Kraven

I haven't played The Callisto Protocol yet — I plan on it when I decide to clear my backlog. This doesn't look half bad, though. I'm a big fan of top down games, particularly shooters. This has a similar graphic style as Hi-Fi Rush which I like a lot. I'll probably check it out at some point — it seems like a perfect fit for my Portal.

@MomsSpaghetti Agreed. And, it looks a little bit slower than NiOh, which is another aspect I prefer. I like being able to see my movements, where as in NiOh I could barely see my actions due to how fast the combat animations were, and the color palette. Don’t get me wrong, those games are amazing — but I’m just more interested in RotR than those games.

I know the reception on the previews have been mid at best, but it honestly sounds fantastic to me. Most of the complaints I’ve heard is regarding difficulty, and it not being as tough as prior Team Ninja and Souls-like/borne games. To me, that’s a positive. There’s also negativity on the graphics, but I don’t care about that. The other complaint I’ve seen is about the open world and how it doesn’t do anything to reinvent the wheel, but I don’t need that. Honestly, everything I’ve seen from this game has me excited.

I’ll probably add this game to my download list. I’m a little too consumed by FF7 Rebirth to play anything else. Maybe I’ll sneak this in once I beat it and take a mild break from open world games.

I haven’t played much since last weekend. My work schedule has been hectic, and my wife and I took a mini vacation during the weekday(s). She surprised me with NBA tickets to my favorite team, so we spent several days out of town relaxing. But it’s healthy to take a break from gaming once in a while.

If I do find time this weekend, I’ll be spending it playing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. I am currently in the infamous Gold Saucer area and it has been a magical experience so far. My feelings on the game have only grown deeper — this is an amazing reimagining of an all-time classic. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds.

I really enjoyed this game, although I thought it dragged on a little too much near the end. I would eventually like to go back to a NG+ and perhaps get the platinum trophy.

I’m looking forward to the story DLC. This has been my GOTY so far, and I got the platinum trophy.

There’s not much that interests me, but it’s still a solid month! I’ll definitely add Marvel Midnight Suns to my download list, though.

Interesting — everything mentioned in this write-up sounds great to me rather than “good”. It’s nice to see Team Ninja try and expand on their formula and do new things within their games. Whether that’s a hit or a miss, we will find out, but I appreciate it nonetheless. I’ll definitely be picking this up.

@MrGawain There’s nothing wrong with that, though! I played the game on day one when it released on Xbox and it’s an amazing game. I’ll more than likely pick it up on PlayStation.

9/10 for me. It’s absolutely phenomenal despite the carry over of Remake’s jank.

This weekend I’m playing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. I’m seven chapters deep, and I’ve 100%’ed each region. I’m taking my time and really absorbing this sprawling world. It can feel a little too bloated at times, but the story (which I won’t discuss due to spoilers) and moment to moment gameplay is a genuine blast.

So far, the game is living up to my lofty expectations. The combat is a lot more balanced than its predecessor, and more dynamic too. It might be my favorite battle system in an RPG ever. It’s a wonderful mix between exhilarating action and classic turn-based decisions. It’s an impressive feat that keeps you constantly engaged.

One thing I really appreciate is how everything has a purpose. Mini-games such as Queen’s Blood and Fort Condor (and more) have their own mysterious yet compelling storylines, and are worth experience. Side stories are somewhat bland from a design perspective, but feature brilliant character development.

I’ll try and be as spoiler free as possible — there are two quests I’ve been involved in that expound on the characters. The first one revolves around Barret’s relationship with Marlene, and how he expresses his love for her and is worried about her future. The second relates to Cloud’s incentive on his asking price of 2,000 gil for his mercenary work. It becomes an inside joke within the party which is heartwarming in and of itself, but there is also a backstory to that particular price that has emotional weight behind it.

While there may be a Far Cry-esque nature to its open world, nothing feels like wasted space. The game simply respects your time. I can’t wait to explore further into some iconic locations from the PS1 original, and even though I know what is to come, I still find myself curious as to how things will unfold. To me, that is a sign of a masterful game that respects its legacy and modern audience.

I also purchased Vanillaware’s Unicorn Overlord. I’ve only put two hours in. Initially, it was a little jarring, not being able to strategically choose your actions like your typical turn based (S)RPGs, but once I came to terms with it and found enjoyment in unit management, the game really started to become special. This is shaping up to be a brilliant ride.

I bought it, but I’m not sure when I’ll get around to play it. I’m currently playing Rebirth, and I don’t like juggling more than one game at a time. I might dabble in it this weekend, though, just to see how it fares.

This doesn’t sound too terrible. Considering the type of game this is, most of these trophies should unlock through a natural playthrough. Depending on length, I may attempt to platinum this.

I’ve been waiting for this review before I jumped the gun and bought it. I’m glad to see it turn out wonderfully. I’m definitely purchasing it right now.

How are the trophies, btw? Does the platinum troll right take multiple playthroughs or can everything be done in a single run?

Rise of the Ronin and Stellar Blade are on my list of games to buy. Dragon Dogma’s 2 is a wait and see. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is consuming me so I’m not sure when I’ll get to these games, but we are eating good right now.

@AFCC Yeah, the synergy abilities are confusing. There are ones you can do whenever, as long as you hold R1 and have abilities connected to your party members. But the other synergy ones, those confuse me, and I’m unsure how you build them up to use them. I have managed to use them a couple of times, but not sure how I got there in the first place. The tutorial on it is a little confusing. If you figure it out, let me know!

Earlier in the week I finished up Resistance: Retribution and got the platinum trophy. It was a solid game, but makes me yearn for a remastered trilogy that I know more than likely won’t happen.

With that said, my main focus this weekend will be Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. I don’t often find myself genuinely excited about upcoming games, but I’ve been antsy for a while regarding this sequel, and my wife has been getting quite annoyed with my excitement (ha-ha). I’ve finished the first two chapters and it’s been an unexpected magical experience. Perhaps that’s the nostalgia speaking, but I’m enamored.

From what I’ve played so far, the game seems brilliantly paced. There have also been compelling story moments that provide genuine intrigue, and a heartfelt cast that I’m happy to see again. This is bolstered by an exemplary soundtrack that hits all of the right notes and exactly the right times.

In terms of gameplay, the combat is more refined, with the difficulty seemingly more balanced than its predecessor. There are so many added layers that enhance the action in brilliant ways. Sometimes it can be hard to manage all of the possibilities, but once things click then it’s an extraordinary battle system that just may be my favorite in an RPG.

I also love seeing the PS1 classic come to life in full force — the scope of this game is staggering. Unfortunately, much like any sequel that wants to expand on the original’s idea(s), but also become an open world game, the experience can feel daunting and overwhelming. There are a ton of systems and mechanics at work, and they all have their own leveling system. But the variety to customize your play style is really awesome and adds a lot of depth to how you approach the game.

My only complaint at the moment is the slow movement. Similar to the first game, when the game forces you to walk slowly in certain parts of the story, that mechanic is back. Sadly, those moments are intertwined with gameplay, such as climbing up yellow painted rocks, or more interactive story beats.

There isn’t much left to say since I’m not that far, but I’m highly impressed. Sure, the game could crumble beneath its feet, but if it can keep up this momentum then I think we are in for something incredibly special. I can’t wait to see how it ultimately turns out.

I’m here for whatever Team Ninja does. I think this looks great.

I’m most definitely playing it. So far, the biggest compliment I can give the game is that everything is so much more refined and polished compared to Remake. It’s fantastic so far.

I’m ignoring everything I possibly can. I just got done playing the intro and it was sublime.

I already own Sifu and it’s fantastic. As for the other games, there isn’t anything on here that interests, but that’s okay — FF7 Rebirth will be consuming most of my time.

Sifu is an incredible game. I hope it reaches an even wider audience because the game deserves a ton of attention.

I’ve had mine for two months and have played it every day. It’s been a fantastic device, and has really given me the desire to play various games I wouldn’t otherwise play on a big television. It is also perfect for me when I like watching football and basketball during its respective seasons.

This was a great read. Dragon’s Crown is a fantastic game. And even though I love Vanillaware, I wasn’t necessarily sold on this game until reading this write-up. I’ll definitely pick it up now — it sounds wonderful.

Throughout the week I beat Final Fantasy 7 Remake and it was absolutely phenomenal. I had a rocky history with this remake. To provide some context - I played the game when it originally came out in 2020, and I got to chapter 14 before the game bricked my PS4. I lost all desire to replay the game until recently.

During my replay, especially the last third of the game — the point I was at years ago — was incredibly strong, and the emotional beats were perfect, with foreboding visions yet to come to fruition. There was a scene where Cloud said, “Bring it on, B****!” and it gave me chills. There is no way I’ll attempt to platinum this game because I find the combat way too difficult. I really can’t wait to play Rebirth, and I’m glad to see the reviews for the game are immensely positive.

As for what I’m playing this weekend, I’ll be focusing on Resistance: Retribution. The platinum trophy is pretty easy to obtain too, so that, along with it being a short enough experience to play through before Rebirth comes out makes it a good palette cleanser. Furthermore, it’s just a great game. I wish this franchise would make a return, particularly the first game, and with trophy support. Why there isn’t a remastered trilogy on current generation consoles is beyond me. The entire premise is tantalizing, with an awesome setting, compelling characters, and varied weapons that’s bolstered by fun gameplay.

I also purchased Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden on the PS5. I’m not very far — an hour or two at most, but so far it’s pretty interesting. It definitely has that AA quality feel, similar to A Plague Tale, which is quite satisfactory to me. The combat is also reminiscent of the modern God of War games. And the characters seem to be well written and acted, too. I think this could be one of those sleeper hit gems, but unfortunately it’s releasing at a time when a lot of big games and news are taking over the media outlets.

I’ll take all the new content that I can. I absolutely loved this game: I got the platinum trophy a few weeks back.

I love how this game is sitting at a 93 on metacritic — one of the highest scores for a Final Fantasy game — yet people are thinking the game is going to be mediocre because it received a few 8s here and there. Man, this game should be absolutely amazing. No, I don’t expect it to be perfect, but that’s fine by me. Just give me more Cloud and company.

This sounds great. I beat the game originally on the Nintendo Switch and had a fantastic time with it. I might pick this up and try the new campaign for a fresh experience. I’m glad to see they are providing more content for the game for existing players as well.

Man, I can’t wait to play this. The reviews have been fantastic so far. Luckily, I have the day off when this game releases. Let’s go!

I’ll probably buy these games just to support Xbox games coming to PS5. Plus, it’s a unique time so it’s pretty exciting. I have beaten Hi-Fi Rush last year when it first released on Xbox, and it was one of my GOTY’s. I haven’t played Pentiment, as it doesn’t really interest me, but I might pick it up just in case it sparks my interest at some point.

I can’t download the game. Every time I try to it says, “Something went wrong”. I have the same problem if I attempt to buy it as well. This is incredibly annoying because I’m not having any issues with the other PS Plus games released today. I attempted to sign out, restore licenses, and what have you, but nothing. The only thing I can think of that is preventing me from downloading it is when I bought the PSP version for the game on my PlayStation Vita several months back. If that’s the case, I’m not sure how to fix it since my account is tied to it.

Great review. I’m glad to see this game turn out well. I’ve been interested in it ever since its first reveal. I’ll definitely be picking it up and adding it to my backlog.

I’m very happy with it. Tales of Arise is a great game, and I haven’t played any of the DLC for The Outer Worlds so that will be fun to tackle. Also, Resistance Retribution is fantastic, and if it has trophy support I’ll be all over it.

This weekend I’m playing Final Fantasy 7 Remake. The PS1 title is a seminal experience that I felt was fine the way it is. Somehow, the remake managed to subvert my expectations and really expand on what made the original so whimsical.

First and foremost, Cloud Strife really is a great character. I love his stoic personality. His past is ominous and you can tell he has been through a lot that has affected him because when it comes down to business at hand he is steadfast and ready to go. He is quipped with one-liners that shows how hardened he is as an Ex-SOLDIER, but the supporting characters around him essentially force him to soften his shell, albeit unwillingly at times.

As for other characters, they all have unique personalities with interpersonal stories that have you invested immediately through story missions that focus on them personally. And you can feel their motivations and comradery—they feel like a real team. One thing that stands out are the unique personality traits of the female protagonists.

Jessie, for example, is energetic and bubbly. She seemingly won’t take no for an answer, and is an act first, think later type of woman. And she’s good at using her appealing magnetism to benefit her necessities. Tifa is an optimist but also grounded. She battles between what’s right and wrong, but remains diligent in her decisions. She has a sense of maturity that the other characters don’t. And then there is Aerith, whom has this nonchalant attitude, with humorous jokes and an irresistible disposition and innocence that makes you want to protect her, even though she can clearly handle herself.

The story is fantastic, too. It balances telling two stories at once. The remake takes place in a small section of the original - Midgar - and it tells the story of how a ragtag crew of eco-terrorists are trying to stop a mega-corporation from draining the world of its essence in order to to use its energy source as a form of profit. That’s the basis of the game, and yet the remake manages to tell this portion of the story in a full blown game that feels complete even though this section is a minor fraction of the main game.

My only quibble is the combat. The action is fun, snappy and responsive, but I have a difficult time managing several party members, their health, abilities, and positioning. It seems to me the combat is unbalanced because the game essentially forces you to be on the offensive in order to use your ATB — this also includes abilities, magic, and items such a health potions, phoenix downs, etc.; so it’s easy to get overwhelmed with a ton of enemies while trying to manage defense simultaneously.

Thankfully, this remake is sublime. It stays true to its roots and keeps the spirit of the original FF7 in tact, but includes smart, yet subtle changes that only enhance the modern experience. I didn’t appreciate the remake as much when I first played it back in 2020, but now I see the game through a much different lens. I could say a lot more because I’ve only scratched the surface, and the character limit won’t allow me to say much more. I’ll end my diatribe with this: FF7R is a prodigious game, and is a must if you’re a fan of the franchise. Bring on Rebirth.

@lightningbolt79 They let it play out for much longer than they should have. This should have been addressed in the first couple of days. That’s just my opinion. You are right, though - gamers do overreact.

This is a massive disappointment - not because of the games, but due to Microsoft’s lack of transparency. This whole situation could have been handled in a tweet. Instead, it was dragged out for way too long all to essentially say nothing of genuine substance.

I love this game and the franchise in general. It’s a shame we haven’t gotten a remastered collection of the trilogy for the PS4/PS5. Regardless, Retribution is a gem of a game, and I can’t wait to play it again.

This is an awesome selection of games. Tales of Arise is fantastic, and I really enjoyed The Outer Worlds but never played the subsequent DLC. And Resistance Retribution? Hell yeah.

I get it that people will be unpleased with this, but it is okay. The PS5 is essentially the PS2-era all over again, and that’s a positive. We don’t constantly need an influx of first party games even though they are system sellers. There isn’t anything wrong with having a plethora of second party exclusives. Look back at 2023 — there were amazing games all across the board. Sony knows that it doesn’t need high quality AAA games to reel people in as long as you have games for the console.

Look at the current state of releases just between January - April. We have Helldivers 2 which is blowing up in fantastic ways. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is releasing soon and it’s going to be a massive hit. There is also Rise of the Ronin, and Team Ninja rarely falters. And lastly Stellar Blade. These games are essentially “exclusive”, and by that I mean not on Xbox or Nintendo since PlayStation is getting more acquainted with PC.

Those games aren’t first-party, but that doesn’t detract from the output of quality releases from
Sony. I personally believe we have an embarrassment of riches right now. I’m okay if I don’t see another God of War, Spider-Man, TLoU, or even Ghost of Tsushima right now.

With all of that said, I will posit a theory. Sony knows it doesn’t have to release any first-party AAA games right now because of Microsoft. They have been aware of Microsoft’s change in course for a while because contracts and legal formalities have to be put forth in order to send out PS5 development kits for Microsoft to test their games on.

Perhaps Sony knows they are going to get Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Starfield, and possibly Gears of War and Halo. If that does turn out to be the case, Sony can rely on that to keep the demand high for PS5s. They won’t necessarily need first-party exclusives if they can get some of the most beloved games from the Xbox ecosystem on PlayStation. Sure, those games - if the rumors are true - may not be on the PS5 this year, but I think most of them will be drip fed monthly. Perhaps Sony knows this and it allows them some leeway. That’s just my theory.

All in all, I don’t think people need to be upset. To reiterate, the PS2-era had an incredible library, and it wasn’t due to exclusives. And it’s the best selling console of all time for a reason. Let’s just embrace the idea that we are living spoiled with so many games right now that it’s not even funny.

Glad to see this turned out well! I had it preordered and I’ll definitely be diving into it this weekend on my PlayStation Portal. I am bummed about no platinum trophies for the PS5. Hopefully, this will eventually get remedied somehow.

Great review! I’ve been curious about this game, and it has gone under the radar this month due to other game releases, but I will definitely pick it up. Glad to see it has a great story and gameplay.

@somnambulance Nice shout out for Pacific Drive! I forgot about that game and it releases very soon. It looks really damn good.

I have been playing Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and I beat the game a few days ago and got the platinum trophy. My thoughts have only grown deeper — it’s going to go down as one of my top 10-20 games of all time. This game resonated with me in a way I wasn’t expecting.

The next main game I’m delving into is Final Fantasy 7 Remake before Rebirth releases. As a kid, I remember buying the PS1 original one summer with my chore money at the local Blockbuster. I spent 100+ hours playing the game, had all characters at max level, and was astonished at the final boss fight. I have many fond memories, along with a negative one: I never acquired Vincent Valentine and I was so disappointed when I realized I overlooked him.

In terms of the remake, the last time I played the game it left a sour taste in my mouth. Don’t get me wrong - the game is fantastic, but I got to chapter 14 and suddenly the game bricked my PS4. Once this happened I couldn’t bring myself to replay the game once I managed to get a new console. I also wasn’t in the right headspace mentally due to life situations, so the game would relentlessly trigger negative emotions every time I attempted to start a fresh play-through, thus I haven’t properly touched it since its release.

I am determined to play the game from start to finish. Physically and mentally I’m in a much healthier frame of mind. At the moment of writing this, I’m playing the game on the PlayStation Portal and have beaten three chapters. I’m unclear of the reason, but this game is hitting differently emotionally — and in a good way too. I’m picking up on subtle nuances that are resonating with me, and the mysterious backstory between Cloud and Sephiroth is superb. I forgot how powerful the impact of these characters had on me when I was younger. I’ve already experienced goosebumps in a couple of scenes.

Hopefully, I can have the FF7 Remake scratched off my list of games I feel I need to complete. I was also browsing the trophy list and the platinum trophy doesn’t seem too unbearable to obtain (but we will see) so I might set that out as a goal for myself.

Good to hear! Give me a good single player game that has a beginning and a definitive end and I’ll be happy. Can’t wait to play Stellar Blade - it looks fantastic!

For starters, I think competition is great so I dislike the possibility of Xbox becoming a third party publisher. This will ultimately raise the price of future consoles and games.

I also feel bad for those whom invested in the Xbox ecosystem this generation. People bought the console(s) because of the strives they were making to have a competitive edge in the gaming space with their exclusives. I don’t see the point in owning an Xbox console when their high profile exclusives will more than likely come to PlayStation.

As for Game Pass, I think it shows that it’s not as sustainable as they thought it would be. PlayStation and Nintendo prove that if you make a great game people will be willing to spend $70.00+ on the game to own it. As a consumer, Game Pass is a great offering. However, if you’re deep in the gaming space and care about the overall hobby itself, GP is not good for business, in my humble opinion. You’re essentially getting games that are similar to the fodder on Netflix. You do more browsing than you do watching, and it’s the same with GP. I prefer quality over quantity.

At the end of the day, if the rumors turn out to be true it will be a monumental moment in gaming. People are going to feel betrayed, while others will be elated. But I think Microsoft simply got way over their head. Who knows what the gaming industry will look like in a couple of years from now, but I am concerned.

This kind of behavior has got to stop. I swear, some gamers are honestly childish. TLoU is a grounded, adult-oriented game. If you can’t handle it because of certain themes, characters, and surprises that happen, then maybe you shouldn’t be playing these types of games. There is zero reason to have this kind of transgression toward someone. Zero. And if you try and find a valid reason for it then you are just as bad in my opinion.

Personally, if the rumors are true it is somewhat disappointing. I think competition is great, even in businesses. That part of history that made Xbox so great is going to be gone. I feel bad for those who invested in the Xbox ecosystem, particularly this generation like I did (although I own all three current gen consoles) because I was excited about their future with Bethesda, and their genuine passion to deliver on their promise of exclusive games. And now, although that promise will more than likely be delivered, it won’t be in the way I envisioned. Game Pass is not a system seller for me. I don’t care too much for subscription services to begin with. I prefer to own my games, even if that means paying $70.00+ for a game. If their games come to PlayStation, then I don’t see the point in owning an Xbox console. They are seemingly going multi-platform/third party, and will be ruining the reputation they have garnered this generation, at least in my eyes. I guess we will have to wait until next week to find out, although I think that is way too long of a wait — Phil and co. need to speak out now before more rumors become rampant.

It is a gorgeous UI, and Atlus has such a stylish personality altogether. I really dig this remake.

This looks really cool. I just hope we don’t become over saturated with these types of games.