Comments 541

Re: Review: We Happy Few (PS4)

mookysam

Seems like they completely and hopelessly overstretched themselves. If they didn't have the capability to make the sort of "AAA style" game they wanted I'm not sure why they bothered.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 231

mookysam

Wolfenstein the New Order took ages to download so I never ended up playing it last weekend. I have been playing it for the past few days though and am rather enjoying it. It's competent with well designed levels. I don't really care about the story so far though because the cut scenes are a bit frenetic for my liking.

On handheld I finished Chapter 3 of Trails in the Sky SC and am now on the second disc. I also started Dragon Quest Heroes Rocket Slime on the DS, which is utterly lovely and charming.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 229

mookysam

Continuing with Trails in the Sky Second Chapter. The game is massive! I've already spent 35 hours on it, although it feels like I've barely dented it. The localisation is particularly excellent. A lot of people criticised the first for the large amount of written dialogue (no voice acting), but I really like it.

I might start a replay of something awesome. Maybe Half Life 2.

@AFCC Also playing Birth by Sleep. The combat is the best in the series (so far) I think, largely because of its fluidity and the "combat styles". I've finished two of the three campaigns now and have started the third. Once I'm done with that I've just got Dream Drop Distance to do. Looking forward to KH3 a lot!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 228

mookysam

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix. Progress has been a little slow as my attention span has been poor, but I'm hoping to finish one of the three campaigns this weekend.

Earlier I started Ducktales Remastered on the PS3 to break things up a bit. I got it in a sale years ago and thought it would be good to start tackling my enormous digital backlog.

On the Vita I'm continuing with Trails in the Sky Second Chapter, which I like a lot.

@stevenfins How is your cat?

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 227

mookysam

Reckon God of War will finished and platinumed today. Not sure why it's taken me 6 weeks! I might start Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix next, as I want to get through my Kingdom Hearts backlog before 3 is released.

@stevenfins Glad he's doing better. Hope his recovery continues to be speedy.

@Rudy_Manchego @Ralizah Haha I was so bad at the final bit. Then realised I'd been doing it wrong. 😂

@KratosMD Wow that's quite a selection. First time playing BioShock?

Re: Sony: We Need to Cater to All People, Regardless of Age, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Ethnicity, or Belief

mookysam

To be honest, at this point I'm thoroughly sick of hearing people moan about things "being forced down their throat" etc etc. Whilst most people are accepting, unfortunately we do still have a problem with racism and xenophobia in this country. From the institutional racism highlighted by the Windrush scandal, to the far-right protests and rallies in central London, right down to everyday ignorance and casual racism.

Bigotry is ignorance and I agree fully with @RogerRoger that there needs to be education, perhaps starting with better education at school. Many people hold these unsavoury cultural values primarily because it is easier to blame minority groups for what is wrong in their lives than the true culprits. More often than not, certain political parties exploit these fears rather than tackling the root causes because it is beneficial for them to do so. This not only perpetuates them further, it legitimises them. Sadly, some people cannot be educated or change their viewpoint because they are too deeply ingrained. I don't think homophobia, racism or any other kind of bigotry should be tolerated, and rather than just biting our lips, maybe it should be called out for what it is.

Kudos to Sony for their stance. I can pretty much enjoy playing as any character whatever their gender, race or sexual orientation. I also appreciate it when a character in a game or other work of fiction feels natural and organic to the story and like they matter. Diverse characters can often make the stories more interesting.

Re: Ten Years Ago Today, the First PlayStation Trophy Was Unlocked

mookysam

Trophies can be fun. I only tend to go out of my way to get the platinum on games I'm particularly enjoying, or games where it's so easy I may as well. My very first platinum was for Ni No Kuni. I bought a PS3 just to play it. A quick look at the PlayStation app tells me I have 17 Platinums, 1987 trophies and am level 15.

I didn't play it on the PS3 or get them all, but the most satisfying achievements ever were for the Orange Box. They enhanced the experience by getting the player to approach the games in new and interesting ways that I otherwise wouldn't have thought to do.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 226

mookysam

It's too darn hot. Been away for the past week and a bit so am getting back into my games. Taking breaks from them is a little discombobulating as I always forget what I was doing.

So, aside from the humidity and pollen pissing me off I've been playing God of War and beating valkyries. Tomorrow is my regular handheld day so I'll be carrying on with the myriad of games I have in circulation. Trails in the Sky SC; Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky and Chibi-Robo.

Re: Soapbox: Games Are Allowing Players to Be More Expressive, And It's Ace

mookysam

It depends for me. I have enjoyed open world games with lots of player freedom, but I always feel more comfortable playing something linear, or at least with a strong narrative structure guiding the player along. The modern Persona games strike a balance I'm happy with, or in a completely different genre, the Dishonored games. The small open world sandbox levels in Dishonored are very well made and I like how they encourage the player to try and array of different methods.

Too much freedom stresses me out, because I worry if I'm going about it the wrong way. Although I grew to really enjoy Breath of the Wild, I still prefer the older Zelda games, linearity and all.

Re: Soapbox: Why Don't We Hear from Sony Executives Anymore?

mookysam

Hubris! Nerd rage! Arrogant Sony is back!

In all seriousness, I haven't really noticed. Most executive interviews throughout the industry are genuinely rubbish, with the sort of vague answers that would make Theresa May proud (Reggie I'm looking at you). I agree it's nice to have these corporations connect with the fans in a more intimate way, but at the same time it's not their day job and so many executives look like rabbits in headlights. I'd rather Sony spruce up how they already communicate with fans, improve their YouTube channels and make the blog more than just a way of announcing things, so there is more of a direct way of talking to us outside of the big press events.

Re: Guide: Why Doesn't Sony Allow Cross-Play on PS4?

mookysam

This has always been the point of closed systems, surely? It's actually something that would benefit Microsoft disproportionately more than it would Sony.

Either way, Sony allow PS4 users to play with those on the PC and smartphone. It is surely not unreasonable to assume that between PS4, PC and smartphone we are talking an overwhelming majority of Fortnite players who are able to play with each other.

It's odd, but not unsurprising how this is being hysterically painted in some corners of the internet, as though Sony are Exxon or BP or Lehman Brothers. Or, dare I say it - Microsoft. There are many companies with very real anti-consumer practices who openly flout consumer law. When it comes to the issue of cross-console play, Sony isn't one of them.

In terms of not allowing PS4 users to use their associated Epic account on the Switch of Xbox One, that is certainly worthy of more criticism, but I would hazard a guess that we do not know the full story here.

Re: Feature: All the E3 2018 Press Conferences Rated and Reviewed

mookysam

'Twas a weird year. Sony's games look excellent - I still believe they are far ahead of the other in terms of their commitment to that kind of gaming experience. Conference itself was weird as f*** though. Special shout out to Resident Evil 2. Quite a marvellous reveal.

Microsoft's I actually felt was overly long with Phil Spencer talking too much rubbish. It was very glitzy and showy and well produced, however. Some great third party reveals. First party is where Microsoft always fall flat, unfortunately, and this year is no different in that regard. Hopefully their new acquisitions will bear some fruit in the coming years, perhaps in time for the next generation.

Ubisoft never fail in the cringe department. From dancing pandas on acid to stunt biking shenanigans this was another classic Ubi conference. I still don't think they know what on earth they are doing with Beyond Good and Evil 2. Other than Assassin's Creed Odyssey - which looks great, it was a mediocre showing.

EA, ugh EA. Anthem just doesn't excite me in the least. I like Bioware games, but Anthem isn't grabbing me at all.

Bethesda felt like a lot of smoke and mirrors. Doom could be amazing, and with August only a couple of months away I'm unsure why they couldn't just reveal Doom properly here. I did come away feeling a little more positive about Fallout 76, but I am still very concerned about the online.

Square Enix have some nice games. No surprises, and not really much to say. Nintendo's was very poor.

Re: Soapbox: E3 2018 Demonstrates the Disconnect Between Gamer Demands and Development Realities

mookysam

Many do want everything all at once and they want it now! Not sure when people got so impatient.

Some of the criticisms leveled at Sony and other companies are strange, because there are a huge amount of games coming out between now and Q1 2019. The notion that no big new reveals equates to no games is very, very odd. There are more games than I have time to play!

Whilst Sony is certainly guilty of announcing games too early, we can now quite clearly see their trajectory going forward as the generation winds down. They have enough big games to quite comfortably fill the space between now and the end of 2020. This is before we even talk about the large number of third party titles. I am sure they will also announce and show smaller things at the other shows later in the year.

Re: Reaction: Sony's Strong E3 2018 Show Almost Ruined by Rubbish Format

mookysam

The pacing was very strange and it ended very abruptly, but the games look wonderful. Spider-Man especially looks absolutely incredible and I am really looking forward to playing it.

The show wasn't flashy and there weren't a load of quick-fire trailers of multiplat titles, which seems to have disappointed a lot of people. In terms of letting their own exclusives do the talking, pacing aside, they succeeded. They're far ahead of the competition in that regard, in fact.

I also liked the few third party things they did show. Was not expecting Resident Evil 2 to release so soon. It looks quite scary!

@get2sammyb Hahaha hats off to you, Sammy.

Re: Talking Point: Did Square Enix's E3 2018 Press Conference Win Your Heart?

mookysam

Short and to the the point. Honestly, I'm still so tired after staying up for Bethesda last night I'm not sure my brain could absorb much else. Square have a pretty packed schedule for the next six months or so, with Dragon Quest, Tomb Raider, Just Cause and Kingdom Hearts. Pretty good line-up, but all a known quantity. Problem is people always want more and right away.

In the long term, the Platinum Games title could be very good. Perhaps it is too early in development to show anything substantial? Final Fantasy VII Remake would have been amazing, but we know that is in a sort of development quagmire. Anything related to the future of the Final Fantasy franchise like will probably be reserved for Tokyo Game Show.

Re: Talking Point: How Can Sony Win E3 2018?

mookysam

Quite looking forward to all of the shows apart from EA.

For me personally it doesn't matter if Sony "win" or not. They kill it every year because they have such a great assortment of games and a dedication to AAA first party development that isn't seen from Microsoft or even Nintendo. They're doing things differently this year it seems, but even if attention is elsewhere, I think they could stealthily take the prize. PS4 sales are still incredibly strong so I'm not sure Sony care too much either.

I don't own an Xbox One, but I'm always interested to see what Microsoft have on offer. The 360 was a great console before Kinect took over, so in the back of my mind I always kinda hope for a return to those glory days.

Looking forward to Square-Enix's show. The pacing of their last one was off, but they did have a good selection of games. This time, Kingdom Hearts 3 is surely a dead cert and we'll hopefully get a release date.

Nintendo will always have a certain draw for me. Metroid Prime 4 is the only game of theirs I'm particularly looking forward to, but I don't know if they will show anything of it. Also curious what Retro Studios are up to. Nintendo often have more surprises because leaks from them are rarer than with other companies. Last year Metroid Samus Returns was such an amazing surprise.

Re: PS5 Will Be the Last Console Before Streaming Takes Over, Says Ubisoft Boss

mookysam

What would such a future mean for smaller games or games that "fail". Would publishers bother keeping the expensive servers open and maintaining other necessary hardware for games that fail to make a large enough impact? We could lose access to large numbers of games if they are not deemed commercially viable, and that is a scary proposition for the hobbyist gamer. Not to mention other commercial considerations. Would there be a subscription model per publisher? Per game? Gaming could well end up being more expensive than ever for the end consumer. I also think it could force out all but the biggest publishers and make development even more risk averse than it is now. At the moment streaming is done on a very small scale, but to ramp it up to a capacity suitable for millions of people (potentially at once, depending on the title) would surely be an immense and horrifically expensive undertaking.

Then there's the quality of internet speeds and physical connections. I'm very lucky to have fast internet, but even that drops and lags sometimes. Throughout the UK alone many people do not have access to super fast broadband and the government has consistently failed in its promise to expand fibre so that everyone has access. It is also unfortunate that depending on how far you live from the fibre cabinet on the street (as most fibre in the UK is not direct to the premises, instead relying on ancient copper wiring for the last leg to your home), you may have a woefully inadequate connection. Are we to really believe that even ten years from now the situation will have improved enough? Bearing in mind this will be a time when 4K if not 8K will be the standard across the board. If the answer is no then console manufacturers will be willfully limiting their own market.

Re: Poll: Which PS4 Exclusive Has You Most Hyped at Sony's E3 2018 Showcase?

mookysam

Ghost of Tsushima. It's the biggest unknown of the bunch and the setting is interesting to me.

I loved the Last of Us, but what we've seen of the second so far hasn't particularly grabbed me. It seems an unnecessary sequel given how perfectly the first one ended, and fairly or not it's like it has to prove to me that it is necessary.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 222

mookysam

@Enuo It's weird, the older I get I've been playing more and more games on easy. I really don't want the frustration that comes with too much challenge and would rather just enjoy myself.

God of War's combat certainly has a learning curve as it's quite slow and deliberate. Mentally I need to undo the old approach of attacking enemies as quickly and viciously as possible.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 222

mookysam

Got a thumping headache and otherwise feeling yucky so can't really be arsed to focus on any one thing. Been doing little bits here and there on my SNES mini. Particularly Yoshi's Island, which I played before on the Game Boy Advance, but this is definitely the superior experience. Such a beautiful game.

On the Vita I've been doing little bits of Bloodstained Curse of the Moon, which I've enjoyed so far. I've neglected my Vita gaming in recent months, so it's nice to have any excuse to play on it. Next I'll probably get Reverie, following the Outdie Bin recommendation!

Last but not least God of War. I admit I've been struggling a bit with the combat, so I knocked the difficulty down to easy and am enjoying it more now.

Re: Talking Point: Do We Really Need E3?

mookysam

I look forward to e3 every single year and watch all the shows. It's still the best concentration of gaming news all year and it's exciting. There is benefit to developers and publishers being there, regardless of the risk of some games being lost in the noise, because all eyes are on the event. When it to being a husk in 2008, let's face it, it was awful.

E3 is also so much more than just the press conferences. I like all the trailers and hands-on videos as well as interviews and what Nintendo has been doing with its Treehouse Live stuff recently. If there was no e3 sure, the information would be released one way or another, but it wouldn't have the same buzz or excitement for me.

The industry has obviously changed a lot in the last 20 years, and we now have information on tap, but there's still something awesome about the big trade shows and old way of marketing games through them.

Re: You've Got a Friend in Kingdom Hearts III

mookysam

Wow that looks pretty amazing. Made me smile. Also much smoother than the Final Prologue whatever episode in 2.8.

@get2sammyb Dream Drop distance (ironically the game with the most confusing story) did have a library type thing to get up to speed on the story from previous games. Maybe this would have something similar?

Re: Soapbox: PS Vita's Longevity Has Been Quite Remarkable

mookysam

It's awesome that the Vita 's still being supported in 2018 - long after many people had already completely written it off.

It's an awesome piece of kit. I've professed my love for it before and shall do it again. It's beautifully designed, and that OLED screen is absolutely gorgeous. It's still better than the Switch's screen. The form factor is nice and it's size, curved edges and button placement are comfortable for my arthritic hands (the 3DS is sometimes torture). Not sure where this notion of the Vita having no games comes from, because the library is great. People may be surprised if they take the time to explore the games it has. I also enjoy the digital PSP and PS1 Classics compatibility. I still use my PSP for most games as they are on UMD, but I also have a sizeable number of digital PSP games. Playing them on the Vita is considerably more convenient.

It's easily one of my favourite handhelds of all time. In terms of future releases I'm looking forward to Persona 3/5 Dancing, if they get localised. I'll be getting Stardew Valley too.

Re: Guide: The Best PS4 External Hard Drives

mookysam

Juggling games on my HDD (still have a 500GB launch one) isn't too bad I suppose, but as there are certain games I've kept on there to replay, the amount of free space is ever dwindling. The amount required for games is often enormous if they have loads of updates. How much space would I need if I wanted to play Final Fantasy XV's DLC, bearing in mind I deleted the game?