Still a completely absurd game in concept, a game that doesn’t really get going story-wise until you complete the 40-ish hour prologue twice and opens with an hour long boss rush without a save point.
But that third playthrough puts everything into focus, and then pummels you relentlessly with spellbinding drama, tragedy and existential ideas.
Plus you get to run around as a maid and a bishi twink in a great fun action RPG in between, and occasionally a mech suit
Like Kubrick and the lot, it may get great results but I wonder how many people’s mental well-being were sacrificed to the alter of perfection. But the results are undeniable!
No love for ‘Life is Strange: Double Exposure’? It’s broader themes of trauma and recovery are well told, with a wonderful return to an excellent character in Max. Not as good as the original, but little is story-wise
I really enjoyed plowing about 40 hours into Unicorn Overlord, but then suddenly just got really bored with it. Yes, you get different units, but the stories rubbish, the characters are dull as dishwater and it’s basically the same thing over and over. Still, it itched an itch at the time!
How’s the action/combat? It looked incredibly rough and dull in the early access, is if more exciting then running in circles shooting glowy balls at enemies that soak it up until they die?
The organic bond you build with your bunch of weird pawns, ambling around before pliéing through complete carnage really makes this game. I completely understand why it’s not for everyone, but I fell in love with it. Then I got distracted and now it’s been 5 months. I’ll have to dip back in in the new year
DD2 is wonderful, really feels like a proper adventure fantasy game. The story is rubbish, and it’s quirky as anything in pretty much all respects, but the combat and sense of adventure getting from point A to Point B is superb. The Pawn system is excellent too.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 all the way. The gloriously bombastic random nature of wondering around is unparalleled. I stumbled into a three-way battle after bringing down a gryphon I’d ended up clinging to as it took flight, somehow we both survived but ended up fighting the dragon we’d almost collided with before bandits for some reason joined the fray. How many games have that kind of unscripted carnage?
I love that LiS: Double Exposure made it, it’s a wonderful game I’m eeking out, enjoying each chapter between breaks. I forgot entirely about Zau, those responses sound great so I’m definitely intrigued now!
Very excited to see what this studio puts out, and Okami 2 is an absolute dream of an announcement. The original game is incredibly special and holds a big space in my heart. I still have a page cut out of the original when it was first announced in PlayStation magazine.
Not sure about the VA work, sounds a bit flat. But anything that lets you smack a bear in the face with a pulse rifle, while controlling time, in space, is going to be a novel experience.
Okami 2, new Onimusha and Project Robot have made me more hyped for gaming than the last, like, 5 years. Hopefully the hype will carry across the next 5 years until they’re all out.
One of the most exciting game announcements in, like, a decade for me. I really can’t wait to see what a more powerful system offers in a sequel. As soon as the trailer started I cocked a leg and peed, before rolling a bomb into a cliff in excitement.
Absolutely adored the first couple games, wasn’t too sure on the third and never played the fourth, but very excited to see this return - the atmosphere is truly special across the games, and looks like it’s intact here!
@ChimpMasta I agree 100% about Veilguard, it’s great it wanted to raise subjects not often handled in video games, but it was poorly written and soulless in it all. It felt more a corporate exercise than anything genuine.
I don’t think the same can be said of Life is Strange. Perhaps we should agree it’s possible they’re all just very close friends.
I just feel a friendship that intense, the way each one idolises the other, and the intensity of the feelings - is more typically found in more than friends.
@ChimpMasta as normal a friendship as jumping through parallel dimensions affords.
But I think it’s pretty obviously intended, the first game has one romance option, the future games and comics lean into it, it’s clear Chloe had feelings beyond friendship for Rachel.
I would ask you to reframe how you’re seeing it though - queer people have by necessity hidden their feelings, in person, in media etc. for generations out of very justified fear - someone who is queer, or has queer friends, is going to better recognise those cloaking methods. These days, incredibly, people have a bit more freedom to be open - so they don’t need to hide it so much.
That’s what you’ve been seeing. Life is Strange isn’t quite strikingly queer. It’s a bit sad you’d never explore that path in the game, it adds a lot more weight to the game’s narrative. Otherwise, what, they’d sacrifice a town to flat-share for a bit and share the odd pint?
Also, just have to say, it’s not a case of ‘belief’, it’s there whether you like it or not - it’s a case of tolerance. much like that Kenyan official trying to banish gay lions, denying it doesn’t make it not exist.
@Jdubz I felt the same - I was rubbish at the combat, I tried eating and ended up poisoned, I was bleeding and I think unwashed, so just an absolute state. And then there were the game’s mechanics to contend with.
@ChimpMasta I thought that was it, but it’s a bizarre argument dude.
From the first game throughout they’ve all been super queer-friendly, the romance between Chloe & Max is pretty much cannon in the first game.
And I see you’re talking about the Nazi symbols - they noticed the ‘88’ first, true, but they also noticed the hagal rune, and clear signs of memes often used by the far right. It sounds like a 4Chan-affiliate messing around tbh, but weird they felt the need to undermine the game’s themes.
I do get not wanting things rammed down your throat, and things are more front and centre these days. But it’s always been there, people were just under more threat by being more open before, I see it as a plus we have media representing a large number of people out there myself.
Will definitely pick this up, just wanted to hear it wasn’t a GTA Trilogy botch-job, janky dated gameplay is charming these days - and would love to relive the story and atmosphere!
@ChimpMasta I’m not being sly, but what do you mean niche political beliefs and pushing conspiracy theories related to numbers? Not sure what Double Exposure had that the original or other games didn’t.
@somnambulance I agree with you completely. The game is emotionally on point, some of the best graphics in the series, they did an excellent job portraying an older Max. The only way I can really understand the low scores is that, as you said, someone reviewed it who just isn’t a narrative led game, centred on relationships and trauma. Hopefully this won’t be the death knell of the studio.
Looks interesting, particularly if they can nail down a good narrative with characters you care about. I’m all down for crying into the teas of whacky characters for cold, hard earned virtual dollars
I got a solid 30 hours out of Zenless Zone Zero without paying a penny, but I still felt I had to log in daily for the rewards, ended up feeling a little too controlled by a game so uninstalled. I imagine this’ll be similar, but might give it a try
This was a lovely read, what a wonderful Mum and shared memory to treasure. I faced Tomb Raider one myself, I remember spending a life time figuring out what to do in the first bloody room. I do remember living the rest, and the intensity of that T-Rex in the tunnels.
My childhood experience is pretty much identical! I only managed to finally beat FF8 through use of a cheat disc (remember them?), giving me 99 of all items, even then the three (four?) stage battle was immense. I was enraptured by the game and characters though, kicked off a JRPG lifelong love
Looks fun! One weird concern I wasn’t expecting to have is the exact same whip sound, iconic sound though it is, repeating any time it’s used in the trailer. That could get very annoying very quickly.
That won’t have come cheap, I suspect we’ll see the closure of some other studios owned by Tencent soon. They’ve done similar before, and I’m sure it’s a pattern they and other similar conglomerates will adopt.
Besides ‘it takes two’ (my internet is rubbish), I’d be happy to try the other two games - so pretty good if unremarkable month. Could be fun if I find any space in my backlog
Just one wish: that CDProject Red don’t put a release date out until they’re certain.
I loved Cyberpunk 2077 but I’m not waiting hand a year after buying a game to be able to play past the (admittedly the size of an entire game itself) prologue
The game I has fun gameplay, but a completely toothless story, and characters that just aren’t very interesting. Maybe it gets better, but there are games with more fun gameplay and/or a better story I can sink 50-80 hours into.
That said, hope it sells decently, I don’t want the franchise to die - I just want to see it unafraid to deal with heavier themes again.
Comments 358
Re: Stellar Blade Dev Says It Hopes Everyone Is 'Living in Love' After Naughty Dog Artist's Interpretation of Eve Is Unfairly Criticised
I’m sorry I can’t read 70+ comments - but are there some babies in the comments crying because a studio is making a game including women with muscles?
Absolute turnips going on the attack on a brilliant studio for such a pathetic reason.
Re: Final Fantasy Devs React to Clive's Revealing Tekken Crossover Outfit
Never mind that, what can you Torgal in? He DESERVES a tutu
Re: NieR: Automata Just Keeps Winning, Passes 9 Million Copies Sold Mark
Still a completely absurd game in concept, a game that doesn’t really get going story-wise until you complete the 40-ish hour prologue twice and opens with an hour long boss rush without a save point.
But that third playthrough puts everything into focus, and then pummels you relentlessly with spellbinding drama, tragedy and existential ideas.
Plus you get to run around as a maid and a bishi twink in a great fun action RPG in between, and occasionally a mech suit
Re: Nomura Known as 'Demon King of Retakes' During Final Fantasy 7 Dev
Like Kubrick and the lot, it may get great results but I wonder how many people’s mental well-being were sacrificed to the alter of perfection. But the results are undeniable!
Re: Game of the Year: Best PS5 Story Game of 2024
@Logonogo not a fan of the game then, I take it?
Re: Game of the Year: Best PS5 Story Game of 2024
No love for ‘Life is Strange: Double Exposure’? It’s broader themes of trauma and recovery are well told, with a wonderful return to an excellent character in Max. Not as good as the original, but little is story-wise
Re: Game of the Year: Best PS5 RPG of 2024
I really enjoyed plowing about 40 hours into Unicorn Overlord, but then suddenly just got really bored with it. Yes, you get different units, but the stories rubbish, the characters are dull as dishwater and it’s basically the same thing over and over. Still, it itched an itch at the time!
Re: Infinity Nikki (PS5) - Impeccably Presented Fashion Sim Is an Open World Essential
How’s the action/combat? It looked incredibly rough and dull in the early access, is if more exciting then running in circles shooting glowy balls at enemies that soak it up until they die?
Re: Game of the Year: #8 - Dragon's Dogma 2
The organic bond you build with your bunch of weird pawns, ambling around before pliéing through complete carnage really makes this game. I completely understand why it’s not for everyone, but I fell in love with it. Then I got distracted and now it’s been 5 months. I’ll have to dip back in in the new year
Re: It's Choo-Choo-True! Thomas the Tank Engine Is Coming to Train Sim World 5 on PS5, PS4
I wonder if you’ll hear his mate screaming from within the walled up tunnel as you rattle past.
Re: Game of the Year: Best PS5 Open World Game of 2024
DD2 is wonderful, really feels like a proper adventure fantasy game. The story is rubbish, and it’s quirky as anything in pretty much all respects, but the combat and sense of adventure getting from point A to Point B is superb. The Pawn system is excellent too.
Re: Game of the Year: Best PS5 Action Game of 2024
Dragon’s Dogma 2 all the way. The gloriously bombastic random nature of wondering around is unparalleled. I stumbled into a three-way battle after bringing down a gryphon I’d ended up clinging to as it took flight, somehow we both survived but ended up fighting the dragon we’d almost collided with before bandits for some reason joined the fray. How many games have that kind of unscripted carnage?
Re: Game of the Year: Push Square Readers Write About Their Favourite PS5 Games of 2024
I love that LiS: Double Exposure made it, it’s a wonderful game I’m eeking out, enjoying each chapter between breaks. I forgot entirely about Zau, those responses sound great so I’m definitely intrigued now!
Re: Rumour: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Is Getting an Unreal Engine 5 Remake in 2025
I’d very much enjoy jumping back in, the guild quest lines were all fantastic, but I really hope they’d fix a few things:
That’s it. The rest I’m happy with just a spruce up. Hopefully any remake still lets you climb up paintbrushes
Re: Okami Sequel Dev Wants to Prioritise Creativity, Keep Investors at Arm's Length
Very excited to see what this studio puts out, and Okami 2 is an absolute dream of an announcement. The original game is incredibly special and holds a big space in my heart. I still have a page cut out of the original when it was first announced in PlayStation magazine.
Re: Archetype's Sci-fi Epic Exodus Looks Sick in PS5 Gameplay
Not sure about the VA work, sounds a bit flat. But anything that lets you smack a bear in the face with a pulse rifle, while controlling time, in space, is going to be a novel experience.
Re: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Pleads for Modder Restraint on PC
We’ll be playing as CJ with our faithful mutt Thomas the Tank Engine in no time
Re: No Duos Allowed in Elden Ring: Nightreign's Take on Battle Royale
Translation: “No, we’ll make more money if three people have to buy it.”
Re: Intergalactic PS5's Toxic Detractors Peddling Patently Fake 'Leaked' Story Details
Pathetic people stirring up nonsense because of misogyny on 4Chan? Why is it always the worst things that never change?
It really is sad how women with muscles triggers these losers so much.
Re: CD Projekt Red Confirms Ciri Recast for The Witcher 4 on PS5
As long as it fits the character that sounds great - I’ll miss Geralt’s iconic voice, but from the trailer seems like a strong performance.
Re: Eve Is a Festive Firecracker in Stellar Blade PS5's Surprise Xmas Update
Stellar Blade: Making Men Playing Barbie socially acceptable since 04/2024
Re: Feature: The Game Awards 2024's Best Announcement, As Voted By You
Okami 2, new Onimusha and Project Robot have made me more hyped for gaming than the last, like, 5 years. Hopefully the hype will carry across the next 5 years until they’re all out.
Re: Black Myth: Wukong Fans Swing at Swen Vincke Speech, Review Bomb Baldur's Gate 3
To their credit, they’re not critiquing Bag3 for being ‘too woke’ - this is more the sort of silly pettiness we used to have, it’s almost nostalgic.
Re: Hideki Kamiya Cannot Describe Joy of Returning to Capcom for Okami PS5
One of the most exciting game announcements in, like, a decade for me. I really can’t wait to see what a more powerful system offers in a sequel. As soon as the trailer started I cocked a leg and peed, before rolling a bomb into a cliff in excitement.
Re: Onimusha: Way of the Sword Brings Capcom's Iconic Action Series Back on PS5
Absolutely adored the first couple games, wasn’t too sure on the third and never played the fourth, but very excited to see this return - the atmosphere is truly special across the games, and looks like it’s intact here!
Re: Palworld Distances Itself from Pokémon Patent with Recent Update Amid Nintendo Lawsuit
@springer17 words to live by…or, I fear, die by.
Re: Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Dev Hit with Second Round of Layoffs
@ChimpMasta I agree 100% about Veilguard, it’s great it wanted to raise subjects not often handled in video games, but it was poorly written and soulless in it all. It felt more a corporate exercise than anything genuine.
I don’t think the same can be said of Life is Strange. Perhaps we should agree it’s possible they’re all just very close friends.
I just feel a friendship that intense, the way each one idolises the other, and the intensity of the feelings - is more typically found in more than friends.
Re: Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Dev Hit with Second Round of Layoffs
@ChimpMasta as normal a friendship as jumping through parallel dimensions affords.
But I think it’s pretty obviously intended, the first game has one romance option, the future games and comics lean into it, it’s clear Chloe had feelings beyond friendship for Rachel.
I would ask you to reframe how you’re seeing it though - queer people have by necessity hidden their feelings, in person, in media etc. for generations out of very justified fear - someone who is queer, or has queer friends, is going to better recognise those cloaking methods. These days, incredibly, people have a bit more freedom to be open - so they don’t need to hide it so much.
That’s what you’ve been seeing. Life is Strange isn’t quite strikingly queer. It’s a bit sad you’d never explore that path in the game, it adds a lot more weight to the game’s narrative. Otherwise, what, they’d sacrifice a town to flat-share for a bit and share the odd pint?
Also, just have to say, it’s not a case of ‘belief’, it’s there whether you like it or not - it’s a case of tolerance. much like that Kenyan official trying to banish gay lions, denying it doesn’t make it not exist.
Re: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Dev Offers Some PS5 Survival Tips
@Jdubz I felt the same - I was rubbish at the combat, I tried eating and ended up poisoned, I was bleeding and I think unwashed, so just an absolute state. And then there were the game’s mechanics to contend with.
Re: Geralt Actor 'Slapped by CD Projekt', Walks Back The Witcher 4 Comments
Maybe that was him testing the waters and seeing if he would be involved - now he has his answer!
Re: Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Dev Hit with Second Round of Layoffs
@ChimpMasta I thought that was it, but it’s a bizarre argument dude.
From the first game throughout they’ve all been super queer-friendly, the romance between Chloe & Max is pretty much cannon in the first game.
And I see you’re talking about the Nazi symbols - they noticed the ‘88’ first, true, but they also noticed the hagal rune, and clear signs of memes often used by the far right. It sounds like a 4Chan-affiliate messing around tbh, but weird they felt the need to undermine the game’s themes.
I do get not wanting things rammed down your throat, and things are more front and centre these days. But it’s always been there, people were just under more threat by being more open before, I see it as a plus we have media representing a large number of people out there myself.
Re: Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered (PS5) - PlayStation Classics Return in a Deserved Revival
Will definitely pick this up, just wanted to hear it wasn’t a GTA Trilogy botch-job, janky dated gameplay is charming these days - and would love to relive the story and atmosphere!
Re: Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Dev Hit with Second Round of Layoffs
@ChimpMasta I’m not being sly, but what do you mean niche political beliefs and pushing conspiracy theories related to numbers? Not sure what Double Exposure had that the original or other games didn’t.
Re: Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Dev Hit with Second Round of Layoffs
@somnambulance I agree with you completely. The game is emotionally on point, some of the best graphics in the series, they did an excellent job portraying an older Max.
The only way I can really understand the low scores is that, as you said, someone reviewed it who just isn’t a narrative led game, centred on relationships and trauma.
Hopefully this won’t be the death knell of the studio.
Re: Wanderstop Looks Set to Subvert the Cosy Game, Brews Up a PS5 Launch in March 2025
Looks interesting, particularly if they can nail down a good narrative with characters you care about. I’m all down for crying into the teas of whacky characters for cold, hard earned virtual dollars
Re: Round Up: Indiana Jones Reviews Are Live, Mostly Very Strong
@nessisonett absolutely no link at all. I can’t wait to shoot fascists and not miss, truly something to be celebrated.
Re: Round Up: Indiana Jones Reviews Are Live, Mostly Very Strong
Should be good fun, I’ll definitely check it out, we don’t get to lunch enough Nazis in games so that’s always a bonus!
Re: Open World PS5 Game Ananta Looks Absolutely Insane in Latest Trailer
I got a solid 30 hours out of Zenless Zone Zero without paying a penny, but I still felt I had to log in daily for the rewards, ended up feeling a little too controlled by a game so uninstalled. I imagine this’ll be similar, but might give it a try
Re: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Prepares Us for Some Dark Themes in Latest Teaser
Looking better and better, one of my anticipated games on its way!
Re: Feature: Robert's PS1 Memories
This was a lovely read, what a wonderful Mum and shared memory to treasure.
I faced Tomb Raider one myself, I remember spending a life time figuring out what to do in the first bloody room. I do remember living the rest, and the intensity of that T-Rex in the tunnels.
Re: Sony Acquisition Target FromSoftware Has Multiple Projects in Production
For gods sake will they just hurry up and release a Souls-like open world Shrek simulator already? We all know they’re capable of it.
Re: Feature: Khayl's PS1 Memories
My childhood experience is pretty much identical! I only managed to finally beat FF8 through use of a cheat disc (remember them?), giving me 99 of all items, even then the three (four?) stage battle was immense. I was enraptured by the game and characters though, kicked off a JRPG lifelong love
Re: Indiana Jones PS5's Launch Trailer Will Make the Spring 2025 Wait That Little Harder
Looks fun! One weird concern I wasn’t expecting to have is the exact same whip sound, iconic sound though it is, repeating any time it’s used in the trailer. That could get very annoying very quickly.
Re: Tencent Acquires Controlling Stake in Dev of PS5's Wuthering Waves
That won’t have come cheap, I suspect we’ll see the closure of some other studios owned by Tencent soon. They’ve done similar before, and I’m sure it’s a pattern they and other similar conglomerates will adopt.
Re: Poll: Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Essential Games for December 2024?
Besides ‘it takes two’ (my internet is rubbish), I’d be happy to try the other two games - so pretty good if unremarkable month. Could be fun if I find any space in my backlog
Re: PS Plus Essential Games for December 2024 Announced
I’d happily give the non-co op ones a spin, could be better, could be worse.
Re: Baldur's Gate 3 Gets Even Better in 2025 with Patch 8, Bringing Cross-Play, New Subclasses, Photo Mode
Amazing news, absolute legends. That said, this fails to address the one feature we all not only want, but NEED. Costumes for Scratch.
Re: The Witcher 4 Hits Huge Dev Milestone, Enters Full Production
Just one wish: that CDProject Red don’t put a release date out until they’re certain.
I loved Cyberpunk 2077 but I’m not waiting hand a year after buying a game to be able to play past the (admittedly the size of an entire game itself) prologue
Re: Analyst Says Dragon Age: The Veilguard Had a Good, But Not a Great Launch
The game I has fun gameplay, but a completely toothless story, and characters that just aren’t very interesting. Maybe it gets better, but there are games with more fun gameplay and/or a better story I can sink 50-80 hours into.
That said, hope it sells decently, I don’t want the franchise to die - I just want to see it unafraid to deal with heavier themes again.
Re: Poll: Rate Your Favourite PS1 Games
Also, anyone that gives Bubsy 3D more than 1 is a menace to society and should be removed from this site immediately