Kraven

This should be a pretty great showcase, even if the games weren’t coming to PlayStation. It’s weird, I’m primarily a PS and Nintendo guy, but I’ve been in an Xbox mood lately, particularly with their recent game pass additions. I think I’ll actually boot up my Series X and play there for a while. Plus, I’ve been wanting to jump back into the Division, and my friends all play it on the Xbox. And I’ve also been hankering for a replay of the Gears of War trilogy.

@RyPal It may very well be shut down, but I think it’s going to be a game that grows over time, and reaches a pretty steady audience consistently. Reviews that have been trickling out recently, particularly after spending a ton of time with it after launch; IGN, PushSquare, GameSpot - these high trafficked sites have scored it an 9//10. I feel that the reviews will draw more people in. I don’t think it’ll ever reach the expectations Sony had, and won’t be the next Fortnite or Apex Legends, but it certainly won’t be a failure.

This is just my opinion, of course. I could absolutely be wrong, but I hope I’m not.

I’m very much looking forward to playing this if I can ever pull myself away from Marathon.

I’m just one trophy away from the platinum in Marathon, so I’ll be grinding it out this weekend. It still might take me another two weeks, but that’s okay.

What’s wild is that this might be the only multiplayer game I’ve put 60+ hours into and still feel completely outmatched. I used to play Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 at a semi-professional level, and I also competed in Overwatch at a high level—the last multiplayer game I seriously played.

And yet, Marathon is my kryptonite. There are moments in Marathon where I think I’m not only git-ting gud, but becoming skilled as well. My (random) squad strings together extractions, and I’m getting kills without relying entirely on my teammates. Then I lose a single match—and suddenly it spirals into a losing streak. It’s in these scenarios where I question my ability; but that’s the draw.

This game is shaping up to be one of the best PlayStation exclusives of all time.

@HRdepartment Because I am dumb and make bad decisions. Lol.

The STALKER 2 DLC looks awesome. I’m curious, but also skeptical of The Expanse, but it seems awesome.

This game is incredible. I put about 80 hours into it on my Switch 2. It now seems like I’ll be doing the same for the PS version, particularly on my PS Portal.

I think this review shows that this game is actually pretty good, albeit flawed. However, it can be fixed with patches, and Pearl Abyss seems to be working quickly to address them. Most of the negatives on this game is something that can be tweaked. And then if you read the review, the core game is very impressive. It’s obvious this game is a great title, and the review scores via Open Critic and what-have-you suggest the same.

I haven’t played the game yet - I bought it yesterday because the more I read about the game, and hear from those on forums, they are enjoying the game a lot. When it comes to open world games with an emphasis on exploration, I gravitate more to those games. I never expect a game of that magnitude to have a great story and character behind it — it’s rare when that is achieved; however, the consensus seems to be exploration is on the same level as Elden Ring, and I crave those moments. Additionally, it seems like Pearl Abyss is really listening to its audience and trying to make improvements as hastily as possible. Say what you want about AI generated art: I’m personally never going to really notice, or if I do it won’t break my immersion, so if there is a painting on a wall that doesn’t look right, it’s whatever.

@Frmknst So, you must dislike the average consumer, who works 5 days a week and does “boring” tasks.

I know people are going to come in and complain, but let me be the first to say that Bungie has been doing fantastic things with Marathon, and they have been listening to feedback and consistently working to improve the game based on player feedback.

@Enuo We aren’t asking for DLC to fix it. There is nothing to fix. We want DLC because we want more of Dragon’s Dogma 2. Your comment is honestly ridiculous.

Please let this be real. This is my number one game of the current generation, and I would love more content.

@AhmadSumadi You are exactly right. They maybe played an hour or two, realized it was a lot different and weren’t that good, and decide to hate everything about it.

@Leinad7 “It will take at least 6-12 months” - That will be a good sign in terms of longevity. It should make the sales and continue to last a while as a result.

@Dreamscape20 This might be the most contradictory comment I’ve seen in a while. The irony is unbelievable.

@Exerion76 It seems to be surviving just fine, and word of mouth has been incredibly positive. Glad you’re enjoying Crimson Desert, but maybe you should be glad people are enjoying Marathon as well. We should be celebrating games and want them to succeed.

9/10 would be the score I give it as well. It really is brilliant, albeit intimidating and has a steep learning curve. However, if you can get past that hurdle you’ll discover an incredible game.

Well, good news for me, my wife and I unexpectedly decided to go out of town to have a night out, though I didn’t want to initially because I was playing Marathon, but it seems to me that I needed to take a break after all. Haha. On a serious note, I hope it gets fixed soon - it always sucks when this happens during the weekend.

I can’t pull myself away from Marathon—it’s just that addicting. My sleep schedule has been altered drastically, and I’m running on fumes at my day job because I’m staying up all night playing. I’ve logged roughly 40 hours into the game, and I feel as if I’m just now beginning to scratch the surface on how to play.

The biggest obstacle I had to understand was that winning a gunfight isn’t about raw aim and force like Halo—it’s about positioning. You can have top-tier weapons, but if you’re in a poor position you can be eliminated by someone using a basic kit. And while weapons matter, it’s the mods you attach to them that make them lethal. It can quickly turn average weapons into something superior.

Team play is just as critical. It’s not always beneficial to kill someone you have incapacitated. It’s often best to wait until the remaining squad attempts to perform a revive before you strike. On the flip side, being "eliminated" doesn't always mean you're out. I've had plenty of matches where I was taken down, but a teammate managed to disengage, wait for things to cool off, and come back to revive me. During those moments, spectating becomes a tool—you can call out sounds, movements, and threats from their perspective. In this game, survival comes first; looting comes second.

Speaking of survival, it’s entirely possible to not engage in any fights whatsoever. It’s okay to complete an objective and exfil. And if you want to stay alive longer then communication is essential. The majority of my victories were due to speaking to one another, using your shells’ abilities to complement each other, sticking together and using a good team composition, particularly in Hauler and Station.

I won’t lie, the game can be infuriating. It wasn’t until I got over the “gear fear” that I learned to accept the frustration and turn it into a positive. You’re never going to be completely empty in your backpack. You may have it be minimal, but never entirely useless. All it takes is one good match to change your entire future matches around. Sometimes, you have to go in with no expectations. I look at it similar to borrowing items instead of actually owning them. Or, like lottery tickets - you’re spending money hoping to win more, but you don’t necessarily expect a positive outcome. If you win, great; if you lose, oh well, you spent money knowing the risk.

Ultimately, the key is getting comfortable with discomfort. Once you do, you'll find an experience packed with depth, rich lore, engaging team combat, beautifully designed maps, and a rewarding gameplay loop that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Whether Marathon thrives or fades in the next six months, I know I'll be there for as long as it lasts.

I’m so nervous to play the map, but damn am I also stoked. I love this game. It’s honestly ruining my sleep schedule.

Good for the game. I think it’ll be a success on PlayStation. Whether or not the game will be good is another story, but I wouldn’t let negative comments sway someone to not try out the game if they are interested. From my understanding, it’s a solid game, no more, no less, and that is okay.

Well, I’m glad I didn’t preorder the game. I will eventually pick this up on a sale.

Just four games, though ..

Day one for sure! Housemarque has yet to disappoint me.

Man, I can’t wait for this. Capcom is on an unprecedented string of releases. And this game comes out a few days before my birthday, so it will definitely be a perfect gift to myself.

@Shokwave2 That’s interesting because every comment I see on YouTube and essentially elsewhere is negative.

I may give this a chance. I didn’t like it when I first played it, but I was also deep in BG3 and Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, so I wasn’t really taking my time with the game. If it reviews well, I may give it a try.

@IOI This is the trend in a lot of people - wanting games to fail. I truly don’t understand the mentality. I do understand having expectations, and what have you, but in my 30 years of gaming I have never wanted a single game to fail. If there is a game I’m not interested in I simply ignore it and move on with my life. I love sports, but I’m not a fan of soccer. Do I talk about it, positively or negatively? Nope. I just focus on what I like. For others, it’s almost their way of life. They grew up on the internet where their words and actions hardly have consequences so they don’t care how they act or what they say.

I really can’t wait to see what this game really is, and how it runs on base consoles. I am not trying to get hyped for it too much because I’m cautiously optimistic, but damn is this not one of the most interesting games in a long time.

@DennisReynolds Awesome stuff to hear! After watching few reviews, I think I’m going to pick it up. Thanks for the info!

@DennisReynolds @Nepp67

It sounds like it will be a pretty solid experience, and if not I can still manage. I’ve only played one real extraction shooter, Marathon, and I’m loving it. I’m now wanting to dip my toes in to other games similar. Is Arc Raiders content heavy?

On a side note to the article - I haven’t played this game before. Is it worth picking up now, and running solo okay? It seems awesome.

@Frmknst Just like your comment. Why is every comment you post whether here or elsewhere so negative?

I can’t wait to see what this game really is. Naughty Dog never disappoints, in my opinion. I have no doubt it’s going to be fantastic.

What I’m playing is completely out of character: Marathon. Multiplayer games aren’t my forte. It’s been over a decade since I have dedicated any time to playing online with others, whether that’s cooperatively or competitively. I’m not even sure what compelled me to buy Bungie’s latest, but I did, and I am happy with my decision.

My first few matches were shockingly successful. We — randoms — managed to exfiltrate. I didn’t have my mic on so there wasn’t any communication, but we performed well. Did I have any idea what I was doing? Nope. In fact, I didn’t know how to heal; I ran out of ammo multiple times; and I didn’t know where to go. But we won.

And then I lost. Again, and again. But I was learning bits and pieces as I did. For starters, patience is key. I studied what my loot actually did. I managed my inventory accordingly. Subsequently, I took my time in each run throughout the various maps, slowly completing my contract objectives whilst wandering aimlessly.

The second thing I began to realize quickly is Marathon is a trial by fire - you learn as you play. It’s not going to be easy, and it isn’t meant to. The learning curve is very steep. However, if you can get over the minor hiccup you will be rewarded with an intense FPS that has high highs and low lows but not in a negative way.

To be fair, particularly to newcomers (I’m still one myself), Marathon doesn’t have a good onboarding. It can feel daunting with the amount of systems and mechanics at work. Its UI and interface make it that much more difficult. Again, though, that is where patience comes in. Learn the game within the game; don’t neglect checking out the codex, and be mindful of your challenges. You’ll find that no run feels entirely meaningless even if you die within a couple of minutes.

The one thing that should be hammered home for new players: don’t get attached. That will be the toughest hurdle. You’re going to lose your gear. It’s unavoidable, and it’s going to suck. You can, however, obtain awesome weapons and gear as quickly as you lose it, and that’s the biggest thrill.

It quickly became an addiction. I almost called out of work because one, I have the flu, and two, so I could do more runs. Unfortunately, my adult brain kicked in and convinced me otherwise, but the temptation … oh, the temptation was powerful.

I could rant on and on about why this game shines above the crowd. I don’t think the amount of words I could use would be able to fill up this comment adequately. Ultimately, as the game suggests, it’s a Marathon, not a sprint. Don’t give up hope, runners. Let’s not make this a Boston.

I’ve never heard of this until this article. It looks and sounds great! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

It’s rare for me to want to play a game immediately after I beat it - I’m typically a one and done type of player - but this game is phenomenal. I went through it on my Switch 2 (runs excellent, btw), and immediately double dipped on PS5 for trophies and whatnot. It’s easily in my top five games of this generation.

2032 … just saying that year is mind blowing to hear to me. We are in Blade Runner territory.

@charbtronic Yeah, I played my first match and successfully exfiltrated with a random crew of people. I didn’t have my mic so there wasn’t any communication, but we performed well. Since it was my first game, I was and still am confused by how to heal, how to text chat the group within the fight, and get more ammo. I’m assuming the latter is found throughout loot and enemies, but I went without for about two minutes. It’s really fun. I can definitely see myself playing more frequently once I get a better grasp of its systems and mechanics. And don’t ask me why — I truly don’t know — but this is my first purchase specifically for a multiplayer game in at least eight years. The last game that had its hooks in me competitively is Overwatch.

@EK42 Overrated, by whom exactly? And why is it crappy? It seems to me that the majority of people playing it believe the game is great. I’m all for a variety of opinions, but at least expand on why you consider it the way you do.

From what I’ve seen and read, it has the classic staple Bungie gunplay that is top tier. They are arguably the best in class when it comes to shooters. The aesthetic is hit or miss for some, but it’s definitely unique and different. The lore and story within a multiplayer game is clearly compelling. The map design appears to be praised by the majority of folks, and the AI seems to be good as well.

So, what exactly is overrated about a game that doesn’t have proper reviews out yet?

Both great games, and would be an awesome addition! Dragon’s Dogma 2 is in my top 10 of all time. It hit every sweet spot I like in gaming, and was an incredible experience from start to finish.

Maybe I overlooked it, but does the game require you to play the first two games in the series, or is this a good starting point?

I’m playing Resident Evil 9: Requiem. I don’t get scared often, but this game has been anxiety inducing. There have been moments where I had to pause the game just to breathe. The last (horror) game to evoke these emotions was Alien: Isolation. It’s been a fantastic experience. And just when I thought my arachnophobia couldn’t get any worse … oh, boy.

This is tough! I got the platinum for NiOh 3, so obviously I loved it; but RE9 is so damn good.

This is a great move. Sony is starting to realize what drives their fan base to the console brand itself. Plus, they weren’t getting enough revenue from single player games on PC, at least not enough to satiate the need to shift in that direction.

@yohn777 Yes, I was being sarcastic.

🤞 that Bluepoint is involved …

I think this is a great move for them. Stellar Blade was … stellar. I think it would be wise to have that game on more platforms, if applicable, and get hype started for its inevitable sequel. It’s one of the rare niche games that stood out amongst the crowd, so it already has a decently sized fan base to help promote the next entry.