nocdaes

One game too many I think...

I think I'll buy this one!

This actually sounds innovative and interesting! Not felt that about a game for bloody ages...

Believe it when I see it.

This gaming generation will be remembered as the snooze-fest.

I'd love it to be Eternia, but I'm not holding out much hope. I think the PS3 game(s) is most likely.

@Cornpop76 Yea, I feel inclined to agree with you.

What does the Bond license actually mean though? This trailer definitely ticks the MI5 box, the music, the gadgets and the essence of the associated characters, Bond included. More-so when we consider the books too (which we should, really).

So is it that Bond doesn't look right? That's a tricky one isn't it. Does this game improve if Bond looks like Sean Connery? I mean, for me, yes absolutely! But actually... does it need that?

Ultimately I want to see more.

Have to say though... for a game that is out in 2026. That's an impressive trailer to drop in June 2025!

A lot of pressure on this game I think. It's been a stupidly long time since we had a Bond game!

This is a nonsense story!

WB released a game in Q1 last year. They didn't release a game in Q1 this year.

Hence the decline...

It's normal for publishers to not regularly release games in Q1.

And I think we can stop the doom and gloom nonsense too. Hogwart's Legacy was and continues to be a success!

And that's before we even consider the fact Time Warner have more than enough cash flow to fund scores of naff games in search of the one golden goose.

Makes sense. There's so few games worth playing you can get through them all with a rental.

@Nepp67 you've not played Final Fantasy 7. Our discussion is over!

@Nepp67 Right... well of course you don't see a problem then!

@DonkeyFantasy Remake is a considerably better game. Even the jukebox music feature alone was more interesting than a single thing they put in Rebirth.

Honestly, the lack of secrets and collectibles and discoveries... the lack of STUFF... it's unforgivable. Final Fantasy 7 was all about exploring. The Summon materia is such a great example. Rebirth literally just hands them to you like it's free candy.

I stand by my comment. The soundtrack is the only aspect of the remake that anyone associated with the game can take any pride in.

@Nepp67 You know what I mean and their decision to remove it from the game is factually a poor decision.

CONS

• The FF7 Remake literally hands you the Summon materia on a plate.
• They removed the secret hideout underneath the Pinball machine in Tifa's bar.
• The fighting sequences, broadly, play themselves.
• The game is split up into copy and paste sections of the same stuff. The entire opposite of how the original felt.
• Exploration is never rewarded. Entire opposite of the original.
• Chadley as a character utterly ruins the game. His interruptions. His dialogue. His demeanor. He is the worst character I have ever endured in any single piece of entertainment, ever. Whoever created him should be ashamed of themselves for ruining Final Fantasy 7.
• Locations are boring.
• Visuals are plain.
• Climbing and traversing are frustrating. Playing this game after playing BOTW is truly one of the most infuriating experiences in my entire life.

PROS

• The soundtrack is, once again, spectacular. At least the sound department did their job.

Everything costs more today versus when PS5 launched.

I'm sorry but people can be against the rises all they want... you're delusional. The industry is clearly suffering a lot as it is... increased wages, rent, software, utilities... everything costs more today.

Yes. Videogames should cost more too.

We are so not ready for PS6 talk. Give me my PS5 games first!!

The price isn't the problem. I feel bad for Sony as they are at least trying to innovate with VR. Adopters will argue there isn't enough software, but seriously, that's not ALL on Sony. Where is the VR content from... football stadiums? Music festivals? Flat pack furniture instructions? Maps? No-one is doing anything!

Who else is doing anything at all with VR? The whole wearable technology market has stalled. If anything we are all going backwards!

Now that's more like it! This is DOOM!

@TheDudeElDuderino you're missing the bigger picture on this one. Sony's VR offering failed because the market has stalled. That's down to every major tech company.

Take a look at Samsung. What have they done to advance VR? Nothing. They're too busy selling us "smart fridges" that in reality are anything but smart.

How many people do you see with a smart watch on their wrist? 1 in 10 perhaps, if you're lucky? Wait a minute... wasn't it 1 in 10 the best part of a decade ago too?

It's all going backwards if anything!

Sony shouldn't be apologising... they should be commended for trying to push VR forwards.

It's everyone else that should be apologising. The entire "wearable technology" space (so not just VR, clothing, accessories, trainers, watches etc.) has stalled.

As for why? It's no doubt complex, but my gut feeling is that older people with money have shunned it, and younger people with no money cannot afford it. Its obviously not as simple as that... but I suspect that's a root cause.

Investment, education and policy change is needed.

Put on a VR headset and instantly see exactly how that flatpack IKEA wardrobe goes together, along with step by step overlay.

Can't get a ticket to Glastonbury? Put on a VR headset, purchase a digital day pass, and go wherever you like to watch whichever stage at anytime.

We have to ask ourselves why are these two things still not possible in 2025? I can tell you something, it's not because of Sony! They've done more than most to try and get us there.

Decades after smartphones launched we are still putting our hand into our pocket/bag to lift out our phone and hold it in front of our face to see the notification/message/call.

I find that madness! Fast forward 20 years and people will absolutely laugh at the very idea of actually holding your phone in your hand!

This "could" be one of those games where it's so naff it's actually good...

...but if it takes itself too seriously then it is doomed. That trailer absolutely stinks of something taking itself too seriously, so I'm not going to be placing a bet on this one I'm afraid!

It genuinely depends on what the game ends up being.

If it's "more of the same" and lacks significant innovation - aka large swathes of this entire console generation - then I'll hold off and pick it up when it's bargain price.

A visually improved GTA5 with a new story isn't really going to tempt me.

Cannot emphasise enough that GTA's biggest appeal has been the drastic improvements made game-on-game.

What are those drastic improvements going to be in PS5 and in 2025? I'm happy to see... but I'm not confident it'll be enough for day one for me!

So he is no longer 55378008

@B_ill_ Yep, to be fair to them, they have indeed said that with regards to part 3. I'm going to assume that Knights of the Round is one of those things they intend to make more challenging!

@B_ill_ 1. How does that metacritic compare to the original game? That is a solid piece of evidence that suggests it missed the mark.

2. Gaming habits have changed. That doesn't mean we should praise what is quite clearly mediocrity on a game that deserved and was worthy of so much better.

3. Why would anyone celebrate a metacritic score of less than 95 for what is, factually, a remake of one of the best games that has ever existed?

Each to their own. You celebrate finding Summon materia in a Cave that's marked on your map. I expect Summon materia that is a just reward for putting in some actual effort! (And this is just one example to make the point. The remake games are littered with examples).

I think the placement is about right, but it says more about the lack of Amazing games on PS5 this year rather than FF7 Rebirth actually being great.

Plenty I loved about Rebirth, but I cannot forget nor forgive the complete lack of reward for exploration. The original game excelled at rewards for exploration - it was a huge part of what made the game great.

Rebirth failed miserably... they literally just hand you everything to the point you don't even feel like you are really playing the game... it just plays itself for you.

Knights of the Round. Vincent. The Key to Sector 7 and Tifa's legendary weapon. The Ancient Forest (and all its quirky weird controls!). The Alexader materia.

The original game has so many amazing secrets, items and even characters. Who on earth decided the remake should ignore it all? It's unforgiveable.

People can rant and rave about the game all they want. The fact is it missed the mark.

Are we seriously pointing a finger at someone for crying?

Even this article claims "a defence" like crying in public is something that requires it.

And we wonder why videogames lag embarrassingly behind the high profile nature of the film and music industries.

Shameful all round. The original video. The "defence" and even this very article, frankly.

Just imagine for a moment how unbelievably amazing the videogames industry could be if people associated with it weren't, generally, such immature morons.

@thebizniznizbiz I see no scandal. I'd rather people with the spare cash pay for the extra 3 days than all of us have to pay more. Seems a decent way to make a bit of extra cash without impacting everyone.

Feels like something that would launch alongside the PS6.

Portal has laid down the foundations for success. (Although I would argue Switch has actually done most of that work and Sony are late to the party).

Looks good to me. I'll pick this one up for sure.

@DennisReynolds Not every Christmas, but on rotation every few years for sure. Die Hard and Bad Santa are both right up there though!

Sometimes I feel sad being the gatekeeper to what my kids can and cannot play, but then I get these reminders that actually I am right and my kids should absolutely be the ones in school that play a rich variety of games from past and present and not all the utter rubbish that their peers are seemingly hooked on: Fortnite. Minecraft. Roblox.

@Lavishturtle Behave yourself! Starship Troopers is a cult classic movie - this game will seal a credible ROI on that fact alone.

Not to mention the fact it's just as easily comparable to EDL - which predates Helldivers by almost 2 decades.

@LifeGirl I disagree. Roblox is specifically for the kids with the parents that don't pay attention.

That's their entire business model. Ripping off the children whose parents are looking the other way. All the while not caring, at all, about the child's welfare - Roblox have no duty of care whatsoever.

It's a scummy business that preys on children. That's a cast iron fact.

So blame parents all you like... it's entirely irrelevant. Roblox would not exist if parents paid attention to it.

GTA 6, DooM and Indiana Jones... next year is almost too much. It's genuinely a shame we didn't get some of these in 2024 as there won't be room for all of them next year - I fear AC and probably Indie in particular will suffer from a packed release slate.

I'm fine with £60 and I'd be fine with £70 too. Everything else costs more, why wouldn't video games? At least you're still getting what you pay for with videogames.

Everything else out there seems to me we pay more AND we get less at the same time.

Besides, youth of today don't seem to realise how much certain SNES and N64 games used to cost. Not to mention all the Japan imports we "had" to do!

Moaning over £60 and £70... if you really want to know expensive games, try collecting retro! Trust me, the new stuff is cheap.

Everything looks awesome with one exception... the main character. He looks like the guy from UP and I'm not sure I want to play as the guy from UP!

Yes, but will it give me nightmares...

This is such a nonsense debate. Sorry, but it's true. The PS5 Pro has not sold out and that is absolutely 100% bad news for Sony.

Anyone arguing otherwise needs to lift their head up and take a good look around at the state of the games industry and the wider economy - UK or US, same story.

There is a 0% chance Sony made loads of Pro consoles to exceed demand... that's nonsense!

Is it a disaster? No, of course not. Is it bad? Yes, it's a negative thing that will have a negative impact.

GTA6 and a £100 price cut will quickly resolve any problems. If you are price sensitive OR, maybe just don't feel the software is there to justify the Pro(!) then just wait for GTA6. You know it makes sense...!

@Teknix314 It'll come down to personal preference. One thing I think people are way too quick to dismiss though, is the fact that there is a large group of older gamers that have a different outlook with their finances. Pro exists for this very audience. Pro isn't here for people to deliberate over graphics and performance... it's for the late 30s/early 40s year old that has the money and simply wants to play GTA "the best way".

Sony know this. Analogue know this too. Microsoft are too focused on younger audiences and Nintendo made good progress (Handheld play to fit gaming in) but stalled in the past few years with their insistence on "crap" software decisions.

Without knowing how many were available, it's impossible to know whether this is remarkable or not!

I'll be tempted to pick one up whenever GTA6 drops... but honestly, until that moment, is there a single game I'd be excited to play on it?

Normally you'd think... ooh Gran Turismo! Or you'd think Final Fantasy! Not really relevant this time is it?

I'm still waiting for the impressive PS5 games... nevermind Pro!!

Just to be crystal clear.... if it was his character, then Sony would have had to come to him for permission to use it.

So it's not his character. He made it? He thought it up? He came up with it? Doesn't mean diddly squat mate. You don't own it. You therefore have zero say on it.

Maybe pay a bit more attention to your contract in future? Or.... oh wait... you mean you took the fat pay cheque and signed it all away. Ahhh I see.

Makes the complaints here even more cringe doesn't it?

I was interested in this, but then I quickly realised it isn't really what I'm looking for. Not being funny, but even the Disney + star wars content that creates new characters is very average, so not really sure how Ubisoft expects to be able to pull it off? And from what I've seen, they absolutely have not pulled it off. The World looks good, but that isn't enough. This is Star Wars... there are 100s of amazing characters already... why are Ubisoft reinventing the wheel here?

Also, side note - but it's 2024 and they are still trying to sell me outfits as dlc. Seriously? Can the games industry get itself some sodding credibility? Do you know what message I hear when I see an email from the publisher pushing dlc clothing at me? It's that the game isn't any good and we're desperate to make as much money as we possibly can because we're worried it isn't going to be enough. Good luck ubisoft.

@LifeGirl You forgot Die Hard! Everything after 3 is diabolical!

Oh and I watched the new Beverley Hills Cop the other week. Words fail me.

I'm excited for this Indiana Jones game! I think it looks good and fair play to them picking up the reins when Uncharted and Tomb Raider have gone MIA.

"What Time Is Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024?" said nobody, ever.

Sorry, but it's true! Gamescom always struggled to gain interest and E3 was blamed. Well, it's not E3 to blame now is it?!

@DaniPooo no, not average. Bang average. That's even worse than average!

As someone who grew up with the original FF7, my expectation level for the remake was for, at the very least, the originals charm, originality and creativity to be not only respected but fully utilised and realised.

What they created is at best a complete waste of my time.

I despair when I compare the pure thrill and satisfaction of leveling up materia in the original FF7 compared to... what is it I'm doing in the remake exactly? Seems to play itself... oh and I "find" a shrine and it "levels up" my summon materia... which wasn't spectacularly hidden in the game world but literally handed to me by Chadley... who himself is the most irritating character in videogame history. Who has more dialogue than any of the actual characters! Who just won't go away!! Only beaten by a certain Star Wars Episode 1 character for most irritating in entertainment history!

Again. Waste of my time.

Oh I can't wait to see how they ruin Knights of the Round...

Soulless. Lifeless. As if it was created by people that hadn't played FF7 before.

Oh, and I knew this from the very moment you couldn't go down the Pinball machine lift in 7 Heaven. That was the moment I knew. This remake project was flawed versus what I wanted.

Seriously. Who at Square Enix decided NOT to go down the Pinball machine lift?! It's literally the most absurd decision. It let me know in an instant that this wasn't being done right.

And sure enough... the game is missing all sorts of "moments".

Now the soundtrack... that is spot on. Amazing, lovingly restored classic FF7 tracks mixed with fantastic new music that fits the game perfectly. Although... where is Barret's Theme?! Third game maybe? OK, I'll wait and see...

It looks pretty good too. I know some people complained about it, but I thought it realised the game world quite well.

Good sound. Good visuals. A shame the senior leadership team messed up everything else. And we should be angry about it, too. We'll be in our 70s or 80s before we see any sort of fresh attempt at making the perfect FF7.

FF7 Rebirth secures number 1... despite being a bang average game. Says it all really. Here's hoping the second half of the year delivers better games.

When EA announced the change from FIFA to FC I genuinely had high hopes we might finally get an EA dev team trying to create the next evolution of football games.

But no.

It's still the same algorithm based drivel from the 16 bit era - albeit much prettier on the eye, and much more complex algorithms (but NOT that complex).

Will we ever get a new football game?

Remember the NEW Mario Bros games? Imagine if Nintendo released one every year. The exact same game. Over and over and over and over again. How do the EA devs even sleep at night producing the same rubbish content over and over again? It's embarrassing. The fact it sells so well... it's this vicious cycle of utter drivel.

When do we get a new football game? PS6? PS7? 8?! Because this is still pre-PS1 levels of creativity we are playing here... it's Mega Drive quality underneath the flashy bodywork.

Yes, cannot wait to see what tweaks they make to the algorithm.

When will we actually see a real football game on a game console? It's 2024 and we are literally playing the same crappy algorithms from the first football games - just looking prettier.

As if people play this rubbish professionally... although I guess it's no different to a fighting game. Press the buttons in the exact right order for the same results everytime.

When you see the results of the poll throwing it out a lot of low %s spread across a lot of games... it surely suggests that there isn't much to look forward to from a "major release" perspective. That's the story so far right there... plenty of good games. Where are the great games?