Fiendish-Beaver

I just bought a Pro, and gave the PS5 I have had since day one to my eldest son. I intend to effectively move from Xbox now over to my Pro starting with Resident Evil: Requiem, having, until now, had each generation of PlayStation as my secondary console just for the exclusives (that obviously was not the case for the PS1 and PS2, which were my main consoles back then).

I remain undecided about the PCBox, and whether I will return to having Xbox as my main. It all depends on whether it can play games natively, or whether everything is streamed. Streaming is not for me, and I fear that Microsoft's push for Play Anywhere is because they intend for their next 'console' to be a streaming device.

Time will tell, but as I have only just bought a Pro, I don't mind waiting another couple of years for the PS6...

It feels very much like the first game, @ilyn. I'm really enjoying the exploration side of things, which feels like it might be better than it was in the first game. There is a huge and confusing array of stats and things to get your head around when building your character, but I'm starting to understand that side of things now too. I'm not particularly far in the game; I have finished the tutorial island, which is not particularly big, and have just started on the second island (I'm not sure if there are more than two), and am yet to find the necessary item to upgrade the weapon I am using to level 2, but I imagine I'll find that relatively soon.

Because I suck at the parrying at the moment, I have gone down the over-levelling route, so that basic attacks hit harder, but it means that I can take on most enemies, even junior bosses with relative ease.

Honestly, if you enjoyed the first game, (even if you found it a tad confusing as I did!) then I think you will enjoy this one too...

I'll be continuing my Code Vein 2 run, which I am very much enjoying. Loving the exploration, and am finding the combat fun though I rarely seem to get my parries off, although that is normal for me as it's never been my strong point.

I'll also be doing another two afternoons of Horde runs on Master difficulty as a team of 3 in Gears 5. We've now managed to complete 16 of the 37 maps as just a trio on the hardest difficulty, which is meant for a team of 5, so pretty proud of our achievement. Some maps will be impossible to do, and we are starting to run out of manageable maps, but hopefully we can knock a few more out before we move on to E-Day. Also hoping that I can get to Re-Up 60 before then too, as I am currently on Re-Up 56, and it takes something like 3 weeks for each re-up...

This is what I wanted to hear, and indeed, is what I said earlier. I want a good story to link together what looks like it will be an action heavy game. In total, Wick has killed 439 people throughout the 4 films, so I imagine we could kill a lot of people in the game, and it would feel like just another day for poor old John... 😂

I usually buy the best version of any game I buy as I like to have everything included. That said, even when said game offers earlier access, I have never yet indulged in it because I usually have to finish off whatever I am playing first.

When it comes to Saros I will be pre-ordering the best version of the game. Just have to hope I am ready to play the game when it comes out...

I've not forgotten them, @RolyTheBeerGeek, as I know they exist. However, I have not played them! I've only played the previous two games...

I didn't like the art style, the movement, and don't like side-scrollers, so this game is more definitely not something that I will play. Hopefully the other GoW game in development is more like the previous two...

I haven't been impressed with what I have seen so far. The combat seems very flimsy, particularly the melee combat, which looks super weak...

I liked the look of Crimson Moon, and I will be watching this going forward. My only concern is whether it will be built with solo play properly in mind. Too often a game that can be played solo, but which has co-op, is geared towards co-op play, and soloing it can be pretty difficult as a consequence. Hopefully they get it right though as I don't like people...! 😂

Absolutely agree, @SodaPop6548. For a few seconds the start had me wondering whether it was indeed a Darksiders game...

Beast of Reincarnation looks absolutely gorgeous. I can see me pre-ordering this one closer to the release date...

I loved Returnal, so much that Saros is a definite pre-order with absolutely zero hesitation. It looks phenomenal...

I have been tempted to buy this on a number of occasions, and it is only time to play it that has stopped me from doing so.

I will definitely be picking this up at some point though, and hope the developers are able to find some success with the game...

Ideal, @LiamCroft. Thank you for the response...

Great review, @LiamCroft. Certainly something I'll play at some point. Does the game have difficulty settings? And, is it possible to earn all the trophies in one run, or are multiple runs required? Lastly, can all the trophies be earned solo, or are some of them tied to playing in co-op? Thanks...

Thank you, @dirty_score. I appreciate your help...

I've only ever played one of the Silent Hill games, as far as I can remember, and it was back on the Xbox 360 (I think). Memory is a bit hazy these days, now that I'm in my 60s. I do remember enjoying the game, but also being quite relieved when I had finished it as it was undoubtedly the creepiest game I have ever played.

However, I have three questions;

1. Does Silent Hill 2 follow on from the first game?

2. If Silent Hill 2 does follow on, why was it not made first?

3. Do we have any indication as to when the remake of the first game is due out, and when development started? Okay, so that is technically 4 questions, but if we know how long the remake of the second game took, it might give a rough idea of how long the first one will take...

I own the SH2 and SHf but don't know in what order to play the games, or whether I should wait for the remake of the first game to come out first...

I'm guessing that they will do some kind of Developer Direct Deep Dive where they will go over the latest expansion / update during which they will confirm the April release date. Whether the game can pull a Cyberpunk 2077 comeback, I'm not sure, but it certainly strikes me that this is one of those games that will be most worth playing once they have finished updating it...

I've always watched these events for the Sony exclusives only, but now that I have a PS5 Pro, I'll also be watching it for those third-party games that I will now be getting on the PlayStation instead.

Particularly looking forward to Saros update. Hopefully we will see some Wolverine and also Intergalactic.

As for third-party games, I'm already sold on Resident Evil: Requiem, but I expect that to feature. What I'd really like to see is some Control: Resonant gameplay.

I also expect to see Starfield finally announced for the PS5 seems as it'll arrive here in April...

Disciples: Domination is the game I am most interested in from that list. I really enjoyed the first game...

I am on the 51st mission in King Arthur: Knight's Tale, which I am very much enjoying. I only have a couple of side quests, and one main mission left, I believe, so I may actually finish the game tomorrow. Then I will be jumping on Code Vein 2.

Also, today, I am about to jump on a Horde in Gears 5 with my mate, where we will attempt an Inconceivable run as just a duo (with 3 useless bots!).

We attempted a Master run yesterday as a trio, with my youngest son as the third player, but he's not available today. Unfortunately a bit of bad luck ended our two runs firstly on wave 30 and then on the second run on wave 40. We'll knock it out next weekend, I reckon, which will then mean we have Mastered 14 out of the 37 maps as just a trio in a mode meant for a team of 5, which is pretty good going. Both my mate and myself are in the top 100 rankings for our classes in the World, and we dedicate a lot of time to the game. Hopefully E-Day will offer a quality Horde mode too, and I cannot wait to see what they have cooked up there...

Really looking forward to playing this game. I'll be pre-ordering it much closer to its release date...

Thank you, @spukknik1. That explains things... 👍

I've been disagreeing with him a fair bit recently, @themightyant, and had a couple of my comments removed (as did he), so I'm trying to be a little more choosy in the battles I wage... 😂

Oh, @LiamCroft. Slightly disappointed with that. I always like to play as a female redhead! 😂

I'll have to see what each character has in the way of skills and go from there. I take it you pick a character and that's it for the entire game? There's no ability to swap between characters? Thanks...

I think there is a strong possibility that this rumour is true, and I have been saying it will be out early this year for some time.

Coincidentally, I think it will also be announced for the Switch 2 at today's Nintendo partner showcase. So I guess it'll be announced for the PS5 at the same time...

So looking forward to playing this game, and have been since it was first revealed, which feels like an age ago now.

I'm a bit surprised that there is not a character creator for the game. That is what you are saying, @LiamCroft, right...?

Thank you, @themightyant. That's interesting. As we know, there are some individuals who like to dump all over the PS5 on the Xbox forums, and it would be good to have some numbers to push back against his assertions. I imagine, if he saw this article, he'd be fuming to see the PS5 doing so well... 😂

Well, I've bought added twice to the PS5s totals; first I received my base PS5 the day it released, and yesterday I received my PS5 Pro. Both are excellent machines, though I have not used my Pro yet as the first game I want to play on it is Resident Evil: Requiem and I am finishing up a game on my Xbox in the meantime...

Do we know how many Pro's have been sold in total, @themightyant?

Personally, I loved GoT, but I loved GoY even more. Superb game. Ghost of Yotei was my second favourite game last year, behind the even better Cronos: The New Dawn. Everyone should play all 3 games, they are just fantastic...

Another quick question, @LiamCroft, and I think I know the answer to this one; but do you need to have played either of the first two games to understand what's going on in the third? In other words, do they follow on from one another? Thanks...

Cool. Thank you, @LiamCroft. I don't like people...! 😂

Agreed, @darylb24. I also think (hope!) that it is on a game by game basis. Some games will never get close to 30%, and others will exceed it. I'm sure there is some truth to the rumour of 30%, but how it is applied to each game/studio is quite probably another matter entirely...

Looking forward to this.

You mention co-op, @LiamCroft, are there trophies linked to playing co-op, or can they all be earned playing solo? Thanks...

I wonder if failing to hit the targets set by Microsoft is not hitting that 30% profit margin, which is unobtainable by all but games like GTA?

Personally, I very much enjoyed The Outer Worlds 2, and I have yet to play Avowed, though it is on my list to get to at some point.

What concerns me is the mention of budgets, timescales, and Microsoft targets. All of that suggests to me lower quality games, and games that take fewer risks. It seems to me that they are looking at it incorrectly; they need to invest more money into the games, make something compelling that people actually want, and take the time to get it right. What they are actually aiming for, to me, sounds like cookie-cutter games that will be rushed out the door, score 6s and 7s at best, and be ignored by the majority, leading to cutbacks and studio closures...

Did someone mention AI? Now, where's my pitchfork...? 😂

Thank you, @get2sammyb. I'm sure I will...

Thank you, @Weebleman. Not in a position to set it up just yet, but am trying to decide what to play on it first. I'm like a big kid right now... 😂

Love the look of this, and these days I seem to prefer turn-based more and more, so this will be an early purchase or maybe even a pre-order for me, though I would like to see some reviews first...

This looks stunning, and right up my street.

My Pro arrived today, and it looks like it is a good time for me to switch to having PlayStation as my main. I'm leaving the uncertainty of Xbox behind for the certainty of PlayStation.

I've never bought the mid-generation refresh console of the PlayStation before, but with the way things are going, with all that is happening on the Xbox, all their once exclusives arriving on PlayStation, and the rumoured delays for the next consoles for both PlayStation and Xbox (if theirs ever actually happens), it seemed the only sensible option for me.

Cannot wait to play this game on my shiny new console... 😊

Looks absolutely mental. Will have to keep an eye on this one...

Cronos: The New Dawn was the best game I played last year. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm hoping we will see a sequel at some point, though I doubt this will be it. Regardless, I am keen to see what they do next...

The idea of reviewers being reviewed is silly, because then you get to the point where you would need to review the reviewers that are reviewing the reviewers! 😂

However, where he does have a point is where you see time and time again the same reviewer, or the same site pushing an agenda, be that PlayStation games are awesome, or Xbox games are terrible, and marking them up or down accordingly. Of course it happens both ways, so that is not a partisan comment.

Equally, some sites seem to fall over themselves in picking up on the most minute problems that will undoubtedly be fixed in short-order, or indeed, completely ignoring glaring issues. The point being that there are a huge amount of inconsistencies when it comes to reviews, though of course with a review being completely subjective, people should not fixate on review scores, but perhaps just use them as a guide to the overall quality of a game.

Personally, I tend to look at the score, but rarely take the time to read the actual review. On a site such as this, I will nearly always read the 'Conclusion' part though as it tends to give a good feel for the game in a very much condensed way...

Trading it in is a good idea, @JB_Whiting. I still have every one of my PlayStations going back as far as the original PS1.

That said, I now have to work out what to do with my original PS5, which I have had since day one...

That's my hope, @1970sGamer, and the possibility of the PS6 being delayed played a large part in my decision to get the Pro now. After all, if the PS6 were to magically appear next year, then I will get at least a year out of my Pro, but if the PS6 is delayed to as late as 2029 or 2030, I'll get a decent few years of gaming out of it...

Thank you for the response, @1UP-HUSKY. I've taken the plunge and bought myself a Pro. Hopefully it serves me well. Resident Evil will be the first game I'll try on it...

Really looking forward to this game. It looks as if it could be quite special...

I always pre-order the next generation of PlayStation, and never get the mid-generation refresh, though I did get the PS2 slim back in the day. The same is true of this generation, I got my PS5 day one, and still have it. Until I read this article, I had completely dismissed the idea of buying a PS5 Pro, but now I find myself wondering whether I should get one just so as to experience Requiem at its best.

Truthfully, my Series X is my main console, and I only use my PS5 for PlayStation exclusives meaning it has not worked particularly hard this generation, but now I find myself wondering whether I should get a Pro and play games where they will play at their best, and sadly, that sounds like those games will include games from franchises that were once exclusive to Xbox.

I'm in a proper quandary right now, as I really do not know what to do for the best, and whether the improvements the PS5 Pro offers are worth it in the grand scheme of things...

I don't think it will be just the physical version that releases in 2027, I think the entire game won't see the light of day until then. Highly doubt that it will be out this year...