I know that I'd stop my PlayStation journey at the first discless console. It's the main reason I haven't gone over to PC. I'm an older guy with plenty of shelf space, and I like putting things on my shelf. It's that simple. If the time comes that I can't do that anymore, then I'll go full PC at that point with GOG as my preferred storefront.
The PS4 only feels slower now because we've experienced PS5. PS5 is our baseline. The only thing we can do with PS6 is speculate.
It's because we're getting to a point where each generation is merely iterative that longer wait times for new hardware aren't a bad thing. A longer wait time means more capable hardware.
Thing is, what deficiencies in the PS5 need to be addressed at this point for most users? You could say that we need games with RT running at 4k120, but do we really? Most people don't have displays higher than 60Hz.
I understand that you live and breathe PlayStation. I don't make a living playing it and writing about it, so new hardware doesn't excite me. The experience I get from the hardware is why I play, and that typically comes from the software. Good hardware should basically be invisible - it should provide seamless interaction with the software, and PS5 has achieved that better than any console in years.
There's also a growing sentiment for making things last. If I buy something, I want it to serve me for a very, very long time. A PS6 launch starts a ticking clock on the PS5.
We're never getting a PS1 -> PS2 level jump again. Getting excited for a new PlayStation at this pont is like getting excited for a new iPhone. It doesn't make any sense to me.
A company called Gaime released a light gun that works with modern televisions and sells it with a small dedicated console with Time Crisis. I've been tempted to buy it, but it's steep (about $150 with the pedal). This just might be a neat alternative.
I took down the final, final boss in Trails Into Reverie last night - not as hard as the Cold Steel 2 final boss, but it definitely tests your team's depth and ability to strategize with as many as 24 different characters. A fantastic send off.
Two weeks until Requiem - I'll be playing some other horror games to whet my appetite. First up will be Daymare 1998 which I nabbed off of Amazon for $6. I will also continue my way through Control and may dip back into another RPG that I dropped like Romancing Saga 2 or Metaphor ReFantazio.
No Onimusha update, but I get that they want to focus on REquiem and Pragmata. Both of those trailers were great, though I'm disappointed in the lack of Requiem demo.
Silent Hill: Townfall surprised the heck out of me. What little they showed looks fantastic. I still don't like the fact that it's not tied to SH the town, however. The "Silent Hill Phenomenon" retcon rubs me the wrong way.
I was hoping for technical specifics on MGS4. If it runs at a locked 60, it'll be a day one purchase for me. Otherwise, I'll replay the PS3 version and continue to be happy with it.
That's awesome. DQ games have never been my cup of tea, but I love seeing this type of work succeed. If I can get back into DQXI at some point, I may pick this up in a couple years.
This game ran and played incredibly well on my SFF PC, which is no powerhouse in the slightest (i7-8700, RTX A2000 6GB). The demo converted me from a solid "no" to a day 1 purchase. I rather imagine that it will run well on PS5 - I'll be playing it again to compare. I also appreciate that this is a $60 title. If Capcom manages to release Onimusha this year after RE9 and Pragmata, they'll be on top of the world.
@Krlozgod Rumble is good to go. Double checked with RE4 HD. Tilt, I didn't have anything to test with off hand, but you can use the tilt control to make the particles move in the XMB - I confirmed that it works there at least.
@twitchtvpat The only thing it does not support is turning the console on remotely. The USB port up front is also a tad stiff. I have not tried it with a PS1 disc based game (digitals work), and my CECHA01 is YLOD in a box somewhere, so I can't test it for PS2 backwards compatibility.
For me, being able to dip in and out of games and play Drakengard 3 (which does not work with a PS4/5 controller paired via Bluetooth but works with the dongle) have been great.
@Krlozgod The Amazon listing and reviews say that it does, but I haven't personally tried it. I think I have a game or two that use Six-Axis - I will try it later on this evening (I'm in US Central time) and report back.
I recently bought a Wingman XE dongle so that I could use a DS5 with full home button support on my PS3 (I have a drawer full of bad DS3's that I should get around to fixing, but ehhhhhh). Works fantastic - I was thinking about buying the Tales of Xillia remaster but remembered that I bought it years ago on PS3 and never played for more then 30 minutes, so that's been fun to play with. As well as some games have aged, others are just so rough. Drakengard 3 and RE6 are in the neighborhood of 25 FPS. Some games have aged much better - Spec Ops: The Line, Okami: HD, Resident Evil 4 HD, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West - all look and play wonderful on the console still.
Want to know something crazy? The XBox 360 turned 20 this past November. We are further from the launch of the 360 now than the period of time between the release dates of the NES and XBox 360 (in NA at least).
These are RE1 tier remakes. They've allowed the developers to shrug off their previous limitations and really show what they envisioned in the first place. Really excited to did further into FC so that I can play this one when it comes out. Between Capcom and Falcom, we're eating great this year.
I finished both Final Fantasy VI and Tormented Souls II this past week. I thoroughly enjoyed both. I'm not sure what I'll be playing this weekend. I'll cycle through several and see what sticks. Some possibilities are Control, Fallout 4, Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven, Trails into Reverie, and Star Ocean: The Divine Force.
This looks awesome. There's a gaping hole in the racing genre between the hyper realistic simulators and the cutesy kart racers. We need more of this, Burnout, and Ridge Racer.
@Hi569 Not really, no. It's been a really long time - I got it as a gift for a lady friend of mine on release day, and she had me play it for several hours that evening. I remember the story being very, very strange. The controls were floaty, and the combat was not very responsive. A number of PS2 games from this time frame became rare due to limited print. Dot Hack Part 4 and Blood Will Tell are a couple of others that are super rare because of this.
Jeez Sony, you shouldn't have made such a solid machine. What were you guys thinking making a console that could be relevant 12+ years into the future?
These kinds of homemade portables are so neat. In particular, the one where guys were cutting down Wii motherboards to create portable Gamecubes. Love to see this.
Remember when game companies could release 3 or 4 high quality games in a single console gen? Man, those were really the best years.
If I'm reading the article correctly, it seems like his work on this was recent. I wonder how far along they are if MoCap is still in production / recently wrapped.
Day off is already booked. The store opens up at 11, so I'll plan to be there when they're open, run over to my favorite BBQ place for lunch, and eat while it installs. I'm an early riser, so I'll use my morning hours to knock out some laundry and get some grocery shopping done. I'm ready.
I'll be snowed in this weekend - as long as power holds up, gaming is what I'll be doing. I mean, even if it doesn't, I'll still be gaming, just on a handheld probably.
I'm nearing the end of Final Fantasy VI. There will be some catharsis there - I dropped it mid way through in a strange time of my life, and it'll be cool to get it finished.
After that, I'd like to dip back into Control, Fallout 4, and Tormented Souls II. If I'm still feeling some old school RPGs, I have the whole rest of the Pixel Remaster collection.
Have a great weekend everybody, and stay warm out there.
Final Fantasy VI and Fallout 4. I've got myself in a pickle on the former, so I need to grind some levels and gil or contemplate loading an earlier save. About 10 hours into the latter, and the open world fatigue is creeping in. I may hop back over to Tormented Souls II.
Beyond that, playoff football and normal weekend chores await.
Hopefully the game store has extra copies of the steel book. I waited too long to preorder it.
I may buy the Switch 2 controller just for giggles and grins. I have no intention of ever buying a Switch 2, but it's cool and can sit next to my unopened PS2 Chainsaw controller.
I could see myself using this if I was on backup power and trying to trim power consumption, but the lack of support is a little silly. I'll stick with low power handhelds and board games if the grid is down and we're running the generator.
I'm about half way through Control and like it a lot. Real fun to just pick up and play for a little bit. I liked Alan Wake a lot, though Alan Wake II isn't grabbing me (the mind mapping thing is weird, does it get deemphasized later on?) - this looks really cool. Definitely looking forward to it.
@Kraven FFT is a game that I've been playing every couple of years for (nearly) the last 30 years - this iteration is outstanding. I always manage to find something new to appreciate in each run or a new build that's hilariously effective. Have fun!!
Started Fallout 4 for the first time. It's very much a Bethesda game. It's fine, but I don't know that I will stick with it for long. I do imagine that I'll get my $5 out of it, but it's the type of game that gets boring to me rather quickly.
I'm also rolling on Final Fantasy VI pixel remaster. I was playing the GBA version 17 years ago when life went nuts and never got back to it. Finally ready to beat this one.
That'll just be in my limited free time - I have a plumbing project that needs finishing, playoff football to watch with my son, and nieces and nephews (with spouses) coming over for a late Christmas gathering.
I enjoy a good Resi knockoff. Fobia St. Dinfna Hotel was one that I played last year that had a couple of neat twists to it. I don't really have a problem with it.
It's neat so far. It is very much a Parasite Eve clone in some ways - tool items to move weapon traits from one to the other, BP to upgrade weapon stats, the menu flow to reload a weapon - all basically the same. It is interesting that the action bar has two sections - you can melee with one section or shoot with two sections.
I didn't finish the demo as I got pulled in other directions last night, but it's definitely going to be worth keeping an eye on for PE fans.
These are niche games in niche genres. Accessibility is great, I like seeing those options - but changing the core gameplay of an established franchise makes it something else entirely. It's possible - Resident Evil has reinvented itself several times. It's gone off the tracks a time or three, but I think most fans of the franchise like where it is today.
Falcom handled this very gracefully with their recent Trails titles - action combat in the field that feels a bit like Ys with a quick swap into the turn based system that fans of the franchise expect. I just don't know if I trust anybody else to do it as well as they did with RPGs.
Final Fantasy XVI resembles Devil May Cry more than it does Final Fantasy X. It wasn't a bad game necessarily, but you can see the trend chasing in the writing and in the combat style - it just didn't feel like a Final Fantasy game.
My first is to just have fun. Stop stressing about what I "need" to play or what I "need" to finish - I don't need to play or finish anything. It's a hobby, and I'm supposed to enjoy it. If I want to play Resident Evil 2 for the 57th time, that's what I'm going to do. If I'm not feeling it after 30 minutes, that's alright too. No more guilt about other newer games that are sitting there.
The second goes along with the first - keep branching out. Last year, I played and completed Axiom Verge and Dispatch, games from genres that I do not typically play. I had a blast with both of them. Maybe I explore more Metroidvanias (like maybe finally playing through Super Metroid or finishing the inverted castle in Symphony of the Night), or maybe I go nuts and get a racing game for the first time since Burnout 3.
Last is to not feel compelled to play games in my down time. I have other hobbies that I've neglected - an ATV that really needs some wrenching, a new-ish rifled shotgun build that absolutely should be harvesting deer meat, a good amount of fishing and camping gear - I need to have less FOMO when it comes to games, bottom line.
Since last we shared, I bought Dispatch and played it twice. I'm letting it cool off for a bit before I go for the platinum.
This weekend should be Tormented Souls II, Control, and maybe something else. I bought a Wingman XE2 last weekend and cycled 5 or 6 different games on the PS3 - its really nice to have full, home button functionality with a modern controller. Shoot, maybe I'll see if I can jump back into Final Fantasy XIII.
Code Violet needs a demo badly! I love the lower quality Resi knockoffs. If this one is at least in the same league as Tormented Souls, it should be a fun one.
Saros and Phantom Blade 0 are going to be on my "wait until they're $30" list. They both look great, but there's already a lot competing with my backlog. Everything Capcom looks great - even Pragmata. The demo really got me interested in that one.
I'm sure there will be others that pop off. Dispatch wasn't even on my radar (or Sonar?), and I blitzed through it twice in three days. I think I can plat it in one more, which is wild because I don't play for trophies.
@D6rkLordS6t6n I don't think you're missing anything, it's just a matter of preference.
I like chocolate a lot. I don't like it to be too sweet though - standard Hershey's bars are not my ja.. I appreciate a soft chew but not fudgy. If I find chocolate that I like, I'm going to keep going back. Sometimes it's cool if it has something neat like peppermint or citrus flavoring, but I just really like a good dark chocolate.
It's the same with turn based combat. I enjoy a system that's well-implemented. For me, this was one of them with some active defense sprinkled in and some neat mechanics that changed with each character.
I agree that some of the level design was pretty straightforward. I didn't care for the Ancient Sanctuary for example (the combat music there is a banger thougb), but there were some other levels that made some really neat use of verticality. The overworld + dungeon + turn based combat is not something we really even get with realistic character models and this kind of tone. Lovers of turn based combat typically have to settle on anime-like art styles, which isn't a problem for many, but can be a turn-off for others.
It's something that a lot of people have wanted for a long time. Lost Odyssey was really the last time we had something that approached this game type, and that was released nearly 18 years ago.
Sorry for the rambling essay. You're not obligated to like a game that the majority of people love. I have zero interest in Yōtei, and I strongly dislike FF7: Rebirth after sinking 36 hours into it. It sucks to think you're missing out on something, but hey, we like what we like.
Comments 851
Re: Here's Why Shawn Layden Thinks Sony 'Can't Get Away' with Making PS6 Digital Only
@PercyChuggs No. No clue how you got that conclusion.
Re: Here's Why Shawn Layden Thinks Sony 'Can't Get Away' with Making PS6 Digital Only
I know that I'd stop my PlayStation journey at the first discless console. It's the main reason I haven't gone over to PC. I'm an older guy with plenty of shelf space, and I like putting things on my shelf. It's that simple. If the time comes that I can't do that anymore, then I'll go full PC at that point with GOG as my preferred storefront.
Re: Opinion: The Euphoric Reaction to PS6's Rumoured Delay Really Confuses Me
The PS4 only feels slower now because we've experienced PS5. PS5 is our baseline. The only thing we can do with PS6 is speculate.
It's because we're getting to a point where each generation is merely iterative that longer wait times for new hardware aren't a bad thing. A longer wait time means more capable hardware.
Thing is, what deficiencies in the PS5 need to be addressed at this point for most users? You could say that we need games with RT running at 4k120, but do we really? Most people don't have displays higher than 60Hz.
I understand that you live and breathe PlayStation. I don't make a living playing it and writing about it, so new hardware doesn't excite me. The experience I get from the hardware is why I play, and that typically comes from the software. Good hardware should basically be invisible - it should provide seamless interaction with the software, and PS5 has achieved that better than any console in years.
There's also a growing sentiment for making things last. If I buy something, I want it to serve me for a very, very long time. A PS6 launch starts a ticking clock on the PS5.
We're never getting a PS1 -> PS2 level jump again. Getting excited for a new PlayStation at this pont is like getting excited for a new iPhone. It doesn't make any sense to me.
Re: This Is How PS Plus Premium's Time Crisis Will Play with PS5, PS4's Gyro Controls
@KernCasey @Drnsnsr Well shoot, thanks.
Re: Resident Evil Requiem Is the Biggest Download in Series History on PS5
Not too shabby. My day off is in the books. I can't wait.
Re: This Is How PS Plus Premium's Time Crisis Will Play with PS5, PS4's Gyro Controls
A company called Gaime released a light gun that works with modern televisions and sells it with a small dedicated console with Time Crisis. I've been tempted to buy it, but it's steep (about $150 with the pedal). This just might be a neat alternative.
Re: Metal Gear Solid 4 PS5 Has Assassin's Creed Content But No Online
Have we heard whether or not this will run at 4k60 or even 1080p60 yet?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 620
I took down the final, final boss in Trails Into Reverie last night - not as hard as the Cold Steel 2 final boss, but it definitely tests your team's depth and ability to strategize with as many as 24 different characters. A fantastic send off.
Two weeks until Requiem - I'll be playing some other horror games to whet my appetite. First up will be Daymare 1998 which I nabbed off of Amazon for $6. I will also continue my way through Control and may dip back into another RPG that I dropped like Romancing Saga 2 or Metaphor ReFantazio.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
Re: Poll: How Would You Rate State of Play for February 2026?
No Onimusha update, but I get that they want to focus on REquiem and Pragmata. Both of those trailers were great, though I'm disappointed in the lack of Requiem demo.
Silent Hill: Townfall surprised the heck out of me. What little they showed looks fantastic. I still don't like the fact that it's not tied to SH the town, however. The "Silent Hill Phenomenon" retcon rubs me the wrong way.
I was hoping for technical specifics on MGS4. If it runs at a locked 60, it'll be a day one purchase for me. Otherwise, I'll replay the PS3 version and continue to be happy with it.
A pretty OK show all things considered.
Re: God of War Trilogy Remake Announced for PS5
I hope it's a remake in the same vain as TLoU Part I. Give the visuals a great polish, but leave the rest of the game intact.
Re: Unsurprisingly, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined Is a Massive Hit in Japan
That's awesome. DQ games have never been my cup of tea, but I love seeing this type of work succeed. If I can get back into DQXI at some point, I may pick this up in a couple years.
Re: 20 PS5 Predictions for State of Play February 2026
I wonder if we could also see a release date for Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter.
I have my fingers crossed for a Requiem demo.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 619
Rolled credits on Trails into Reverie last night. I'll mess around with the epilogue a bit and continue my way through Control.
Have a good weekend, everybody.
Re: Try Pragmata's Hack-and-Shoot Action in Playable Demo, Available Now on PS5
This game ran and played incredibly well on my SFF PC, which is no powerhouse in the slightest (i7-8700, RTX A2000 6GB). The demo converted me from a solid "no" to a day 1 purchase. I rather imagine that it will run well on PS5 - I'll be playing it again to compare. I also appreciate that this is a $60 title. If Capcom manages to release Onimusha this year after RE9 and Pragmata, they'll be on top of the world.
Re: Sorry, PS3 Users, Netflix Is Dropping Support for Sony's 20-Year-Old Console Next Month
@Krlozgod No problem at all. I should have been more specific - make sure you get the Wingman XE2.
Re: Sorry, PS3 Users, Netflix Is Dropping Support for Sony's 20-Year-Old Console Next Month
@Krlozgod Rumble is good to go. Double checked with RE4 HD. Tilt, I didn't have anything to test with off hand, but you can use the tilt control to make the particles move in the XMB - I confirmed that it works there at least.
Re: Sorry, PS3 Users, Netflix Is Dropping Support for Sony's 20-Year-Old Console Next Month
@twitchtvpat The only thing it does not support is turning the console on remotely. The USB port up front is also a tad stiff. I have not tried it with a PS1 disc based game (digitals work), and my CECHA01 is YLOD in a box somewhere, so I can't test it for PS2 backwards compatibility.
For me, being able to dip in and out of games and play Drakengard 3 (which does not work with a PS4/5 controller paired via Bluetooth but works with the dongle) have been great.
Re: Sorry, PS3 Users, Netflix Is Dropping Support for Sony's 20-Year-Old Console Next Month
@Krlozgod The Amazon listing and reviews say that it does, but I haven't personally tried it. I think I have a game or two that use Six-Axis - I will try it later on this evening (I'm in US Central time) and report back.
Re: Sorry, PS3 Users, Netflix Is Dropping Support for Sony's 20-Year-Old Console Next Month
I recently bought a Wingman XE dongle so that I could use a DS5 with full home button support on my PS3 (I have a drawer full of bad DS3's that I should get around to fixing, but ehhhhhh). Works fantastic - I was thinking about buying the Tales of Xillia remaster but remembered that I bought it years ago on PS3 and never played for more then 30 minutes, so that's been fun to play with. As well as some games have aged, others are just so rough. Drakengard 3 and RE6 are in the neighborhood of 25 FPS. Some games have aged much better - Spec Ops: The Line, Okami: HD, Resident Evil 4 HD, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West - all look and play wonderful on the console still.
Want to know something crazy? The XBox 360 turned 20 this past November. We are further from the launch of the 360 now than the period of time between the release dates of the NES and XBox 360 (in NA at least).
My back hurts.
Re: Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter Gameplay Comparison Is Absolutely Crazy
These are RE1 tier remakes. They've allowed the developers to shrug off their previous limitations and really show what they envisioned in the first place. Really excited to did further into FC so that I can play this one when it comes out. Between Capcom and Falcom, we're eating great this year.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 618
I finished both Final Fantasy VI and Tormented Souls II this past week. I thoroughly enjoyed both. I'm not sure what I'll be playing this weekend. I'll cycle through several and see what sticks. Some possibilities are Control, Fallout 4, Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven, Trails into Reverie, and Star Ocean: The Divine Force.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
Re: Tokyo Xtreme Racer Has Incredible PS2 Energy in Latest PS5 Gameplay Trailer
This looks awesome. There's a gaping hole in the racing genre between the hyper realistic simulators and the cutesy kart racers. We need more of this, Burnout, and Ridge Racer.
Re: Silent Hill 2, Cronos Studio Seemingly Teasing Its Next Game
@Hi569 Not really, no. It's been a really long time - I got it as a gift for a lady friend of mine on release day, and she had me play it for several hours that evening. I remember the story being very, very strange. The controls were floaty, and the combat was not very responsive. A number of PS2 games from this time frame became rare due to limited print. Dot Hack Part 4 and Blood Will Tell are a couple of others that are super rare because of this.
Re: Sony's Sending Messages to PS4 Players Encouraging Them to Upgrade to PS5
Jeez Sony, you shouldn't have made such a solid machine. What were you guys thinking making a console that could be relevant 12+ years into the future?
Re: Random: Someone Made Their Very Own Portable PS4 Handheld Console
These kinds of homemade portables are so neat. In particular, the one where guys were cutting down Wii motherboards to create portable Gamecubes. Love to see this.
Re: 'These Guys Are Top of the Line': Actor Tony Dalton Talks Up Naughty Dog and Intergalactic
Remember when game companies could release 3 or 4 high quality games in a single console gen? Man, those were really the best years.
If I'm reading the article correctly, it seems like his work on this was recent. I wonder how far along they are if MoCap is still in production / recently wrapped.
Re: Preview: Resident Evil Requiem Is the Ultimate PS5 Horror Game
Day off is already booked. The store opens up at 11, so I'll plan to be there when they're open, run over to my favorite BBQ place for lunch, and eat while it installs. I'm an early riser, so I'll use my morning hours to knock out some laundry and get some grocery shopping done. I'm ready.
Re: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Has an Official Name at Square Enix
Resigned? Redundant? Repugnant?
Forgive me, I'm feeling rather recalcitrant.
Re: All Signs Point to Resident Evil: Code Veronica PS5 Remake in 2027
Let's hope this is the team that brought us RE2:R and RE4:R. This one has the potential to be the best of the bunch.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 617
@ErrantRob I am indeed. We usually only get one big snow a year, so hopefully this is the one.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 617
I'll be snowed in this weekend - as long as power holds up, gaming is what I'll be doing. I mean, even if it doesn't, I'll still be gaming, just on a handheld probably.
I'm nearing the end of Final Fantasy VI. There will be some catharsis there - I dropped it mid way through in a strange time of my life, and it'll be cool to get it finished.
After that, I'd like to dip back into Control, Fallout 4, and Tormented Souls II. If I'm still feeling some old school RPGs, I have the whole rest of the Pixel Remaster collection.
Have a great weekend everybody, and stay warm out there.
Re: Fable Announced for PS5, Releases in Autumn 2026
@Dimey DD/MM/YYYY for life!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 616
Final Fantasy VI and Fallout 4. I've got myself in a pickle on the former, so I need to grind some levels and gil or contemplate loading an earlier save. About 10 hours into the latter, and the open world fatigue is creeping in. I may hop back over to Tormented Souls II.
Beyond that, playoff football and normal weekend chores await.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
Re: Resident Evil Requiem Reveals More Horror, Action Gameplay in Low-Key Showcase
Hopefully the game store has extra copies of the steel book. I waited too long to preorder it.
I may buy the Switch 2 controller just for giggles and grins. I have no intention of ever buying a Switch 2, but it's cool and can sit next to my unopened PS2 Chainsaw controller.
Re: All PS5 Games with Power Saver Support
I could see myself using this if I was on backup power and trying to trim power consumption, but the lack of support is a little silly. I'll stick with low power handhelds and board games if the grid is down and we're running the generator.
Re: For the First Time Ever, the West Is Caught Up with Falcom's Massive Trails RPG Series
@Korgon I started Cold Steel for the same exact reason and devoured them all in one summer. The Crossbell games are some of my favorite RPGs ever.
Re: For the First Time Ever, the West Is Caught Up with Falcom's Massive Trails RPG Series
Pre ordered mine last month, and it hasn't shipped yet. I'm not broken up about it - still so behind playing these. Haven't even started Calvard yet.
Re: Control Resonant Not a 'Safe Sequel', Remedy Aiming to 'Push the Boundaries'
I'm about half way through Control and like it a lot. Real fun to just pick up and play for a little bit. I liked Alan Wake a lot, though Alan Wake II isn't grabbing me (the mind mapping thing is weird, does it get deemphasized later on?) - this looks really cool. Definitely looking forward to it.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 615
@Kraven FFT is a game that I've been playing every couple of years for (nearly) the last 30 years - this iteration is outstanding. I always manage to find something new to appreciate in each run or a new build that's hilariously effective. Have fun!!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 615
Started Fallout 4 for the first time. It's very much a Bethesda game. It's fine, but I don't know that I will stick with it for long. I do imagine that I'll get my $5 out of it, but it's the type of game that gets boring to me rather quickly.
I'm also rolling on Final Fantasy VI pixel remaster. I was playing the GBA version 17 years ago when life went nuts and never got back to it. Finally ready to beat this one.
That'll just be in my limited free time - I have a plumbing project that needs finishing, playoff football to watch with my son, and nieces and nephews (with spouses) coming over for a late Christmas gathering.
Have a great weekend everybody.
Re: 45+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Refreshed January Sale
Fallout 4 is $5. I haven't played a Fallout game in years, so why not? I started it last night, and it's neat.
Incidentally, it's fun to juxtapose the "War never changes" line with the one from Metal Gear Solid 4, "War has changed."
Re: Sony Roasted for Promoting 'Temu Resident Evil' Ebola Village for PS5, PS4
I enjoy a good Resi knockoff. Fobia St. Dinfna Hotel was one that I played last year that had a couple of neat twists to it. I don't really have a problem with it.
Re: Try the Spiritual Successor to Parasite Eve, Coming to PS5 in 2026
It's neat so far. It is very much a Parasite Eve clone in some ways - tool items to move weapon traits from one to the other, BP to upgrade weapon stats, the menu flow to reload a weapon - all basically the same. It is interesting that the action bar has two sections - you can melee with one section or shoot with two sections.
I didn't finish the demo as I got pulled in other directions last night, but it's definitely going to be worth keeping an eye on for PE fans.
Re: Don't Get Your Hopes Up for Persona's First 30th Anniversary Announcement Broadcast
I have no expectations. It makes things a lot easier.
Re: 'It's Coming to a Turning Point': Persona, Metaphor Director Says Atlus RPGs Must Attract 'A Wider Audience'
These are niche games in niche genres. Accessibility is great, I like seeing those options - but changing the core gameplay of an established franchise makes it something else entirely. It's possible - Resident Evil has reinvented itself several times. It's gone off the tracks a time or three, but I think most fans of the franchise like where it is today.
Falcom handled this very gracefully with their recent Trails titles - action combat in the field that feels a bit like Ys with a quick swap into the turn based system that fans of the franchise expect. I just don't know if I trust anybody else to do it as well as they did with RPGs.
Final Fantasy XVI resembles Devil May Cry more than it does Final Fantasy X. It wasn't a bad game necessarily, but you can see the trend chasing in the writing and in the combat style - it just didn't feel like a Final Fantasy game.
Re: Talking Point: What Are Your PS5 New Year's Resolutions?
My first is to just have fun. Stop stressing about what I "need" to play or what I "need" to finish - I don't need to play or finish anything. It's a hobby, and I'm supposed to enjoy it. If I want to play Resident Evil 2 for the 57th time, that's what I'm going to do. If I'm not feeling it after 30 minutes, that's alright too. No more guilt about other newer games that are sitting there.
The second goes along with the first - keep branching out. Last year, I played and completed Axiom Verge and Dispatch, games from genres that I do not typically play. I had a blast with both of them. Maybe I explore more Metroidvanias (like maybe finally playing through Super Metroid or finishing the inverted castle in Symphony of the Night), or maybe I go nuts and get a racing game for the first time since Burnout 3.
Last is to not feel compelled to play games in my down time. I have other hobbies that I've neglected - an ATV that really needs some wrenching, a new-ish rifled shotgun build that absolutely should be harvesting deer meat, a good amount of fishing and camping gear - I need to have less FOMO when it comes to games, bottom line.
Have a great year, PS.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 614
Since last we shared, I bought Dispatch and played it twice. I'm letting it cool off for a bit before I go for the platinum.
This weekend should be Tormented Souls II, Control, and maybe something else. I bought a Wingman XE2 last weekend and cycled 5 or 6 different games on the PS3 - its really nice to have full, home button functionality with a modern controller. Shoot, maybe I'll see if I can jump back into Final Fantasy XIII.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
Re: 40+ PS5 Games to Play in 2026
Code Violet needs a demo badly! I love the lower quality Resi knockoffs. If this one is at least in the same league as Tormented Souls, it should be a fun one.
Saros and Phantom Blade 0 are going to be on my "wait until they're $30" list. They both look great, but there's already a lot competing with my backlog. Everything Capcom looks great - even Pragmata. The demo really got me interested in that one.
I'm sure there will be others that pop off. Dispatch wasn't even on my radar (or Sonar?), and I blitzed through it twice in three days. I think I can plat it in one more, which is wild because I don't play for trophies.
Re: Game of the Year: #1 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
@D6rkLordS6t6n I don't think you're missing anything, it's just a matter of preference.
I like chocolate a lot. I don't like it to be too sweet though - standard Hershey's bars are not my ja.. I appreciate a soft chew but not fudgy. If I find chocolate that I like, I'm going to keep going back. Sometimes it's cool if it has something neat like peppermint or citrus flavoring, but I just really like a good dark chocolate.
It's the same with turn based combat. I enjoy a system that's well-implemented. For me, this was one of them with some active defense sprinkled in and some neat mechanics that changed with each character.
I agree that some of the level design was pretty straightforward. I didn't care for the Ancient Sanctuary for example (the combat music there is a banger thougb), but there were some other levels that made some really neat use of verticality. The overworld + dungeon + turn based combat is not something we really even get with realistic character models and this kind of tone. Lovers of turn based combat typically have to settle on anime-like art styles, which isn't a problem for many, but can be a turn-off for others.
It's something that a lot of people have wanted for a long time. Lost Odyssey was really the last time we had something that approached this game type, and that was released nearly 18 years ago.
Sorry for the rambling essay. You're not obligated to like a game that the majority of people love. I have zero interest in Yōtei, and I strongly dislike FF7: Rebirth after sinking 36 hours into it. It sucks to think you're missing out on something, but hey, we like what we like.
Re: Game of the Year: #1 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
@Shokwave2 Awesome! Ys VIII was a lot of fun, but like you, I didn't 100% it.