Comments 112

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 605

Oxy

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  • Oxy

Continuing my Dragon Age: The Veilguard playthrough, currently on chapter 10. Would I have liked a game more in line with the first Dragon Age? Of course, but I’m still enjoying this take on the franchise. At least the gameplay. The story is a bit too much unicorn and rainbows for my taste, I like my fantasy dark and gritty. The cartoony art style doesn’t help and Taash’s personal quest feels a bit too on the nose.

Oh well, it still scratches that RPG itch. Hopefully I’m finished in a month so I’m ready when Metroid Prime 4 drops!

Re: STALKER 2 Shows Off Its PS5 Version in New Gameplay Trailer

Oxy

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  • Oxy

@LordOfTurnips what I’m debating isn’t whether physical media is obsolete or not. For you, it’s obviously obsolete. But not for me and not for all the companies still releasing physical games. And it doesn’t matter if sales make up 2% or 40%, it’s still tons of money.

I’m also not debating the pros of physical media. Preservation, fear of server closure or company bankruptcies, cheaper price, ability to resell, ownership vs renting. I agree with all of these points but it’s not what I’m arguing for here.

What I am debating is at what point physical media ceases being physical media. For me, physical media consists of the media itself (the text in a book, the music on a vinyl/cd, the game or movie on a blu-ray) and some kind of artistic packaging housing the physical media.
If you somehow make the media part incomplete (blank pages in a book, download codes for missing tracks on a vinyl and, of course, putting 1gb of data on a blu ray) it is no longer physical media. It’s just a coaster in a box.

And while I do love collecting physical games, for all the reasons mentioned above, for me this is not a physical game anymore. The “game” part is missing…

And some other nitpicks from your reply:

  • Yeah, a book is a book. But just like a physical game it could just as well be digital. Even you would have to agree were we to remove half the pages and provide a download code for them it’s no longer a complete physical product. It’s a cover with empty pages, just like a physical game with only half the data on the disc. And if book publishers started doing this people would be up in arms.
  • I don’t know which movies you are watching but a 4k uhd blu-ray is usually 60-100gb. You consider this small?
  • “Games are simply too big”. In my whole collection I have maybe 5-10 games demanding more than 100gb (FF Rebirth, AC Shadows, Jedi Survivor, Baldurs Gate 3 and a few more). The vast majority are under 100gb. And in the event a game is over 100gb you could, oh I don’t know, spread the game over two discs. Just like Square and Larian did.
  • Do you know how old books and vinyl are? It’s kinda insane we still use them…

Re: STALKER 2 Shows Off Its PS5 Version in New Gameplay Trailer

Oxy

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  • Oxy

@StitchJones So in your fantasy world, people who buy books and vinyl only buy them for their shelves? Just printing one chapter or pressing the first two songs would be totally OK for these people, as long as they’ve got the nice covers to show off?

I mean, you could just provide a download code for the missing 500 pages or 10 songs…

Re: Just 1.3GB of PS5 Data Is on The Outer Worlds 2 Physical Disc

Oxy

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  • Oxy

I already knew I wasn’t touching this release with a ten foot pole because of the “internet required” box. But it still fills me with burning rage against Microsoft seeing this 1.3GB confirmation.
Get it through your thick skulls that physical enthusiasts won’t buy discs-as-coasters releases. And most of them would easily cough a couple of extra bucks to get a proper 2-disc release.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 603

Oxy

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  • Oxy

After finishing Cronos and Silent Hill f (both excellent games) I felt it was time for a meaty RPG. So I took out my backlog and pulled out Dragon Age: The Veilguard. So far I’m enjoying the game. Just got the necromancer to join my party so I’m not very far in the main story. But I am a completionist so I’m doing every side quest. Am I over the moon about the new “cartoony” art style? Not really, but it’s not like it’s preventing me from enjoying the game. Really happy with my choice!

Re: Bethesda Finally Announces Oblivion Remastered Physical Edition Is Real

Oxy

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  • Oxy

@Zuljaras I agree that the text “ Physical base game included” seems to imply the base game is actually on the disc. Underneath it labels the two expansions as “Additional downloadable content” so that will probably require a download.
For me, this is fine. It’s also a big surprise considering Microsoft’s atrocious track record with physical releases.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 600

Oxy

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  • Oxy

Just finished Cronos: The New Dawn and started Silent Hill f which so far is excellent. The past few months and the coming ones have been a wet dream for a survival horror/soulslikes fan like me. Wukong, Cronos, Hell is Us, Silent Hill f, Resident Evil: Requiem, the list goes on.

Re: New PS5 Games for September and October 2025

Oxy

You’re missing Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D, releasing October 30th. I don’t know if this list is limited to physical releases only? If not, Silksong is missing…

I’m personally interested in Hell Is Us, Cronos, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, Silent Hill f, Final Fantasy Tactics, Ghost of Yotei, Ninja Gaiden 4 and Vampire Bloodlines 2. It’s gonna get expensive…

Re: STALKER 2 Locks in PS5 Release Date for 20th November

Oxy

@PerpetualBoredom The only thing confirmed is that a download will be required. This is almost always code for “not entire game on disc”.
In a best case scenario (unlikely) the whole game except DLC could be on the disc, more likely is an arbitrary amount of the game present on disc.

Re: Ghostrunner Dev Changes History for PS5 Souls-Like Valor Mortis

Oxy

Some people seem to believe it’s hip and cool to whine about soulslikes. It’s not.

As for “bring back epic single player” most people would rate games like Elden Ring and Dark Souls as just that. As for this game, it seems great, I’ll probably pick it up. Bring on the soulslikes.

Re: Action RPG Lords of the Fallen 2 Reveal Confirmed for Next Week

Oxy

I loved everything about the previous game except weapon moveset variety. Unlike FromSoft games, where every weapon has its own small quirks and combos, LotF featured tons of weapons but every weapon within a class had the exact same moveset.
There were one or two boss weapons with special moves but that was it.
So if CI Games could fix this for the sequel I’m all aboard!

Re: Sony Says PS5 Is the Best Place to Watch in TV Centric Ad

Oxy

As long as there’s no Dolby Vision support, the PS5 will never be a serious contender in the media player space.
I have my PS5 Pro, Switch 2 and Apple TV hooked up to a tri-laser 4K UST Projector (with Dolby Vision/Atmos) support and I use my Apple TV for movies and shows 95% of the time.
Only time I use my PS5 as a media player is the odd Rick & Morty episode when installing a game.

Re: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Story Leaves The Last of Us Director 'In Awe'

Oxy

I usually agree with critics, especially regarding RPG:s. I love Zelda, The Witcher, Elden Ring etc.
But this one I just do not get. Most overrated game in years. Yes, the story has a cool concept. But that’s it. Levels are boring and linear with invisible walls everywhere. The UI is terrible. The world map doesn’t show where I’ve been. The story comes in fits and stops with huge exposition dumps in camp. Combat is a slog.
It’s been years since I actually abandoned an rpg but after 35h I threw in the towel. I started Lies of P Overture and Blades of Fire instead and never looked back.

But it’s great that so many people love the game and are having a good time. Plus I’m glad for Sandfall, we need more AA RPG:s. The game just didn’t click for me.

Re: Indiana Jones PS5's Physical Release Requires You to Download the Game

Oxy

@Haruki_NLI This is just straight up wrong. There’s a whole website dedicated to checking which physical media is playable from disc (doesitplay).
LA Noire (PS4 version) is perfectly playable from disc. Sure, the game has some bugs but the tester achieved a Platinum.
This myth that discs have been expensive coasters for years is simply false. Unfortunately, EA, Ubisoft and now Microsoft are too cheap to include a second disc on their >100GB games. I’m voting with my wallet on Indy. Would have loved to play it but no way I’m supporting this type of conduct.

Re: Sony Remembers the PS3 in Surprise Firmware Update

Oxy

My PS3 (and Wii U) is proudly plugged into my living room TV while the PS5 Pro and Switch are hooked up to my laser UST projector. I still play it from time to time, it was the PS3 and Wii that brought me back to gaming after a break lasting more than a decade.

Re: Poll: How Long Does It Take You to Beat a Big RPG?

Oxy

First of all, these playing times reviewers throw around for big RPGs (BG3 being 80-90h for example) never seems to apply for me. I always multiply that number by 3 or 4 to get a more realistic number.
When I play an RPG I always try to do everything. That means every side quest, find every piece of noteworthy loot, slay optional bosses, explore every inch and so on. I’ve never been especially interested in trophies though, most of them usually pop by themselves but I never go out of my way to get a platinum.

So with that said, huge RPGs usually take me 150-400h. I game for 3-4h/day which means it takes me at least a month to finish a medium sized RPG. The big ones take 2-3 months (and I only play one game at a time)

As an example: right now I’m playing Baldur’s Gate 3. I started 2 December and as of yesterday (5 February) I had been playing for 253h. I just finished Rivington and arrived in the Lower City so still quite a bit left!

Re: Fans Are Buying Fewer Boxed Video Games Than Ever in the US

Oxy

Well, vinyl constitutes a tiny part of the music market and still every major (and a lot of minor) releases are released on the format.
A tiny part of something worth billions and billions is still worthwhile. As long as there are core gamers, games will be released on disc/cartridge. Many gaming companies are not willing to give up that slice of the pie.
Personally, the day physical disappears is the day I can finally start on my ever expanding backlog…

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 565

Oxy

I’ll be continuing my Baldur’s Gate 3 campaign. Waited for the physical release and in December I finally decided it was time. I was already a big fan of Divinity: Original Sin 1 and 2 so it was no big surprise that BG3 was right up my alley.
Right now I’m at the end of Act 2 and it has taken my 198h! So my guess is 300h+ for me to finish the game which means I’ll probably start my next game at the end of February… (which will probably be a Switch game, either Tears of the Kingdom or Mario & Luigi: Brothership)

Re: Now Sadly Passed, the Legendary David Lynch Directed One of PlayStation's Strangest Adverts

Oxy

Lynch’s death is a huge blow. He’s responsible for some of the best films and TV shows ever. Nothing could scare me, excite me and move me like a Lynch movie/show. Personally I regard his 90s/early 00s output highest
Mulholland Drive stands out as his finest movie. The fantastic Winkie’s Diner sequence featuring the best jump scare of all time. The Silencio nightclub scene that still brings tears to my eyes. And Naomi Watts delivering the performance of a lifetime, just watch the scene where her character auditions for a role in some corny soap opera.
Same thing with Fire Walk with Me and Lost Highway, just amazing films I can watch again and again.

But in the end, Twin Peaks towers above them all. Lynch was making prestige television before the term was invented. I remember curling up in front of the TV once a week, never knowing if I was going to be scared witless, solving riddles using dream logic or just watch some soapy comedy. Of course, Lynch was held back by idiotic US network TV “standards & practices” and was forced to tone it down (just watch Fire Walk With Me for a glimpse at Lynch’s true vision). And, of course, Lynch only directed a handful of episodes.
So when Twin Peaks: The Return was announced I was ecstatic and boy did it live up to my expectations. This was Lynch unleashed, directing almost 20 hours of pure bliss. It was no cynical cash-in, instead Lynch delivered something totally unexpected. Freed from network TV censorship, this was dark, experimental, very funny and absolutely amazing.
So while Mulholland Drive was his cinematic masterpiece, Twin Peaks The Return was his magnum opus.
What a way to end a career! And, yes, I know he did some small scale experimental shorts and music after Twin Peaks but I know which show I’m watching tonight…
The grief is real, the loss heavy. A legend is gone.

Re: Poll: How Would You Rate The Game Awards 2024?

Oxy

As someone who hates cinematic trailers this was….a lot. Sure, there were some nice, day one reveals/trailers (Intergalactic, Onimusha, Witcher, Okami 2, Crimson Desert etc) but almost every single one were pre-rendered cinematics with release dates years into the future.
And then there were the big disappointments. Usually multiplayer focused which really isn’t my cup of tea (Nightreign, Turok)

But I guess this is par for the course for TGA. Personally, I’m more interested in gameplay trailers with a firm release date

Re: Elden Ring: Nightreign Announced, a Co-Op Game for PS5, PS4

Oxy

Biggest disappointment of the evening. Talk about dragging the IP through the mud.
Looks like just another (soul)less multiplayer battle royale. No wonder it’s coming out soon, it’s just reused assets in the same engine
I never thought FromSoft would start chasing the black hole that is GaaS but I was wrong.

Re: Physical Media Just Can't Catch a Break Right Now

Oxy

Well, people thought vinyl was dead too…. Let’s face it, just like with music, many gamers (including me) want a box for the shelf and a disc for the console. Many people feel the need for collecting stuff and I think gamers are just as passionate as music nerds when it comes to game franchises and characters.

So even if the market is telling us to do one thing I think there will always be 10-20% of gamers supporting physical. Ignore them at your peril…

Re: Fortnite Attracts 14 Million Concurrent Players to Hip-Hop Concert Event

Oxy

@JustCameHereToSay I’m not sure what you’re arguing about. I never said gangster rap was the first type of hip hop, I’m well aware of the genres roots. NWA were huge back when I went to high school, hence using them as an example.
What I did complain about was this type of crass, hyper commercialized hip hop with all the edges sanded off. Having been to a few concerts in my day, this just looks so sterile and boring. But I dislike Fortnite in general and I’m over 40 so I doubt I’m the intended demographic

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 557

Oxy

I’m actually playing two of last years best games: Alan Wake 2 and Baldurs Gate 3. How original, I know, but the reason is, of course, that I was waiting for the physical editions.
I just finished AW2 and damn, that was much longer than I expected. Took me 40+ hours for the campaign + Lake House + one part of Night Springs. The game was fantastic, so much better than the first one.
So now it’s on to BG3. Just created my character so now I’m messing around on the Mind Flayer ship. Good stuff, I expect to be done with the game some time in February….