@Ralizah It may very well be the case here that Nintendo takes care of my wants in game direction that Sony is seemingly shifting away from as well. I'm not ready to jump ship yet, as Astro's Playroom, Returnal, And Demon's Souls show to me as a fan that there's some good life yet remaining. But in a few years we may be having a different conversation. I already have warmed up to a number of JRPG titles I never touched years ago because I passed on certain systems, notably the 3DS. Incredible games, many of which rest in the spirit that Nintendo is permeating its library with... a recent development for me! As I picked one up during covid and have slowly built a catalog of must-haves. So I'm keeping a close eye on their ventures in addition to hoping that Sony can retrieve their ways as a game company.
Regardless, seems we have different tastes as we've shared regarding older system gens, and that's great. For the record, I did have a Gamecube and loved it. Was primarily a multiplayer machine for me, but it did also have both my favorite Zelda (WW) and Metroid (Prime) games in their respective series. RE4 was also a marvel. So I can totally see how this would have been someone's preferred platform back in the 2000s, mine just was the PS2 because their games spoke to me in a way that was special. And so for the final time, to stress, this is what I want Sony to recognize as their benchmark for when "Greatness Awaits" was a mantra that they lived by, not just marketed.
@Ralizah I suppose we just agree to disagree, no problem. I would throw in the games I mentioned and a number of other PS titles to the legendary tier you mention apart from the GTAs and MGSs that are discussed. It definitely was not a case of adding 'not bad to good' titles but some seriously high quality content that rivaled competitor output, including a few of the greatest ever. I just think a lot of people forget how enjoyable and ahead of their time 1st party games were on the PS2. They're some of the best you can play, even today. I'm actually in a phase at the moment where I'm replaying the Jak and Ratchet games (it's why they keep getting mentioned) and I'm astounded at what they accomplished in the early 2000s. Not to mention, they're still a blast even now, a breath of fresh air away from modern gaming. Perhaps it's that Xbox did wonders with backwards compat and that Nintendo actually treats old properties with care as we've seen in the Switch gen that overshadows Sony's old content in how they've left their gems in the shadows. My view of course... wish Sony wouldn't sleep on what they have.
A partially lapsed Sony fan? I like that. If Sony doesn't recover from this strange spell they're in for this generation, I'm going to steal that label from you lol.
@Ralizah I would still dispute this, respectfully of course. GTA indeed is remembered for its ground breaking open world mechanics and pushed out many consoles with Sony's tied in marketing. If we approached a random on the street who played a PS2 in those days, yes, good chance they'd mention San Andreas or Vice City as a fond memory of the console. There's also a good chance they'd add GT as you mentioned, maybe GoW or Jak 2.
What seems to be implicit in your argument (and feel free to correct) is that it's only a platform like Nintendo that's sought after for its first-party content, and that it's the only platform capable of innovating in various genre spaces. While I would agree that is the case today with the Switch vs PS5, I don't think it was so with the PS2. Jak and Daxter innovated in action-adventure scales and animation, and Shadow Of The Colossus basically pioneered spectacle fights that awe us in current projects like Nier or a FromSoft title. This is what I mean by being remembered, PS first party games were in the ring moving the industry forward just like Nintendo and to some degree, Xbox. It's these experiences that fans remember and carry with them today, myself included.
The reason I'm standing firm in this is because, in light of the article, it's clear Sony is capable of doing what Nintendo is now doing with Switch. Excellent, innovative first party titles, and a seemingly never-ending third party roster of games to enjoy alongside them. I've actually said in the past that the Switch IS the PS2 of this era - it provides anything you could want for a gaming experience with its astounding library.
I don't want to rant too much, and I don't want to speak past you as we may ultimately be in agreement, but I just don't understand why people think PS2 is basically a 3rd party machine in essence - and don't even get me started on the 'DVD Player' shtick people throw around - when just about any content creator you can find online that is passionate about video games remarks on the titles I mentioned, not just GTA or FF. And that's what I want from Sony... get the best of both worlds like they once did. It's too late for this gen it seems given these games are somewhat far along in development, but hopefully they get their act together in PS6 and completely stomp us with quality like the good old days.
@Ralizah PS2 isn’t primarily loved for its first party? It’s very fondly remembered by fans for its output of internally developed content, not to mention franchises began there that we still play today. I’d much rather play Up Your Arsenal or Sly than Mario Sunshine, and I don’t think that’s controversial to say. The games on PS2 were amazing.
PS1 no doubt was a 3rd party machine with sprinkles of their own IP, but PS2 provided everything, including loads of great first party content.
Excited for this. It looks a bit like the progression system is a shake-up of FE class progress, borrowing bits of development mechanics from other series. A key title I’m watching closely along with Rise of the Ronin for March releases!
@Digital_Nomad it’s honestly at the point where I may need to take another break from these sites. Comments are spiralling on all sister portals, wild to the point of tribalistic toxicity… well, worse than the usual sort. It’s very sad, as I engage in these sites to enjoy game discussion and to offer criticisms on a constructive level. This is just console war nonsense at its finest, and I wish some of our fellow gamers here could get a grip.
@Nepp67 I’m not too worried about that, as multiple outlets have had extensive access to the game and are speaking positively about it in their previews. It’s a total blast apparently. I also don’t care much about metacritic or review scores… just don’t, haven’t for a long time. I get your point though, that review codes are associated with getting the actual reviews in a timely manner which allows us to evaluate if the game is for us or not. Hopefully we’ll get some reviews as the game comes out.
I really hope this game is well taken care of moving forward, as it has so much promise. It could honestly be PS’s Splatoon if it’s well invested in and responds effectively to player feedback. I truly believe there’s potential here for years to come if Sony doesn’t turn a blind eye to this studio, I love what I’m seeing.
Very nice touch at the end, especially after what I thought was a long-winded Kojima homage (DS2 looks great, but goodness that trailer dragged). Gives us fans a bit more to chew before we get hammered with game releases. Solid show overall!
Tell us what your first party studios are doing, how you’re improving the sub services (in other words, justifying the price hike), and begin caring about the fan base in general. Throw in what FromSoft is doing with you as well for good measure. That is all.
I just got home and am catching up on these announcements… what is going on with Sega?? Wow! Lots of good stuff to me for announcements but I think I’m giving them the ultimate thumbs up, very excited for these projects. Valhalla, MH, and Ronin all look great too, glad PS had a few things here tonight.
I have no expectations regarding games for tomorrow, and don't mean that in a form of slight. I accepted a while ago that Sony is taking the L on first party announcements this year, so the third party and indie focus is no surprise. They're getting consoles out like wildfire, and can show their studio's work closer to launch as their hardware sales grow. It makes sense (from a business perspective, not for us fans).
What I DO expect is to get some update on the service as a result of that price hike... I'm biting the same bait as Grubb that Sony will reason this with a major update of some sort. If not, then that's a bad taste left for me and I'll be cancelling next month. They need to demonstrate something.
As for what games might show up? Rebirth, Stellar Blade, and Little Devil Inside seem likely, Silent Hill maybe, and wildcards like FF Tactics (at Nintendo Direct would be really cool too) or even the fabled FF9 Remake would be amazing. But again, no expectations on any of these. We'll see
Just finished FF16 and am downloading this as we speak. I want to play Starfield, but I think I’ll wait as I’m an enormous fan of Larian Studios and there will be some fun mods down the road for Bethesda’s big game. Tough choice… but I’m ready to get sucked into Baldur’s Gate 3 the next while
Adore the first game, this has been in my top five anticipated for 2023. For those who’ve yet to play the first one… you’re in for a spellbound experience. Cannot wait to play this!
About a 9, so many high points and with incredible cinematic pieces. Music and combat are sublime, it’s only the side quests that falter along with performance. It’s up there with TOTK this year so far for me.
I don’t think I could give more than a 6/10, and that’s being generous. So disappointed, what were they thinking when organizing this? That we don’t want to see first party content? And after almost 2 years of keeping quiet? They have some explaining to do, my goodness. I need to go for a walk lol, that was a travesty.
Wow, I imagine a lot of the OLED models were TOTK editions? No doubt this peak in sales is related to the Zelda release, and I’m wondering if this will continue on beyond an initial release trend. Also imagine the same will happen for PS5 just before Ff16. Interesting times!
I’ll be getting my copy of Zelda at midnight tonight 🙂
@somnambulance Well said, and understood. You learn to pick your battles after a while on these sister sites, sometimes it's best not to leave a comment that disagrees with most of the community, I get that.
Stray was published by Annapurna, sorry, I mentioned it as something I enjoyed on PS5 last year as I was just sharing that it was the platform I enjoyed most in 2022, and Stray was one of the highlights for me.
I don't disagree with any of your takes regarding the PS exclusives that came out last year, no problem. I just feel that way about the Nintendo exclusives from last year, and it's blasphemy to indicate you didn't think it was THAT strong of a year from them on a Nintendo-focused blog site. I certainly think this year will be better for me.
Square Enix cranked out a lot! There might be a good case for them being the key player, and I share the nod you make towards Triangle Strategy, it's a gem. They gave us an insane catalogue, with a few standout titles.
Anyway, you can see I'm not trying to take away anything from your experience and I believe most here would never do that either. Sometimes gamers need to retract their claws and open their minds to what other people say, it's not necessarily a form of tribalism.
@somnambulance A totally valid experience for you to have! Nintendo was very diverse in the releases as you say, and did have a strong year. I think I'm on the other end of what you're saying, and that's not bias, it's just I don't think the games Nintendo released in 2022 truly compelled me. I enjoyed XBC 3 for instance, great story and characters, but the world was less imaginative than previous titles and some of the RPG functions in the game just didn't work for me. I also didn't like Pokemon Arceus, and am not a fan of Splatoon or Bayonetta. So, just not the year for me personally.
Sony hit home with me just through two titles alone. Ragnarok and Stray, the latter of which left a bigger personal impact on me than any other game in 2022. It's a precious game I recommend to all. I only just picked up GT7 but am enjoying that too.
Hopefully you don't get negative feedback for your thoughts, I think it's great when we can talk about why we preferred certain publishers over others in a given year. Hell, Xbox had a decent year with games that didn't deserve enough attention, like Pentiment.
Maybe it's an effect of something like metacritic? I've always had an issue with the site, I don't agree with their aggregate score formulas, not to mention the total mess of user score ratings in the last few years. I just don't think it can do any game's experience in others proper justice.
Anyway, glad you enjoyed Nintendo so much last year. May the big 3 succeed in 2023.
I suppose I’ll be the one to give the unsexy answer… invest in the studios you have, and/or pick up a small studio that is ambitious and willing to partner with Sony.
I don’t want anything that would shift the market further into publisher consolidation. Besides, as I (and others) have mentioned multiple times, Sony doesn’t need to buy any major publishers they deal with. Capcom and Square Enix happily do marketing and exclusivity deals for PlayStation, and are able to continue growing their development teams with the revenue they incur from them and their other partners (Nintendo and Microsoft). A lot of good can be done with 5b, so do what Microsoft should have done and invest in what you have. But alas, a dreamworld I know, because of profit hunting, capitalism, etc. just not reality.
But that’s what I would like, call it my wish list 😅
Certainly curious, as though it’s in preparation for releases like FF and other big names this year on PS5? I’m not even sure what else is releasing this year that would pull Japanese consumers in to buy a system. Are they all digital purchases? It’s interesting.
I could see Switch doing spikes the next couple of weeks after yesterday’s Direct (which was super), but it otherwise might be PS5’s time to rise there. And for what it’s worth, good for the Series S!
@NEStalgia sheesh, that’s a very sad story lol. I hope at some point you were able to keep a working PS3, sounds like very rotten luck.
My only point, exceptions aside, was that the DVD function served as a temporary draw in for consumers, around launch until about 2 years later (give or take) as dvd players became very cheap following the ps2’s launch. Anecdotes don’t do much for me, as I could easily remember households having both a ps2 and dvd player growing up. I’m just tired of seeing people online, especially content creators, say it sold well because of the dvd player as it lacks analysis.
Not saying you’re doing that 😎 and again, I love that the Switch is doing well.
I don’t agree with the comments arguing for the DVD player narrative, that it was a large reason why it sold so well. Given how many software units were sold (almost 1.4b), and that it had a higher attach ratio than both the GameCube and Xbox shows people bought it to engage in the game library. The DVD player was a very small factor for most I would argue, especially since the PS2 continued to sell well during the PS3 days, not to mention dvd players were cheap following PS2’s launch. Sorry, just don’t buy the notion, and I’m not sure why people keep on with the idea that it sold because it could play dvds. The evidence shows otherwise.
That said, not trying to poopoo on the Switch, and I commented on NL how impressive it is.
One of the few games I’m interested in fully completing. It’s just an excuse to explore every minuscule corner of Hogwarts, would be a delight rather than a chore. Haven’t bought a game yet for 2023, this might be the first one 🙂
@Jdduhd the op I was commenting on was suggesting Microsoft would try to acquire square if the AB deal failed. Because Nintendo and Sony are so much more involved in their products (and their success), they would be extremely hawkish against competition trying to buy them out. They wouldn’t have a chance, so my point I suppose was that there’s no need for Sony to buy them as a pre-emptive measure against Microsoft.
I do agree that Sony would be more likely to purchase them than Nintendo, but I don’t think they ever will. I wouldn’t want them to either, as I don’t think consolidating an entity that big is good for most game consumers (I obviously feel the same way about the ongoing acquisition). But, it’s been a wild year with the AB situation… anything’s possible!
@4kgk2 Sony and Nintendo would both be on the warpath if they tried to acquire square. Not to mention the legal hoops they’d have to hop over concerning the Asian market (look how hard they’re fighting for Activision Blizzard).
I also don’t think that Sony should buy them. Why do it? They have a very strong relationship and do exclusive deals for their biggest games. It’s unnecessary imo
This already has my attention more than Engage. Not to prematurely dismiss the next Fire Emblem game, it could be great, but this style and grittiness interests me more, and has a team with a solid portfolio working on it. 2023 off to a good start for TRPGs
I thought about picking it up, but I spent a lot on Black Friday deals and one of my favourite games is getting the PS5 upgrade treatment this week. For free! So I’ll be playing the Witcher 3 and keeping an eye on a sale for Crisis Core next year.
Bloodborne GoW GoT Persona 5 Royal RDR2 Witcher 3 Dark Souls 3 RE7 TLOU Part 1 (haven’t played 2 yet) Medievil (Wildcard. I love Daniel Fortesque, the original is one of my favourite games ever).
There’s so many more, both 1st and 3rd party that are great. The PS4 library is something I think many will appreciate more as time goes on, I see the term “overrated” too often in reference to the games. That’s not a dig at Nintendo or Xbox, the PS4 really is that great.
@Gunnerzaurus To be clear, I don’t think it’s a good thing this acquisition is underway. I’m not a cheerleader for Microsoft, despite loving Xbox (I love all three console ecosystems). So I can also be critical of Sony while enjoying my PS5, meaning I’ll exercise my skepticism when they do something as described in the article - doesn’t affect me enjoying a little Returnal tonight.
I’m also not sure what you mean by good PR. Do you mean Microsoft is being seen as something positive for this deal being made? I certainly don’t, which is why Phil and his associates are so often covered about their thoughts on the process. Believe me, I don’t accept much of what they say - they can’t appear malevolent by any stretch.
That said, I think you would agree that Sony is, at the very least, not helping their image at all in engaging their competitor with all these online feuds. They have years left with COD, and can figure something out.
As if Sony doesn’t have enough bad PR? They just keep digging… and use the consumer’s well-being as a scapegoat for their frustration with Microsoft’s deal. Let it go… any more digs like this will hurt Sony regardless of the deal going through or not.
Have to be honest, I didn’t care for the original game. Wonderful soundtrack, beautiful design, but the writing, stories, and characters were generic and poorly done to me. So I’m in the minority likely of not being excited for this, but I’ll keep an eye on it. Happy for you all that are hyped for it!
I am excited! I played the sequel on PS2, but never the original. I remember one PS magazine back in the day describing World as the Mario 64 on PS1 - whatever that would mean today lol. Might be a day one pickup for me!
I will try at some point, I did enjoy the original. But the Blasphemous sequel is most on my radar for 2d souls-likes. I’ll play that day one even if it scores a 6/10 too ☺️
I assumed it was a timed exclusive for Xbox and PC based on platform release. Only two programmers, wow! I’m happy to pick this up on my laptop and then double dip later, I love supporting small indie teams.
Sheesh, that’s a lot of projects. Just checked the company size, less than 300 people there. I’m sure Sony is managing the various studio teams well, hoping there aren’t crunch issues. ANYWAY.. cool announcement, looking forward to more news in the future.
It’s still Astro’s Playroom. I said in another blog that the only other game that elicited such wonder and emotion in me was Mario Galaxy. It’s a work of art and so much more than a tech demo. In my view, I’ve yet to see anything match it on PS5 so far.
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Re: Sony Predicts Slide in PS5 Sales with No Major Existing IPs Planned Before March 2025
@Ralizah It may very well be the case here that Nintendo takes care of my wants in game direction that Sony is seemingly shifting away from as well. I'm not ready to jump ship yet, as Astro's Playroom, Returnal, And Demon's Souls show to me as a fan that there's some good life yet remaining. But in a few years we may be having a different conversation. I already have warmed up to a number of JRPG titles I never touched years ago because I passed on certain systems, notably the 3DS. Incredible games, many of which rest in the spirit that Nintendo is permeating its library with... a recent development for me! As I picked one up during covid and have slowly built a catalog of must-haves. So I'm keeping a close eye on their ventures in addition to hoping that Sony can retrieve their ways as a game company.
Regardless, seems we have different tastes as we've shared regarding older system gens, and that's great. For the record, I did have a Gamecube and loved it. Was primarily a multiplayer machine for me, but it did also have both my favorite Zelda (WW) and Metroid (Prime) games in their respective series. RE4 was also a marvel. So I can totally see how this would have been someone's preferred platform back in the 2000s, mine just was the PS2 because their games spoke to me in a way that was special. And so for the final time, to stress, this is what I want Sony to recognize as their benchmark for when "Greatness Awaits" was a mantra that they lived by, not just marketed.
Re: Sony Predicts Slide in PS5 Sales with No Major Existing IPs Planned Before March 2025
@Ralizah I suppose we just agree to disagree, no problem. I would throw in the games I mentioned and a number of other PS titles to the legendary tier you mention apart from the GTAs and MGSs that are discussed. It definitely was not a case of adding 'not bad to good' titles but some seriously high quality content that rivaled competitor output, including a few of the greatest ever. I just think a lot of people forget how enjoyable and ahead of their time 1st party games were on the PS2. They're some of the best you can play, even today. I'm actually in a phase at the moment where I'm replaying the Jak and Ratchet games (it's why they keep getting mentioned) and I'm astounded at what they accomplished in the early 2000s. Not to mention, they're still a blast even now, a breath of fresh air away from modern gaming. Perhaps it's that Xbox did wonders with backwards compat and that Nintendo actually treats old properties with care as we've seen in the Switch gen that overshadows Sony's old content in how they've left their gems in the shadows. My view of course... wish Sony wouldn't sleep on what they have.
A partially lapsed Sony fan? I like that. If Sony doesn't recover from this strange spell they're in for this generation, I'm going to steal that label from you lol.
Re: Sony Predicts Slide in PS5 Sales with No Major Existing IPs Planned Before March 2025
@Ralizah I would still dispute this, respectfully of course. GTA indeed is remembered for its ground breaking open world mechanics and pushed out many consoles with Sony's tied in marketing. If we approached a random on the street who played a PS2 in those days, yes, good chance they'd mention San Andreas or Vice City as a fond memory of the console. There's also a good chance they'd add GT as you mentioned, maybe GoW or Jak 2.
What seems to be implicit in your argument (and feel free to correct) is that it's only a platform like Nintendo that's sought after for its first-party content, and that it's the only platform capable of innovating in various genre spaces. While I would agree that is the case today with the Switch vs PS5, I don't think it was so with the PS2. Jak and Daxter innovated in action-adventure scales and animation, and Shadow Of The Colossus basically pioneered spectacle fights that awe us in current projects like Nier or a FromSoft title. This is what I mean by being remembered, PS first party games were in the ring moving the industry forward just like Nintendo and to some degree, Xbox. It's these experiences that fans remember and carry with them today, myself included.
The reason I'm standing firm in this is because, in light of the article, it's clear Sony is capable of doing what Nintendo is now doing with Switch. Excellent, innovative first party titles, and a seemingly never-ending third party roster of games to enjoy alongside them. I've actually said in the past that the Switch IS the PS2 of this era - it provides anything you could want for a gaming experience with its astounding library.
I don't want to rant too much, and I don't want to speak past you as we may ultimately be in agreement, but I just don't understand why people think PS2 is basically a 3rd party machine in essence - and don't even get me started on the 'DVD Player' shtick people throw around - when just about any content creator you can find online that is passionate about video games remarks on the titles I mentioned, not just GTA or FF. And that's what I want from Sony... get the best of both worlds like they once did. It's too late for this gen it seems given these games are somewhat far along in development, but hopefully they get their act together in PS6 and completely stomp us with quality like the good old days.
Re: Sony Predicts Slide in PS5 Sales with No Major Existing IPs Planned Before March 2025
@Ralizah PS2 isn’t primarily loved for its first party? It’s very fondly remembered by fans for its output of internally developed content, not to mention franchises began there that we still play today. I’d much rather play Up Your Arsenal or Sly than Mario Sunshine, and I don’t think that’s controversial to say. The games on PS2 were amazing.
PS1 no doubt was a 3rd party machine with sprinkles of their own IP, but PS2 provided everything, including loads of great first party content.
Re: Unicorn Overlord Reveals Fire Emblem-Esque Character Class Promotions
Excited for this. It looks a bit like the progression system is a shake-up of FE class progress, borrowing bits of development mechanics from other series. A key title I’m watching closely along with Rise of the Ronin for March releases!
Re: Poll: How Do You Feel About All of the Xbox Multiplatform Rumours?
@Digital_Nomad it’s honestly at the point where I may need to take another break from these sites. Comments are spiralling on all sister portals, wild to the point of tribalistic toxicity… well, worse than the usual sort. It’s very sad, as I engage in these sites to enjoy game discussion and to offer criticisms on a constructive level. This is just console war nonsense at its finest, and I wish some of our fellow gamers here could get a grip.
Re: Helldivers 2 Outlines the Story So Far in Stylish Trailer, Confirms Post-Launch Updates
@Nepp67 I’m not too worried about that, as multiple outlets have had extensive access to the game and are speaking positively about it in their previews. It’s a total blast apparently. I also don’t care much about metacritic or review scores… just don’t, haven’t for a long time. I get your point though, that review codes are associated with getting the actual reviews in a timely manner which allows us to evaluate if the game is for us or not. Hopefully we’ll get some reviews as the game comes out.
Re: Helldivers 2 Outlines the Story So Far in Stylish Trailer, Confirms Post-Launch Updates
I really hope this game is well taken care of moving forward, as it has so much promise. It could honestly be PS’s Splatoon if it’s well invested in and responds effectively to player feedback. I truly believe there’s potential here for years to come if Sony doesn’t turn a blind eye to this studio, I love what I’m seeing.
Also, great trailer, I laughed 😂
Re: Another PlayStation State of Play Broadcast Announced for Next Week, Featuring Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Very nice touch at the end, especially after what I thought was a long-winded Kojima homage (DS2 looks great, but goodness that trailer dragged). Gives us fans a bit more to chew before we get hammered with game releases. Solid show overall!
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Want from Sony and PlayStation in 2024?
Tell us what your first party studios are doing, how you’re improving the sub services (in other words, justifying the price hike), and begin caring about the fan base in general. Throw in what FromSoft is doing with you as well for good measure. That is all.
Re: What Was Announced at The Game Awards 2023?
I just got home and am catching up on these announcements… what is going on with Sega?? Wow! Lots of good stuff to me for announcements but I think I’m giving them the ultimate thumbs up, very excited for these projects. Valhalla, MH, and Ronin all look great too, glad PS had a few things here tonight.
Re: Pretty Tactical RPG Unicorn Overlord Announced for PS5, PS4
Very cool, was a highlight of the Direct for me. Looks to be in good hands too
Re: State of Play Livestream Revealed for Thursday, a Focus on Indie and Third-Party Games
I have no expectations regarding games for tomorrow, and don't mean that in a form of slight. I accepted a while ago that Sony is taking the L on first party announcements this year, so the third party and indie focus is no surprise. They're getting consoles out like wildfire, and can show their studio's work closer to launch as their hardware sales grow. It makes sense (from a business perspective, not for us fans).
What I DO expect is to get some update on the service as a result of that price hike... I'm biting the same bait as Grubb that Sony will reason this with a major update of some sort. If not, then that's a bad taste left for me and I'll be cancelling next month. They need to demonstrate something.
As for what games might show up? Rebirth, Stellar Blade, and Little Devil Inside seem likely, Silent Hill maybe, and wildcards like FF Tactics (at Nintendo Direct would be really cool too) or even the fabled FF9 Remake would be amazing. But again, no expectations on any of these. We'll see
Re: Poll: Did You Buy Baldur's Gate 3?
Just finished FF16 and am downloading this as we speak. I want to play Starfield, but I think I’ll wait as I’m an enormous fan of Larian Studios and there will be some fun mods down the road for Bethesda’s big game. Tough choice… but I’m ready to get sucked into Baldur’s Gate 3 the next while
Re: Blasphemous 2 (PS5) - A Marvellously Macabre Metroidvania
Adore the first game, this has been in my top five anticipated for 2023. For those who’ve yet to play the first one… you’re in for a spellbound experience. Cannot wait to play this!
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Final Fantasy 16?
About a 9, so many high points and with incredible cinematic pieces. Music and combat are sublime, it’s only the side quests that falter along with performance. It’s up there with TOTK this year so far for me.
Re: Poll: Was This Sony's Best PlayStation Showcase Yet?
I don’t think I could give more than a 6/10, and that’s being generous. So disappointed, what were they thinking when organizing this? That we don’t want to see first party content? And after almost 2 years of keeping quiet? They have some explaining to do, my goodness. I need to go for a walk lol, that was a travesty.
Re: PS1 Stunner Herc's Adventures Likely Coming to PS Plus Premium
I love this game!! One of my favourite coop games ever. I always hogged the good items on screen haha, no ray guns for you!
Re: Site News: Vote for the Best Game of All Time with the Push Square Community
First Party - Shadow of the Colossus, Little Big Planet, Twisted Metal Black, TLOU, Wipeout XL, GT3, others I’m forgetting…
Third Party - Vagrant Story, FF7, FF10, RE4, Elden Ring, Persona 5, Dark Cloud 2, Mass Effect 2, Fallout 3, MGS2, others I’m forgetting…
And that’s just PlayStation! There’s more but that’s just off the top of my head without considering my favourite Nintendo and Xbox titles.
Re: Japan Sales Charts: Golden Week Helps Drive PS5 Just Shy of 100k Units
Wow, I imagine a lot of the OLED models were TOTK editions? No doubt this peak in sales is related to the Zelda release, and I’m wondering if this will continue on beyond an initial release trend. Also imagine the same will happen for PS5 just before Ff16. Interesting times!
I’ll be getting my copy of Zelda at midnight tonight 🙂
Re: Metacritic Crowns Sony the Best Games Publisher of 2022
@somnambulance Well said, and understood. You learn to pick your battles after a while on these sister sites, sometimes it's best not to leave a comment that disagrees with most of the community, I get that.
Stray was published by Annapurna, sorry, I mentioned it as something I enjoyed on PS5 last year as I was just sharing that it was the platform I enjoyed most in 2022, and Stray was one of the highlights for me.
I don't disagree with any of your takes regarding the PS exclusives that came out last year, no problem. I just feel that way about the Nintendo exclusives from last year, and it's blasphemy to indicate you didn't think it was THAT strong of a year from them on a Nintendo-focused blog site. I certainly think this year will be better for me.
Square Enix cranked out a lot! There might be a good case for them being the key player, and I share the nod you make towards Triangle Strategy, it's a gem. They gave us an insane catalogue, with a few standout titles.
Anyway, you can see I'm not trying to take away anything from your experience and I believe most here would never do that either. Sometimes gamers need to retract their claws and open their minds to what other people say, it's not necessarily a form of tribalism.
Re: Metacritic Crowns Sony the Best Games Publisher of 2022
@somnambulance A totally valid experience for you to have! Nintendo was very diverse in the releases as you say, and did have a strong year. I think I'm on the other end of what you're saying, and that's not bias, it's just I don't think the games Nintendo released in 2022 truly compelled me. I enjoyed XBC 3 for instance, great story and characters, but the world was less imaginative than previous titles and some of the RPG functions in the game just didn't work for me. I also didn't like Pokemon Arceus, and am not a fan of Splatoon or Bayonetta. So, just not the year for me personally.
Sony hit home with me just through two titles alone. Ragnarok and Stray, the latter of which left a bigger personal impact on me than any other game in 2022. It's a precious game I recommend to all. I only just picked up GT7 but am enjoying that too.
Hopefully you don't get negative feedback for your thoughts, I think it's great when we can talk about why we preferred certain publishers over others in a given year. Hell, Xbox had a decent year with games that didn't deserve enough attention, like Pentiment.
Maybe it's an effect of something like metacritic? I've always had an issue with the site, I don't agree with their aggregate score formulas, not to mention the total mess of user score ratings in the last few years. I just don't think it can do any game's experience in others proper justice.
Anyway, glad you enjoyed Nintendo so much last year. May the big 3 succeed in 2023.
Re: Vampire FPS Redfall Was in Development for PS5, But Was Canned After Xbox Buyout
@eduscxbox where is your source on spiderman originally being multiplat? It’s widely known that ms turned it down.
As for the FF games, I agree with you there, they are aggressively held deals to keep big games exclusive for Sony’s consoles.
Re: Sony Has Approximately $5 Billion Left for Acquisitions and Investments
I suppose I’ll be the one to give the unsexy answer… invest in the studios you have, and/or pick up a small studio that is ambitious and willing to partner with Sony.
I don’t want anything that would shift the market further into publisher consolidation. Besides, as I (and others) have mentioned multiple times, Sony doesn’t need to buy any major publishers they deal with. Capcom and Square Enix happily do marketing and exclusivity deals for PlayStation, and are able to continue growing their development teams with the revenue they incur from them and their other partners (Nintendo and Microsoft). A lot of good can be done with 5b, so do what Microsoft should have done and invest in what you have. But alas, a dreamworld I know, because of profit hunting, capitalism, etc. just not reality.
But that’s what I would like, call it my wish list 😅
Re: PS5 Sales Increased 202% in Europe Year-over-Year, Xbox and Nintendo Switch Both Down
@JSnow2 All this news of PS5 growth screams for an event, I hope the rumours are true that something soon is coming!
Although, could do without seeing Jim Ryan during the announcements 😂
Re: PS5 Still King of the Japanese Charts Despite Having No Games in Top Ten
Certainly curious, as though it’s in preparation for releases like FF and other big names this year on PS5? I’m not even sure what else is releasing this year that would pull Japanese consumers in to buy a system. Are they all digital purchases? It’s interesting.
I could see Switch doing spikes the next couple of weeks after yesterday’s Direct (which was super), but it otherwise might be PS5’s time to rise there. And for what it’s worth, good for the Series S!
Re: PS2's Best-Selling Console Crown in Jeopardy As Nintendo Switch Passes PS4
@NEStalgia sheesh, that’s a very sad story lol. I hope at some point you were able to keep a working PS3, sounds like very rotten luck.
My only point, exceptions aside, was that the DVD function served as a temporary draw in for consumers, around launch until about 2 years later (give or take) as dvd players became very cheap following the ps2’s launch. Anecdotes don’t do much for me, as I could easily remember households having both a ps2 and dvd player growing up. I’m just tired of seeing people online, especially content creators, say it sold well because of the dvd player as it lacks analysis.
Not saying you’re doing that 😎 and again, I love that the Switch is doing well.
Re: PS2's Best-Selling Console Crown in Jeopardy As Nintendo Switch Passes PS4
I don’t agree with the comments arguing for the DVD player narrative, that it was a large reason why it sold so well. Given how many software units were sold (almost 1.4b), and that it had a higher attach ratio than both the GameCube and Xbox shows people bought it to engage in the game library. The DVD player was a very small factor for most I would argue, especially since the PS2 continued to sell well during the PS3 days, not to mention dvd players were cheap following PS2’s launch. Sorry, just don’t buy the notion, and I’m not sure why people keep on with the idea that it sold because it could play dvds. The evidence shows otherwise.
That said, not trying to poopoo on the Switch, and I commented on NL how impressive it is.
Re: Hogwarts Legacy Game Length, Side Puzzles Revealed in Leaked Art Book
One of the few games I’m interested in fully completing. It’s just an excuse to explore every minuscule corner of Hogwarts, would be a delight rather than a chore. Haven’t bought a game yet for 2023, this might be the first one 🙂
Re: PS5 Sales Continue Upward Trajectory in Japan Following Stock Improvements
@Jdduhd the op I was commenting on was suggesting Microsoft would try to acquire square if the AB deal failed. Because Nintendo and Sony are so much more involved in their products (and their success), they would be extremely hawkish against competition trying to buy them out. They wouldn’t have a chance, so my point I suppose was that there’s no need for Sony to buy them as a pre-emptive measure against Microsoft.
I do agree that Sony would be more likely to purchase them than Nintendo, but I don’t think they ever will. I wouldn’t want them to either, as I don’t think consolidating an entity that big is good for most game consumers (I obviously feel the same way about the ongoing acquisition). But, it’s been a wild year with the AB situation… anything’s possible!
Re: PS5 Sales Continue Upward Trajectory in Japan Following Stock Improvements
@4kgk2 Sony and Nintendo would both be on the warpath if they tried to acquire square. Not to mention the legal hoops they’d have to hop over concerning the Asian market (look how hard they’re fighting for Activision Blizzard).
I also don’t think that Sony should buy them. Why do it? They have a very strong relationship and do exclusive deals for their biggest games. It’s unnecessary imo
Re: Fire Emblem Veteran Plotting SRPG Redemption Reapers for PS4
This already has my attention more than Engage. Not to prematurely dismiss the next Fire Emblem game, it could be great, but this style and grittiness interests me more, and has a team with a solid portfolio working on it. 2023 off to a good start for TRPGs
Re: Poll: Did You Buy Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion?
I thought about picking it up, but I spent a lot on Black Friday deals and one of my favourite games is getting the PS5 upgrade treatment this week. For free! So I’ll be playing the Witcher 3 and keeping an eye on a sale for Crisis Core next year.
Re: Resident Evil 4 Remake Roughly 'the Same Length' as the Original
Great news. Not only was the original length very generous, but highly replayable. We will be sinking much more than 15-20 hours into this 🙂
Re: Poll: Rate Your Favourite PS4 Games
No order, all must-plays in my view:
Bloodborne
GoW
GoT
Persona 5 Royal
RDR2
Witcher 3
Dark Souls 3
RE7
TLOU Part 1 (haven’t played 2 yet)
Medievil (Wildcard. I love Daniel Fortesque, the original is one of my favourite games ever).
There’s so many more, both 1st and 3rd party that are great. The PS4 library is something I think many will appreciate more as time goes on, I see the term “overrated” too often in reference to the games. That’s not a dig at Nintendo or Xbox, the PS4 really is that great.
Re: Sony Won't Let Microsoft's $69 Billion Activision Acquisition Go, Stresses It's Bad for Gaming
@Gunnerzaurus To be clear, I don’t think it’s a good thing this acquisition is underway. I’m not a cheerleader for Microsoft, despite loving Xbox (I love all three console ecosystems). So I can also be critical of Sony while enjoying my PS5, meaning I’ll exercise my skepticism when they do something as described in the article - doesn’t affect me enjoying a little Returnal tonight.
I’m also not sure what you mean by good PR. Do you mean Microsoft is being seen as something positive for this deal being made? I certainly don’t, which is why Phil and his associates are so often covered about their thoughts on the process. Believe me, I don’t accept much of what they say - they can’t appear malevolent by any stretch.
That said, I think you would agree that Sony is, at the very least, not helping their image at all in engaging their competitor with all these online feuds. They have years left with COD, and can figure something out.
Re: Sony Won't Let Microsoft's $69 Billion Activision Acquisition Go, Stresses It's Bad for Gaming
As if Sony doesn’t have enough bad PR? They just keep digging… and use the consumer’s well-being as a scapegoat for their frustration with Microsoft’s deal. Let it go… any more digs like this will hurt Sony regardless of the deal going through or not.
Re: Round Up: What Was Announced During Sony's State of Play Livestream for September 2022?
Just watched it after work. Both Nintendo and Sony delivered today, amazing announcements. Great to be a gamer 😎
Re: Octopath Traveler 2 Revealed for PS5, PS4, Out February 2023
Have to be honest, I didn’t care for the original game. Wonderful soundtrack, beautiful design, but the writing, stories, and characters were generic and poorly done to me. So I’m in the minority likely of not being excited for this, but I’ll keep an eye on it. Happy for you all that are hyped for it!
Re: Feature: What Are Your Most Anticipated PS5, PS4 Games for the Rest of 2022?
1) Ragnarok
2) Callisto
3) Hogwarts
4) Witcher PS5
5) Rollerdrome (seriously, where is the love for this game?)
Re: Pac-Man World Re-Pac Brings the PS1 Platformer Back with PS5, PS4 Remake
I am excited! I played the sequel on PS2, but never the original. I remember one PS magazine back in the day describing World as the Mario 64 on PS1 - whatever that would mean today lol. Might be a day one pickup for me!
Re: Poll: Which Final Fantasy Game are You Most Looking Forward to?
I’m stoked for all of these, what a show last night. But it’s XVI for me, barely. Subject to change. I just want them all lol
Re: Mini Review: Salt and Sacrifice (PS5) - Change Isn't Always Good in This Disappointing Sequel
I will try at some point, I did enjoy the original. But the Blasphemous sequel is most on my radar for 2d souls-likes. I’ll play that day one even if it scores a 6/10 too ☺️
Re: Is Rogue Legacy 2 Coming to PS5, PS4? Dev Taking Things 'One Step at a Time'
I assumed it was a timed exclusive for Xbox and PC based on platform release. Only two programmers, wow! I’m happy to pick this up on my laptop and then double dip later, I love supporting small indie teams.
Re: Poll: What's Your PS5, PS4 Game of the Year So Far?
Haven’t played HFW yet, so it’s Elden Ring. But a shout to Kirby and the forgotten land! Beat it this week, what a wonderful game.
Re: The Final Fantasy 9 Remake Rumours Return Following Kingdom Hearts 4 Confirmation
If true, don’t split it up. Don’t tease us with parted sequels, don’t rush it and ABOVE ALL… don’t forget chocobo hot n cold.
Re: Sci-Fi PS5 Exclusive Returnal Sweeps the BAFTAs, Wins Best Game
Very happy for the team, it’s a truly phenomenal game.
Re: Tactics Ogre: Reborn Trademarked by Square Enix
If they announce a proper remake or something like HD-2D, I’ll be very excited. I believe Sakimoto, my boi, did the sublime score for this title.
If it’s just a cheap remaster, I’ll still be excited. Why? I’m a sucker, that’s why.
Re: PlayStation Studios' Firesprite Hiring for a AAA Horror Game
Sheesh, that’s a lot of projects. Just checked the company size, less than 300 people there. I’m sure Sony is managing the various studio teams well, hoping there aren’t crunch issues. ANYWAY.. cool announcement, looking forward to more news in the future.
Re: Poll: We Want You to Rate Your Favourite PS5 Games
It’s still Astro’s Playroom. I said in another blog that the only other game that elicited such wonder and emotion in me was Mario Galaxy. It’s a work of art and so much more than a tech demo. In my view, I’ve yet to see anything match it on PS5 so far.