Latest Features
Out This Week The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Destiny: House of Wolves, Farming Simulator 15
On the scent
If your name's not The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, then you may be asking yourself why you weren't delayed into next week. Seriously, it's hard to see anything breaking through the hype that's currently circling CD Projekt Red's open world escapade like a (white) wolf. To be fair, though, there's something for everyone here, from the...
Push Rewind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, E3 2015, Assassin's Creed Syndicate
Konami craziness, PS4 sales, and more
It's been a bit all over the place here at Push Square Towers this week. We're in that hectic period just prior to E3 where there are few major stories breaking, but lots of little tidbits to talk about. Take the purported formation of a new PlayStation first-party team, being built purely to work on Project...
Feature Do You Need to Play the First Two Games to Understand The Witcher 3 on PS4?
A legacy of blood
A question that we've seen asked around the Internet countless times: do you really need to play The Witcher and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings in order to understand The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? Since the upcoming open world title is the first entry in the series to venture onto PlayStation platforms, the concern is...
First Impressions The Witcher 3 May Be One of the Best Games on PS4
Itchin' for a witchin'
It's as simple as the headline makes it seem: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is something special. Although we're not quite ready to forge our final opinion on the game, we've put together this relatively quick impressions piece for you, and hopefully, it'll give you a decent idea of what to expect from CD Projekt Red's open world...
Interview The Man Behind the Music - Jason Graves
We talk extensively to one of PlayStation's most prolific composers
It's not often that we flag down video game composers for interviews, but we were recently presented with the opportunity at North Carolina's East Coast Game Conference to speak with Jason Graves, who's behind the soundtracks for the Dead Space franchise, Tomb Raider, Evolve, The...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 68
Brilliance in brevity
A short but sweet edition of WAYP this week, as the bulk of the team's busy with various review assignments. Even though we're technically in the "lull" before E3, there's still tons of software deploying on the PlayStation 4 – partly due to those all-important indie titles that Sony has signed up. Will the smaller digital...
Feature How Does The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Look and Run on PS4?
Witching business
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has been bathed in critical acclaim over the last week or so, but one question that continues to pop up around the web concerns the game's performance on the PlayStation 4. Various reviews from other publications state that there are noticeable frame rate issues, and that bugs and glitches rear their ugly...
Soapbox Why PS4's E3 2015 Press Conference Will Likely Disappoint
Sammy Barker thinks that you should temper your expectations
"Everything was third-party." I expect Dolan, the magnificent meme duck, will be on fine form in just over a month's time, when Sony's big E3 2015 press conference inevitably fails to live up to expectations. We live in constant fear of the restless Los Angeles event here at Push Square...
Feature 6 Things You Need to Know About Assassin's Creed Syndicate on PS4
Rule Britannia
Victorian England is very much back in video game vogue. Following in the period footwear of The Order: 1886 and Bloodborne, publisher Ubisoft has revealed Assassin's Creed Syndicate – the first London-based outing in its uber-popular alternate history franchise. Perhaps in response to the fiasco that greeted flawed French foray...
Live Join Our Assassin's Creed Victory Reveal Syndicate Right Here
Watch Ubisoft's announcement as it happens
Here we are, then: the future of Assassin's Creed is about to begin. Kicking off at 17:00PM BST (12:00PM EDT, 09:00AM PDT), Ubisoft will be livestreaming the reveal, which you can watch in here. We already know that the game's going to be set in London, and will likely feature a brother and sister...
Round Up The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt PS4 Reviews Echo Across the Land
The hunt is on
With the smell of blood in the air and the corpses of monsters littering the ground, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has finally been stabbed, skewered, and sliced in half by critics as they attempt to find out what makes CD Projekt Red's ambitious current-gen project tick. Fortunately for grizzled protagonist Geralt of Rivia, the Gods are...
Blast from the Past On This Day 20 Years Ago, Sony Dropped the Mic at the First Ever E3
A sign of things to come
Sony's no stranger to dropping the microphone at E3 conventions. For many of you, ex-SCEA president Jack Tretton's used games beatdown will be fresh in the memory – but the affable executive was merely reading from a PlayStation playbook that was written by his predecessors many years prior. On this very day 20 years ago,...
Feature Five Ways Assassin's Creed Victory Can Stop the Series' Rot
The syndicate
It's rare for a renowned series such as Assassin's Creed to get tagged with middling review scores, but we slammed the disappointing Assassin's Creed Unity when it deployed last year. While there was a reasonable experience buried at the release's beating heart, the Parisian escapade also had a laundry list of flaws – the title's...
Out This Week Final Fantasy X|X-2 PS4, The Last of Us: Left Behind, Double Dragon
Yuna you want it
It's a bit of a filler week here on Planet PlayStation, as a storm labelled The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt lurks on the horizon. There's no doubt that CD Projekt RED's hotly anticipated role-playing release is the title that's on everyone's lips, and so proceedings are looking a little light this time out. To be fair, though, there's no...
Push Rewind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Gamescom, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
Geralt the grey
This week will be remembered as the one in which The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt fever set in. Associate editor Robert Ramsey has been uploading every video and image under the sun, and much to this author's amazement, you lot keep darn well clicking on them. Sony also sent a few ripples through the industry by announcing that it won't be...
Video Watch As We Recap April 2015's Best PS4, PS3, and Vita Games
Narrate this
Guess who got the Bloodborne Platinum Trophy? Here's a hint: he's handsome, loves Taylor Swift, and works for Push Square. Oh God, no – it wasn't darn well Sammy. It was actually me, but as a result of that case of mistaken identity, I'm going to sulk for the remainder of this pre-amble. Watch the video if you like... Whatever...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 67
Red faced
Whoops! This author totally forgot about WAYP this week, meaning that he was forced to send an embarrassed email to the rest of the team this morning, begging for submissions. Fortunately, a handful of scribes followed through, which means our weekend feature is still yet to miss a week. This is impressive form considering how forgetful...
Fatalities and shovels, not necessarily in that order
Oooh, those bloody indies, eh? Ruining everyone's fun with their SNES graphics and their obsession with pop culture references. "We're not ripping off old games!" they cry. "We're paying homage! It's different!" Meanwhile, the stoic and the knowledgeable among us shake our heads in disgust as...
Reaction Destiny's Prison of Elders Is a Step in the Right Direction
Prepare for combat
Raids can be a lot of fun, especially with the right people. The six-player co-op activities have long served as Destiny's true endgame challenges which require teamwork, prior knowledge, and plenty of effective firepower – but they're not for everyone. For starters, they don't allow for any kind of matchmaking, so you need to...
Reaction Sony's Decision to Skip Its Annual Gamescom Stage Show Is Sound
Focus on Paris Games Week makes sense
Seal the bunker: Sony's skipping Gamescom 2015. Well, not really – the organisation will still almost certainly occupy a spot on the Cologne show floor, but it'll be holding its annual European media briefing on 27th October at Paris Games Week instead. The misconception here – from what we've read around...
Feature What Is Dragon Age: Inquisition's Free Black Emporium DLC Exactly?
Myths and legends
Brrrr, the spooky Black Emporium is back in Dragon Age: Inquisition as free DLC this week. The location, which generally houses a bunch of rare items for you to buy, first appeared in Dragon Age II where it roughly offered the same services that it does now. Ruled over by a rather spooky merchant named Xenon the Antiquarian, it's...
Round Up Project CARS PS4 Reviews Target a Podium Place
Crossing the line
This is it, then: simulation racing finally arrives on the PlayStation 4. With the Gran Turismo series not yet ready for the new-gen showroom, Project CARS is aiming to take its place – at least for the foreseeable future, anyway. Slightly Mad Studios' pretty release has had an interesting route to market, starting out as a...
Interview Topping the PS4 Rocket League with Developer Psyonix
Studio discusses Sony, balance, and seasons
We're going to say it: we told you so. We were campaigning for a PlayStation 4 port of Rocket League – which was originally announced for the PC – long before developer Psyonix confirmed it just prior to PlayStation Experience last year, and now it's blown up. Reddit is flooded with GIFs from the beta,...
Push Square Predicts Will Tales of Zestiria Make the Journey to PS4?
Heads or Tales
We've said it once and we'll say it again: Bandai Namco would be crazy not to port Tales of Zestiria to the PlayStation 4. The Japanese action role-playing game released on the PlayStation 3 back in January in its homeland, and it's slated to hit store shelves at some point this autumn in the West – but it doesn't take a genius to...
Out This Week Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, Ether One, Project CARS
Pick 'n' mix
You can never have too much of a good thing, as Wolfenstein: The Old Blood looks set to prove this week. MachineGames' first-person reboot was surprisingly well received when it released last year, and so it's no surprise that the Swedish studio is giving the shooter another shot. It's not the only major arrival scheduled to land on...
Push Rewind PlayStation Plus Freebies, Broken Age, Shovel Knight
Wingin' it
T'was a fairly uneventful week on Planet PlayStation last week, which worked out rather conveniently for us. We spent a bunch of our time travelling and chatting as we planned the next stage of the site, so we probably picked the right days to take time out. Alas, we did have some big news, features, and reviews, so let us round...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 66
The late edition
It's been a tiring few days of travel here at Push Square Towers, so we apologise for the tardiness both on the site and in publishing What Are You Playing – it won't happen again (any time soon). With our batteries recharged and our minds refocused, though, it's time to look forward, as we prepare to take the site to the next...
Feature What Are May 2015's Free PlayStation Plus Games?
All Is Revealed
The debate regarding PlayStation Plus rages on for another month, as May 2015's selection of free software is... Well, divisive to say the least. As always, we're following up our news story with a fuller feature outlining everything that's set to join the Instant Game Collection from 5th May in North America and 6th May in Europe...
Soapbox You Should Stop Pre-Ordering Games
Sammy Barker's against this scary trend
We've got a problem, readers – and it pertains to pre-ordering games. I never used to be opposed to this practice: I'd regularly drop a fiver at my local GAME on titles that I was looking forward to, and would waltz home happily with a receipt and a pre-order pack – the DVD that came with Metal Gear Solid...
First Impressions How Does The Elder Scrolls Online Beta Look and Run on PS4?
Plus, our final thoughts
After absolutely hammering The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited PlayStation 4 beta virtually all weekend, we're actually a bit sad to see it go. Our jaunt back into Tamriel has been an enjoyable one, despite the fact that it never truly wowed us. Perhaps this is another case of keeping expectations relatively low, and...
Push Rewind Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Silent Hills, The Elder Scrolls Online
Mixed feelings
Don't pull that face. Yes, we know Push Rewind is very much a Sunday night staple – but this weekend was an abnormally busy one for everyone in the office, so cut us some slack. It goes without saying, then, that there's a lot to recap in this week's feature, including the announcement of Call of Duty: Black Ops III. Are you sitting...
Feature 7 Things You Need to Know About Call of Duty: Black Ops III on PS4
Number station nation
It only feels like yesterday that we were tapping away on pre-release stories for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, but Call of Duty: Black Ops III has now deftly double-jumped into the headlines. We already knew a fair amount about the first-person shooter courtesy of leaks, of course, but now we can drop some official intel on...
First Impressions How Brutal Is The Elder Scrolls Online's Combat in Its PS4 Beta?
Plus, we take a look at character progression
Combat in The Elder Scrolls series has never been brilliant, despite the fact that it's been integral to each title's design. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion introduced a more action-based system, while The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim built upon that formula, keeping the basics in place, while refining the...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 65
Blood and thunder
Issue 65, already? Blimey, the weeks just fly by, don't they? We're now approaching a couple of quiet weeks on Planet PlayStation, so there's never been a better time to put a dent into your backlog. But will it be older games padding out your itinerary this week, or are you still working through more recent releases? Here's what...
First Impressions Letting the Team Down in Rocket League on PS4
Crash and grab
Like a Jose Mourinho managed football team in its second season, you get the feeling that this is Rocket League's time to shine. The sequel to the obnoxiously named Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, this RC car-cross-soccer experience is a shining example of a simple concept done well – it's just outstanding fun...
First Impressions Exploring Bleakrock Isle in The Elder Scrolls Online PS4 Beta
We examine exploration, environments, and quests
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim fans would feel right at home on Bleakrock Isle, a relatively small and snowy island that we've been busy traipsing across during our first day of taking part in The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited beta on the PlayStation 4. It's not just the white stuff that's on...
First Impressions Scratching Our Heads Through Soul Axiom on PS4
Axiom verge
What do you get when you mix Tron with BioShock Infinite and Antichamber – and sprinkle a helping of Indiana Jones on top? The answer is, er, Soul Axiom. At least, that's the vibe that we got during a hands-on session with an early build of the game. The follow-up title from Master Reboot developer Wales Interactive, this is shaping up...
Talking Point Does the PS4 Really Need Big Holiday Exclusives?
A different perspective
There's been much navel gazing by some of the industry's bigger publications of late: what does Sony have in store for Fall 2015? The delay of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, a tentpole title at any time of the year, has left the PlayStation 4's slate empty; Tearaway Unfolded, Until Dawn, and
Feature What Do You Mean You've Never Played... Trash Panic?
To bin or not to bin
Trash Panic is rubbish in the best possible way. A concept tossed out by Japan Studio when the PlayStation 3 was about as popular as a bin man in a hoarder's back room, the barmy release sees you playing Tetris with debris. It sounds simple enough, but it's harder than controlling your gag reflexes while washing in a bath filled...
Interview Digging Deep with Shovel Knight Developer Yacht Club Games
Knight to see you
Since the release of Shovel Knight, developer Yacht Club Games has been lavished with nothing but love for how well it's refined old-school goodness – in fact, some fans have even said that the 2D platformer has set a new standard for indies. We got in touch with the team's David D'Angelo to talk about bringing the title to...
Out This Week Shovel Knight, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China, LA Cops
New digs
And that's officially it: the big, blockbuster retail releases are taking a break for a few weeks – it's a good thing that there's tons of PlayStation Network stuff in the pipeline, huh? This week's a particularly good one for digital downloads, if only because Shovel Knight is part of the roster. We've been looking forward to Yacht Club...
Push Rewind Mortal Kombat X, Star Wars: Battlefront, and Mass Effect 4
The way we live
This week will be remembered for the reveal of Star Wars: Battlefront, which was shown for the first time in Anaheim at the Star Wars Celebration event. While we didn't get to see any gameplay, we did get to hear plenty of details from developer DICE – and we also got confirmation that Sony will be partnering with the studio to...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 64
Fists of fury
Get over here! No, we're not going to play body tennis with your skull, but we're instead inviting you for a good ol' chinwag about your weekend. The great ball o' fire in the sky's shining here in sunny England, but that hasn't stopped our ragtag crew of reviewers from shutting the curtains and getting stuck into some serious gaming...
Feature Eight Things You Need to Know About Star Wars: Battlefront on PS4
Hoth stuff
EA's certainly taken its sweet time properly unveiling Star Wars: Battlefront on the PlayStation 4. Originally announced all the way back at E3 2013, Swedish developer DICE has been quietly beavering away on the long awaited sci-fi reboot ever since. However, as part of the Star Wars Celebration fan event in Anaheim earlier today,
Live Watch the Star Wars: Battlefront PS4 Unveiling Right Here
May the force be with you
This is the one that you've been waiting for: Star Wars: Battlefront is finally set to get its long awaited PlayStation 4 unveiling. Due to start at 10:30AM PT (13:30PM ET or 18:30PM BST), join us for the reveal of one of the biggest games of the year – live. [liveblog=apr_live_starwarsbattlefront_2015]#StarWars #SWCA...
DLC Review Dragon Ball XenoVerse's GT Pack 2 Unleashes the Evil
Hot and cold
Dragon Ball XenoVerse's second slice of DLC carries on the Dragon Ball GT theme from the first pack, adding two new characters from the aforementioned animated series. As with GT Pack 1, however, GT Pack 2 isn't a simple character add-on – it's another bundle of XenoVerse content that expands the existing release with new skills,...
Feature Meet the Man Who's Helping Students Publish PS4, Vita Games
"I want my students to be the next big indie developers"
With the emphasis on exclusives, marketing deals, and services, we rarely take the time to think about gaming at a grass roots level. Trailers and reviews command the majority of our traffic here at Push Square, so it's perhaps easy to overlook all of the effort that goes into schools and...
Feature What Do You Mean You've Never Played... Transformers: War for Cybertron?
Cullen your name
Video games are quite the unpredictable bunch. Dark horses like Batman: Arkham Asylum and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor will come out of nowhere as surprising Game of the Year contenders, while shocking letdowns such as Assassin's Creed Unity and The Order: 1886 will leave gamers pondering where their promise and potential went...
First Impressions Taking One on the Chin in Mortal Kombat X on PS4
You make me larrrf, Kitana
Mortal Kombat X is genuinely funny. You can bombard us with Johnny Cage-esque green orbs in the comments all you like, but there's no way that developer NetherRealm built this game with a straight face. And that's a good thing. The amount of tomfoolery on display at times is outrageous – and it's bettered only by the...
Out This Week Mortal Kombat X, Titan Souls, We Are Doomed
X marks the spot
We Are Doomed. No, not literally – that's just the name of one of the games due out on the PlayStation 4 this week. In truth, it's a bit of a slow week for new software releases compared to what we've gotten used to – but then, who needs anything more than Mortal Kombat X anyway? Exactly. Pick of the Week: Mortal Kombat X:...
