@spcspc I won't deny that, even for the titles I have no invested interest in. I've been with PlayStation since the PlayStation one days, (dipping into other consoles on the side!) But I think it's fair to call some of their recent management decisions into question. Or, maybe what seems more-so like an 'identity crisis'.
@spcspc I'm hyper critical of all forms of media, because my time and money are limited, and companies want plenty of both. I think everyone should be critical, in thinking whether something they're buying into actually delivers what it's promised, or is even good, and I don't think there's a problem with that. To continue with your point, I don't have Netflix, because I think most of what they do is abysmal. (Actually, I don't pay for any streaming services, for this reason).
Back to games - if it looks like tripe, and plays like tripe, I'm calling it out, and I'm not going to buy it. That can be subjective, but I think it's also fair, after so many years, to expect a baseline of quality.
I would love for them to do a grounded KC approach to a fantasy rpg, set in the world of LotR. Imagine picking a background race and class, a la DnD, but them getting to adventure and kit yourself out howsoever you choose, while trying to wage a war against Sauron. Could be incredible!
I mean, everyone but Pushsquare have been pretty much consistent in lamenting this weird industry trend of everyone, and particularly famed 'Single Player' game development teams trying to push into the, already saturated, online multiplayer shooter space... another cancelled project is hardly surprising.
Of course people want to chase the money, but it doesn't make sense when development time takes so long, that by time the game's finished, the playerbase have either found their 'next game', and don't want to move on from it, or otherwise, people have had their fill and are getting tired of another generic "more of the same"(which seems to be on the uptick).
Most people don't have time to play 5 live service games at once. And no one wants to jump ship to a new 'product' after they've invested thousands of hours, and real money, into their chosen game. I don't know why there's this fallacy that 'live service is the way to go', when the proof is clearly showing otherwise in more cases.
Again, and Sony's push has contributed massively to this, but companies seem more invested in trying to capture unicorns, than actually relying on their core base, who actually buy a larger number of games. Surely it's better to release X amount of titles, that all sell in the millions, than to cancel X amount of projects, after investing millions in them?
If playstation was more friendly focused for the 'players', they'd appreciate the value of the customers that actually are buying new games, whether Sony first party stuff, or third party titles, and actually supporting the infrastructure of the studios that make those titles. Sadly, seems they far more value those who make indirect purchases through free-to-play titles, and who don't actually tend to buy any new software. 🤷
MH Worlds was the last I properly played and invested in, and the game felt huge. I played the Wilds demo, and beyond technical stuff (which was loaded with both pros and cons), I didn't feel the changes to combat were enough to make me invest. It felt like they streamlined hunting, while making enemies more spongey, which is probably the opposite of what I would have liked.
And then Rise released on ps plus, so I have even less reason to buy the newest title.
When the games offer hundreds of hours' content, you can't be surprised to see sales fall off, after the initial hype wears off, when they're offering similar experiences at cheaper price points within their own established franchise. Makes sense that most people, beyond die hard fans, aren't gonna be buying every iteration of the game, but might pick it up a year or 2 after, on a deep sale. Same goes for Resi.
It's a very different type of game, I'd say. DC certainly leans more towards the 'party based RPG' side of things, whereas Absolum is great for a quick, arcadey, fix. Can't deny the former is a bit more fiddly for it, though!
@Blacksmith1985 The Marvel one (Cosmic Invasion, was it?) that plays like a re-skin of Shredder's Revenge, and the upcoming He-Man game both seemed to garner a lot of attention, but seem to be doing less (in my opinion) to keep the genre fresh.
If you haven't played it, I'd also definitely recommend Dragon's Crown.
It's a shame this didn't seem to pick up as much attention as a few other recent beat em ups, when it's really a very solid offering, that mixes up the genre nicely. Scott Pilgrim Ex, also - though more understandably, as the 1st was pretty buggy.
Should have to check out the new content and give cross platform a go!
I know it's not gonna happen, but the schadenfreude in me kinda wants GTA 6 to massively undersell, so people stop banging on about it like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
@Flippygruffle Not really. The pacing was totally off for the 2nd game, and despite the more "immersive" camera angle, the newer titles certainly don't feel as action packed as the older, Greek, titles.
The roguelite addition was the most action packed it got, but the main game could have benefitted from letting the player go a bit more wild with all the weapons than the actual campaign ever really allowed, before being ushered on towards more exposition.
@StitchJones Totally agreed. I got Helldivers 2, as I was a fan of the first, but I'm just generally not the target audience (or a fan) of the 'always online GAAS' model, and put it down shortly after.
A strong SP (or co-op) story, however, with an online mode added on - like we used to get more often - and I'm absolutely involved. I've probably played Space Marine 2 more than HD 2 for that exact reason.
It's almost as if the console 'king' of the single player experience shouldn't have spent 3.6 billion (or whatever it was) on funding a multiplayer only, always online, extraction shooter. Who knew?
@SuplexingTrains True. The "internet" is probably guilty of letting/ allowing things to snowball to heights greater than the intended original meaning.
In any case, I do feel that, beyond the hyperbole, there's the argument about what expectations were (a remake of FF7) vs what we got (a remake of FF7). Some are happy to accept the changes, and think it's the best outcome, while others are more keenly upset by them, precisely because it isn't the original story, that some of us would have rather left untouched.
I was willing to swallow a lot of what I didn't like about part 1, (probably because the game was linear and it felt like it was quick to get through) whereas part 2 has felt guilty of revelling in the mass of its changes, brandishing the old story just to highlight how distant this telling is. It's mostly left a sour taste in the mouth, to carry on the metaphor. Agreed about the title, too!
"Cloud goes snowboarding shortly after Aerith dies..." Haha... yes he does, my friend. Yes, he does. Ice cold. 😎
@Oram77 I don't think it's forced... the pacing is off, and the changes to the story are whack. I beat Remake; hell, I've platinumed both that and Crisis Core, but I picked up Rebirth and haven't played it once since just after Junon. Over a year of not playing it now, because of the reasons I suggested. The gameplay is a highlight, but there's plenty that detracts from it.
@Oram77 While MK 9 is probably my favourite, (and Kratos was OP in it!) Of the newer 3, I have to say, I prefer 11. A solid mix of characters, and I liked being able to customise movesets. Would definitely rather that to 1's weird system and 'Kameos'.
This film sounds like it's doing everything the right way, that the new Resident Evil film isn't. Glad to see it; sounds a huge improvement over the first.
While I'm not in disagreement with the premise and point of the article, and do think the costumes seem a bit ridiculous - I would also fall in with the few who have mentioned how often Gacha games, with their skimpily claim 'waifu's, and Stellar Blade's costume repertoire have been positively promoted on here, for comparison.
@THEBrew Totally agreed regarding Cregger's last 2 films. They've been fine... up to a point; then just seems to fall back on to clichés and tropes. Starts with a good premise, but doesn't see it through. Everyone's opinion of him seems a bit inflated, as far as I'm concerned.
@Llamageddon Isn't it generally taken to mean that, if you saturate your 'product' with every convenience, or style choice, to appeal to the broadest market, you'll inevitably end up watering down every system to a bland menage, that actually appeals to no one. Sometimes specialisation and having a narrower range, even if to a more limited audience, will create the better result.
It just doesn't scream "Horizon" though, does it? Sure, it's a spin-off title, but given that the only similarities are in monster design and the various weapons on offer, seems they could have easily made it some other IP (and probably should have), but are trying to tie it in to a better known title, for the sake of skimming sales from those who loved the previous games. But, as most will attest, if you liked Horizon, this does not seem like the "multiplayer Horizon" game that people perhaps would have expected; with grounded art style and gritty, tactical, combat, rather than 'Hero powers' on cooldowns (as it looks to be.)
Would they have called this anything else, and it probably would have garnered a less negative reaction, ironically.
@Fishysensei Would agree. I actually enjoyed the first 2 Nioh titles though, but haven't really found myself able to get ibto this, or P. I did struggle with Sekiro though, so that might have something to do with it.
Sounds like an 'early access' release to me... PSN (or however it's branded) doesn't seem to have an equivalent, which is a bit of a shame, but with all these patches, sounds like early adopters are paying full price to make the game better for late adopters - as opposed to paying less.
@Tobimune I think Digimon Story Time Stranger is really the best we have. Ni No Kuni also, but it's surprisingly tricky at times, for all its kid-friendly aesthetic. There's a couple of passable indies... Monster Sanctuary isn't bad, but is more of a party based rpg with how combat works.
@AdamNovice I think it's fair to be critical of a game's art style, and I don't think that's necessarily about it being 'unique'.
Castlevania makes me immediately think of a gothic aesthetic- which this somewhat lacks, with all its bright, popping, colours and tones. Something more muted and less cartoonish, would have suited it better, in my opinion, and I can only imagine a lot of people feel the same. Still, I'm sure it'll play well.
And Sons of Sparta just looked cheap. The pixel style wasn't very pleasantly done, and I think that's fair criticism to make. You'd think it wasn't too much to expect Sony to put a bit more thought and love into a spin-off of one of their tentpole titles, and a lot of people seemingly felt that way.
@Balaam_ Any attempt at recreating what makes MGS what it is, without Kojima, seems destined to fail. And of all people, why would you get the guys who did Final Destination? Such a weird fit. Sony seem intent to sh*t on all their own IP. As you say, I think the Spiderman/ Spiderverse films are the only ones they seem to have got a handle on - but OG Maguire will always be my guy.
Thought the game was pretty middling, to be honest. Unnecessarily / unfairly difficult, at points, without really making it satisfying. Combat felt off, to me, and the visuals, while having 'anime flair', were pretty bland. I tried the demo and thought it was clearly one of the more lacklustre souls-likes. But then, I didn't like pinochio much, either. 🤷
Make it local co-op! Give it online multiplayer functionality, too. Something a mix between the Return of the King and War in the North games. The best successors to the old Baldur's Gate hack-and-slash games. Add an online mode like the LotR battlefield game that released... because, man, they were solid games! One can only dream! 😭
@Member_the_game That's what I'm thinking to do... might even break even on selling my og PS5, as it has the disc drive and everything. Didn't realise Argos had the sale, so will have to check that out!
@PlayNation5 I'm thinking I might just do the same... Can't see the PS6 either launching any time soon in this climate, or at an affordable price, so may well be the best time to grab a Pro model, flog the OG, and be satisfied that it should last for a good few years.
Haven't jumped into T8 in what feels like years. Got it at launch, and it took a long time for the new "refined" controls to sit with me. Seems as soon as I got the hang of it, sweeping changes were made, and I never tried it since. Still, can't help but feel that their push to make it more 'Street Fighter' like was a mistake, that watered down its very distinctive identity and feeling. Would rather they tried to take it back to basics, where combos were king, and not just locking opponents in heavy smash juggles ad infinitum.
Not a game I would have bought, but definitely keen to play it, with the co-op and combat refinements. Otherwise, it felt like a successful - if standard - soulslike. But a co-op campaign elevates it, in my eyes.
@Gremio108 One can only hope this is true, and perhaps, games will return to the 'glory days' of being cheaper, with shorter development times, while being fewer yet more unique amongst them.
Let's be real - nothing was going to be worth spending their 3 billion on, so this was always destined to come at cost. I'm not surprised it didn't pick up on PS5 - I just hope the trend will finally get bucked!
I thought the game looked cool, certainly a nice visual quality to it, with locations and the time period. If it had a little more open exploration, and a more fine tuned combat system, it could have been pretty fun. Something like 'For Honor'... Don't really understand all the hate for the haircut, to be honest.
@Oram77 I'm a big horror-head (or, used to be!) But playing Resi 2 as a kid, it must have been the first thing I had to just stop and put away, because it so terrified me! Took me until 4 to pick it up again, and I had a blast. My favourite in the series to date, though I do have a lot of love for 5; good co-op memories.
I guess getting older, I find I'm a little harder to impress/ scare now, and most horror films don't do it for me (but you get the odd outlier that manages to bring something new). Even still, I almost dare not pick up the Resi 2 remake! Whether for fear, or fear of ruining my nostalgia, I can't say! 😉
My biggest take away from this, is I can't believe there was a gap of only 6/7 years between the ps1 and the gamecube. Feels like a whole life-time between!
Possibly one of Capcom's franchises that I've been the most in anticipation of revisiting. Will probably be a day 1 (or close to!) purchase for me. Okami 2 is looking ever more likely... if they revisited or put out a new Godhand game, I'd be happy.
Not so much the "horror", but I hate encountering 'stalker' type enemies, that permeate whole sections and can't be killed. One of the reasons I'm yet to dive fully into the Resi 2 remake, or Village. If you're giving me guns, give me enemies I can kill.
Also, naff having to shoot enemies more than once in the head to kill them. Basic zombies taking several pops to the brain = no thanks.
Comments 1,668
Re: Reaction: Sony's Big State of Play Must Deliver as PS5 Perception Sinks to an All-Time Low
@spcspc I won't deny that, even for the titles I have no invested interest in. I've been with PlayStation since the PlayStation one days, (dipping into other consoles on the side!) But I think it's fair to call some of their recent management decisions into question. Or, maybe what seems more-so like an 'identity crisis'.
Re: Reaction: Sony's Big State of Play Must Deliver as PS5 Perception Sinks to an All-Time Low
@spcspc I'm hyper critical of all forms of media, because my time and money are limited, and companies want plenty of both. I think everyone should be critical, in thinking whether something they're buying into actually delivers what it's promised, or is even good, and I don't think there's a problem with that. To continue with your point, I don't have Netflix, because I think most of what they do is abysmal. (Actually, I don't pay for any streaming services, for this reason).
Back to games - if it looks like tripe, and plays like tripe, I'm calling it out, and I'm not going to buy it. That can be subjective, but I think it's also fair, after so many years, to expect a baseline of quality.
Re: Lord of the Rings RPG from Kingdom Come: Deliverance Dev Confirmed
I would love for them to do a grounded KC approach to a fantasy rpg, set in the world of LotR. Imagine picking a background race and class, a la DnD, but them getting to adventure and kit yourself out howsoever you choose, while trying to wage a war against Sauron. Could be incredible!
Re: We Have to Talk About Live Service, After Heavy Rain Dev's Online Gambit Is Scrapped
I mean, everyone but Pushsquare have been pretty much consistent in lamenting this weird industry trend of everyone, and particularly famed 'Single Player' game development teams trying to push into the, already saturated, online multiplayer shooter space... another cancelled project is hardly surprising.
Of course people want to chase the money, but it doesn't make sense when development time takes so long, that by time the game's finished, the playerbase have either found their 'next game', and don't want to move on from it, or otherwise, people have had their fill and are getting tired of another generic "more of the same"(which seems to be on the uptick).
Most people don't have time to play 5 live service games at once. And no one wants to jump ship to a new 'product' after they've invested thousands of hours, and real money, into their chosen game. I don't know why there's this fallacy that 'live service is the way to go', when the proof is clearly showing otherwise in more cases.
Again, and Sony's push has contributed massively to this, but companies seem more invested in trying to capture unicorns, than actually relying on their core base, who actually buy a larger number of games. Surely it's better to release X amount of titles, that all sell in the millions, than to cancel X amount of projects, after investing millions in them?
Re: 'PS5 Is for the Payers': Just 18% Think PS Plus Essential Is Good Value for Money in 2026
If playstation was more friendly focused for the 'players', they'd appreciate the value of the customers that actually are buying new games, whether Sony first party stuff, or third party titles, and actually supporting the infrastructure of the studios that make those titles. Sadly, seems they far more value those who make indirect purchases through free-to-play titles, and who don't actually tend to buy any new software. 🤷
Re: PS5 Will Reveal the Most Played Games with Steam-Like Player Numbers
Just a bit depressing to me, personally, seeing the never-changing top 10 titles, and what they all are. 🤢🤑
Re: PS5 Fighter Marvel Tokon Actually Does Have Gameplay During Its 10-Hour Story
Hmm, can't help but wonder if the 'battles' were added after seeing potential pushback to the idea of a gamified comic book.
Re: Monster Hunter Wilds Sales Really Have Fallen Off a Cliff
MH Worlds was the last I properly played and invested in, and the game felt huge. I played the Wilds demo, and beyond technical stuff (which was loaded with both pros and cons), I didn't feel the changes to combat were enough to make me invest. It felt like they streamlined hunting, while making enemies more spongey, which is probably the opposite of what I would have liked.
And then Rise released on ps plus, so I have even less reason to buy the newest title.
When the games offer hundreds of hours' content, you can't be surprised to see sales fall off, after the initial hype wears off, when they're offering similar experiences at cheaper price points within their own established franchise. Makes sense that most people, beyond die hard fans, aren't gonna be buying every iteration of the game, but might pick it up a year or 2 after, on a deep sale. Same goes for Resi.
Re: Excellent Co-Op Brawler Absolum Now Has Full Cross-Play Support Across All Platforms
It's a very different type of game, I'd say. DC certainly leans more towards the 'party based RPG' side of things, whereas Absolum is great for a quick, arcadey, fix. Can't deny the former is a bit more fiddly for it, though!
Re: Excellent Co-Op Brawler Absolum Now Has Full Cross-Play Support Across All Platforms
@Blacksmith1985 The Marvel one (Cosmic Invasion, was it?) that plays like a re-skin of Shredder's Revenge, and the upcoming He-Man game both seemed to garner a lot of attention, but seem to be doing less (in my opinion) to keep the genre fresh.
If you haven't played it, I'd also definitely recommend Dragon's Crown.
Re: Excellent Co-Op Brawler Absolum Now Has Full Cross-Play Support Across All Platforms
It's a shame this didn't seem to pick up as much attention as a few other recent beat em ups, when it's really a very solid offering, that mixes up the genre nicely. Scott Pilgrim Ex, also - though more understandably, as the 1st was pretty buggy.
Should have to check out the new content and give cross platform a go!
Re: PlayStation Urges PS4 Players to Upgrade to PS5 for GTA 6
Smacks of desperation a bit, doesn't it?
I know it's not gonna happen, but the schadenfreude in me kinda wants GTA 6 to massively undersell, so people stop banging on about it like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Re: God of War Boss Cory Barlog Appears Furious After PS5 Game Leak
@Flippygruffle Not really. The pacing was totally off for the 2nd game, and despite the more "immersive" camera angle, the newer titles certainly don't feel as action packed as the older, Greek, titles.
The roguelite addition was the most action packed it got, but the main game could have benefitted from letting the player go a bit more wild with all the weapons than the actual campaign ever really allowed, before being ushered on towards more exposition.
Re: Bungie Was a $765 Million Thorn in Sony's Side in 2025
@StitchJones Totally agreed. I got Helldivers 2, as I was a fan of the first, but I'm just generally not the target audience (or a fan) of the 'always online GAAS' model, and put it down shortly after.
A strong SP (or co-op) story, however, with an online mode added on - like we used to get more often - and I'm absolutely involved. I've probably played Space Marine 2 more than HD 2 for that exact reason.
Re: Bungie Was a $765 Million Thorn in Sony's Side in 2025
It's almost as if the console 'king' of the single player experience shouldn't have spent 3.6 billion (or whatever it was) on funding a multiplayer only, always online, extraction shooter. Who knew?
Re: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Could Take the Story Even Further with DLC
@SuplexingTrains True. The "internet" is probably guilty of letting/ allowing things to snowball to heights greater than the intended original meaning.
In any case, I do feel that, beyond the hyperbole, there's the argument about what expectations were (a remake of FF7) vs what we got (a remake of FF7). Some are happy to accept the changes, and think it's the best outcome, while others are more keenly upset by them, precisely because it isn't the original story, that some of us would have rather left untouched.
I was willing to swallow a lot of what I didn't like about part 1, (probably because the game was linear and it felt like it was quick to get through) whereas part 2 has felt guilty of revelling in the mass of its changes, brandishing the old story just to highlight how distant this telling is. It's mostly left a sour taste in the mouth, to carry on the metaphor. Agreed about the title, too!
"Cloud goes snowboarding shortly after Aerith dies..." Haha... yes he does, my friend. Yes, he does. Ice cold. 😎
Re: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Could Take the Story Even Further with DLC
@Oram77 I don't think it's forced... the pacing is off, and the changes to the story are whack. I beat Remake; hell, I've platinumed both that and Crisis Core, but I picked up Rebirth and haven't played it once since just after Junon. Over a year of not playing it now, because of the reasons I suggested. The gameplay is a highlight, but there's plenty that detracts from it.
Re: 'We're Definitely Pursuing Another Mortal Kombat': Ed Boon Speaks Amid Injustice 3 Rumours
@Oram77 While MK 9 is probably my favourite, (and Kratos was OP in it!) Of the newer 3, I have to say, I prefer 11. A solid mix of characters, and I liked being able to customise movesets. Would definitely rather that to 1's weird system and 'Kameos'.
Re: 'One of the Biggest Surprises of the Year': Mortal Kombat 2 Movie Opens with Stronger Than Expected Reviews
This film sounds like it's doing everything the right way, that the new Resident Evil film isn't. Glad to see it; sounds a huge improvement over the first.
Re: Lords of the Fallen 2's Idea of Female Armour Is Downright Embarrassing
While I'm not in disagreement with the premise and point of the article, and do think the costumes seem a bit ridiculous - I would also fall in with the few who have mentioned how often Gacha games, with their skimpily claim 'waifu's, and Stellar Blade's costume repertoire have been positively promoted on here, for comparison.
Re: 'I Want to Celebrate Everything I Love About the Games': Zach Cregger's New Resident Evil Movie Looks Like a Blast
@THEBrew Totally agreed regarding Cregger's last 2 films. They've been fine... up to a point; then just seems to fall back on to clichés and tropes. Starts with a good premise, but doesn't see it through. Everyone's opinion of him seems a bit inflated, as far as I'm concerned.
Re: Saros (PS5) - Housemarque at the Peak of Its Powers with Its Best Game Yet
@Llamageddon Isn't it generally taken to mean that, if you saturate your 'product' with every convenience, or style choice, to appeal to the broadest market, you'll inevitably end up watering down every system to a bland menage, that actually appeals to no one. Sometimes specialisation and having a narrower range, even if to a more limited audience, will create the better result.
Re: Are We Ready to Admit Horizon's Online Co-Op PS5 Game Looks Good Yet?
It just doesn't scream "Horizon" though, does it? Sure, it's a spin-off title, but given that the only similarities are in monster design and the various weapons on offer, seems they could have easily made it some other IP (and probably should have), but are trying to tie it in to a better known title, for the sake of skimming sales from those who loved the previous games. But, as most will attest, if you liked Horizon, this does not seem like the "multiplayer Horizon" game that people perhaps would have expected; with grounded art style and gritty, tactical, combat, rather than 'Hero powers' on cooldowns (as it looks to be.)
Would they have called this anything else, and it probably would have garnered a less negative reaction, ironically.
Re: PS5's Phantom Blade Zero Gets Even Better with Drunken Sword Gameplay, Insane Motion Capture
Can't be any more infuriating than the dancing lion in Elden Ring. 😬
Re: The Team Behind Beloved Action RPG The First Berserker: Khazan No Longer Exists
@Fishysensei Would agree. I actually enjoyed the first 2 Nioh titles though, but haven't really found myself able to get ibto this, or P. I did struggle with Sekiro though, so that might have something to do with it.
Re: Poll: Do Crimson Desert's PS5 Patches Put Other Devs to Shame, or Is the Game Simply Unfinished?
Sounds like an 'early access' release to me... PSN (or however it's branded) doesn't seem to have an equivalent, which is a bit of a shame, but with all these patches, sounds like early adopters are paying full price to make the game better for late adopters - as opposed to paying less.
Re: Pokémon, Palworld Rip-Off Pickmon Returns with a New Name, You Won't Believe the Difference
@springer17 You just never know what he/she/it's gonna do next! 😭 (tears of joy)
Re: Pokémon, Palworld Rip-Off Pickmon Returns with a New Name, You Won't Believe the Difference
@Tobimune I think Digimon Story Time Stranger is really the best we have. Ni No Kuni also, but it's surprisingly tricky at times, for all its kid-friendly aesthetic. There's a couple of passable indies... Monster Sanctuary isn't bad, but is more of a party based rpg with how combat works.
Re: Pokémon, Palworld Rip-Off Pickmon Returns with a New Name, You Won't Believe the Difference
Ah, yes... good ol 'Pickmos'. With Carizard, Peeve, and Beganium, those loveable mascots.
Re: Ubisoft's Insane Action Game Morbid Metal Hits Early Access, and We're Desperate to Play It on PS5
Ubisoft finally made a non-Ubisoft game, withhold it from consoles, and Metal May Cry is the result.
Re: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Is Shaping Up to Be a Bloody Brilliant Series Revival on PS5
@AdamNovice I think it's fair to be critical of a game's art style, and I don't think that's necessarily about it being 'unique'.
Castlevania makes me immediately think of a gothic aesthetic- which this somewhat lacks, with all its bright, popping, colours and tones. Something more muted and less cartoonish, would have suited it better, in my opinion, and I can only imagine a lot of people feel the same. Still, I'm sure it'll play well.
And Sons of Sparta just looked cheap. The pixel style wasn't very pleasantly done, and I think that's fair criticism to make. You'd think it wasn't too much to expect Sony to put a bit more thought and love into a spin-off of one of their tentpole titles, and a lot of people seemingly felt that way.
Re: Another Attempt at a Metal Gear Solid Movie Is Being Made by Sony
@Balaam_ Any attempt at recreating what makes MGS what it is, without Kojima, seems destined to fail. And of all people, why would you get the guys who did Final Destination? Such a weird fit. Sony seem intent to sh*t on all their own IP. As you say, I think the Spiderman/ Spiderverse films are the only ones they seem to have got a handle on - but OG Maguire will always be my guy.
Re: The Team Behind Beloved Action RPG The First Berserker: Khazan No Longer Exists
Thought the game was pretty middling, to be honest. Unnecessarily / unfairly difficult, at points, without really making it satisfying. Combat felt off, to me, and the visuals, while having 'anime flair', were pretty bland. I tried the demo and thought it was clearly one of the more lacklustre souls-likes. But then, I didn't like pinochio much, either. 🤷
Re: We Hope You're Not Sick of Soulslikes, Because Mortal Shell 2 Just Got a Massive Gameplay Trailer
Big props for character and enemy design, etc. They know how to bring a gothic, medieval nightmare to life! 👏
Re: New Lord of the Rings Game Comes from Tomb Raider Dev, It's Claimed
Make it local co-op! Give it online multiplayer functionality, too. Something a mix between the Return of the King and War in the North games. The best successors to the old Baldur's Gate hack-and-slash games. Add an online mode like the LotR battlefield game that released... because, man, they were solid games! One can only dream! 😭
Re: Feature: PS5 Price - Why Does It Cost So Much in 2026?
@Member_the_game That's what I'm thinking to do... might even break even on selling my og PS5, as it has the disc drive and everything. Didn't realise Argos had the sale, so will have to check that out!
Re: Sony Announces Gigantic PS5 Price Increases, Effective from April 2026
@PlayNation5 I'm thinking I might just do the same... Can't see the PS6 either launching any time soon in this climate, or at an affordable price, so may well be the best time to grab a Pro model, flog the OG, and be satisfied that it should last for a good few years.
Re: Tekken 8 Dev Responds to Disastrous Season 3 Backlash, Confirms New Update Schedule
Haven't jumped into T8 in what feels like years. Got it at launch, and it took a long time for the new "refined" controls to sit with me. Seems as soon as I got the hang of it, sweeping changes were made, and I never tried it since.
Still, can't help but feel that their push to make it more 'Street Fighter' like was a mistake, that watered down its very distinctive identity and feeling. Would rather they tried to take it back to basics, where combos were king, and not just locking opponents in heavy smash juggles ad infinitum.
Re: PS Plus Essential Game for April 2026 Leaked
Not a game I would have bought, but definitely keen to play it, with the co-op and combat refinements. Otherwise, it felt like a successful - if standard - soulslike. But a co-op campaign elevates it, in my eyes.
Re: 'We're Spending Significantly More than We're Making': Fortnite Publisher Epic Games Lays Off Over 1,000 Staff
@Gremio108 One can only hope this is true, and perhaps, games will return to the 'glory days' of being cheaper, with shorter development times, while being fewer yet more unique amongst them.
Re: Mini Review: 1348 Ex Voto (PS5) - An Intriguing But Disappointing PS5 Console Exclusive
@lazarus11 He was a fashionable dude for the time...
Re: PS5 Players Seemingly Skip Marathon as Sales Estimates Look Very Weak
Let's be real - nothing was going to be worth spending their 3 billion on, so this was always destined to come at cost. I'm not surprised it didn't pick up on PS5 - I just hope the trend will finally get bucked!
Re: Mini Review: 1348 Ex Voto (PS5) - An Intriguing But Disappointing PS5 Console Exclusive
I thought the game looked cool, certainly a nice visual quality to it, with locations and the time period. If it had a little more open exploration, and a more fine tuned combat system, it could have been pretty fun. Something like 'For Honor'... Don't really understand all the hate for the haircut, to be honest.
Re: While We Wait for a New 3D Sonic Game, PS5 Is About to Get the Next Best Thing
That, quite honestly, looks like the dweebiest character design I've seen since Concord.
Re: Congratulations to Resident Evil, 30 Years Old Today and Better Than Ever
@Oram77 I'm a big horror-head (or, used to be!) But playing Resi 2 as a kid, it must have been the first thing I had to just stop and put away, because it so terrified me! Took me until 4 to pick it up again, and I had a blast. My favourite in the series to date, though I do have a lot of love for 5; good co-op memories.
I guess getting older, I find I'm a little harder to impress/ scare now, and most horror films don't do it for me (but you get the odd outlier that manages to bring something new). Even still, I almost dare not pick up the Resi 2 remake! Whether for fear, or fear of ruining my nostalgia, I can't say! 😉
Re: Congratulations to Resident Evil, 30 Years Old Today and Better Than Ever
My biggest take away from this, is I can't believe there was a gap of only 6/7 years between the ps1 and the gamecube. Feels like a whole life-time between!
Re: Frantic Shooter Saros Is Shaping Up to Be a Real Showpiece for PS5, PS5 Pro
What about the gyroscope? 🥲
Re: Further Frustration as PS Plus' Latest Retro Game Arrives without PS5, PS4 Trophies
I just want to say how much I'm enjoying the taglines for the 2 Tekken articles today, and how well they work together. 👏
Re: 'The Whole Team Is Working on the Final Stages': Onimusha PS5 Release Date Can't Be Far Away
Possibly one of Capcom's franchises that I've been the most in anticipation of revisiting. Will probably be a day 1 (or close to!) purchase for me. Okami 2 is looking ever more likely... if they revisited or put out a new Godhand game, I'd be happy.
Re: Resident Evil 2 Director Says Requiem Needs a 'Non-Scary' Mode for Fraidy Cats Like Him
Not so much the "horror", but I hate encountering 'stalker' type enemies, that permeate whole sections and can't be killed. One of the reasons I'm yet to dive fully into the Resi 2 remake, or Village. If you're giving me guns, give me enemies I can kill.
Also, naff having to shoot enemies more than once in the head to kill them. Basic zombies taking several pops to the brain = no thanks.