Latest Features
Guide Shenmue II - How to Learn 15 Combat Skills
Master
Over the course of Shenmue II, you’ll encounter characters who will teach you combat skills. These essentially comprise moves that you can perform during free battle. You’ll earn the following Trophies on the way to the ‘Master’ Trophy, which is awarded for learning 15 combat skills: Apprentice (one combat skill), Adept (five combat...
Guide Shenmue II - How to Easily Make Lots of Money
Cash for Cool Z
There’s a moment early in Shenmue II where you’ll lose all of your money, and there’s nothing you can do about it. From that point, you’re going to have to try and make some cash if you want to purchase toy capsules or play arcade games. There are various jobs you can do to make some dollars, including carrying crates and...
Guide Shenmue II - How to Win 5 Arm Wrestling Matches
Strongarm
One of the first things that will happen when you arrive in Aberdeen in Shenmue II is that you’ll be challenged to an arm wrestling match. This first bout is easy to win, and you’ll be awarded the ‘Challenger’ Trophy for your efforts. Each time you win, however, the stakes will be increased – and winning the $50 bet is almost...
Guide Shenmue II - Master the Wild Throw Move from the Kung Fu School in Wan Chai
Back to school
Shenmue and its successor Shenmue II are essentially coming of age stories, and protagonist Ryo Hazuki will absorb a ton of information across the course of both games. One thing that the character learns are new moves, but these can be missable at times. One move in particular, the Wild Throw, will be taught to you at the Guang...
Guide Shenmue II - How to Straighten the Man's Sign Near the Come Over Guest House in Wan Chai
Good Samaritan
An easily missable sequence in Shenmue II involves a man who needs help straightening his sign near the Come Over Guest House in Wan Chai. In order to be a Good Samaritan, you’re going to need to ensure that you’ve progressed the quest involving Wong and your bag swiftly, because you’ll need to have got in your room and packed...
Live Watch the Gamescom 2018 Opening Ceremony Right Here
World premieres expected
Gamescom 2018 gets underway this week, and Cologne will be welcoming gaming's largest convention with an opening ceremony that promises World Premieres from several publishers. Among the games on display will be Shenmue III and Life Is Strange 2. The show gets underway from 10AM BST. Gamescom 2018 Keynote:...
Guide Shenmue - How to Get into Warehouse 8 and Meet Master Chen
Break and enter
Once you reach New Yokosuka Harbor in Shenmue, one of your first tasks is to break and enter Warehouse 8 so that you can meet Master Chen – but this can be a bit of pain. To begin with, there are two warehouse districts, and you’ll need to pay a visit to the Old Warehouse District in order to infiltrate the Warehouse 8 that...
Soapbox 5 Things I Wish I Knew About Shenmue Before Playing for the First Time
About that day...
Thanks to the HD re-release of these two Dreamcast classics, many of you will be experiencing Shenmue for the very first time. I'm one of those people too, and after receiving my pre-order a fair few days early, I've been able to make a decent amount of leeway into my search for the killer of Ryo Hazuki's father, the...
Hands On Bending Reality with the Case of Ted Walter in Transference
Unexplained wonder
If you were hoping to get some clarification on what Transference, the upcoming game from the Elijah Wood-fronted studio SpectreVision, is exactly, then this pre-release demo probably won't satisfy your needs. What we have here is a 15 minute teaser that dives into a weird and wondrous world to set up the events of the main game...
Hands On Is Shenmue I & II a Knock Out on PS4?
The day the snow turned to rain
Even in 2018, there’s something unusual about Shenmue. While most games strive to create lush, idyllic fantasy worlds, mid-80s Yokosuka is a claustrophobic dive, inhabited by everyday people living uninspiring lives. It’s this slice of life format that’s made the series a mainstay in gaming culture for almost...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 233
"Maybe I should play some?"
After months of scorching weather, the grey clouds have descended on the UK, and it’s all feeling rather muggy outdoors. There’s never been a better time to stay in with a nice iced tea and a couple of video games, then, and fortunately the release schedule is reaching that point where there’s about a billion new...
Sammy Barker recalls his history with Yu Suzuki's hit series
Republished on Thursday, 18th August 2018: We're bringing this article back from the archives in celebration of Shenmue I & II's impending release on the PlayStation 4. The original text follows. Originally published on Thursday, 16th July 2015: I don't remember the day that the snow...
Guide Shenmue - How to Find the Flashback in the Dojo
Treasure your friends
Your main goal in Shenmue is to avenge the death of your father, and so in the early exchanges the game goes to great lengths to depict Ryo Hazuki’s relationship with Iwao. Much of this is achieved via flashback scenes, and in this guide we’re going to show you how to find the flashback in the dojo, which will unlock the...
Poll Are You Hyped for Gamescom 2018?
And what games do you want to see?
Gamescom was once thought of as Europe's equivalent of E3, and given the size of the annual event we suppose that still holds true to some extent, but it feels like the Cologne-based convention has fallen off the radar just a tad over the last few years -- at least in terms of hype. It's also worth mentioning that...
Soapbox 1979 Revolution: Black Friday Honours the Past with a Political Deep Dive
Iranian learnings
During the late 1970s, Iran underwent a radical transformation as continuous protesting managed to overthrow Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shah of a monumental 2500 year long reign by the Persian monarchy. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday puts you in the midst of those demonstrations, and it's an experience that is both...
Hands On What Kind of Side-Content Is in Marvel's Spider-Man?
Extra activities
Marvel’s Spider-Man will see the eponymous superhero battling the Sinister Six over the course of the campaign, with hundreds of henchman recruited to get in the web-slinger’s way. You can expect a dense storyline in Insomniac Games’ latest, exploring Peter Parker’s life as a scientist, as well as his relationships with...
Guide Shenmue - How to Find Charlie in the Tattoo Parlor in Dobuita
Needle in a haystack
One of the early objectives in Shenmue is to find Charlie in Dobuita, a man who wears a leather jacket, black sunglasses, and has a tattoo on his arm. The problem is that not many of the locals have heard of him, so we’re going to help you to track him down in the local tattoo parlor. Once you’ve found him, you’ll be able...
Guide Shenmue - How to Find the Flashback in the Kitchen
Yummy meal
Throughout the course of Shenmue, Ryo Hazuki will reminisce about his relationship with his father, and the lessons he taught him. Specifically there are a sequence of cut-scenes throughout the campaign which act as flashbacks, in which Iwao imparts valuable information to his son. In this guide, we’re going to show you how to find the...
Guide Shenmue - How to Find the Flashback in the Yard
Simpler times
Shenmue is a revenge story, wherein Ryo Hazuki seeks vengeance for the murder of his father, Iwao. In order to highlight the protagonist’s relationship with his parent, there are a series of flashback cut-scenes to find throughout the campaign, which can be triggered by looking at an object or even standing in the right place. In...
Hands On Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Could Be One of the Best Yakuza Games Yet
An extreme remake
Before Yakuza was niche on the PlayStation 3, it was even more niche on the PlayStation 2. The original Yakuza was undeniably rough around the edges and its somewhat shaky remake, Yakuza: Kiwami, reflected that. But with Yakuza 2, the series found a real foothold. Improved gameplay and a more complex, intriguing narrative pushed...
Hands On How Good Is Spider-Man PS4's Swinging Gameplay?
Swing time
Following a recent Marvel’s Spider-Man hands on, we’ve talked about a lot of the anticipated PlayStation 4 exclusive’s features, including its combat, first
Hands On PES 2019: Pro Evolution Soccer Stands Firm(ino)
On Klopp of the world
The PES 2019 demo is finally here, and encouragingly it actually has a player wearing the correct shirt on the cover; Konami must have learned its lesson after last year’s Neymar debacle. Still, seeing as Liverpool are an official partner of the game and all, it would be nice to see Andy Robertson’s lovely mug adorning the...
Hands On How Similar Is Marvel's Spider-Man's Combat to Batman: Arkham?
How Insomniac's system compares
Batman: Arkham Asylum was such a gigantic success that many a famous franchise has copied its combat mechanics, from Assassin’s Creed to Sleeping Dogs. The PlayStation 4’s previous web-slinging outing The Amazing Spider-Man 2 also borrowed liberally from Rocksteady’s releases, so how does Marvel’s Spider-Man...
DLC Review Mass Transit Quietly Rounds Out Cities: Skylines' Season Pass
Mono... D'oh!
It’s another day, another DLC for Cities: Skylines. Mass Transit is the last full expansion of the game’s season pass and is arguably the best-value of them, bolstering Colossal Order’s already sizeable public transport options. However, despite all of these new additions, the DLC’s £10 price tag is still a too steep for what...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 232
Weekend warriors
After a break hiatus following the World Cup, the Premier League has already returned, meaning our weekends will be filled with bickering about the results from now on. NFL has also entered pre-season, meaning that there’s no shortage of sport to look forward to. Of course if you’re not a fan of grown men getting sweaty over...
Live Watch the QuakeCon 2018 Keynote Right Here
Tune in for DOOM Eternal's debut
Gamescom 2018 is right around the corner, but Bethesda’s getting in on the keynote act early by promising to rock up at the QuakeCon 2018 introductory address, where it will debut the first DOOM Eternal gameplay footage. Expect updates on other games like Fallout 76 during the presentation as well, so be sure to...
Feature Full Red Dead Redemption 2 Gameplay Trailer Breakdown and Analysis
Everything we spotted, and speculation
The Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay trailer is finally here, and in short, the game looks absolutely superb. Just over six minutes in length, it's a pretty in-depth video, with a narrator dishing out juicy details as the footage rolls. As such, it's easy to miss bits and pieces, even after watching through it...
Round Up We Happy Few PS4 Reviews Aren't Smiling
Joy?
Not to be a Debbie downer, but critics aren’t exactly ecstatic about We Happy Few. Compulsion Games’ curious survival roguelike has been a long-time in the making, but now it’s finally ready for release this week – and it doesn’t look like reviewers have been taking their happy pills. While the scores are certainly not a...
Guide What Time Will Red Dead Redemption 2's Gameplay Trailer Go Live?
And where can you watch it?
Yeehawww, sharpshooters – it’s Red Dead Redemption 2 day. Right on time, Rockstar has confirmed that we’ll be getting our first glimpse at the hotly anticipated open world title’s gameplay today, but you may be wondering what time it’ll go online, right? Fortunately, we’ve got you covered – here’s when and...
Hands On Electronauts Turns You into a Cosmic Composer with PSVR
Put a donk on it
God bless PlayStation VR. There’s always going to be scepticism regarding the viability of virtual reality as the medium remains in its infancy, but we never fail to be impressed each and every time we put Sony’s glowing headset on. In fact, looking like you’re a member of Daft Punk is part of the appeal with Electronauts, a...
Soapbox Madden NFL’s Longshot Is the Kind of Direct-to-DVD Drama I Adore
Baffling in the best way
Okay, we’ve got to talk about Madden NFL’s Longshot mode, because I feel like this is flying under the radar. I quite like FIFA’s rags-to-riches stories, depicting the rise of Clapham’s finest forward Alex Hunter, but I absolutely love Devin Wade and Colt Cruise’s pursuit of NFL stardom. Playing through Homecoming,...
Hands On Marvel's Spider-Man's First Boss Fight Begins Things with a Bang
Iron Fisk
Marvel’s Spider-Man puts a strong foot forward during its opening mission, as Insomniac Games lays out all of the controls and puts you in pursuit of the Kingpin within minutes. It’s no secret that the web-slinger brings down Wilson Fisk at the very beginning of the game, but this kickstarts a chain of events that will eventually see...
Interview Chewing the Fat with Overcooked 2 Developer Ghost Town Games
Chef chat
The Overcooked games are a real treat on PS4. The first was a modestly sized but perfectly executed co-op game that players of all ages and skill could enjoy, and Overcooked 2 builds on this firm foundation with new features, including the highly requested online play. We caught up with Phil Duncan of Ghost Town Games to talk about the...
Game of the Month The Top 4 PlayStation Games of July 2018
Endings, overtures, robots, and runs
The summer has so far provided a bit of a lull in activity for the game industry, but that's all about to change rather dramatically as we move into the business end of the year. But before we get swamped in the many, many new game releases of August, September, October, and November, let's first take a...
Hands On Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's Multiplayer Changes 4 the Better
Get those boots on the ground
The first weekend of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 private beta is over and it’s been a surprisingly entertaining ride. The series’ multiplayer mode has always been very popular, but the last two instalments seemed a little too comfortable, despite their setting of the far future and World War II being very...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 231
Wading in
Guess who forgot to organise WAYP this week? It’s a rarity, so hopefully your humble host can be forgiven. Fortunately a handful of staffers responded to the last minute request for paragraphs, so we have something to publish. This article is all about you, ultimately, anyway. Sammy Barker, Editor: I’m not sure how Tiburon got EA...
Guide EVO 2018 Stream Schedule - Where and When to Watch EVO 2018
Dragon Ball, Street Fighter, Tekken, and more
EVO 2018 takes place this weekend, and the world's biggest fighting game event promises some spectacular showings this year. Games relevant to PlayStation include Dragon Ball FighterZ (its first ever appearance at EVO), Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle (its first ever...
Hands On Peter Parker's Gameplay Is a Massive Departure in Marvel's Spider-Man on PS4
Science fiction
Marvel’s Spider-Man is just as much about Peter Parker as it is about the eponymous web-slinger. During our two hour hands on session with the upcoming PlayStation 4 exclusive, we got our very first glimpse at the 23-year-old graduate’s own gameplay sections, which primarily appear to take place in a
Guide Monster Hunter: World Behemoth Fight - How to Beat Behemoth
5 essential tips
The Behemoth has arrived in Monster Hunter: World as part of the game's crossover event with Final Fantasy XIV. After completing two special missions -- one that sees you hunt a rather strange Kulu Yaku and one that tasks you with beating Behemoth up just enough so that he runs away -- you're granted the ability to properly...
Hands On Marvel's Spider-Man on PS4 Is Shaping Up to Be the Best Spider-Man Game Ever
We've played the first two hours of Insomniac's superhero romp
Spider-Man PS4 – or Marvel’s Spider-Man to give it its official title – is exactly what you’re expecting it to be. Insomniac Games is not trying to reinvent the open world wheel with this hotly anticipated PlayStation 4 affair – rather it’s merely set out to refine it with...
Interview Insomniac Games on Making Marvel's Spider-Man Its Own
"We feel a lot of pressure"
Marvel’s Spider-Man is shaping up to be the best Spider-Man game ever made, and we were lucky enough to sit down with creative director Bryan Intihar to learn a little more about the Insomniac Games developed PlayStation 4 exclusive. In our wide-ranging chat, we touched upon how the Burbank studio embarked upon...
Feature Best PS4 Music of July 2018
Down and Dirge-y
June was a rather crowded month when it came to noteworthy soundtracks, which sees July come off as comparatively sparse. A bit of a low-key month before all the big guns come out swinging with their amazing soundtracks. Despite this, we were able to scrounge a couple worthwhile scores anyways, so let’s hop in. Shining...
Indie Bin Pixel Ripped 1989, 18 Floors, The Walker
Also: Nah, that's it this time
From the embers of the Push Square Podcast rises Indie Bin – a feature that draws attention to some of the smaller games in PlayStation's busy release schedule. Once the Indie Bin is full, we'll put it out for collection in these consolidated articles featuring several pint-sized reviews. The...
Feature The Promising PS4 Games of August 2018
The storm starts here
Well, we've had our summer lull it seems. Starting in August, the release schedule really starts to ramp up, as evidenced by this bumper edition of Promising PS4 Games. It's busy times ahead for the hardcore PlayStation enthusiast, that's for sure. Dead Cells: Publisher: Motion Twin Developer: Motion...
Guide The Best PS4 Co-Op Games
The greatest PlayStation 4 games to play with friends
What are the best co-op games on PS4? If you’re reading this article then we’re guessing that one of your preferred pastimes is playing the PlayStation 4 with pals. But what are the top co-operative titles on the console? We’ve compiled a list of our favourites that no PS4 co-op session...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 230
Hot and bothered
Who’s melting? After a hellish heatwave, storms have supposedly rolled into the UK, bringing the temperatures down. Not here at Push Square Towers, however, where there are currently SEGA skies overhead and burning sunshine. Will it ever rain again? We’ll keep you updated. Sammy Barker, Editor: Good question, I don't actually...
Guide New PS4 Games Releasing in August 2018
Every upcoming PlayStation 4 release date in August 2018
What new PS4 games are coming out in August 2018? We're finally on the other side of the summer drought, and the release calendar is looking seriously stacked as a result. Try not to panic just yet, though, because this is the calm before the storm – you should see the state of September...
Talking Point What Free August 2018 PS Plus Games Do You Want?
When will August 2018's PS Plus lineup be revealed?
What’s the August 2018 PlayStation Plus lineup? And when will the August 2018 PS Plus lineup be revealed? You may have expected news about August's roster of free PS+ games to already be available, but this is one of those awkward months that's going to result in a late announcement...
DLC Review NEXT Makes No Man's Sky the Best It's Ever Been
NEXT gen
The tale of No Man's Sky is fascinating. This enormously ambitious game comes from a tiny Guildford studio, previously known for Joe Danger. Excitement swirled out of control, regrettable things were said during interviews, and people were losing their minds. When the game launched two years ago, it all came crumbling down. Expectations...
Feature Push Square's Ultimate PlayStation Character Has Been Decided
Oh crap!
Our champion has been decided! After a total of 40 articles stretched across nine months, the Push Square community has chosen the winner of our Ultimate PlayStation Character Tournament. This whole thing kicked off all the way back in October 2017. Every week since, we've pitted PlayStation characters against one another in polls on...
