@Milktastrophe well that’s cool but I’m not a fan of them (lol and that’s okay: I’m not saying anything about anyone else). And it’s relevant because Sony should be looking at controls and save states more than trophies for PS1 games.
But as you asked: I find trophies makes me carrying on playing content I’m not interested in. If I’ve done the story and side-missions etc, I want to move onto the next game.
Could not care less about trophies: it is quite frankly why I love the Switch - just about the games. Achievements on Xbox is cool (because you can get reward points and cash ultimately) but I don't get trophies at all really.
I hope we get 'save' systems though: because those PS1 games need something like that. And any framerate improvements but we'll see: Sony probably won't.
This is great news overall though: like Syphon Filter was a great series and I'll happily play these games again. If this is the type of thing they are aiming for premium, it bodes well.
All those same elements are in Elden Ring. There is repeated side content: catacombs (that are all the same with similar bosses and layouts; there are urdtrees- with the same bosses; there are map markers that open up more of the map; there are bandit camps and travelling parties to attack: again pretty similar throughout). I mean it’s more disguised but if you play open world games a lot, it’s all the same tricks.
In all fairness to HFW: tallnecks take the ‘tower’ thing and push it in really interesting ways: they move round and involve multi-stage sequences including traversal, puzzle and combat: and they are often spectacular to do and are varied from each other. Cauldrons are some of the brilliant side content I’ve ever seen in a game: and again, huge variation and always worth exploring (I got sick of the catacombs in ER a little). Traversal in HFW is way more varied, especially underwater, just amazing to experience. I like AC: Valhallah: it is solid but it doesn’t do anything like that. The RPG system is not light either: I love that you have to take down enemies in correct way to get high end items for crafting. Elegant game design that loops combat to RPG mechanics and provides incentives to master the mechanics. It’s top stuff.
Both are excellent games though but we shouldn’t reduce them at all. Saying HFW is just an Ubi open world reduces what it does in the same way that saying that Soulsborne games are just all about hardness and nothing else (when they are so much more that). Peace, my friend, people can enjoy different games.
Horizon: for once, I have bought new games including Elden Ring and GT7. And Horizon is a much more balanced and varied experience than others. ER is ace, but there is a lot of repeated enemies man, bosses and locations, and the camera on larger enemies is just messy. Towards the end of ER, it becomes quite imbalanced in terms of difficulty as well (even soulsborne vets are saying bosses have been sped up to have longer, unpredictable combos whilst the player is trapped in Dark Souls moveset). Essentially, it forces players into broken builds such as ridiculously over-powered mimic tears and magic builds. I loved it and ER is fantastic and the world is a joy to explore but it’s not without some flaws (never mind the probs on PC).
HFW is so well balanced. You feel in the right place at the right time. The combat is ferocious, and flows so well: the combat wheel on that game is so well designed, you can craft, find items on the battlefield, dodge attacks, fire back-all in a manner of seconds. No other game does this so well. It takes the essence of Monster Hunter and ramps it up (there is no game that comes close to it in terms of open-world combat at all: even Elden Ring). Enemy variety is spot on, RPG mechanics and systems are weaved into crafting (eg taking out enemies in certain ways to get key items m, which then improve weapons and armour). It does subtle things with exploration: move to a question mark and you can find anything: new enemies, high level enemies, puzzles, combat, relics of older world, cool landmarks, cauldrons - some of the side content in HFW is actually better than other games main content. It looks amazing, animations are top, traversal is interesting and varied now (taking good inspiration from BOTW but it’s still Horizon) and underwater sections are like nothing I’ve ever seen in a game before. It’s story could be better in my view, just preferred HZD but it’s still an epic, fun time. Yeah Horizon takes it, for me.
GT7, third. But we all know GOTY is silly, right? Just enjoy the games.
@WallyWest that’s not entirely true. It comes in cheaper than GPU over the year (£8.32 per month actually versus £10.99 for GPU) and there are is bigger and deeper library in the 700+ games being offered (although we dont know for sure yet). It is not as good as GPU in that it doesn’t have immediate first party games but newish ps5 games like Returnal and Spiderman: MM make it competitive. And if those classic ps1, ps2 and psp games are the right ones, that’s a really cool offer for old school gamers. Also, the mid-tier is a new brainier for PS5 owners as it means you don’t need to spend £70. It’s solid overall, even compared to GPU.
Wipeout 2048 WRC4 (such a good rally game) Gravity Rush (guessing I’ve missed that because it is an essential game for the Vita) Rogue legacy Salt and Sanctuary Tearaway
Most people don’t even have a 4K TV, never mind a TV that can use VRR. Most people don’t care because it is not an issue that impacts them. I’d much rather PS5 games hit 60fps - which they do all the time. Sony have got things they need to do but this isn’t one of them - at least not immediately.
Just console war nonsense really. A lot of this is fuelled by people pointing at apparent deficiencies of different platforms and making things into larger deals than they really are.
I am hugely excited about GT7 - and worth remembering GT is still Sony’s most commercially successful series by some way. I know racing games aren’t seen the way they used to be but this is hugely exciting for millions of racing fans.
It’s weird man: I don’t care about Microsoft and potential Sony acquisitions. I just want to get excited about a game I’ve always loved.
Also worth mentioning: if you look at where Sony make money, it’s in selling games and hardware. Ps plus and ps now come a pretty distant third. This is also why ps plus won’t always be as good as it could be: they don’t make the bulk of their cash off these type of services.
It is a bad month but I don’t know overall ps plus is great value (especially the ps plus collection). And it is probably more to do Spartacus coming later year and HFW coming out this month (and Sony wanting the attention on that?)
Overall, there are so many games on ps plus that if you have had it for a little while, it is like there will be something to play.
An open world Syphon Filter would be amazing - and I bet that is what Sony wanted them to do. It would make sense: franchise with a positive history dating back to the PS1, all that learning from Days Gone about open world systems - and there is a huge gap in the market for a game like that. Think maybe MGS5 being the only one in recent memory? Splinter Cell is returning soon and who knows what happens next with MGS...There was a real gap there Sony Bend could have exploited.
@NEStalgia Think you make some good points but maybe you are reading into the 'prestige/premium' thing a bit too much? Honestly looking at PS5 (and this first year) - they are in a very different place from the PS3 era (would also say PS4 didn't just win by default: they had the strongest system and great gaming content over the generation - especially taking risks on new IP: I mean Bloodborne didn't sell that well in comparison to God of War or Last of Us etc). Wouldn't say they are as tone deaf and seem to be more aware of what it happening around them these days (even if they make odd mis-step).
PS5 being launched at £450 and the digital edition at £360 shows that they are thinking about competition (the demand for the PS5 shows they could have priced these systems much higher whereas the digital edition is recognition of the importance of cheaper/entry level system). A strong first year gaming line-up (which is much better so far then Microsoft - in fact would ague this is Sony's strongest gaming line-up in years in terms of release windows). Even the PS Plus collection (and improvements to PS Now) shows they are watching what is happening with gamepass a little (and I imagine in future they'll have a stronger offering but right now: they don't need to yet. It is actually more of a risk in a sense especially considering last quarter they brought record revenues - also remember gamepass does not make Microsoft the money yet and Sony don't have the same resources).
Even then: they are not exactly resting on laurels - launching games on PC shows awareness regarding establishing new revenue streams, as does their emergent focus on mobile gaming. Establishing in-roads into China (and other new markets) etc. But most of all: look at the gaming content and its variety - Demon Souls, Returnal (for your hardcore audience); Astro, Ratchet, Abe and Sackboy (for the family audience) and then Spider-man, HFW and Deathloop (big content that brings in your average PS player). Its not just the 'prestige/premium' thing - they work hard at bringing in all sorts of players (including Fallguys, Fortnite, Fifa, CoW gamers). Thats what Sony are very good at.
Don't get me wrong though: the 'prestige/premium' thing is there a little - £70 games etc; bespoke gaming like VR and of course, the focus on exclusive gaming content. But this actually could work out extremely well for the Playstation 5 (and 6) in the end. Another way of re-framing 'prestige gaming' is to call it 'risk taking' - something which a lot of gamers applaud Sony for (could you imagine last gen without Bloodborne?). And good games create lifelong fans - and it looks that is why the PS5 is doing so well. Bluntly: people like sequels/franchises and buying a Playstation is seal of quality for many gamers - you know good stuff will come. It would be more of a problem if people were sick of Horizon, God of War, LoU etc - but Sony were quite smart in the PS4 era to either shelve some games for a little while (GT) reinvent some of the older series (GoW) and takes risks in establishing newer ones (Spiderman; HZD; GoT; Bloodborne). Never mind all the third-party deals (FF7 remake, etc). It's an evident strength for them, more than anything. Yet, I imagine they are aware just how important casual gaming audiences are too and will act accordingly to get them in - as you say: that is what the brand is built on right back to the 90's.
Remote play on a ps vita often works really well. Actually the main reason I use my vita these days. In lockdown being miles away from home and I’m playing tons of things through it (FF7 remake, Wolfenstein 2 and Dead Cells recently). Yeah there are some compromises but it’s my favourite feature of this gen overall - use it all the time.
That said, I get why it is ps vita remote play is not coming to the PS5 - as the controllers are different: likely not possible. Can use a phone instead but I’d still say the vita provides a better experience in a lot of ways.
Think this is really cool and has confirmed my decision to get a PS5 digital edition and not to trade in my PS4 for it. It is a nice feature and gives me another reason to keep the PS4 around too. Go headless on the PS4 and you free up another HDMI port as well (and basically makes your PS5 two consoles in one). Four reasons for me:
1) extra storage - if we get 660gb storage in the PS5 and 500gb in the PS4 slim, that is more than enough for me and I'm never going to have to worry about upgrading storage at all (will keep costs down).
2) as I'm likely getting the digital edition PS5, I still have access to a disc drive on the PS4 (really handy for Blu-rays and DVDs). This is a big one for me as it allows me to get a next gen machine for £350 but not lose out on a feature I value.
3) PS vita remote play. This is not going to happen on the PS5 sadly (and I get it actually: the dual sense controller looks a step up from before and I'm not sure whether it would translate to a ps Vita) but it doesn't matter of I carry on doing it re: PS4. I use ps vita remote play a lot when away from home so will be able to keep doing that.
4) By keeping PS4, I still retain access to second hand physical games that are soon going to get very cheap. Yes, you lose would lose out in terms of PS5 boost tech (if you only have the PS5 digital) but it is not as if those games have suddenly become bad experiences because they are on the PS4.
Lastly, it is just cool to do. Handy I could access my PS4 from miles away if I needed to.
Comments 114
Re: Syphon Filter Games Rated, Likely for PS Plus Premium
@Milktastrophe well that’s cool but I’m not a fan of them (lol and that’s okay: I’m not saying anything about anyone else). And it’s relevant because Sony should be looking at controls and save states more than trophies for PS1 games.
But as you asked: I find trophies makes me carrying on playing content I’m not interested in. If I’ve done the story and side-missions etc, I want to move onto the next game.
Re: Syphon Filter Games Rated, Likely for PS Plus Premium
Could not care less about trophies: it is quite frankly why I love the Switch - just about the games. Achievements on Xbox is cool (because you can get reward points and cash ultimately) but I don't get trophies at all really.
I hope we get 'save' systems though: because those PS1 games need something like that. And any framerate improvements but we'll see: Sony probably won't.
This is great news overall though: like Syphon Filter was a great series and I'll happily play these games again. If this is the type of thing they are aiming for premium, it bodes well.
Re: Poll: What's Your PS5, PS4 Game of the Year So Far?
@wallywest
All those same elements are in Elden Ring. There is repeated side content: catacombs (that are all the same with similar bosses and layouts; there are urdtrees- with the same bosses; there are map markers that open up more of the map; there are bandit camps and travelling parties to attack: again pretty similar throughout). I mean it’s more disguised but if you play open world games a lot, it’s all the same tricks.
In all fairness to HFW: tallnecks take the ‘tower’ thing and push it in really interesting ways: they move round and involve multi-stage sequences including traversal, puzzle and combat: and they are often spectacular to do and are varied from each other. Cauldrons are some of the brilliant side content I’ve ever seen in a game: and again, huge variation and always worth exploring (I got sick of the catacombs in ER a little). Traversal in HFW is way more varied, especially underwater, just amazing to experience. I like AC: Valhallah: it is solid but it doesn’t do anything like that. The RPG system is not light either: I love that you have to take down enemies in correct way to get high end items for crafting. Elegant game design that loops combat to RPG mechanics and provides incentives to master the mechanics. It’s top stuff.
Both are excellent games though but we shouldn’t reduce them at all. Saying HFW is just an Ubi open world reduces what it does in the same way that saying that Soulsborne games are just all about hardness and nothing else (when they are so much more that). Peace, my friend, people can enjoy different games.
Re: Poll: What's Your PS5, PS4 Game of the Year So Far?
Horizon: for once, I have bought new games including Elden Ring and GT7. And Horizon is a much more balanced and varied experience than others. ER is ace, but there is a lot of repeated enemies man, bosses and locations, and the camera on larger enemies is just messy. Towards the end of ER, it becomes quite imbalanced in terms of difficulty as well (even soulsborne vets are saying bosses have been sped up to have longer, unpredictable combos whilst the player is trapped in Dark Souls moveset). Essentially, it forces players into broken builds such as ridiculously over-powered mimic tears and magic builds. I loved it and ER is fantastic and the world is a joy to explore but it’s not without some flaws (never mind the probs on PC).
HFW is so well balanced. You feel in the right place at the right time. The combat is ferocious, and flows so well: the combat wheel on that game is so well designed, you can craft, find items on the battlefield, dodge attacks, fire back-all in a manner of seconds. No other game does this so well. It takes the essence of Monster Hunter and ramps it up (there is no game that comes close to it in terms of open-world combat at all: even Elden Ring). Enemy variety is spot on, RPG mechanics and systems are weaved into crafting (eg taking out enemies in certain ways to get key items m, which then improve weapons and armour). It does subtle things with exploration: move to a question mark and you can find anything: new enemies, high level enemies, puzzles, combat, relics of older world, cool landmarks, cauldrons - some of the side content in HFW is actually better than other games main content. It looks amazing, animations are top, traversal is interesting and varied now (taking good inspiration from BOTW but it’s still Horizon) and underwater sections are like nothing I’ve ever seen in a game before. It’s story could be better in my view, just preferred HZD but it’s still an epic, fun time. Yeah Horizon takes it, for me.
GT7, third. But we all know GOTY is silly, right? Just enjoy the games.
Re: Reaction: PS Plus, PS Now's Makeover a Necessary and Positive Step for Sony
@WallyWest that’s not entirely true. It comes in cheaper than GPU over the year (£8.32 per month actually versus £10.99 for GPU) and there are is bigger and deeper library in the 700+ games being offered (although we dont know for sure yet). It is not as good as GPU in that it doesn’t have immediate first party games but newish ps5 games like Returnal and Spiderman: MM make it competitive. And if those classic ps1, ps2 and psp games are the right ones, that’s a really cool offer for old school gamers. Also, the mid-tier is a new brainier for PS5 owners as it means you don’t need to spend £70. It’s solid overall, even compared to GPU.
Re: Best PS Vita Games
Great list, personally would also have:
Wipeout 2048
WRC4 (such a good rally game)
Gravity Rush (guessing I’ve missed that because it is an essential game for the Vita)
Rogue legacy
Salt and Sanctuary
Tearaway
Re: PS5 Owners Ponder What Sony Is Playing At with VRR
Most people don’t even have a 4K TV, never mind a TV that can use VRR. Most people don’t care because it is not an issue that impacts them. I’d much rather PS5 games hit 60fps - which they do all the time. Sony have got things they need to do but this isn’t one of them - at least not immediately.
Just console war nonsense really. A lot of this is fuelled by people pointing at apparent deficiencies of different platforms and making things into larger deals than they really are.
Re: State of Play Announced, Featuring 30 Minutes of Gran Turismo 7 PS5 Gameplay
I am hugely excited about GT7 - and worth remembering GT is still Sony’s most commercially successful series by some way. I know racing games aren’t seen the way they used to be but this is hugely exciting for millions of racing fans.
It’s weird man: I don’t care about Microsoft and potential Sony acquisitions. I just want to get excited about a game I’ve always loved.
Re: Reaction: We Need to Talk About Tiny Tina on PS Plus
Also worth mentioning: if you look at where Sony make money, it’s in selling games and hardware. Ps plus and ps now come a pretty distant third. This is also why ps plus won’t always be as good as it could be: they don’t make the bulk of their cash off these type of services.
Re: Reaction: We Need to Talk About Tiny Tina on PS Plus
It is a bad month but I don’t know overall ps plus is great value (especially the ps plus collection). And it is probably more to do Spartacus coming later year and HFW coming out this month (and Sony wanting the attention on that?)
Overall, there are so many games on ps plus that if you have had it for a little while, it is like there will be something to play.
Re: Days Gone Director Pitched an Open World Resistance Game
An open world Syphon Filter would be amazing - and I bet that is what Sony wanted them to do. It would make sense: franchise with a positive history dating back to the PS1, all that learning from Days Gone about open world systems - and there is a huge gap in the market for a game like that. Think maybe MGS5 being the only one in recent memory? Splinter Cell is returning soon and who knows what happens next with MGS...There was a real gap there Sony Bend could have exploited.
Re: Sony Is Absolutely Flying Financially Right Now
@NEStalgia Think you make some good points but maybe you are reading into the 'prestige/premium' thing a bit too much? Honestly looking at PS5 (and this first year) - they are in a very different place from the PS3 era (would also say PS4 didn't just win by default: they had the strongest system and great gaming content over the generation - especially taking risks on new IP: I mean Bloodborne didn't sell that well in comparison to God of War or Last of Us etc). Wouldn't say they are as tone deaf and seem to be more aware of what it happening around them these days (even if they make odd mis-step).
PS5 being launched at £450 and the digital edition at £360 shows that they are thinking about competition (the demand for the PS5 shows they could have priced these systems much higher whereas the digital edition is recognition of the importance of cheaper/entry level system). A strong first year gaming line-up (which is much better so far then Microsoft - in fact would ague this is Sony's strongest gaming line-up in years in terms of release windows). Even the PS Plus collection (and improvements to PS Now) shows they are watching what is happening with gamepass a little (and I imagine in future they'll have a stronger offering but right now: they don't need to yet. It is actually more of a risk in a sense especially considering last quarter they brought record revenues - also remember gamepass does not make Microsoft the money yet and Sony don't have the same resources).
Even then: they are not exactly resting on laurels - launching games on PC shows awareness regarding establishing new revenue streams, as does their emergent focus on mobile gaming. Establishing in-roads into China (and other new markets) etc. But most of all: look at the gaming content and its variety - Demon Souls, Returnal (for your hardcore audience); Astro, Ratchet, Abe and Sackboy (for the family audience) and then Spider-man, HFW and Deathloop (big content that brings in your average PS player). Its not just the 'prestige/premium' thing - they work hard at bringing in all sorts of players (including Fallguys, Fortnite, Fifa, CoW gamers). Thats what Sony are very good at.
Don't get me wrong though: the 'prestige/premium' thing is there a little - £70 games etc; bespoke gaming like VR and of course, the focus on exclusive gaming content. But this actually could work out extremely well for the Playstation 5 (and 6) in the end. Another way of re-framing 'prestige gaming' is to call it 'risk taking' - something which a lot of gamers applaud Sony for (could you imagine last gen without Bloodborne?). And good games create lifelong fans - and it looks that is why the PS5 is doing so well. Bluntly: people like sequels/franchises and buying a Playstation is seal of quality for many gamers - you know good stuff will come. It would be more of a problem if people were sick of Horizon, God of War, LoU etc - but Sony were quite smart in the PS4 era to either shelve some games for a little while (GT) reinvent some of the older series (GoW) and takes risks in establishing newer ones (Spiderman; HZD; GoT; Bloodborne). Never mind all the third-party deals (FF7 remake, etc). It's an evident strength for them, more than anything. Yet, I imagine they are aware just how important casual gaming audiences are too and will act accordingly to get them in - as you say: that is what the brand is built on right back to the 90's.
Re: Sony Updates Remote Play Apps in Preparation for PS5
Remote play on a ps vita often works really well. Actually the main reason I use my vita these days. In lockdown being miles away from home and I’m playing tons of things through it (FF7 remake, Wolfenstein 2 and Dead Cells recently). Yeah there are some compromises but it’s my favourite feature of this gen overall - use it all the time.
That said, I get why it is ps vita remote play is not coming to the PS5 - as the controllers are different: likely not possible. Can use a phone instead but I’d still say the vita provides a better experience in a lot of ways.
Re: You Can Use Remote Play to Stream PS4 Games to Your PS5
Think this is really cool and has confirmed my decision to get a PS5 digital edition and not to trade in my PS4 for it. It is a nice feature and gives me another reason to keep the PS4 around too. Go headless on the PS4 and you free up another HDMI port as well (and basically makes your PS5 two consoles in one). Four reasons for me:
1) extra storage - if we get 660gb storage in the PS5 and 500gb in the PS4 slim, that is more than enough for me and I'm never going to have to worry about upgrading storage at all (will keep costs down).
2) as I'm likely getting the digital edition PS5, I still have access to a disc drive on the PS4 (really handy for Blu-rays and DVDs). This is a big one for me as it allows me to get a next gen machine for £350 but not lose out on a feature I value.
3) PS vita remote play. This is not going to happen on the PS5 sadly (and I get it actually: the dual sense controller looks a step up from before and I'm not sure whether it would translate to a ps Vita) but it doesn't matter of I carry on doing it re: PS4. I use ps vita remote play a lot when away from home so will be able to keep doing that.
4) By keeping PS4, I still retain access to second hand physical games that are soon going to get very cheap. Yes, you lose would lose out in terms of PS5 boost tech (if you only have the PS5 digital) but it is not as if those games have suddenly become bad experiences because they are on the PS4.
Lastly, it is just cool to do. Handy I could access my PS4 from miles away if I needed to.