Review Dragon Quest Builders (PS4)
New kid on the block
News - 2016, Week 41
Monday17th Oct 2016
Additional assembly required
We knew going in that the promise of Sony's cheaper PlayStation VR headset meant that the graphical output was going to be inferior to that of its competition. Even with this knowledge, some of the titles have been shockingly unimpressive. It's easier to work around the headset's lower specs when using abstract art...
Push Rewind Red Dead Redemption 2, PlayStation VR, Tomb Raider
And exhale
As the sun sets on another week, we can rest easy knowing that we brought you a dizzying number of reviews and features. Also, if you're not currently subscribed, do make sure that you visit our YouTube channel, which is being updated daily. Reviews: Mafia III - 6/10 It was a risky gamble to tackle such an incendiary era of US...
Sunday16th Oct 2016
Guide How to Fix Blurry Images in PlayStation VR
Out of focus
PlayStation VR's resolution isn't flawless, so you're always going to get some degree of blurriness when wearing the headset. However, if you're struggling to read text or even see what's going on around you, then you may need to make some adjustments in order to get a clearer, focused experience. Here are some things that you can try...
News Rockstar Teases Something Red Dead Redemption, Internet Goes Nuts
Wild wild West
Whatever happened to lazy Sundays, eh? Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar has always walked its own path when it comes to teasing and announcing its upcoming projects, and the super popular company is at it again this weekend. Without warning, the company has posted a red Rockstar logo on Twitter, and naturally, it's caused the...
Video The Playroom VR's Robots Rescue Deserves Its Own Game
Miyamoto would be proud
Stop what you're doing, Japan Studio! Yes, delay The Last Guardian. Knack 2? Are you really making that? Okay, well cancel it – Robots Rescue, the terrific platformer in The Playroom VR, needs to be transformed into its own game. No, there's no time to waste – an indie team has already borrowed the idea, and started work...
News Battlefield 1's Trophies Won't Be Hell to Unlock
Call of duty
World War I was Hell on Earth, but you won't necessarily need to suffer to earn all of Battlefield 1's Trophies. Online now ahead of the anticipated shooter's release next week, you'll earn trinkets for trying out each of the game's classes, and completing the campaign. You'll need to grab all of the Codex Entries in each story mission,...
Feature PlayStation VR's Non-Games Include Dark Fairy Tales and Dancing Pop Stars
Allumette! Invasion! Kismet! VRideo!
PlayStation VR is a gaming platform first and foremost, but virtual reality is capable of so much more. Imagine a future where you're able to sit in the dugout alongside Jose Mourinho, as Manchester United lift the Champions League for a third time. Or perhaps where you're able to ride shotgun in Earth's first...
Saturday15th Oct 2016
Thumpin'
Virtual reality is a new addition to Sony's gaming repertoire, and with it has arrived a glut of new experiences and games. In fact, PlayStation VR has secured an impressively robust launch lineup with upwards of 20 titles on day one. Sure, not all of them can be winners – but luckily, Thumper is. A rhythm game described by the two-man...
Back of the net
Every professional footballer goes through a bad run of form, but it's particularly problematic when you're a striker and the goals dry up. Headmaster takes this very idea and spins it out into an entertaining virtual reality game, as you assume the role of a down-on-his-luck superstar who's been sent back to heading school. Your...
News Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare PS4 Beta Suffers Matchmaking Setbacks
But how do you get access?
The point of a beta is to identify any potential issues, so you can't really shout at Activision too loudly for the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare stress test's torrid first day. That said, when you're trying to incentivise pre-orders with early access, then you need to make sure things run smoothly to some extent; that's...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 139
VR you ready?
The majority of Push Square Towers will be avoiding the real-world this weekend, as we strap ourselves into Sony's virtual reality world via PlayStation VR. With such a gigantic launch offering, there are tons of titles for us to work our way through, so it's goodbye sunlight from us. Sammy Barker, Editor: I'm playing Ace Banana...
News Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood Will Skip the PlayStation 3
MMO expansion launching on PS4 next summer
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood is the next major expansion for Square Enix's uber-popular MMORPG, but if you're still playing the game on the PlayStation 3, then you're going to need to switch to the PlayStation 4 to keep up to date, as the add-on won't be releasing on Sony's last-gen system. Announced at...
Video Another Brick Through the Wall in SuperHyperCube on PS4
Cubers
SuperHyperCube is a simple game, but it really takes advantage of the unique perspective that only virtual reality is able to provide. In this video, you're going to see a sloppy run from yours truly, but it showcases the kind of gameplay experience that you can expect should you opt to pick it up. Essentially, the goal is to squeeze a cube...
Friday14th Oct 2016
Review Super Stardust Ultra VR (PS4)
Super Starbust
Super Stardust is becoming a bit of a new PlayStation hardware tradition. Ever since the venerable Super Stardust HD, the Housemarque developed arcade shooter has appeared on every Sony system released – including the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, and now PlayStation VR. But is the concept strong enough to...
An existential acid trip
Rez may have started life on the Dreamcast all the way back in 2001, but veteran Tetsuya Mizuguchi's synaesthesia shooter has finally found its true home on PlayStation VR. Despite being released on dozens of platforms over the past decade-and-a-half – including, of course, the PlayStation 2 – it feels like those...
News Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2 Open Beta Is Live on PS4
Super
Up for some over-the-top anime style action? You're in luck if so, because the Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2 open beta is now live on PlayStation 4 - all you have to do is grab it from the PlayStation Store. We were lucky enough to gain access to the closed beta last week, and we enjoyed what we played, even if it did feel a little too familiar at...
Review NOW That's What I Call Sing 2 (PS4)
Come and get it if you really want it
NOW That's What I Call Sing 2 is really only a game for people who like modern pop music. Only one or two of the 30 songs on the soundtrack were made before 2016, and even then they're five years old at their oldest; the fact that one of these songs is 'Sexy and I Know It' by LMFAO is enough to mark this game...
News PlayStation VR Can Be Used with Wii U, Xbox One, PC
Well, kinda
You can use PlayStation VR's spiffy Cinematic Mode to enjoy non-virtual reality PlayStation 4 games using your expensive new purchase – but did you know that it also works with a PC, Xbox One, or Wii U? The setup itself is simple: replace the HDMI cord coming out of your PS4 and into the Processing Unit with your console or computer of...
News PS4 Slumps to Third Successive NPD Defeat
Choppy waters
Batten the hatches, spit in Shawn Layden's face, and curse Kaz Hirai's complacency: Sony failed to defeat the Xbox One in the September NPD, meaning that's three times in a row now that the PlayStation 4 has not been the best-selling system in the United States. We suppose after three straight years on top, it had to give everyone else...
Poll What Are Your Thoughts on PlayStation VR So Far?
Are you a believer?
Another Friday afternoon, another quick and easy poll for us to sticky on the front page. Nah, we're just kidding - we're actually interested in hearing what you lot think about PlayStation VR. Unless you've been avoiding us for the last two weeks or so (why the heck would you do that?) then you'll already know that we've been...
News It's Friday Night, So PSN Is Down
Jeez
Just in time for the weekend, eh? There are reports whipping around that the PlayStation Network is experiencing some issues - although thankfully, they don't seem to be too widespread. Follow us on Twitter for more immediate updates on this outage We can confirm that we're online without any problems here at Push Square Towers, but...
News Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization's Main Story Will Take Around 40 Hours to Finish
70 to 100 if you're maxing out
We remember reviewing Sword Art Online Re: Hollow Fragment and being left slightly surprised by just how long the game took to finish. Even at around 40 to 50 hours in, we felt as though there was still so much to see and do - and we suppose that's exactly what a lot of people want from their role-playing adventures...
Video Following the Girl on the Train in Here They Lie on PS4
Off the rails
One of the genres that's undoubtedly going to shine in virtual reality is horror, and while Resident Evil 7 is still some way away, Sony did get a new game ready in time for launch. Here They Lie received barely any pre-release coverage, which has actually made it more intriguing in our eyes; we weren't sure what we were getting into...
Soapbox Summer Lesson Provides a Peek into the Future
Awkward but essential
I can't stop thinking about Summer Lesson. And before you start, this isn't a situation where I've had to go to bed wearing boxing gloves – I just mean that it's kind of amazing. While there isn't much "gameplay" to speak of here, it's clear that Bandai Namco has invested the bulk of its development budget into creating a...
News 7 Minutes of Berserk Gameplay Slices Up a Storm on PS4
Keep on carving
The Japanese PlayStation Blog has released around seven minutes of gameplay footage from Berserk and the Band of the Hawk, which launches in the Land of the Rising Sun later this month. Featuring a Golden Age Guts, the video goes over all of his available actions, including charged combos, timely parries, and special attacks. All in...
Thursday13th Oct 2016
News PS4 Pro Will Be Compatible with SATA 3 Hard Drives
That's a SATA of fact
Sony hasn't said much about the PlayStation 4 Pro since it was revealed, with much of its attention being focused on PlayStation VR over the past few weeks. But one thing it has clarified following an interview with Japanese website 4Gamer.net is that the new system will support SATA 3 hard drives, unlike its predecessor. For...
Video Getting Uncomfortably Close to Schoolgirls in Summer Lesson on PS4
Waifu simulator
If this turns out to be the last article that you ever read from your disgraced editor, then you'll know that Interpol raided Push Square Towers shortly after going to press. Summer Lesson, a PlayStation VR exclusive in Japan only, sees you spending alone time with a teenager under your tutelage – and while it's not overtly sexual,...
News Final Fantasy VII Remake Battle System Will Be Detailed Next Time the Game's Shown
The good fight
It's been quite a while since we heard anything regarding Final Fantasy VII Remake, much to the disappointment of many an eager fan. The PlayStation 4 title was originally shown during Sony's utterly incredible E3 2015 press conference, and then we got a look at some gameplay later that year at the PlayStation Experience. We're hoping...
News Sony Forecasting 'Hundreds of Thousands' of PlayStation VR Sales
Platform holder increasing production capacity
Sony's said that it expects to sell "hundreds of thousands" of PlayStation VR headsets at launch, which may make the company the de facto virtual reality market leader by the end of the day. Sony Europe chief Jim Ryan was speaking with CNBC, and explained that there's been "significant" interest in...
News Sony Launches New PS4 Area for PlayStation VR Experiences
Non-games
As we've already explained on various occasions, PlayStation VR is about much more than games. Alongside the launch of Sony's headset today, the platform holder has assembled a series of "experiences", which will help you to get more out of your virtual reality device. And it's added an icon to the PlayStation 4's interface in order to...
Talking Point What's Your PlayStation VR Launch Experience Been Like?
It's a virtual reality
PlayStation VR is out now around the world, which means that we're able to stop telling you how amazing it is, while you experience it for yourself. We've reviewed the hardware, given our verdict on a half-dozen or so games, and even discussed stuff such as Cinematic Mode – but now it's your t
News PS4 Controller Scoring Full Native Steam Support
Turn the Valve
The DualShock 4 has become a popular controller option for PC players, and so Valve is adding native compatibility for the PlayStation 4 peripheral on its Steam platform. "Believe it or not, when you use the PS4 controller through the Steam API, it's exactly the same as a Steam controller," Jeff Bellinghausen said during a panel at...
Video Rez Infinite Is PlayStation VR's Killer App
A masterpiece
Rez may have been kicking around since late 2001 on the Dreamcast, but despite launching on several platforms since – including the PlayStation 2 – it finally feels at home on PlayStation VR. While you can play this modernised version of the cult classic without Sony's spiffy headset, the fact of the matter is that Rez Infinite was...
Weirdness Inside's Soundtrack was Created Using a Human Skull
Seriously
What the heck? According to a very detailed and informative article over on Gamasutra, brilliant PlayStation 4 indie Inside's soundtrack was created using an actual human skull. No, you read that right - composer and sound designer Martin Stig used a real human skull and jawbone to help make the game's music. "Early on, as we were working...
News Japan Lines Up for PlayStation VR Ahead of Launch
As stocks start to sell out worldwide
You can always judge the interest in a product in Japan by the size of its lines, and it looks like PlayStation VR has captured the attention of the tech enthusiasts in the East. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that many stores have been sold out of the headset since as early as June, with one man from...
News The Elder Scrolls Online Hallowe'en Event Starts Today, Promises Spooky Loot
What witchery is this
Hallowe'en's only a few weeks away, so it's time for all of your favourite online games to start churning out their respective seasonal events. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited's spooky offering kicks off today, the 13th October, and promises quests, strange happenings, and, of course, exclusive loot. Dubbed the...
Wednesday12th Oct 2016
Eyes on the road
One day, the veterans of Evolution Studios will tell their great grandchildren the tale of DriveClub, and it'll make for entertaining listening. The first-party, selected as one of the teams to help launch the PlayStation 4, missed its deadline by a country mile – and then delivered a product that ultimately didn't work. But the...
Hands On Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2 Seeks to Be a Safe But Solid Sequel
History repeats
Dragon Ball XenoVerse is a good game in itself, but it's one of those titles that's begging for a sequel. For a first attempt, XenoVerse gets a heck of a lot right, but as is the case with many licensed Japanese titles, it's really just laying the foundations for something bigger and better. Enter Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2 - a sequel...
Opinion Which PlayStation VR Launch Games Should You Buy?
RIGS? DriveClub? Batman!
PlayStation VR has a gigantic launch lineup, and you're probably wondering which titles to buy right about now. While we still haven't sampled everything – the selection really is that big – we have played a pretty large selection, so we feel like we're pretty well placed to point you in the right direction. But which...
Video Red Dead Revolver PS4 Readies Us for Redemption 2
Straight to the Wild Wild West
This author's last-last-gen Western of choice was Activision's cult classic GUN, so Red Dead Revolver kinda got lost in our boots. But Rockstar wasn't peddling snake oil back in 2004 – this game was clearly ahead of its time. Turning back the clocks with this PlayStation 4 port, the control scheme feels almost...
News Sony Erects Giant PlayStation VR Headset at King's Cross in London
Only muggles allowed
London's famous King's Cross Station may be the gateway to Hogwarts, but from today through until 16th October it'll also allow intrepid travellers to journey to distant worlds via the PlayStation VR headset. In case you're not keeping up, Sony has erected a giant replica inside the train station, which doubles as a swish demo...
News World of Final Fantasy Demo Plops onto PS4, Vita Next Week
Worldly desires
Cute and cuddly role-playing game World of Final Fantasy will be getting a demo next week, Square Enix has revealed. The colourful turn based adventure sees you capture monsters to use in battle while teaming up with heroes from throughout Final Fantasy history - and you'll be able to get an early glimpse of all this when the demo...
Video Does PlayStation VR Put the Ultra in Super Stardust?
Making its (House)marque
It's becoming tradition for a version of Super Stardust to launch alongside new Sony hardware, and PlayStation VR is no different. While Super Stardust Ultra VR is, for all intents and purposes, the same version of the game that released on the PlayStation 4 last year, it has been furnished with a new mode which sees you...
News Robinson: The Journey Roams to PlayStation VR on 8th November
Dino Crysis
Crytek will take you on a tour of a dinosaur-infested otherworld from 8th November in North America and 9th November in Europe, as that's when PlayStation VR exclusive Robinson: The Journey will release. It's a terrible name, we agree – but what we've seen of the game has been decent enough. You can hear some of our early impressions...
Video Racing Around the Bend in DriveClub VR on PS4
Need for speed
There can be few better fits for virtual reality than sitting inside the cockpit of a supercar and racing around scenic settings. DriveClub VR attempts to repurpose the core gameplay of its popular PlayStation 4 forebear for PlayStation VR, stripping it of its visual fidelity but adding all-important head tracking in the process. In...
News Japanese Sales Charts: PS4 Enjoys Another Week at the Top
Holding steady
Unless you really like Monster Hunter spin-offs, there's not really much to talk about when it comes to the latest Japanese sales charts. Capcom's new Nintendo 3DS title unsurprisingly topped the software list, while the only fresh PlayStation release to make the top 20 was BlazBlue: Central Fiction. The stylish fighting game sequel...
News World of Final Fantasy's Opening Movie Features Familiar Faces
Heroic effort
Even though it's just a bit too cheery for our jaded tastes here at Push Square, we must admit that World of Final Fantasy's opening movie is actually pretty cool - particularly when it goes all anime with Cloud and the gang. Well worth a watch if you're looking forward to the charming little role-playing release, which launches on the...
Video Unlock Your Inner-Alan Shearer with Headmaster on PS4
Back of the net
Alan Shearer knew how to head a football, and you can learn too if you play Headmaster for PlayStation VR. Much like Job Simulator, this game has a sharp sense of humour, essentially seeing you assume the role of a down-on-his-luck footballer who's been sent back to heading school after squandering some gilt-edged chances. It's a...
Video A Close Match in RIGS: Mechanized Combat League on PS4
To the wire
RIGS: Mechanized Combat League doesn't exactly bloom in single player, but we did manage to capture gameplay footage of a match that went to the wire while penning our review. This was a cup game, and was against a particularly tough opponent, so we reckon that our team – the Valkyries – held their own pretty well. In addition to an...
News Hitman Heads to Hokkaido at the End of the Month
A hit, man
We're a cynical bunch here in the games media, and we like to have a grumble when things don't work out exactly like we want them to. Hitman was one such game that received the full pelt of the industry's ire, with its complicated episodic format being the source of irritation. But, y'know what? Credit where it's due: IO Interactive and...
Tuesday11th Oct 2016
Video Does PlayStation VR Work with Wireless Headphones?
Gold standard
While it was Cinematic Mode that many of you were asking about in our PlayStation VR review, we received a lot of queries about wireless headphones, too. It seems that many of you have been pondering whether your cans will be compatible with Sony's virtual reality mask – particularly the popular PlayStation Gold Wireless 2.0 headsets...
News Rise of the Tomb Raider's Retro Press Kit Is the Best You'll Ever See
A whole Lara love
Sony always makes the best press kits – but it may have been beaten by Square Enix here. In order to celebrate the launch of Rise of the Tomb Raider on the PlayStation 4, the publisher's really playing up the property's origins – and it's been sending press copies of the game in a classic PSone case. It just feels right,...
Handle with care
Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you had to do everything manually? Blinking, breathing, walking: what if your body just decided it wouldn't do them automatically anymore. Well, in Manual Samuel you are tasked with keeping Samuel alive for a whole 24 hours by completing automatic bodily functions manually. You...
Round Up Mafia III Takes a Bullet or Two in First Reviews
Fed to the alligators?
Mafia III's off to a bit of a rough start in the reviews department, it would seem. The sandbox mob-'em-up launched last week on PlayStation 4, but critic reviews are only just beginning to roll in due to the fact that publisher 2K Games didn't want to send pre-release review code to anyone that isn't a YouTuber. Some of the...
A Shu-in
Recent years have seen the resurgence of a genre largely swept under the carpet: the 2D platformer. Perhaps encouraged by the triumphant return of Rayman in Origins and Legends, indie developers have been working hard to bring back the simple thrills of running, jumping, and then running some more. With even Sega bringing us Sonic Mania...
Store Update 11th October 2016 (Europe)
The biggest ever?
This must be some kind of record! Sony's dropped the European PlayStation Store update, and between PlayStation VR and a slew of holiday heavy hitters, this has to be the largest refresh ever. This author's been writing about PlayStation for eons now, but can't ever remember this many titles dropping in the same week. PS4 Games:...
News PlayStation's Adventure Icons United in UK PS4 Bundle
Nate and Lara together at last
If you haven't purchased a PlayStation 4 yet but love action adventure games, then Sony's got a great bundle for you in the UK. Available from GAME today, the £329.99 set includes Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Rise of the Tomb Raider alongside a 1TB PS4 Slim console. That's a pretty amazing package if you enjoy these...
Out Today Lara Croft Returns to PS4 in Rise of the Tomb Raider
Home at last
Just a heads up: Rise of the Tomb Raider has finally released on the PlayStation 4 today. To be fair, Square Enix has done a decent job rekindling hype for Ms. Croft's latest expedition – even if it is over a year late. But with PlayStation VR out this week and other major titles on the horizon, you could be forgiven for forgetting...
News Hallowe'en Loot Boxes Say Boo to Overwatch
Reaper's ready
It's probably the worst kept secret in history, but Overwatch is getting Hallowe'en loot boxes. Hurrah! You may or may not have seen these leaking all over the web over the past few weeks, with the title's Taiwanese website now going live with a front-page splash, showing Australian double-act Junkrat and Roadhog in their...
News Titanfall 2 Is Really Pushing Its Single Player Campaign
Mech it happen
Respawn Entertainment really wants to you to care about Titanfall 2's single player offering, to the point there it's released a another trailer dedicated to the futuristic shooter's campaign. There's quite a lot of gameplay stuffed into this three minute video, alongside some developer interview snippets which reveal information on...
News 100ft Robot Golf's Launch Trailer Totally Nails It
Gun-dam it
If you ever dare digest the video game release calendar, you'll stumble upon dozens of samey looking titles – both in the blockbuster and indie space. 100ft Robot Golf is one of those rare releases with a wholly unique concept, and this launch trailer underlines just how expertly No Goblin has followed through with its vision. Will the...
Monday10th Oct 2016
Review Dragon Quest Builders (PS4)
New kid on the block
As far as world-building block-'em-ups go, Dragon Quest Builders has to be the most charming example of the genre that we've played. Perhaps that's to be expected of the long running property – which, throughout its many incarnations, has always been a delight to experience – but the Dragon Quest skin lends itself...
News The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition Goes Gold on PS4
Enhanced re-release is out later this month
October is well and truly packed with new PlayStation 4 releases, but we reckon that there's still just enough room for notable remasters - especially when one of the most successful role-playing games of all time is being brought forward to the current generation. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special...
News UK Sales Charts: Mafia III Crushes Predecessor's Sales Record Like Candy
An offer you couldn't refuse
Perhaps the Vinnie Jones promotion paid off after all, as Mafia III has soared to near the top of the UK sales charts, registering a 58.7 per cent improvement over its predecessor. Unsurprisingly with that kind of stat, the open world crime title secured the biggest launch week in the series' history thus far – and...
Video Yes We Cat! Becoming a Kitty with PlayStation VR
Paw-some?
When you're feline four-legged then there's finally an avenue for you to unleash your inner-moggie: Catlateral Damage has been updated with PlayStation VR support, enabling you to finally transform into the purr-fect pet that you've always wanted to be. Or not, actually, as the aim of the game here is to use your new mog abilities to make...
News PlayStation VR Freebie The Playroom VR Has a Platinum
Bot's your lot
This is a pleasant surprise: PlayStation VR freebie The Playroom VR includes a full set of Trophies – including a Platinum. The complimentary download includes several minigames for you to pit your spangly new headset against, and there'll be a whopping 41 trinkets for you to collect as you interact once again with Asobi and the AR...
News Has Mass Effect Andromeda's PS4 Release Date Fallen into Focus?
Geth a load of this
Mass Effect Andromeda is never coming out – at this juncture, we're convinced that BioWare employees are merely going to continue tweeting about how amazing it is until the end of time. Still, we suppose the title did put in an appearance during Sony's big PlayStation 4 Pro press conference, and there's also N7 Day [Grumble –...
News Rhythm Violence Arrives on PS4 Today with Thumper
Includes full PS4 Pro and PlayStation VR support
Thumper is out now in North America, with a European launch scheduled to follow on 13th October. The so-called rhythm violence release has been garnering glowing reviews all over the web, with our verdict set to follow over the coming days. We've fallen in love with it on the occasions that we've...
