My PS5 is still at the repair shop and I have to work this weekend, so, as much as I’d love to play Death Stranding 2, I will not be doing so. I guess I’ll play… I dunno. I’m sort of burnt out Mario Kart World, but I don’t really have anything else new to play on my Switch 2 for now. Hopefully my PS5 is repaired next week or else it’s a long wait for Donkey Kong, especially when Death Stranding 2 is out. That was basically the first game that I was really looking forward to this year too…
@Titntin @GirlVersusGame It’s not a Death Stranding solo issue. My conspiracy is that I cancelled my PS subscription and Sony is out to get my money some other way because I didn’t have overheating til I cancelled my sub. Over the last two months though, I’ve been having infrequent issues with my console overheating. Was playing Sand Land a couple weeks ago and that was the first time the console shut off, but it restarted. I had the conspiracy because it was only PS+ games that did it before my sub lapsed. Death Stranding had the distinction of crashing the system hardest though. I played To a T with no crashes and my son plays Astro Bot a lot with no crashes. I tried all the DIY tricks to fix, but no luck. Hopefully the pros can save the PS5!
I’m looking more forward to all these retro throwbacks than most of the AAA games coming out in the second half of the year. This looks awesome and like it’ll make me feel like a kid again!
@kmtrain83 It’s the same story every time with Gamepass too. You hear about how successful a game is and how many players it has and how it’s doing better than anticipated and it could see a studio closure follow from it. It doesn’t make sense. If Xbox only wants to be making high yield games or something, why did they buy so many creative studios that don’t specialize in that like Double Fine?
Unless studios like Bethesda and Activision are getting the missile this time, which really doesn’t make sense either. Everything Xbox has done the last two generations has felt like double speak.
I played an hour of it and it recontextualized every game I’ve played the last few years by how amazed I was with DS2… and then my PS5 overheated and I couldn’t get it to restart, so it’s in the repair shop right now. I suppose you could qualify me as Not Yet, But Playing It At Some Point now, but hopefully my PS5 is repaired and I’m playing it next week.
For all the “success stories” we’ve had with regards to Xbox in the last calendar year and how they’re breaking records with software sales, this is ultimately disheartening.
@arsmolinarc Lol. Sometimes bravery is the only option.
But seriously, it does feel like people are sort of afraid of being critical of Clair Obscur for some reason. I know there’s other people out there like me with it.
@Andy22385 Overwatch was unlike anything else back when it released. I don’t like where Overwatch has gone over the years or its impact now that we can observe it years later, but about ten years ago, Overwatch felt really fresh.
To me, Clair Obscur is an equation of its influences that was multiplied by a lower than usual price. I think @UncleByron got it on the nose in his latest comment. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
AI usage is causing data centers to rapidly increase water consumption. It may save time to use AI, but is it worth reservoirs going drier and drier to accommodate the speed of technology, all while humans are losing jobs because it’s implied that AI must be used to keep up with demand? We’ve been told AI will reduce the time it takes to make games in one ear and told that it just takes longer to develop games now than before because of greater technology in the other.
Are the developers really profiting from this? As @Andy22385 said, this game looks like a PS3 game. Something feels off.
@UncleByron I can’t wait for the honeymoon to be over. If Clair Obscur wins GotY for 2025, I’d say it’s the most overrated GotY of all time, and I say this as someone that thought the game was fine, but not great overall.
@Quintumply I genuinely wish more demos would make their way to consoles. Steam having a demo, but not PS5 or Switch is baffling. I turned on the Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo do and bought the game 10 minutes later. This one seems like it needs a demo. You’re not alone in your review. Seems like reviews are all over the place currently. I tend to agree with your reviews though, so perhaps I’ll keep an eye on sales for this one and give it a flyer when it’s not releasing simultaneously with Death Stranding 2.
Honestly, didn’t like KCD2 and feel like Clair Obscur is the most overrated game to release in recent memory (in my opinion). It’s such a weird year in gaming. I keep hearing how stacked it is, but the first half has been the weakest I’ve thought games have been in a decade. Death Stranding 2 is probably the first big release for me all year. 🤷♂️
@lazarus11 I had a similar situation. I was laid off right in time to receive the first round of stimulus checks in the States, so I made roughly the same amount unemployed as I made employed, only without the irritation of needing to pay for things like gas to get to work… or the irritation of having to work for someone! I had a great time with it too. Everywhere was clean and peaceful and the few of us that went outside seemed to have the whole world for ourselves. On top of that, I beat every single 40+ hour game I had in my library that I hadn’t beaten yet (and the wife played Animal Crossing while I did that). I don’t think I appreciated that time enough, but it was definitely one of the happier years in my life, which is weird to say, given how miserable most people were.
@Johnnycide I’d recommend trying it before saying that. It’s a fun and unique title. It’s one of the better live service games that Sony has associated with and it doesn’t appear to be trying to be a cash cow, but rather a fun online FPS experience trying something new. And plus, you can share the game with multiple friends for a relatively low cost of entry.
@Toot1st I thought Clair Obscur was good, and I’d rather not get into a battle about the game and would prefer to celebrate and discuss Kojima’s success with this game, but I do feel Clair Obscur is one of the most overrated games of all time. For me. It isn’t for a lot of people. A lot of people loved it. But for me, it’s just a good game that has received an intense amount of hype and attention. Meanwhile, Death Stranding 1 is my favorite game of all time.
@lazarus11 I got about 20 hours into KCD2 and I believe I gets better, but it just wasn’t for me. To be fair, I did not like the Witcher games either for years. It wasn’t until 2020 that I was able to just say, “Screw it, I’m going all in on this and giving it one big, final shot,” and ended up breaking through to the other side. Maybe if we get another COVID, I’ll be able to sink into the game without life getting in the way. Lol
@Grumblevolcano I dunno if pacing issues will be a problem, especially since we know nothing of the FF9 remake and nothing of FF7 part 3. I expect Tactics will sell well, but Remake and 16 will sell more broadly on Switch. I think it’s possible the FF games may end up selling best on Switch 2, given how much the Japanese market has shifted.
@LofiPie27 Could be true, but I’m also not certain how PC focused the FF fanbase is. The FF base, to my knowledge, has largely been console based and I’d imagine, even PC-based fans may have purchased on console due to exclusivity. The only reason I feel like we use Steam sales as an indicator of sales overall is because Steam is the largest PC platform and they publish data. We never know the breakdown between consoles and Steam unless it’s only on two storefronts.
Also, wouldn’t say Metaphor is a niche RPG. It was definitely one of the most advertised games in 2024 and was a GotY contender (and winner in various circles). It’s an Atlus RPG. Atlus makes Sega’s premier JRPGs.
@Lup FF16 was the second game this generation on PS5 that everyone I knew that plays games bought it, so if sold well, I’d believe it, or else my friend group has more niche tastes than I imagined. Elden Ring and Marvel Rivals are the only other two games that have been played by everyone on my friends list, at least during the PS5 era, with Rebirth and HFW being really close.
It did get a reported 3 mil sold pretty early on though. I imagine it’ll hit 7 mil with a Switch 2 version.
Love the Witcher, but comparing it to Kingdom Come lowers my interest a little bit. I know many people love the franchise, but it’s not for me. Not a fan of the combat if it’s a mix between those two games.
If these are accurate, it really does give a lot of perspective to the industry and would show just how successful Square and Capcom have been by comparison. Final Fantasy 16’s got to be close to those P5 numbers by this point and will certainly fly past it, if that rumored Switch 2 port is coming soon. Also, this shows just how much of a phenomenon Dragon Quest is in comparing DQ3’s sales to any of these titles, given it’s basically an NES game.
…and it also goes to show that the YouTube community hasn’t exactly helped Metaphor or Like a Dragon explode the way that Clair Obscur did. I honestly thought they both would’ve sold more. Sort of gives context to Astro Bot being a strong seller, despite a seemingly low number being celebrated, also makes more sense.
This data just clarifies a lot of things, honestly.
I dunno about anyone else, but this actually makes me less interested in the game. Since when did Nickelodeon share a universe with Sonic? I mean, I get the other Sega characters, but the Nick characters feel weird to me.
No idea. Probably Mario Kart, but honestly… it feels like i don’t have anything I want to play right now. I’d like to play some Switch 2, but I don’t have anything new to play, so… I dunno if I’ll play anything. I’m caught up on the backlog again.
And this explains why us enthusiasts are at such odds with trends in gaming right now: we aren’t really the gaming demographic anymore. Count your lucky stars for all the stuff that DOES cater to us. The drive to develop more Fortnites and Genshins is just going to deepen.
I’ll still try it, but it was on GP and PS+ for a reason, I suppose. Love you, Remedy, but it doesn’t sound like this is going to increase your fanbase with casuals like you hoped. There’s those of us that have bought everything since Max Payne and will be patiently waiting for your next project regardless.
I just wonder if this one will overheat my console like Splitgate 2 does. In the last week of my PS+ sub, it’s sort of weird that all of a sudden I’m now having issues with my console like this
I’m very passively interested in Marathon. I cancelled my PS+ subscription aaaaaaand… yeah… I dunno. I want to like it, but right now I can’t say I do. I do like the art style and Bungie can do gameplay, but it just feels like the room is hostile and we knows what happens to live service games in those conditions.
All that said…..
Poor Shadow Labyrinth though, amirite? I mean, that’s a riff on PAC-Man. That being at 11 votes. I mean, PAC-Man used to be a viable IP, right?
@Strikke Yeah, I’m sort of done with what influencers are doing to gaming. Most of them, I’m not sure if they actually play games at this point. It’s just a huge echo chamber at this point. When FF13 and FF15 were divisive and controversial for fans, that I got, even if I was on the pro-Final Fantasy team then just the same. The tone in which they were divisive though was so different. Ten years back, if you didn’t like something, you’d discuss it, maybe whine, but that’s it. Nowadays people want to burn companies to the ground because they don’t like some design choices. It’s a little much.
I probably won’t watch next year’s because this year’s was a total slog to get through for basically two new announcements for me. Honestly, outside RE9 and Mina the Hollower, I don’t even remember the showcase. State of Play (and Capcom) saved not E3 this year.
The anti-Final Fantasy sentiment in the gaming community these days certainly makes me concerned about the future of gaming in general. While others might not want it, I want these big, ludicrous styles of games and I like Square making games that don’t fit into the comfort zone. If they start listening to the fans, I swear, the 2D-3D games would be the only Square games releasing and that would be a shame.
XVI was an absolute spectacle to behold. A lot of Xbox gamers are still missing out. One of the best games of the generation, certainly. It’s baffling Square didn’t send it to the Switch 2 though. If they want it to have a second wind, that’s where it needs to be.
@Scarface82G1 if that’s the case, unless there’s an expansion or something that really adds to the game, I’ll definitely get a Switch 2 version instead! I could see Rockstar opting out of getting an easy $10 out of most in favor of getting $70 out of a few.
@themightyant Either you’ll love To a T or you won’t. No two ways about it. I really need to finish it… I’ve got just two chapters left in it, but… it’s on my Playstation and I just want to play Switch 2 right now instead.
I’ve started, if my counting is right, 18 games this year? Gotta love Gamepass and PS+ for their help, right? I want to say I’ve bought about half of them. I feel like I should actually buy Blue Prince. 😓
I’m actually really happy with Mario Kart World! I like that it’s basically chaos. My wife and I have tied so many circuits at this point and I sort of like that. My son’s almost beaten me, in fact!
@themightyant Animal Well was fantastic. I loved that one last year. I’m tempted to buy it for my Switch even though I played it on PS+. I love when a game feels like a mystery you have to unlock, especially when it feels like something I’ve never played before. There were some Blue Prince style frustrations in how obtuse it was, but I was hooked nonetheless!
I hate to say it, but I didn’t particularly like Clair Obscur as much as most everyone else did.
My top 10 for the year so far: 1. To a T 2. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo 3. Blue Prince 4. Mario Kart World 5. Split Fiction 6. Welcome Tour 7. Fast Fusion 8. South of Midnight 9. Elden Ring: Nightreign 10. Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Yes, Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour is #6 and I don’t care if people think I’m insane for it! Lol. I’d be shocked if anything from my bottom five makes it to the end of the year, truthfully.
@themightyant I’d still give the game a 9/10 and say it’s maybe my third favorite game so far this year (behind To a T and the surprisingly fantastic Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo), and I’d even go so far as to say that my favorite gaming moments this year have been playing Blue Prince. My wife even loved it too, but we both burned out due to the repetition and just getting frustrated with how arcane it is.
The roguelike nature of the game makes it so that the mystery works really well for like 30-40 hours, but then, after like 30, 40 runs where you may have a stretch of 7 or 8 that go nowhere, you start to wish the game mechanics would start to change into something more basic. I swear, the game actively gives you some of the worst options sometimes. It reminds me of Ubisoft’s Wheel of Fortune AI on easy mode at times. Rolls a $3500 on first spin, first letter guessed… q… Next AI does the same thing, guesses… j… It’s like, why are you not even trying, game?! Lol.
I totally understand the Outer Wilds reference too. I loved that game as well, it the time limit drove me crazy, even though I definitely wish Blue Prince would big bang itself. I feel like, before I put the game on hold (because I don’t know if I’ll come back to it, as it sits in the back of my head like an itch I can’t scratch), I’d have runs that were between 1-2 hours… and still get some of the worst room options towards to end. It’s like, “Do I pick the maid’s chamber, the lavatory, or the furnace? Hmmm…” And then I couldn’t stop, so if only the game would stop me, which ironically I felt the opposite way while playing The Outer Wilds.
Comments 4,040
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 587
My PS5 is still at the repair shop and I have to work this weekend, so, as much as I’d love to play Death Stranding 2, I will not be doing so. I guess I’ll play… I dunno. I’m sort of burnt out Mario Kart World, but I don’t really have anything else new to play on my Switch 2 for now. Hopefully my PS5 is repaired next week or else it’s a long wait for Donkey Kong, especially when Death Stranding 2 is out. That was basically the first game that I was really looking forward to this year too…
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Death Stranding 2?
@Titntin @GirlVersusGame It’s not a Death Stranding solo issue. My conspiracy is that I cancelled my PS subscription and Sony is out to get my money some other way because I didn’t have overheating til I cancelled my sub. Over the last two months though, I’ve been having infrequent issues with my console overheating. Was playing Sand Land a couple weeks ago and that was the first time the console shut off, but it restarted. I had the conspiracy because it was only PS+ games that did it before my sub lapsed. Death Stranding had the distinction of crashing the system hardest though. I played To a T with no crashes and my son plays Astro Bot a lot with no crashes. I tried all the DIY tricks to fix, but no luck. Hopefully the pros can save the PS5!
Re: Terminator 2D: No Fate Looks Like a Long Lost Mega Drive Classic in New Gameplay Trailer
I’m looking more forward to all these retro throwbacks than most of the AAA games coming out in the second half of the year. This looks awesome and like it’ll make me feel like a kid again!
Re: Death Stranding 2's Launch Celebrated with Brilliant Artwork from PS Studios
Third party 11 Bit Studios makes one, but nothing from Konami? I’m shocked.
Would be cool to see one from Team Asobi, but the Sucker Punch one is fantastic. These are always fun to see.
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Death Stranding 2?
@ShogunRok Well, at least I snagged a Switch 2 at launch, so… I still have nothing new to play, basically.
I’ll try my best to stay strong reading WAYP comments on Saturday. I’m just hoping it’s repairable!
Re: 'Employees at Virtually Every Studio Are Worried': Major Layoffs at Xbox Expected Next Week
@kmtrain83 It’s the same story every time with Gamepass too. You hear about how successful a game is and how many players it has and how it’s doing better than anticipated and it could see a studio closure follow from it. It doesn’t make sense. If Xbox only wants to be making high yield games or something, why did they buy so many creative studios that don’t specialize in that like Double Fine?
Unless studios like Bethesda and Activision are getting the missile this time, which really doesn’t make sense either. Everything Xbox has done the last two generations has felt like double speak.
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Death Stranding 2?
I played an hour of it and it recontextualized every game I’ve played the last few years by how amazed I was with DS2… and then my PS5 overheated and I couldn’t get it to restart, so it’s in the repair shop right now. I suppose you could qualify me as Not Yet, But Playing It At Some Point now, but hopefully my PS5 is repaired and I’m playing it next week.
Re: 'Employees at Virtually Every Studio Are Worried': Major Layoffs at Xbox Expected Next Week
For all the “success stories” we’ve had with regards to Xbox in the last calendar year and how they’re breaking records with software sales, this is ultimately disheartening.
Re: Square Enix 'Aware' of Clair Obscur's Success, Ponders Turn-Based RPG Revival
@arsmolinarc Lol. Sometimes bravery is the only option.
But seriously, it does feel like people are sort of afraid of being critical of Clair Obscur for some reason. I know there’s other people out there like me with it.
Re: Square Enix 'Aware' of Clair Obscur's Success, Ponders Turn-Based RPG Revival
@Andy22385 Overwatch was unlike anything else back when it released. I don’t like where Overwatch has gone over the years or its impact now that we can observe it years later, but about ten years ago, Overwatch felt really fresh.
To me, Clair Obscur is an equation of its influences that was multiplied by a lower than usual price. I think @UncleByron got it on the nose in his latest comment. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Re: Hot Shots Golf Fans Fume at Use of Generative AI in PS5 Revival
AI usage is causing data centers to rapidly increase water consumption. It may save time to use AI, but is it worth reservoirs going drier and drier to accommodate the speed of technology, all while humans are losing jobs because it’s implied that AI must be used to keep up with demand? We’ve been told AI will reduce the time it takes to make games in one ear and told that it just takes longer to develop games now than before because of greater technology in the other.
Are the developers really profiting from this? As @Andy22385 said, this game looks like a PS3 game. Something feels off.
Re: Square Enix 'Aware' of Clair Obscur's Success, Ponders Turn-Based RPG Revival
@UncleByron I can’t wait for the honeymoon to be over. If Clair Obscur wins GotY for 2025, I’d say it’s the most overrated GotY of all time, and I say this as someone that thought the game was fine, but not great overall.
Re: Square Enix 'Aware' of Clair Obscur's Success, Ponders Turn-Based RPG Revival
I know practically everyone disagrees with me on the internet, but…
Rebirth > Clair Obscur
FF16 > Clair Obscur
Remake > Clair Obscur
FF15 > Clair Obscur
I hope Final Fantasy keeps being Final Fantasy, as goofy as it is and as inconsistent as it can be with its identity.
Re: PlayStation Thinks Its PS Plus Games Are 'Improving' Every Year
Definitely disagree with them on that. I left my sub earlier this month and it has changed my gaming habits 0%
Re: Mini Review: Ruffy and the Riverside (PS5) - A Cute Platformer with Missed Potential
@Quintumply I genuinely wish more demos would make their way to consoles. Steam having a demo, but not PS5 or Switch is baffling. I turned on the Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo do and bought the game 10 minutes later. This one seems like it needs a demo. You’re not alone in your review. Seems like reviews are all over the place currently. I tend to agree with your reviews though, so perhaps I’ll keep an eye on sales for this one and give it a flyer when it’s not releasing simultaneously with Death Stranding 2.
Re: Mini Review: Ruffy and the Riverside (PS5) - A Cute Platformer with Missed Potential
I’m going to read more reviews, but ouch. I was planning on getting this one for my Switch 2. Sounds like another Plucky Squire though…
Re: Feature: Top 20 PS5 Games of 2025 So Far
Honestly, didn’t like KCD2 and feel like Clair Obscur is the most overrated game to release in recent memory (in my opinion). It’s such a weird year in gaming. I keep hearing how stacked it is, but the first half has been the weakest I’ve thought games have been in a decade. Death Stranding 2 is probably the first big release for me all year. 🤷♂️
Happy to see Blue Prince in the top 10 though.
Re: Best Bandai Namco Games on PS5
Love that you guys are targeting specific publishers with these lists
Re: The Witcher, Kingdom Come Vibes in Blood of Dawnwalker Gameplay
@lazarus11 I had a similar situation. I was laid off right in time to receive the first round of stimulus checks in the States, so I made roughly the same amount unemployed as I made employed, only without the irritation of needing to pay for things like gas to get to work… or the irritation of having to work for someone! I had a great time with it too. Everywhere was clean and peaceful and the few of us that went outside seemed to have the whole world for ourselves. On top of that, I beat every single 40+ hour game I had in my library that I hadn’t beaten yet (and the wife played Animal Crossing while I did that). I don’t think I appreciated that time enough, but it was definitely one of the happier years in my life, which is weird to say, given how miserable most people were.
Re: New GTA-Style PS5 Gacha Game Fixes the One Thing Players Hate Most
@get2sammyb I suppose you’re right. That’s honestly a great idea for a soapbox for you guys down the line in support of live service elements.
Re: New GTA-Style PS5 Gacha Game Fixes the One Thing Players Hate Most
Isn’t the one thing gamers hate most the live service element?
Re: Forgotten Sony Game Midnight Murder Club Confirms Full PS5 Release for August
@Johnnycide I’d recommend trying it before saying that. It’s a fun and unique title. It’s one of the better live service games that Sony has associated with and it doesn’t appear to be trying to be a cash cow, but rather a fun online FPS experience trying something new. And plus, you can share the game with multiple friends for a relatively low cost of entry.
Re: Death Stranding 2 (PS5) - A Masterpiece in Every Sense
@Toot1st I thought Clair Obscur was good, and I’d rather not get into a battle about the game and would prefer to celebrate and discuss Kojima’s success with this game, but I do feel Clair Obscur is one of the most overrated games of all time. For me. It isn’t for a lot of people. A lot of people loved it. But for me, it’s just a good game that has received an intense amount of hype and attention. Meanwhile, Death Stranding 1 is my favorite game of all time.
Re: Death Stranding 2 (PS5) - A Masterpiece in Every Sense
Our true GotY has arrived. Praise be to Kojima.
Re: The Witcher, Kingdom Come Vibes in Blood of Dawnwalker Gameplay
@lazarus11 I got about 20 hours into KCD2 and I believe I gets better, but it just wasn’t for me. To be fair, I did not like the Witcher games either for years. It wasn’t until 2020 that I was able to just say, “Screw it, I’m going all in on this and giving it one big, final shot,” and ended up breaking through to the other side. Maybe if we get another COVID, I’ll be able to sink into the game without life getting in the way. Lol
Re: SEGA's Accidentally Outed Sales Numbers Put a Lot into Context
@Grumblevolcano I dunno if pacing issues will be a problem, especially since we know nothing of the FF9 remake and nothing of FF7 part 3. I expect Tactics will sell well, but Remake and 16 will sell more broadly on Switch. I think it’s possible the FF games may end up selling best on Switch 2, given how much the Japanese market has shifted.
Re: SEGA's Accidentally Outed Sales Numbers Put a Lot into Context
@LofiPie27 Could be true, but I’m also not certain how PC focused the FF fanbase is. The FF base, to my knowledge, has largely been console based and I’d imagine, even PC-based fans may have purchased on console due to exclusivity. The only reason I feel like we use Steam sales as an indicator of sales overall is because Steam is the largest PC platform and they publish data. We never know the breakdown between consoles and Steam unless it’s only on two storefronts.
Also, wouldn’t say Metaphor is a niche RPG. It was definitely one of the most advertised games in 2024 and was a GotY contender (and winner in various circles). It’s an Atlus RPG. Atlus makes Sega’s premier JRPGs.
Re: SEGA's Accidentally Outed Sales Numbers Put a Lot into Context
@Lup FF16 was the second game this generation on PS5 that everyone I knew that plays games bought it, so if sold well, I’d believe it, or else my friend group has more niche tastes than I imagined. Elden Ring and Marvel Rivals are the only other two games that have been played by everyone on my friends list, at least during the PS5 era, with Rebirth and HFW being really close.
It did get a reported 3 mil sold pretty early on though. I imagine it’ll hit 7 mil with a Switch 2 version.
Re: SEGA's Accidentally Outed Sales Numbers Put a Lot into Context
@cainhurst94 It goes to show how successful some of their games are… and wow, Mario Kart… Minecraft… GTA…
Re: The Witcher, Kingdom Come Vibes in Blood of Dawnwalker Gameplay
Love the Witcher, but comparing it to Kingdom Come lowers my interest a little bit. I know many people love the franchise, but it’s not for me. Not a fan of the combat if it’s a mix between those two games.
Re: SEGA's Accidentally Outed Sales Numbers Put a Lot into Context
If these are accurate, it really does give a lot of perspective to the industry and would show just how successful Square and Capcom have been by comparison. Final Fantasy 16’s got to be close to those P5 numbers by this point and will certainly fly past it, if that rumored Switch 2 port is coming soon. Also, this shows just how much of a phenomenon Dragon Quest is in comparing DQ3’s sales to any of these titles, given it’s basically an NES game.
…and it also goes to show that the YouTube community hasn’t exactly helped Metaphor or Like a Dragon explode the way that Clair Obscur did. I honestly thought they both would’ve sold more. Sort of gives context to Astro Bot being a strong seller, despite a seemingly low number being celebrated, also makes more sense.
This data just clarifies a lot of things, honestly.
Re: SpongeBob, TMNT, Avatar DLC Confirmed for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
I dunno about anyone else, but this actually makes me less interested in the game. Since when did Nickelodeon share a universe with Sonic? I mean, I get the other Sega characters, but the Nick characters feel weird to me.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 586
No idea. Probably Mario Kart, but honestly… it feels like i don’t have anything I want to play right now. I’d like to play some Switch 2, but I don’t have anything new to play, so… I dunno if I’ll play anything. I’m caught up on the backlog again.
I’ll have Death Stranding 2 on Monday.
Re: You Really Will Be Waiting a While to Play Persona 4 Revival
Feels like maybe P4 was announced because of leaks rather than because they wanted to announce it?
Not surprised about Stranger Than Heaven. It seemed like an early announcement.
Re: Fans Can't Believe PS5 Has Made More Profit Than All Previous PlayStations Combined
And this explains why us enthusiasts are at such odds with trends in gaming right now: we aren’t really the gaming demographic anymore. Count your lucky stars for all the stuff that DOES cater to us. The drive to develop more Fortnites and Genshins is just going to deepen.
Re: Talking Point: What's Your PS5 Game of the Year for 2025 So Far?
@ShogunRok Did you guys include to a T just for me? It’s an incredibly niche pick, but it’s my pick until Death Stranding 2 tramples over my list.
2. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo
3. Blue Prince
And realistically, those are the only three games I’ve loved this year out of the 20-30 games I’ve played to varying degrees.
Re: New PS Plus Game Makes the Wait for Next Mass Effect a Little Easier
This article feels strangely ad-like.
Man, do I miss when games were news instead of microtransactions.
Re: Stellar Blade Dev Says 'Nothing Confirmed' Regarding Switch 2 Port Rumours
As much as I think the game is one of the most over publicized games of all time at this point, man, what a cool incentive for employees.
Re: FBC: Firebreak (PS5) - PS Plus Shooter Proves Remedy Should Have Stayed in Its Lane
I’ll still try it, but it was on GP and PS+ for a reason, I suppose. Love you, Remedy, but it doesn’t sound like this is going to increase your fanbase with casuals like you hoped. There’s those of us that have bought everything since Max Payne and will be patiently waiting for your next project regardless.
I just wonder if this one will overheat my console like Splitgate 2 does. In the last week of my PS+ sub, it’s sort of weird that all of a sudden I’m now having issues with my console like this
Re: There's a Brutal Lack of Interest in Marathon from Hardcore PS5 Fans
I’m very passively interested in Marathon. I cancelled my PS+ subscription aaaaaaand… yeah… I dunno. I want to like it, but right now I can’t say I do. I do like the art style and Bungie can do gameplay, but it just feels like the room is hostile and we knows what happens to live service games in those conditions.
All that said…..
Poor Shadow Labyrinth though, amirite? I mean, that’s a riff on PAC-Man. That being at 11 votes. I mean, PAC-Man used to be a viable IP, right?
Re: Final Fantasy 16 May Have Underperformed on PS5, But It's Doing Terribly on Xbox
@Strikke Yeah, I’m sort of done with what influencers are doing to gaming. Most of them, I’m not sure if they actually play games at this point. It’s just a huge echo chamber at this point. When FF13 and FF15 were divisive and controversial for fans, that I got, even if I was on the pro-Final Fantasy team then just the same. The tone in which they were divisive though was so different. Ten years back, if you didn’t like something, you’d discuss it, maybe whine, but that’s it. Nowadays people want to burn companies to the ground because they don’t like some design choices. It’s a little much.
Re: Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest Seems Unstoppable
I probably won’t watch next year’s because this year’s was a total slog to get through for basically two new announcements for me. Honestly, outside RE9 and Mina the Hollower, I don’t even remember the showcase. State of Play (and Capcom) saved not E3 this year.
Re: Death Stranding 2 Feedback Was 'Too Good', So Hideo Kojima Made Big Changes
Praise be to Kojima for being Kojima
Re: Final Fantasy 16 May Have Underperformed on PS5, But It's Doing Terribly on Xbox
The anti-Final Fantasy sentiment in the gaming community these days certainly makes me concerned about the future of gaming in general. While others might not want it, I want these big, ludicrous styles of games and I like Square making games that don’t fit into the comfort zone. If they start listening to the fans, I swear, the 2D-3D games would be the only Square games releasing and that would be a shame.
XVI was an absolute spectacle to behold. A lot of Xbox gamers are still missing out. One of the best games of the generation, certainly. It’s baffling Square didn’t send it to the Switch 2 though. If they want it to have a second wind, that’s where it needs to be.
Re: Red Dead Redemption 2's PS5 Version Could Be Announced Next Week
@Scarface82G1 if that’s the case, unless there’s an expansion or something that really adds to the game, I’ll definitely get a Switch 2 version instead! I could see Rockstar opting out of getting an easy $10 out of most in favor of getting $70 out of a few.
Re: Red Dead Redemption 2's PS5 Version Could Be Announced Next Week
Hopefully this is a hint for a Nintendo Direct to be around the horizon for next week, so this can be announced for Switch 2? Wishful thinking?
If there’s a $10 upgrade and a Switch 2 version, Rockstar will get a very rare double dip from me at release.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 585
@themightyant Either you’ll love To a T or you won’t. No two ways about it. I really need to finish it… I’ve got just two chapters left in it, but… it’s on my Playstation and I just want to play Switch 2 right now instead.
I’ve started, if my counting is right, 18 games this year? Gotta love Gamepass and PS+ for their help, right? I want to say I’ve bought about half of them. I feel like I should actually buy Blue Prince. 😓
I’m actually really happy with Mario Kart World! I like that it’s basically chaos. My wife and I have tied so many circuits at this point and I sort of like that. My son’s almost beaten me, in fact!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 585
@themightyant Animal Well was fantastic. I loved that one last year. I’m tempted to buy it for my Switch even though I played it on PS+. I love when a game feels like a mystery you have to unlock, especially when it feels like something I’ve never played before. There were some Blue Prince style frustrations in how obtuse it was, but I was hooked nonetheless!
I hate to say it, but I didn’t particularly like Clair Obscur as much as most everyone else did.
My top 10 for the year so far:
1. To a T
2. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo
3. Blue Prince
4. Mario Kart World
5. Split Fiction
6. Welcome Tour
7. Fast Fusion
8. South of Midnight
9. Elden Ring: Nightreign
10. Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Yes, Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour is #6 and I don’t care if people think I’m insane for it! Lol. I’d be shocked if anything from my bottom five makes it to the end of the year, truthfully.
Re: Poll: Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Extra, Premium Games for June 2025?
It’s ok, but not good enough to get me to re-up my sub!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 585
@themightyant I’d still give the game a 9/10 and say it’s maybe my third favorite game so far this year (behind To a T and the surprisingly fantastic Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo), and I’d even go so far as to say that my favorite gaming moments this year have been playing Blue Prince. My wife even loved it too, but we both burned out due to the repetition and just getting frustrated with how arcane it is.
The roguelike nature of the game makes it so that the mystery works really well for like 30-40 hours, but then, after like 30, 40 runs where you may have a stretch of 7 or 8 that go nowhere, you start to wish the game mechanics would start to change into something more basic. I swear, the game actively gives you some of the worst options sometimes. It reminds me of Ubisoft’s Wheel of Fortune AI on easy mode at times. Rolls a $3500 on first spin, first letter guessed… q… Next AI does the same thing, guesses… j… It’s like, why are you not even trying, game?! Lol.
I totally understand the Outer Wilds reference too. I loved that game as well, it the time limit drove me crazy, even though I definitely wish Blue Prince would big bang itself. I feel like, before I put the game on hold (because I don’t know if I’ll come back to it, as it sits in the back of my head like an itch I can’t scratch), I’d have runs that were between 1-2 hours… and still get some of the worst room options towards to end. It’s like, “Do I pick the maid’s chamber, the lavatory, or the furnace? Hmmm…” And then I couldn’t stop, so if only the game would stop me, which ironically I felt the opposite way while playing The Outer Wilds.