somnambulance

Looks like Returnal 2. Honestly, I liked Returnal, but I’m not sure I’m down for another one. Felt sort of meh about it after the trailer. Best in the showcase though.

@UltimateOtaku91 First one that I’ve come away with none. Best thing I can say about the State of Play is “At least Alan Wake 2 will get a spike in player count.”

Honestly, that might’ve been the worst State of Play ever, in my opinion, outside the Suicide Squad one. As of right now, it’s looking like Pragmata is the only thing I’m for sure grabbing for Playstation next year and that wasn’t even in this showcase.

@themightyant Adjusted my previous comment for non-journalistic integrity.

I’ve started purchasing less, but that’s because I tightened my budget back to what it was circa 2019 this year of $100 a month in spend. As of right now, even with the Switch 2 purchase, I’m looking to stay on budget, though it’ll be close! A solid Gamepass line up really helped that this year (and a slow release schedule outside Gamepass for basically the first half of the year).

Most people I know personally that I’d consider enthusiasts (or former enthusiasts) struggled trading top 10 lists last year, as my group typically does. I suspect Octopath 0 is basically designed for my personal friends and they’ll alternate between it and whatever is on the GotY menu and the live service game of choice.

It is sort of crazy that so many people don’t even buy games now, but rather linger in F2P and spend more on those than the cost of an actual game, huh?

@themightyant Read it in an article back in the Covid era. Sounds like it may have been wrong info. I’ll see if I can dig it up.

If that’s true, crazy to know I typically double the average user’s generational attachment on a yearly basis. Yikes! 😅

@SeaDaVie This is precisely what the industry is banking on these days. Matt Piscatella revealed some interesting stats on player behavior, revealing that most gamers purchase only a few titles every year (on average 2). We know from Sony’s mouth that most of their income comes from microtransactions rather than new software sales as well. The 100+ hour game is a disconnect from us on this site because we were active gamers during a different era and are a different demographic than the majority of consumers as a result.

The powers that be prefer longer games that can add additional content over time because it continues the investment. Square may be able to add more characters, town builder mechanics, etc over time and that works out for them. Let’s not forget the majority of gamers may be purchasing CoD or an EA sports title and one other title. Being 100+ hours is a selling point to that segment of the population. That segment’s likely not even planning on finishing the game if they pick it up either, but will likely play casually instead and would rather have continuous content.

Octopath looks to be aiming to tap into the portion of that market that is nostalgic toward vintage RPGs. I suspect they’ll be successful with this one. There’s a lot of people that fall into this category.

Bought it Day 1, but would be really happy to see it get more players, so that hopefully it gets Remedy more money, so us fans can get more games.

@WiccanMagick75 Easy monetization and DLC for Square. I’m sure they’ll be able to spin that they listened to fan demand to make it happen too. I’d wager it’s a plan for them because they’ve got a win-win with that strategy.

I don’t know why, but my expectations are basically rock bottom for this one. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

Hopefully we get an update of sorts on Intergalactic and maybe Judas? That’d be pleasant to me. Last proper State of Play was fantastic, so I’m not sure why my expectations feel so low. It’s just the rumor mill vibes, perhaps?

As someone that never had a PSP, War of Lions being omitted won’t do anything for me. Therefore, this is an easy 10/10 if I’ve ever seen one.

I think I’ll save it for the holiday season when nostalgia peaks and the release schedule bottoms out, but I’ll be looking forward to coming back to this one.

I suspect you all are probably on the pulse of Sony’s vision right now. I expect things to be Marvel heavy, another RE9 reveal (even though, let’s be real, it really doesn’t need anything else and we’re all buying it, even if there were no trailers), and probably featuring DLCs as if they are new games. If the leaks have been real, I think these are solid guesses. We’ll see if Saros is another game similar to Returnal.

I’m keeping my expectations low, as I don’t care about Marvel or most of the rumors. Hopefully there’s some genuine surprises.

Honestly, as long as Kojima is involved in the next generation, I’ll be buying a PS6, even if it’s just for that project.

Without a doubt, this is the best looking game on the release schedule moving forward for me. Can’t wait for this…

@1UP-HUSKY Your wishlist would be a 10/10 State of Play even if the rest of it is dead air space.

Looking forward to reading reviews for a lot games next week and picking up Hades 2 and potentially something else if the reviews speak my language. There’s maybe 3-4 interesting games release a week the next month and a half.

Only spoiler I want out of this game is if it’s good.

I didn’t get much time to play games this week, soooo… when I finally do play something, it’ll be fighting The Last Judge in Silksong at some point and hopefully entering the Citadel.

It’s about time! Hopefully there’s more that personally interests me than currently does for the PlayStation line-up. Right now, there’s a trilogy of Capcom releases I’m interested in, Saros maybe, and Intergalactic, but we know very little about that first party slate right now. Feels like we could be getting a Marvel heavy SoP, which… I hope for other things!

I think Hell is Us did not hit sales expectations and they’re pointing a finger to get Nacon off their back about it perhaps. For what it’s worth, I’m considering purchasing Hell is Us, but I’ve got to play the demo first. Yes, I’m finishing Silksong before I get there, but it’s not like I chose not to be interested in Hell is Us because Silksong launched. No, i just know I like Hollow Knight a lot and have no idea what I think of Hell is Us yet. I will say that response doesn’t make me like the developers any more than I did though. Wonder if Bloober team is going to whine about Cronos sales soon because of Silksong too. It’s entirely possible I’d have gotten to the Hell is Us demo by now if not for Silksong, but it’s also possible I might not have.

I’d rather play eslop games.

Bought this for my son for his birthday since that was yesterday. Looking forward to trying it out with him.

Sounds like there will be no surprise what Pushsquare’s GotY will be, huh? 😂

@Max_the_German Rift Apart, Astro Bot, and Death Stranding 2 followed Returnal. Gran Turismo 7 as well. I totally get what you’re saying though, as it feels like Sony isn’t squeezing out the solid single player games like it feels like they used to, and we’re getting more remasters and sequels than ever before. For me, I’ve been playing my PS5 less and less year over year.

Horizon Forbidden West and Ragnarok released in 2022 though, along with GT7, and I wasn’t a big fan of those two games, but many clearly are. The problem with Sony and single player games began in 2023 where we only had Spider Man 2. I know it won Pushsquare’s goty, but it’s a 7/10 to me, and I think the worst year Sony’s ever had for their first party output potentially.

If Sony wants to prove they feel this way, we need a roadmap to show us that they’re committing to this vision. Hopefully Yotei hits right.

@PuppetMaster I suspect Nintendo and Square will grow closer over the next couple years as it’s sort of evident there’s potentially more overlap in the two fanbases. Sony’s priorities are shifting and I suspect that will impact the presence of Square, Capcom, Sega, KT, and Bamco among others. We’re already starting to see those developers less and less present in Sony showcases and I think there’s reasons that aren’t quite public for that. Sony’s going after a different demographic than traditional gamers and I suspect that will become more and more obvious as we conclude this generation and enter the next in a couple years. Much like Xbox had a huge pivot in demographics, I suspect we will see a very different Sony for PS6 and the PS5 has been the transitional generation.

@kyleforrester87 Glad to hear it! It sounds like you may beat this one fairly quickly. Sometimes the games we skip end up being favorites. I mean, I skipped Final Fantasy XV for several years, so long that I missed out on the game being incomplete thanks to an variety of updates, and I ended up loving it and many people thought I was insane!

Hopefully you continue enjoying the game. It’s a hard one to put down and I’m sure it’ll leave you wanting more. Surely, Axiom Verge 3 must be on the horizon soon enough at this point.

@PuppetMaster I played FF7 on PC in 1999, so yeah, it had a little window of exclusivity, but that was it. I don’t think there were contracts to for the exclusivity in those days. I think business was simply done differently and expectations and trust were different between these companies. Square went with Sony because they were upset with Nintendo and viewed Sega as a rival, I believe. That didn’t really change until Square merged with Enix.

What I’m trying to say in a roundabout way is that companies wanted to be associated with Sony in the PS1, 2, and 4 eras and now plenty of the big publishers have stated that they don’t want to maintain that closeness, ie Square and Capcom recently.

For what it’s worth though, I prefer Square’s third party output to Sony’s first party output this generation, so I’m a bit of a different opinion to most here. The Capcom and Square games were what initially got me excited about PS5 during that first showcase, after all. I enjoyed Forspoken more than most of the first party games this generation, with only Astro Bot and Death Stranding as exceptions to this.

@PuppetMaster it’s not quite the model they used in the past. Maybe during the PS3 era when PlayStation was lagging, but PS1, PS2, and PS4 have a variety of third party exclusives that remained exclusive til future generations as remasters, just as other platforms have done. I mean, FF7 OG was a PlayStation console exclusive for years and years. There’s been a distinct change in focus this generation and, for me, it’s diluting the PlayStation brand. Others may not feel the same and that’s great for them, but if everything comes to all consoles, I start to wonder why I have all of the big 3’s consoles, you know?

I’ll get the last one on PS5 in the trilogy, but looks like I’m not sure which platform I’ll play the Final Fantasy series on after that. Man, can’t believe Sony is basically losing almost all of its compelling exclusives over the course of a generation

Silksong, Silksong, and Silksong.

Death Stranding 2 for the win here. Alan Wake 2 impressed me as well for the sheer creativity of the visuals. Rift Apart is another high water mark as is AC Shadows. My sister was over while I was playing Shadows one time and she remarked that she didn’t realize I was even playing a game when a cutscene was going on.

Silksong and Astro Bot are subtle contenders too. They have such fantastic art direction.

@themightyant I forgot about Lost Crown when I made this list. I’d put Lost Crown just above Nine Sols.

For me, Dread had such a defined impact on my gaming experience when it released. I felt like I just enjoyed it so much that it made me recontextualize how I rated games a little bit. To be honest, playing Silksong reminds me a little bit of that feeling. I’m not through with it yet, and I’ll need to let the game sit with me for a bit before I know for sure, but it may leap over Dread if I continue feeling as strongly as I do now about it.

And always happy to see a fellow Gato Roboto fan. I’ve got a Gato t-shirt and it might be my favorite piece of clothing I own!

10/10. It’s quite frankly incredible. One of the best games I’ve ever played.

Borderlands 4… 4… 4/10

Just tossing a guess out there! Or a bias? Could be both!

I never owned a PS1 until about 2 years ago. Found one that was “left behind” with a tote of pirated games.

Ah, yes, I need an app because I didn’t watch my son play through Astro Bot 12 times?

Honestly, I’m looking more forward to this one than anything else coming in October at the moment, including Ghost, The Outer Worlds, Pokemon, etc.

@themightyant Totally understand because time is usually my biggest enemy with gaming, which is why I play so much on easy mode.

I just know that, if there were difficulty slides in Silksong, I’d make the mistake of making the game easier, and for now… I like that I overcome!

But seriously too, given how good the game is, I want as many people to play it as possible. It’s a game that draws people in and I definitely know people that are afraid to touch it, even if they love the art of it.

@Toot1st i goofed and forgot Lost Crown. I’d put it just above Nine Sols.

@themightyant All Team Cherry has to do to make this a 10/10 for basically anyone that likes these game is do a difficulty slider like basically every other Metroidvania. I know, for me, Bo Path of the Teal Lotus and Nine Sols both would’ve been insufferable games for me without the sliders last year, so I totally understand. Difficulty and brutal challenge isn’t for everyone. Sometimes it’s not even for me as I typically dislike Souls games, even if Elden Ring hit the right notes for me.

But I’m torn in suggesting that because I sort of like that Silksong literally makes me play better by forcing me to be engaged. I like that there’s no review copies and therefore no walkthroughs, no reviews, nothing but discovery. Team Cherry was smart with how they released this one. It definitely activates something I haven’t felt in playing a game for a long time. Yesterday, my son looked over my shoulder while I was playing on my Switch, and said, “Wow! You’re really good at games!” I like that feeling!

Awesome news! Will download… and attempt to play in this busy, busy period. Still haven’t gotten to the Hell is Us demo because we’re eating so good right now.

@Oprahs_cellulite I definitely agree that this part was more challenging than any boss battle so far. The mobs and the not knowing where Shakra is are typically the two hardest parts of the game usually so far.

@themightyant I feel like I’m getting muscle memory back from Silksong! Lol. My thumbs have been lazy, but I still have the dexterity I forgot I had!

Splinter Sister took, I think seven attempts for me, and Moorwing was about the same. I honestly don’t really get the complaint that Silksong is so much harder thus far. I just remember that Mantis Trio boss in the first game and, man, was I sweating with that one! I haven’t had that feeling just yet. For a second, in Silksong, I felt like a master. I beat Lace and Fourth Chorus first attempt. The challenge is sturdy, but it feels fair. I’m a lazy, easy mode player, I’ll admit, but I’m glad Silksong is pushing me to be better than that!

I dunno… Morrowind and Sister Splinter were a challenge, but nothing that I felt was too insane. So far, it’s a hard game, but it feels “just right” to me. The game forces me to wake up, so to speak.

@Decimateh-xblz I like them both and I can get how someone could feel that way… but I don’t agree! I know it’s not a common opinion, but I think Pokémon’s the best it’s been in ages right now. Digimon’s been good too, but I find the series to be wildly inconsistent, which I’m sure sounds rich from someone supporting Pokemon.

I’d be far more interested in this one if it wasn’t launching right on top of Pokémon and Ghost of Yotei.

@kyleforrester87 @Scottyy Oh shoot, I forgot Lost Crown in my list. I’d probably rank that one just above Nine Sols. What a time to be alive with Metroidvanias. I think I play a half dozen of them a year. To think there was an era where we were lucky to get 1 or 2 a year!

I’d really recommend giving AV2 another shot. Don’t view it as a sequel to the first game. The first game wears its influences on its sleeve, so you get those brain flashes of Metroid or Contra or whatever retro flavor it may be. The sequel sidesteps that and largely sidesteps the first game as well. If you play it on its own terms and accept it for its differences, that’ll help. I remember being really thrown off by it initially too, but gradually it became a game that was sort of relaxing to me. It wasn’t a long game. I remember sitting outside playing it on my Switch quite a bit and it feeling like a game that was tailor made for that type of experience.

Depends on what the show is about whether I’ll be excited about this or not. I love the series, but the series also has a huge chunk of fanbase that might hate the series more than they like it. Reminds me of Weezer fans that only like Blue Album and Pinkerton.

Anyway, I’m not sure why people have dogpiled on the latest entry in the series, as it was… basically another Life is Strange game with similar tropes, just characters that were a little more than a decade older. I get the early millennial charm of the original, but the latest was a fine entry in the series, and at the very least a markedly better game than Chloe’s spin-off. If you didn’t go into it with the baggage of the original and at the same time went into it for a game to make no revolutionary steps in gameplay, you’ll find a solid entry.

I say this as someone who prefers LiS2 and True Colors to the original and its sequel and prequel too.

@KundaliniRising333 I’ve not tried Mondragora. Blasphemous isn’t exactly my cup of tea in tone. It’s a good game, just isn’t a favorite of mine. I didn’t count Dead Cells since I consider it a roguelike/lite and it plays more like vintage Castlevania than SotN. I love Dead Cells though. It’s my second favorite roguelike/lite, behind only Balatro. Might be a contender for some of my favorite DLC as well. It gets tricky assigning genres to games sometimes, doesn’t it?

@kyleforrester87 I like Axiom Verge 2 a lot more than the first one, honestly. The first one is good, but I felt the sequel was a bit looser and more unique as a result. Axiom Verge 1 feels like a greatest hits of Metroidvanias in the early indie golden era, but the second game is perhaps less concerned with what made the hits hit and more concerned with expanding what the genre can feel like, I suppose. It traded tight corridors for a blue sky. I liked how it focused more on exploration and platforming rather than combat.

@KundaliniRising333 I would put Hollow Knight above Nine Sols for sure. I loved them both, but there’s something distinctly special about how Hollow Knight builds its world, including the soundtrack and the expressiveness of its combat and exploration. No disrespect to Nine Sols, of course, as I love the game as well, just think Hollow Knight’s a tad better.

I’m a bit of a Metroidvania connoisseur, so here’s a list of my maybe top 20 favorites in the genre:

1. Metroid Dread
2. Hollow Knight
3. Ori and the Blind Forest
4. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
5. Gato Roboto
6. Metroid Fusion
7. The Messenger
8. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
9. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
10. Super Metroid
11. Cave Story+
12. Owlboy
13. Momodora: Moonlit Farewell
14. Nine Sols
15. Animal Well
16. Momodora: Reverie Under Moonlight
17. Minoria
18. Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth
19. Alwa’s Legacy
20. Axiom Verge 2

I’m overrating Gato Roboto, but I don’t care.

As things are right now, I would say Silksong is exceptional. Is it better than Hollow Knight? I can’t say. I’m not far enough to know that. I am far enough to know it absolutely should be in the GotY discussion though.

I’m all caught up on everything else, so it’s Silksong. Then more Silksong. Then more Silksong.