News - 2014, Week 40
Monday6th Oct 2014
Push Rewind PS4 Bundles, PS Plus Freebies, and DriveClub Details
Last minute
Wow, when did it get so busy? One minute we were enjoying a nice summer holiday, now we’re staring at an apocalyptic review list – and trying to put a brave face on it all. This very feature was a casualty of our hectic schedule last week, as we opted to travel back from EGX London rather than piece together your regular dose of Push...
Sunday5th Oct 2014
Review Alien: Isolation (PlayStation 4)
RIPley
Creative Assembly’s greatest challenge with Alien: Isolation was always going to be keeping the title’s gruesome game of cat and mouse interesting over the course of a complete campaign – and it would have succeeded, if it knew when to roll the credits. There’s always a cry from money conscious consumers for more content, but SEGA’s...
Review Slender: The Arrival (PlayStation 3)
A walk in the woods
The mythos of Slenderman shouldn’t be much of a mystery anymore. The abnormally tall creature with no discernible facial features and a rockin’ tuxedo has blown up in popularity these past couple of years. This is mostly due to popular web series Marble Hornets, but another thing that added to the creepy character’s...
Review Anomaly 2 (PlayStation 4)
Turning the tables
Tower defence is more of a niche genre for a particular subset of gamers. The slow pace and constant, strategic management of resources that characterises the games may sound like either a fun time or a monotonous drag to you, but something like Anomaly 2 is, er, an anomaly. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play as...
Weirdness This Is How Activision Should Have Marketed Destiny
Seriously
Destiny’s been at the butt of our jokes for several weeks now, but we can’t resist one last subtle prod. The folks over at Smosh – remember when they used to lip-sync Pokémon songs? – have concocted an ‘Honest’ trailer for Bungie’s mega shooter, which depicts how the first-person affair should have been marketed. Throughout...
Saturday4th Oct 2014
News Yes, You Can Extend Paul Phoenix's Hair in Tekken 7 on PS4
Hair we go
Tekken 7 is still some way away from being released on the PlayStation 4, but Bandai Namco is currently location testing the arcade version around Japan. This pre-release strategy is often employed in the East, as a means for publishers to market their upcoming titles – and also get important feedback on balancing issues and more...
News Don't Crash Your Car in DriveClub on PlayStation 4
Over and out of the race
We wished that we could pad out slow news days with pictures of kittens chasing their tails, but unfortunately the company directors may have something to say about that. Fortunately, we can fill out the evening with DriveClub clips, like the one embedded below. Thank you Evolution Studios for giving us something to write...
Store Preview DriveClub, Alien: Isolation, NBA 2K15, PlayStation Plus Freebies
It's full of stars
PlayStation Store updates can be dreadfully disappointing affairs. You wait all week for them to come around, only to find that there’s nothing in the lineup that you want to buy. We’re confident that that won’t be the case this coming Tuesday, however, as Sony has compiled one of the most exciting software rosters in quite...
Review Futuridium EP Deluxe (PlayStation 4)
Spacecubes
The work of a space pilot is never done – and in Futuridium EP Deluxe, you'll learn this firsthand. This retro themed shooter attempts to combine classic genre tropes with modern sensibilities, while also providing a cacophony of visual and sonic stimulation. But does this ship reach warp speed, or could it have used a bit longer in the...
News PS4 Takes the Gadget of the Year Gong at the T3 Awards
Brushes aside iPhone 5S and Xbox One
There’s a good chance that you’re reading this website because you love PlayStation, but let’s not pretend that there aren’t dozens of other snazzy gizmos out there. The market is practically flooded with nifty appliances these days, which perhaps makes the PlayStation 4’s success at the T3 Awards all...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 41
Neon pie
We’re teetering on the precipice of gameageddon. Our super secret review document is filled with titles, reviewers have been assigned, and Push Square Towers is awash with complaints regarding the length of certain releases. Anybody would think that we’d entered the third circle of Hell or something. Still, with such animation behind...
News There Are Some Nice Naughty Dog Exhibits on Display for the Firm's 30th Anniversary
Top dog
Naughty Dog, the studio behind Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us, is 30 years old, and in order to acknowledge that momentous occasion, the company is celebrating in style. As posted earlier in the year, the fi
Friday3rd Oct 2014
Review FIFA 15 (PlayStation 4)
Straight down the middle
Reviewing FIFA tends to get harder as the years pass, especially when there are no new gameplay innovations or drastic blueprint alterations to shout about. Last year's entry felt like a step up purely because of the graphical and technical improvements that came courtesy of new hardware, but FIFA 15 is obviously unable to...
Round Up Alien: Isolation PS4 Reviews Hold Their Breath
Don't make a sound
You’d think that it would be easy to make a game about eight-foot aliens stomping around spaceships. However, if the abysmal Aliens: Colonial Marines taught us anything, it’s that it’s not so straightforward at all. Fortunately, the Creative Assembly has been quietly attempting to write a few wrongs behind its inconspicuous...
News Forget That Awesome UK PS4 Package, This One Is Better
Impulse purchase
There has never been a better time to buy a PlayStation 4 in the UK. Retailers are competing for your custom ahead of the busy Christmas shopping season, and prices are getting slashed like there’s no tomorrow. There are also some great unofficial bundles doing the rounds, like the one that we spotted at GAME earlier in the week...
Rumour 14GB Will Be Enough to Contain the Cuteness of PS4 Exclusive LittleBigPlanet 3
PS Move compatibility also on the cards
A little like DriveClub, the upcoming LittleBigPlanet 3 is one of those titles that we want nestling on our PlayStation 4’s hard drive. Sony’s exclusive lineup this year seems built around pickup and play experiences that will have long legs, and Sackboy’s latest errand looks particularly likely to...
First Impressions Squeezing the Cheeks of LittleBigPlanet 3 on PS4
Sack joy
Like a cuddly toy that’s slipped down the side of a forgetful infant’s bed, there’s a sense that LittleBigPlanet 3 is getting overlooked. Caught among the onslaught of holiday releases, Sackboy and his band of burlap buddies have failed to catch the interest of the robotic hordes fawning over annualised outings such as Call of Duty:...
News How Many Maps Will Deploy with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare?
Enough to keep you occupied
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is strapping on its Exosuit and getting ready to rocket jump onto your PlayStation 4 – but how many multiplayer maps will launch with the first-person shooter? Writing on Twitter, Michael Condrey of Sledgehammer Games has confirmed that you’ll get 14 maps out of the box, though you’ll...
Feature Our Three Favourite PS4 Games from EGX London 2014
The final word
The ballot papers have been collected, counted, rigged, re-counted, and revealed – and Alien: Isolation has won this year’s official EGX London 2014 game of the show. We’re contrary kittens here at Push Square, though, and we reckon that the British gaming public’s got its favourite PlayStation 4 titles in the wrong order...
News Kick the Hobbit with This Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor PS4 Trailer
Looking sharp
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is like the little engine that could. While we were certainly excited for the title, its extremely positive reviews have sealed it as one of the must-have games in the already packed month of October. And in order to remind everyone of its existence, developer Monolith Productions has released a nifty new...
Thursday2nd Oct 2014
News This Enormous PS4 Bundle Is Bordering on Parody
Chuck everything in
In addition to wiping the floor with Microsoft's abhorrent used games policies, Sony’s strategy for the latest generation seems to have centred on one very simple tactic: bundle everything. The platform holder has announced a dizzying number of hardware packages over the past 12 months, and this set available in Germany is the...
Feature What Do You Get in DriveClub: PS Plus Edition on PS4?
Fast and furious
DriveClub: PS Plus Edition is undoubtedly the highlight of October’s massive PlayStation Plus update, but you may be pondering what the free PlayStation 4 download actually includes. As the name indicates, this isn’t the full version of Evolution Studios’ next-gen racer, but a cut down copy designed to give you a taste of the...
Reaction EGX London Hammers Another Nail in PS Vita's Coffin
Dead too soon
Sony managed to squeeze a double-decker bus onto its booth at EGX London last week, but we didn’t spot a single PlayStation Vita. The flailing format has been largely ignored at the platform holder’s various press conferences this year, but has always enjoyed a strong showfloor presence, with titles such as Freedom Wars and
News PlayStation Home May Live on the PlayStation 4 Yet
Another brick in the wall
PlayStation Home is being boarded up. Sony announced late last week that it will be evicting residents from its ambitious virtual world, and dismantling the servers like an old block of flats. For many of us, it’s an opportunity to point and laugh at the service’s protracted lifespan – but this move is going to...
News PSN Offline Yet Again as Connections Drop Around the Globe
The age of the outage
Well, this is starting to look bad, isn’t it? We understand that networks go wrong sometimes, but Sony’s got to ensure that the PlayStation Network stays online longer than this – if only to avoid a constant barrage of negative press. Indeed, there are reports around
News Sony: The Last Guardian Development Couldn't Be Better
"That might be a bit of an exaggeration"
At this point, we’re convinced that the inevitable documentary detailing the production of The Last Guardian will be better than any game that Team ICO actually manage to ship. As part of an interview with Japanese publication Famitsu, Sony Worldwide Studios gaffer Shuhei Yoshida reiterated that the long...
News PS4 Exclusive Bloodborne Really Does Look Putrid
In a good way, obviously
The alpha test for Bloodborne has opened, meaning that people have actually been able to play the spiritual successor to Demon’s Souls. In this sequence of clips captured by YouTube user LiLAsN [That wasn’t easy to type – Ed], we’re treated to a good 45 minutes or so
News Firmware Update 3.30 Brightens Up PS Vita with Themes
Dream theme
Want to know what’s better than first-party games? Themes, of course! Sony may have more or less pulled the plug on internal PlayStation Vita development, but at least it’s released a new firmware update that promises to bring a slew of pretty patterns to your favourite portable. Beginning today, you’ll be able to
News What Do the PlayStation Vita's First Themes Look Like?
Suits you, sir
Unlike the PlayStation 4, the PlayStation Vita has always been relatively customisable. Straight out of the box, Sony allowed you to personalise the platform’s bubbly user interface with different colours and pictures – but that functionality’s evolved today. As part of the portable’s v3.30 firmware update, the company has...
Live See More of Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy Type 0 HD Right Here
The boys are back in town
Phew, we just about managed to catch this one. At 12PM BST, Square Enix will be live streaming an extended Tokyo Game Show presentation which will feature Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy Type 0 HD. Sounds good, doesn't it? The only problem, though, is that we're completely unsure how 'extended' the showing will actually...
News Telltale's The Walking Dead, Er, Walks onto PS4 on 24th October
It's about Clemen-time
The Walking Dead has seemingly been shambling onto the PlayStation 4 for months now. However, after an almost endless run of rumours, developer Telltale Games has confirmed that the title will be launching for the super system on 24th October. To be clear, both seasons will be released separately, in digital and
Wednesday1st Oct 2014
Feature What Are October 2014's Free PlayStation Plus Games?
The good stuff
The holiday season may be upon us, and with it dozens upon dozens of the biggest games – but that’s not deterring our anticipation for October 2014’s free PlayStation Plus lineup. This is arguably the biggest update in a while, thanks in part to the addition of DriveClub: PS Plus Edition. However, it also h
News Destiny's 1.0.2 Patch Goes Live, Improves Loot and Dishes out More Rewards for Strikes
About time
The day that all of you Guardians have been waiting for has finally arrived, as Destiny's highly anticipated 1.0.2 update is now live, and we know what most of you must be thinking as you read this: it's about bloody time. As promised, the patch makes changes to the Cryptarch, who had a horrible habit of giving you gear that didn't live...
Review Frozen Synapse Prime (PlayStation Vita)
Fail to plan, plan to fail
Never has the phrase ‘No plan survives contact with the enemy’ been truer than when playing Frozen Synapse Prime on the PlayStation Vita. This turn-based tactics game has a real talent for throwing a spanner in the works, forcing you to hastily change your combat plans. Taking on the role of a tactician, you’ll...
Review Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!! (PlayStation Vita)
Girl power
When a game title has five exclamation points, there should be no doubt that it will attempt to blow your mind with a furious amount of explosions and wow moments. Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!! is certainly in your face, focusing on large full screen specials that will blind you with brash colours, while still maintaining classic 2D...
News DriveClub, Dust, and Spelunky Free for PS4 in October PS Plus Update
Batman: Arkham Asylum, Pix the Cat, and more up for grabs
Hold onto your hats, folks – it’s the monthly PlayStation Plus update for October. Always a momentous occasion – whether you’re a fan of Sony’s recent giveaways or not – this month is definitely the largest in some time. That’s partly due to the headline addition: DriveClub: PS...
Review CastleStorm: Definitive Edition (PlayStation 4)
It's reigning Zen
Blurring the line between tower defense and real-time strategy, CastleStorm proved a surprise hit when we reviewed it last year. This time, Zen Studios’ clever mash-up is back on the PlayStation 4, with all of its previous DLC and a few new surprises up its sleeve. But how does this version stack up against the game that we...
News Sorry, PS4 Racer DriveClub Will Only Support Thrustmaster Driving Wheels
Logitech left in the lurch
For the longest time PlayStation 4 racer DriveClub seemed like it would never release. But now, with the title mere weeks away, Sony has released a list on the PlayStation Blog of all the peripherals that will work with the game. And, if we're totally honest, it's a disappointingly short list. Indeed, only the Thrustmaster...
News Sigh! Even Sony Can't Resist Ruffling Fanboy Feathers
Not this again
Virtually all video game trailers include carefully selected press quotes, but this DriveClub clip just couldn’t resist fuelling the fanboy flames. At one point in the 90-second promo embedded below, the platform holder points out that Evolution Studios’ next-gen racer is the PlayStation 4’s purported 'Forza killer'. Granted,...
News Resident Evil's PS4 Remake Will Fuse the Old with the New
Dancing with the S.T.A.R.S.
If you’re not a fan of the beret boasting Jill Valentine of old, then you’ll be able to swap the S.T.A.R.S. operative’s uniform for something a little more modern in the upcoming PlayStation 4 re-release of the original Resident Evil. As part of a trailer on the property’s official YouTube channel, Capcom has...
Store Update 1st October 2014 (Europe)
Wiped out
As is often the case, this week’s European PlayStation Store update isn’t quite as exciting as its North American counterpart. That doesn’t mean that there’s not a ton to look forward to, though, as Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Futuridium EP Deluxe, and Natural Doctrine all take centre stage. The full lin
News Fight the Urge to Fritter Your Finances in European PSN Sale
How low can you go?
Everyone loves an impulse purchase, but the sheer number of savings on the PlayStation Store these days is getting out of hand. Not long after discounting a number of smaller PlayStation 4 titles, Sony has announced that it’s cutting the price of a bunch of PlayStation 3 and Vita releases, too. All available from today in...
News PlayStation Plus Members Will Be Able to Try Battlefield 4 for Free
Sadly, only on PS3
Perhaps in an attempt to claw back some potential consumers after Battlefield 4’s atrocious launch, EA Games has announced an initiative that will allow you to play the afflicted first-person shooter for free on the PlayStation 3 for a week in North America. This will provide you with access to the full game, including its...
Store Update 30th September 2014 (North America)
Lord of the updates
Yes, the holiday rush has arrived. This week’s North American PlayStation Store update is so big, we’re not entirely sure if the online plaza will be able to cope with it all. In addition to heavy hitters such as Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, there are also biggies like Sherlock Holmes: Crimes...
News Who Wants to Flinch at Bloodborne's Title Screen?
The evil within
While it may feel like it’s only just been announced, Bloodborne’s release is edging ever closer. The hotly anticipated collaboration between From Software and Japan Studio is due out in February, and in order to ensure that the title deploys in the best state possible, Sony has been sending out beta invites to a select few Dark...
News Unleash The Evil Within with Japanese PS4 Bundles
Scarily good
Sony loves its bundles at the moment, so it’s no surprise to see it sell Shinji Mikami’s upcoming survival horror The Evil Within – or Psycho Break as it's known overseas – alongside a couple of custom PlayStation 4 consoles in Japan. Like previous sets in the East, these come with custom hard drive fascias, showing a mansion...
Tuesday30th Sep 2014
News This Is One of the Best PS4 Deals in the UK So Far
Won't break the bank
Retailers around the UK are really fighting for your custom right now, and that’s resulting in some outrageous offers regarding the PlayStation 4. We already saw the system’s price slashed ahead of FIFA 15 last week, but now it seems that GAME is preparing a bundle of epic proportions – which includes three games and a...
Review Watch Dogs: Bad Blood (PlayStation 4)
Dreadlock screen
Watch Dogs was a solid sandbox title that was let down by a shallow story and a weak cast of characters, and even though it featured a number of well designed missions and some great combat, a severe lack of personality kept proceedings from being truly memorable. Flash forward, and we have the game's first expansion: Bad Blood...
Review Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments (PlayStation 4)
Baker treat
Sherlock Holmes is the ultimate alpha male. He may not be particularly strong, but he has the ability to crush any man with his incredible intellect – and in Crimes and Punishments, a PlayStation 4 adventure loosely based upon Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous short stories and the BBC’s more modern adaptation, he practically revels...
News Nathan Drake May Very Well Need a Bucket and Spade in Uncharted 4 on PS4
Do like to be beside the seaside
Naughty Dog is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the first-party outfit has readied a brand new art book in order to acknowledge the occasion. The coffee table collectible includes images and sketches from all of its titles, including Cras
News Hack To Your Heart's Content with This Watch Dogs: Bad Blood DLC Launch Trailer
Spoilers, probably
If Watch Dogs' main quest wasn't enough to satiate your appetite for deftly shattering computer software, never fear, as the title will soon be receiving extra downloadable content. Titled Bad Blood, the DLC will see you playing as Raymond 'T-Bone' Kenney, attempting to outrun his past demons. In order to drum up excitement,...
Monday29th Sep 2014
First Impressions What New Tricks does Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition Learn on PS4?
Yes Wei
Many would argue that the original Sleeping Dogs was the overlooked sandbox gem of the last generation. The title's setting of Hong Kong had a quirky feel to it, and gameplay mixed exploration, kung-fu combat, and a surprisingly enjoyable story. It certainly wasn't as polished or as vast in scope as something like Grand Theft Auto V, but...
First Impressions PS4 Teen Horror Until Dawn Is So Bad That It's Scarily Good
#Dead
David Cage makes games that aren’t supposed to be funny, but sometimes wander into the realm of comedy anyway. The Parisian auteur, who’s perhaps best known for PlayStation 3 exclusive Heavy Rain, tends to discuss Quantic Dream’s ‘emotional’ output in a very self-serious manner – and yet, scenes such as ‘Jason, Jason’ often...
First Impressions Is Pretty PS4 Exclusive The Order: 1886 a Victorian Victory?
Antique action
Insomniac Games may have taken a half-step outside of the House of PlayStation, but Sony may have already found the studio’s replacement in Ready at Dawn. Much of the conversation surrounding Victorian adventure The Order: 1886 has centred on its storyline and steampunk art style, but after a short hands-on demo, we came away more...
News Tearaway Unfolded Is Clearly a Cut Above Other PS4 Ports
Paper perfection
Media Molecule wasn’t messing around when it said that Tearaway Unfolded would be more than just an average PlayStation 4 port. Unlike other titles that have made the jump to Sony’s next-gen machine, this looks like a brand new game – as is evidenced by the wide shot of Maple Field at the start of this
Live See All New Gameplay and How You'll Create Your Own Character in Dragon Age: Inquisition
How inquisitive
Want to start drumming up some hype for Dragon Age: Inquisition? If so, this upcoming live stream may be just the place to start. Hosted by creative director Mike Laidlaw and producer Cameron Lee, developer BioWare's stream will begin at 18:00PM BST – that's 10:00AM PT and 13:00PM ET for you Americans. So, what's going to be...
News PS4 Racer Project Cars Plans to Pelt Down the Tarmac at 60FPS in 1080p
Holden a second
If there's one thing that can be said about videogame developers, it's that they love to brag about resolutions and frame rates. It seems that Slightly Mad Studios is no different, as a recent interview with Eurogamer.net has revealed that its upcoming PlayStation 4 racer
News UK Sales Charts: FIFA 15 Kicks Destiny Off the Top
Got some balls
That didn’t last long, did it? To be fair, a quick glance at the release calendar would have told you that Destiny wouldn’t be dominating the UK sales charts forever – especially with FIFA 15 looming on the horizon. And, unsurprisingly, it’s the soccer simulation that’s knocked Bungie’s first-person shooter off the top,...
