@IamJT Well, I mentioned the word “shame” one time but I see what you mean. So nudity without “context” is wasted on you? For me, context can be something as simple as a character taking a bath or two characters having sex. That is something most people do naked in real life. An immersive/realistic movie or game will show those people naked. What really points to the artifice of the movie/game is cutting away or strategically blocking breasts or genitalia to shield our sensitive minds. It just feels fake. And what I can’t understand is people being totally okay with violence for violences sake. I’m just guessing here but probably over 90% of games (I’m including cartoon violence) contain characters inflicting violence on other characters, often with the flimsiest pretext: “you are good, that bear is evil, kill it” So, is violence for violence sake wasted on you? Is it boring? Because if it is, your selection of games is severely limited… And do you really need to “care” about the characters to enjoy something. I enjoy JRPGs but do I care about the characters, hell no. Same thing with Mario/Zelda. Love the games, don’t really care if Mario gets immolated for the 40th time. Side note: I’m more into 60s and 70s Bergman: Persona, Cries and Whispers etc. As a Swede, the way the actors talk in earlier Bergman can be a bit theatrical which immediately makes me think of a particular kind of really bad screwball comedies (Åsa-Nisse). Its just a personal hang-up, I do still enjoy Summer with Monika but I don’t consider it essential.
@IamJT Oh, you can’t compare them? Of course you can. There are no “rules” in film criticism or film theory saying you can’t compare x to y. Anyway, I wasn’t really comparing them and it’s not my intent to start a Bergman vs Meyer debate. But I will say that when “Sommaren med Monika” was released the cries for censorship and bans were just as loud as they were for GoT. And “Summer with Monika” was, of course, marketed as an exploitation flick in the US. The line between “exploitation” and “art” is in the eye of the beholder. And let’s not kid ourselves, the movie is hardly one of Bergmans best and the reason the movie did well at the time had much to do with the nudity. So we have a minor Bergman vs a show that is often included in lists of the best shows ever. Both used sex and nudity to become known worldwide. So they have that in common, if not much more… And just as I didn’t look away from the screen in shame when Harriet Andersson frolicked across the rocky beach in SwM, I took in every brothel scene in GoT without embarrassment. And just as I enjoy "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!", I’m sure I’ll enjoy every second of nudity in Dragon Age, exploitative or not.
My god, all these commenters trying to show themselves as “mature” by talking about “directorial intent” and “mature writing”. I also took “Film 101” at university, I know what you mean, but come on. Your emotions feel exploited if you happen to see a breast in “Revenge of the Nerds”? And, of course, let’s harp on Game of Thrones because that hasn’t been done to death… I barely batted an eyelid over all the so called “sexposition” but a very vocal group of people reacted as if the world was ending. Even though the show was on HBO, nudity was kind of expected. I mean, I really can’t imagine actually being embarrassed by nudity on screen. Well, unless you’re 12 years old and playing/watching with your mother present. Nudity is fantastic, an integral part of human existence. Personally, I want more nudity in most movies/series/video games for adults. It can be fantastic for immersion, nuance, depth and character development. And sometimes a breast is just a breast, a dong is just a dong. No reason to get your knickers in a twist, not all nudity needs to be supported 100% by fancy scripts or be in good taste. You know, exploitation cinema has some stone cold classics. And just because you dig Russ Meyer doesn’t mean you can’t dig Bergman, Von Trier or Scorsese (all directors who like a bit of nudity….)
@Tchunga Well, now we’re cooking! These are opinions I can respect, well reasoned and obviously coming from a place of love for the genre. Now, obviously, I don’t agree 100% but you do make some valid points. Before I try to counter let me just state why most of these points applies less to me personally. You see, I’m pretty OCD when it comes to my gaming. Basically I play my open world games pretty “linearly”. In Elden Ring I started by doing every single thing in the first area, then followed the “yellow arrows” pretty slavishly throughout the campaign. The first thing my friend did was make a beeline for Caelid. He got slaughtered but he got a real shiny weapon for his troubles. And while I didn’t move on to the next area until clearing every single dungeon, beating every boss and finding every item (well…) my friend happily moved along after doing maybe half. What I’m trying to say is, while you bring up important points, some of them applies less to me than they do to my friend, for example. Also, it was not my meaning to call your criticism of the quest system “silly”. What I did find a bit silly was your “settlement rule”. So that’s on me, sorry. Anyways, on to your criticisms: 1. Well, first off, isn’t this a universal dilemma for open world games? Sure, it might be more noticeable when the previous 4-6 games have been linear affairs. Some RPGs solve this by scaling enemies to your level, something I detest. And isn’t the fact that you can set off in any direction, nab a weapon, see some sights and then get absolutely slaughtered one of the charms of Elden Ring in particular and open world RPGs in general? I mean, even BotW, was lauded for the fact you could go anywhere and both enemies and the climate could put you in an early grave. So, yes, you can end up steamrolled by deviating from the path in Elden Ring but I think it’s something that comes with all open world games. The other problem you mention, players steamrolling the opposition, is this really a thing? It’s just not something I’ve heard many complaints about. 2. Point conceded. This could be a hassle, at least initially. And not because I really NEEDED a +7 instead of my +6. It was more of an itch to scratch. So off I went to Reddit. It should be noted though, mid to late game this wasn’t a big problem, mostly because you could buy missing Smithing Stones at the round table. And at the end of the game I was bathing in stones 3. Was it always down the line though? I seem to recall having to visit places you already been to multiple times. Anyway, I see your point, it can get unwieldy in an open world. Look, I’m ancient. I grew up with the gold box D&D games, Might & Magic, Wizardry 6 and a host of other RPGs where the only way to map out an area or solve quests was by having pen and paper nearby. Add to that years of obscure Fromsoft quests and I actually managed Elden Rings quests pretty OK. Still had to consult the net for a handful but I needed some help in the previous soulsborne games as well.
In closing, you seem to have enjoyed the previous soulsbornes and felt like Elden Ring took the series off the rails. It simply doesn’t work for you. For me, Elden Ring was just MORE of the same drug I’ve been mainlining for years. Sure, it has some balancing issues and maybe every system isn’t pure perfection but it is one of my all time favorites.
Games are art. And it is strictly up to the artist(s) how he presents his work to the world. I applaud Miyazaki for holding firm in a gaming landscape that often goes for the lowest common denominator. It’s not like there’s a lack of easy games on the market. Would I lower the difficulty after the 50th try against some sadistic boss if it were possible? Sure, the temptation would be strong. But it would also ruin that wonderful sense of accomplishment you get in Fromsoft games. So, no difficulty options for me, please.
@Tchunga Dude, I said I adored BotW and called it a masterclass in open world design while criticizing it for simplistic quest design (something every Zelda game is guilty of). All you have done is heap scorn over Elden Ring, mostly about silly things. Sure, Elden Ring could’ve used some kind of Ubisoft quest tracker. I personally think that would have removed some of the Fromsoft charm, just like implementing soulslike quests in Zelda would be weird. Did I use a guide? Sure, for maybe 3-4 quests. The rest I used my phones Notes app or they “solved themselves” while progressing. Your thing about settlements is just weird. Like there is some kind of open world rule about this stuff. Like @Mythologue said, there are a bunch of settlements in Elden Ring. And they are just like settlements in every single Fromsoft soulslike. Obviously, you seem to hate it, I have zero issues with it. The souls formula doesn’t work in an open world? Critics, and the internet, seem to disagree.
@Daleaf Yeah, he was a real drag. I gave it 5-10 tries but the fact that you have to beat that easy pre-boss dude every single time and then the Beast itself being so boring, I threw in the towel before trying summoning another human. Basically, for me, Elden Ring is definitely more about the journey than the destination. I could rest easy without watching that final cutscene knowing that I did 95% of the content previously.
@Tchunga NPCs in Elden Ring actually give you tricky quests unlike BotW where 90% of NPCs just repeat inane dialogue and the other 10% give you simple fetch quests… Yes, this is an exaggeration. I mean, you can actually “build” a town in BotW but in general NPC questlines are better in Elden Ring. I have no idea why you got all defensive over my first post. I love both games dearly. It’s not a competition, they are both masterclasses in open world design. For me personally, Elden Ring takes the crown but the margins are razor thin. Obviously you like BotW more which I totally understand. You do you.
Already started! I have over 300h in Elden Ring without actually beating it. I basically did everything in the game, then got frustrated on the last boss and moved on to the next game. So the DLC is perfect for me, not even Breath of the Wild can beat the sheer variety and scale of Elden Ring.
Since Elden Ring is a game stuffed to the gills with variety, “more of the same” is just what the doctor ordered. Compare to Burning Shores which was a poster child of samey content and stale gameplay. Sure, Forbidden West was a pretty good game but the difference, compared to Elden Ring, is that after 200h of H:FW the last thing you want is an expansion. After 200h of Elden Ring I was begging for an expansion.
Game seems amazing and would normally be a pre-order/day 1 for me. But because of the joke that is the physical edition I’ll wait. Code in a box? No, thanks. Hopefully they really are working hard on the disc version so we don’t have to wait another year for it.
Already pre-ordered, my faith in soulslikes is absolute. Of course, Black Myth Wukong looks even better but the lack of a proper physical edition means it’s going on the wait pile
Let us hope for a physical edition. This is right up my alley. Survival horror, flashbacks to Siren and a touch of soulslikes. Hopefully the jank can be kept under control. This kind of close quarters combat requires stability and a fine touch.
I still haven’t started MH World, it’s in my backlog. Last Monster Hunter I played was Tri on the Wii. I usually despise online multiplayer but the MH series has always been welcoming of single player campaigns.
But, like I said, I still have MH World plus MH Rise just standing in my shelf. It’s something about the 300h+ campaigns, every time I’m thinking of starting a new game I start to ponder “hmm, maybe those 300h could be better spent in Elden Ring or Baldurs Gate 3 or Xenoblade Chronicles or whatever RPG/soulslike is currently doing the rounds”
Maybe Wilds will be the Monster Hunter game for me!
I’m not expecting Capcom quality but I do expect it to be better than the horrid PS3 HD Collection. I’ve actually never played the original. It came out during a period in my life where partying, living abroad and student life in general led to a pause in my gaming (yes, I’m old). So my first impression of this game was the PS3 “remaster”, far from ideal. Looking forward to experiencing this version, jank be damned…
I actually get Super Mario Odyssey vibes from this! And if Astro can get within spitting distance of that holy grail it will indeed be an experience to savor. I actually liked Sackboy A Big Adventure but it never came close to the best Mario outings. So far Astro gives me hope that Asobi can indeed recreate some of that Nintendo magic. My standard fare consists of RPGs and soulslikes but I can never say no to an epic, cartoony, platformer adventure!
Yeah, this list looks about right. Except I didn’t think Dynasty Warriors Origins would be so high up. Always thought it was a pretty middling series but apparently it’s more popular than Silent Hill 2. At least on this pretty unscientific list…
@Fyz306903 Even though the gaming landscape is different I think you’ll be happy with your PS5. I know I am. A lot of the great PS4 titles have received PS5 updates and it is a great machine. Plus, there is a bunch of great exclusives.
Those characters and their “banter” might appeal to a certain zoomer/influencer segment but to a more discerning crowd they really are horrible. It’s painful to watch, forced “humor” at its worst.
Monster Hunter Wilds and Silent Hill 2 are both games I’ll pick up but by now they’re not really exciting new announcements…
Where Winds Meet could be good but it was another CG trailer with zero gameplay so I’ll have to reserve judgement.
The rest was a horrid mix of free-to-play, multiplayer shooters and bland titles.
Sony seems desperate to appeal to the live service crowd. This, combined with fewer games getting physical releases, paints a bleak future.
Personally, my backlog is huge, and the slow drip of RPGs and soulslikes keeps me sustained but there is no longer the breadth of titles available as there was during the PS4 era.
At least my wallet is happier (despite the price increases)
Fortunately we live in an era where “kids” are not representative of gamers. All this survey tells me is that US kids have bad taste and a distinct lack of imagination.
What a surprise! The world’s most hated and inept CEO, David Zaslav, is aiming for more live service games. This is the guy who made his fortune on the worst kind of reality TV trash. Who single-handedly drove HBO into the ground and renamed it Max. This guy is allergic to quality content, doesn’t matter if it’s movies, series or games.
I’ve received both Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Wonder but they’ll have to wait. I’m knee deep in Lords of the Fallen and I only play one game at a time. I reckon I can start my next game in 1-2 weeks. It’s been a crazy year and I haven’t even started Zelda: TOTK or Armored Core 6… I need more time!
Sony just had to go there. It wasn’t enough making some of the best single player experiences in the business, selling millions and winning GOTY awards by the bucketload. Oh no, they had to go for multiplayer and live service. And not only that, they had to force their award winning, single player focused studios into churning out “live service”, instead of leaving it for Bungie and other lesser studios. Probably in order to milk every IP to the limit. Well, here’s the predictable result. Studios in disarray and millions down the drain.
They’re capable of offering players a choice between Quality and Performance but giving players a choice between a physical or digital edition is somehow too hard… Bravo, Remedy and Epic. Bravo.
Lies of P all the way. Excellent game with moody exploration and an abundance of cool systems. Weapon Assembly! The left arm plus customization! Weapon special abilities! Skill tree! Plus everything it cribbed from other soulslikes… Just arrived at the cathedral, can’t wait to start todays session.
Of all upcoming games, I gotta say this is at the top of my list. And that’s saying something when games like Lords of the Fallen, Spider-Man 2, Banishers, Granblue Relink and FFVII: Rebirth are all on the horizon.
@solidox I also enjoyed Callisto for what it was: a slightly janky Dead Space clone. It was a breezy 10 hours. I do feel some trepidation for the DLC though, but with backlog and release schedule being what they are who knows if I’ll ever get to it
Oh yeah, I had this game pre-ordered. There’s no such thing as “too many soulslikes” in my world. The game is also really good. Sure, the world is kinda like Bloodborne and Steelrising had a baby but the combat is tight, the environments are moody and the loot plus underlying systems are great. Next up: Lords of the Fallen! (well, in a month)
This looks right up my alley, I actually got it pre-ordered. I really liked Vampyr and with a higher budget plus more experienced studio this could be a sleeper hit.
Hell no, I’m not sinking another 100 hours into this. Plus, I don’t wanna give up my collection of Unique Legendary weapons. I might give the DLC a whirl but with the release schedule being what it is plus an enormous backlog, even that is uncertain.
Well, this looks amazing! But considering I have Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2, Yakuza 3-6, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Ishin! still standing on my shelf unplayed it’s gonna be awhile before I get to this game…
So far I’ve only played Yakuza 0 which I really liked but, man, my backlog is killing me.
What a waste of cool horror licenses, churning out these multiplayer titles with zero shelf life. Why not make a great single player Evil Dead survival horror game instead?
I just finished Pikmin 4 (great!), now I’m waiting for my copy of Lies of P to arrive.
So this weekend I’ll be mopping up some DLC: Burning Shore for HFW (great so far but it’s basically more of the same so I’m glad it’s been a year since I played the campaign) and Episode Intermission for FF7R (haven’t started yet, will be fun seing Midgar again but I’m not expecting Witcher quality DLC…)
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Re: Nudity Confirmed for Dragon Age: The Veilguard: 'This is a Mature RPG'
@IamJT Well, I mentioned the word “shame” one time but I see what you mean. So nudity without “context” is wasted on you? For me, context can be something as simple as a character taking a bath or two characters having sex. That is something most people do naked in real life. An immersive/realistic movie or game will show those people naked. What really points to the artifice of the movie/game is cutting away or strategically blocking breasts or genitalia to shield our sensitive minds. It just feels fake.
And what I can’t understand is people being totally okay with violence for violences sake. I’m just guessing here but probably over 90% of games (I’m including cartoon violence) contain characters inflicting violence on other characters, often with the flimsiest pretext: “you are good, that bear is evil, kill it” So, is violence for violence sake wasted on you? Is it boring? Because if it is, your selection of games is severely limited…
And do you really need to “care” about the characters to enjoy something. I enjoy JRPGs but do I care about the characters, hell no. Same thing with Mario/Zelda. Love the games, don’t really care if Mario gets immolated for the 40th time.
Side note: I’m more into 60s and 70s Bergman: Persona, Cries and Whispers etc. As a Swede, the way the actors talk in earlier Bergman can be a bit theatrical which immediately makes me think of a particular kind of really bad screwball comedies (Åsa-Nisse). Its just a personal hang-up, I do still enjoy Summer with Monika but I don’t consider it essential.
Re: Nudity Confirmed for Dragon Age: The Veilguard: 'This is a Mature RPG'
@IamJT Oh, you can’t compare them? Of course you can. There are no “rules” in film criticism or film theory saying you can’t compare x to y.
Anyway, I wasn’t really comparing them and it’s not my intent to start a Bergman vs Meyer debate.
But I will say that when “Sommaren med Monika” was released the cries for censorship and bans were just as loud as they were for GoT. And “Summer with Monika” was, of course, marketed as an exploitation flick in the US. The line between “exploitation” and “art” is in the eye of the beholder.
And let’s not kid ourselves, the movie is hardly one of Bergmans best and the reason the movie did well at the time had much to do with the nudity.
So we have a minor Bergman vs a show that is often included in lists of the best shows ever. Both used sex and nudity to become known worldwide. So they have that in common, if not much more…
And just as I didn’t look away from the screen in shame when Harriet Andersson frolicked across the rocky beach in SwM, I took in every brothel scene in GoT without embarrassment. And just as I enjoy "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!", I’m sure I’ll enjoy every second of nudity in Dragon Age, exploitative or not.
Re: Nudity Confirmed for Dragon Age: The Veilguard: 'This is a Mature RPG'
My god, all these commenters trying to show themselves as “mature” by talking about “directorial intent” and “mature writing”. I also took “Film 101” at university, I know what you mean, but come on. Your emotions feel exploited if you happen to see a breast in “Revenge of the Nerds”? And, of course, let’s harp on Game of Thrones because that hasn’t been done to death… I barely batted an eyelid over all the so called “sexposition” but a very vocal group of people reacted as if the world was ending. Even though the show was on HBO, nudity was kind of expected.
I mean, I really can’t imagine actually being embarrassed by nudity on screen. Well, unless you’re 12 years old and playing/watching with your mother present.
Nudity is fantastic, an integral part of human existence. Personally, I want more nudity in most movies/series/video games for adults. It can be fantastic for immersion, nuance, depth and character development.
And sometimes a breast is just a breast, a dong is just a dong. No reason to get your knickers in a twist, not all nudity needs to be supported 100% by fancy scripts or be in good taste. You know, exploitation cinema has some stone cold classics. And just because you dig Russ Meyer doesn’t mean you can’t dig Bergman, Von Trier or Scorsese (all directors who like a bit of nudity….)
Re: Take the Edge Off with 10 Minutes of Nobody Wants to Die Gameplay
Sure, if a physical edition comes along I’ll bite.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 535
Erdtree! Erdtree! Erdtree!
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
@Tchunga Well, now we’re cooking! These are opinions I can respect, well reasoned and obviously coming from a place of love for the genre. Now, obviously, I don’t agree 100% but you do make some valid points. Before I try to counter let me just state why most of these points applies less to me personally. You see, I’m pretty OCD when it comes to my gaming. Basically I play my open world games pretty “linearly”. In Elden Ring I started by doing every single thing in the first area, then followed the “yellow arrows” pretty slavishly throughout the campaign. The first thing my friend did was make a beeline for Caelid. He got slaughtered but he got a real shiny weapon for his troubles. And while I didn’t move on to the next area until clearing every single dungeon, beating every boss and finding every item (well…) my friend happily moved along after doing maybe half.
What I’m trying to say is, while you bring up important points, some of them applies less to me than they do to my friend, for example.
Also, it was not my meaning to call your criticism of the quest system “silly”. What I did find a bit silly was your “settlement rule”. So that’s on me, sorry.
Anyways, on to your criticisms:
1. Well, first off, isn’t this a universal dilemma for open world games? Sure, it might be more noticeable when the previous 4-6 games have been linear affairs. Some RPGs solve this by scaling enemies to your level, something I detest. And isn’t the fact that you can set off in any direction, nab a weapon, see some sights and then get absolutely slaughtered one of the charms of Elden Ring in particular and open world RPGs in general? I mean, even BotW, was lauded for the fact you could go anywhere and both enemies and the climate could put you in an early grave. So, yes, you can end up steamrolled by deviating from the path in Elden Ring but I think it’s something that comes with all open world games.
The other problem you mention, players steamrolling the opposition, is this really a thing? It’s just not something I’ve heard many complaints about.
2. Point conceded. This could be a hassle, at least initially. And not because I really NEEDED a +7 instead of my +6. It was more of an itch to scratch. So off I went to Reddit. It should be noted though, mid to late game this wasn’t a big problem, mostly because you could buy missing Smithing Stones at the round table. And at the end of the game I was bathing in stones
3. Was it always down the line though? I seem to recall having to visit places you already been to multiple times. Anyway, I see your point, it can get unwieldy in an open world. Look, I’m ancient. I grew up with the gold box D&D games, Might & Magic, Wizardry 6 and a host of other RPGs where the only way to map out an area or solve quests was by having pen and paper nearby. Add to that years of obscure Fromsoft quests and I actually managed Elden Rings quests pretty OK. Still had to consult the net for a handful but I needed some help in the previous soulsborne games as well.
In closing, you seem to have enjoyed the previous soulsbornes and felt like Elden Ring took the series off the rails. It simply doesn’t work for you. For me, Elden Ring was just MORE of the same drug I’ve been mainlining for years. Sure, it has some balancing issues and maybe every system isn’t pure perfection but it is one of my all time favorites.
And we both really like BotW!
Re: FromSoftware Boss Puts Elden Ring Difficulty Discourse to Bed, Once and For All
Games are art. And it is strictly up to the artist(s) how he presents his work to the world.
I applaud Miyazaki for holding firm in a gaming landscape that often goes for the lowest common denominator.
It’s not like there’s a lack of easy games on the market. Would I lower the difficulty after the 50th try against some sadistic boss if it were possible? Sure, the temptation would be strong. But it would also ruin that wonderful sense of accomplishment you get in Fromsoft games.
So, no difficulty options for me, please.
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
@Tchunga Dude, I said I adored BotW and called it a masterclass in open world design while criticizing it for simplistic quest design (something every Zelda game is guilty of). All you have done is heap scorn over Elden Ring, mostly about silly things. Sure, Elden Ring could’ve used some kind of Ubisoft quest tracker. I personally think that would have removed some of the Fromsoft charm, just like implementing soulslike quests in Zelda would be weird.
Did I use a guide? Sure, for maybe 3-4 quests. The rest I used my phones Notes app or they “solved themselves” while progressing.
Your thing about settlements is just weird. Like there is some kind of open world rule about this stuff. Like @Mythologue said, there are a bunch of settlements in Elden Ring. And they are just like settlements in every single Fromsoft soulslike. Obviously, you seem to hate it, I have zero issues with it.
The souls formula doesn’t work in an open world? Critics, and the internet, seem to disagree.
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
@Daleaf Yeah, he was a real drag. I gave it 5-10 tries but the fact that you have to beat that easy pre-boss dude every single time and then the Beast itself being so boring, I threw in the towel before trying summoning another human.
Basically, for me, Elden Ring is definitely more about the journey than the destination. I could rest easy without watching that final cutscene knowing that I did 95% of the content previously.
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
@Tchunga NPCs in Elden Ring actually give you tricky quests unlike BotW where 90% of NPCs just repeat inane dialogue and the other 10% give you simple fetch quests…
Yes, this is an exaggeration. I mean, you can actually “build” a town in BotW but in general NPC questlines are better in Elden Ring.
I have no idea why you got all defensive over my first post. I love both games dearly. It’s not a competition, they are both masterclasses in open world design. For me personally, Elden Ring takes the crown but the margins are razor thin. Obviously you like BotW more which I totally understand. You do you.
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
Already started!
I have over 300h in Elden Ring without actually beating it. I basically did everything in the game, then got frustrated on the last boss and moved on to the next game. So the DLC is perfect for me, not even Breath of the Wild can beat the sheer variety and scale of Elden Ring.
Re: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (PS5) - Familiar FromSoftware Brilliance
Since Elden Ring is a game stuffed to the gills with variety, “more of the same” is just what the doctor ordered.
Compare to Burning Shores which was a poster child of samey content and stale gameplay. Sure, Forbidden West was a pretty good game but the difference, compared to Elden Ring, is that after 200h of H:FW the last thing you want is an expansion. After 200h of Elden Ring I was begging for an expansion.
Re: Preview: Black Myth: Wukong Could Finally Be the Game Journey to the West Deserves
Game seems amazing and would normally be a pre-order/day 1 for me. But because of the joke that is the physical edition I’ll wait. Code in a box? No, thanks. Hopefully they really are working hard on the disc version so we don’t have to wait another year for it.
Re: Need Another Soulslike? Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Attacks PS5 Next Month
Already pre-ordered, my faith in soulslikes is absolute.
Of course, Black Myth Wukong looks even better but the lack of a proper physical edition means it’s going on the wait pile
Re: PS1-Style Horror Game Post Trauma Coming to PS5, Out This Year
Both this and Slitterhead dropping soon. Let the fall of the AA survival horror commence!
Fingers crossed for physical editions
Re: Slitterhead Dated for 8th November on PS5, PS4 in First Gameplay Trailer
Let us hope for a physical edition. This is right up my alley. Survival horror, flashbacks to Siren and a touch of soulslikes.
Hopefully the jank can be kept under control. This kind of close quarters combat requires stability and a fine touch.
Re: Many More PS5, PS4 Games from China on the Way
Yeah, real diverse…
4 out of those 5 games are gacha/f2p. It’s so depressing
Re: Monster Hunter Wilds Gets First Gameplay, Looks Like the Evolution of World
I still haven’t started MH World, it’s in my backlog. Last Monster Hunter I played was Tri on the Wii. I usually despise online multiplayer but the MH series has always been welcoming of single player campaigns.
But, like I said, I still have MH World plus MH Rise just standing in my shelf. It’s something about the 300h+ campaigns, every time I’m thinking of starting a new game I start to ponder “hmm, maybe those 300h could be better spent in Elden Ring or Baldurs Gate 3 or Xenoblade Chronicles or whatever RPG/soulslike is currently doing the rounds”
Maybe Wilds will be the Monster Hunter game for me!
Re: Infinity Nikki PS5 Is the Open World Anime Dress-Up Game of Your Dreams
WTF!
“Whether you’re in the meadow, frolicking among the flowers…” This is golden, hilarious!
So this is Pokémon Snap for tween girls? Not for me but at least it was the most unexpected trailer in this State of Play.
Alright, I’m off to frolick in some flowers
Re: Open World Martial Arts RPG Where Winds Meet Announced for PS5
Love soulslikes, love RPGs. This is day 1, whenever that may be. And I do expect a physical edition, otherwise no dice
And please axe the difficulty options…
Re: Silent Hill 2's PS5 Remake Emerges from the Fog on 8th October
I’m not expecting Capcom quality but I do expect it to be better than the horrid PS3 HD Collection.
I’ve actually never played the original. It came out during a period in my life where partying, living abroad and student life in general led to a pause in my gaming (yes, I’m old).
So my first impression of this game was the PS3 “remaster”, far from ideal. Looking forward to experiencing this version, jank be damned…
Re: PS5 Platformer Astro Bot Will Have 80 Action-Packed Levels
I actually get Super Mario Odyssey vibes from this! And if Astro can get within spitting distance of that holy grail it will indeed be an experience to savor.
I actually liked Sackboy A Big Adventure but it never came close to the best Mario outings. So far Astro gives me hope that Asobi can indeed recreate some of that Nintendo magic.
My standard fare consists of RPGs and soulslikes but I can never say no to an epic, cartoony, platformer adventure!
Re: Monster Hunter Wilds, Astro Bot the Biggest PS5 Winners from State of Play
Yeah, this list looks about right. Except I didn’t think Dynasty Warriors Origins would be so high up. Always thought it was a pretty middling series but apparently it’s more popular than Silent Hill 2. At least on this pretty unscientific list…
Re: Reaction: PS5 Livestreams Are No Longer Speaking to the Fans Who Built the Brand
@Fyz306903 Even though the gaming landscape is different I think you’ll be happy with your PS5. I know I am. A lot of the great PS4 titles have received PS5 updates and it is a great machine. Plus, there is a bunch of great exclusives.
Re: Reaction: PS5 Livestreams Are No Longer Speaking to the Fans Who Built the Brand
@Blaze215 This.
Those characters and their “banter” might appeal to a certain zoomer/influencer segment but to a more discerning crowd they really are horrible. It’s painful to watch, forced “humor” at its worst.
Re: Reaction: PS5 Livestreams Are No Longer Speaking to the Fans Who Built the Brand
Astrobot was great, gave me Nintendo vibes.
Monster Hunter Wilds and Silent Hill 2 are both games I’ll pick up but by now they’re not really exciting new announcements…
Where Winds Meet could be good but it was another CG trailer with zero gameplay so I’ll have to reserve judgement.
The rest was a horrid mix of free-to-play, multiplayer shooters and bland titles.
Sony seems desperate to appeal to the live service crowd. This, combined with fewer games getting physical releases, paints a bleak future.
Personally, my backlog is huge, and the slow drip of RPGs and soulslikes keeps me sustained but there is no longer the breadth of titles available as there was during the PS4 era.
At least my wallet is happier (despite the price increases)
Re: Poll: What Did You Think of Sony's State of Play for May 2024?
So much garbage “free-to-play” and soulless live service/PvP
Astro, Silent Hill 2 and Monster Hunter were saving graces. Where Winds Meet could be good but have to see more.
Biggest disappointment: Ballad of Antara. Cool trailer, then turns out to be another gacha
Re: Ballad of Antara Offers 'High Fidelity' Free-to-Play RPG Action on PS5 in 2025
For a second there I hoped for a great soulslike. Turns out it’s another “free-to-play” slot machine
Moving on…
Re: US Children Want Subscriptions and Currencies for Christmas, Not Games
Fortunately we live in an era where “kids” are not representative of gamers. All this survey tells me is that US kids have bad taste and a distinct lack of imagination.
Re: Suicide Squad Backlash Doesn't Stop Warner Bros from Doubling Down on Live-Service Games
What a surprise! The world’s most hated and inept CEO, David Zaslav, is aiming for more live service games.
This is the guy who made his fortune on the worst kind of reality TV trash. Who single-handedly drove HBO into the ground and renamed it Max.
This guy is allergic to quality content, doesn’t matter if it’s movies, series or games.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 499
I’ve received both Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Wonder but they’ll have to wait. I’m knee deep in Lords of the Fallen and I only play one game at a time.
I reckon I can start my next game in 1-2 weeks. It’s been a crazy year and I haven’t even started Zelda: TOTK or Armored Core 6… I need more time!
Re: PlayStation's Push for Live Service Games Hasn't Been Going Smoothly
Sony just had to go there. It wasn’t enough making some of the best single player experiences in the business, selling millions and winning GOTY awards by the bucketload.
Oh no, they had to go for multiplayer and live service. And not only that, they had to force their award winning, single player focused studios into churning out “live service”, instead of leaving it for Bungie and other lesser studios. Probably in order to milk every IP to the limit.
Well, here’s the predictable result. Studios in disarray and millions down the drain.
Re: The Last of Us Multiplayer Game Is 'Basically on Ice' Right Now
Good riddance. Naughty Dog should focus on their amazing single player experiences.
Re: Lords of the Fallen Overview Trailer Summarises Story, Gameplay of Promising Souls-Like
This looks utterly amazing, it’s been on my radar for a long time. I have it preordered, just hope I’ll finish Lies of P before this releases.
Re: Alan Wake 2 Has a Performance Mode on PS5, But It's Been Built as a '30FPS Experience'
They’re capable of offering players a choice between Quality and Performance but giving players a choice between a physical or digital edition is somehow too hard…
Bravo, Remedy and Epic. Bravo.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 495
Lies of P all the way. Excellent game with moody exploration and an abundance of cool systems. Weapon Assembly! The left arm plus customization! Weapon special abilities! Skill tree! Plus everything it cribbed from other soulslikes…
Just arrived at the cathedral, can’t wait to start todays session.
Re: Nine Minutes of Dragon's Dogma 2 Gameplay Is Enough to Make You Drool
Of all upcoming games, I gotta say this is at the top of my list. And that’s saying something when games like Lords of the Fallen, Spider-Man 2, Banishers, Granblue Relink and FFVII: Rebirth are all on the horizon.
Re: Callisto Protocol's Glen Schofield Announces Departure from Striking Distance Studios
@solidox I also enjoyed Callisto for what it was: a slightly janky Dead Space clone. It was a breezy 10 hours. I do feel some trepidation for the DLC though, but with backlog and release schedule being what they are who knows if I’ll ever get to it
Re: Urban-Themed Open World RPG Project Mugen Looks Stunning in Developer-Led Gameplay
A procedurally generated slot machine. Gaming at its finest…
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Lies of P?
Oh yeah, I had this game pre-ordered. There’s no such thing as “too many soulslikes” in my world.
The game is also really good. Sure, the world is kinda like Bloodborne and Steelrising had a baby but the combat is tight, the environments are moody and the loot plus underlying systems are great.
Next up: Lords of the Fallen! (well, in a month)
Re: Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden Gets Ethereal PS5 Gameplay Overview
This looks right up my alley, I actually got it pre-ordered. I really liked Vampyr and with a higher budget plus more experienced studio this could be a sleeper hit.
Re: CDPR Recommends a Fresh Save for the Best Cyberpunk 2077 2.0, Phantom Liberty Experience
Hell no, I’m not sinking another 100 hours into this. Plus, I don’t wanna give up my collection of Unique Legendary weapons. I might give the DLC a whirl but with the release schedule being what it is plus an enormous backlog, even that is uncertain.
Re: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Gets January Release Date Alongside Gameplay, Story Trailers
Well, this looks amazing! But considering I have Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2, Yakuza 3-6, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Ishin! still standing on my shelf unplayed it’s gonna be awhile before I get to this game…
So far I’ve only played Yakuza 0 which I really liked but, man, my backlog is killing me.
Re: No New Content Coming to Evil Dead: The Game, Servers Will Remain Live
What a waste of cool horror licenses, churning out these multiplayer titles with zero shelf life. Why not make a great single player Evil Dead survival horror game instead?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 494
I just finished Pikmin 4 (great!), now I’m waiting for my copy of Lies of P to arrive.
So this weekend I’ll be mopping up some DLC: Burning Shore for HFW (great so far but it’s basically more of the same so I’m glad it’s been a year since I played the campaign) and Episode Intermission for FF7R (haven’t started yet, will be fun seing Midgar again but I’m not expecting Witcher quality DLC…)
Re: Guide: Best PS4 Exclusive Games
Why is Detroit on this list? Why is Journey? Both of these games are on pc, both part of the sad trend of losing exclusives.