Comments 1,657

Re: PS5 Is Edging Out the Switch 2 in the UK So Far This Year

EfYI

At this point, the rumoured handheld seems to come a little too late - people who want portables surely has bought a Switch or PC handheld by now, or will be sticking with their Portal.

I have a bulletproof plan for Sony to conquer Japan: Release your handheld with the name Nimtendo Swich 3. They won't be able to help themselves!

Re: PS5 Sales in Japan Quadruple as New Model Launches

EfYI

At this point, your readership is desperate to find out how many 2K+ PC rigs have been sold in Japan, and why Sony isn't doing more to sell 2K+ PC rigs.

I'll leave you guys with a thought: I am so tired of the missing games and absent graphics on PS that I, Sir Tobywell Grimsworth, swear and do declare that forthwith, and with retroactive effect dating at least one console generation, I shall not own a PS6!

Re: Another PS Plus Extra Game Expires in December 2025

EfYI

Survival On Mars is weird imo. I can't get access to it, but chances are I wouldn't play much of it anyways. Never made it far in that waterworld survival game (the famous one which sequel is mired in controversy) because I couldn't be bothered.

I am in a race against time to start up Star Wars and Arcade VR..... 1st world problems are real!

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

EfYI

A lot goes into my evaluation:

1. My time with the hardware (PS5 +PS5 PRO, dualsense)
2. My time with the peripheral hardware (Portal + PSVR2)
3. First Party output, Second Party Output, Third Party Output.
4. Sony Playstation's strategizing and focus + results
5. PS Plus

As I have had the digital PS5 since launch and the PS5 Pro for a while, I can genuinely say that each machine has served my needs par excellence. I think that the visual output delivered by my Pro and new, vibrant LCD-Screen is the most 'bang for the buck' in modern gaming. 10/10

The portal and PSVR2 has provided me with gaming in niche ways, and become a trusty travel buddy. Immersing myself or lying in bed are great alternatives to comfortable couch-sitting. The technology is impressive and inviting. I have too much to play to say that I've used PSVR2 as much as I'd want, though. 9/10

The output by first party has largely been a little disappointing in terms of potential - that blind gold rush for live service titles is the source of much of my anger. Nevertheless, I have more games to play than I can find time for. My own strategy was to not rush through games (nor do I think I even can do that with how they're designed) has made sure I at ALL TIMES have had true next-gen experiences at the ready - so no show studios like Bend and Naughty Dog is almost a relief at this point. Second and third party support has been 10/10. We're living in a Golden Age of Gaming.10/10

In terms of Playstation's overall strategy, Jim Ryan's Playstation killed off the XBOX or left it for dead anyways. Besides being consumer-friendly in terms of pricing (new games are expensive but not if you count how much quality time you can get out of each dollar). The biggest upturn has been the quality of PS PLUS. This last year has seen Extra/Premium rise to become the best value-for-money service in my estimation. A huge point deducted for the blind goldrush for Live Service that killed off reputable studios and created infamous ones like Haven. 9/10

If I do the math, we arrive somewhere in the range of 9.5/10.

Re: PS Plus Essential Games for December 2025 Announced

EfYI

Well, that's my life ruined: The games selection is not to my taste

Usually, you hear this from the trolling PC/XBOX groupies that throw themselves at PushSquarians. It is me this month, but objectively it is great with a children's game and a cool "indie" platformer that was highly praised at launch.

Re: In Destiny 2's Darkest Moment, Bungie Is Betting on Star Wars to Bring Players Back

EfYI

Whilst Destiny (1!) has given me some of my best moments in gaming with raiding and given me a friend list worthy of the name, I cannot, as a solo player, get back into Destiny (2). It is way too much of the same gameplay loop...I tried to play some of the DLC but starting the right content/mission felt like finding the needle in the haystack, just as leveling and choosing good weapons/armor.

Re: Sony Is Actually Advertising PSVR2 This Black Friday

EfYI

I will add a VR game to my backlog just to seem like an active VR user.

My problem is that I try and keep up with the library of PS Plus Extra, so everything I own or will have access to with any tier of Plus automatically goes to the back of the to-play list. Actually, that does mean that I'll have to squeeze in some playtime with Synapse (or was it Star Wars...) before it goes away

Which is also why I shouldn't be subscribed ALL the time - I have a very, very good backlog and want to get back into KCD2 in time for the Game Awards, so I can really feel the pain of it being snubbed for Expedition 33.

Re: Suddenly the PS5 Pro Doesn't Look That Expensive Anymore

EfYI

Getting a PS5 Pro at a substantial discount has been absolutely wonderful and the best deal in gaming since napping a digital edition launch PS5.

It is giving me the best visual experiences I've ever had, and I finally understand the performance crowd's insistence on frames per second.

For those interested in an example with a newer game, this is my experience with it on PS5 Pro:

I am playing Vanisher's: Ghosts of New Eden and the game is nothing short of amazing. Running without technical issues, 60 frames and absolute gorgeous details. Looking at Red Mac Raith's beard and braided hair is such a stunning experience.

It provides you with big, beautiful vistas and impressively cavernous splendour underground. The American landscape bent, exaggerated and warped putting your SSD to the test. The map size continues to impress me, and how areas connect to each other. The story is also longer and more nuanced with haunting cases stretching over the length of the game almost.

Re: The Much Maligned PS5 Shooter Marathon Returns for Another Playtest in December

EfYI

I want to see Bungie doing well. As shooters go, Destiny 1+2 has taken a lot of my time. Destiny 1 was a revolution for many players, myself included, and the only game that grew my friends list with 100-ish people.

I think I signed up if they'll allow people from the EU on. And if it is good, I'll pitch it to my friends. We used to game online a lot on Siege and 3-4 other games.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 608

EfYI

Banisher: Ghost of New Eden - currently my main game. This game is surprisingly big, and has more enemy variety than the reviews will have you believe. There's still skills to invest into and haunting cases to look into.

It has been really difficult to play "evil" and put blame on various NPCs, but I have chosen to walk the path and will selfishly do anything for Antea. This will make me ready for a BG Dark Urges run when I eventually finish my first playthrough.

Thank Goodness You're Here is funny and made me laugh when I played about an hour of it in total.

Re: A Technical Mess without It, STALKER 2's Day 1 PS5 Patch Is Critical

EfYI

I will be keeping an eye on this title.

A good excuse for not buying now is that price will go down and performance will go up.

Is it enough to line RPGs or is it highly recommended to be a huge fan of survival games with this? Previous reviews let me to believe this has a great story and side quests which I presume isn't the case with survival games.

Re: Valve's Steam Machine May Not Be As Affordable As a PS5

EfYI

The best thing about this maybe overpriced mini PC is that people that say PCs are stronger will be confronted with this thing + a steam fact 70 per cent of users have performance below that of PlayStation 5.

This is a perfect argument for PS5 being the best choice in terms of value and power. 2000+ devices are owned by a small minority of PC gamers.

Re: These 9 PS Plus Games Are Leaving in December 2025

EfYI

  • Arcade Paradise VR (PSVR2)
  • Sonic Frontiers (PS5, PS4)
    Forspoken (PS5)
    Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge - Enhanced Edition (PSVR2)
  • Surviving Mars (PS4)

I will try and finish Star Wars and at least try Arcade VR before time runs.

I also started Forspoken which has been highly rated by some PushSquarians, but will I make time for all of these titles?

Sonic Frontiers and Surviving Mars sounds great for Portal playing.

The race is on.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 607

EfYI

This week and weekend, I am trying to get far into Banisters: Ghost of New Eden on PS5 Pro.

It has been optimized for the pro and looks amazing. I am juggling two playthroughs: one good and one bad in terms of choices.

I started and got far into it on the portal, but I like how the improved visuals on Pro really accentuates the strengths of this game. The excellently optimized Performance mode has made me a believer in frames per second actually mattering a lot. I cannot see a difference in the actual fidelity betweens graphics and performance mode, so choose that!

The art direction is really great, as is combat, but the enemy variety is slightly thin and the game is about the right size for this kind of rump.

9/10 so far! (Made it to the swamps)

Re: Tomb Raider Dev Loses Another 30 Staff in New Round of Layoffs

EfYI

@OldGamer999

I think I disagree on the current released AAA-games' quality at least until I've understood your metric a little better.

For me, it is a tale of two cities. It is the best of times, and the worst of times. Games have reached a cinematic level of excellence and fidelity, and the medium has allowed much diversity in terms of artistic storytelling and innovative game design. But game development has, to some extent, stagnated in terms of the game designs of this medium has largely been recycled (and improved upon) without, somewhat reductively perhaps, the same speed of evolution as the hardware which coincidentally also has entered a phase of diminishing returns in terms of improvement in fidelity and detail. In essence, games are continuously getting 'better' but, and there is a but!

Many developer studios has degraded or expired in such a degree that I attribute it to an external malice consisting of Greed and Theft (anthropomorphized names for corporations and AI creation tools and the algorithms that expunge their output.)

I am by the by really enjoying my time as a Banisher: The ghosts of New Eden, which may or may not explain my occultist approach to video game commentary.

Re: Tomb Raider Dev Loses Another 30 Staff in New Round of Layoffs

EfYI

Greedy, evil corporations seek to rid themselves of the job market that vested upon them the great riches of gaming culture, and we're standing by where we should regulate to protect our creators and artists.

Instead of acting in time, the representatives are filling their pockets, whilst people are eating up absolute drivel in the form of gaichas, live service shooters and otherwise predatory sausage factory, now AI-assisted, repeats of last year's menu.

All the while time honoured developers are disappearing before our very eyes. In their stead, daddy's little boy will inherit 'their' IP (unfairly gobbled up by mega corps) and have scores of AI agents working for their one-man companies, regurgitating old ideas in a veritable physical and mental wasteland that shrinks until they publish only to themselves.

Re: PS Plus Members in the UK Now Get Money Off Purchases from PlayStation Direct

EfYI

LEASING hardware is the dumbest thing you could do. Please don't!

BUY a console for say 399 your currency - it will RETAIN value more or less (MORE if you adopted early).

I bought a digital edition PS5 at launch and sold it after 4 years for virtually the same whilst picking up a demo-model of a PS5 Pro for the same price (almost).

When I sell the PS5 Pro I will probably get more than what a PS6 costs. That's a big maybe, but my expenses are brought down greatly.

Re: Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (PS5) - Storytelling Great Has Gameplay to Match

EfYI

I just played the opening via PS Plus on a PS5 Pro with a gorgeous LCD TV.

This is an amazing game that looks absolutely stunning. Combat is fun. The story is gripping and the choices are so hard. I made it to the Mire Swamps in a playthrough on the portal but this game deserves the best setup to be perfectly honest.

I bought the only DLC today because I got it for such a bargain via the service.

BIGGEST game recommendation I can make is that it is AA feeling like AAA - 9/10 for me with no technical issues at this stage in the support of the game.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 606

EfYI

@GirlVersusGame

I just finished it - good voice work, and an okay, entertaining story with room for laughs, but I am not a trophy hunter. I ended up with about half the board crossed off, so I am quite happy to leave it there. The game respected my time and that is perfect for PS Plus.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 606

EfYI

I've been testing out the new features of my Portal. I have tried more games than I'd care to mention.

Killer Frequency - cozy little game that I intend to finish.

The Last of Us 2: Remastered - In my playthrough, the whole game lasts 30 minutes. It is open ended: Joel and Ellie are living their best lives and Abby's ugly face is smashed in by the first and last Zombie in the game. 10/10.

EA: WRC The Rally game. I like the music and that there are 'moments' from real life to emulate. But I spend more time rolling the car around than staying on track. It is more difficult than GT7 which is hard enough.

Re: First PS Plus Extra Game for November 2025 Leaked

EfYI

@LifeGirl

Trial by social media can stick it?

Is this stickable?
"Ubisoft had/has literal rapists in their offices and releases broken microtransaction filled slop every couple of months."?

I don't really buy Ubisoft games anymore*, but I've noticed how their corporate culture has been criticized heavily for a decade now.

*It seems in this dystopian corporate hellscape there are almost no studios left to trust.

Re: First PS Plus Extra Game for November 2025 Leaked

EfYI

@lazarus11

"Last week, my colleagues who were in the studio were each individually messaged by HR for a short friendly meeting, under the friendly guise of "Hey, are you free for a quick chat?"

Upon attending this meeting they were handed an envelope with a short letter stating that their employment had been terminated for "gross misconduct" regarding posts made in Discord.

They failed to provide any evidence when asked, nor was any stated in the letter. And did not divulge any other information or reasoning - "and no other reason"

They refused their right to Union representation in the disciplinary meeting (which is against UK employment law) and were frogmarched out of the studio with the meeting lasting less than 5 minutes.

For colleagues who were not in the Studio that day, they received a phone call from HR that lasted less than 2 minutes telling them they were fired and that they'd receive the same letter as above. I am aware of one employee who had a panic attack at this moment, and HR hung up on them during this panic attack not caring at all about their wellbeing.

These colleagues of mine were hard workers who have spent many many years at R* in critical roles. With colleagues who have been at R* for more that 18 years and none of them have ever had a disciplinary in that time. They are not easily replaced and will certainly affect us in making our project deadlines.

These are very senior artists, animators, QA testers, designers, programmers and producers. Including Leads. All super talented people who were proud of their work over multiple R* titles, and all they wanted was the best for R* and their fellow colleagues.

Some of these members were off sick, recovering from surgery or on paternity leave. Fired without pay, losing their careers and putting them into hardship in the lead up to Christmas, and even potentially losing their VISAs to work in the UK."