Marquez

Watching my son play it now and the setup is really cool, they've made the effort with new dialogue and story beats too. And of course it's GoW combat so what more could you want?

Somebody in one of my gaming groups just posted their 61 platinums this year and for a second I thought 'that would be me if I didn't, you know, have to work for a living'.

But it wouldn't be, because going outside is nice too.

777 hours played. Jackpot!

I'll take a spiritual successor to Mass Effect 1+2, especially if it has the same narrative bones.

It was definitely a blemish on what was a good show overall, although I still see Anthony Mackie pointing at me in my sleep…

Props to Keighley for building this event over the past decade and hopefully this lesson learned will mean an even better show next year.

This is going to be absolutely top quality - I can't wait and I'm getting all C64 nostalgic just thinking about it. Huge callback to some of the earliest games I fell in love with as a kid.

@naruball And most of that was me.

I'm really enjoying Destiny 2's new season, no doubt an unpopular choice given all the hate aimed at Bungie in the GaaS article on PS this week. However, the gunplay remains so good alongside beautiful environments and an initially promising seasonal story that it is sucking me back in after a break of a few months. So maybe Bungie do know what they're doing

I'll also continue to plod along in AC Mirage's story, which is serviceable at best and carried by some really solid old school AC gameplay.

And finally I closed my eyes and stuck a pin in my backlog so I'll also be playing Brewmaster: Beer Brewing Simulator!

@nessisonett It was already rumoured to be delayed, with a filler season to keep us going. It's likely the bulk of those released were not critical to the expansion/had completed their work on it unfortunately. Gutted for them all.

Personally I'm not surprised by the delay as this is Bungie attempting to stick the narrative landing on a ten year saga, and the enthusiasm/feedback for the initial reveal was... mid.

I can't wait to see what they achieve, it's been a hell of a ride - plenty of highs AND lows - since I joined the beta all those years ago.

@Ryne-Gaia Not sure what the other three members of FPS have done to deserve that and he's off the show until it's resolved right?

@DrVenture69 Nice to know, I know they both have reaction-time combat elements, but will still give them a crack on the Portal as they strike me as decent handheld options.

@Shepherd_Tallon I just realised the Portal will really come into its own this Christmas. With the in-laws being here for a few days putting on the TV is considered rude but... a sneaky little handheld device you say? Perfect.

I was looking at my backlog this morning and remembered how excited I was when I bought games like Tunic, Death's Door, Rollerdrome and Olli Olli World on sale this time last year and then... never played them. This has been a year for me and others, I'm sure, where the incredible release schedule has seemingly doomed the smaller games on my backlog.

So I'm going to spend some time this weekend 1) not spending money on game sales that just add to the backlog and 2) listing out games on that backlog that need some love - and actually play some of them!

Boots up Baldur's Gate III and checks out the PS Store Sale

Nooooooooo...

My Portal is a Baldur's Gate machine, I can't get enough of it, it's fantastic. I haven't played everything else on the list of course, but it would be my choice. Watched my son play through TOTK and decided to pass, but I'm aware the standard 'Nintendo Bump' could see it win yet.

They missed a trick, not making one of those enamel pins a golf club.

Loving it so far. And aside from the extra cost I see no point stretching to a steam deck instead because it’s just yet another ecosystem to worry about when I have limited playtime anyway.

@Jey887 So in my situation it’s extremely smooth and uninterrupted, I do have my Ps5 hardwired to my router which likely helps since the two devices aren’t competing for attention on the network. Someone more technical than me may be able to confirm but I believe it’s less about your internet speeds and more about the quality of your ‘internal’ network - router capability etc.

Now I’ve managed to scroll past all the critical posts from people who don’t appear to own the Portal here’s my early take as one of those ‘niche market’ Portal owners.

Mine arrived yesterday; setup is simple, product and UI feel premium and it worked perfectly in all rooms barring the bathroom (yes I tried Toilet Play (tm)). And the three hours of Baldur’s Gate 3 I got to play while the TV was in use by the family already paid back a bit of my outlay. Delighted so far - 5G tethering and other WiFi networks next!

Oh, and there are headphones with… wires.

@Jammsbro Indeed, annoys me no end. Even with the £ in the toilet recently it's still 1.25x the value of the US$.

@mattb2020 Or use wired headphones... no big deal!

@Mikey856 Same! Excited now, it's a shame I'm in Dublin this weekend so it won't get a proper road test (not risking taking it) until next week at the earliest.

@Mikey856 WOW

@Mikey856 Same - money taken on 9th, no courier info yet.

@Mikey856 I would tell them to prepare for real life Tamagotchi but they've no idea what those are either...

For all the multiple posts questioning what the use case is for this - it's pretty simple. This is the Sony DadStation, designed for dads like me so we can crack on with Baldur's Gate while the only TV in the house is co-opted by other people who happen to live here for content including 'Your Home Made Perfect' and 'Sort Your Life Out' with Stacy Solomon.

Sure I could do this with my phone and a Backbone but I'd have no DualSense features and I'd be pausing to answer calls, texts etc. The device being dedicated is a great selling point for me, it's going to be way more immersive. And even with my lovely iPhone 15 Pro I just won't get the screen real estate to make text readable, with my old eyes at least.

The good news is that if I end up not enjoying the experience, all of you saying you'd have one if it was £150 will be able to check mine out on eBay in a couple of weeks!

Impossible this year for every great game to get a nod, I do think having a remake in there during such a stacked year is a bit... weird. But I can't comment on how good RE4 is because I scare too easily to play the series

Spider-Man 2 platinum in the bag this morning so already a productive weekend and missing that game already. Back into Baldur's GOTY III in a big way, with some Football Manager 24 on the side when the TV is in use by someone else... roll on 15/11 and my Portal!

I'm really excited for mine to arrive, the use case is perfect for our household and I find using Remote Play on my laptop or phone to be an ergonomically frustrating experience, as well as less than immersive unless you mute all your notifications and turn yourself off from the world. So a DualSense + screen in the palm of my hands, with my other gadgets to one side if I need them, will be very welcome.

@nessisonett Well Steam tells me I have 67 hours(!) in FM24 already and there are some nice tweaks but nothing game changing versus 23.

@nessisonett No idea re mods but if you're on FM23 currently you can continue your 23 saves in 24 - first time this has been a feature.

Spider-Man 2 plat ---> back to Baldur's Gate ---> AC Mirage as my alternative game when I need a break from the GOTY.

The Final Shape, as the finale to a story ten years in the making, is almost impossible to land perfectly. My expectation is a satisfying conclusion and anything beyond that is a bonus.

Given the excellent melee combat Insomniac have already implemented in the Spider-Man series, plus what they’re about to do with Wolverine, a playable Daredevil would be amazing… voiced by Charlie Cox… now I’m dreaming.

For all those mad at Bungie for 'taking away shares' - that's not how unvested shares work. The employees don't own the shares until they vest - typically after a 2-4 year period. So they haven't 'gone back to Bungie' because they never left Bungie in the first place. This happens whether you leave out of choice or are asked to unfortunately.

Of course this is still terrible news for all those affected and as someone who has played Destiny for ten years (and preordered The Final Shape - something me and a few others in my clan are now reconsidering after this news) some of the names are people I feel like I know, have engaged with on social and congratulated on great work in the past. A sad day.

Finishing off the Spider-Man 2 story is top of my list, managed to avoid spoilers so far and need it to stay that way!

Then I'll be back to finishing off Act 2 in Baldur's Gate III and a bit of AC Mirage on the side.

Backlog is considerable, not just thanks to 2023... must not buy Alan Wake 2, repeat must not buy...

Fell off partway through the first season after having loads of fun with the campaign and the grind, but keen to get back in - just a few games on the backlog to finish first.

@TheCollector316 It’s always going to be personal preference but getting the extra detail AND the game still being super smooth is the sweet spot for me. Check out the Digital Foundry review video (not the follow-up analysis video, it’s a bit spoilery) for a great breakdown of the choices.

@ErrantRob Me either, when it comes to typical CRPGs but Baldur's Gate III is so much more. I can't recommend it enough.

@Smiffy01 Nice. I couldn't pass up the chance to play in fidelity tbh.

Spider-Man 2 and loving it so far. Play in the 40fps Fidelity mode, if you have a 120hz screen to do that on - you won't regret it.

My half day holiday starts in less than an hour, postman arrived with the game already and it's currently installing. Nice timing...

I've come to terms with the fact that I won't finish my most progressed Baldur's Gate III playthrough before Spider-Man 2 drops, so instead I'm going to mainline the story in AC Mirage and maybe fit in some of its side content before I go all symbiote on Friday.

Conflicted on this one, given the recent moves towards an all-digital future. I had decided to purchase all first party titles (and a few official bangers) on physical this gen but, what if I can't go back to the game next gen because... no Blu-Ray drive? Yes, I know I could keep my PS5 alongside my PS6 but still, I'd rather only have one box hooked up.

And with the help of discounted PS Store £££, it's also cheaper digitally...

@Texan_Survivor It's an absolute classic for me. I played it at launch and still think about going back every now and again. Cannot wait for the inevitable sequel.

I just finished the Nightsong quest in BG3 and BOY did that go places. Will prioritise AC Mirage this weekend but I'm bound to get dragged back in to my nailed-on GOTY - it's possible only Spider-Man 2 will properly pull me out of Faerun in the foreseeable future.

I have this preordered, looking forward to a more compact AC experience than the last few entries. Now all I need to do is tear myself away from three parallel Baldur's Gate playthroughs...

70 hours into Baldur's Gate, partway through Act 2 and pushing on with Shadowheart's companion quest. The game continues to get better and better - it's simply ridiculous and my GOTY for sure.

I'll also check out some of the Ryder Cup content in EA PGA Tour Golf, while watching Europe smash the USA in the real thing.

Really surprised not to see the Monk/Rogue combo (as opposed to Rogue/Monk, which just about makes the list).

9 levels in Way of the Open Hand Monk and 3 levels in Thief Rogue has so much DPS it's broken. Maybe people like talking instead of punching?

Already preordered through the PS Store when they went live, interesting that they are pushing through the likes of Amazon and Game immediately. I am 100% the target market for this as I've said before and despite all the dissenters who it doesn't suit I think this will sell pretty well.

is there an option to extend 2023 by, I don't know, maybe an extra 6 months of gaming time? Or is that just called early 2024...

The backlog of great games from this year alone is staggering.