I’d prefer if it isn’t on PlayStation, but either way, I think Wolverine will be more successful in terms of sales, but there is strong promise in E-Day, so it could out-review it possibly. Either way, we will be eating good regardless of what console you’re playing on.
I’m playing Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Xbox Series X). It’s been a fantastic experience, and one of the rare Star Wars stories that is genuinely great. I’m working on getting all achievements—by this time 007 First Light and Mina The Hollower should be released.
It’s a subjective opinion, but for me I’d say the game earned its praise and the awards it won. The art direction, while subjective, was top tier, in my opinion. The colors, animation, and lush backdrops during encounters really immersed you into the moment. Then there is the sound design. You can hear and feel every attack, and it feels good. Parrying or dodging has its own unique sound, and enemies have their tell too. Additionally, I think the OST is objectively fantastic, particularly with how it came to be with the SoundCloud scenario.
The story is also unique and well written, in my opinion. Not everything stuck the landing, but the characters and their motivations felt genuine. And learning why things were occurring the way they were felt satisfying. Lastly, the combat was top notch. It didn’t re-invent the turn-based wheel, but it did master it. The amount of varying builds you can create for each character is astonishing, and every character feels good to play, some of which have really unique move-sets that is unlike any I’ve played in a turn based RPG. One thing I don’t think people consider is, you can technically beat the game and never level up at all. If you get good enough at dodging and parrying you can defeat any enemy regardless of level. Granted, it may take a long time, but that isn’t something you typically see in an RPG. To me, that’s what sets it apart from every other turn based game.
There are tons of other reasons why I think the game deserves the praise it has received. I won’t say it is the best game ever made, or it brought back turn based RPGs, or what-have-you. But it did show that that genre is still capable of being unique; there is still juice left to squeeze.
Awesome preview, and I love the format of the article. I hope this shapes up to be a great 007 game. I’m a little skeptical, but the developers track record has yet to disappoint.
Shout out to South Korea, developing awesome games and celebrating those who worked hard on them. I haven’t played much of Crimson Desert, but it’s been great from what I’ve played.
In addition to beating Pragmata, I booted up Stalker 2 and loaded up an old save (I beat the game when it first released, and played 120-hours). I wanted to try out the new quest-lines that were added. This was more troublesome than I anticipated; it’s not a game you can hop back in a year later and feel comfortable. I was using med-kits when I wanted to turn on my flashlight. I wanted to fast travel, but I couldn’t until I got to a base of operations, yet that was harder than expected. I would try to run to my marker and die by anomalies and radiation. I eventually got my bearings after googling the controls, completed the new quests, and unlocked a few achievements. I can’t wait for its expansion.
Meanwhile, Hades 2 released on Game Pass. I’ve put in over 80-hours on the Switch version, but since Supergiant updated the game with new content I couldn’t resist starting a fresh playthrough. I’ve already experienced new events. Once again, I’m unabashedly addicted.
Here I am, five days left of my vacation. I was unsure what to start next. Despite my reservations due to the size of the game, I finally gave Crimson Desert a chance. All of my X/Twitter feeds have been praising the game, and the patches from the developer have been nothing but outstanding. It’s my type of game, but I still didn’t know what to expect.
Let me get the obvious out of the way: it’s overwhelming and mechanically complicated. There are so many systems at work, and they can overlap each other with the controls. With that said, I am already immersed in this beautiful and mysterious world. It’s similar to Red Dead Redemption 2 with its freedom and interactivity, and Dragon’s Dogma 2, one of my favorite games of all time, with focusing heavily on player agency and developing your own tale. I can predict that once I get used to the controls this could potentially be an all-timer for me.
So far, my vacation has been fantastic. I did what I set out to do—clean up my garage, and get a lot of yard work done. And play games, lots and lots of games.
I beat Pragmata (Xbox Series X). What a sublime experience. It may outshine Resident Evil Requiem for me which I did not expect. Capcom does something that no other current developer does: make me want to replay a game immediately after I beat it.
So, what’s the hook for this new IP? The combat. It’s really innovative. It’s a third person shooter with hacking mechanics all in one package. I was skeptical about how this would work in a proper firefight, but you’re never overwhelmed with enemies. There is a perfect balance that could have easily dismantled its entire focus, but thankfully it doesn’t. The combat also evolves with time, adding depth to the gameplay. You’ll consistently unlock new weapons, hacking nodes that caters to your style of play, and other surprises along the way.
There are finishing executions when an enemy gets weak, but there is only one variation. It’s kind of disappointing because it looks so stylish. If there were more animations with different weapons then it wouldn’t be an issue. It just gets repetitive after a while.
Exploration is also satisfying. There are five biomes to explore, each of which is approximately three hours each, maybe a little longer depending on if you go off the beaten path. If you do you’ll find benefits — new weapons, modifications, abilities, items for your shelter that liven the place up, and a lot of well written lore.
Some places are inaccessible at first, but similarly to Metroidvanias, you’ll acquire new abilities that allow you to explore areas later down the line. Thankfully, there are many checkpoint areas, so you’re able to do a quick clean up on the things you’ve missed. It took me roughly 14 hours to beat the game and find all collectibles without a guide.
The story is endearing. From all of the trailers I thought your companion, Diana, would be cumbersome and annoying. For some people, they may find this to be accurate. If you can tolerate her you will find a relatively emotional connection with her growth as a character.
Some story elements don’t always land. Pragmata pays homage to Dead Space, particularly in its opening hours — you’ll see posters on walls to emphasize this even more— and by this I mean you will succumb to horrifying loss. As such, the main protagonist, Hugh, whilst he comments on incidents that happen throughout the game, it’s his delivery, or lack there of, that isn’t handled well. You don’t feel his pain and suffering so it’s hard to relate; instead the focus is more on the “father/daughter” dynamic which is really solid.
It’s about freaking time. It may not have been Silksong long, but it has been long enough. This is easily one of my most anticipated games of the year.
Great review. I preordered the deluxe edition so I can get 48 hour early access. I have those two days off specifically, so I figured I’d use that time to play.
I can’t wait for this. Everything I see brings this new kind of excitement intertwined with nostalgia. I am curious to see how not only this turns out, but Exodus as well.
God, I love this game. I’m about 3/4th of the way through, and it continues to surprise me every hour I play. It’s easily in contention for my GOTY, and will be regardless of what else releases this year. Capcom is just a powerhouse right now.
I finally earned the platinum for Marathon, and since progress carries over to Xbox, I wrapped up all the achievements there as well. I’m still pretty hooked—Bungie’s latest update has been nothing short of excellent.
Starting Monday, I’m on a ten-day vacation. I’ve begun Pragmata and it’s been great so far. It definitely has those familiar Capcom traits which isn’t a bad thing. The combat is adrenaline driven with its mini-game hacking gimmick, but it’s done remarkably well. In addition, the opening hours strongly remind me of Dead Space, and oddly enough, Death Stranding. And yet, it captures the essence of an Xbox 360 game.
My goal is to finish that, then move on to beating and 100% completing Replaced. I’ve put a few hours into it—on chapter 4—and it’s been fantastic. The 2.5D aesthetics are some of the best I’ve seen, even rivaling Square Enix’s Octopath series. The world-building is top notch, and the combat feels reminiscent of the Batman: Arkham games. I’ve yet to encounter any bugs the game is reported to have, so that’s a major plus.
I’ve also realized that, as much as I love PlayStation’s trophy system, I prefer the Xbox ecosystem overall. It’s where I’d rather play most third-party games—and Sony’s first-party output is starting to wear thin on me with its formulaic design.
However, I think my preference boils down to timing. I was a young teenager when the Xbox 360 launched, and that era left a huge impression on me. I grew up with the NES and owned just about everything—SNES, PS1 and PS2 (Max Payne, Manhunt, Vice City we’re very influential), N64, GameCube, Dreamcast, original Xbox—but I vividly remember the day my parents surprised me with a 360. We didn’t have much money. My parents were on disability, so bills were tight and food was scarce. One day when my mom picked me up from school, she told me to check the glove box—inside were Perfect Dark Zero and Condemned: Criminal Origins (still one of my all-time favorite horror games). I freaked out. When I got home, the console was already set up, with Call of Duty 2 on the screen, ready to go. I actually broke down in tears. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. To this day I have no idea how they managed to afford all of this, and I’ll never ask.
I also remember going to the public library back when that was still a “thing”—and reading previews for Gears of War. The screenshots blew me away. I had watched the launch trailer hundreds of times, with “Mad World” stuck in my head. When it finally released, it felt like nothing I’d ever played before. It completely revolutionized the third-person shooter genre. I became obsessed, and was ecstatic when I finally earned every achievement, including the 10,000 multiplayer kills.
My best friend and I would play through it co-op endlessly. Our summer vacations would consist of Gears of War, Halo: CE cooperatively, and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series split-screen. It was pure magic. That entire generation is packed with countless memories that I look back on fondly.
Anyway, I’m not sure how I ended up on that tangent, but yeah—Pragmata and Replaced are my main focus. Of course, I’ll more than likely get sucked into Hades 2 once again, and may even finally try out Crimson Desert, but we shall see. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
I’ve been wanting to play this game ever since I saw it a year or two back. I’m definitely picking it up. It’s reviewing well, and some of the negatives sound like positives for me personally.
Marathon. I genuinely cannot pull myself away from this brilliant shooter. Since last week I have discovered I’m much better when playing on Xbox rather than PlqyStation. This might be silly to say, but it’s all due to the controller.
With all of that said, next week on the 20th I’ll be taking a (stay)cation for an entire week. One thing I’m going to do is take a hiatus from social media and the internet in general. The incessant negativity I see spewed online has taken a toll on me mentally, and since my job has me conversing with strangers for 10-hours a day, I need a break.
I’m going to keep playing Marathon. I plan on starting Pragmata as well. Afterwards, I may begin a cosmic adventure in Starfield. However, Crimson Desert has been on my mind a lot. With all the (quick) updates and patches, and shockingly positive reception I do rarely see, it has me itching to jump into its open world.
And out of all that, what I’m really going to do is decompress. And relax. And enjoy games, good or bad, but not with any discourse online. Yeah, that sounds nice.
The same as last week—and will be for the foreseeable future—Marathon (PS5).
With that said, I’ve actually been in an Xbox mood as of late. I typically play on the PS5 or Switch, but Marathon has me wanting to play online with buddies, and they are Microsoft focused. And yeah … I may have double dipped. You don’t have to judge me, alright; I am judging myself.
On a tangent, if you ignore the incessant negativity about console wars on Twitter (X; I’m looking at you, SnapPlay) about either brand, and people bashing others for liking certain games on whichever console they prefer, the overall product is quite amazing. Seriously, all I’ve been seeing lately from people is, “IGN scored Marathon a 9, but Crimson Desert a 6. They are paid shills. Their credibility is so bad.” It’s at least something to that effect. And it’s not just with those two games — it’s practically everything. It’s mentally exhausting trying to find a community where people celebrate games as they are, regardless of the console it belongs to.
Anyway, back on topic. If you mute out the discourse about Xbox (though it has been positive lately with its changes in leadership), you will see how it’s a great consumer product. Game Pass, while expensive, is still a great deal for customers. Backward compatibility is also a strong features. While Xbox may not have any (console) exclusive games to draw you into buying the consoles, it has an extensive library worth checking out.
So, yeah. Maybe I did go on a shopping spree and buy a handful of games on the Spring sale. I thoroughly enjoy third party games on Xbox more than anywhere else. In the sale, I picked up Silent Hill f, Hell Is Us, and Arc Raiders. I also redownloaded The Division 2 to play cooperatively with my best friend.
In conclusion, what I’m trying to say is I’m 113 hours deep in Marathon, and I’ve decided to play it on another console. That is the TL;DR version of this disjointed rant 👍
@Dogbreath Yeah, I was debating on which platform to buy the game on as well. I own a base PS5, and with all the chatter about performance issues I decided to buy it on my Series X.
I’m so freaking stoked. Maybe by then I’ll have the platinum for Marathon. I’m one trophy away from—reaching level 100, and it has been a grind. A good one, though. I’m obsessed with it.
@lazarus11 It could be different reviewers, so don’t judge a score based on the overall site—there are individual writers. Also, Crimson Desert may have scored a 6 here, but if you read the review it’s clearly a fantastic game bogged down by controls and a few technical hiccups. It’s a completely different game tonally than Starfield. Hopefully, SF will be great on PS5 and create a new, positive discourse around it. And if the new DLC/expansion is great, all the better.
My best friend and I used to play The Twin Towers and Return of the King on GameCube religiously. Those games were so good. I’d love to have another proper LOTR game. In fact, I’d love to have the Nemesis system because it’s amazing, but unfortunately that can’t be the case.
I’m glad that I’ve kept all of my consoles - NES all the way to the PS5 - because at this point no studio is going to remain, and we will have to play older games.
I think I’ll still play this on Xbox. I love the fact that the first game is on PS5, and the original was actually tested and ran on a PS3, though never released for a myriad of reasons. That said, these games just feel like Xbox — one reason why I own that console. The trilogy is on Game Pass as well. With all of that said, if it is a great game I’ll double dip.
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 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 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.
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.
@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.
@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.
Comments 1,654
Re: New Gears of War Could Go Head-to-Head with Sony's Wolverine, But Will It Be on PS5?
I’d prefer if it isn’t on PlayStation, but either way, I think Wolverine will be more successful in terms of sales, but there is strong promise in E-Day, so it could out-review it possibly. Either way, we will be eating good regardless of what console you’re playing on.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 632
I’m playing Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Xbox Series X). It’s been a fantastic experience, and one of the rare Star Wars stories that is genuinely great. I’m working on getting all achievements—by this time 007 First Light and Mina The Hollower should be released.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 631
All I’m playing is Saros. I just reached the third biome, and I’m having a literal blast. Housemarque has cooked once again.
Re: Poll: One Year Later, Did Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Deserve All the Praise?
It’s a subjective opinion, but for me I’d say the game earned its praise and the awards it won. The art direction, while subjective, was top tier, in my opinion. The colors, animation, and lush backdrops during encounters really immersed you into the moment. Then there is the sound design. You can hear and feel every attack, and it feels good. Parrying or dodging has its own unique sound, and enemies have their tell too. Additionally, I think the OST is objectively fantastic, particularly with how it came to be with the SoundCloud scenario.
The story is also unique and well written, in my opinion. Not everything stuck the landing, but the characters and their motivations felt genuine. And learning why things were occurring the way they were felt satisfying. Lastly, the combat was top notch. It didn’t re-invent the turn-based wheel, but it did master it. The amount of varying builds you can create for each character is astonishing, and every character feels good to play, some of which have really unique move-sets that is unlike any I’ve played in a turn based RPG. One thing I don’t think people consider is, you can technically beat the game and never level up at all. If you get good enough at dodging and parrying you can defeat any enemy regardless of level. Granted, it may take a long time, but that isn’t something you typically see in an RPG. To me, that’s what sets it apart from every other turn based game.
There are tons of other reasons why I think the game deserves the praise it has received. I won’t say it is the best game ever made, or it brought back turn based RPGs, or what-have-you. But it did show that that genre is still capable of being unique; there is still juice left to squeeze.
Re: 007 First Light: A Full Debrief After 3 Hours with IO's New James Bond Game
Awesome preview, and I love the format of the article. I hope this shapes up to be a great 007 game. I’m a little skeptical, but the developers track record has yet to disappoint.
Re: PS Plus Essential Games for May 2026 Announced
Nine Sols might be a game I download and check out, but I have to be in a certain mood to play that particular type of difficult game.
Re: Crimson Desert Devs Get Huge Bonuses as Korean PM Praises PS5 Hit
Shout out to South Korea, developing awesome games and celebrating those who worked hard on them. I haven’t played much of Crimson Desert, but it’s been great from what I’ve played.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 630
In addition to beating Pragmata, I booted up Stalker 2 and loaded up an old save (I beat the game when it first released, and played 120-hours). I wanted to try out the new quest-lines that were added. This was more troublesome than I anticipated; it’s not a game you can hop back in a year later and feel comfortable. I was using med-kits when I wanted to turn on my flashlight. I wanted to fast travel, but I couldn’t until I got to a base of operations, yet that was harder than expected. I would try to run to my marker and die by anomalies and radiation. I eventually got my bearings after googling the controls, completed the new quests, and unlocked a few achievements. I can’t wait for its expansion.
Meanwhile, Hades 2 released on Game Pass. I’ve put in over 80-hours on the Switch version, but since Supergiant updated the game with new content I couldn’t resist starting a fresh playthrough. I’ve already experienced new events. Once again, I’m unabashedly addicted.
Here I am, five days left of my vacation. I was unsure what to start next. Despite my reservations due to the size of the game, I finally gave Crimson Desert a chance. All of my X/Twitter feeds have been praising the game, and the patches from the developer have been nothing but outstanding. It’s my type of game, but I still didn’t know what to expect.
Let me get the obvious out of the way: it’s overwhelming and mechanically complicated. There are so many systems at work, and they can overlap each other with the controls. With that said, I am already immersed in this beautiful and mysterious world. It’s similar to Red Dead Redemption 2 with its freedom and interactivity, and Dragon’s Dogma 2, one of my favorite games of all time, with focusing heavily on player agency and developing your own tale. I can predict that once I get used to the controls this could potentially be an all-timer for me.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 630
So far, my vacation has been fantastic. I did what I set out to do—clean up my garage, and get a lot of yard work done. And play games, lots and lots of games.
I beat Pragmata (Xbox Series X). What a sublime experience. It may outshine Resident Evil Requiem for me which I did not expect. Capcom does something that no other current developer does: make me want to replay a game immediately after I beat it.
So, what’s the hook for this new IP? The combat. It’s really innovative. It’s a third person shooter with hacking mechanics all in one package. I was skeptical about how this would work in a proper firefight, but you’re never overwhelmed with enemies. There is a perfect balance that could have easily dismantled its entire focus, but thankfully it doesn’t. The combat also evolves with time, adding depth to the gameplay. You’ll consistently unlock new weapons, hacking nodes that caters to your style of play, and other surprises along the way.
There are finishing executions when an enemy gets weak, but there is only one variation. It’s kind of disappointing because it looks so stylish. If there were more animations with different weapons then it wouldn’t be an issue. It just gets repetitive after a while.
Exploration is also satisfying. There are five biomes to explore, each of which is approximately three hours each, maybe a little longer depending on if you go off the beaten path. If you do you’ll find benefits — new weapons, modifications, abilities, items for your shelter that liven the place up, and a lot of well written lore.
Some places are inaccessible at first, but similarly to Metroidvanias, you’ll acquire new abilities that allow you to explore areas later down the line. Thankfully, there are many checkpoint areas, so you’re able to do a quick clean up on the things you’ve missed. It took me roughly 14 hours to beat the game and find all collectibles without a guide.
The story is endearing. From all of the trailers I thought your companion, Diana, would be cumbersome and annoying. For some people, they may find this to be accurate. If you can tolerate her you will find a relatively emotional connection with her growth as a character.
Some story elements don’t always land. Pragmata pays homage to Dead Space, particularly in its opening hours — you’ll see posters on walls to emphasize this even more— and by this I mean you will succumb to horrifying loss. As such, the main protagonist, Hugh, whilst he comments on incidents that happen throughout the game, it’s his delivery, or lack there of, that isn’t handled well. You don’t feel his pain and suffering so it’s hard to relate; instead the focus is more on the “father/daughter” dynamic which is really solid.
Re: It's Been 84 Years! GBC-Inspired Adventure Mina the Hollower Is Finally Ready for PS5 Release
It’s about freaking time. It may not have been Silksong long, but it has been long enough. This is easily one of my most anticipated games of the year.
Re: Saros (PS5) - Housemarque at the Peak of Its Powers with Its Best Game Yet
Great review. I preordered the deluxe edition so I can get 48 hour early access. I have those two days off specifically, so I figured I’d use that time to play.
Re: Round Up: The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Really Does Sound Like the PS5 Mass Effect Successor We Need
I can’t wait for this. Everything I see brings this new kind of excitement intertwined with nostalgia. I am curious to see how not only this turns out, but Exodus as well.
Re: Random: Pragmata Has a Fun Surprise for Patient PS5 Players
God, I love this game. I’m about 3/4th of the way through, and it continues to surprise me every hour I play. It’s easily in contention for my GOTY, and will be regardless of what else releases this year. Capcom is just a powerhouse right now.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 629
I finally earned the platinum for Marathon, and since progress carries over to Xbox, I wrapped up all the achievements there as well. I’m still pretty hooked—Bungie’s latest update has been nothing short of excellent.
Starting Monday, I’m on a ten-day vacation. I’ve begun Pragmata and it’s been great so far. It definitely has those familiar Capcom traits which isn’t a bad thing. The combat is adrenaline driven with its mini-game hacking gimmick, but it’s done remarkably well. In addition, the opening hours strongly remind me of Dead Space, and oddly enough, Death Stranding. And yet, it captures the essence of an Xbox 360 game.
My goal is to finish that, then move on to beating and 100% completing Replaced. I’ve put a few hours into it—on chapter 4—and it’s been fantastic. The 2.5D aesthetics are some of the best I’ve seen, even rivaling Square Enix’s Octopath series. The world-building is top notch, and the combat feels reminiscent of the Batman: Arkham games. I’ve yet to encounter any bugs the game is reported to have, so that’s a major plus.
I’ve also realized that, as much as I love PlayStation’s trophy system, I prefer the Xbox ecosystem overall. It’s where I’d rather play most third-party games—and Sony’s first-party output is starting to wear thin on me with its formulaic design.
However, I think my preference boils down to timing. I was a young teenager when the Xbox 360 launched, and that era left a huge impression on me. I grew up with the NES and owned just about everything—SNES, PS1 and PS2 (Max Payne, Manhunt, Vice City we’re very influential), N64, GameCube, Dreamcast, original Xbox—but I vividly remember the day my parents surprised me with a 360. We didn’t have much money. My parents were on disability, so bills were tight and food was scarce. One day when my mom picked me up from school, she told me to check the glove box—inside were Perfect Dark Zero and Condemned: Criminal Origins (still one of my all-time favorite horror games). I freaked out. When I got home, the console was already set up, with Call of Duty 2 on the screen, ready to go. I actually broke down in tears. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. To this day I have no idea how they managed to afford all of this, and I’ll never ask.
I also remember going to the public library back when that was still a “thing”—and reading previews for Gears of War. The screenshots blew me away. I had watched the launch trailer hundreds of times, with “Mad World” stuck in my head. When it finally released, it felt like nothing I’d ever played before. It completely revolutionized the third-person shooter genre. I became obsessed, and was ecstatic when I finally earned every achievement, including the 10,000 multiplayer kills.
My best friend and I would play through it co-op endlessly. Our summer vacations would consist of Gears of War, Halo: CE cooperatively, and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series split-screen. It was pure magic. That entire generation is packed with countless memories that I look back on fondly.
Anyway, I’m not sure how I ended up on that tangent, but yeah—Pragmata and Replaced are my main focus. Of course, I’ll more than likely get sucked into Hades 2 once again, and may even finally try out Crimson Desert, but we shall see. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
Re: Metro 2039 Goes Back to Its Roots for Series' Darkest Game Yet, Out on PS5 This Winter
One of my favorite gaming franchises, and I’m glad this looks to bring back what made the first two games so special. I cannot wait!
Re: Round Up: Reviews Make MOUSE: P.I. For Hire's Art the Star of the Show
I’ve been wanting to play this game ever since I saw it a year or two back. I’m definitely picking it up. It’s reviewing well, and some of the negatives sound like positives for me personally.
Re: Pragmata (PS5) - Brilliant Combat Is the Star of Yet Another Capcom PS5 Hit
I have it preordered and ready to go. Man, Capcom is on another level right now!
Re: Fable PS5 Reportedly Delayed, GTA 6 Could Push It to 2027
Probably for the best, to be honest.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 628
Marathon. I genuinely cannot pull myself away from this brilliant shooter. Since last week I have discovered I’m much better when playing on Xbox rather than PlqyStation. This might be silly to say, but it’s all due to the controller.
With all of that said, next week on the 20th I’ll be taking a (stay)cation for an entire week. One thing I’m going to do is take a hiatus from social media and the internet in general. The incessant negativity I see spewed online has taken a toll on me mentally, and since my job has me conversing with strangers for 10-hours a day, I need a break.
I’m going to keep playing Marathon. I plan on starting Pragmata as well. Afterwards, I may begin a cosmic adventure in Starfield. However, Crimson Desert has been on my mind a lot. With all the (quick) updates and patches, and shockingly positive reception I do rarely see, it has me itching to jump into its open world.
And out of all that, what I’m really going to do is decompress. And relax. And enjoy games, good or bad, but not with any discourse online. Yeah, that sounds nice.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 627
The same as last week—and will be for the foreseeable future—Marathon (PS5).
With that said, I’ve actually been in an Xbox mood as of late. I typically play on the PS5 or Switch, but Marathon has me wanting to play online with buddies, and they are Microsoft focused. And yeah … I may have double dipped. You don’t have to judge me, alright; I am judging myself.
On a tangent, if you ignore the incessant negativity about console wars on Twitter (X; I’m looking at you, SnapPlay) about either brand, and people bashing others for liking certain games on whichever console they prefer, the overall product is quite amazing. Seriously, all I’ve been seeing lately from people is, “IGN scored Marathon a 9, but Crimson Desert a 6. They are paid shills. Their credibility is so bad.” It’s at least something to that effect. And it’s not just with those two games — it’s practically everything. It’s mentally exhausting trying to find a community where people celebrate games as they are, regardless of the console it belongs to.
Anyway, back on topic. If you mute out the discourse about Xbox (though it has been positive lately with its changes in leadership), you will see how it’s a great consumer product. Game Pass, while expensive, is still a great deal for customers. Backward compatibility is also a strong features. While Xbox may not have any (console) exclusive games to draw you into buying the consoles, it has an extensive library worth checking out.
So, yeah. Maybe I did go on a shopping spree and buy a handful of games on the Spring sale. I thoroughly enjoy third party games on Xbox more than anywhere else. In the sale, I picked up Silent Hill f, Hell Is Us, and Arc Raiders. I also redownloaded The Division 2 to play cooperatively with my best friend.
In conclusion, what I’m trying to say is I’m 113 hours deep in Marathon, and I’ve decided to play it on another console. That is the TL;DR version of this disjointed rant 👍
Re: Remember When Call of Duty Said Its New Skins Would Be Sensible? Well, Here's Dave Chappelle
@AnginaPectoris It could also be Sean Bean since he has a knack for dying in anything he is in.
Re: PS5 Hit Crimson Desert Might Have Divided Opinion, But It's Cracked 4 Million Sales in Two Weeks
@Dogbreath Yeah, I was debating on which platform to buy the game on as well. I own a base PS5, and with all the chatter about performance issues I decided to buy it on my Series X.
Re: Remember When Call of Duty Said Its New Skins Would Be Sensible? Well, Here's Dave Chappelle
Oprah Winfrey is next, or perhaps Steve Urkel.
Re: No More Delays for PS5 Exclusive Saros as It Goes Gold Ahead of Launch Later This Month
I’m so freaking stoked. Maybe by then I’ll have the platinum for Marathon. I’m one trophy away from—reaching level 100, and it has been a grind. A good one, though. I’m obsessed with it.
Re: Opinion: Does Starfield Suck? People Keep Telling Me to Skip Its PS5 Release
@lazarus11 It could be different reviewers, so don’t judge a score based on the overall site—there are individual writers. Also, Crimson Desert may have scored a 6 here, but if you read the review it’s clearly a fantastic game bogged down by controls and a few technical hiccups. It’s a completely different game tonally than Starfield. Hopefully, SF will be great on PS5 and create a new, positive discourse around it. And if the new DLC/expansion is great, all the better.
Re: New Lord of the Rings Game Comes from Tomb Raider Dev, It's Claimed
My best friend and I used to play The Twin Towers and Return of the King on GameCube religiously. Those games were so good. I’d love to have another proper LOTR game. In fact, I’d love to have the Nemesis system because it’s amazing, but unfortunately that can’t be the case.
Re: Rumour: Mass Eidos Montreal Layoffs Caused by Cancellation of Key Project 'Years' in the Making
I’m glad that I’ve kept all of my consoles - NES all the way to the PS5 - because at this point no studio is going to remain, and we will have to play older games.
Re: 'I Really Hope They Do a Same Day Launch': PS5 Fans Itching for Gears of War: E-Day Confirmation
I think I’ll still play this on Xbox. I love the fact that the first game is on PS5, and the original was actually tested and ran on a PS3, though never released for a myriad of reasons. That said, these games just feel like Xbox — one reason why I own that console. The trilogy is on Game Pass as well. With all of that said, if it is a great game I’ll double dip.
Re: See More New PS5 Games from Xbox in Bumper June Showcase
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.
Re: Major Crimson Desert Patch Out Now on PS5, Makes Countless Gameplay Improvements
@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.
Re: Major Crimson Desert Patch Out Now on PS5, Makes Countless Gameplay Improvements
I’m very much looking forward to playing this if I can ever pull myself away from Marathon.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 626
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.
Re: Runs in Saros on PS5 Will Be Significantly Shorter Than Those in Returnal
This game is shaping up to be one of the best PlayStation exclusives of all time.
Re: Hades 2 Finally Announced for PS5, and It Arrives in a Matter of Weeks
@HRdepartment Because I am dumb and make bad decisions. Lol.
Re: Round Up: Here's Every PS5 Game Announced in March 2026's Xbox Partner Preview
The STALKER 2 DLC looks awesome. I’m curious, but also skeptical of The Expanse, but it seems awesome.
Re: Hades 2 Finally Announced for PS5, and It Arrives in a Matter of Weeks
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.
Re: Crimson Desert (PS5) - A Generational Open World Buried in Early Access Cruft
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.
Re: Dev Pledges to Make Crimson Desert 'Even More Enjoyable' as It Sells Over 3 Million Copies in First Week
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.
Re: Dev Pledges to Make Crimson Desert 'Even More Enjoyable' as It Sells Over 3 Million Copies in First Week
@Frmknst So, you must dislike the average consumer, who works 5 days a week and does “boring” tasks.
Re: Marathon's Cryo Archive Locks Out a Lot of Players, But Bungie Is Listening to Feedback
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.
Re: Rumour: Dragon's Dogma 2 DLC Heavily Hinted at in 2nd Anniversary Artwork
@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.
Re: Rumour: Dragon's Dogma 2 DLC Heavily Hinted at in 2nd Anniversary Artwork
Please let this be real. This is my number one game of the current generation, and I would love more content.
Re: Marathon (PS5) - Bungie's Extraction Shooter Is Truly Brilliant, and It Only Gets Better
@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.
Re: Marathon (PS5) - Bungie's Extraction Shooter Is Truly Brilliant, and It Only Gets Better
@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.
Re: Marathon (PS5) - Bungie's Extraction Shooter Is Truly Brilliant, and It Only Gets Better
@Dreamscape20 This might be the most contradictory comment I’ve seen in a while. The irony is unbelievable.
Re: Marathon (PS5) - Bungie's Extraction Shooter Is Truly Brilliant, and It Only Gets Better
@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.
Re: Marathon (PS5) - Bungie's Extraction Shooter Is Truly Brilliant, and It Only Gets Better
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.
Re: PSN Down as PS5, PS4 Players Report Offline Issues
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.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 625
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.
Re: Marathon's All-Important Endgame Mode Cryo Archive Is Finally Here
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.