Soapbox Was Dragon's Crown Just A Joke That Nobody Got?
Taking things too seriously
News - 2014, Week 26
Sunday29th Jun 2014
Review Sniper Elite III (PlayStation 4)
Boom headshot
It’s ironic that so soon after the release of Valiant Hearts: The Great War, another title with a very different outlook on war has stealthily marched onto the PlayStation 4. In Sniper Elite III, rather than making you think about the needless loss of life, this latest instalment in the distance shooter series asks that you revel in...
Review Ultra Street Fighter IV (PlayStation 3)
Shoryuken handle it?
Street Fighter has long been one of the most popular fighting games in the genre, with title releases on just about every platform since 1987. The most recent Street Fighter IV demonstrates Capcom’s commitment to keeping the series alive, with a staggering five iterations on the original build making Ultra Street Fighter IV...
News Not Bought a PS4 Yet? This The Last of Us Remastered Bundle May Tempt You
Ellie of an entry point
While many have been swift to criticise the PlayStation 4’s first full year on the market, we reckon that Sony’s done an admirable job of beating the content drought and keeping a steady stream of software on store shelves. Only last month it collaborated closely with Ubisoft for the release of Watch Dogs, and it still...
News Greatness Awaits in Sony's New Budget PS3 Software Bundles
Hong Kong won't have to wait long
With the PlayStation 4 now readily available in most parts of the world, the PlayStation 3 is rapidly becoming a cheaper option for cash conscious gamers. Enter these brilliant new software bundles, which are set to release in Hong Kong next week. For starters, the ‘Artistic Pack’ includes classics such as ICO,...
News Pure Pool Racks Up Some Seriously Realistic Visuals on PS4
Pot shot
No console is complete without some pub games, and Hustle Kings developer VooFoo Studios is set to take to the PlayStation 4’s baize soon with billiards simulation Pure Pool. Offering outrageously lifelike visuals, the title will also boast uber-realistic ball physics and a ‘Pure DNA’ system, which will allow you to challenge computer...
News Sony Spends More on US TV Ads for the PS4 Than Microsoft Does for the Xbox One
Apparently it's working
The PlayStation 4 is selling like hotcakes – this much we know. However, a much more interesting discussion can be had around how the console has managed to maintain this market dominance. Some argue that the PS4's lower price point has been instrumental in its success, while others point to
News Escape Plan Maker Aiming to Break Free with New PS4 Title
Not sure if the project is Lil or Laarg
Fun Bits Interactive, the Washington-based studio famous for monochrome PlayStation Vita launch title Escape Plan, is busy beavering away on a new PlayStation 4 game. While details are currently incredibly scarce, ex-343 Industries employee Randall Knapp notes on his resume that the company has its head down...
Saturday28th Jun 2014
Review Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland (PlayStation Vita)
Mix it up
Shop keepers are an important part of almost every RPG, but they very rarely get the attention that they deserve. They focus a bunch of effort into putting together a nice collection of weapons and potions, and do they even get a spot in the final cutscene? Were they even asked? In Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland, you’re...
News PS4's First Gran Turismo Game Will Be Stuck at the Start Line for a Little While Yet
Off the mark
This editor’s gaming news engine has been stationary for a few days now, so what better way to remove the rust than with a cheeky post about Gran Turismo 7? It would appear that the industry’s still very much in first gear following the excitement of E3 2014 earlier in the month, but speaking with Eurogamer.net at the Goodwood...
Push Rewind PS4 Firmware Updates, Valiant Hearts, and July's PS Plus Freebies
A good catch up
Push Rewind was conceived as a means to keep you up to date with the weekly happenings on Planet PlayStation, but seeing as this editor’s been holidaying as far away from computer screens as humanly possible over the past seven or so days, this should prove a really rather resourceful recap for your humble host, too. We’re still...
News Here's Every Trophy You'll Be Able to Earn in Upcoming PS4 Shooter Destiny
Spoilers, probably
We all play games for different reasons. Some of us like to get lost in grand and intricate stories, while others are much more interested in rock-solid gameplay. Perhaps the most peculiar breed of gamer, though, is the one that plays purely for the trophies. If you fall into this latter category, we're pleased to share with you...
News Who Wears Short Shorts? Er, Octodad in This Free PS4 DLC
Got the squids
Octodad: Dadliest Catch developer Young Horses understands that you can never have too much fun parading around vibrant environments as a cephalopod in disguise – and so it’s confirmed that freshly caught DLC is in the works for the zany PlayStation 4 indie. Seemingly ditching the insipid stealth-inspired second half of the core...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 30
Gaming with the window open
It's been a long and warm Summer week for this Associate Editor. Android-like boss Sammy abandoned his post to run away on a lovely country holiday, but we've somehow made it through without the site catching fire or exploding — and you know what that means. Indeed, it's time to set aside your worries and relax by...
Friday27th Jun 2014
News Warhammer 40,000 Stomps onto PS4 with Space Hulk: Deathwing
Them's a lotta bullets
Full of imaginative characters, alien races, and crazy lore, the Warhammer 40,000 universe seems like a perfect backdrop for a gritty action game, and that's apparently what developer Streum On Studio thought, too. Captured from the game's engine — which happens to be Unreal 4 — the announcement trailer looks quite pretty...
Review Monster Monpiece (PlayStation Vita)
Cover-up girl
It’s fair to say that Western support for the PlayStation Vita has dwindled in the past year or so, setting the stage for several Japanese ports to step up and plug the hole. None, however, are more questionably sexualised than Monster Monpiece; a card game where leveling up monster girls by rubbing the handheld’s touchscreen in a...
News The PlayStation 4 Just Can't Catch A Break In Japan
Outsold by the PlayStation 3, again
The PlayStation 4 is selling like cakes which are exceedingly hot in pretty much every region right now — with the notable exception of Japan, where it launched in February this year. According to the latest figures from Famitsu, Sony's latest home console is being outsold not only by the rival Nintendo Wii U,...
News Still Curious about No Man's Sky on PS4? This Video Should Answer a Lot of Your Questions
Space age
It stole the show at E3 along with our Best Game of E3 award, but that hasn't stopped Sony from releasing a rather lengthy trailer that sheds a lot of light on No Man's Sky finer points. The seven minute video covers development of the game, how tiny studio Hello Games got the hype ball rolling, and how the developer has reacted to all of...
News PS4 Exclusive The Order: 1886 Features Nerve-Rackingly Realistic Werewolves
At the end of our lycnathrope
You may recall a particularly gruesome trailer for The Order: 1886 from this year's E3. The gory clip debuted during Sony's super slick press conference, and showed off the title's reimagining of 1800s London, complete with historically accurate werewolf infestation. Luckily for us, the Japanese giant has recently...
News Say Hello to Tales of Xillia 2's Two Main Characters, Ludger and Elle
You go girl
Tales of Xillia 2 is only a couple of months away, and as you'd expect, publisher Bandai Namco is starting to throw out numerous trailers that detail the title's party members. Today, we start with the JRPG's two main characters: Ludger and Elle. As you can tell, it's probably best that protagonist Ludger is taking responsibility for...
News Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate Slithers onto PS4, PS3, and Vita in September
Snake eater
This year has already been a memorable one for fans of Koei's Warriors games. Dynasty Warriors has made its debut on Sony's new console, while Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn has blasted onto store shelves this very day. And as if Samurai Warriors 4 slashing its way onto all of the J
Thursday26th Jun 2014
Review Valiant Hearts: The Great War (PlayStation 4)
Dog day afternoon
There are hundreds upon hundreds of games about war. Yet despite the subject matter’s ubiquity, there is a distinct lack of variety in the way it’s handled: you shoot people, you sneak behind people so you can stab them in the back, or you slaughter countless people with the press of a single button. These gleeful and...
Video This is What Pro Evo 2015 Will Look Like In Motion
First gameplay footage hits the web
Konami has lifted the lid on the next entry in the Pro Evolution Soccer series with a short but sweet gameplay trailer. As expected, PES 2015: Pro Evolution Soccer looks absolutely stunning — but then most football games can boast that these days. The proof will be in the core mechanics, of which the trailer...
News Does This New Project Morpheus Trailer Sell You On Sony's Virtual Reality Headset?
It's incredible, apparently
Sony's virtual reality headset Project Morpheus may be a nifty piece of tech, but its value is incredibly hard to demonstrate. After all, there's nothing particularly exciting about watching someone with a clunky set of goggles strapped to their face wildly waving their arms about. It's the sort of thing that
Matters of Import Becoming the Ace Pilot of Your Dreams in Gundam: Extreme VS Full Boost
Well that's just fan-Feddie-tastic
Over the course of its opening five hours, Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme VS Full Boost had this particular Gundam-crazed author shouting and swearing worse than a generic Zeon pilot who's about to be blown to bits by an opposing Feddie protagonist. In layman's terms, this ridiculously named title plays host to an...
Video Footage Of Namco Bandai's New PS3 Godzilla Game Stomps Into View
Play as different Godzillas when the game launches in Japan later this year
Godzilla is enjoying something of a resurgence of late, thanks largely to the recent Hollywood reboot of the famous Japanese movies. While there wasn't a big home console game to tie-in with the American film, Namco Bandai is doing its best to fill that particular void by...
News Raven's Cry Is Going To Swash Your Buckles On PlayStation 4
"We’re coming up with some surprises, that’s for sure”
It might have dropped under the radar of many gamers, but Raven's Cry is shaping up to be a pretty special take on the theme of pirates pillaging the highways of the sea. Developed by Reality Pump Studios and to be published by TopWare Interactive, the game is coming to current-gen systems...
News Bayonetta Studio Platinum Is Bringing Avatar Spin-Off Legend Of Korra To The PS3 and PS4
Downloadable title being published by Activision
Famed developer Platinum Games is bringing Nickelodeon TV show Legend of Korra to home consoles, with Activision handling the publishing duties. Responsible for titles such as Bayonetta, Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Pl
Events Battlefield Hardline And Alien: Isolation Confirmed For EGX London 2014
More titles on the way, too
EGX London — formerly known as Eurogamer Expo — takes place on 25th to 28th September this year, and will see 80,000 attendees pass through the doors of Earl's Court, London. While the full list of new games being shown is still to be issued, the organisers have revealed that Battlefield Hardline and Alien: Isolation...
News Rainbow Six Siege Aiming For Gender Equality When It Comes To Hapless Hostages
But female hostages were shown at E3 for "empathy"
Ubisoft's recent confirmation that Assassin's Creed: Unity won't feature playable female avatars caused quite a stir in the gaming press, and the company appears to have stumbled headlong into another gender controversy, this time relating to FPS title Rainbow Six: Siege. The recent demo of the...
News Ubisoft Wants Just Dance To Join League Of Legends And Dota In The eSport Ranks
Well it does involve physical activity, at least
eSports are growing in popularity all the time, with millions of viewers tuning in to watch the world's best players fight it out for glory. Unsurprisingly, publishers are looking to the eSport world as a way of increasing the stature of their biggest games, and Ubisoft is no exception — it has just...
Wednesday25th Jun 2014
News July's PS Plus Update Slashes with Strider and Teases with TowerFall Ascension on PS4
Dead Space 3, Vessel, and LEGO Batman 2 bring up the rear
Hold onto your hats, because July's PlayStation Plus update has been officially announced. As rumours suggested, Capcom's slick slash-'em-up Strider and intense indie TowerFall Ascension make up the upcoming month's PlayStation 4 offering. Elsewhere, the ageing PS3 gets scary with the...
Rumour Batman: Arkham Origins Complete Edition May Be Gliding Onto PS3 In August
Gee willikers
Batman: Arkham Knight may have retreated to the bat cave till next year, but that doesn't mean the surly superhero is completely out of the fight. A listing on Amazon Germany recently popped up which suggests that Batman: Arkham Origins will soon be getting a game of the year-esque release on PlayStation 3. This new version,...
News PS4's Secret Ponchos Will Be One of Your Free PS Plus Games in Autumn
Shoot 'em dead
We may still be waiting on confirmation regarding July's PlayStation Plus update that will supposedly include Strider and Towerfall: Ascension on PlayStation 4, but our pals over at Eurogamer have managed to break the news that isometric shooter Secret Ponchos will takes its place as
Store Update 25th June 2014 (Europe)
Explore strange new worlds
This week is all about adventure on the European PSN store, which is perfect for those wishing the holidays could start early before the knock out rounds of the World Cup. Will you be visiting the past with Valiant Hearts: The Great War or will you be taking a trip to the future with Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn? If a...
Store Update 24th June 2014 (North America)
It's a long one
Boy, this week's update is a huge one, so we hope your wallets are ready if certain other sales haven't managed to make them whimper like newborn infants already. If you're wanting to make more than your wallet miserably depressed, Valiant Hearts: The Great War has you covered. However, if you're wanting something more relaxing this...
Weirdness Here's What Grand Theft Auto V Would Play Like With a First-Person View
Mind the clipping
Grand Theft Auto V certainly doesn't have the best shooting mechanics that we've seen in a game, but perhaps a first-person view would make its gunplay more appealing. If this has been a thought that's crossed your mind more than once, you'll be happy to hear that modder and YouTuber XBLToothPik has crafted a script that allows...
News Watch 12 Minutes of Freedom Wars Gameplay and Decide If It's a Sentence Worth Enduring
On the painted desert
Japanese publication 4Gamer.net has managed to grab 12 minutes of gameplay from upcoming Vita title Freedom Wars. The action RPG releases in just a few short hours in its native Japan, so don't be too surprised if you see plenty more videos hitting the internet within the next couple of days. If you're still struggling to get...
News Pop Bugs Zap Brings Free-to-Play Touch-Based Puzzling to the Casual PlayStation Mobile Crowd
Those poor bugs
A platform that's perhaps overlooked far too often, PlayStation Mobile is home to quite a few hidden gems, and you can even play them using your slick little Vita. Whether they're addictive puzzle games or reflex-based challenges, there are plenty of smaller titles to sink your teeth into when you feel like passing the time...
News See Where It All Began With Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1 This Summer
Who will win the console war?
With a torrent of titles arriving in the West, it's safe to say that fans of console parody JRPG series Hyperdimension Neptunia have been kept largely satisfied. From saving the Gameindustri in the core series to becoming the ultimate idol in Producing Perfection, it can be confusing to find a good point to jump onto...
Tuesday24th Jun 2014
News PS4 Firmware Update 1.7.2 Available For Download Now, PS3 Update 4.60 Coming Soon
Both "improve system software stability during use of some features"
If you turn on your beloved PS4 today you'll be prompted to download and install firmware package 1.7.2 — the latest update for Sony's popular next-gen home console. Owners of Sony's previous domestic system needn't feel left out, either — the PS3 is getting firmware update...
News The PS4 Dev Team Were 'Dancing in The Aisles' After The Xbox One's Price Reveal
So were we
A lot has been said about the performance of the two major players at last year's E3. Regardless of your view, it's no secret that Sony's super system has been going gangbusters when it comes to numbers. And while it certainly wasn't the most crucial element, the PlayStation 4's significantly cheaper price tag can certainly take a lot of...
Soapbox Was Dragon's Crown Just A Joke That Nobody Got?
Taking things too seriously
Given the recent furore over the lack of female playable characters in Assassin's Creed: Unity — and the fact that the previously controversial action RPG Dragon's Crown is currently part of Europe's PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection — I've been having plenty of time to think about how sexism manifests itself...
Review Battle Princess of Arcadias (PlayStation 3)
Such a peach
Being a princess is overrated. You’ll soon wear out your waving hand, you have to speak to poor people (which even poor people hate doing), and the occasional gifted helicopter from the in-laws does little to take the edge off. Being a battle princess, alternatively, is a completely different affair. It means you get to go out and hit...
News Activision Confirms Timed PlayStation-Exclusive Destiny Content, Then Retracts Statement
Going round in circles
Remember when we told you there were rumours that the PlayStation-exclusive content for Bungie's Destiny was only going to be around until "Fall 2015"? Well it looks like publisher Activision can't officially make up its mind on the matter, as it has confirmed this report with Eu
News inFAMOUS' Standalone DLC Store Page Sheds Some Light on its PS4 Release Date
Shine on forever
If you've been eagerly waiting on an ETA for inFAMOUS: Second Son's first big slice of downloadable content, you're in luck, as the PlayStation Store's slapped a release date on the cleverly named inFAMOUS: First Light's pre-order page. The add-on, which puts you in the shoes of spunky conduit Fetch, will supposedly be available...
News That Refreshing Wave Blue PS4 Controller is Coming to North America this Fall
Surf's up
Well would you just look at that 'Wave Blue' DualShock 4 — how, er, blue it is. A detail from E3 that's managed to escape many, it was confirmed that the colourful controller will be surfing its way to North America this Autumn — or Fall, for you Americans. Unfortunately, despite nabbing the Paragon version of Sony's incredibly...
News Sony Details PS4 Exclusive Scarecrow Mission For Batman: Arkham Knight
Toxic stuff
Sony has revealed some details regarding the PlayStation-exclusive content for the forthcoming Batman: Arkham Knight. PS4 players will be able to take on the sinister Scarecrow, who is using his patented fear toxin to make Gotham even less welcoming than usual: Gotham falls victim to Scarecrow's fear toxin, transforming the famous...
News High Turnover Of Staff At Crytek UK Casts Doubt Over Homefront: The Revolution
More tales of woe for the studio
Yesterday, we reported on rumours that Crytek is in financial trouble, with staff going unpaid and hints that bankruptcy could be on the cards. Today, there are fresh reports which relate to the company's British studio Crytek UK, which was formed form the ashes of TimeSplitters and Haze developer Free Radical...
News It's Looking Like Ar No Surge Will Be Announced for a Western Release
The great JRPG revival
It seems that for fans of Japanese role playing games, "ask and you shall receive" is becoming a reality more than a pipe dream. With Final Fantasy Type-0 finally being brought out after years of fan riots, another overlooked RPG could be on its way. Tecmo Koei Europe has teased on its Twitter account that the announcement of...
News Don't Worry, Bungie Thinks Destiny Will Enjoy a Smooth Launch Despite Huge Amounts of Players
Easier said than done
After taking part in Destiny's recent Alpha, we were happy to report that we found the experience completely hassle free. We spent over 25 hours in Bungie's newly created world, and we didn't come across a single connection problem, big or small. It provided a promising glimpse of the full release, but as we all know too well,...
News Former Last Guardian Staffers Show Off Open-World Adventure Vane
Former Battlefield and Killzone developers involved, too
Two former The Last Guardian artists have splintered away from Team ICO and co-founded a new studio called Friend & Foe, and the company's first game looks a bit like a cross between Journey and Shadow of the Col
News Tecmo Koei Will Become Koei Tecmo from 1st July in Europe
If you say so
You know it's been a bit of a slow news day when you find yourself writing stories about a Japanese publisher that's reversing its name in Europe, but here we are. After what seems like an eternity of penning 'Tecmo Koei' in every Dynasty Warriors review and news article, we're going to have to break free from the habit starting from...
Monday23rd Jun 2014
News Sony Mercilessly Hacks Ten Bucks Off The Price Of The Last Of Us: Remastered
Those who pre-ordered are getting refunds, too
The Last of Us: Remastered hits the PS4 next month, and unsurprisingly plenty of people have already pre-ordered the title, eager to survive the horror all over again. The good news if you haven't already laid down your cash is that Sony has slashed $10 off the price of the game in North America. It...
News Pro Evo Soccer 2015 Will Stride Onto The Next-Gen Pitch On June 25th
First gameplay reveal is coming this month
Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer series was once the toast of the footballing world, effortlessly beating its bitter rival FIFA with a combination of slick skills, stunning visuals and intense realism. However, in recent seasons the franchise has lost its match fitness, while EA's famous brand has gone from...
Getting hot in here
An MMO that features gigantic battlefields and action-focused hack and slash gameplay, Kingdom Under Fire II is expected to be marching onto the PlayStation 4 in the not too distant future. The free-to-play release grabbed our attention with its original E3 2014 trailer, and now it's time for an extended look. The new video...
News This Huge Leak Shows Off The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Monstrously Massive Map
Spoilers, obviously
It seems that we can't go more than a few days without another major release having its most intimate secrets leaked to the public. The most recent example of this trend is this gargantuan spill of essentially every detail you could ever want to know about The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Thankfully, this world-weary reporter hasn't...
News LittleBigPlanet 3's Public Beta isn't Starting Just Yet, But News is Coming Soon
Hopes dashed
LittleBigPlanet 3's certainly made a lasting impression during Sony's E3 press conference with its sudden unveiling on the big screen. With three new friends joining Sackboy on his hand-crafted adventures, it's understandable that fans would be keen to get in on the gameplay. When given a chance to join the PlayStation 4 title's...
Company doesn't want to take the Call of Duty route
When Battlefield 4 went toe-to-toe with Call of Duty: Ghosts late last year, EA's offering was found somewhat wanting. While the game's multiplayer mode was a revelation — with "emergent" gameplay and rapidly changing arenas — the title was blighted by issues which prevented players from...
Rumour Batman: Arkham Knight Is Stepping Out Of The Shadows In February 2015
According to Microsoft, anyway
The delay of Batman: Arkham Knight was a real disappointment — we hoped to be busting criminals as titular Dark Knight in 2014, rather than 2015. Publisher Warner Bros. has so far been reluctant to give us a solid release date for the title, but it would appear that Microsoft has gone ahead and done it anyway. On...
News Crytek Denies It Is On The Verge Of Bankruptcy Following Reports Of Staff Not Being Paid
"We continue to focus on development and publishing"
Crytek — the studio behind the Crysis series and CryEngine — has been forced to issue a statement today regarding claims in the German media that it is on the verge of bankruptcy. German magazine Gamestar is the source of the claims, and says that the Frankfurt-based firm's problems have...
News You'll Be Able to Test Your Skills in Naruto: Ninja Storm Revolution's Japanese Demo Next Week
Is Mecha Naruto worth the hype?
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution is slated for a Western release this September, but no doubt some of you ninjutsu enthusiasts are finding the wait near impossible. Thankfully, much like a team's dedicated medical ninja, help is close at hand. Next week, those with a Japanese PSN account will be able...
News Last Of Us: Remastered Bundle Sneaks Into View On Amazon France
Will your pocket be €429.99 lighter come July 30th?
If you've yet to take the plunge on Sony's latest and greatest domestic games console and you're looking for the ideal excuse to jump into the world of PS4, then you might want to take note of the new hardware bundle published on Amazon's French site. The company has posted this listing —...
Most Read
News PS4 Firmware Update 1.7.2 Available For Download Now, PS3 Update 4.60 Co...
News July's PS Plus Update Slashes with Strider and Teases with TowerFall Asc...
News The PS4 Dev Team Were 'Dancing in The Aisles' After The Xbox One's Price...
Review Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland (PlayStation Vita)
News Warhammer 40,000 Stomps onto PS4 with Space Hulk: Deathwing
Rumour Batman: Arkham Origins Complete Edition May Be Gliding Onto PS3 In August
