Comments 481

Re: Soapbox: Where's My Red Dead Redemption 2 PS5 Version, Rockstar?

frankmcma

I need to revisit. I think I had like 5 hours in, made it to the camp and started doing some missions. The pace was very slow, and I kept dying trying to park my horse and wagon. Not sure if this was an early glitch but it was so touchy. I also felt like if I turned the wrong way too quickly in town or stumbled into someone by accident things would escalate surprisingly quickly.

I would love a 60fps 4K version for PS5 though. Need to give it another shot.

Re: Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut (PS5) - Excellent Iki Island Expansion Adds to an Already Amazing Adventure

frankmcma

You had me at "pet small monkeys"

I did have one concern, maybe someone can help out, I heard there is no mini-map and that you "just follow the wind to get where you need to go". Is this true?

It sounds a little vague and kind of goes against my meticulous open-world collecting and path-finding I typically love to engage in.

How is the lack of a map? Is the game meant to be more loose? Or does the no-mini-map "just work"?

Thanks!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 389

frankmcma

Continuing Shadow of the Tomb Raider which has given me the Uncharted fix I didn’t know I needed this summer. Veering off the short-ish campaign provides tons to do, love collecting things and exploring. Especially great is the focus on swimming and underwater exploring. Very charming game that also happens to look amazing, with some stunning HDR.

Also: pressure to try Hades is ramping up. I don’t like rogue dying games (although to be fair I’ve never played one) so I’m a little stressed but very intrigued to see what it’s all about.

Plus Division 2. Really can’t quit you D2.

Re: Shadow of the Tomb Raider Patched to Run 4K, 60fps on PS5

frankmcma

Oh this sounds very cool. Finished the first one, thought it was great, played about half of Rise and it was great as well. Then got distracted by other games. I did like how even though the first one was linear, Rise was a bit more open with large areas to explore, find missions, etc. Does this one have open-worldy areas as well?

I should finish the 2nd one, but getting this one may be a priority

Re: Watch Dogs Legion: Bloodline (PS5) - A Much Better Plot Built on Existing Foundations

frankmcma

DLC sounds great, I just recruited Aiden and Wrench and will use them in the campaign for now since I just purchased the game and am still working through it.

I think this game will grow a bigger following in the coming year, I think it reinvents so many RPG troupes and makes them fresh.

For example, instead of being in a shop examining weapons to purchase you find recruits that have unique gear, instead of XP leveling you have gear advancements and team upgrades, rather than a dull grid of passive skills and adding points your skills are out there with people (passive team skills acquired apply to the whole team), instead of a set stock main character you can have anyone be the protagonist including beefier Prestige Operatives, instead of reloading a checkpoint after dying you have higher stakes and tension with time-based arrests and permadeath, instead of crawling around in stealth/cover mode you can wear an outfit (like a police uniform) and be undetected by others via Uniformed Access, rather than just grabbing a collectable each item has a puzzle or tricky method of acquiring, instead of a profession tied to the game's star you can be stealth or guns blazing or hacking or really all of the above, rather than an AI team of dummies you have a diverse group of individuals with character and different skillsets, and so on.

I do feel like it takes about 5-7 hours to really get into the granular levels of how the game works, then it really hooks you. I also love how the developer can release new game protagonists, keeping it fresh. I can imagine playing as other game characters (Fenyx or Eivor...maybe?) although I have to say, I am more attached to my bestie Construction Worker than I have been attached to a lead in the past few RPGs I have played. Not sure why. Maybe it is developing a hero instead of being handed a hero?

Late to the Legion party, but very impressed so far. If they keep advancing it as well as ramping up the online, I can see a bright future for the game.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 384

frankmcma

Picked up Watch Dogs Legion Ultimate Edition last week on sale and went in with low expectations. But I have been delighted with how fun it is. Reminds me a lot of Infamous, and the play how you want and who you want is very cool. Not sure if the game has been improved since launch or maybe it just fell victim to a crowded launch window last year, but I am having a ton of fun.

Also tried The Crew 2 demo and while the lack of 60fps, HDR and 4K are disappointing, races seem fun. Surprised so many people are (still) playing this game, may give it another hour or two and see what I think. A PS5 makeover would be great.

Also playing a lot of the Cartels in Borderlands 3, such a fun map, and 80s vibe. Glad it’s back and now permanent. I do like the new weekly and daily challenges, and have been mopping up some old side quests I never finished.

Re: Ubisoft Planning for Assassin's Creed Infinity, Online Platform in 2024

frankmcma

@munkholt A few times on later D2 campaign missions I "called for backup" and someone jumped into my game, joined right into the fight, helped me succeed, and then did a salute and jumped right back out. With mics off it was kind of perfect. I like online when I need some quick help, just don't need co-op up in my grill every minute of playtime. I expect ACI will be similar.

Re: Ubisoft Planning for Assassin's Creed Infinity, Online Platform in 2024

frankmcma

@get2sammyb I think the time span makes sense. Another year of Valhalla DLC, takes it to 2022, 2023 starts the reveals of Infinity with teasers up until a 2024 launch. I do hope they don't squeeze another AC game in there. I think the wait between games is longer but the break (which maybe we all need) should provide more build up to a bigger launch.

Re: Ubisoft Planning for Assassin's Creed Infinity, Online Platform in 2024

frankmcma

@Unlucky13 I hope it will be much like Division 2, which is PVE focused with PVP. I was reluctant to do an "online game" but after almost 300 hours in D2 I am glad I took a chance. You only see people in hubs and you can call a rando in for backup (and they can call you) however these two settings can be switched off and you basically have a PVE game where you see nobody at all ever. The great part of it is there are seasons and events that keep you playing, the downside is you need to connect to a server, which takes like 30 seconds.

I can't imagine they will throw away PVE after hit after hit with the AC franchise, and just do an online battle royal. I feel like this will be "the next AC" but with online options for collaboration, raids, leagues, etc. It will also be very interesting on how they develop the modern day vs. historical periods mix.

I am excited to see what these two stellar teams come up with!

Re: PS Store Weekend Offers Include Ubisoft Games, RPGs, and More

frankmcma

@Shepherd_Tallon any interest in Borderlands 3? I’ve spent a few hundred hours in both Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 and the same amount in B3. Building characters, amazing locations, great art style, great score, dark humor, exploration, lore, RPG post apocalypse, B3 ticks many of the Fallout boxes for me. Plus a ton of DLC and end game content that still continues to be developed.

Outer Worlds seemed linear to me and more story based than open world do what you want. I should revisit it, but I think I went in expecting a new gen Fallout and I don’t think that is what it is.

Re: Deal: Returnal, Demon's Souls, Spider-Man in PS5 Weekend Sale

frankmcma

Kinda want to play Miles Morales first since it seems like a good built for PS5 tech demo. Has anyone done this?

I played Spider-Man on PS4 for a bit but never got back to it. Thought it was great but got distracted with other games. Now with a PS5 I want to play the best of the two. Which?

Re: Metro Exodus PS5 Version Has Some Very Cool Sounding DualSense Support

frankmcma

In the US the deluxe version is on sale for $20 on PSN until June 24th if you have PS Plus.

Have not played the series, but I've seen some videos of this new version and it looks amazing. I am not a fan of the tension + scary/teethy things jumping toward you, but I do love the post-apocalyptic genre, and the work here looks stunning.

Re: Talking Point: Did Sony Lie About PS5?

frankmcma

@munstre My guess is they decided last summer, height of pandemic uncertainty and facing a Fall console launch while the world burned. Could they do a PS4 version downgrade of a developed PS5 game in a year. Probably?

I just believe they pivoted, could have put the info out sooner, more than they secretly were lying for the past several years and suddenly they are now caught.

Re: Talking Point: Did Sony Lie About PS5?

frankmcma

I think Sony planned to “get everyone moved over to PS5 as fast as possible” as they targeted…but then..whoops…pandemic…chip shortages..production bottlenecks...features like external shortage way behind schedule..scalpers ensuring most who wanted a PS5 last holiday did not get one…and still can’t…etc.

I just think they are now planning more of an extended transition. Mainly because people STILL can't walk into a store and buy a PS5. So to have to market a "PS5 Exclusive" along with the fact that you can't actually buy a PS5 to run it does not make a lot of sense from a business standpoint. Hard to have a system seller with...no system.

I am constantly amazed at not only new PS5 games, but updates to current PS4 games (adding 60fps, 4K, RT). If AC Valhalla runs at 30fps/1080p on PS4 and 60fps/4K on PS5, I am unsure what is being held back. The SSD is still providing the PS5 with amazingly quick load times on PS4 titles.

It's a good conversation and good article (not happy about the click-bait headline though) but lying is a bit strong. More like pivoting, as businesses are doing during this past year of craziness.

Did Sony miscalculate 2020? Yes.

Did we all? Certainly.