have become a firm favourite. But the a reality of playing it now, especially as a solo? It's not for me. I've seen glimpses of what makes it so much fun for everyone else but they were just glimpses. And then as soon as the surprisingly friendly nature of the community suddenly seemed to completely switch after the first few weeks it became actively irritating and then frustrating and then just plain dull. At first I actually liked the quick and easy bitesize nature of each raid being 20-30 minutes but now it just seems shallow and pointless. And it actually works against the atmosphere and sense of survival. Then when I read (might have been on here) someone describe it as a thinly veiled steal of TLOU mechanics just with worse gunplay and slow awkward movement I realised sometimes you just have accept a game is not for you and no amount of trying is going to change that.
Re: Your PS Plus Essential Sub Netted You $1,500+ in PS5, PS4 Games This Year
Despite apparently being a certified 'hater' I generally think it's good value especially for those only just buying a PS5 who might have been out of the loop with gaming for the past few years and I have recommended it as such.
But the entire premise of this article is utterly ridiculous. I mean come on fellas.
Re: New Spyro Game Hopium Builds as Ex-Toys for Bob Artist Reinforces Rumours
Good lord that is one hell of a headline.
Re: 007 First Light's PS5 Release Date Has Been Pushed Back a Couple of Months
@Oram77 Genuinely can't tell if this is sarcasm or not.
Re: Naughty Dog Forces Crunch to Get PS5 Exclusive Intergalactic 'Back on Track' for Mid 2027 Release
Games industry going the same way as Television drama with interminable and often unexplainable wait times and delays, announcing things too early and then over promising and under delivering. It's all well and good if they take their sweet time and produce a classic but as happens far too often there is a sense of 'is that it?' and there's a lot more scrutiny and room for disappointment. No one wants things being rush released but questions have to be asked about why it seems to take so damn long to make anything these days.
Re: This Musical RPG's Not Going to Appeal to Everyone, But We're Moving It to the Top of Our PS5 Wishlist
@nessisonett Holy *****! They were ***** ace. I had 'Hey! Everyone!' on constant rotation on my trusty little I-Pod nano for the whole of summer 2009.
Edit- they definitely made life awkward for themselves (and everyone else) with that name though.
Re: Feature: Predict The Game Awards 2025 with Our 20 Question Quiz
I'm happy to see any game made with care and love like E33 win awards (meaningless as they are). Despite KCD2 being my own favourite I can see how well liked E33 is.
But do not underestimate just what a deal breaker turn based game play is for many people. I have played all kinds of games across all sorts of systems for decades but however well made a game might be if it's turn based then it's just a complete and total no go for me. Unlike other things which can be overlooked or ignored, that central gameplay mechanic is so key that if you're not into it then it makes it unplayable.
So with that in mind I don't quite see why it should be seen as a shoe-in to win and spoken about as if it's one of those rare games that has massive wide appeal across the board.
But like I say, the most important thing is does the wider list of nominees present a fair view of the last year in gaming and I'd say for the most part it does. (KCD2 missing out on performance category is still a glaring error though).
Re: This Musical RPG's Not Going to Appeal to Everyone, But We're Moving It to the Top of Our PS5 Wishlist
@nessisonett Dananananaykroyd is a great example of amusing name Vs silly career choice. I loved 'Black Wax' and that first album it came from but I couldn't be arsed to recommend them to anyone because the name was such a mouthful. Even typing it out then wound me up.
Re: This Musical RPG's Not Going to Appeal to Everyone, But We're Moving It to the Top of Our PS5 Wishlist
Looks utterly appalling on every single level but as a grouchy 44 year old British male who has probably only genuinely enjoyed about 10 games since 2006 I'm quite sure I'm not the target audience so the dev team can rest easy.
Re: Red Dead Redemption 1's Free PS5 Upgrade Is Available to Download Now, Included with PS Plus Extra
@Bunchesopuppies sorry I don't know what you mean?
Re: Red Dead Redemption 1's Free PS5 Upgrade Is Available to Download Now, Included with PS Plus Extra
Despite having played the base game too many times to mention since release day and it being one of my favourite games of all time I never got around to playing Undead Nightmares. No idea why. Just one of those things I always intended to get round to and never did. So I am delighted about RDR being on there.
Might even give the main story another go around. What's this version like? Is it a remaster? I've only ever played RDR1 on my original 360.
Re: December 2025 PS Plus Essential Games Available to Download Now
Despite having played the base game repeatedly since release day and it being one of my favourite games of all time I never got around to playing Undead Nightmares. No idea why. Just one of those things I always intended to get round to and never did. So I am delighted about RDR being on there.
Might even give the main story another go around. What's this version like? Is it a remaster? I've only ever played RDR1 on my original 360.
Re: GTA 6 Gameplay 'Leaks' Are AI-Generated Nonsense, Creator Owns Up After Backlash
@GirlVersusGame Yep. Agree with you 100%. Not usually one to support the studios but this sort of lazy slop is damaging to everyone except the talentless little chancers earning a few quick bucks. And there is definitely a case there that the scheer number of them and the way they are pushed by the various algorithms leads to genuine confusion and damage to the brands. Plus it would be nice to see them go after the right people for once because too often studios go after the genuinely creative sorts who are producing decent content and should be protected under fair usage.
Re: GTA 6 Gameplay 'Leaks' Are AI-Generated Nonsense, Creator Owns Up After Backlash
@GirlVersusGame The amount of time I spend pressing 'not interested' on those awful YouTube channels that exist on a constant stream of terrible fake trailers for upcoming movies. And there's always another one popping up with the same old clickbait drivel. But the sad thing is they almost always do big numbers whether it's because people watching are gullible, irritated or simply don't care. So people just make more of them.
Like you mention, I'm surprised (or maybe not...) that YouTube leaves them to get on with it because alot of them are going out of their way to genuinely mislead people. It's rather worrying they succeed and people can be so credulous but that's rather besides the point.
Re: GTA 6 Gameplay 'Leaks' Are AI-Generated Nonsense, Creator Owns Up After Backlash
I'm sure quite alot of people are now starting to suffer from GTA 6 fatigue. And Rockstar fatigue in general? It's not even their fault by the way. It's just the constant hyperbole and fuss from the gaming media and public that is making it tiresome. This entire cottage industry that's sprung up with every tedious opportunist trying to make a name for themselves (and often succeeding) by exploiting people's ludicrous anticipation for this game is rather draining away the enthusiasm for it. To a much lesser extent it's also the same with the RDR2 port. I realise this is old man shouting at cloud stuff but I'd quite happily hear nothing about this game again until it's ready to play.
And let's not even get started on the very legitimate question marks around the likely quality and creative importance of the product itself. The fact that almost seems a minor non-issue just about sums up what a silly circus it's become.
Re: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 UK Sales Plummet 61% Compared to Black Ops 6
Haven't played a COD game at all since Ghosts. Haven't played one at any great length since Black Ops 2.
Saw some footage of the zombies mode on BO7 and it is completely unrecognisable from the game I remember. And it's not a case of just me getting old or nostalgia. I wasn't even a massive fan of BOP2 or the zombies mode in general. But this was a downgrade in every possible way. The entire feel of the game has been changed. The mood and aesthetics are just way off so it's COD zombies in name only. None of the genuine horror elements remain, just a cheap looking cartoon with one of the most hilariously terrible UI's I've ever seen.
I'm sure there are many reasons and causes for this but as a first step I'd suggest the devs put down the Monster drinks. The saddest thing is though that you can see exactly the kind of user base they're targeting. It would genuinely be a win for the games industry in general if they took a financial hit and not just a critical one because the sloppiness on display suggests a combination of greed, contempt and laziness that will only get worse if they think they can keep getting away with it. (See also every big game developer currently operating).
Re: Talking Point: The Game Awards 2025 Nominations Announced: Who Are Your Winners?
Seems very harsh that neither of the two main fellas from KCD2 got a nomination for best performance. They are brilliant and there's a certain genuinely funny and idiosyncratic humour to the KCD games that you don't see too often.
Would rather play noughts and crosses than any turn based game but I can appreciate why people like E33 so much (though I don't think it should sweep the board). But Silksong? I just don't get it.
Re: PS5 RPG Where Winds Meet Makes a Strong Start with Two Million Players
Despite how glossy it seemed on the surface it still felt trashy and it's FTP nature was obvious. No real artistry or immersion. Just being bashed over the head with information and noise. A glorified mobile game. Of course no one has to play it and for those that enjoy it then all lovely jubbly. But this sort of game is holding back the industry and will continue to do so as long as they prove popular.
Re: Ghost of Yotei PS5 Sales Surpass 3.3 Million Units, Crush Boycott Nonsense
Left, Right, Up, Down (Triangle, Square, Circle, X)- it doesn't matter what part of the political spectrum or what the spurious reasoning or motivation is for these kinds of boycotts. There is one thing you can be certain of. They are always a complete and utter embarrassment.
Re: Ghost of Yotei Can't Beat Battlefield 6 as EA's Shooter Dominates PS5 in October
@Northern_munkey thank you! That's really helpful to know and a very kind of offer. Will do if I pick it up. I watched a 30 minute gameplay video of it earlier today and it looked great and also decent to play solo as well as in a squad. I expect my B6 fatigue will pass or else I will need to find some people to play regularly with.
Is it just me or has the culture of online gaming really changed alot? I remember back in the old days of Battlefield and COD and Left 4 Dead everyone was adding one another and joining parties and sending friend requests. I guess alot of people now stick to other platforms like Discord and private chat lobbies rather than being at the mercy of randoms!