Marquez

@get2sammyb so this is what you all get up to with that sweet sweet PushSquare clicks money! More of this I say, great article - thank you.

@EliJapan people get to travel around new places in whatever manner is good for them, for their own enjoyment. There's no right or wrong way to explore somewhere new, or write about it.

Cracking on with Cyberpunk this weekend, going to make some story progress. Then away with work for a few days so I'll be breaking out the Switch.

Edit: Hogwarts Legacy just dropped through the letterbox...

The real launch of PS5 is finally upon us. Sales will be through the roof in 2023.

Bought it for my 15yo son who read all the books many times over. I also had a conversation with him beforehand about the discourse surrounding the game, so that he's informed at least and can form his own opinions. He'll platinum it over next week's school half term holiday I'm sure, then I'll give it a go despite having no attachment to the franchise myself.

@rjejr I can't disagree, but obviously I was trying to be polite about my cousins across the pond!

@rjejr Well the CMA are a UK body so yes, it will be UK data. I assume that competition authorities in other territories will run similar surveys/data discovery processes.

Did anyone else read the info about your tech companion CHAR-les and getting Cuff/Forspoken vibes? Hmmmm... I am now wary.

My backlog is now 80 games, ahead of all the stuff releasing this year I’d be mad to add to that…

Checks wishlist and wallet

@Green-Bandit I'm halfway there in going digital, in that I still buy big PS5 titles (typically the exclusives) on disc, but everything else - particularly indies - digitally. I agree the days of physical are largely over. And environmentally, rightly so.

A lot of dismissive comments about this game being derivative of games that came out a couple of years ago, even though the production time will have been way longer...

This game is now on my radar. Yes, it's a trailer full of tropes but we all enjoy a game like that every now and again. A video game ass video game.

I still don't know why they didn't push the delay a further 7 days to... May 4th. What a missed opportunity. Day one purchase regardless.

It's looking great - I think the fact I'm playing Cyberpunk currently means I'm a sucker for neon-drenched cityscapes. Pre-ordered including the season pass - over to you Bungie!

The number of people in this comments section thinking that discussion of, and supporting of, human rights is somehow a political statement... I give up, seriously.

Delighted to see the game so well reviewed across all channels - I've never read the books and seen maybe 1.5 films (fell asleep) but even so I'm excited to give this a go.

After 45 hours of abandoned buggy gameplay when it launched I've finally gone back to Cyberpunk 2077... and it's excellent. Still some weird rag doll physics and the occasional glitch but it looks glorious on PS5 and the gameplay has its hooks in me.

A mid-generation entry in the series - now the generation has finally begun - has real potential. Exciting.

I watched the demo and, compared to the carefully curated trailers previously shown, it's embarrassingly bad. I played both Division games extensively and this was like watching the absolute roughest version of either game, with all the personality and detail sucked out of them.

The zombie rendering and animation reminded me of enemies in Wolfenstein - the original one. Low res, jerky and bore no relation to the admittedly more detailed environments.

Weapon upgrading looked generic but OK, and again a lesser version of what the Division and other games have done before.

Exploration was noticeably restrictive with the character going into three buildings but only accessing one or two initial rooms of each. Maybe that was a time thing, but it definitely raised alarm bells.

The whole thing just felt... off.

Is the answer Destiny 2?

I knew when 1) I discussed the price of PSVR2 with my wife and 2) cancelled my preorder with her 'encouragement' that 3) the announcement of GT7 coming to PSVR2 THE DAY AFTER I CANCELLED was going to bite me on the a***. Watched the video and the hype is definitely real.

Not really something I can sneak into the house, is it. Is it? Hmmmm...

This is on my list of games I'm excited about in 2023, latest gameplay video was a lot of fun. Fingers crossed they deliver.

I can't wait personally, the drop of a new expansion is always fantastic. Having recently taken a break from D2 for a couple of months I'm even more keen than usual to get stuck in.

Menu Book 39 in Gran Turismo 7 - the final 'campaign' menu book - will be my nemesis this weekend.

I'm sure they are free to move on from A Thief's End, but the epilogue of that game 100% set up a new protagonist that they could spin up a game around at any time. And I expect they will.

@BusyOlf I literally just read this in a trophy guide! Looks like I'll be going after it, indeed.

Continuing Cult of the Lamb with half an eye on going for the platinum, despite the mini-boss related trophies.

GT7, I'm on the dirt track menu book and it's like playing a different game - the cornering took me by surprise!

And finally some admin in Destiny 2, I'm taking a break until Lightfall on 28/02 but I need to sort my weapons and armour and prep my characters between now and then. My vault is a mess.

@Digit2021 That’s a hell of a deal for both of you, it’s definitely giving me ideas…

Just another day when I regret cancelling my PSVR2 preorder after a very short discussion with my wife about the price…

And this is only what we know about... a pretty epic year in the making, even if a few are inevitably delayed.

Halfway through Cult of the Lamb and loving it - I can see why it made so many GOTY shortlists.

More GT7, it has its hooks back in me - one I was amazed to see missed off so many 2022 lists in equal measure...

The demo was a really nice experience, mechanics are cool and the vibe is really chilled. No doubt the actual game will be a stress-inducing hell-fest now I've said that. On my Wishlist for sure.

I don't want to be reductive about all the hard work devs clearly do, but I feel I could have launched Skull & Bones on my own by now. From my shed. Using a Spectrum 48k.

I found the demo to be decent if a little uninspiring, but I think the appeal will lie in the depth of combat options and it's hard to convey that in a demo. I'll be keeping an eye on this one for sure.

@ActionPanther True, but it's nice to see a production finally setting a high bar if these reviews are representative. Someone had to go first!

Started Cult Of The Lamb this week and very impressed, I can see why it made so many GOTY lists - so more of that this weekend for a bit of casual brainwashing and sacrifice.

I also picked up Pillars of Eternity II for 'free' off my PS Plus subscription, the character creator on its own is a mini-game... I've re-rolled three times already so I'm only a few hours in, but it definitely scratches that CRPG itch.

A WipEout animated series, Edgerunners style, would be incredible.

@themightyant I picked up Cult of the Lamb and started it a couple of days ago - highly recommended. Describing it as a Hades/Animal Crossing hybrid doesn't do it justice.

Pretty sure Rollerdrome runs at 120fps, but not on the list?

I think SkillUp summed the top two up best (for me anyway) when he said Elden Ring was the game this year he admired the most, Ragnarok was the game this year he enjoyed the most. As influential as Elden Ring will be for years to come I simply didn't enjoy it as much as this masterpiece. Now, just Gna and a certain King to go...

A rare four days off in a row and I'm sitting here looking at my 'Want to Play' list slightly paralysed tbh!

I just picked up the platinum for Toem - a lovely short experience if anyone out there needs a palate cleanser.

Now I'm looking at the chunkier games on my list like Death Stranding, Cyberpunk, Pillars of Eternity II... but then I also have Death's Door, Tunic, Cult of the Lamb, Rollerdrome and Olli Olli World at the other end of the list. HELP!

@Old-Red It is, because he did... but thanks for your input.

Fell off just before the Fire Giant after putting in 120 hours. May go back, may not. My 15yo son platinum'd it in under 60 hours (without cheesing the endings) and teases me constantly...

My upset at the impending exclusion of GT7 from the PushSquare Top 10 is real...

As for HFW - an exceptional achievement from Guerrilla that iterated and improved on every aspect of the original for me.

@LiamCroft I imagine that's where GT7 will make its appearance. Much loved by the community.

On one of the spoilercasts he took part in Eric Williams (the game director) said that the writers worked really hard on mirroring and contrasting characters in the narrative. It's something I loved in particular about the game, watching the Kratos/Atreus dynamic versus the same for Thor/Thrud. Absolutely masterful writing, brought to life by great casting and performances - including Mina/Thrud.

Nice to see a realistic appraisal of Elden Ring as the extraordinary game it is, with very obvious shortcomings - particularly the repetition. I loved my time with it (although I fell off at the Fire Giant as the game became a more linear experience) but having to fight the same stone cat with a giant 5FPS sword over and over at the end of various dungeons... not so much love there!

And now I'm off to buy Neon White.

An incredible game when you're in the moment, gameplay and atmosphere combine to make this a truly special experience.

@CWill97 Agree completely, some great games highlighted that are now on my list. Interest in Mount & Blade II officially piqued! I hope that once all the lists are out the PS team put them on one page for ease of reference/comparison.

At the in-laws for Christmas and away from my PS5 backlog unfortunately - but it is giving me chance to reconnect with my Switch. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Hades this weekend for me.

@nessisonett Same feeling, I have 72 games on my ‘Want To Play’ list (backlog is such a negative word!) and I’ve only completed 14 games this year. Hyped for the 2027 sale on that basis.

I’d like to see a comparison to the SCUF equivalent, particularly battery life, before making a decision on this. Prices are comparable, SCUF gets additional paddles etc.

Looking forward to this, it's always massive - I've been stocking up on a few discounted PS Store Gift Cards so I've got a healthy balance going in.