@ShogunRok I believe it. Larian, unlike many gaming companies, knows how to value their fanbase, so I suspect this may be correct… though I thought Larian was thinking about going sci-fi for the next one for some reason. I could’ve sworn I thought they said that somewhere.
As much as I like Black Flag, I have no real interest in playing it again any time soon, nor do I have desire to play AC. Love the series, but I think even I hit saturation point with Shadows.
@MichaelNau I think E33 continues on with a proof started with Baldur’s Gate 3 that you can get a very niche game very successful if it caters to that niche very much so. I remember being extremely impressed with how well BG3 sold in spite of being an incredibly niche offering. I believe that, in catering to a niche, you will be able to generate strong word of mouth, which creates free marketing for these types of games. E33 potentially did this even more than BG3 did too, as I just remember such a saturation about E33 earlier in the year.
@MichaelNau I’ve spent a lot of time considering why this game was so successful, but personally felt it was so average. Most people have told me, “People just have different taste. You can’t like everything that’s a critical hit,” which is true, but, for some reason, I had to rationalize why I might feel that way because, on paper, it should be everything I’d want out of a game and, besides, I already understand what I didn’t like in previous winners. It felt like a game where many people I knew disliked something about the game too where they almost felt bad about being critical and saying something until they were “safe to do so,” as for some reason people are shyer about being critical of this game than certain other games. I mean, even the underdog messaging this game has seems manufactured, as it was heavily marketed by Xbox, almost as if it was a first party game, and was receiving heavy media coverage since it was announced.
I think it’s quite an interesting game for things like that and it’s had a hype train unlike anything I’d seen. The marketing team behind the game is rather brilliant, honestly.
@Max_the_German In my personal opinion, everything successful about E33 is a reaction against something else established in another franchise and I think that’s why the game may be somewhat more divisive than its internet portrayal. Its turn based nature is certainly a reaction against Final Fantasy. The map design is a reaction against Ubisoft games. The game’s pricing was a reaction against AAA pricing. The game’s length as reported by the team prior to launch was a reaction against other RPGs that boast length as a selling point. And yet it could be argued that the game is a reaction against indie games having funding as well if you want to be cynical. Etc, etc. I suspect this is why some people are enamored with the game whereas others see the game as average and there’s few that outright don’t like the game at all. It’s an interesting game as a meta commentary for trends in the current gaming landscape and what happens when you give a specific subset of gamers precisely what they want.
@Max_the_German Yeah, I agree. I noticed how differently everyone plays the game after I completed it and watched my family play. My daughter’s 4 and she can enjoy it, which isn’t always the case with even simple games. I’ve showed it off to a lot of people and everyone loves it once they get to that first big open level, and they all seem to get through it in a different approach. The way I see it: if I see that type of enjoyment in so many different people of different ages and backgrounds, casual and dedicated gamers, to me, that’s a game that deserves something, even if it’s not my personal pick.
Y’know, given the holidays, I’ve had the opportunity to talk to more people about games outside my internet bubble and talking about GotY has been fascinating, especially with E33, as none of my family, friends or acquaintances (all of whom spend far less time reading gaming news coverage than any of us on here) thought the game was GotY or was trending towards it. If anything, Silksong was the one that kept coming up. I thought it was sort of refreshing to hear so many voices say Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Hades 2, or Silksong were obviously going to win (and honestly it was sort of refreshing to get some more critical takes of Yotei, Silent Hill, and E33 too… though it’s so weird how divisive Nintendo feels right now).
@Max_the_German I loved Bananza. If Astro Bot was Sony telling Nintendo that it can make an attempt to match Mario Odyssey (which I prefer Odyssey, but I’d say both games are a 10), then Bananza is them clapping back big time. My personal GotY is Death Stranding 2, followed by Silksong, but DKB is my #3 (like 2024, it was a year of mostly 6/10 and 7/10 games with 3 big 10/10s to smoothen out the year overall) but I’m rooting for Bananza because I think it does deserve it. It’s a very unique game and a game that literally anyone can play and have a unique experience.
Calling it now: Marvel Cosmic Invasion wins December… Not saying that’ll be my pick, but it’s my guess. December looks surprisingly solid, but I get the feeling most December games will be buried.
@bowzoid Is Sektori solid? I’m contemplating picking it up soon. It’s on my wishlist.
I’ll vote Lumines because I love Tetris Effect, but realistically there wasn’t much of interest in November for me. What happened to Unbeatable? Wasn’t that supposed to come out in November?
As of right now, there’s very little I’m interested in for 2026. If this is true, that could really help next year start off right… and give me my yearly birthday present to give to myself too!
Lol, while Black Friday shopping yesterday, my wife said to me, “Let’s get this one for our son on the Switch (with regards to Horizon). I think he’d like it.” I said, NOPE. It’ll be free on PS+!
Sony can’t cry about losing that sale though since Santa’s got a Portal and a bunch of Astro Bot merch in his bag instead
Looking forward to reading reviews for like half a dozen games next week. Not sure I’ll pick anything up outside Metroid on the Nintendo side of things, but I’m genuinely interested in knowing how a few of these turned out.
Two classic style beat ‘em ups releasing the same week, by the way. I think I’m getting 30 years younger seeing that!
Honestly, I really want to play something new, but I feel bad about buying anything new right now, given that Metroid is coming this week and I’m about to buy a Steamdeck and will be sinking some money into starting a Steam library very soon. I have to work today, but it’s snow storm weather, so I sort of want to just curl up and play some games. Realistically though, I think I’m just going to plan my early Steam library and play Arc Raiders… but I keep thinking about The Outer Worlds 2 at random too…
I should go back to Yotei and finish that though, shouldn’t I? Or Silent Hill F? Or Hades 2? For some reason, as good as those games are, man, I’m struggling getting back to them.
For me, the 10/10s are:
Elden Ring
Alan Wake 2
Final Fantasy 16
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
Balatro
Astro Bot
Death Stranding 2
Hollow Knight: Silksong
So… I half agree with the Pushsquare list! I’d say I’d rank Edith Finch as a 10/10 too, but that’s a PS4 game for me. Might as well say a bunch of PS4 games with PS5 upgrades are 10/10s if that one’s included, you know?
All that said, even the 10s I disagree with, it’s impossible to deny their impact and quality…
As of the time of the writing of this comment, I have the highest score on here… of anyone that isn’t employed by Hookshot! Dreams can come true! I read the articles and remember things!
I don’t really think it’s a sequel problem so much as it feels like the sequels aren’t as good as the first games. I wouldn’t say any of the PS5 sequels reign supreme over the PS4 originals. I mean, they improve the gameplay a little bit, but the games feel iterative rather than games than go in new dimensions, if you know what I mean. None of them have been a TotK sequel to BotW if that makes sense. Astro Bot could qualify as a solid sequel that was a leap. Death Stranding 2 is about as good as the first one too.
Also, Wolverine and Saros definitely feel sequely to me, even though they aren’t authentic sequels.
The console has been solid, but I did have to get mine repaired because the liquid metal in the console dried out. A little bit of a design flaw in the console. However, I love the Dualsense controller 100%. Might be my favorite controller of all time so far.
As far as games go, it’s been a patchy generation. It’s not like there’s nothing to play this generation, far from it, but there’s certainly been fewer essential experiences. Thus far, 2023 might be the only year that truly felt exceptional for the console. I’m not sure Sony’s first party strategy is for me anymore either. So far, Astro Bot and Death Stranding 2 are the only first party games I’d give a 10/10 to. I know a 10/10 is high praise, but that’s definitely lower than any other PlayStation console. The exclusives have carried the console for me, but most aren’t exclusive anymore. It’s been a weird generation where software is concerned.
And I can wait a long time for a PS6. Sony will have to sell the console to me next time, unfortunately. I’m not an insta-buy like I had been for three generations. I’m not sure I’d buy a new gen PlayStation right now and that’s largely because the first party line-up hasn’t been for me. Contemplating to go PC/Nintendo next gen.
@Dogbreath Fair enough, but I don’t think the majority of users here are in the minimum wage bracket, which would account for the squabbling. The users on this site tend to be more adult, so, if the average grocery item is 18%+ more expensive than it would have been three years ago, and if they’ve not received a wage increase to be comparable to the raising costs, that would make an impact to their thoughts of purchasing things in general, even cheaper things.
@Dogbreath I think it’s the fact that everything else is more expensive now in conjunction with wages not raising to meet the standard of those price increases that is making people view price hikes on anything an an enemy. Also, there was no way to socially complain about things back in the day. Lol.
But, I mean, personally I agree with you that gaming is a relatively cheap hobby in comparison to everything else and I do hope it stays that way. I mean, you can get a game for cheaper than you can going to see a movie in a theater with a family of 4 circa 2025 (in my area, at least). Sort of insane you can buy a 100+ hour experience for $70 these days on anything… and that’s without a sale.
But, when groceries cost approximately double what they did 5 years ago and rent has increased significantly as well, that means many are being squeezed out of their hobbies now because the essentials cost more. And I know plenty of people that haven’t gotten a raise in the last two years or have lost their job and had to take a job that pays less due to “market uncertainty.” I think it’s more these factors than anything else. The world just isn’t what it was pre-2020.
Rooting for Donkey Kong Bananza since it won critics choice at the Golden Joystick Awards. Death Stranding 2’s my real pick, but man I’d love to see Bananza win just because of all the monkey business, you know?
@DrVenture69 He really likes walking sims, particularly ones with somewhat “scary” vibes, though he doesn’t like games that are actually scary. He likes the Exit 8 a lot too. I got lucky he’s not Roblox and Fortnite minded as many kids are these days!
I think the themes in Maquette may not click with him, but Talos Principle may be a good shout. I don’t recall if I own it (modern gamer problems, right?), but I’ve never played it. Might be fun to go in blind together!
That’s a bummer. I know I’m a little bit of an anomaly with Sony next year in comparison to most on here, but there’s nothing first party right now outside this I’m looking forward to. I know it was wishful thinking for this one to be 2026, but still… could really use more Naughty Dog-esque games in the industry right now.
I played through Portal yesterday with my son. That was fun. It’s always interesting to share an ancient artifact with him and see what he thinks. He could see the influence in other games he likes such as The Stanley Parable, Superliminal, and The Witness. Not bad observing that for an 8 year old.
Outside that, I’m contemplating jumping on a Black Friday sale for something. While, yes, I still have Yotei and Silent Hill F to complete, I sort of feel like I’m having a hard time pushing myself to play either of them and Portal felt like a breath of fresh air. A friend of mine really wants me to start playing Arc Raiders too, so maybe that’s the answer. I didn’t have time for games for a while, but I think that’ll change a bit this week. Just not sure how yet.
@REALAIS Bill Gates himself said recently in interview that AI will solve a lot of global issues and result in people being able to work less and spend more time doing the things they enjoy. On Jimmy Fallon, he waxed on about how humans could enjoy a 2 day workweek in the future. These suits are literally telling us that AI will make life easier and create more abundance for everyone. I know it’s a lie, you know it’s a lie. They know it’s a lie. AI is already consuming far more energy and water than most people realize. Scarcity is going to continue skyrocketing from AI burning through resources. I’m commenting on the narrative we are being fed. Even here, Microsoft is being pictured as the fool and Sony as the victor, but in reality Sony prepared for the small term when the larger impact is likely still going to affect them as well
@get2sammyb Happy to give feedback on this one. I definitely recommend it, even if it’s a little odd. Definitely happy when publishers like Capcom take risks and make games such as this. It’s good to support these types of games.
Another day, another global issue caused by AI. Isn’t AI supposed to make our lives easier and reduce costs? I mean, good on Sony for thinking ahead, but even their stock won’t last forever.
@get2sammyb It’s a rare type of game that doesn’t feel quite like anything else. It reminds me a lot of early 3D gaming where developers didn’t know what worked or what people would like, so they created something experimental. It feels like a strategy game mixed with hack n slash, but it’s also got that classic Capcom DNA as well. I didn’t complete the game, but enjoyed my time with it. The campaign was lengthy and the gameplay loop is addictive and first, but it does get a little repetitive, which is why I dropped off.
@rjejr I think you’re right that we need more color in games. A new Dragon Quest would feel absolutely refreshing right now because it’s so colorful and is… dare I say it? Fun! I feel like this current era has totally forgotten what fun feels like. A lot of games are downtrodden and don’t even have the ability to inject humor into it. Elden Ring, for all its darkness, at least has a dark humor to it and has characters with names like “Dung Collector.” It feels like there’s just been this huge wave of humorless, over serious darkness.
But you’re totally right about it being partly the Chinese games thing. I hate to generalize a country’s output, but yeah… these Chinese games are all going for a similar vibe. They all play sort of similar in being Souls, but not too.
And it feels like Jennifer English is the next Troy Baker, as her voice feels like it’s in all the big games now. Not saying she’s a bad voice actress. She’s a good voice actress. But her voice has a vibe to it that matches that aesthetic and I dunno…
The whole darn industry is getting typecast into dark fantasy pout dreams. Lol
My son keeps begging for Minecraft currency nowadays. I regret that I allowed him to get on modern Minecraft. The game was so much purer two generations ago.
If these deals are the same Stateside, it’ll be hard to resist Outer Worlds 2 discounted so heavily so soon after release. I’m gonna sleep on that one… and also see if there’s anything else.
@AgentGuapo I loved Bananza, personally. I wouldn’t call it GotY though, but it definitely feels like Nintendo clapping back at PlayStation for Astro Bot to me. Fantastic visuals, gameplay, and it feels like Donkey Kong, but also something else entirely.
For me:
1. Death Stranding 2
2. Silksong
3. Donkey Kong Bananza
Not sure where I’d rank E33, could be around #20-ish
Edit: just expanded my personal list from a top 10 to a top 20 and I’d put E33 at exactly #20, but I’ve still yet to rank Silent Hill F or Arc Raiders of games released this year since I’ve yet to invest any time into them.
@rjejr Yes! So much yes! I loved Elden Ring. It’s a contender for being the best game this decade already and it’s still so early, but in its wake, there have been such a Souls saturation, whether it’s games that play like Souls or look like Souls. It’s not really unique anymore and I’m tired of it. And yes E33 falls into that boat hard as well. Could be part of the reason why I feel E33 is a contender for most overrated game ever made.
But it’s not just that it’s dark and black. Alan Wake 2 is dark and black, but it hits different. It just feels like so many games are going for such similar vibes with the mixture of surrealism and medieval fantasy and a little steampunk to loop it together. It reminds me of that time a little over a decade ago where almost every game had zombies for a little while.
Comments 4,040
Re: Rumour: Mystery Game Awards Reveal May Be a New Divinity RPG, as Original Sin 2 PS5 Port Leaks
@ShogunRok I believe it. Larian, unlike many gaming companies, knows how to value their fanbase, so I suspect this may be correct… though I thought Larian was thinking about going sci-fi for the next one for some reason. I could’ve sworn I thought they said that somewhere.
Re: Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Leaks in Age Rating Listing
As much as I like Black Flag, I have no real interest in playing it again any time soon, nor do I have desire to play AC. Love the series, but I think even I hit saturation point with Shadows.
Re: Rumour: Mystery Game Awards Reveal May Be a New Divinity RPG, as Original Sin 2 PS5 Port Leaks
Sounds legit.
Wouldn’t it be the most “2025 in gaming” thing ever though if all this to hype up a port alone rather than a new game?
Re: Capcom Name-Drops Mega Man, Ace Attorney, Devil May Cry Series for Future Expansion
Did Capcom… just acknowledge Mega Man? We miss you, buddy!
Re: The Game Awards 2025 Predictions: PS5 Games, the Muppets, and Geoff Keighley's Shoes
@MichaelNau I think E33 continues on with a proof started with Baldur’s Gate 3 that you can get a very niche game very successful if it caters to that niche very much so. I remember being extremely impressed with how well BG3 sold in spite of being an incredibly niche offering. I believe that, in catering to a niche, you will be able to generate strong word of mouth, which creates free marketing for these types of games. E33 potentially did this even more than BG3 did too, as I just remember such a saturation about E33 earlier in the year.
Re: You'll Probably Be Able to Pre-Order Saros PS5 Soon
Game Awards trailer confirmed then, eh?
Re: Rumour: Sony's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic PS5 Remake May Soon Return
That sub-header is beyond brilliant. Bravo, @Quintumply.
Re: Rumour: Dead Space Is 'On Ice', Could Be Sold Off to Help Cover EA's Acquisition Debt
Sell it to a company I’ll buy games from. Never touching future entries with the EA tag
Re: The Game Awards 2025 Predictions: PS5 Games, the Muppets, and Geoff Keighley's Shoes
@MichaelNau I’ve spent a lot of time considering why this game was so successful, but personally felt it was so average. Most people have told me, “People just have different taste. You can’t like everything that’s a critical hit,” which is true, but, for some reason, I had to rationalize why I might feel that way because, on paper, it should be everything I’d want out of a game and, besides, I already understand what I didn’t like in previous winners. It felt like a game where many people I knew disliked something about the game too where they almost felt bad about being critical and saying something until they were “safe to do so,” as for some reason people are shyer about being critical of this game than certain other games. I mean, even the underdog messaging this game has seems manufactured, as it was heavily marketed by Xbox, almost as if it was a first party game, and was receiving heavy media coverage since it was announced.
I think it’s quite an interesting game for things like that and it’s had a hype train unlike anything I’d seen. The marketing team behind the game is rather brilliant, honestly.
Re: The Game Awards 2025 Predictions: PS5 Games, the Muppets, and Geoff Keighley's Shoes
@Max_the_German In my personal opinion, everything successful about E33 is a reaction against something else established in another franchise and I think that’s why the game may be somewhat more divisive than its internet portrayal. Its turn based nature is certainly a reaction against Final Fantasy. The map design is a reaction against Ubisoft games. The game’s pricing was a reaction against AAA pricing. The game’s length as reported by the team prior to launch was a reaction against other RPGs that boast length as a selling point. And yet it could be argued that the game is a reaction against indie games having funding as well if you want to be cynical. Etc, etc. I suspect this is why some people are enamored with the game whereas others see the game as average and there’s few that outright don’t like the game at all. It’s an interesting game as a meta commentary for trends in the current gaming landscape and what happens when you give a specific subset of gamers precisely what they want.
Re: The Game Awards 2025 Predictions: PS5 Games, the Muppets, and Geoff Keighley's Shoes
@Max_the_German Yeah, I agree. I noticed how differently everyone plays the game after I completed it and watched my family play. My daughter’s 4 and she can enjoy it, which isn’t always the case with even simple games. I’ve showed it off to a lot of people and everyone loves it once they get to that first big open level, and they all seem to get through it in a different approach. The way I see it: if I see that type of enjoyment in so many different people of different ages and backgrounds, casual and dedicated gamers, to me, that’s a game that deserves something, even if it’s not my personal pick.
Y’know, given the holidays, I’ve had the opportunity to talk to more people about games outside my internet bubble and talking about GotY has been fascinating, especially with E33, as none of my family, friends or acquaintances (all of whom spend far less time reading gaming news coverage than any of us on here) thought the game was GotY or was trending towards it. If anything, Silksong was the one that kept coming up. I thought it was sort of refreshing to hear so many voices say Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Hades 2, or Silksong were obviously going to win (and honestly it was sort of refreshing to get some more critical takes of Yotei, Silent Hill, and E33 too… though it’s so weird how divisive Nintendo feels right now).
Re: The Game Awards 2025 Predictions: PS5 Games, the Muppets, and Geoff Keighley's Shoes
@Max_the_German I loved Bananza. If Astro Bot was Sony telling Nintendo that it can make an attempt to match Mario Odyssey (which I prefer Odyssey, but I’d say both games are a 10), then Bananza is them clapping back big time. My personal GotY is Death Stranding 2, followed by Silksong, but DKB is my #3 (like 2024, it was a year of mostly 6/10 and 7/10 games with 3 big 10/10s to smoothen out the year overall) but I’m rooting for Bananza because I think it does deserve it. It’s a very unique game and a game that literally anyone can play and have a unique experience.
Re: The Game Awards 2025 Predictions: PS5 Games, the Muppets, and Geoff Keighley's Shoes
I hope Bananza wins the big gong this year. The online fallout of E33 losing to it would be better than the actual show.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 610
Metroid Prime 4
Re: Splitgate 2 Is Being Renamed as Well as Relaunched, Arrives Later This Month on PS5, PS4
I liked the game and I like the changes they’re making. I’ll try it out when it relaunches. Why not?
Re: Game of the Month: Dispatch (November 2025)
Calling it now: Marvel Cosmic Invasion wins December… Not saying that’ll be my pick, but it’s my guess. December looks surprisingly solid, but I get the feeling most December games will be buried.
@bowzoid Is Sektori solid? I’m contemplating picking it up soon. It’s on my wishlist.
Re: PS5 Outsold by an Unexpected Rival in the Run Up to Black Friday
Never heard of this one. Got to imagine it sold at a deep discount to get those numbers? I’ve never even seen that thing in stores…
Re: Poll: Vote for Your PS5 Game of the Month (November 2025)
I’ll vote Lumines because I love Tetris Effect, but realistically there wasn’t much of interest in November for me. What happened to Unbeatable? Wasn’t that supposed to come out in November?
Re: Random: Hideo Kojima Cast in Japanese Version of the Wildly Popular Zootopia 2
Hopefully this results in Kojima being in the next Kingdom Hearts game.
Re: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's Lacklustre European Sales Continue Trending Downwards
Sounds like Black Ops 7 and Kirby Air Riders may be flops, but at least Kirby can rely on strong sales in Japan.
Re: PS5's Biggest Game Fortnite Accused of Using AI Art
@Boxmonkey People care because it’s putting creatives out of work. It’s already too late though. People should’ve cared about this 10-15 years ago.
Re: PS5's Biggest Game Fortnite Accused of Using AI Art
@Americansamurai1 They already exist. Time Extension had put out a decent amount of coverage on Ghost Hunters. You should check it out.
Re: Rumour: Prince of Persia: Sands of Time PS5 Remake Out as Early as 16th January
As of right now, there’s very little I’m interested in for 2026. If this is true, that could really help next year start off right… and give me my yearly birthday present to give to myself too!
Re: Geoff Keighley's Cryptic Post Probably Teasing Diablo 4 Announcement for The Game Awards
@MrGawain Doritos and Mountain Dew certainly cause thickness, so you may be on to something here.
Re: Geoff Keighley's Cryptic Post Has Fans Speculating Wildly About The Game Awards Announcement
Looks Fallout-y to me
Re: Poll: Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Essential Games for December 2025?
Lol, while Black Friday shopping yesterday, my wife said to me, “Let’s get this one for our son on the Switch (with regards to Horizon). I think he’d like it.” I said, NOPE. It’ll be free on PS+!
Sony can’t cry about losing that sale though since Santa’s got a Portal and a bunch of Astro Bot merch in his bag instead
Re: These 13+ PS5, PS4, and PS Plus Games Are Coming Out Next Week (1st-7th December)
Looking forward to reading reviews for like half a dozen games next week. Not sure I’ll pick anything up outside Metroid on the Nintendo side of things, but I’m genuinely interested in knowing how a few of these turned out.
Two classic style beat ‘em ups releasing the same week, by the way. I think I’m getting 30 years younger seeing that!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 609
Honestly, I really want to play something new, but I feel bad about buying anything new right now, given that Metroid is coming this week and I’m about to buy a Steamdeck and will be sinking some money into starting a Steam library very soon. I have to work today, but it’s snow storm weather, so I sort of want to just curl up and play some games. Realistically though, I think I’m just going to plan my early Steam library and play Arc Raiders… but I keep thinking about The Outer Worlds 2 at random too…
I should go back to Yotei and finish that though, shouldn’t I? Or Silent Hill F? Or Hades 2? For some reason, as good as those games are, man, I’m struggling getting back to them.
Re: Video: All the PS5 Games We Think Are 10/10
For me, the 10/10s are:
Elden Ring
Alan Wake 2
Final Fantasy 16
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
Balatro
Astro Bot
Death Stranding 2
Hollow Knight: Silksong
So… I half agree with the Pushsquare list! I’d say I’d rank Edith Finch as a 10/10 too, but that’s a PS4 game for me. Might as well say a bunch of PS4 games with PS5 upgrades are 10/10s if that one’s included, you know?
All that said, even the 10s I disagree with, it’s impossible to deny their impact and quality…
Re: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Is Already on Sale Just Two Weeks After Release
Glad to see CoD is finally being chastised by the purchasing public for releasing a lackluster game
Re: Five Years of PS5 - How Well Do You Know Sony's Console?
12/15
As of the time of the writing of this comment, I have the highest score on here… of anyone that isn’t employed by Hookshot! Dreams can come true! I read the articles and remember things!
Re: The Next Game from the Makers of GoldenEye and TimeSplitters Is Balatro Meets Scrabble
Day 1. This looks fantastic to me.
Re: Talking Point: Does PS5 Have a Sequel Problem?
I don’t really think it’s a sequel problem so much as it feels like the sequels aren’t as good as the first games. I wouldn’t say any of the PS5 sequels reign supreme over the PS4 originals. I mean, they improve the gameplay a little bit, but the games feel iterative rather than games than go in new dimensions, if you know what I mean. None of them have been a TotK sequel to BotW if that makes sense. Astro Bot could qualify as a solid sequel that was a leap. Death Stranding 2 is about as good as the first one too.
Also, Wolverine and Saros definitely feel sequely to me, even though they aren’t authentic sequels.
Re: Poll: Five Years of PS5 - How Would You Rate Sony's Console?
The console has been solid, but I did have to get mine repaired because the liquid metal in the console dried out. A little bit of a design flaw in the console. However, I love the Dualsense controller 100%. Might be my favorite controller of all time so far.
As far as games go, it’s been a patchy generation. It’s not like there’s nothing to play this generation, far from it, but there’s certainly been fewer essential experiences. Thus far, 2023 might be the only year that truly felt exceptional for the console. I’m not sure Sony’s first party strategy is for me anymore either. So far, Astro Bot and Death Stranding 2 are the only first party games I’d give a 10/10 to. I know a 10/10 is high praise, but that’s definitely lower than any other PlayStation console. The exclusives have carried the console for me, but most aren’t exclusive anymore. It’s been a weird generation where software is concerned.
And I can wait a long time for a PS6. Sony will have to sell the console to me next time, unfortunately. I’m not an insta-buy like I had been for three generations. I’m not sure I’d buy a new gen PlayStation right now and that’s largely because the first party line-up hasn’t been for me. Contemplating to go PC/Nintendo next gen.
Re: Suddenly the PS5 Pro Doesn't Look That Expensive Anymore
@Dogbreath Fair enough, but I don’t think the majority of users here are in the minimum wage bracket, which would account for the squabbling. The users on this site tend to be more adult, so, if the average grocery item is 18%+ more expensive than it would have been three years ago, and if they’ve not received a wage increase to be comparable to the raising costs, that would make an impact to their thoughts of purchasing things in general, even cheaper things.
Re: Suddenly the PS5 Pro Doesn't Look That Expensive Anymore
@Dogbreath I think it’s the fact that everything else is more expensive now in conjunction with wages not raising to meet the standard of those price increases that is making people view price hikes on anything an an enemy. Also, there was no way to socially complain about things back in the day. Lol.
But, I mean, personally I agree with you that gaming is a relatively cheap hobby in comparison to everything else and I do hope it stays that way. I mean, you can get a game for cheaper than you can going to see a movie in a theater with a family of 4 circa 2025 (in my area, at least). Sort of insane you can buy a 100+ hour experience for $70 these days on anything… and that’s without a sale.
But, when groceries cost approximately double what they did 5 years ago and rent has increased significantly as well, that means many are being squeezed out of their hobbies now because the essentials cost more. And I know plenty of people that haven’t gotten a raise in the last two years or have lost their job and had to take a job that pays less due to “market uncertainty.” I think it’s more these factors than anything else. The world just isn’t what it was pre-2020.
Re: When Is The Game Awards 2025?
Rooting for Donkey Kong Bananza since it won critics choice at the Golden Joystick Awards. Death Stranding 2’s my real pick, but man I’d love to see Bananza win just because of all the monkey business, you know?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 608
@DrVenture69 He really likes walking sims, particularly ones with somewhat “scary” vibes, though he doesn’t like games that are actually scary. He likes the Exit 8 a lot too. I got lucky he’s not Roblox and Fortnite minded as many kids are these days!
I think the themes in Maquette may not click with him, but Talos Principle may be a good shout. I don’t recall if I own it (modern gamer problems, right?), but I’ve never played it. Might be fun to go in blind together!
Re: Don't Expect Intergalactic PS5 to Launch Until at Least 2027
That’s a bummer. I know I’m a little bit of an anomaly with Sony next year in comparison to most on here, but there’s nothing first party right now outside this I’m looking forward to. I know it was wishful thinking for this one to be 2026, but still… could really use more Naughty Dog-esque games in the industry right now.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 608
I played through Portal yesterday with my son. That was fun. It’s always interesting to share an ancient artifact with him and see what he thinks. He could see the influence in other games he likes such as The Stanley Parable, Superliminal, and The Witness. Not bad observing that for an 8 year old.
Outside that, I’m contemplating jumping on a Black Friday sale for something. While, yes, I still have Yotei and Silent Hill F to complete, I sort of feel like I’m having a hard time pushing myself to play either of them and Portal felt like a breath of fresh air. A friend of mine really wants me to start playing Arc Raiders too, so maybe that’s the answer. I didn’t have time for games for a while, but I think that’ll change a bit this week. Just not sure how yet.
Re: Quick Thinking from Sony Should Shield PS5 from RAM Shortages for Now
@REALAIS Bill Gates himself said recently in interview that AI will solve a lot of global issues and result in people being able to work less and spend more time doing the things they enjoy. On Jimmy Fallon, he waxed on about how humans could enjoy a 2 day workweek in the future. These suits are literally telling us that AI will make life easier and create more abundance for everyone. I know it’s a lie, you know it’s a lie. They know it’s a lie. AI is already consuming far more energy and water than most people realize. Scarcity is going to continue skyrocketing from AI burning through resources. I’m commenting on the narrative we are being fed. Even here, Microsoft is being pictured as the fool and Sony as the victor, but in reality Sony prepared for the small term when the larger impact is likely still going to affect them as well
Re: 75+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Black Friday Sale
@get2sammyb Happy to give feedback on this one. I definitely recommend it, even if it’s a little odd. Definitely happy when publishers like Capcom take risks and make games such as this. It’s good to support these types of games.
Re: Quick Thinking from Sony Should Shield PS5 from RAM Shortages for Now
Another day, another global issue caused by AI. Isn’t AI supposed to make our lives easier and reduce costs? I mean, good on Sony for thinking ahead, but even their stock won’t last forever.
Re: 75+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Black Friday Sale
@get2sammyb It’s a rare type of game that doesn’t feel quite like anything else. It reminds me a lot of early 3D gaming where developers didn’t know what worked or what people would like, so they created something experimental. It feels like a strategy game mixed with hack n slash, but it’s also got that classic Capcom DNA as well. I didn’t complete the game, but enjoyed my time with it. The campaign was lengthy and the gameplay loop is addictive and first, but it does get a little repetitive, which is why I dropped off.
Re: Arthurian Action Game Tides of Annihilation Stuns in Staggering PS5 Boss Fight Trailer
@rjejr I think you’re right that we need more color in games. A new Dragon Quest would feel absolutely refreshing right now because it’s so colorful and is… dare I say it? Fun! I feel like this current era has totally forgotten what fun feels like. A lot of games are downtrodden and don’t even have the ability to inject humor into it. Elden Ring, for all its darkness, at least has a dark humor to it and has characters with names like “Dung Collector.” It feels like there’s just been this huge wave of humorless, over serious darkness.
But you’re totally right about it being partly the Chinese games thing. I hate to generalize a country’s output, but yeah… these Chinese games are all going for a similar vibe. They all play sort of similar in being Souls, but not too.
And it feels like Jennifer English is the next Troy Baker, as her voice feels like it’s in all the big games now. Not saying she’s a bad voice actress. She’s a good voice actress. But her voice has a vibe to it that matches that aesthetic and I dunno…
The whole darn industry is getting typecast into dark fantasy pout dreams. Lol
Re: New Report Finds Almost Half of US Kids Are After In-Game Currency for Christmas
My son keeps begging for Minecraft currency nowadays. I regret that I allowed him to get on modern Minecraft. The game was so much purer two generations ago.
Re: Huge PS Store Black Friday Sale Live Now with 1,900+ PS5, PS4 Offers
If these deals are the same Stateside, it’ll be hard to resist Outer Worlds 2 discounted so heavily so soon after release. I’m gonna sleep on that one… and also see if there’s anything else.
Re: Expedition 33, Ghost of Yotei Have Started Scooping Up GOTY Awards
@AgentGuapo I loved Bananza, personally. I wouldn’t call it GotY though, but it definitely feels like Nintendo clapping back at PlayStation for Astro Bot to me. Fantastic visuals, gameplay, and it feels like Donkey Kong, but also something else entirely.
For me:
1. Death Stranding 2
2. Silksong
3. Donkey Kong Bananza
Not sure where I’d rank E33, could be around #20-ish
Edit: just expanded my personal list from a top 10 to a top 20 and I’d put E33 at exactly #20, but I’ve still yet to rank Silent Hill F or Arc Raiders of games released this year since I’ve yet to invest any time into them.
Re: Expedition 33, Ghost of Yotei Have Started Scooping Up GOTY Awards
If the critics voted for Bananza over E33, I suddenly have more faith in the results of The Geoff Awards.
I would love to see the next day reaction if Bananza wins GotY this year.
Re: Arthurian Action Game Tides of Annihilation Stuns in Staggering PS5 Boss Fight Trailer
@rjejr Yes! So much yes! I loved Elden Ring. It’s a contender for being the best game this decade already and it’s still so early, but in its wake, there have been such a Souls saturation, whether it’s games that play like Souls or look like Souls. It’s not really unique anymore and I’m tired of it. And yes E33 falls into that boat hard as well. Could be part of the reason why I feel E33 is a contender for most overrated game ever made.
But it’s not just that it’s dark and black. Alan Wake 2 is dark and black, but it hits different. It just feels like so many games are going for such similar vibes with the mixture of surrealism and medieval fantasy and a little steampunk to loop it together. It reminds me of that time a little over a decade ago where almost every game had zombies for a little while.