On PS5 - Nioh 1, finally made it to Region #6 (of 6) and am gunning for the platinum trophy still! Plan is to hopefully have this wrapped in next week or so, and then move on to Resident Evil 3
On Switch - just started Sunbreak and made it up for MR2 now. Still using my existing HR set and weapon (GS Narga with full Valstrax Armor set) which is doing ok for me so far. Up for group hunts if anyone else is playing! So far really enjoying the expansion, and can’t wait to start farming a new set and upgrading my weapons (+ new fashion of course ha!)
A battle system similar to FFVIIR would be great, as I felt that the combat system was the best part of that game. Excited for this game, but will probably try to pick it up on Switch instead of PS
@PenguinLtd Sekiro beckons…! IMO this is FromSoft’s ‘Magnum Opus’ and just an utterly fantastic game. Incredibly punishing, but there is also a beautiful simplicity to it - no ‘builds’ per se, or stat allocation to worry about, you simply just pick up and play.
MHR: Sunbreak on Nintendo Switch… but purposefully limiting myself to small sessions so as to prevent burnout! Only just kicked it off and excited to try the new Switch Skills for Greatsword (hear that they’re great) This will basically be my ‘travel game’ while I’m away with work
Then when home, still on that Platinum grind with Nioh 1 - finally made it to region 5 (of 6) and still loving it. IMO - not quite as polished as the FromSoftware outputs, but would argue that Nioh combat is far superior… just excellent fighting mechanics!
Expand on the great elements of Remake - eg Combat System / Characterisation - and cut out / omit some of the filler content and side-quests.
I'd rather have a really tight 20hr game vs a 60hr+ game with tons of uninteresting time-sinks.
Maybe also unlock hard mode from Day #1, with no need to play through base story first on easy/normal.
I'm a fan of the original, but totally fine with this new entry being its 'own thing'. I enjoyed the narrative beats of Remake, and look forward to the direction that will follow in Rebirth.
IMO, the original FF7 (and story/narrative) will ALWAYS stand tall... and whether Remake/Rebirth stay faithful or diverge will never take away from the greatness of the OG.
@TraCuz- Elden Ring is such a rare example of a game actually living up to all the pre-release hype. It’s reception, from critics and ‘gamers’, was so remarkably positive also… I’m really excited for whatever FS come up with next!
I think my ranking would perhaps still put Sekiro above Elden Ring, but it’s a tight race! I really like that Sekiro has a tight narrative, and also ‘forces’ the player to git gud. Lady Butterfly took my upwards of 50 attempts, and I felt amazing when I finally beat her!
@TraCuz- if you could integrate Nioh’s combat mechanics into a FromSoftware game, then you would have one hell of an experience for sure! I’m enjoying Nioh, but honestly feel like Elden Ring spoilt me earlier this year… and nothing else is quite filling the void! What is your favourite souls game? (FromSoft or imitation)
This statement might get me shot- so I’ll try to phrase it carefully (!)… I think Hollow Knight is an ‘objectively’ stronger game than Salt&Sanctuary, but i personally much prefer S&S!
@PenguinLtd Well done! Dark Souls is nowhere near as hard as people make out
If you want a souls fix, but with a twist, I highly recommend ‘Salt & Sanctuary’ which is a 2D-style souls game with some Metroidvania elements. Excellent build diversity and really does a great job in capturing the atmosphere of FromSoftware’s games (albeit in 2D)
IMO - Salt and Sanctuary is the best non-FromSoftware Souls-esque game! Also on Nintendo Switch, and plays great on it
(NB there is a sequel, Salt and Sacrifice… but honestly it is IMO nowhere near as good as the original!! So, I recommend the original game Salt and Sanctuary - just to be clear!!)
Ploughing on with Nioh (1) and just made it to region #4 - which I believe is the halfway point. A great game and effort by Team Ninja, but I still think it can’t quite measure up to most of FromSoftware’s portfolio! The Nioh combat is slick though, and just looks/feels so good when it clicks
On Switch I’m meaning to try the Sunbreak demo at some point, but I’ve been blasting some TMNT Shredder’s Revenge… so much fun!
I feel we are long overdue for an 'epic' mainline entry in this series, and the team behind this game (inc. YoshiP) have my confidence.
FF7R left me slightly cold for a few reasons. I loved the combat system, and actually enjoyed the story beats and changing narrative...... but so much of the game seemed like unnecessary filler.
If the length of FF7R had been halved, and 'Hard Mode' available from the outset, I would rank it much much higher.
The Yufi expansion is pretty great though, and Fort Condor mini-game is awesome
@theMEGAniggle I've never formulated an official Top 10 (would like to though) but I would 100% put Returnal in there somewhere, maybe even top 5 territory.
I can't wait for this game to get some decent exposure via PS++.... there must surely be many fence-sitters who are hesitant to shell out £70 to buy, but will give it a whirl via the new service.
This game will sell by the truckload.... Capcom seem to be on such a roll of late!
As well, let's not forget that Elden Ring has probably introduced a whole new player-base into fantasy-style open world games... who will probably be hungry for a similar dish upon the release of DD2.
Really exciting!
RE4Make, Village DLC, MHR Sunbreak and SF6 all on the periphery.... what a time to be alive
Returnal still holds a special place in my heart.... my personal 2021 GOTY without doubt! The DLC drop was immense also, and can't wait to see what Housemarque have up their sleeve next.
Of course Returnal had flaws, and it was slightly obnoxious not to include 'suspend' from Day 1 (!), but I'm really hopefully that HM will learn from these aspects and create an incredible experience with their next offering
@PenguinLtd Dark Souls Remaster is great, and nowhere near as punishing as the media/internet rhetoric would suggest!
It just doesn’t do a great job of explaining the fundamental mechanics, nor does it advise just how important and nuanced the build system is…
Many, including myself, make a classic ‘first playthrough’ error of spreading character stats equally throughout the 10-11 categories. This is a recipe for disaster, and instead you need to focus on 3-4 max stats to level - dependant on the kind of character you want to build
I would say this - do some homework on the game mechanics before starting, and have an idea about what sort of build you’re aiming for… this will ensure you don’t waste stat points in undesirable categories
Finally - don’t get to caught up in what starting class you select, ultimately you can spec any class into most builds. Starting class only really implicates your beginning equipment and weapons, ‘Knight’ is probably a solid choice for a first timer
It really is great, and might whet your appetite for the almighty Elden Ring down the road..!
Aiming to finish the 3rd region in Nioh 1… but some of these bosses are causing me some horrific hardships ha!
Hoping to boot up Monster Hunter Rise again also, having put it down probably around 1yr ago. Need to do some build checks ahead of Sunbreak at the end of this month, and also re-familiarise myself with the greatness of the Greatsword!
I will buy this probably...but only because I'm in the small minority of sheltered individuals who have not played the original/remaster.
I can totally see though why the majority of PS gamers would be less than enthused by this announcement seems a strange/uncessecary use of Naughty Dog resources?!
I am honestly much more exctied about FF16, REmake4 and SF6
I think what really hurt Game Fest is that (for once!) we had a pretty incredible State-of-Play that was only a week ago.
After being wowed by RE4Make, SF6, Callisto and FFXVI - Game Fest felt incredibly underwhelming.
I never played the original/remaster of TLOU, so will probably buy the remake. But nonetheless it is pretty dissapointing that the 'highlight' of this show is a remake of a game that probably nobody desperately craves? I'd rather have the ND team working on new IPs...!
Nioh 1, hoping to finish the water boss at the end of region 2…. Am getting slightly closer each time!
And on Switch… hoping to start dipping back into MHRise, ahead of Sunbreak dropping in a few weeks. Put it down about a year ago (after ~150hrs) and am expecting to be extremely rusty
My expectations were tempered appropriately, and I was really pleasantly surprised.
I was already pumped for RE4R and FFXVI... so seeing these trailers alone made the SoP worthwhile. Also, SF6....a game I previously had zero interest in, now I'm keen for it!
Only notable omission was GoW, but in fairness Sony did stipulate beforehand that 1st party games would not be covered. I'd probably expect GoW to get its own show closer to the rumoured release in Sept.
My ONLY 'negative' would be this = where is the Bloodborne remaster at?! Even a 60fps patch would have me jumping for joy ha!
Overall a terrific effort.
2023 is shaping up to be great for gaming in general, when you consider BOTW2 and Starfield as well.
Nioh 1! Finally found something to fill the post-ER void...
Amazing game, and combat is finally starting to click. Brutally hard in places, but nice to play something that is a 'riff' on the Souls-formula without being too close to DS/DeS/ER etc
@slips666 IMO The first game is a masterpiece… and I actually enjoyed it more than HK! Sanctuary is more ‘Souls-Esque’ due to its emphasis on build-diversity, and it incredibly replay-able. I would say both games are on a par for difficulty, and if you have any Souls experience at all then you will feel very at home with S&S.
HK is of course a great game, but I personally prefer the build-scope in S&S - not to mention some great co-op potential.
You can’t go wrong with either! I would suggest though you maybe go into S&S with an idea of what build you want to play, so you can start planning out your skill tree accordingly
Sadly agree 100% with this review. This was one of my most anticipated games of 2022, having been a huge fan of ‘Salt & Sanctuary’ (IMO the best 2D-Souls game, solid 9/10) Sacrifice seems to discard everything that made the first game great, whilst introducing a number of tedious new mechanics and cheap combat. I gave it a good 5-6 hours before dropping it completely and moving on to Nioh. For those who haven’t played the original game (Sanctuary) I would highly recommend! But this sequel really missed the mark for me
Struggling to click with things after mopping up the platinum on Elden Ring....
On Switch I'm still playing Dead Cells - edging closer to actually completing my first full run! Game plays like a great mix of Hades & Returnal, I'd highly recommend it to anyone that enjoyed those.
On PS5 I've started 'Salt & Sacrifice', which is a 2D-SoulsClone (and sequel to 2016 title 'Salt & Sanctuary', an amazing game too!). This new sequel is good, but doesn't quite capture the same magic as the first game. Still is a good play though, and quite intricate build-diversity / mechanics / weapons should keep me interested
Personally I think it will shoot for a Nov-Dec release this year. By pushing into 2023, the game will be in 'unforeseen territory' regarding having its release clash with BOTW2.
The original BOTW largely overshadowed the original Horizon... and should definitely be a lesson learned for any developers that are considering a suitable release window.
By slotting it in to 2022-holiday period, this avoids any clashes - and keeps the spotlight firmly on FF16.
(Disclaimer - I am massively excited for both BOTW2 and FF16, but do believe that a similar release window would potentially be to the detriment of both games... although I think FF16 would probably 'come off worse')
Managed to clean up the Platinum on Elden Ring, and also get all the new trophies from the DLC-release on Returnal… been a stressful week!
Having a break from PS, in lieu of starting Horizon Zero Dawn, so have moved to Switch for this week coming (am travelling, so this is my only means of gaming)
Trying out Dead Cells, which I hear is a nice mix of Hades/Returnal… both of which I loved!
"Aside from trying to beat Melania as a distance loving sorcerer, the hardest part of the game was genuinely the platforming for the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending for me!"
This is so right, can't believe there are so many people out there losing their minds over Melania... but hardly anyone is making reference to the platforming for the FF ending! What a nightmare, honestly it was probably the most frustrating difficulty curve I had with this game.
Don't get me wrong, I loved my time with Elden Ring... but that platforming section was quite literally the death of me (x30-40 times due to impatience lol)
Around lv32-ish now, Margit absolutely stomped me (took 30-40 tries, no joke) but eventually got it done. Somehow just managed to beat Godrick on my first try though... maybe these bosses should have been swapped?!
Started as Samurai class, sticking with the Uchi for now as 'Unsheathe' art is absolutely brutal. Also equipped the 'no skill' art to my accompanying shield, which allows use of Unsheathe when just 1-handing the Uchi.
Need to focus on upgrading the Uchi though, struggling for stones...
Also just managed to pillage the 'Exile' armour set from some of the guards at Stormveil, loving the look - especially when dual wielding 2 x Uchi
Awesome game, and really enjoying the non-linear freedom. I am 50/50 progressing the story, exploring for a bit, then back to the story.
@JJ2 Agree 100% on your Returnal comment, and note about Grace-Point/checkpoint locations.
Housemarque adding the 'suspend' feature was a QoL improvement in my opinion, and a much valued one. It allows the game to 'respect the time' of the gamer, without really compromising or nerfing the perceived difficulty. I actually plat'd Returnal before the suspend patch, and believe me I am no pro!
Consumers who think ER is too unforgiving really want to give the DeS remake a go...... if you get nailed by a boss, then in some cases you are looking at facing a 30-40 min run back through all the mobs - just for another opportunity to tackle the boss and get whooped again ha
I think this is a firm 7/10 game - a brilliant effort from SloClap, considering the obvious resource limitations that any smaller developer faces (vs AAA heavy-hitters).
For me it plays like a strange mash-up of Sekiro, Returnal and Hades... but fails to land punches as strong as any of those inspirations.
I admire the steep difficulty curve of SIFU, and for once I am actually against the game being patched with an 'easy mode'. My feeling is that if you are to take away the challenge/difficulty curve, there is actually not much 'game' left (no real story or RPG mechanics/gameplay to lean into).
I have just beaten the 3rd boss (at an embarrassing age of 65!) but am confident I will eventually beat the game. Perhaps not a platinum...
Got this to tide me over until Elden Ring, and generally pleasantly surprised.
However - I would be hesitant in recommending this game to people, unless they were already familiar with tough games. (vs Hades, which I would recommend to everyone without hesitation)
Got the Platinum for DeS by using a DEX build (based on a Fextralife guide) and want to mirror that!
I guess Samurai starting class is closest to what I will be working to attain, fast and brutal melee combat with plenty of speed and also a bow for ranged attacks when needed
@JohnnyShoulder Cheers mate! I'm no 'elitist', but I managed to beat Returnal pre-patch... and just know that I definitely would have used & abused the new 'suspend' feature had it been available. The process was frustrating at times, but the sense of accomplishment for beating it (and playing in the form that the devs intended) was amazing! Thanks
I can appreciate both 'sides' of this argument... but for me personally, I actually made the decision to purchase this game based on the perceived level of difficulty. Having beat Returnal last year, I was keen to test myself with another game that has been renowned for challenge etc - and thought SIFU would fit the bill.
Question - is there a way to stop any auto patch-updates for this specific game? I don't want to be 'tempted' by the option to adjust difficulty, and would honestly rather play this game as the developers originally intended.
Caved to all the hype and downloaded this yesterday... hoping to get stuck in at the weekend!
Quick question re. Controller remapping...
As a Souls-player, I intend to remap Light/Heavy attacks to R1/R2 and then remap Dodge to O.
I have seen there are some other multiple-button options like 'takedown' and 'throw item'(?)
Would be keen to hear how others have remapped in such a fashion, I fear that my muscle memory will absolutely require the attack buttons to be trigger based
@KidBoruto - I'm currently approaching the end of Act1, but keen to clean up all the side-missions etc before I go to storm Castle Kaneda ha! Loving it, and might even shoot for the plat considering there is still >4wks until Elden Ring.
Was also considering squeezing in HZD before Elden Ring, as I have never played HZD before... but think this will be ambitious with how much Ghost is taking over!
Needed a time-sink to kill hours before Elden Ring drops next month... so have set a goal to play & platinum Ghost of Tsushima (PS5 Director Cut).
Never got around to playing this before, loving it so far... albeit just a few hours into 'Act 1'. Playing on hard difficulty, which I feel is a comfortable challenge and by no means a cakewalk! Initially flirted with 'lethal' difficulty, but quickly discovered this was a joyless experience ha
Great game, hoping to plat main story and hopefully DLC before I become all-consumed by ER
Whilst I wouldn't have necessarily expected Returnal to win, I'm pretty shocked regarding the snub!
I think it would be fair to say that most would deem it to be 'GOTY Material', irrespective of personal opinion/enjoyment.
I wonder if the divisive difficulty level did it some damage here? Maybe patch 2.0 was 'too little too late'...
I know that these awards are hugley subjective and inconsequential, but I am slightly sad for Housemarque in that they will miss out on deserved recognition for a tremendous video game.
Oh Housemarque... where were you this time last week when I finally managed to slot through Act3?!
On a serious note, this is a good thing and hopefully entices any fence-sitters to jump off and play this phenomenal game.
Whilst I am proud to have completed Act3 pre-patch, I would have certainly welcomed the functionality to 'suspend' the cycle...
I would not consider this to be game-breaking in the slightest, but rather an update that is respectful of the player's time and mitigates the risk of any rest-state crashes.
Comments 199
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 434
@Fuzzymonkeyfunk Haha tell me about it, I’ve spent an absolute fortune on a ton of garbage from that shop… and the trophy still hasn’t popped!!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 434
On PS5 - Nioh 1, finally made it to Region #6 (of 6) and am gunning for the platinum trophy still! Plan is to hopefully have this wrapped in next week or so, and then move on to Resident Evil 3
On Switch - just started Sunbreak and made it up for MR2 now. Still using my existing HR set and weapon (GS Narga with full Valstrax Armor set) which is doing ok for me so far. Up for group hunts if anyone else is playing! So far really enjoying the expansion, and can’t wait to start farming a new set and upgrading my weapons (+ new fashion of course ha!)
Re: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion Has a 'New Menu-Based Battle System'
A battle system similar to FFVIIR would be great, as I felt that the combat system was the best part of that game. Excited for this game, but will probably try to pick it up on Switch instead of PS
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 433
@PenguinLtd Sekiro beckons…! IMO this is FromSoft’s ‘Magnum Opus’ and just an utterly fantastic game. Incredibly punishing, but there is also a beautiful simplicity to it - no ‘builds’ per se, or stat allocation to worry about, you simply just pick up and play.
I’d love sequel!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 433
MHR: Sunbreak on Nintendo Switch… but purposefully limiting myself to small sessions so as to prevent burnout! Only just kicked it off and excited to try the new Switch Skills for Greatsword (hear that they’re great) This will basically be my ‘travel game’ while I’m away with work
Then when home, still on that Platinum grind with Nioh 1 - finally made it to region 5 (of 6) and still loving it. IMO - not quite as polished as the FromSoftware outputs, but would argue that Nioh combat is far superior… just excellent fighting mechanics!
Re: Rumour: PS Plus Essential PS5, PS4 Games for July 2022 Leaked Early
OK this is more like it! Crash 4 is in, IMO, a solid game for those of us who have stuck with PS+ Essential.
Good job
Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (PS4) - Brilliant Beat-'Em-Up Is Best in Co-Op
Very fun, simple mechanics and a great time when doing co-op....
A refreshing and streamlined experience for sure!
Re: Feature: What We Want From Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and How It Needs to Improve on Remake
'More Killer... Less Filler!'
Expand on the great elements of Remake - eg Combat System / Characterisation - and cut out / omit some of the filler content and side-quests.
I'd rather have a really tight 20hr game vs a 60hr+ game with tons of uninteresting time-sinks.
Maybe also unlock hard mode from Day #1, with no need to play through base story first on easy/normal.
I'm a fan of the original, but totally fine with this new entry being its 'own thing'. I enjoyed the narrative beats of Remake, and look forward to the direction that will follow in Rebirth.
IMO, the original FF7 (and story/narrative) will ALWAYS stand tall... and whether Remake/Rebirth stay faithful or diverge will never take away from the greatness of the OG.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 431
@TraCuz- Elden Ring is such a rare example of a game actually living up to all the pre-release hype. It’s reception, from critics and ‘gamers’, was so remarkably positive also… I’m really excited for whatever FS come up with next!
I think my ranking would perhaps still put Sekiro above Elden Ring, but it’s a tight race! I really like that Sekiro has a tight narrative, and also ‘forces’ the player to git gud. Lady Butterfly took my upwards of 50 attempts, and I felt amazing when I finally beat her!
Enjoy your gaming this weekend mate
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 431
@TraCuz- if you could integrate Nioh’s combat mechanics into a FromSoftware game, then you would have one hell of an experience for sure! I’m enjoying Nioh, but honestly feel like Elden Ring spoilt me earlier this year… and nothing else is quite filling the void! What is your favourite souls game? (FromSoft or imitation)
This statement might get me shot- so I’ll try to phrase it carefully (!)… I think Hollow Knight is an ‘objectively’ stronger game than Salt&Sanctuary, but i personally much prefer S&S!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 431
@PenguinLtd Well done! Dark Souls is nowhere near as hard as people make out
If you want a souls fix, but with a twist, I highly recommend ‘Salt & Sanctuary’ which is a 2D-style souls game with some Metroidvania elements. Excellent build diversity and really does a great job in capturing the atmosphere of FromSoftware’s games (albeit in 2D)
IMO - Salt and Sanctuary is the best non-FromSoftware Souls-esque game! Also on Nintendo Switch, and plays great on it
(NB there is a sequel, Salt and Sacrifice… but honestly it is IMO nowhere near as good as the original!! So, I recommend the original game Salt and Sanctuary - just to be clear!!)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 431
Ploughing on with Nioh (1) and just made it to region #4 - which I believe is the halfway point.
A great game and effort by Team Ninja, but I still think it can’t quite measure up to most of FromSoftware’s portfolio! The Nioh combat is slick though, and just looks/feels so good when it clicks
On Switch I’m meaning to try the Sunbreak demo at some point, but I’ve been blasting some TMNT Shredder’s Revenge… so much fun!
Re: Poll: Which Final Fantasy Game are You Most Looking Forward to?
Honestly.... XVI.
I feel we are long overdue for an 'epic' mainline entry in this series, and the team behind this game (inc. YoshiP) have my confidence.
FF7R left me slightly cold for a few reasons. I loved the combat system, and actually enjoyed the story beats and changing narrative...... but so much of the game seemed like unnecessary filler.
If the length of FF7R had been halved, and 'Hard Mode' available from the outset, I would rank it much much higher.
The Yufi expansion is pretty great though, and Fort Condor mini-game is awesome
Re: Housemarque to Incorporate Unused Ideas for Returnal into its Next Game
@theMEGAniggle I've never formulated an official Top 10 (would like to though) but I would 100% put Returnal in there somewhere, maybe even top 5 territory.
I can't wait for this game to get some decent exposure via PS++.... there must surely be many fence-sitters who are hesitant to shell out £70 to buy, but will give it a whirl via the new service.
Hopefully it converts more players!
Re: Dragon's Dogma 2 Officially in Development
This game will sell by the truckload.... Capcom seem to be on such a roll of late!
As well, let's not forget that Elden Ring has probably introduced a whole new player-base into fantasy-style open world games... who will probably be hungry for a similar dish upon the release of DD2.
Really exciting!
RE4Make, Village DLC, MHR Sunbreak and SF6 all on the periphery.... what a time to be alive
Re: Housemarque to Incorporate Unused Ideas for Returnal into its Next Game
Returnal still holds a special place in my heart.... my personal 2021 GOTY without doubt! The DLC drop was immense also, and can't wait to see what Housemarque have up their sleeve next.
Of course Returnal had flaws, and it was slightly obnoxious not to include 'suspend' from Day 1 (!), but I'm really hopefully that HM will learn from these aspects and create an incredible experience with their next offering
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 430
@PenguinLtd Dark Souls Remaster is great, and nowhere near as punishing as the media/internet rhetoric would suggest!
It just doesn’t do a great job of explaining the fundamental mechanics, nor does it advise just how important and nuanced the build system is…
Many, including myself, make a classic ‘first playthrough’ error of spreading character stats equally throughout the 10-11 categories. This is a recipe for disaster, and instead you need to focus on 3-4 max stats to level - dependant on the kind of character you want to build
I would say this - do some homework on the game mechanics before starting, and have an idea about what sort of build you’re aiming for… this will ensure you don’t waste stat points in undesirable categories
Finally - don’t get to caught up in what starting class you select, ultimately you can spec any class into most builds. Starting class only really implicates your beginning equipment and weapons, ‘Knight’ is probably a solid choice for a first timer
It really is great, and might whet your appetite for the almighty Elden Ring down the road..!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 430
Aiming to finish the 3rd region in Nioh 1… but some of these bosses are causing me some horrific hardships ha!
Hoping to boot up Monster Hunter Rise again also, having put it down probably around 1yr ago. Need to do some build checks ahead of Sunbreak at the end of this month, and also re-familiarise myself with the greatness of the Greatsword!
Re: Poll: Will You Buy The Last of Us: Part I?
I will buy this probably...but only because I'm in the small minority of sheltered individuals who have not played the original/remaster.
I can totally see though why the majority of PS gamers would be less than enthused by this announcement seems a strange/uncessecary use of Naughty Dog resources?!
I am honestly much more exctied about FF16, REmake4 and SF6
Re: Poll: Was Summer Game Fest Live a Show to Remember?
Pretty unremarkable for me TBH...
I think what really hurt Game Fest is that (for once!) we had a pretty incredible State-of-Play that was only a week ago.
After being wowed by RE4Make, SF6, Callisto and FFXVI - Game Fest felt incredibly underwhelming.
I never played the original/remaster of TLOU, so will probably buy the remake. But nonetheless it is pretty dissapointing that the 'highlight' of this show is a remake of a game that probably nobody desperately craves? I'd rather have the ND team working on new IPs...!
And also... where are Suckerpunch at?!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 429
Nioh 1, hoping to finish the water boss at the end of region 2…. Am getting slightly closer each time!
And on Switch… hoping to start dipping back into MHRise, ahead of Sunbreak dropping in a few weeks. Put it down about a year ago (after ~150hrs) and am expecting to be extremely rusty
Re: Poll: Did Sony's Latest State of Play Livestream Live Up to the Hype?
IMO it was.... actually pretty great!
My expectations were tempered appropriately, and I was really pleasantly surprised.
I was already pumped for RE4R and FFXVI... so seeing these trailers alone made the SoP worthwhile. Also, SF6....a game I previously had zero interest in, now I'm keen for it!
Only notable omission was GoW, but in fairness Sony did stipulate beforehand that 1st party games would not be covered. I'd probably expect GoW to get its own show closer to the rumoured release in Sept.
My ONLY 'negative' would be this = where is the Bloodborne remaster at?! Even a 60fps patch would have me jumping for joy ha!
Overall a terrific effort.
2023 is shaping up to be great for gaming in general, when you consider BOTW2 and Starfield as well.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 428
Nioh 1! Finally found something to fill the post-ER void...
Amazing game, and combat is finally starting to click. Brutally hard in places, but nice to play something that is a 'riff' on the Souls-formula without being too close to DS/DeS/ER etc
Re: Mini Review: Salt and Sacrifice (PS5) - Change Isn't Always Good in This Disappointing Sequel
@slips666 IMO The first game is a masterpiece… and I actually enjoyed it more than HK!
Sanctuary is more ‘Souls-Esque’ due to its emphasis on build-diversity, and it incredibly replay-able. I would say both games are on a par for difficulty, and if you have any Souls experience at all then you will feel very at home with S&S.
HK is of course a great game, but I personally prefer the build-scope in S&S - not to mention some great co-op potential.
You can’t go wrong with either! I would suggest though you maybe go into S&S with an idea of what build you want to play, so you can start planning out your skill tree accordingly
Re: Mini Review: Salt and Sacrifice (PS5) - Change Isn't Always Good in This Disappointing Sequel
Sadly agree 100% with this review.
This was one of my most anticipated games of 2022, having been a huge fan of ‘Salt & Sanctuary’ (IMO the best 2D-Souls game, solid 9/10)
Sacrifice seems to discard everything that made the first game great, whilst introducing a number of tedious new mechanics and cheap combat.
I gave it a good 5-6 hours before dropping it completely and moving on to Nioh.
For those who haven’t played the original game (Sanctuary) I would highly recommend! But this sequel really missed the mark for me
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 426
Struggling to click with things after mopping up the platinum on Elden Ring....
On Switch I'm still playing Dead Cells - edging closer to actually completing my first full run! Game plays like a great mix of Hades & Returnal, I'd highly recommend it to anyone that enjoyed those.
On PS5 I've started 'Salt & Sacrifice', which is a 2D-SoulsClone (and sequel to 2016 title 'Salt & Sanctuary', an amazing game too!). This new sequel is good, but doesn't quite capture the same magic as the first game. Still is a good play though, and quite intricate build-diversity / mechanics / weapons should keep me interested
Re: Poll: When Do You Think Final Fantasy 16 Will Release?
Personally I think it will shoot for a Nov-Dec release this year. By pushing into 2023, the game will be in 'unforeseen territory' regarding having its release clash with BOTW2.
The original BOTW largely overshadowed the original Horizon... and should definitely be a lesson learned for any developers that are considering a suitable release window.
By slotting it in to 2022-holiday period, this avoids any clashes - and keeps the spotlight firmly on FF16.
(Disclaimer - I am massively excited for both BOTW2 and FF16, but do believe that a similar release window would potentially be to the detriment of both games... although I think FF16 would probably 'come off worse')
Re: Returnal Celebrates a Year Since PS5 Release
@KeldorTheCursed ...snap!
My personal GOTY, and proud to have also achieved the platinum trophy pre-patch ha.
The DLC was epic, and such a pleasant surprise
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 423
Managed to clean up the Platinum on Elden Ring, and also get all the new trophies from the DLC-release on Returnal… been a stressful week!
Having a break from PS, in lieu of starting Horizon Zero Dawn, so have moved to Switch for this week coming (am travelling, so this is my only means of gaming)
Trying out Dead Cells, which I hear is a nice mix of Hades/Returnal… both of which I loved!
Re: Elden Ring's Platinum Trophy Stat Is Shockingly High
@pumpkin_head Haha! Your quote..
"Aside from trying to beat Melania as a distance loving sorcerer, the hardest part of the game was genuinely the platforming for the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending for me!"
This is so right, can't believe there are so many people out there losing their minds over Melania... but hardly anyone is making reference to the platforming for the FF ending! What a nightmare, honestly it was probably the most frustrating difficulty curve I had with this game.
Don't get me wrong, I loved my time with Elden Ring... but that platforming section was quite literally the death of me (x30-40 times due to impatience lol)
Re: Sci-Fi PS5 Exclusive Returnal Sweeps the BAFTAs, Wins Best Game
Massive congratulations to HM! I just wished they'd patched in the 'suspend' feature about 3 months earlier...!
Awesome game though, uncompromising and challenging - but provides a level of reward that I have yet to experience anywhere else in gaming so far.
Can't wait to jump into the DLC at the weekend
Re: Return to Monkey Island Revives the Classic Point and Click Series in 2022
Ha oh yesss! Great and unexpected news for sure
Thimbleweed Park was excellent, and my hopes are high for this one
Ideally it drops on Switch as well as PS/XB - for me this would be a great title to play handheld whilst on the move / travelling
Re: Poll: Are You Happy With Your PS Plus Games for April 2022?
I'm not normally one to project negativity... but seriously, what happened to this service?
The same service that (once upon a time) gave us FFVIIR, Control, Plague Tale etc
And now these!
Re: Poll: We Want You to Rate Your Favourite PS5 Games
@hypnotoad Amen.... Returnal all the way
Re: Poll: How Far Into Elden Ring Are You?
About 11-12 hours in, and having a wild ride...!
Around lv32-ish now, Margit absolutely stomped me (took 30-40 tries, no joke) but eventually got it done. Somehow just managed to beat Godrick on my first try though... maybe these bosses should have been swapped?!
Started as Samurai class, sticking with the Uchi for now as 'Unsheathe' art is absolutely brutal. Also equipped the 'no skill' art to my accompanying shield, which allows use of Unsheathe when just 1-handing the Uchi.
Need to focus on upgrading the Uchi though, struggling for stones...
Also just managed to pillage the 'Exile' armour set from some of the guards at Stormveil, loving the look - especially when dual wielding 2 x Uchi
Awesome game, and really enjoying the non-linear freedom. I am 50/50 progressing the story, exploring for a bit, then back to the story.
Re: Elden Ring Easy Mode Isn't Happening on PS5, PS4
@JJ2 Agree 100% on your Returnal comment, and note about Grace-Point/checkpoint locations.
Housemarque adding the 'suspend' feature was a QoL improvement in my opinion, and a much valued one. It allows the game to 'respect the time' of the gamer, without really compromising or nerfing the perceived difficulty. I actually plat'd Returnal before the suspend patch, and believe me I am no pro!
Consumers who think ER is too unforgiving really want to give the DeS remake a go...... if you get nailed by a boss, then in some cases you are looking at facing a 30-40 min run back through all the mobs - just for another opportunity to tackle the boss and get whooped again ha
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Sifu?
I think this is a firm 7/10 game - a brilliant effort from SloClap, considering the obvious resource limitations that any smaller developer faces (vs AAA heavy-hitters).
For me it plays like a strange mash-up of Sekiro, Returnal and Hades... but fails to land punches as strong as any of those inspirations.
I admire the steep difficulty curve of SIFU, and for once I am actually against the game being patched with an 'easy mode'. My feeling is that if you are to take away the challenge/difficulty curve, there is actually not much 'game' left (no real story or RPG mechanics/gameplay to lean into).
I have just beaten the 3rd boss (at an embarrassing age of 65!) but am confident I will eventually beat the game. Perhaps not a platinum...
Got this to tide me over until Elden Ring, and generally pleasantly surprised.
However - I would be hesitant in recommending this game to people, unless they were already familiar with tough games. (vs Hades, which I would recommend to everyone without hesitation)
Re: Poll: What Elden Ring Starting Class Will You Choose?
Got the Platinum for DeS by using a DEX build (based on a Fextralife guide) and want to mirror that!
I guess Samurai starting class is closest to what I will be working to attain, fast and brutal melee combat with plenty of speed and also a bow for ranged attacks when needed
Re: Sifu Updates to Include Difficulty Settings and Accessibility Options
@JohnnyShoulder Cheers mate!
I'm no 'elitist', but I managed to beat Returnal pre-patch... and just know that I definitely would have used & abused the new 'suspend' feature had it been available. The process was frustrating at times, but the sense of accomplishment for beating it (and playing in the form that the devs intended) was amazing! Thanks
Re: Sifu Updates to Include Difficulty Settings and Accessibility Options
I can appreciate both 'sides' of this argument... but for me personally, I actually made the decision to purchase this game based on the perceived level of difficulty.
Having beat Returnal last year, I was keen to test myself with another game that has been renowned for challenge etc - and thought SIFU would fit the bill.
Question - is there a way to stop any auto patch-updates for this specific game? I don't want to be 'tempted' by the option to adjust difficulty, and would honestly rather play this game as the developers originally intended.
Re: Poll: Did You Buy Sifu on PS5, PS4?
Caved to all the hype and downloaded this yesterday... hoping to get stuck in at the weekend!
Quick question re. Controller remapping...
As a Souls-player, I intend to remap Light/Heavy attacks to R1/R2 and then remap Dodge to O.
I have seen there are some other multiple-button options like 'takedown' and 'throw item'(?)
Would be keen to hear how others have remapped in such a fashion, I fear that my muscle memory will absolutely require the attack buttons to be trigger based
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 409
@KidBoruto - I'm currently approaching the end of Act1, but keen to clean up all the side-missions etc before I go to storm Castle Kaneda ha! Loving it, and might even shoot for the plat considering there is still >4wks until Elden Ring.
Was also considering squeezing in HZD before Elden Ring, as I have never played HZD before... but think this will be ambitious with how much Ghost is taking over!
Re: Speedrunner Beats Sekiro in Just Two Hours... Blindfolded
!!!
It took me the best part of nearly 3 weeks to finally beat Isshin the Sword Saint... and this was actually using my eyes!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 409
Needed a time-sink to kill hours before Elden Ring drops next month... so have set a goal to play & platinum Ghost of Tsushima (PS5 Director Cut).
Never got around to playing this before, loving it so far... albeit just a few hours into 'Act 1'. Playing on hard difficulty, which I feel is a comfortable challenge and by no means a cakewalk! Initially flirted with 'lethal' difficulty, but quickly discovered this was a joyless experience ha
Great game, hoping to plat main story and hopefully DLC before I become all-consumed by ER
Re: The Game Awards 2021 Nominations Revealed, Deathloop Gets Eight Nominations But Returnal Snubbed
Whilst I wouldn't have necessarily expected Returnal to win, I'm pretty shocked regarding the snub!
I think it would be fair to say that most would deem it to be 'GOTY Material', irrespective of personal opinion/enjoyment.
I wonder if the divisive difficulty level did it some damage here? Maybe patch 2.0 was 'too little too late'...
I know that these awards are hugley subjective and inconsequential, but I am slightly sad for Housemarque in that they will miss out on deserved recognition for a tremendous video game.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 401
After getting the platinum in Returnal, I’ve dived straight into Kena on ‘expert’ difficulty… and am getting totally destroyed! (But having fun)
On the side I’m playing BOTW (for the first time!) on Switch, and loving it.
Re: Returnal Update 2.0 Finally Lets You Suspend Your Run
Oh Housemarque... where were you this time last week when I finally managed to slot through Act3?!
On a serious note, this is a good thing and hopefully entices any fence-sitters to jump off and play this phenomenal game.
Whilst I am proud to have completed Act3 pre-patch, I would have certainly welcomed the functionality to 'suspend' the cycle...
I would not consider this to be game-breaking in the slightest, but rather an update that is respectful of the player's time and mitigates the risk of any rest-state crashes.
My personal GOTY
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 398
Returnal … enjoying/despising the challenge of Biome 6!
Re: PS Plus August 2021 PS5, PS4 Games Announced
How did we go from Control & FF7R to this...