Oxy

So it’s GTA without the satire, political commentary, violence, cursing, hookers, drugs, single player campaign or any semblance of realistic graphics. Plus gacha.
Sounds marvelous.

I’ve played all of these except Metaphor (which is standing on my shelf, part of the ever growing backlog) and for me nothing beats Erdtree. Definitely the best DLC ever.
A strong second is Astro Bot. Gave me flashbacks to waving the Wiimote around in Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 back in the day.
FFVII:Rebirth was fun but for me it doesn’t belong in the top 5, maybe top 10 if I’m being nice. Too many minigames and too much running after map icons à la Ubisoft. I would place games like Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Silent Hill 2 Remake higher than FFVII:Rebirth

The big surprise for me was not seeing any Nintendo titles in the top 5. They usually subscribe to at least one position in the top and they did release a Zelda game this year (still on my shelf…). But I guess they’re gearing up for the Switch 2 release and are saving their big guns for then

I’m all for smaller games as long as there is a physical edition. I preordered Banishers but Slitterhead is only available as an expensive import and Path of the Godess is digital only. I vote with my wallet, give me a nice box for my shelf and I’ll buy any smaller, experimental game (as long as they’re good….)

So is the in-game music actually uncensored hip hop? Or is it just butchered lyrics with a beat for the tween crowd?

No one loves a deep and massive RPG more than me. Unfortunately, that does not include MMO:s, live service, gacha or any such crap.
I’ll take my role playing fix single player, thank you.
And my backlog is bursting: Baldurs Gate 3 (had to wait for the physical…), Metaphor ReFantazio, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Eiyuden Hundred Heroes, Sand Land, Unicorn Overlord plus a metric ton of Legend of Heroes and Yakuza games.
I could go on but I don’t want to bore you. In conclusion: no New World for me, I’ll stick to the old one.

Horror game without a trusty shotgun?
No thanks.

Count me in, been holding out for this one. And with a backlog as big as mine it’s not like a couple of months waiting actually matter.
Hell, I still have both Baldurs Gate 3 and Tears of the Kingdom left to enjoy. And I play for at least 15-20hours/week so it’s not like I’m not trying to decrease my backlog.
I guess the conclusion is: I buy too many games… (100% physical!)

I’m on backlog cleaning duty, currently playing through Stellar Blade which is an absolute banger. Great combat and top notch sound and graphics. The exploration usually does the trick even though some of the open areas can feel a bit empty sometimes. I’m about to arrive at the orbital elevator, just gotta clear out these pesky anti aircraft monsters first

Played this when it came out, still have it in my collection. Not interested in the remake, the game is not that good. It’s a decent platformer with some very light rpg style side quests.
Back when it came out it was overshadowed by Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2

Not including a disc drive when the format has played a huge part in PlayStation’s success is downright disrespectful to its legacy

@Northern_munkey While it’s true that Apple Corps as a whole was a financial disaster, it consisted of many different companies (Apple Films, Apple Electronics, Apple Boutique and so on)
Of these companies Apple Records was by far the most successful. Not only did they publish all of the Beatles music, they also found many other successful artists. If my memory serves me right they were actually the most successful “indie” record label ever (at the time)
So while comparing Gearbox to Apple Corps is not very kind to gearbox, comparing them to Apple Records is madness.
Sorry for my Beatles nerdiness. I just finished “Can’t Buy Me Love”, a fantastic Beatles biography..,

I was never disappointed in Dark Souls 2. It’s not my favorite Fromsoft game but I really enjoyed it when it came out and still play it from time to time.
It also had solid DLC, in my opinion the best in the Dark Souls trilogy.

Ohh, I’m getting heavy Super Mario Galaxy vibes from this. If Asobo pulls this off I don’t care if they’re influenced by Nintendo, this could be one of the year’s best.
Erdtree and Astro Bot, here’s to 2024!

No physical=no play

First Darkest Dungeon 2, now Flintlock. These “Mini Reviews” are more like blurbs and they’re being applied to games that deserve better. Maybe games in the $10-20 range instead of AA games with (in Flintlock’s case) a physical edition could be given this treatment.
Or better yet, all these F2P gacha and hero shooters. They never seem very popular in the comments, slap a “Mini Review” on them and be done with it!
Or maybe I’m just a grumpy old man and this is what the kids want…

@IamJT Well, I mentioned the word “shame” one time but I see what you mean. So nudity without “context” is wasted on you? For me, context can be something as simple as a character taking a bath or two characters having sex. That is something most people do naked in real life. An immersive/realistic movie or game will show those people naked. What really points to the artifice of the movie/game is cutting away or strategically blocking breasts or genitalia to shield our sensitive minds. It just feels fake.
And what I can’t understand is people being totally okay with violence for violences sake. I’m just guessing here but probably over 90% of games (I’m including cartoon violence) contain characters inflicting violence on other characters, often with the flimsiest pretext: “you are good, that bear is evil, kill it” So, is violence for violence sake wasted on you? Is it boring? Because if it is, your selection of games is severely limited…
And do you really need to “care” about the characters to enjoy something. I enjoy JRPGs but do I care about the characters, hell no. Same thing with Mario/Zelda. Love the games, don’t really care if Mario gets immolated for the 40th time.
Side note: I’m more into 60s and 70s Bergman: Persona, Cries and Whispers etc. As a Swede, the way the actors talk in earlier Bergman can be a bit theatrical which immediately makes me think of a particular kind of really bad screwball comedies (Åsa-Nisse). Its just a personal hang-up, I do still enjoy Summer with Monika but I don’t consider it essential.

@IamJT Oh, you can’t compare them? Of course you can. There are no “rules” in film criticism or film theory saying you can’t compare x to y.
Anyway, I wasn’t really comparing them and it’s not my intent to start a Bergman vs Meyer debate.
But I will say that when “Sommaren med Monika” was released the cries for censorship and bans were just as loud as they were for GoT. And “Summer with Monika” was, of course, marketed as an exploitation flick in the US. The line between “exploitation” and “art” is in the eye of the beholder.
And let’s not kid ourselves, the movie is hardly one of Bergmans best and the reason the movie did well at the time had much to do with the nudity.
So we have a minor Bergman vs a show that is often included in lists of the best shows ever. Both used sex and nudity to become known worldwide. So they have that in common, if not much more…
And just as I didn’t look away from the screen in shame when Harriet Andersson frolicked across the rocky beach in SwM, I took in every brothel scene in GoT without embarrassment. And just as I enjoy "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!", I’m sure I’ll enjoy every second of nudity in Dragon Age, exploitative or not.

My god, all these commenters trying to show themselves as “mature” by talking about “directorial intent” and “mature writing”. I also took “Film 101” at university, I know what you mean, but come on. Your emotions feel exploited if you happen to see a breast in “Revenge of the Nerds”? And, of course, let’s harp on Game of Thrones because that hasn’t been done to death… I barely batted an eyelid over all the so called “sexposition” but a very vocal group of people reacted as if the world was ending. Even though the show was on HBO, nudity was kind of expected.
I mean, I really can’t imagine actually being embarrassed by nudity on screen. Well, unless you’re 12 years old and playing/watching with your mother present.
Nudity is fantastic, an integral part of human existence. Personally, I want more nudity in most movies/series/video games for adults. It can be fantastic for immersion, nuance, depth and character development.
And sometimes a breast is just a breast, a dong is just a dong. No reason to get your knickers in a twist, not all nudity needs to be supported 100% by fancy scripts or be in good taste. You know, exploitation cinema has some stone cold classics. And just because you dig Russ Meyer doesn’t mean you can’t dig Bergman, Von Trier or Scorsese (all directors who like a bit of nudity….)

Sure, if a physical edition comes along I’ll bite.

Erdtree! Erdtree! Erdtree!

@Tchunga Well, now we’re cooking! These are opinions I can respect, well reasoned and obviously coming from a place of love for the genre. Now, obviously, I don’t agree 100% but you do make some valid points. Before I try to counter let me just state why most of these points applies less to me personally. You see, I’m pretty OCD when it comes to my gaming. Basically I play my open world games pretty “linearly”. In Elden Ring I started by doing every single thing in the first area, then followed the “yellow arrows” pretty slavishly throughout the campaign. The first thing my friend did was make a beeline for Caelid. He got slaughtered but he got a real shiny weapon for his troubles. And while I didn’t move on to the next area until clearing every single dungeon, beating every boss and finding every item (well…) my friend happily moved along after doing maybe half.
What I’m trying to say is, while you bring up important points, some of them applies less to me than they do to my friend, for example.
Also, it was not my meaning to call your criticism of the quest system “silly”. What I did find a bit silly was your “settlement rule”. So that’s on me, sorry.
Anyways, on to your criticisms:
1. Well, first off, isn’t this a universal dilemma for open world games? Sure, it might be more noticeable when the previous 4-6 games have been linear affairs. Some RPGs solve this by scaling enemies to your level, something I detest. And isn’t the fact that you can set off in any direction, nab a weapon, see some sights and then get absolutely slaughtered one of the charms of Elden Ring in particular and open world RPGs in general? I mean, even BotW, was lauded for the fact you could go anywhere and both enemies and the climate could put you in an early grave. So, yes, you can end up steamrolled by deviating from the path in Elden Ring but I think it’s something that comes with all open world games.
The other problem you mention, players steamrolling the opposition, is this really a thing? It’s just not something I’ve heard many complaints about.
2. Point conceded. This could be a hassle, at least initially. And not because I really NEEDED a +7 instead of my +6. It was more of an itch to scratch. So off I went to Reddit. It should be noted though, mid to late game this wasn’t a big problem, mostly because you could buy missing Smithing Stones at the round table. And at the end of the game I was bathing in stones
3. Was it always down the line though? I seem to recall having to visit places you already been to multiple times. Anyway, I see your point, it can get unwieldy in an open world. Look, I’m ancient. I grew up with the gold box D&D games, Might & Magic, Wizardry 6 and a host of other RPGs where the only way to map out an area or solve quests was by having pen and paper nearby. Add to that years of obscure Fromsoft quests and I actually managed Elden Rings quests pretty OK. Still had to consult the net for a handful but I needed some help in the previous soulsborne games as well.

In closing, you seem to have enjoyed the previous soulsbornes and felt like Elden Ring took the series off the rails. It simply doesn’t work for you. For me, Elden Ring was just MORE of the same drug I’ve been mainlining for years. Sure, it has some balancing issues and maybe every system isn’t pure perfection but it is one of my all time favorites.

And we both really like BotW!

Games are art. And it is strictly up to the artist(s) how he presents his work to the world.
I applaud Miyazaki for holding firm in a gaming landscape that often goes for the lowest common denominator.
It’s not like there’s a lack of easy games on the market. Would I lower the difficulty after the 50th try against some sadistic boss if it were possible? Sure, the temptation would be strong. But it would also ruin that wonderful sense of accomplishment you get in Fromsoft games.
So, no difficulty options for me, please.

@Tchunga Dude, I said I adored BotW and called it a masterclass in open world design while criticizing it for simplistic quest design (something every Zelda game is guilty of). All you have done is heap scorn over Elden Ring, mostly about silly things. Sure, Elden Ring could’ve used some kind of Ubisoft quest tracker. I personally think that would have removed some of the Fromsoft charm, just like implementing soulslike quests in Zelda would be weird.
Did I use a guide? Sure, for maybe 3-4 quests. The rest I used my phones Notes app or they “solved themselves” while progressing.
Your thing about settlements is just weird. Like there is some kind of open world rule about this stuff. Like @Mythologue said, there are a bunch of settlements in Elden Ring. And they are just like settlements in every single Fromsoft soulslike. Obviously, you seem to hate it, I have zero issues with it.
The souls formula doesn’t work in an open world? Critics, and the internet, seem to disagree.

@Daleaf Yeah, he was a real drag. I gave it 5-10 tries but the fact that you have to beat that easy pre-boss dude every single time and then the Beast itself being so boring, I threw in the towel before trying summoning another human.
Basically, for me, Elden Ring is definitely more about the journey than the destination. I could rest easy without watching that final cutscene knowing that I did 95% of the content previously.

@Tchunga NPCs in Elden Ring actually give you tricky quests unlike BotW where 90% of NPCs just repeat inane dialogue and the other 10% give you simple fetch quests…
Yes, this is an exaggeration. I mean, you can actually “build” a town in BotW but in general NPC questlines are better in Elden Ring.
I have no idea why you got all defensive over my first post. I love both games dearly. It’s not a competition, they are both masterclasses in open world design. For me personally, Elden Ring takes the crown but the margins are razor thin. Obviously you like BotW more which I totally understand. You do you.

Already started!
I have over 300h in Elden Ring without actually beating it. I basically did everything in the game, then got frustrated on the last boss and moved on to the next game. So the DLC is perfect for me, not even Breath of the Wild can beat the sheer variety and scale of Elden Ring.

Since Elden Ring is a game stuffed to the gills with variety, “more of the same” is just what the doctor ordered.
Compare to Burning Shores which was a poster child of samey content and stale gameplay. Sure, Forbidden West was a pretty good game but the difference, compared to Elden Ring, is that after 200h of H:FW the last thing you want is an expansion. After 200h of Elden Ring I was begging for an expansion.

Game seems amazing and would normally be a pre-order/day 1 for me. But because of the joke that is the physical edition I’ll wait. Code in a box? No, thanks. Hopefully they really are working hard on the disc version so we don’t have to wait another year for it.

Already pre-ordered, my faith in soulslikes is absolute.
Of course, Black Myth Wukong looks even better but the lack of a proper physical edition means it’s going on the wait pile

Both this and Slitterhead dropping soon. Let the fall of the AA survival horror commence!
Fingers crossed for physical editions

Let us hope for a physical edition. This is right up my alley. Survival horror, flashbacks to Siren and a touch of soulslikes.
Hopefully the jank can be kept under control. This kind of close quarters combat requires stability and a fine touch.

Yeah, real diverse…
4 out of those 5 games are gacha/f2p. It’s so depressing

I still haven’t started MH World, it’s in my backlog. Last Monster Hunter I played was Tri on the Wii. I usually despise online multiplayer but the MH series has always been welcoming of single player campaigns.

But, like I said, I still have MH World plus MH Rise just standing in my shelf. It’s something about the 300h+ campaigns, every time I’m thinking of starting a new game I start to ponder “hmm, maybe those 300h could be better spent in Elden Ring or Baldurs Gate 3 or Xenoblade Chronicles or whatever RPG/soulslike is currently doing the rounds”

Maybe Wilds will be the Monster Hunter game for me!

WTF!
“Whether you’re in the meadow, frolicking among the flowers…” This is golden, hilarious!

So this is Pokémon Snap for tween girls? Not for me but at least it was the most unexpected trailer in this State of Play.

Alright, I’m off to frolick in some flowers

Love soulslikes, love RPGs. This is day 1, whenever that may be. And I do expect a physical edition, otherwise no dice

And please axe the difficulty options…

I’m not expecting Capcom quality but I do expect it to be better than the horrid PS3 HD Collection.
I’ve actually never played the original. It came out during a period in my life where partying, living abroad and student life in general led to a pause in my gaming (yes, I’m old).
So my first impression of this game was the PS3 “remaster”, far from ideal. Looking forward to experiencing this version, jank be damned…

I actually get Super Mario Odyssey vibes from this! And if Astro can get within spitting distance of that holy grail it will indeed be an experience to savor.
I actually liked Sackboy A Big Adventure but it never came close to the best Mario outings. So far Astro gives me hope that Asobi can indeed recreate some of that Nintendo magic.
My standard fare consists of RPGs and soulslikes but I can never say no to an epic, cartoony, platformer adventure!

Yeah, this list looks about right. Except I didn’t think Dynasty Warriors Origins would be so high up. Always thought it was a pretty middling series but apparently it’s more popular than Silent Hill 2. At least on this pretty unscientific list…

@Fyz306903 Even though the gaming landscape is different I think you’ll be happy with your PS5. I know I am. A lot of the great PS4 titles have received PS5 updates and it is a great machine. Plus, there is a bunch of great exclusives.

@Blaze215 This.

Those characters and their “banter” might appeal to a certain zoomer/influencer segment but to a more discerning crowd they really are horrible. It’s painful to watch, forced “humor” at its worst.

Astrobot was great, gave me Nintendo vibes.

Monster Hunter Wilds and Silent Hill 2 are both games I’ll pick up but by now they’re not really exciting new announcements…

Where Winds Meet could be good but it was another CG trailer with zero gameplay so I’ll have to reserve judgement.

The rest was a horrid mix of free-to-play, multiplayer shooters and bland titles.

Sony seems desperate to appeal to the live service crowd. This, combined with fewer games getting physical releases, paints a bleak future.

Personally, my backlog is huge, and the slow drip of RPGs and soulslikes keeps me sustained but there is no longer the breadth of titles available as there was during the PS4 era.

At least my wallet is happier (despite the price increases)

So much garbage “free-to-play” and soulless live service/PvP

Astro, Silent Hill 2 and Monster Hunter were saving graces. Where Winds Meet could be good but have to see more.

Biggest disappointment: Ballad of Antara. Cool trailer, then turns out to be another gacha

For a second there I hoped for a great soulslike. Turns out it’s another “free-to-play” slot machine

Moving on…

Fortunately we live in an era where “kids” are not representative of gamers. All this survey tells me is that US kids have bad taste and a distinct lack of imagination.

What a surprise! The world’s most hated and inept CEO, David Zaslav, is aiming for more live service games.
This is the guy who made his fortune on the worst kind of reality TV trash. Who single-handedly drove HBO into the ground and renamed it Max.
This guy is allergic to quality content, doesn’t matter if it’s movies, series or games.

I’ve received both Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Wonder but they’ll have to wait. I’m knee deep in Lords of the Fallen and I only play one game at a time.
I reckon I can start my next game in 1-2 weeks. It’s been a crazy year and I haven’t even started Zelda: TOTK or Armored Core 6… I need more time!

Sony just had to go there. It wasn’t enough making some of the best single player experiences in the business, selling millions and winning GOTY awards by the bucketload.
Oh no, they had to go for multiplayer and live service. And not only that, they had to force their award winning, single player focused studios into churning out “live service”, instead of leaving it for Bungie and other lesser studios. Probably in order to milk every IP to the limit.
Well, here’s the predictable result. Studios in disarray and millions down the drain.

Good riddance. Naughty Dog should focus on their amazing single player experiences.

This looks utterly amazing, it’s been on my radar for a long time. I have it preordered, just hope I’ll finish Lies of P before this releases.

They’re capable of offering players a choice between Quality and Performance but giving players a choice between a physical or digital edition is somehow too hard…
Bravo, Remedy and Epic. Bravo.