Kraven

I don’t see the need for a slim when I already own a PS5. This new sku doesn’t even seem to be much of a change in length/width. I’ll probably wait for a PS5 Pro, but even then I don’t know if I’ll buy it because I’m quite content with what I have. I can see people buying this model if it’s their first PS5, so hopefully people will be able to snag one up for Christmas!

I’ve only played a couple of hours so I can’t really give it a fair score. That said, if it keeps up the pace then it’s definitely an easy 8-9. I’ll probably sink more time into it once I finish Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Super Mario RPG.

As for what is the greatest PlayStation Studios game, I will always choose The Last of Us. That said, it is subjective. I’m bias too, since it’s my favorite game of all time. I’ve yet to play anything narratively that hit me emotionally as that first entry.

I absolutely loved it, and thought it was better than its predecessor. The story beats were much more satisfying, and there was a level of confidence in the game design and overall game world that was present in every moment of the game. I didn’t care too much playing as Atreus because I found his moments annoying. With that said, I did enjoy how quickly his movements were. The fluidity and flexibility was a nice change of pace.

I’ve never really cared much for GTA even though I do play all of them. With that said, it’s always exciting when we know we’re getting a first look trailer at their new game. I love all of the video breakdowns people do. This is exciting.

I really hope we hear news about Stellar Blasé considering it’s still scheduled (but looking doubtful) for release in 2023. Maybe an announcement at the Game Awards.

@3Above I’ve been debating myself as to whether or not I want to buy Star Ocean Second Story R for my PS5 or Nintendo Switch. It seems like a perfect handheld game. If only I could convince my wife to let me get a PlayStation Portal. 🤔

This weekend I’m playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder. It’s been an absolute joy so far. I’m not that far, but I just beat W3. The level of creativity and imagination in every stage is mind-boggling. The platforming is also precise, and the powers are all fun to use. I’m really enjoying my time with this one, and it’s up there with Super Mario World for my favorite 2D game in the series. I can’t wait for Super Mario RPG.

The main game I’m focusing on, however, is Alan Wake 2. It has been absolutely sublime, in more ways than one. Remedy creates incredible game worlds that are full of rich, environmental details that draw you into the atmosphere. It oozes in style, and is easily their most stylish game to date.

One thing I find great is how methodical the game presents itself. It knows the story it wants to tell and it goes at its own pace with unbelievable confidence. It trusts you to be patient and let it unfold naturally. And there is a story to everything - even upgrading your weapons. If you pay attention, there are references to Control during this aspect.

The characters are great, too. Saga Anderson is a fresh, unique character that is very memorable. I like how enthusiastic she is despite being an FBI agent; she loves a great mystery. I think her character taps into the modernism of true crime fans today (something I’m a big buff of myself), but with a touch of Twin Peaks.

I am also pleased with the exploration. There is almost an Metroidvania element to it. I don’t want to provide spoilers, but you’ll understand what I mean if you are playing the game. In the first Alan Wake you weren’t rewarded for exploring due to hardware limitations. While that’s still present here, with new technology the world feels more alive. Nothing feels out of place. Some of the best moments are optional side areas that provide environmental storytelling.

At the end of the day, I’m extremely impressed. Remedy knocks it out of the park once again, and despite their larger budget they stay true to their roots. This game does things that I’ve never seen in a game before and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them.

@gipsojo I love Spider-Man 2 just as much as the next person, but comparing the games in terms of gameplay makes no sense. They are two drastically different games - I don’t even think a comparison is even possible. If you compared Alan Wake 2 to Dead Space or Resident Evil, particularly the recent remakes, that would make more sense.

So, considering a game overrated because it doesn’t match a more combat focused game such as Spider-Man 2, where you’re meant to be nimble and be able to traverse areas quickly and use a plethora of gadgets at your disposal, is confusing. You even praised the writing and story.

And I don’t know how you’re getting lost - it’s a fairly linear game with a semi open world concept. Either you’re not paying attention, locating the map(s) and using them for your benefit, or something else. As for the bugs and shimmering, I do agree on that. Thankfully, my experience has been relatively bug free.

This game is an easy 10 for me. I’ll wait to share my thoughts tomorrow on “What are you playing this weekend?” thread because I have a lot to say.

Colin from Sacred Symbols recommends this game a lot, and me and him share the same tastes in gaming, so I’ll definitely pick this up! I’ve had it on my wishlist for a while, but there have been a ton of games that kept me busy. This seems like a good Christmas time game since there doesn’t seem to be any major releases around that time.

@geordie197 That’s a bummer, man! I am 10 hours in and haven’t had a single issue. Hopefully, this patch will help your experience.

Looks like another game that is going to be in the mixing bowl for me to play. There are just too many good games this year.

It sounds like an interesting game - but it’s honestly feels like it’s being bolstered by its setting and not its gameplay formula. I’ll more than likely check the game out because I do love a good Ubisoft game from time to time. With that said, Ubisoft knows how to create interesting game worlds all the while taking you out of the immersion at the same time. I think of Assassin’s Creed, particularly with their modern open world games as of late, where the setting is gorgeous, but you highlight enemies and they are all red and you can see them through walls, or the animus sections. To me, that breaks immersion significantly, and has me worried for the Splinter Cell Remake that we will more than likely never see.

I’m still going to buy this game — whether or not I’ll wait for it to go on sale is another story. It turned out exactly how I thought it would, which isn’t a bad thing in my opinion. Question, though - how is the road to the platinum trophy?

This weekend my goal is to complete and platinum Spider-Man 2. How people are achieving this in a matter of days is beyond me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a long game — but I played for almost 6 hours straight two days in a row (thanks to my supportive wife) and still only managed to get 15-20% more completion rate, with it currently being 70% after 25 hours.

With all of the trifling aside, I was initially lukewarm on the game because I felt the game wasn’t providing enough. And then I realized I was playing the game wrong. My approach to Spider-Man how I do most open worlds - do all side content before I tackle the main story. What I didn’t realize is that the world, common crime activities, and the gameplay evolves as you progress the storyline, and even gets more challenging.

From gameplay perspective, it has the best traversal in any game I’ve ever played. The swinging feels incredible, and the web suit is such a fun tool to use. As for combat, it’s quick and snappy, with a ton of tools to use at your disposal that are all equally valuable. The web-line alone is a phenomenal tweak that makes the game standout, and offer diverse ways of completing missions. And the powers you get — good lord, are they a blast. They amplify the gameplay significantly, and animations for them are so full of painstaking detail, it’s hard to grasp how it’s possible.

In terms of story, find the game expertly paced. I do have two complaints, though. For starters, the developers sprinkle out really intriguing concepts that you hope will continue throughout the game but only seem to offer a one-and-done situation. Not overstaying your welcome is a positive in some respects, but it’s a shame because they are excellent additions. Lastly, I feel like some of the story beats are undercooked. Without providing any spoilers, some of the character developments and revelations seem a bit rushed. Thus, the emotional impact wasn’t there with some of the cutscenes. That said, when the story beats are good, they are extremely good. High highs and low lows.

Ultimately, despite my grievances, Spider-Man 2 is amazing. In my opinion, Insomniac is Sony’s best and most consistent developer in terms of quantity and quality. I can’t wait to see how they handle Wolverine, especially with its violence and more grittier tone.

@Sil_Am I have zero need to sell games. If that’s your prerogative, so be it. However, don’t detract a score/review for a games digital only release because the review is about the quality of the product, and not the physical aspect of it.

@Sil_Am I don’t need to sell games to make a living, even if I lose my job. It’s called being smart with my money so if something does happen to my job, I have alternatives to still be financially secure until I find employment again. Plus, selling games hardly ever procures yourself a substantial amount of money, and certainly not what you paid for it originally, if half that. I’m not trying to be rude, but if $20-30 is going to make or break you, then you really need to start reevaluating your life and make changes.

@Sil_Am I personally enjoy all of my digital library. It’s much more easy to maintain, and easier and quicker to access than a physical copy. Additionally, to your original comment, I’m unsure how not having a physical copy detracts from the overall quality of the game. Moreover, BG3 didn’t have a physical copy and look how successful that game is. Did you complain then, or is it only about games that are of interest to you?

This has easily been my most anticipated game of the year, and it’s nice to see the game lives up to the hype. Remedy knocks it out of the park once more!

I’m reading 5/5s and 10/10s on nearly every major gaming outlet, with an occasional 8 and some 9s. Holy crap, am I impressed. I already have the game preordered and ready to go for later tonight!

I cannot wait for this game. Alan Wake is one of my all time favorites, and I’m personally a fan of nearly anything Remedy creates. I have it preordered, downloaded, and ready to go Thursday night after work! It’s the perfect game to play during the spooky season.

It looks great! We have to keep in mind that this is first in engine footage, so the frame are, which did look choppy, will more than likely get much better. I am a bit concerned about the animations — they seem completely identical to the original. I suppose it’s not a big deal, but I’m curious to see how it plays out. All in all, MGS3 is one of my favorite games, and this seems to be a very faithful remake.

I’ve had a couple of bugs, but nothing dramatic. There was one where I couldn’t complete a crime activity because an enemy teleported underground. There was another where an enemy was on the side of the wall which was hilarious. And I’ve also had the game crash on me once, and it was during a main story cutscene. Aside from that, I haven’t experienced much.

I commented on a Spider-Man 2 article yesterday saying I was somewhat lukewarm on the game - but my opinion is changing. The game is absolutely amazing. My reasoning for it being “mid” was primarily me avoiding the main story and simply traversing, taking pictures, and stopping crimes. I was trying to do everything I possibly could before tackling the main story, and I think that’s the wrong approach.

Once I started doing main missions, unlocking new gadgets, things began opening up a lot more, especially with how you tackle combat. Seriously, the web line is an amazing addition to the game. I also like how petty crimes that appear on the map get increasingly more difficult once you progress further into the game.

I can’t wait to see where the story goes. Spider-Man 2 is one of the best superhero games ever made. Insomniac has hit another home run.

I’m playing it right now and the success Insomniac and PlayStation is having is definitely well earned. That said, I’m not sure if it’s open world fatigue, but I’m not as immersed in this universe as much as I was Spider-Man 1 and Miles Morales. I’m hoping my opinion changes, but as of right now the game is okay — even though it has the best traversal in any game I’ve ever played. I’m also not trying to be “one of those guys”, but it does seem significantly shorter compared to its predecessors. I have played five hours so far and I’m already at a 30% completion rate. Don’t get me wrong - I don’t measure a games greatness by its length; it’s just incredibly surprising. With that out of the way, I’m having a total blast. The 8/10 review is definitely spot on.

I’m having a much deserved weekend getaway with my wife so I won’t be playing much until late Sunday evening. However, I do have Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 waiting for me - preordered, downloaded, and ready to go - when I get back.

Throughout the week, I managed to beat and get the platinum trophy for Cyberpunk 2077 (the base game). It was a phenomenal experience, even after 100+hours. I’ve yet to touch Phantom Liberty, but I plan on setting that expansion to the side until I beat Spider Man 2 and Alan Wake 2.

I don’t want to risk burnout on what’s critically considered an incredible addition to what is now one of my all time favorite games. Near the end of base 2077, I felt myself not reading archived conversations, looking at my phone while some dialogue conversations played out, and simply running and gunning throughout some gigs. Clearly, I need(ed) a break, and I don’t want to do Phantom Liberty a disservice.

I’m going to wait for reviews, but this game definitely has my attention.

I just beat and platinumed the base game this morning! I’m holding off on the expansion until I beat Spider-Man 2 and Alan Wake 2. Glad to see more patches are coming. My experience with 2.0 was phenomenal.

@guntam Agreed. People like to make mountains out of molehills.

@Foxhound I’m not trying to argue, but saying lazy is quite the stretch. They have essentially completely overhauled this game compared to its previous versions. Moreover, they have been releasing quality games aside from their mainline Persona games in relatively quick succession with fantastic results. I wouldn’t call them lazy; maybe uninspired in some respects, but certainly not lazy.

Yeah, I don’t care for the slim much. My entertainment center holds my PS5 just fine. Personally, I have hardware fatigue. I may or may not get a PS5 Pro, if it ever gets announced, but I’m honestly quite content with what I have right now. I don’t feel the need to have a constant “next gen refresh” every couple of years.

Man, Persona games just hit different for me. I really can’t wait for this remake. On a side note, Persona 4 Golden is my second favorite game of all time. I’m thinking of starting a new play through on my Vita — maybe even go for the platinum trophy.

I have already bought the game but haven’t actually played it in its entirety due to time constraints. It’s nice to see it come to Game Pass and EA Play, though. My best friend, who is solely an Xbox gamer (but not a hardcore gamer at all — just mingles around) is definitely amped for the GP release, so I’m happy for him.

Several mainstream reviews have stated it’s the best superhero game ever made, and the majority of outlets are praising the game overall. It’s currently sitting at a 91 on Open Critic as well. It’s safe to say I’m beyond hyped for this one.

I think the games on the list are quite decent. I’ve heard Gotham Knights is a solid game now. Additionally, if you haven’t played Alien Isolation, you must do so if you’re a horror fan. I can honestly say it’s the only horror game that had me genuinely feeling tension and stress, so much so I was sweating while playing. It was a remarkable experience. My only gripe would be the end — it dragged on significantly. If it had been 5 hours shorter it would have been perfect.

This weekend I’m still playing Cyberpunk 2077. Last week, I praised this game immensely and my thoughts have only grown fonder, so much so I put it in my top 10 of all time. I’m near the end of the base game, and I’m trying to finish up all of the “romance” questlines that I can before I head into Dog Town.

My goal is to beat and platinum Cyberpunk before Spider-Man 2 releases. Unfortunately, I’m having issues unlocking a couple of trophies. First is “Two Heads, One Bullet” - my sniper rifle refuses to kill two people at once despite having a high tier 5+ rifle. The other, although it can be multiple, is finishing all gigs and NCPD missions in a district. Hopefully, this isn’t a bug or, if it is, it gets patched relatively soon.

When I’m not gaming, I’m getting back into reading — a hobby that I’ve sadly put on the wayside for too long. A coworker suggested I start reading books set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. I started with The Horus Heresy - Horus Rising. So far, it’s pretty good, and overwhelming. The lore is fantastic, though. I have a feeling I’ll be getting lost in this world for a long time to come.

I’ve already preordered the game and have it downloaded and ready to go! I can’t wait to see what Insomniac has in store for us.

The game looks really cool, but my goodness, the frame rate looks abysmal.

This weekend I’m playing Cyberpunk 2077 and its DLC, Phantom Liberty. I have put 40hrs in with a completion rate of 38%. It took me a while to adjust to an open world game, particularly an RPG, that focuses on verticality because I don’t recall another game similar. Now that I’m accustomed to it, I’ll just cut to the chase — this game rules.

I now want to go on a rant about one aspect of the game that some people (still) consider flawed despite the 2.0 update being a drastic and much needed overhaul of the game. And that is meaningful choices.

I’ve seen a lot of criticism over dialogue choices not having an impact on the outcome of the mission. I do understand this since Cyberpunk is technically an RPG, and The Witcher had so many varying threads throughout conversations that effected other side and main missions. However; for me, I’m not always looking for that when I play this genre.

I just got off the heels of playing the massive undertaking Baldur’s Gate 3. The choices you are dealt have a genuine impact either immediately, ten hours down the road, or the overall ending — whether it’s environmental or the characters and your party members themselves. That is incredible.

With that said, I don’t feel like making those types of choices immediately after. Instead, as soon as I booted up the game I immediately wanted to get lost in Night City — a different aspect in an RPG setting that often gets ignored. And for me, when I want to lose myself in a game world, I’m. It looking for dialogue choices that change my outcome; instead, I’m wanting to learn more about the world and its inhabitants.

This is why I love the blue dialogue options — it expands on the characters, their motivations, and gives you a taste of how life currently is when living in Night City. I care more about that than I do making tough decisions that could ultimately leave me unhappy (like Baldur’s Gate 3). Granted, there are choices that do have consequences so that also shouldn’t be ignored. Give me a relatively linear narrative with amazing character interactions, and a game world that genuinely feels as if it’s living and breathing any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Speaking on the world of Night City - this might be one of the best settings in any game. The vibe and portrayal of a dystopian world is really great. I was born in 1990, but grew up watching the likes of Blade Runner, Demolition Man, Twelve Monkeys, and even early Batman movies with Michael Keaton. I remember the world those movies were set in, and Cyberpunk nails that aesthetic to a T and then some.

One mission titled “Down on the Street” really drives this point home. I’ll try and keep it spoiler free. There is no gunplay involved, but how things unfold, whether it’s the lighting, mysterious meet ups, traveling in a car with neon lights flashing around every corner while jazz music is playing on the radio, is amazing. When a game can captivate you even without much action involved, that is a sign of something special to me.

Overall, the game has engrossing characters and a captivating world. When you mix that with fun gameplay, cools weapons and abilities, and a gritty Blade Runner aesthetic, you come across a game that hasn’t ever been done like this before.

Well deserved. The game has been redeemed and is now, in my opinion, one of the best games ever made. It is easily one of the best action RPGs available right now.

I’ve been playing for a few hours this morning. I haven’t stumbled on any issues whatsoever. In fact, the update has drastically improved my experience, so I’m pleased with the results. I wish others could have the same result.

The game is excellent on all fronts. Cyberpunk is easily one of the best RPGs on the market, and the DLC just goes to show that CDPR are the kings of expansions. I know this is seems like hyperbole, but this game is fantastic; 2.0 really overhauled the game in a brilliant way.

I understand the appeal that these corporations have to push live service games; but the fact is - it’s going to be hard to make a game that can stand toe to toe with the likes of Fortnite and, all be it not live service, Call of Duty. Yes, if a new live service game is actually successful, it can rake in tons of money, but it’s essentially a needle in a haystack that consumers, particularly those that are PlayStation centric, don’t want and never asked for.

I’m quite content with this month — I’ve been wanting to try out The Callisto Protocol for a while. And, as a plus, Weird West is coming as well, and that’s a great game.

The majority of my weekend will be spent playing Cyberpunk 2077 on the PS5. I bought the game the day it released but did not touch the game due to all of the negative reception. And then, I almost started the game once the 1.5 patch released, but was too busy with other games.

However, with the praise of 2.0 and Phantom Liberty I decided to reinstall the game. So far, I’m blown away. I’m roughly 8 hours in and the game has already introduced fascinating characters, intriguing world building, smart and gritty writing that I’m personally a big fan of, and a captivating world that you want to get lost in.

I just finished “The Heist” mission, and the interlude where you get introduced to Johnny Silverhand. The entire concept and how it came together was very cool. Moreover, the voice acting is phenomenal and adds so much depth to the scenes and characters. I have a feeling it’s going to be a fun ride.

As for my other obsession for the past three weeks - I’m taking a (short rest; see what I did there?) break from Baldur’s Gate 3. I’m at the end of Act II after 80 hours and I’m starting to get burned out. Also, I accidentally completed a few minor quests prematurely and overwrote the save file (and I’ll be damned if I reload an autosave that makes me backtrack quite a bit) and that has me frustrated.

I’m excited for this game! I think it looks fun and has a real cool vibe. I’m definitely picking it up when it releases.

I’m pretty satisfied with October’s games. I’ve been interested in the Callisto Protocol for a while, and Weird West is a fantastic game.

I am! I started it this morning before work. I did the first two main missions and thought it was awesome. I’m excited to dive back into the game later tonight.

I’ve been tempted to buy the Callisto Protocol for months; I’m glad I decided to wait. This will be the perfect game to play during the October month.