astro911

Unbelievable… you pay extra for early access and not only does it not work but you also have to pay for a micro transaction as a workaround to get licence issue fixed? Sony should offer a partial refund to those affected at the very least…

I really enjoyed my time with Trek to Yomi. Definitely need to play through it again. Can’t believe it’s already been over a year since it came out…

After contemplating putting it on hold Death Stranding has finally got its claws into me and won me over. Would love to stay and chat everyone but I have to move some cargo and meet up with Fragile at the distribution centre south of Lake Knot City. 😉

@RaZieLDaNtE Thanks very much for taking the time to explain the basics to me. 😊 I think I’ll stick with it but don’t feel compelled to jump straight back in. I think it will scratch the itch when I feel like something different but not too intense (aside from getting caught by the BT!).

Aside from Death Stranding, I’ve been making my way through They Always Run. It’s a very cool cyberpunk/western themed action platformer where you play as a bounty hunter. Very much recommended to anyone who enjoyed Dex but wants something a bit more fast-paced. 😉

@Mgene15 I just got to Port Knot City. Might put it down and play something else for a bit before going back to it for another go.

I’ve started Death Stranding and I’m several hours in now. The opening hour was fantastic and really pulled me in but the great pacing dropped off and it’s all a bit tedious now. Carry goods, avoid BTs and Mules, bring another location online, get a pat on the back and improve your social rating, have a bit more backstory explained, spend some time resting in the private room. Is that pretty much it or does it get better? Or is this game simply not for me? 😅

Always wanted this back in the day on my Saturn but could never find a local copy. Ended up playing the demo for Disney’s Hercules on the PSOne countless times instead (pretty sure I own the digital classic copy on the PS3/Vita, too). 😉

I’m just delighted to see Dead Island 2 still in the top ten!

Just finished the main story of Dead Island 2! Hats off to Dambuster Studios for making such a solid, enjoyable game. Going to spend some time doing some side quests to mop up a few more trophies.

Dead Island 2, baby! It’s pretty much what I was hoping for and I’m more than satisfied with what I’ve played so far. I bought a copy of the Hell-A Edition for both the PS4 and PS5, and plan to give the latter as a present to a mate who got me into the series since the PS4 version comes with a free upgrade. I will probably get a digital copy down the line when it’s on sale to further show my support. I’m so grateful this game exists after 10 years of development hell!

@Link41x Nice! Respect you for going back for more. 😎👍

@ApostateMage Yeah it’s definitely an amazing game, warts and all. I’m looking forward to getting the platinum all over again! Enjoy your time in NC. 😝

@Link41x Good luck with the final stages of Hitman Go. You’ll have to play it again on the Vita so you get the trophies. 😉

@ApostateMage 6th!? 😳 I take it you played it all the way through the PS4 version more than once before transitioning to the native PS5 version? 😝

@Mintie I’m very sorry for your loss but I’m glad you’re able to honour and pay tribute to your friend through gaming.

Enjoying my run as a Corpo in Cyberpunk on the PS5 in anticipation for the Phantom Liberty expansion. With Dead Island 2 only a week away I’m not in the mood to start anything new in the backlog. 😉

PSVR2 certainly has its work cut out for it. Even if you are fortunate enough to be able to afford it in a tough global economy you have to ask yourself if you can justify the purchase. I certainly can't at this point in time given the size of my current backlog and my previous experience with PSVR. I know I would be infatuated with the VR2 for a short period of time but then go back to playing other games and the unit would just gather dust and take up room in my apartment. I hope I can pick one up in a few years when it is much cheaper and has a selection of games I actually want to play on it. By that time the system may already be dead. So be it. That's Sony's problem to figure out, not mine.

Playing Twelve minutes on the PS4 again, and again, and again… 😉

Just finished Dead Island Riptide so I’m all ready for DI2 next month. Going to turn my attention to Battlefield: Bad Company next since I’ve never played it and they’re delisting it next month.

In anticipation for Dead Island 2 I recently finished Escape from Dead Island and have now started Dead Island Riptide! Hopefully I will have finished it by the time the much anticipated sequel comes out. 😉

It’s a bit early for April Fools’ Day, isn’t it? Of all the things PlayStation could’ve done with controllers and console covers and they choose this?

All the excitement about the rerelease of Goldeneye has been the perfect excuse for me to pull Goldeneye: Reloaded out of my backlog for the PS3. I just finished the first mission - I wouldn’t stay it has held up particularly well but it seems entertaining enough. Other than that I’ll be back to playing more of Wet.

I’m playing Wet on the PS3! Looking at the trophies I’m about half way through and really enjoying my time with it. Should finish it before the game that inspired me to play it, Wanted: Dead comes out next month.

@F1at8mot0 I agree with everything you said, especially about playing games rather than watching some pretty story unfold. To be honest my backlog across PS3, PS4 and Vita will last me a lifetime so maybe it’s a blessing in disguise there aren’t so many titles coming out to add to the pile.

Off the top of my head these are the six I’m most looking forward to in order of release dates:

1. Wanted: Dead
2. Dead Island 2
3. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
4. Stellar Blade
5. The Wolf Among Us 2
6. Rise of the Ronin (2024)

All I will say is thank god for second and third parties! In my opinion Sony are victims of their own success and playing it way too safe with their studio output these days. Everything feels so generic, formulaic and predictable now. Not interested in yet another Marvel, Last of Us, Horizon, GT or GOW game.

Am I the only one who would much rather experience Ragnorok in Valkyrie Elysium as opposed to playing GOWR?

As a 38 year old I think I’m craving more original and unique experiences. Returnal convinced me that next-gen had arrived and pushed me to upgrade to a PS5. I feel that Sony’s first party games are extremely well-polished but not offering anything new. I don’t blame them for what they’re doing as the figures don’t lie and the majority of the market is happy to lap up more of the same.

Be that as it may I really miss the PS3 and PS4 era where Sony tried different things on smaller budgets via Japan Studio including the likes of Tokyo Jungle, Gravity Rush, and Everybody’s Golf. Hopefully Sony have something novel up their sleeve. I will credit them for making Stellar Blade and Rise of the Ronin console exclusive.

I’m also tempted to try PSVR2 in a few years when the price and games available are lot more appealing. In the meantime, very grateful to third parties and indies for keeping me satiated!

Just got the platinum trophy for the PS4 version of Cyberpunk. Promptly installed the native PS5 version to see what the improvements are like. 😂 I have so many other things to play in my backlog but I plan to make my way through the story again very slowly in the lead up to the expansion coming out next year.

I wonder if PlayStation were waiting to see how TLOU Part 1 sold before giving this project the green light?

It's becoming clear that PlayStation is trying to build various IP into their own little ecosystems. Games are being re-released to coincide with the launch of any related movie/TV show/streaming series.

I wouldn't be surprised if PlayStation eventually try to turn Destiny into Star Wars with all the associated spin-off series and merchandise. As with live-service games, the potential for additional streams of revenue is huge!

As an older gamer who prefers single player experiences, I am not a fan of PlayStation's current trajectory. However, from a business perspective I can hardly blame them for the path they've chosen. At least they've tried to placate me by securing Stellar Blade and Rise of the Ronin as console exclusives.

I just finished watching it. Being limited to 10 episodes means it felt rushed in places and prevents you from learning more about some characters or developing any kind of real connection with them. Having said that, I really appreciated their attention to detail and being faithful to the source material. I found myself smiling whenever I recognised a location or song from the game, and was fascinated by the choice of songs from the soundtrack and the scenes they used them in. Overall it exceeded my expectations and would give it a solid 8/10. I highly recommended The Ghost in the Shell series to anyone who enjoyed Edgerunners. Ghost in the Shell and Cowboy Bebop are pretty much the only other anime series I can still watch these days without feeling like I’ve outgrown the medium.

On the PS3 I’ve recently started Army of Two: The 40th Day and liking what I’ve played so far.

On the PS4 I’ve started playing Carrion and I’m absolutely loving it! It is everything I hoped it would be from the trailer.

On the PS5 I’ve been playing the Valkyrie Elysium demo. I love my hack n slash games and it’s better than I thought it would be. The music is fantastic, too! May not be enough to tempt me day one but I’ll definitely pick it up sooner or later.

@XandertheWise Nice! I played it for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. Have to get around to playing the second game on of these days...

@gollumb82 Cheers mate! That's a great set of games to start again with. There are so many gems in the PS3 catalogue waiting to be played, but like you it's a matter of finding the time to play them!

I’m on a huge PS3 binge and neglecting the PS4/5 at the moment. Just finished the original Dead Island tonight! Have the DLC and Riptide ahead of me now before the sequel lands in Feb next year. Over the moon that it’s still coming out! Have bought the Definitive edition on the PS4 in the recent sale but don’t know when I’ll get round to it haha.

I read Army of Two servers are closing down next month so I want to try out the online for 40th Day and Devil’s Cartel while I have the chance. My backlog on my PS3 is huge and the order in which I play games had largely been dictated by announcements that the servers for certain games are being switched off!

@Atreus97 Couldn't agree more! Recently upgraded my PS Plus subscription to try out Returnal. Wow, playing this with the Dualsense and Pulse headphones really makes me feel that the next gen has arrived. Absolutely loving it!

I have also just started playing Driver: San Francisco and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier on the PS3. They have been sitting in my backlog of shame but Ubisoft's announcement about closing the online servers has given me the impetus to try them out. Have been pleasantly surprised by both of them so far and look forward to playing them more.

Was this the title that has been in development for years and was originally being made for the Vita?

@Mezzer I'm nearly 38 and I've gone through patches where I don't feel like playing much and nothing seems to grab me. I think as we get older and gain more experience things feel far less "new" and more of the same, hence it takes a lot more to grab and hold our attention. So it's completely understandable that things have felt more and more repetitive to you over the past few years. Personally speaking I feel that I have far more unique experiences waiting for me in my huge backlog compared to new releases on any platform despite the better framerates, particle effects, graphics and load times etc.

The good thing is you have other things in your life including work, family and the outdoors to keep you grounded and give you balance. But I'm sure something will eventually come along that piques your interest and helps ignite the fire to play games again. For me recently it was Astro's Playroom and now I'm really looking forward to Stray later this month for something novel and different!

@Luigia Cheers! I often forget and have to remind myself.

@Luigia Yeah it was an absolute blast and as you say a fantastic showcase for the Dualsense! Astrobot is a adorable and I’m looking forward to Team Asobi’s next project.

I was playing TMNT on my friend’s Series X via Gamepass so I plan to pick it up on PlayStation and replay once it goes on sale.

Started Ghostrunner tonight from my PS Plus backlog of PS5 games. I’m really loving the setting but I think this game is going to make me rage quit haha. I just don’t have the patience anymore for so much trial and error. I play games to have fun, not to get frustrated. 😂 Definitely feels like one of those games that favours a mouse and keyboard setup.

It’s been an eventful weekend so far! On Friday the adaptive triggers in my Dualsense went bust after just a week and a half of owning my PS5

I took it into the store and they replaced it with the galactic purple model. Hopefully I will be okay moving forward but it was a bit of a shock considering I’ve never had a problem with any of my DS3 or DS4 controllers.

Finished the lovely puzzle game Expand (great soundtrack, too!) and got the platinum on Astro’s Playroom yesterday afternoon. Last night I played some TMNT for the first time at my mate’s place - they’ve done a fantastic job with that game! Brought back so many memories of playing TMNT on the Super Nintendo all those years ago…

My weekend has been spent navigating my way around my new PS5! I unexpectedly got my hands on it earlier this week when one of my local stores managed to get four of them packaged with H:FW on pre-order and I just happened to walk in at the right time.

I wasn't planning on getting a PS5 for another year or two due to being content with my Pro but I decided to bite the bullet while I can still make a decent sum selling off my OG PS4 on eBay which had been my secondary unit in the other room.

So far I'm very impressed with the Dualsense controller. It definitely feels premium and I'm loving the haptic feedback. Astro's Playroom has been an absolute joy to play and a real nostalgia trip! The short load times are also most welcome. Missing the quick menu, themes and folders from the PS4, though!

I was up until late last night playing 4v4 in Rocket League with my mates. Just like old times! I have also been making my way through the indie game Liberated which has a lot of charm with it's comic book style but needed more time in the oven to improve the gameplay.

On the PS3 I have been playing Shadows of the Damned. I'm a big fan of Suda51 and really enjoying this! Just about to start Act 5 so not too long to go now...

I really do miss the scale and spectacle of a big show like E3. I'm very grateful that I managed to go to Tokyo Game Show four years in a row when I lived in Japan. Watching a presentation stream is efficient and economical in the digital age but nothing beats people coming together and enjoying a special moment. Watching a live stream with a popular streamer and other fans making comments helps but is still no substitute for the real thing.

I appreciate what Keighley does for the industry and for organising these shows but I can't warm to him as a personality and really wish there were more people involved in presenting these kind of big events.

@gollumb82 Thanks mate! I was exactly the same as you when I played the original back in 2013 - I could barely put it down and part of me felt empty when it was all over. Up until then I don't think a game had ever had such an emotional impact on me.
To be honest I'm a bit of a wimp and usually avoid games with jump scares or horror like the plague! However, the human drama and gameplay in this series is just so engaging that I can't help but feel compelled to play and push through. Naughty Dog truly are on another level and I'm so grateful that this sequel exists. Can't wait for the TV series and will gladly buy the remake of the first game in a heartbeat if the rumours are indeed true!

Currently addicted to The Last of Us Part II having just completed the remaster of the original. I'm now playing as Abby. What a game!

Hopefully we will see a release date for Stray considering it was meant to come out earlier this year.

Interesting to see the physical copy of Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong still hasn't gone on sale in the US when it released earlier this month...

9/15, and that's including a couple of guesses. :/

@Storytime7 I did the same thing last week! I finished the game nine years ago on my friend's PS3 while housesitting for him but wanted to complete the remaster on my PSN account. Started it back in 2018 but stopped halfway through. Reinstalled the game and before I knew it I was hooked again! Looking forward to playing the DLC for the first time before finally moving on to Part II.

Finished Vampire The Masquerade: Swansong this weekend. I initially had buyer's remorse for pre-ordering but the characters grew on me and I became more invested in the story as it progressed. I'm looking forward to going back to approach some of the scenarios from different angles and mop up some more of the trophies!

@gollumb82 I'm not into battle royale games at all but the VtM franchise and setting in Prague has really piqued my interest!

@gollumb82
No worries! The New York visual novels really got me interested in the franchise which is why I decided to take the plunge on the Primogen edition of Swansong. Definitely worth waiting for 30% off or more before jumping in. Like you I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for Bloodlines 2! I'm actually somewhat tempted to upgrade my Pro to a PS5 just to play Bloodhunt haha...