Comments 270

Re: Marvel's Avengers Is Dirt Cheap Ahead of Getting Thanos Snapped Later This Month

michaelf

The single-player campaign and the DLC are generally worth playing, especially if you can buy it for a fiver. The game has plenty of 'same thing again' moments, from destroying big baddies to loot n shoot type cycles, but there's also plenty of other games that do that too.

It's not the best game since sliced bread, but it's hardly the worst game in existence and as I paid £17 for the disc version, and happy with it, £4.49 in my eyes is absolutely worth it.

Re: Secret PS5 Firmware Update Feature Spotlights Your Wall of Shame

michaelf

Just checked mine; all small fry compared to most peoples here! And all firmly from the PS4 era too:

1. Days Gone - 138 hrs;
2. Batman: Arkham Knight - 117 hours;
3. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth - 110 hours.

The only other 100+ hour game is Assassin’s Creed: Unity at 102 hours. I haven’t played any of the later AC games, so I’m sure this will change when I do!

The longest PS5 game is Gotham Knights at 54 hours!

Re: Baldur's Gate 3 (PS5) - One of the Greatest RPGs of Our Time

michaelf

@Savage_Joe sounds like a you problem to me. Game will be purchased on PS5, knowing the limitations and restrictions of said hardware. I understand that chapter 3 on PC has had some performance issues, due to be resolved by patching. That may or may not assist with the PS5 version, but if it does; wonderful. If it doesn’t and it’s not game-breaking, I’ll deal with it. It’s kinda what you have to do, knowing in advance what your hardware limitations are

Re: Reminder: Last Chance to Stack PS Plus Subscriptions Before Price Rise

michaelf

I did this, this morning. Logically, it's a bit silly for me though. I'm on Essential tier and a long-standing Plus subber covering PS3 - PS5 + Vita machines, all of which I still use. So effectively for me, with the price increase, I'm paying £5 per month for access to a catalogue of over 250 games I've still not played, never mind those I have completed over the years and not including the games yet to be added to the service. This is in comparison to the £4.17 per month I have been paying.

So even with no new features or benefits, it's worth it for me, so I've locked in another 12 months. So see if I moan in November 2024 lol.

Re: PS Plus Essential Games for September 2023 Announced

michaelf

I’ve got the other Saints Rows from earlier PS+ monthly games, so I think I’ll give this one a miss. The other two seem average at best and I’m unlikely to be incentivised by an almost four year old MMO when Baldurs Gate 3 is out the day after this trio launches.

My sub runs out in Nov and I’ve had it since 2012, so I’m just going to think about whether I want to continue given Essential (my current tier) is going up another tenner next week.

Not a good way to “soften the price increase blow”, Sony.

However I’ve just reminded myself I can “cheat” the price rise by getting another years’ sub early so may just do that !

Re: Dead or Alive, You Should Watch This RoboCop: Rogue City PS5 Trailer

michaelf

Yes, it's not an AAA+ blockbuster, but tbh upon release, neither was the first RoboCop film - but it was super gory, clever and a schtick regarding the topics of the time.

This game seems to capture the elements that made the film great and I expect I'll buy on or close to release, as long as it's not stupidly priced or bugged to hell.

Re: PlayStation Portal Is Sony's PS5 Remote Play Handheld, Priced at $200 / £200

michaelf

As cool as this product looks, it's way too late for me. I bought a PS-branded Backbone controller in the last Prime Sale Day and that does the job on multiple levels; it serves the main function that this does via my phone or using as a controller on my laptop.

The biggest selling point for the PlayStation Portal for me is the haptics and rumble function, as the Backbone doesn't support that.

I can see this having a use, but it's very niche. And about £60 too expensive.

Re: Anthropomorphic Animal RPG Terra Memoria Embarks on PS5 Adventure 'Soon'

michaelf

I note your tongue in cheek reply

I choose to get my COD fix whenever they are included on PS+ Essential tier and only if they have a single player version and have an 8bit computer filter option applied to the graphics.

All supplied on a C90 tape (both sides used).

Whether Terra Memoria is worth £50 is yet to be determined. How it plays is more important than how it looks for me. But a pretty and playable game is clearly the first choice.

Re: Anthropomorphic Animal RPG Terra Memoria Embarks on PS5 Adventure 'Soon'

michaelf

@Neptunes I think you're missing the point here. People will buy whatever console they want, to play the games they want, irrespective of what you think.

Yes, you may feel that it's ludicrous to have purchased a high-value console just to play pixel art or graphically 'aged' games, but other people do not.

Your analogy about this game looking like a GBC game is also inaccurate; it looks better than that, but I also understand your attempt, which was to say that the game doesn't look advanced or sufficiently "4k enough" to be worthy of being on a PS5.

Or words to that effect.

Re: PS5's Remote Play Portable Appears to Leak Online

michaelf

Using my iPhone + PS-branded Backbone One controller seems to meet my requirements. The only restriction of that combo is the lack of dual sense haptics. Not sure about gyro moment as I’ve not tried any games that would benefit from that yet.

For this device to succeed, Sony need to make the experience seamless, better than anything the market currently offers and at a competitive price.

Oh and support it appropriately too.

Re: Strategy Series The Settlers Makes Its PlayStation Debut Today

michaelf

I also played to death the Amiga original back in the day. I've had a bit of a look at this on the PS Store and for a £50 game, I'm sighing that there's in-game currency available to purchase.

Yes, all optional but it does make me think why this is necessary outside of the obvious 'whale scalping' scenario.

Back on the 'wait for a deep sale price assuming it's good' list for this one.

Re: PS Plus Essential Games for July 2023 Leaked Early

michaelf

Sounds like a good month to me! Alan Wake is on my wish list; CoD appears to have a decent single player campaign, so I’m happy with that. The indie Endling game, from the cursory Googling I’ve done also appears to be good. So I’m going to say this is a win for me 😊

Re: PS Plus Essential Games for June 2023 Announced

michaelf

Looks like a good month, even if I have zero interest in basketball. I’ll nab Jurassic World 2 and Trek. I have the first Dino game for switch, so looking forward to trying the better version on the PS5. I have no idea about Trek but happy to try!

Worth the monthly fee (£4.17) especially as I added none of last months to my library

Re: Zool Redimensioned Brings Gremlin's 90s Ninja Icon to PS4

michaelf

Zool (definitely NOT a Ninja Ant!) was reasonably good; Zool 2 was the better game. Pity this doesn’t include both games in the one collection. I’d be tempted to get that, rather than just the first.

I do like the idea of ‘modernised gameplay’ though. Some 80’s and 90’s gaming elements just made things waaaay too tough for me then, never mind now!

Will this include the CGI rendered intro from the CD32 version? Probably not, but for nostalgia purposes would be sweet

Re: Talking Point: Would You Care About a PS5 Remote Play Handheld?

michaelf

I'm interested as I like gadgets, but from a practical point, no. I rarely used remote play on my Vita for PS4 games, although it was cool when I did (just hampered by the Vita not having L2/R2 buttons).

I do like the idea of streaming PS4/5 games in the living room when the tv is otherwise being used, but tbh I'd rather invest in the Backbone PS edition for my iPhone. It seems to fit the need for all the right buttons at least.

I wouldn't expect that the streaming element would be qualitatively improved on a dedicated device, as I think that there are too many third party factors involved in streaming?

Especially when you consider the experience outside of the home is going to be inconsistent and variable to stream PS5-quality assets and again, at the behest of the internet capacity and capabilities where you are.

Hmmmmm

Re: Marvel's Avengers PS5, PS4 Upgraded to Definitive Edition, Most Content Now Free

michaelf

As a Live Service game, it's well and truly dead. I enjoyed the demo I got on initial release and have kept an eye on this to see what happens. I can get the PS5 version on Amazon for £18.39, so for a single-player game, that's a decent price.

I'm not expecting God of War / Uncharted levels of AAA mastery, but people saying it's decent for solo player, I'll bite.

I'm also not paying the £44.99 the PS Store is asking for though!

UPDATE: succumbed and got it for £17.75 from Amazon

Re: Random: We Could've Wound Up with a British Kratos in God of War

michaelf

@Bricktop33 I can already hear Kratos / Danny Dyer saying "gert aaatta ma pab" (which I apologise to any Londoners reading that).

I've lost my quasi-Geordie accent that I had from childhood as I've lived in Yorkshire for 35 years. These days it's just 'northern'.

Now trying to think of a video game character that does have a Northern English accent ... hmmmmm

Re: Widespread PS3, PS Vita Issues Preventing Fans from Downloading Games

michaelf

tried this morning on my Vita when I read the article, just got the error message. I tried one game (Chronovault) five times. Turned it off, ensured was on full power, made sure the power save wifi option was OFF, rebooted about five mins ago and nah, still not letting me download anything.

Not good! Haven't tried the PS3 yet, that'll be next.

UPDATE: Same situation with the PS3. Good job I bought a replacement HD (maximum capacity size the machine would take) when the original 'we're closing the store' announcement was made. If this doesn't get fixed, then I have a specific, unchangeable set of games available for both PS3 and Vita.

Dontcha just love the digital world, ey?

Re: PS Plus Is Up to 85% Off for New Subscribers This Weekend

michaelf

I can upgrade to Extra for £15 for the rest of my sub (renews in November). That’s a really good deal and there’s plenty of games I’ve not played available.

My self-created problem is that I already have too many games I’ve not played across a number of formats, meaning it’s a wee bit pointless for me too get a sub for even more games when I barely have time to play those I’ve already got.

But otherwise a good deal.

Re: What Year Is It? There's a New PS3 Firmware Update Out Now

michaelf

@Nexozi I've had to result to third-party controllers as my official ones died some time ago. The one I am using is out of stock, but this one on amazon is similar and appears to have all the same functionality as an official DualShock 3 ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PNHFD22/?coliid=I38JHRXN4JTOU1&colid=258O2SMGCSJZB&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I'm sure there will be others. I just looked out for one which had the sixaxis sensors and rumble

Re: Out Today: PSVR2 Brings Next-Gen VR to the Masses

michaelf

I got PSVR 1 a few years ago as a bundle and really enjoyed it, especially Batman, Resi and the SW games. Due to house moves, it has been put away for some time and reading all about PSVR2 has got me excited about VR again ... although I think I'll rinse a bit more out of VR1 and uncompleted games before I take the plunge with the sequel.

Happy VR-ing, folks!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 460

michaelf

A variety of things:
Hitman on PS5.
I took advantage of the Hitman 3 import function for the first two games and it looks amazing. I’m on mission 4 and I’m now much better at focussed murder 😬

Assassins Creed 2 on Switch Lite
Bought the Ezio Collection when it was cheap. Last played AC2 on my PS3 a few years ago so it’s quite fun playing on handheld. Looks decent, plays as well as I remember and so far no glitches.

Cathedral & Claymates on Evercade
Cathedral is a great metroidvania game and plays natively on the Evercade as opposed to being emulated. Claymates is a so-so Super NES platformer which has some good ideas and a fair few really grating ones.

So a fair mixed bunch for me