J2theEzzo

I could imagine Sony handling some of the IPs very well, and it's not like WB have been overly successful in their recent attempts, notwithstanding a few standouts. Don't necessarily believe it, but it'd be cool to see Sony handle a batman game, or pick up the Nemesis system while they're at it! Haha

@N0CYmr0k What can I say, I've eaten a lot of pierogi! Love that fried, breaded, cheese, too! I forget the name, though, haha 😅

They used celebrity likeness in all 3 mainline games. I think not for the fourth? Samonouske (?) From 1 and 3 was acted by Takeshi Kaneshiro (of House of Flying Daggers etc.), Jubei Yagyu, though a real historical figure, was played by actor Sonny Chiba in a drama, but the model in the 2nd game was Yūsaku Matsuda. Of course, we all know the legendary Miyamoto Musashi, but not his face! So, makes sense to carry on with the tend of using the face of a real/ more contemporary martial arts figure.

Saw a preview for this a while back... the general conceit of it just didn't sound very fun to me. Seems like it isn't very fun to play, either!

@N0CYmr0k solid work! The one word I understand in the link is pierogi, (and psychotherapy?) And man, do I love me some pierogi! 😅😂

@Marathon5150 Agreed. But the PS3 just used to have a wider catalogue of more interesting titles, compared to the PS5. And with less reliance on making cash through microtransactions, much of the mire of today's gaming didn't seem so egregious or ubiquitous. Ah, and free to play online, too.

When you consider what chasing profits has done to this generation of console gaming, it just seems most releases are either a) buggy and unfinished, b) a virtual storefront, or c) a safe rehash of something we've all seen and played already. If you're really unlucky, youre playing CoD and it's all 3.

I'd rather someone create something artful and interesting, that might turn a few people off, than make a game so completely, baselessley, safe that it's widely renowned as being that game that everyone likes (but no one loves or could tell you what's good about it). There is nothing wrong with only appealing to 6 out of 10 people, because taste is subjective. Something that is designed to appeal to everyone sounds unabashedly convoluted, or like the most capitalist way of playing things safe: Tick every box to make everyone happy. And what you're left with, is a product without a purpose, beyond being widely appealing and therefore, marketable.

Game releases in a broken mess; game gets universally panned by critics; customers are issued refunds from digital stores, considering the dire state of the game at release; game goes on to sell relatively well, regardless.

Isn't this just further indication of the current woeful state of the gaming industry? Between corporate hacks ruining long beloved franchises, to the ever present need and chase for "live-service, always online" never-ending games that cost (and make) millions every month. It'd be nice to have less games, and more originality. Something that dares to release in a (shock) completed state, with all content included, that won't expect you to pay and play forever, like a cog in its machine.

@N0CYmr0k Ah, I didn't really know anything about it. I've seen the doc, though! Curious stuff!

@PuppetMaster R - type and Gradius will always be some of my favourites. Used to have a blast playing them with my dad, as a kid!

@Scottyy Something about "consider this one to watch" really got you, huh? 😉

@Korgon Ditto. Had a lot of fun, especially living with friends back then, of duking it out in some free for alls on PS All Stars. The fact that there really isn't, or hasn't been, a proper worthy competitor on PS to Smash Bros. just seems like a glaring flaw to me, but apparently not to everyone!

@Korgon I do wonder how big the reception to Tokon would have been if Marvel weren't attached?

Like, would Rivals have picked up so much traction, if they hadn't paid for the license, like they originally intended not to...

I could imagine a team based fighter, using Sony IP, could do well, as an unexpected curveball. And they have a good backlog of characters that they seem to hate to utilise, but making it a Marvel game is obviously opening the floodgates to a much wider audience.

@MrPeanutbutterz I think it's worth it.

Playing it on hard/ ng+, it particularly requires you to make a full use of the suite of skills at your disposal, but it (mostly) never feels unfair. The platforming aspect definitely isn't as refined, but I reckon the combat holds up nicely!

@MrPeanutbutterz Everyone who's stuck it out has pretty much said the same, that it's one of their best. I'll defo give it another bash some time!

@Perturbator I've seen it! I'd say I enjoyed the film more, also. But in that, he isn't so much aware of the fact he's a clone, whereas here, that's kinda the whole deal? But otherwise, quite agree!

@MrPeanutbutterz It's the only one of their titles I've particularly struggled with, but I can well see how, after beating sekiro, other games might just feel a bit derivative.

Mickey 17 the game (of the film, of the book?). Pretty meta.

@MrPeanutbutterz I have to say, I just couldn't get into sekiro. Tried twice (managed to get further than lady butterfly, at least!) But in-between getting lost and just not getting on with it, I put it aside. Recently got the plat for SB, and while I kinda agree, I just did find it easier to play without getting distracted or lost. It's a much more linear game, let's say.

That said, after getting pretty good with perfect parries and dodging, I'm now more excited, and ready, than ever to give Sekiro another try!

@johncalmc basically said the same thing, yeah! Haha 😉

It's as if, if you were to take Man's eternal, preternatural, bloodlust and combine that with his other lusty state (for boobs!), and mesh them in a videogame... you are guaranteed success? 🤔

@guacguacboo While I do get the sentiment, I can't help but feel that if youre playing Nightreign specifically to do single player, then you picked it up for the wrong reason!

I like how reactive the shooting looks, and have been wanting something more of that in games for years. If I shoot at the legs, I want the whatever to stumble; shoot at an arm, for the arm to come off, etc. Dead Space capitalised on that system, but it's rarely incorporated anywhere else. So, this has my attention!

@PuppetMaster I still wish, and dream, for a PS All stars 2

@Darude84 Definitely doesn't allow the slower pace of ER. The map is divided over time into smaller and smaller circular arenas, about every 5 mins. It is possible solo (my friend managed to beat a boss on his own), but it really is a better/ fairer experience with 3 people.
Consider there's about 7 bosses (1 final super boss is hidden till after), each changes the map slightly and affects the enemies you might face, and every boss basically is a 45 minute cycle to get in, get good gear, level up and try to smash it. The only permanent progress across runs, are 'relics', that each character can equip 3 of, which could do anything from changing your skills, to giving poison weapons at the start.
Edit- I think you need ps plus. Guess it requires a good online community, to find good players to match with, but if they keep adding things over time, I could see people sticking about.

Broforce? BROFORCE!?! 🔥 🔥

I know it isn't, but I wish 😌

@kyleforrester87 Yeah, agreed. A "cheap" bit of fun. I've mostly just enjoyed that weapons and playstyles I never would have thought viable (for me) in the base game, are actually now quite fun and good to use. With a few more bosses and levels, I could see me happily trying to learn and play as most/ all the characters.

@kyleforrester87 I'm one of the shameful 2 million, and was always going to be. 2 of my friends are also included in that count, and we've been having a blast. It's probably a little short-lived, but I could see them adding more things over time.

Nae-sayers are always gonna nae! 😉

@16BitHero I thought you were calling him a 'wiener' and was gonna suggest you misspelled it, but then I realised the truth was even harsher! 🤭

@Ravix What you'll get is "Xavier's school for the gifted" management, and poppa Logan has to be the groundskeeper, teacher, student rep, and councillor/ babysitter to all the other kids at the school, sorting their beef and drying their tears, while trying to not tear the building down, as Charles is in space, on some R and R.

@Ravix The could make it a 'claw management' sim: press a button to retract, or extend, your claws. Fists and claws are non-lethal and lethal styles, respectively; fists does less damage, but you have more health, whereas claws do more damage, but make you more vulnerable (because gisnt open wounds all over hands...). But for every person you kill (claw) not punch, the next day you have to drink more beer to forget, and dull the pain. Drink too much, however, and you suck at fighting the day after. And that's the gameplay loop! 😂

@Jrs1 Salt and Sanctuary/ sequel were by the dishwasher team, and they really keep that same dark cartoony aesthetic. Both are also great souls-like-vanias, but the 1st has fantastic local coop support, so I give it big props!

Castle Crashers was another of these funny, past-meme like games. To think, for how old it is, that it had rpg systems in place where, today, many side scrolling beat em ups still entirely lack the option to flavour your character.

Pretty damn cool trailer

@DennisReynolds But Heihachi was "dead", haha

I think the Tekken 'problem' is that it launched with an already very full roster, and now it's hard to scramble for characters that are going to be well received. In fairness, the T7 returners will have adjusted move sets as everyone plays quite different in 8.

I never did pick up Fahk. but there's probably more kickboxing types than any other style (beyond possibly 'mishima' at this point. I think Lei could be cool, with his 5 forms, but a new fighting style will be interesting!

@UltimateOtaku91 That's fair. I tend to veer off from games that don't point me at a particular objective, with clear and finite progression. (Which maybe this does, but I think you get what I mean?)

I tried my hand at harvest moon, many many moons ago, and just couldn't get into the whole idea of spending my free time to...work. Is that basically the premise here? Become a digital peon, between whacking some stuff? 'Cozy' seems to translate to aimless, and unending, chores.

I'm expecting this to tarnish the good name of Elden Ring. Some Maidenless antics that don't convey the true sense of horror/ wonder and amusement. And they'd surely need Patches? What about invaders and tricsky messages? Hoping it's the best film ever though. 😂

@Ravix Is his dad played by Ray Winston, man?

@DonkeyFantasy 😂 I had that one too. To be fair, jumping flash was also one of the first ps1 games I owned, so I did chuckle every so often at the rabbit/robot thing.

Looks good, but her character model looks hella lanky, no? Even crouching, she's as tall as Akuma! 80 % legs, though I guess that helps with seeing what she's doing with them half the time. I was thinking at least they have her some real clothes this time, but nope!

Played the demo and quite enjoyed it. The combat and forging aspects are pretty fun, and addictive as the article states. Assuredly, one of the most 7 out of 10 7's. A very PS3 style game, in the best way, art direction and all.

@sanderson72 Oh, Dark Alliance 2... 🥲 When will they ever make a (good) new one? After the last GoW imitation of theirs failed and flopped...

And Broforce 2?! Now we're really dreaming! (Sigh)

I just don't see me ever being happy with the idea of spending upwards of £60 on a game, no matter how good it supposedly is. I understand increasing costs, etc. but that's a price point that's just too hard to justify for me (as I'm sure for many others, also). The effect of this is that game's sales tank and more people buy 2nd hand, or long after release for a deep cut sale. Case in point, I only just picked up rebirth, because it was £35 brand new. Some stores are still selling it 2nd hand for about £45...

The guest character's inclusion was a telling, and tone deaf, approach to just throwing money at a product, and being both greedy and guileless about it, hoping to expand playerbase off the backs of their own commercial popularity... and it failed. Rightfully so. Can people start making games for gamers again, instead of bland and blind decisions being forced in for the sake of chasing mediocrity and apparently "wider appeal"?

While I entirely understand the sentiment of the article, I do wonder if the current market trends that Sony are chasing are somewhat indicative of the newer, 'younger' generation of gamers, and what passes for entertainment among them. Case in point- most of the games listed are free to play; ergo, the earnings come from being a platform holder and taking in microtransactions: "Skins for the wins".

The problem being, those of us who grew up with a PS and favour actually paying for a game, that feels complete and then can be finished and put away, is we feel like the current direction is disregarding the loyalty of said long time user base, in favour of the trends that (it seems most of us) we disdain.

I think shifts in culture; having streamers, and the apparent commodification of being a 'celebrity gamer', have also had this (in my opinion) negative impact on the market, where they appear to be controlling the direction of these trends and hence, the profitability of live service games. I feel like most gamers would be rather playing as many different and varied games, than collecting likes for streaming and playing the same game over and over. That doesn't make you a fan of games, it makes you a fan of "game x", and it has a clearly detrimental effect on the industry as a whole.

'Extra' really seems the best, in terms of service for money. But I'm still in the camp of 'only paying because I have to'. (Woe, the PS3 days are gone) If multiplayer was free again, I would not have subscribed to 'essential'.

@truerbluer I could see Helldivers working with a proper mission style structure; a coop pve game still, you pick from a selection of levels based on what super earth needs, land on a planet with your squad and set up, and try to push through undiscovered levels of unknown danger to achieve certain goals, and extract. Sounds like the game already, but I'm thinking more Metal Gear Solid V

I always thought the game's art direction was pretty shoddy, and it never really explained why all you do is fight in random warehouse spaces, full of boxes covered in decals. More narratively enigmatic than a Souls game! Then to find out that even this wasn't an original idea, but that they stole the designs and just slapped it all over their game anyway.
And how much did Sony pay this studio to acquire them?