Having Platinumed it I’d say a 6 is generous enough. I played and enjoyed the original but this really does feel like a cut and paste affair. Granted that’s kinda what people expected but coming 2 years after the original I’d have hoped for a bit more polish and new features. But the game is still bugged to bits with graphics popping in and out in cutscenes and I frequently “rubber banded” out of the damn game when I was shot only to zoom back into the action and totally lose any sense of immersion. The Murphy flashback was dull and the much anticipated ED 209 section more of a slog. Some side quests were literally just fetch quests or “hit the machine”/“open the door” minute long inclusions and everything just felt rushed and unfinished.
But yeas, it was still decent enough just not as good as it could and should have been and not one I’ll return to in a hurry.
It’s certainly a nice looking game with plenty to do, enjoyable exploration and plenty of whimsy but it’s definitely not a 9/10 game as, despite a single day when I was initially enthralled, I’m now 74% complete with trophies and just the final outfit away from finishing the story thus far. Found just under 309 stars and loads of costumes but not feeling compelled to do anything much now I’ve spent the time getting there …
… anyway, it’s free so there’s that and the world is nice looking despite said whimsy getting annoying after a while and I skipped most of the story. I’ll stick with it as it updates but I can’t see myself logging in every day for long.
Never had any issues with HFW on my PS5 and thought it looked gorgeous enough, especially with the improved character models and animation. I’m sure it does look better, as mentioned, on PS5 Pro and so it should with the exorbitant price tag and the fact it’s a “pro” but it’s not nearly enough for me to buy a Pro, least of all as I use my PS5 as a Blu-ray player and the Pro requires the purchase of a separate disc drive (At least I believe so … correct me if I’m wrong)
But as both a gamer and a huge movie buff I’ve simply not the time let alone the expenses to keep rebuying things to make everything bigger, faster, shinier and so on. Its bad enough that so many companies feel the need to upgrade everything from endless TLoU remastered remasters to endless 4K Blu-Ray releases that come packaged with nifty art cards, posters and whatever junk the companies think will make gullible punters hand over cash for “The Same Thing Version 2.0”
Not that I’m entirely averse to such things, as I understand that with such new fangled technology can come some amazing advances in various fields. Merely that I’d much rather have new games and previously unreleased films than just “last years model” polished, tweaked and regurgitated with a suitably hefty price tag.
Oh, and this comment doesn’t look any different in 85” 8K virtual reality mindgasm so just accept it 🤫
As someone who grew up with the Rare games not to mention had an truly amazing brother (Miss you every single day, bruv x) who won the Banjo-Twooie competition to name a character in the game (Chris P Bacon, the aquatic pig!) I found the original really charming despite its flaws and a fun, lighthearted homage to classic N64 platformers. The sequel was, arguably, better and had a stunning soundtrack to boot but now it’s been repolished I may end up replayee-ing (?) it someday if only to snigger/cringe at Trowser’s name once more or just revel in the memories of my irreplaceable brother. So, for anyone reading this who enjoyed Banjo’s journies of yesteryear then raise a glass to remember my brother Simon Turk, forever a crazy bugger who lit up my life until life itself stole him away …
I’d say a 9 simply because it doesn’t last forever and some of those challenge levels tested my patience and controller. But otherwise it’s an absolute delight which reminded me quite how neglected the DualSense is in most games and how much it can add to an already superb experience. Plus it also reminded me that some games can still be released in tip top shape and not riddled with bugs. Some brilliant boss fights, awesome power ups and more references than even my brain could remember it’s easily one of my favourite games of the year …
… it’s also extra special, albeit in a bittersweet way, as it reminds me if my amazing brother who suddenly died back in 2022 aged only 50. We’d both bought a PS5 and loved Astro’s Playroom frequently singing along to the soundtrack despite our age. So it’s deeply tragic that he never got to play the new game as I know he’d have adored it like myself and given us another chance to just enjoy a game together and act like crazy kids!
Anyway, it’s a delightful game that provided me with many chuckles and smiles at a time when I really need them not to mention tears and memories. So thanks, Team Asobi and, of course, my astro-nomical bruv. Love you forever, my Si x
I agree with a 6. It’s a solid enough game but just doesn’t feel as polished as you’d expect from a game, especially of such ridiculous pricing. It’s not unplayable like some are claiming but the stealth isn’t great and borders on frustrating where it should be exciting, the AI is, without a doubt, abysmal and the combat is lacking where it should be fast, punchy and adrenaline producing. The open world aspect is promising but the worlds feel empty compared to similar games with the speeder driving decent enough but the terrain leads to too many crashes thus negating the rush of speed.
So yes, Star Wars fans may forgive some of this (I regard myself a childhood fan who has drifted somewhat since the prequels, hated the new films and is indifferent to the endless TV shows, spin offs and kitchen sink approach) but it never wows and is too often frustrating and just lacking that truly addictive quality.
But hey, that’s just my opinion and I know others will agree/disagree so feel free providing you don’t criticise me based on an opinion …
Completed the main campaign last night (After steadfastly refusing to move or out the controller down!) and adored every last minute of it. Really reminded me how amazing the Dualsense can be and, alas, how few companies truly utilise it to its full. Loved the “themed” levels and the remixed versions of classic music (Uncharted and Zero Dawn) were magnificent. I was left wishing it had featured more if those levels like, say, a music based Parappa level but ultimately felt that whilst it’d be fun it may end up feeling like too much nostalgia and the developers just relying a bit too much on other game styles and mechanics …
… so, just got to clean up the final trophies and those surprisingly tricky challenge levels and I’ll be done but I can definitely see multiple playthroughs plus multiple visitors being sat down, handed the controller and forced to experience the fun and creativity of the game instead of thinking I “just play games”
Oh, and the final level made me smile when the “battalion” were revealed in the hull of the PS5 hull!
My only question now is how does a sequel improve upon this and when is it out?
May give it a go sometime but having just got the Platinum for Dave the Diver just recently after hours of underwater shenanigans I’m pretty much done with the game for now despite it being great fun while it lasted. Plus with no new Godzilla themed trophies I’m not in a rush to dive back in (no pun intended)
Thought this looked underwhelming as soon as the first trailer dropped, especially considering how much fun The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole were. Here’s hoping we get another RPG in that fashion instead of this tepid dross. About as enticing as yellow snow ….
I’d personally continue to focus on accessibility options as recent games like GoW Ragnarok, Spider-Man 2 and the like have really excelled in allowing games to be played by a far wider audience with the option to tweak various parameters of their choosing. Ultimately gaming should be about entertainment and nobody should be ashamed or forced to play games they find too difficult. The “Git Gud” culture is basically just another bunch of egocentric dullards who’ve nothing better to do than berate others to feed their own inadequacies and it’s ultimately up the individual to make their own choices. That’s not to say I don’t like a challenge but, similarly, there are times I just want to switch off a play a more gentler session where I’m not left ranting, raving and tearing the few hairs I have left on my head out! As many before me have said if a gamer buys a game it’s not up to anyone else but them to say how, when, where and why they play it and forcing an extreme challenge on some gamers will inevitably turn them away …
… just focus on making games fun, innovative and not broken at launch and we’ll do the rest!
I’m still on Act 1though 50 hours in and I’ve not experienced much hassle the worst being members of my party often refusing to jump until I take control whereupon the rest of the team jump back! Yeah, I know you can separate members but it’s not a major issue and damn, is this game utterly amazing. Only recently gave in and bought it then put off playing because it was a little too much to take in but now I’ve clicked with it and it’s without a doubt the best RPG I’ve played since The Witcher 3 and a game that continues to astound me with its depth, exploration, choices and sheer scope. Definitely going to reach 100 hours, very likely 150 and quite probably 200 plus I’m so eager to play it all again, try different things and maybe not focus so much on using dyes to change the colour of my teams underwear!
But I digress, with this and Alan Wake 2 I can session say my faith in gaming has been restored so here’s to more of the same.
Not released until possibly 2025 but most definitely blogged, vlogged, analysed, datamined, discussed and spoilt to death by the time it finally does come out, yeah? Who knows, we all might have been annihilated by global warfare, climate change or that damn pesky AI by then but hey, it makes for a new post!
So, when is Spider-man 15 coming out and how long will the Platinum take? And will we be getting The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Remade Rewritten Recast Rejigged Readjusted Retweaked Rebooted Restructured Redesigned Rereleased Retired Rewound and Repeated by then?
Honestly don’t care anymore. Naughty Dog have been milking The Last of Us franchise for way too long now considering there are only two games and a TV show. Yes, I enjoyed both of them but they were fine as they were and should I wish to play them again I’m happy with the originals. Explore unfinished levels? A new mode? It’s all just smoke and mirrors to get people to cough up more money for the same game which, let’s not forget, resulted in a tidal wave of hatred and vitriolic slander regarding certain narrative choices that was pathetic at best …
… but I digress, I’ll play a Part 3, another Uncharted game or, god forbid, a brand new game with no Nate or Joel in sight but please just leave it behind and move in now. Seems this Naughty Dog doesn’t know any new tricks!
All this haptic malarkey is great when done properly but is sadly still oft overlooked in most games. Enjoyed the tension trigger ‘sweet spot” sections of Spider-man 2 but it’s still the likes of Returnal and, of course, Astro-bot that truly impressed me and led me blindly to believe all future games would feel so damn immersive …
… which sadly a great deal of them haven’t. Be interested to see how Alan Wake 2 fares, though that’s only if it turns out to be worth buying. Thought the original was average at best and terrible at worst but lived Control so here’s hoping for the correct remedy (See what I did there? Up all night thinking up that!)
I remember playing this back in the day and even then finding it kinda boring. It’s got that puerile James Gunn vibe (I did enjoy GotG btw) and the soundtrack was quite good but the gameplay was repetitive, lazy and derivative. So no, definitely not a game I’m in a hurry to revisit …
Nah, I’ll skip it for now and maybe pick it up when it’s in some sale next year. With Spidey just around the corner my gaming needs are more than full for this year with Cyberpunk requiring a few more hours here and there and, no doubt, some more power washing to ease the stress. Enjoyed Ragnarok but even that tested my patience plus though I’ve enjoyed the recent instalments it’s not since Syndicate that I truly enjoyed the characters, environment, narrative and overall style …
MK1 for me. Picked up the ever so expensive premium edition after discovering nearly £40 credit in my account I’d totally forgotten about so thought hey, why not!
Thus far I’m really enjoying it and it plays beautifully and looks divine. Wish the intro dialogues were included in all modes though plus I miss the intractable environmental objects. Plus the Invasion mode hasn’t yet captivated me as much as I enjoyed The Krypt. But I’m liking the freshly designed characters though I’ve never been such a devout fanboy as to decry past ‘controversies’ and the story is solid enough B movie nonsense. As for the Kameos it adds a new spin on proceedings but again I’m not quite ready to call it revolutionary as I often forget to use them and win single handedly … well, thus far. Looking forward to seeing what the DLC brings though and considering the reduced price I’m happy with my purchase …
… now, gotta dash as I paused the game fir a wee and got distracted!
Still haven’t gotten rid of those stupid accolades then? Or made PlayStation Stars any less rubbish? Or added proper folders you don’t need to go to your library to access? Or personal themes, wallpaper or basically most of the things PS5 owners want from an update? Ooh, I can see emoji reactions now, can I? Well, surely that’s what everyone bought a PS5 for, isn’t it? 😠😡🤬
@LazyLombax Have to agree with you there. Was expecting something a little more filling and, like you, was bored by the end as I kinda expected some sort of point behind each level and not just randomly hitting buttons to see what everything does, messing around for a few minutes then moving onto the next level because you’ve had enough and want something new only for that to grow stale quickly ad nauseam until the credits roll. Yes, there a Platinum but I’m only about halfway there at the moment and with MK1 launching tomorrow I doubt I’ll be rushing back for seconds …
… only a 3/10 at most from me and that’s being generous!
I played the PS4 version and enjoyed it for what it was despite it occasionally feeling like a precursor to Rehydrated. But hey, it passed some time though I’m not over eager to replay it in a hurry I’ll pick it up if it’s free and then wait until I feel the need to revisit it though I can’t see it usurping MK1 in a hurry …
MK1 and Spider-Man for me … and already preordered. Anything else will have to wait though to be honest there’s not much else that catches my eye. I’m sure others will instantly think me insane but looking at the PS Store the other day I could only think is that it?!?
Be nice to revisit the original seeing as how the Danny Dyer-esque monkey infused, much hyped but absent without leave sequel has about as much chance of a release now as Rose West …
Personally didn’t care for the original but that was mainly due to it being dated and playing pretty awful at times. Having said that I loved Control so if they can give Alan the same treatment and polish then it might make my list. But with Spidey and Phantom Liberty incoming I may well just wait until it’s cheaper ….
The game was certainly enjoyable if not overly different from the original but I encountered plenty of technical issues on PS5 not least some unforgivable load times which can surely only be worse on PS4. This is clearly not the port you’re looking for …
… so what’s next? How about The Witcher 3 on the Atari 2600 or even a game and watch (Just Google it, okay?) version of Cyberpunk 2097?
Really loved this game and sunk hours into it to finally achieve the Platinum. Sure, the DLC basically made you play a mildly tweaked NG+ but it’ll be comforting to revisit my thriving followers as and when the update finally drops. Bring on the mint sauce!
Really feels like the game is just being unceremoniously dumped onto PS Plus as I’m sure it could still garner a sufficient online community to keep it alive especially now it’s readily available for a wider audience and those who were somewhat trepidations at first. But no. frankly it feels like filler in a particularly lacklustre month and a game that certainly in my eyes isn’t anywhere near as enticing as it could have been. Oh well, I might download it if I’m bored but give us a game next time that has at least still got some future support behind it, eh?
Looks nice enough but please don’t let EVERY review include a Star Wars related sand “joke” that the reviewer thought was not only extremely clever but also highly original and THEY were the first ones to use it so they’re definitely not copying …
One thing I’ve noticed recently about current generation consoles is this sudden deluge of “retro” titles which is fine if we’re talking the likes of, say, Crash Bandicoot and Spyro but less so when a quick glimpse at the trailer seems to confirm that by “retro” they actually mean “yes, it’s a bit crap but that’s the intention, see?”
Not that I’m against all these rereleases and reimaginings but as someone who bought a PS5 with the hopes I’d be playing games that were even better, even prettier and even bigger than last generation games there are way too many cheap, naff, “easy Platinum” games alongside what looks like an entire archive of basic 8 Bit knockoffs. Remake and remaster aren’t the same thing so either do one or the other and don’t advertise with a CG trailer that has zero gameplay footage because in reality the game looks ***** …
I’m going with a 7 as it’s a great game with fun combat but loses some magic as you explore further outside Hogwarts and realise how repetitive the side activities slowly get. The side missions are diverting enough but lack the richness of HFW or The Witcher 3 and even Merlin himself must have known that nobody needs nearly 100 trials despite cultivating a small Mallowsweet farm in their Room of Requirement. The slow drip feed of abilities and features is a definite bonus but nearing the endgame results in a somewhat tiresome collectathon plus all my magical beasts were left to their own devices after a quick rutting in order to pick up another trophy.
Story wise it also suffers from somewhat dated RPG “four trials” format whilst none of the characters really make an impact (Ranrok just feels like a generic evil goblin by way of Peaky Blinders whilst Rookwood ends up with nothing more than an intriguing intro only to disappear and pop up again in time for a sadly anticlimactic last hurrah) The voice cast didn’t grate as much as I thought though the protagonist is stiffer than a horny Hogwart student after an unexpected Petrificus Totalis accident in the trouser region! And dear old Simon Pegg delights at first only to disappear and end up another wasted opportunity.
But despite all that the game is still a damn fun ride and it’s sad that players enjoyment of a game has been so harshly affected by all the controversy surrounding the release. At the end of the day it’s a fun and frivolous title I don’t regret playing despite it being far from the flawless magical adventure it could have been.
Ah, thought so ya buggers! Been collecting tonnes of outfits, soellcrafts, broomsticks and other such folly but it says I’ve only got 104/603 which is, quite frankly, utterly incorrect. Hopefully the patch will sync things as despite knowing I need three quick partial playthroughs to nab the separate house trophies I’m loathe to think I’ll have to track down all the hidden stuff again as I’ve been balancing my gameplay on campaign and side content and thus am only part way through the main campaign where I’d otherwise be done with that and into the endgame.
AAAA? This barely reached AA for me. Yeah, it had some nifty visuals and production values but jeez, the rest was such a jumbled, lazy mess. Way too linear, way too much crawling through vents or squeezing through gaps, way too many cheap jump scares, potentially enjoyable but ultimately misjudged and clunky melee combat, that godawful dodging that threw the camera all over the shop, the overused, generic enemy types, the audio logs you had to listen to via a bloody menu, instantly forgettable characters, a tired, lazy plot with an infuriatingly cheap ending, a final boss that was an insult to pretty much all final bosses …. yeah, it wasn’t hideous and I plodded through to the Platinum but it just felt like a great idea that was put aside, discovered some time later, twiddled with, possibly abandoned but then rescued and rushed out without bothering to add anything remotely innovative, creative and fun to the whole affair.
Meanwhile, the sleeper hit that was Evil West sadly didn’t get as much focus but beat The Callisto Protocol hands down in every conceivable way and provided hours of unadulterated old school mayhem!
Didn’t really rate this game at all. Too linear plus the enemies and combat became repetitive quickly and levels felt too sparse. Even after getting the Platinum my opinion remained the same and I’ve not revisited the game since. Cheats sound kinda fun but I’ll not be redownloading in a hurry. And no, I’m not in any way critical of those who loved it so if you did I wish you well …
Sorry everyone but I was really disappointed with this one. I didn’t hate it but just found it bland, uninspiring and surprisingly empty. Even having nabbed the Platinum I can’t say I’m eager to revisit it with additional content but hey, that’s just me …
I decided to pick it up as I got the Platinum on GoW Ragnarok and just need to do the speed run on Return To Monkey Island so nothing major to focus on. Thus far I’m really having rather fun and despite the levels being simplistically linear and the enemies rather repetitive the combat feels solid and punchy, the visuals surprisingly good and it never feels like it’s trying to be anything other than a dumb, fun Wild West/Horror hybrid that evokes Bulletstorm in that I can see time treating it well and it becoming a “niche cult” gem.
Sometimes we don’t just get everything we want and just have to accept the things we do. When I was a kid we didn’t even have consoles and computer games were frequently bugged, uncompletable or broken with no incoming patch or update in sight so we just shrugged and moved on to something else. Yes, I’d love a native PS5 version of RDR2 even though I know I’d be compelled to spend hours hunting squirrels, woodpeckers and all manner of easily damaged carcasses until my eyes were literally bleeding and my brain slowly spinning inside my skull but if Rockstar don’t release one I’ll just have to move on or make do with replaying the original. But I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it or feel compelled to troll the developers and issue contracts on their heads. So I’ll just be content with what I do get. After all you can’t always get what you want but if you try sometimes you might just find you get what you need!
Feel like I’ve been Platinuming everything under the sun of late with Tinykin, We Are OFK!, The Last of Us Part One, Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed, Sam and Max Series One and Two, Fuser and Paradise Killer to name but a few so I’ll probably step back and catch up with some movies alongside celebrating Halloween with replays of Man of Medan and Little Hope on PS5 followed by House of Ashes and a much delayed Platinum for The Quarry.
Also want to head back to both Returnal and Deathloop to play the Tower of Acsension and Golden Loop updates respectively and maybe just maybe finally get round to fully completing Cyberpunk 2077 almost TWO YEARS after it first released!
On which note I have to say that though it pains me to do so I can’t help but feel that considering we’re now nearly two years into the PS5 era and have been treated to such gems as Returnal, Deathloop and Ratchet and Clank alongside native upgraded versions of Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Forbidden West, The Last of Us Part One, Death Stranding and more I’ve yet to have my mind blown, my jaw dropped or, indeed, my flabber righteously gasted by any of the aforementioned titles save maybe Returnal and still await another title to leave me smiling over its creative use of haptics like good old Astrobot …
… other than that I have but three words to utter.
Any idea when this will be on the store? I had both on my wish list for a while and got Beyond Time and Space several weeks ago when it “temporarily” released early before being removed from the store. Yet now I can’t find either using the search engine and as I want to play them again in order need Save The World to hurry up and become available …
Just mopping up the last collectibles trophies on The Last of Us Part 1, likewise for Tinykin and continuing Act 2 on Inscryption. Other than that I’m replaying the much maligned but hugely underrated Biomutant on PS5 and hoping for a handful of movies to watch. But right now I’m bloody tired so I’m having a cuppa and contemplating a brief nap as I’m getting older and haven’t the energy or concentration I once had …
… hope everyone has a fun weekend anyway, given the recent tragic news, I’m sure they don’t read Pushsquare but my thoughts are with the Royal family and should they stumble across this message then feel free to add me on PSN 🤴🏻x
I’ve just finished my 5th playthrough and clocked up another 200 hours so no, I’m not interested at all …
… but of course I am and though I may say not yet I’m sure I’ll dive right back in again the second the PS5 version arrives. Well, it is the best game ever and boy, it still looked gorgeous despite its age. Pamparamparam!
So you have to scroll through your ENTIRE collection adding each chosen game to a list and then giving it a name only for it to only then be accessible via the library? Way too long winded and fiddly for me to bother with. I know which games I want and have my current collection on the Home Screen so no, I’m not at all fussed about it despite the incessant clamouring for the feature. Personally I just want more games and maybe the ability to block certain developers from the store so I don’t have to wade through endless cheap uninspiring quick Platinum fodder to stumble upon a hidden gem like Inscryption and Tinykin!
Comments 133
Re: RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business (PS5) - Standalone Mini-Sequel Just Misses the Mark
Having Platinumed it I’d say a 6 is generous enough. I played and enjoyed the original but this really does feel like a cut and paste affair. Granted that’s kinda what people expected but coming 2 years after the original I’d have hoped for a bit more polish and new features. But the game is still bugged to bits with graphics popping in and out in cutscenes and I frequently “rubber banded” out of the damn game when I was shot only to zoom back into the action and totally lose any sense of immersion. The Murphy flashback was dull and the much anticipated ED 209 section more of a slog. Some side quests were literally just fetch quests or “hit the machine”/“open the door” minute long inclusions and everything just felt rushed and unfinished.
But yeas, it was still decent enough just not as good as it could and should have been and not one I’ll return to in a hurry.
So yeah, a 6 is what it gets!
Re: Infinity Nikki (PS5) - Impeccably Presented Fashion Sim Is an Open World Essential
It’s certainly a nice looking game with plenty to do, enjoyable exploration and plenty of whimsy but it’s definitely not a 9/10 game as, despite a single day when I was initially enthralled, I’m now 74% complete with trophies and just the final outfit away from finishing the story thus far. Found just under 309 stars and loads of costumes but not feeling compelled to do anything much now I’ve spent the time getting there …
… anyway, it’s free so there’s that and the world is nice looking despite said whimsy getting annoying after a while and I skipped most of the story. I’ll stick with it as it updates but I can’t see myself logging in every day for long.
Re: 'Mind Boggling' Horizon Forbidden West Has the Best Console Image Quality Ever on PS5 Pro
Never had any issues with HFW on my PS5 and thought it looked gorgeous enough, especially with the improved character models and animation. I’m sure it does look better, as mentioned, on PS5 Pro and so it should with the exorbitant price tag and the fact it’s a “pro” but it’s not nearly enough for me to buy a Pro, least of all as I use my PS5 as a Blu-ray player and the Pro requires the purchase of a separate disc drive (At least I believe so … correct me if I’m wrong)
But as both a gamer and a huge movie buff I’ve simply not the time let alone the expenses to keep rebuying things to make everything bigger, faster, shinier and so on. Its bad enough that so many companies feel the need to upgrade everything from endless TLoU remastered remasters to endless 4K Blu-Ray releases that come packaged with nifty art cards, posters and whatever junk the companies think will make gullible punters hand over cash for “The Same Thing Version 2.0”
Not that I’m entirely averse to such things, as I understand that with such new fangled technology can come some amazing advances in various fields. Merely that I’d much rather have new games and previously unreleased films than just “last years model” polished, tweaked and regurgitated with a suitably hefty price tag.
Oh, and this comment doesn’t look any different in 85” 8K virtual reality mindgasm so just accept it 🤫
Re: Throwback N64 Platformer Yooka-Replaylee Looks Dazzling in Upgraded PS5 Remake
As someone who grew up with the Rare games not to mention had an truly amazing brother (Miss you every single day, bruv x) who won the Banjo-Twooie competition to name a character in the game (Chris P Bacon, the aquatic pig!) I found the original really charming despite its flaws and a fun, lighthearted homage to classic N64 platformers. The sequel was, arguably, better and had a stunning soundtrack to boot but now it’s been repolished I may end up replayee-ing (?) it someday if only to snigger/cringe at Trowser’s name once more or just revel in the memories of my irreplaceable brother. So, for anyone reading this who enjoyed Banjo’s journies of yesteryear then raise a glass to remember my brother Simon Turk, forever a crazy bugger who lit up my life until life itself stole him away …
… oh, and I’ve still got the signed artwork, Si x
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Astro Bot?
I’d say a 9 simply because it doesn’t last forever and some of those challenge levels tested my patience and controller. But otherwise it’s an absolute delight which reminded me quite how neglected the DualSense is in most games and how much it can add to an already superb experience. Plus it also reminded me that some games can still be released in tip top shape and not riddled with bugs. Some brilliant boss fights, awesome power ups and more references than even my brain could remember it’s easily one of my favourite games of the year …
… it’s also extra special, albeit in a bittersweet way, as it reminds me if my amazing brother who suddenly died back in 2022 aged only 50. We’d both bought a PS5 and loved Astro’s Playroom frequently singing along to the soundtrack despite our age. So it’s deeply tragic that he never got to play the new game as I know he’d have adored it like myself and given us another chance to just enjoy a game together and act like crazy kids!
Anyway, it’s a delightful game that provided me with many chuckles and smiles at a time when I really need them not to mention tears and memories. So thanks, Team Asobi and, of course, my astro-nomical bruv. Love you forever, my Si x
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Star Wars Outlaws?
I agree with a 6. It’s a solid enough game but just doesn’t feel as polished as you’d expect from a game, especially of such ridiculous pricing. It’s not unplayable like some are claiming but the stealth isn’t great and borders on frustrating where it should be exciting, the AI is, without a doubt, abysmal and the combat is lacking where it should be fast, punchy and adrenaline producing. The open world aspect is promising but the worlds feel empty compared to similar games with the speeder driving decent enough but the terrain leads to too many crashes thus negating the rush of speed.
So yes, Star Wars fans may forgive some of this (I regard myself a childhood fan who has drifted somewhat since the prequels, hated the new films and is indifferent to the endless TV shows, spin offs and kitchen sink approach) but it never wows and is too often frustrating and just lacking that truly addictive quality.
But hey, that’s just my opinion and I know others will agree/disagree so feel free providing you don’t criticise me based on an opinion …
Re: Astro Bot (PS5) - One of the Greatest PlayStation Platformers of All Time
Completed the main campaign last night (After steadfastly refusing to move or out the controller down!) and adored every last minute of it. Really reminded me how amazing the Dualsense can be and, alas, how few companies truly utilise it to its full. Loved the “themed” levels and the remixed versions of classic music (Uncharted and Zero Dawn) were magnificent. I was left wishing it had featured more if those levels like, say, a music based Parappa level but ultimately felt that whilst it’d be fun it may end up feeling like too much nostalgia and the developers just relying a bit too much on other game styles and mechanics …
… so, just got to clean up the final trophies and those surprisingly tricky challenge levels and I’ll be done but I can definitely see multiple playthroughs plus multiple visitors being sat down, handed the controller and forced to experience the fun and creativity of the game instead of thinking I “just play games”
Oh, and the final level made me smile when the “battalion” were revealed in the hull of the PS5 hull!
My only question now is how does a sequel improve upon this and when is it out?
Re: Antstream Lets You Stream 1000s of Retro Games, Coming to PS5, PS4 This Week
Friday is already shaping up to be a roaring rampage of retro with Astrobot so I shan’t be signing up!
Re: Anticipated PS5 Platformer Astro Bot Looks Absolutely Outstanding in Gameplay Demo
Certainly looks like it’ll be great fun but “absolutely outstanding”? Maybe hit the brakes in the hyperbole, eh?
Re: Remain Chill, Playable Mrs. Freeze Will Soon Join Suicide Squad's Rogues' Gallery
Looks like they couldn’t decide whether to go for the Rihanna look or Eartha Kitt so just went somewhere in between …
… so yeah, in a word, “Eartha Kitt” 🥶💩
Re: Dave the Diver's New Godzilla DLC to Be Delisted in November
May give it a go sometime but having just got the Platinum for Dave the Diver just recently after hours of underwater shenanigans I’m pretty much done with the game for now despite it being great fun while it lasted. Plus with no new Godzilla themed trophies I’m not in a rush to dive back in (no pun intended)
Great game, though 🐟
Re: South Park: Snow Day! (PS5) - 3D Co-Op Card Brawler Is a Step Back for the Franchise
Thought this looked underwhelming as soon as the first trailer dropped, especially considering how much fun The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole were. Here’s hoping we get another RPG in that fashion instead of this tepid dross. About as enticing as yellow snow ….
Re: Soapbox: These PS5, PS4 Games Brought Me the Most Joy in 2023
@AndyKazama I have 205 and heartily agree. Wish I felt the same about real cleaning!
Re: Sony Wants PS5 Games to Automatically Adjust the Difficulty While You Play
I’d personally continue to focus on accessibility options as recent games like GoW Ragnarok, Spider-Man 2 and the like have really excelled in allowing games to be played by a far wider audience with the option to tweak various parameters of their choosing. Ultimately gaming should be about entertainment and nobody should be ashamed or forced to play games they find too difficult. The “Git Gud” culture is basically just another bunch of egocentric dullards who’ve nothing better to do than berate others to feed their own inadequacies and it’s ultimately up the individual to make their own choices. That’s not to say I don’t like a challenge but, similarly, there are times I just want to switch off a play a more gentler session where I’m not left ranting, raving and tearing the few hairs I have left on my head out! As many before me have said if a gamer buys a game it’s not up to anyone else but them to say how, when, where and why they play it and forcing an extreme challenge on some gamers will inevitably turn them away …
… just focus on making games fun, innovative and not broken at launch and we’ll do the rest!
Re: PS5 Really Will Benefit from Baldur's Gate 3's Xbox Version
I’m still on Act 1though 50 hours in and I’ve not experienced much hassle the worst being members of my party often refusing to jump until I take control whereupon the rest of the team jump back! Yeah, I know you can separate members but it’s not a major issue and damn, is this game utterly amazing. Only recently gave in and bought it then put off playing because it was a little too much to take in but now I’ve clicked with it and it’s without a doubt the best RPG I’ve played since The Witcher 3 and a game that continues to astound me with its depth, exploration, choices and sheer scope. Definitely going to reach 100 hours, very likely 150 and quite probably 200 plus I’m so eager to play it all again, try different things and maybe not focus so much on using dyes to change the colour of my teams underwear!
But I digress, with this and Alan Wake 2 I can session say my faith in gaming has been restored so here’s to more of the same.
Re: Rumour: Marvel's Wolverine PS5 Release Date Reportedly 2025, Not Next Year
Not released until possibly 2025 but most definitely blogged, vlogged, analysed, datamined, discussed and spoilt to death by the time it finally does come out, yeah? Who knows, we all might have been annihilated by global warfare, climate change or that damn pesky AI by then but hey, it makes for a new post!
So, when is Spider-man 15 coming out and how long will the Platinum take? And will we be getting The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Remade Rewritten Recast Rejigged Readjusted Retweaked Rebooted Restructured Redesigned Rereleased Retired Rewound and Repeated by then?
Re: The Last of Us 2 PS5 Remaster Leaks, Has a Brand New Survival Mode, Cut Levels
Honestly don’t care anymore. Naughty Dog have been milking The Last of Us franchise for way too long now considering there are only two games and a TV show. Yes, I enjoyed both of them but they were fine as they were and should I wish to play them again I’m happy with the originals. Explore unfinished levels? A new mode? It’s all just smoke and mirrors to get people to cough up more money for the same game which, let’s not forget, resulted in a tidal wave of hatred and vitriolic slander regarding certain narrative choices that was pathetic at best …
… but I digress, I’ll play a Part 3, another Uncharted game or, god forbid, a brand new game with no Nate or Joel in sight but please just leave it behind and move in now. Seems this Naughty Dog doesn’t know any new tricks!
Re: Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Player Gets Out of Bounds, Discovers Kraven's Trophy Room
Removed
Re: Yes, Alan Wake 2 Will Make Proper Use of PS5's Pad
All this haptic malarkey is great when done properly but is sadly still oft overlooked in most games. Enjoyed the tension trigger ‘sweet spot” sections of Spider-man 2 but it’s still the likes of Returnal and, of course, Astro-bot that truly impressed me and led me blindly to believe all future games would feel so damn immersive …
… which sadly a great deal of them haven’t. Be interested to see how Alan Wake 2 fares, though that’s only if it turns out to be worth buying. Thought the original was average at best and terrible at worst but lived Control so here’s hoping for the correct remedy (See what I did there? Up all night thinking up that!)
Re: Poll: Will You Be Buying a PS5 'Slim'?
No, now will you please stop asking questions?!?
Re: Lollipop Chainsaw's PS5 Revisit Now a Remaster Rather Than Remake
I remember playing this back in the day and even then finding it kinda boring. It’s got that puerile James Gunn vibe (I did enjoy GotG btw) and the soundtrack was quite good but the gameplay was repetitive, lazy and derivative. So no, definitely not a game I’m in a hurry to revisit …
Re: PS Store Plunges the Price of Almost 3,000 More PS5, PS4 Games
Almost 3000 titles more but only 6 highlights? Guess I won’t get too excited then …
Re: Assassin's Creed Mirage (PS5) - A Solid But Slightly Dated Return to the Series' Roots
Nah, I’ll skip it for now and maybe pick it up when it’s in some sale next year. With Spidey just around the corner my gaming needs are more than full for this year with Cyberpunk requiring a few more hours here and there and, no doubt, some more power washing to ease the stress. Enjoyed Ragnarok but even that tested my patience plus though I’ve enjoyed the recent instalments it’s not since Syndicate that I truly enjoyed the characters, environment, narrative and overall style …
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 494
MK1 for me. Picked up the ever so expensive premium edition after discovering nearly £40 credit in my account I’d totally forgotten about so thought hey, why not!
Thus far I’m really enjoying it and it plays beautifully and looks divine. Wish the intro dialogues were included in all modes though plus I miss the intractable environmental objects. Plus the Invasion mode hasn’t yet captivated me as much as I enjoyed The Krypt. But I’m liking the freshly designed characters though I’ve never been such a devout fanboy as to decry past ‘controversies’ and the story is solid enough B movie nonsense. As for the Kameos it adds a new spin on proceedings but again I’m not quite ready to call it revolutionary as I often forget to use them and win single handedly … well, thus far. Looking forward to seeing what the DLC brings though and considering the reduced price I’m happy with my purchase …
… now, gotta dash as I paused the game fir a wee and got distracted!
Re: Secret PS5 Firmware Update Feature Spotlights Your Wall of Shame
Gollum - 264537 hours
I Am Mayo - 13684 hours
The Jumping Taco - 11635 hours
No, but seriously …
The Witcher 3 - 606 hours
Batman Arkham Knight - 384 hours
Red Dead Redemption 2 - 369 hours
Re: Stealth PS4 Firmware Update 11.00 Is Adding New Features
Still haven’t gotten rid of those stupid accolades then? Or made PlayStation Stars any less rubbish? Or added proper folders you don’t need to go to your library to access? Or personal themes, wallpaper or basically most of the things PS5 owners want from an update? Ooh, I can see emoji reactions now, can I? Well, surely that’s what everyone bought a PS5 for, isn’t it? 😠😡🤬
Re: Mini Review: Nour: Play with Your Food (PS5) - A Tasty Snack, But Won't Fill You Up
@LazyLombax Have to agree with you there. Was expecting something a little more filling and, like you, was bored by the end as I kinda expected some sort of point behind each level and not just randomly hitting buttons to see what everything does, messing around for a few minutes then moving onto the next level because you’ve had enough and want something new only for that to grow stale quickly ad nauseam until the credits roll. Yes, there a Platinum but I’m only about halfway there at the moment and with MK1 launching tomorrow I doubt I’ll be rushing back for seconds …
… only a 3/10 at most from me and that’s being generous!
Re: SpongeBob Brings a Cosmic Shake to PS5 Next Month
I played the PS4 version and enjoyed it for what it was despite it occasionally feeling like a precursor to Rehydrated. But hey, it passed some time though I’m not over eager to replay it in a hurry I’ll pick it up if it’s free and then wait until I feel the need to revisit it though I can’t see it usurping MK1 in a hurry …
Re: Upcoming PS5, PS4 Games for September and October 2023
MK1 and Spider-Man for me … and already preordered. Anything else will have to wait though to be honest there’s not much else that catches my eye. I’m sure others will instantly think me insane but looking at the PS Store the other day I could only think is that it?!?
Re: Iconic PS2 Platformer Beyond Good & Evil Appears to Be Coming to PS5
Be nice to revisit the original seeing as how the Danny Dyer-esque monkey infused, much hyped but absent without leave sequel has about as much chance of a release now as Rose West …
Re: Poll: Did You Buy Armored Core 6?
No. Is that all? So can I go now?
Re: Alan Wake 2 Gets Small Delay, Now Releases a Week After Spider-Man 2
Personally didn’t care for the original but that was mainly due to it being dated and playing pretty awful at times. Having said that I loved Control so if they can give Alan the same treatment and polish then it might make my list. But with Spidey and Phantom Liberty incoming I may well just wait until it’s cheaper ….
Re: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Is Being Ported Backwards to Decade-Old PS4
The game was certainly enjoyable if not overly different from the original but I encountered plenty of technical issues on PS5 not least some unforgivable load times which can surely only be worse on PS4. This is clearly not the port you’re looking for …
… so what’s next? How about The Witcher 3 on the Atari 2600 or even a game and watch (Just Google it, okay?) version of Cyberpunk 2097?
Re: Cult of the Lamb PS5, PS4 Content Expansion Delayed, But Only Briefly
Really loved this game and sunk hours into it to finally achieve the Platinum. Sure, the DLC basically made you play a mildly tweaked NG+ but it’ll be comforting to revisit my thriving followers as and when the update finally drops. Bring on the mint sauce!
Re: Best Dreams Games to Play While It's on PS Plus
Really feels like the game is just being unceremoniously dumped onto PS Plus as I’m sure it could still garner a sufficient online community to keep it alive especially now it’s readily available for a wider audience and those who were somewhat trepidations at first. But no. frankly it feels like filler in a particularly lacklustre month and a game that certainly in my eyes isn’t anywhere near as enticing as it could have been. Oh well, I might download it if I’m bored but give us a game next time that has at least still got some future support behind it, eh?
Re: Enjoy 12 Minutes of Soft, Smooth Sand Land PS5 Gameplay, Fresh from SDCC 2023
Looks nice enough but please don’t let EVERY review include a Star Wars related sand “joke” that the reviewer thought was not only extremely clever but also highly original and THEY were the first ones to use it so they’re definitely not copying …
Re: PS1 Platformer Tomba! Makes a Grand Return on PS5, PS4
One thing I’ve noticed recently about current generation consoles is this sudden deluge of “retro” titles which is fine if we’re talking the likes of, say, Crash Bandicoot and Spyro but less so when a quick glimpse at the trailer seems to confirm that by “retro” they actually mean “yes, it’s a bit crap but that’s the intention, see?”
Not that I’m against all these rereleases and reimaginings but as someone who bought a PS5 with the hopes I’d be playing games that were even better, even prettier and even bigger than last generation games there are way too many cheap, naff, “easy Platinum” games alongside what looks like an entire archive of basic 8 Bit knockoffs. Remake and remaster aren’t the same thing so either do one or the other and don’t advertise with a CG trailer that has zero gameplay footage because in reality the game looks ***** …
…. and yes, that applies to AAA games too!
Re: Mini Review: Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator (PS5) - Fun But Not Quite Masterchef
Gregg Wallace walks into a bar.
“What are you having?”, the barman asks him.
“Two pints please”, he replies “One for myself and one for Torode”
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Hogwarts Legacy?
I’m going with a 7 as it’s a great game with fun combat but loses some magic as you explore further outside Hogwarts and realise how repetitive the side activities slowly get. The side missions are diverting enough but lack the richness of HFW or The Witcher 3 and even Merlin himself must have known that nobody needs nearly 100 trials despite cultivating a small Mallowsweet farm in their Room of Requirement. The slow drip feed of abilities and features is a definite bonus but nearing the endgame results in a somewhat tiresome collectathon plus all my magical beasts were left to their own devices after a quick rutting in order to pick up another trophy.
Story wise it also suffers from somewhat dated RPG “four trials” format whilst none of the characters really make an impact (Ranrok just feels like a generic evil goblin by way of Peaky Blinders whilst Rookwood ends up with nothing more than an intriguing intro only to disappear and pop up again in time for a sadly anticlimactic last hurrah) The voice cast didn’t grate as much as I thought though the protagonist is stiffer than a horny Hogwart student after an unexpected Petrificus Totalis accident in the trouser region! And dear old Simon Pegg delights at first only to disappear and end up another wasted opportunity.
But despite all that the game is still a damn fun ride and it’s sad that players enjoyment of a game has been so harshly affected by all the controversy surrounding the release. At the end of the day it’s a fun and frivolous title I don’t regret playing despite it being far from the flawless magical adventure it could have been.
So yeah, a solid 7. That’ll do x
Re: Hogwarts Legacy PS5 Patch Will Fix Glitched Trophy This Week
Ah, thought so ya buggers! Been collecting tonnes of outfits, soellcrafts, broomsticks and other such folly but it says I’ve only got 104/603 which is, quite frankly, utterly incorrect. Hopefully the patch will sync things as despite knowing I need three quick partial playthroughs to nab the separate house trophies I’m loathe to think I’ll have to track down all the hidden stuff again as I’ve been balancing my gameplay on campaign and side content and thus am only part way through the main campaign where I’d otherwise be done with that and into the endgame.
Re: 'AAAA' Title The Callisto Protocol Reportedly Falls Short of Expected Sales Figures
AAAA? This barely reached AA for me. Yeah, it had some nifty visuals and production values but jeez, the rest was such a jumbled, lazy mess. Way too linear, way too much crawling through vents or squeezing through gaps, way too many cheap jump scares, potentially enjoyable but ultimately misjudged and clunky melee combat, that godawful dodging that threw the camera all over the shop, the overused, generic enemy types, the audio logs you had to listen to via a bloody menu, instantly forgettable characters, a tired, lazy plot with an infuriatingly cheap ending, a final boss that was an insult to pretty much all final bosses …. yeah, it wasn’t hideous and I plodded through to the Platinum but it just felt like a great idea that was put aside, discovered some time later, twiddled with, possibly abandoned but then rescued and rushed out without bothering to add anything remotely innovative, creative and fun to the whole affair.
Meanwhile, the sleeper hit that was Evil West sadly didn’t get as much focus but beat The Callisto Protocol hands down in every conceivable way and provided hours of unadulterated old school mayhem!
Re: Sifu Title Update 3 Out Now, Adds Replay Editor, Gameplay Modifiers, Cheats, More
Didn’t really rate this game at all. Too linear plus the enemies and combat became repetitive quickly and levels felt too sparse. Even after getting the Platinum my opinion remained the same and I’ve not revisited the game since. Cheats sound kinda fun but I’ll not be redownloading in a hurry. And no, I’m not in any way critical of those who loved it so if you did I wish you well …
Re: Sifu's Next Big Update Lets You Create Your Own Martial Arts Movies
Sorry everyone but I was really disappointed with this one. I didn’t hate it but just found it bland, uninspiring and surprisingly empty. Even having nabbed the Platinum I can’t say I’m eager to revisit it with additional content but hey, that’s just me …
Re: Poll: Did You Buy Evil West?
I decided to pick it up as I got the Platinum on GoW Ragnarok and just need to do the speed run on Return To Monkey Island so nothing major to focus on. Thus far I’m really having rather fun and despite the levels being simplistically linear and the enemies rather repetitive the combat feels solid and punchy, the visuals surprisingly good and it never feels like it’s trying to be anything other than a dumb, fun Wild West/Horror hybrid that evokes Bulletstorm in that I can see time treating it well and it becoming a “niche cult” gem.
Re: Red Dead Redemption 2 Fans Still Hoping for a PS5 Patch
Sometimes we don’t just get everything we want and just have to accept the things we do. When I was a kid we didn’t even have consoles and computer games were frequently bugged, uncompletable or broken with no incoming patch or update in sight so we just shrugged and moved on to something else. Yes, I’d love a native PS5 version of RDR2 even though I know I’d be compelled to spend hours hunting squirrels, woodpeckers and all manner of easily damaged carcasses until my eyes were literally bleeding and my brain slowly spinning inside my skull but if Rockstar don’t release one I’ll just have to move on or make do with replaying the original. But I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it or feel compelled to troll the developers and issue contracts on their heads. So I’ll just be content with what I do get. After all you can’t always get what you want but if you try sometimes you might just find you get what you need!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 447
Feel like I’ve been Platinuming everything under the sun of late with Tinykin, We Are OFK!, The Last of Us Part One, Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed, Sam and Max Series One and Two, Fuser and Paradise Killer to name but a few so I’ll probably step back and catch up with some movies alongside celebrating Halloween with replays of Man of Medan and Little Hope on PS5 followed by House of Ashes and a much delayed Platinum for The Quarry.
Also want to head back to both Returnal and Deathloop to play the Tower of Acsension and Golden Loop updates respectively and maybe just maybe finally get round to fully completing Cyberpunk 2077 almost TWO YEARS after it first released!
On which note I have to say that though it pains me to do so I can’t help but feel that considering we’re now nearly two years into the PS5 era and have been treated to such gems as Returnal, Deathloop and Ratchet and Clank alongside native upgraded versions of Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Forbidden West, The Last of Us Part One, Death Stranding and more I’ve yet to have my mind blown, my jaw dropped or, indeed, my flabber righteously gasted by any of the aforementioned titles save maybe Returnal and still await another title to leave me smiling over its creative use of haptics like good old Astrobot …
… other than that I have but three words to utter.
Bring On Ragnarok!
Re: Mini Review: Sam & Max Save the World Remastered (PS4) - A Classic with a Modern Touch
Any idea when this will be on the store? I had both on my wish list for a while and got Beyond Time and Space several weeks ago when it “temporarily” released early before being removed from the store. Yet now I can’t find either using the search engine and as I want to play them again in order need Save The World to hurry up and become available …
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 443
Just mopping up the last collectibles trophies on The Last of Us Part 1, likewise for Tinykin and continuing Act 2 on Inscryption. Other than that I’m replaying the much maligned but hugely underrated Biomutant on PS5 and hoping for a handful of movies to watch. But right now I’m bloody tired so I’m having a cuppa and contemplating a brief nap as I’m getting older and haven’t the energy or concentration I once had …
… hope everyone has a fun weekend anyway, given the recent tragic news, I’m sure they don’t read Pushsquare but my thoughts are with the Royal family and should they stumble across this message then feel free to add me on PSN 🤴🏻x
Re: The Witcher 3 PS5 Version Still Set for This Year, Says CDPR
I’ve just finished my 5th playthrough and clocked up another 200 hours so no, I’m not interested at all …
… but of course I am and though I may say not yet I’m sure I’ll dive right back in again the second the PS5 version arrives. Well, it is the best game ever and boy, it still looked gorgeous despite its age. Pamparamparam!
Re: How to Make Folders on PS5
So you have to scroll through your ENTIRE collection adding each chosen game to a list and then giving it a name only for it to only then be accessible via the library? Way too long winded and fiddly for me to bother with. I know which games I want and have my current collection on the Home Screen so no, I’m not at all fussed about it despite the incessant clamouring for the feature. Personally I just want more games and maybe the ability to block certain developers from the store so I don’t have to wade through endless cheap uninspiring quick Platinum fodder to stumble upon a hidden gem like Inscryption and Tinykin!