Continuing with Tales of Zestiria. Must be fairly far into it now so I reckon it can be finished within the next week.
Playing RPGs back-to-back has given me an itch to play something short and nice to break things up a bit, so I think I'll start Virginia later and then move on to Ducktales on the PS3. I got the latter in a PSN sale years ago so feel it's probably time to get through my ancient digital backlog a bit!
They'll announce their ten year plan for XV, with a third batch of DLC planned for 2021. 7 Remake? Who needs that when we can play as Noctis and co. in perpetuity!
Actually quite surprised they're doing something like this. They must have enough content to show or wouldn't bother. Hopefully lots of Kingdom Hearts 3.
Continuing with Tales of Zestiria and getting into it a lot more now. The battle system definitely has some good ideas, but is held back by the camera and low frame rate. I have a lot of handheld games to get through so am going to start doubling down on that front, too.
@ShogunRok Haha I hear ya. My brother has been playing Fallout 4 and sending me videos of his settlement creations. I am seriously tempted to reinstall it but I know it will consume everything in its wake.
Not entirely sold just yet because I really want to know just how much of the game will be online multiplayer focused. Rockstar take themselves so seriously, particularly in the writing department, and it's just never on the level of the things they take their inspiration from. I did massively enjoy the first Red Dead Redemption though.
Definitely agree with how gameplay needs to be balanced with and fit the story. The "gamey" bit of a game is sometimes neglected in the industry and feels like a painting-by-numbers exercise. Naughty Dog weren't particularly good at balancing the gameplay and story in the Uncharted games. I liked them because of the great characters and the spectacle of the set pieces. On the other hand - and perhaps this is an unpopular opinion - I felt the moment to moment gunplay was a little dull. Additionally, the disconnect between the story and Nate being a "good guy" was at its widest in parts of Uncharted 4.
The Last of Us did a good job and I felt that the gameplay genuinely complimented the story and vice versa. I have faith that the Last of Us 2 will be a great game. If it's little more than a rehash of the first (but with even more violence) would people be disappointed?
I hated the reveal. I was expecting it to be different, given how much time has passed since the original, but tonally it was so far removed from what Beyond Good and Evil was it may as well be a completely different franchise. The overall gameplay premise doesn't pique my interest either.
Aside from the super dungeon and a final skirmish that absolutely refuses to spawn, I've finished Ni No Kuni 2. It was a nice, enjoyable and thoroughly charming game - a solid 8/10.
Following my post in the new backlog thread, I've now started Tales of Zestiria. I'm not very far in, but man are the environments fugly. They've opened them up so they're a lot bigger than in previous games, but maybe it's come at a cost? I love Tales games. They're simple, fun Japanese RPGs and I always enjoy the battle systems. I'm not really feeling the battle system in Zestiria at the moment though. It's slow and has a troublesome camera. Fundamentally it seems based on Graces incredible battle system so I'll see how it goes as the game progresses.
Although it's my plan to wait until my birthday to play God of War, I am tempted to buy it.
Anyhoo, I'm still playing Ni No Kuni 2 and am just before the end. I've spent the day doing the RTS skirmishes, which are actually rather fun. I forgot to charge my Switch so couldn't play Breath of the Wild this morning!
I'll replay them all! I don't have the remasters so will go old-school and fire up the PS2 (although it was a bit temperamental reading discs the last time I used it). God of War 2 is still my favourite. I don't think 3 had quite the same consistency but it was still very good.
@Dodoo @Toadie Ghost of Sparta was very impressive. Hard to believe it was running on a handheld at times. The PSP had a lot of great spin-offs. I enjoyed Daxter a lot, too.
@Gremio108 Y'know I actually wouldn't say no to more Super Monkey Ball. I'd be happy with a remaster of the first two. The first was one of my first GameCube games and I was addicted to it!
Oh my! Yes, I kindly would be excited. BioShock is one of Gen7's greatest franchises (the other of course is Mass Effect).
@YummyHappyPills Aww, BioShock 2 improved on the first in many areas. It did lack the wow factor, and I admit that when I first played it I was underwhelmed, but on repeat playthroughs it's really grown on me.
I love God of War so this is a very emphatic yes, I'm getting it. But... it's my birthday next month so I'm going to ask for it then. I'm still in the midst of Ni No Kuni 2 and I'm sticking to my gaming resolution to not buy a new game until I've finished what I'm playing! 😂
Hmm something was off about his original comment. NISA's reputation isn't at its highest among gamers recently, what with the dodgy translations. Losing publishing rights to Atlus titles in Europe has also no doubt hurt them too. I did read a while ago that the Japanese arm was facing some difficulties due to low sales of its own games.
The PS4 does have a crowded release schedule, but, like the PS2 before it, that is merely a symptom of its enormous success. As a gamer I'm not really going to bemoan that. Whilst companies like NISA will always have their (small) niche, it must be difficult to get wider recognition. Is it Sony's place to ensure that they do? They have to pick which games to support - i.e. those that they think will succeed, such as Nioh.
I do think that Trevor is a good character - he's certainly the most interesting of the three GTA5 protagonists - I just really don't like him. Bub and Bob are cute little dinosaurs. What's not to love?
Ni No Kuni 2! I'm on Chapter 5 now and enjoying it immensely. The script is hilarious! The story doesn't have the depth of the first one (at least so far) but everything else is a big improvement.
Might play odds and ends of Breath of the Wild if I get a chance!
Impressive debut for A Way Out. I wonder how Ni No Kuni 2 compares to its predecessor in terms of raw sales, given it debuted at number one - but in a quiet January. Not surprised by Sea of Thieves as it has been heavily marketed.
Ni No Kuni 2! It's gorgeous looking. Not too far in so I don't really have much to say, but I do like the battle system. It's very snappy.
In Kingdom Hearts 2 I still have the lingering will left to beat and I'm finding it rather tough. I've done everything else in the game apart from the gummi missions (I'm rubbish at them) so would like to defeat him.
No gaming for me this weekend. The bus and trains were actually running today so I'm on my way to my Ma's. I forgot to pack my 3DS or Vita. I did almost finish Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix yesterday though.
Continuing with Breath of the Wild. It's so enormous!
On the PS3 I've got back into Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix after a long break from it (Final Fantasy XII's fault). I'm enjoying the new cutscenes and various other tweaks compared to the vanilla PS2 release. Should be finished by next week and then I'll move on to Persona 4 Arena. I'm terrible at fighters but shall have to see!
Absolutely love the game and it has wonderful online multiplayer features. I played it on the 360 which had a far, far, far superior online infrastructure to the PS3, so this new version will certainly shine on the PS4. Unfortunately the remaster is just so overpriced. C'mon EA.
It is only a "little thing" but If it is supposed to be a historical tool showing how life was in ancient Egypt, then altering it to suit modern sensibilities is wrong. What use is it as an educational tool otherwise? Who would be offended anyway? History cannot be changed but it can and should be learnt from. Sometimes it's ugly and repugnant to us. That's the point isn't it? It's also important to note that history is not black and white. There's always different angles and socio-economic and political contexts and the lives of normal people with normal struggles caught up in it all. I wonder how the world today will be taught in history classes 500 years from now (if the world still exists then that is!).
Unrelated to the Assassin's Creed but on topic, it is very concerning how many countries represent their history in a certain light to further particular political or nationalist ideals. We see it throughout the world. Even in this country, notice how schoolchildren are only taught the nice version of British colonialism?
I was thinking about this just yesterday. Spooooky.
I loved getting my magazines each month and poring over each and every page multiple times over. They usually had tiny blurry screenshots but they were exciting anyway. The internet was in its infancy (and we didn't have it at home then anyway) so the magazines were my only source of gaming information. Of course, it meant that if I got stuck on a game I really did get stuck. Sometimes I rang those really expensive gaming hotlines to find out what to do next. 😂
Going to Electronics Boutique in the nearest town was always fun. It wasn't like GAME (as it was later rebranded) is now and had lots and lots of different types of games stocked including niche titles. Curry's always had demo kiosks for various games and I specifically remember playing Rayman on the PS1 and Sonic Jam on the Saturn. There were also lots of indie game shops about. Nowadays I do 99% of all my shopping online as it's convenient and suits my lifestyle, but it was quite fun to buy a game with only how cool the box looked to guide me. I actually only ended up ever buying one stinker and that was Gex Enter the Gecko on the N64. So I didn't do too badly! Woolworths always had good sales too. Rummaging through the bargain bin for a suprise was part of the fun.
@get2sammyb I did go to the CEX on Bull Street a few years ago. They had a great selection of PSP games. That smell is something I can't describe, and it was horrifically humid. 🤢
Does sound interesting and it's made by the El Shaddai bloke so could be good.
@clvr I haven't yet played 4 or Apocalypse (both are downloaded on my 3DS) but Shin Megami Tensei 3 is so deliriously good. Hoping for a PS2 classics release on the PS4!
Now I've finished Nier Automata I fancied something nice and short and less emotionally gruelling to break things up a bit so started Wario Land: The Shake Dimension on the Wii. The Wario Land games are some of my favourite 2D platformers and although this is quite different so far, it is enjoyable and I actually like the waggle elements. The cel animation is gorgeous, too.
@ShogunRok I agree. Capcom wanted to grow the franchise in the West and they've massively succeeded in that regard. Replying to manu0 as just was wasn't sure how it could be seen as a disappointment in Japan.
Comments 541
Re: Resident Evil Film Director's Working on a Monster Hunter Movie
The Resident Evil films do have some comedic value. This probably won't. Unless he casts his wife as a Jaggi.
Re: Site News: Would You Kindly Complete Our Readership Survey?
Done!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 219
Continuing with Tales of Zestiria. Must be fairly far into it now so I reckon it can be finished within the next week.
Playing RPGs back-to-back has given me an itch to play something short and nice to break things up a bit, so I think I'll start Virginia later and then move on to Ducktales on the PS3. I got the latter in a PSN sale years ago so feel it's probably time to get through my ancient digital backlog a bit!
@ShogunRok I knew you'd succumb! 😂
Re: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Brings 8-Bit Action to PS4, PS Vita on 24th May
Ooh I'll get this on the Vita. The pixel art is nicer than the "2.5D" in Ritual of the Night.
Re: EA 'Pushing Forward' with Loot Boxes, Working to Protect Revenue Stream
"We're always thinking about our players."
Yeah, their wallets.
Re: Poll: Ultimate PlayStation Character Tournament: Top 16 - Matches 113-114
Victor and Cloud!
Re: Square Enix Announces E3 2018 Showcase
They'll announce their ten year plan for XV, with a third batch of DLC planned for 2021. 7 Remake? Who needs that when we can play as Noctis and co. in perpetuity!
Actually quite surprised they're doing something like this. They must have enough content to show or wouldn't bother. Hopefully lots of Kingdom Hearts 3.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 218
Continuing with Tales of Zestiria and getting into it a lot more now. The battle system definitely has some good ideas, but is held back by the camera and low frame rate. I have a lot of handheld games to get through so am going to start doubling down on that front, too.
@ShogunRok Haha I hear ya. My brother has been playing Fallout 4 and sending me videos of his settlement creations. I am seriously tempted to reinstall it but I know it will consume everything in its wake.
Re: Poll: Are You Sold on Red Dead Redemption 2 Yet?
Not entirely sold just yet because I really want to know just how much of the game will be online multiplayer focused. Rockstar take themselves so seriously, particularly in the writing department, and it's just never on the level of the things they take their inspiration from. I did massively enjoy the first Red Dead Redemption though.
Re: Soapbox: The Last of Us: Part II Has Plenty to Prove at E3 2018
Definitely agree with how gameplay needs to be balanced with and fit the story. The "gamey" bit of a game is sometimes neglected in the industry and feels like a painting-by-numbers exercise. Naughty Dog weren't particularly good at balancing the gameplay and story in the Uncharted games. I liked them because of the great characters and the spectacle of the set pieces. On the other hand - and perhaps this is an unpopular opinion - I felt the moment to moment gunplay was a little dull. Additionally, the disconnect between the story and Nate being a "good guy" was at its widest in parts of Uncharted 4.
The Last of Us did a good job and I felt that the gameplay genuinely complimented the story and vice versa. I have faith that the Last of Us 2 will be a great game. If it's little more than a rehash of the first (but with even more violence) would people be disappointed?
Re: Beyond Good & Evil 2 Appears to Be Making Some Progress
I hated the reveal. I was expecting it to be different, given how much time has passed since the original, but tonally it was so far removed from what Beyond Good and Evil was it may as well be a completely different franchise. The overall gameplay premise doesn't pique my interest either.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 217
Aside from the super dungeon and a final skirmish that absolutely refuses to spawn, I've finished Ni No Kuni 2. It was a nice, enjoyable and thoroughly charming game - a solid 8/10.
Following my post in the new backlog thread, I've now started Tales of Zestiria. I'm not very far in, but man are the environments fugly. They've opened them up so they're a lot bigger than in previous games, but maybe it's come at a cost? I love Tales games. They're simple, fun Japanese RPGs and I always enjoy the battle systems. I'm not really feeling the battle system in Zestiria at the moment though. It's slow and has a troublesome camera. Fundamentally it seems based on Graces incredible battle system so I'll see how it goes as the game progresses.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 216
Although it's my plan to wait until my birthday to play God of War, I am tempted to buy it.
Anyhoo, I'm still playing Ni No Kuni 2 and am just before the end. I've spent the day doing the RTS skirmishes, which are actually rather fun. I forgot to charge my Switch so couldn't play Breath of the Wild this morning!
Re: Hands On: Guacamelee! 2 Brings Mexican Madness Back to PS4
The first was one of the first games I played on my Vita and I loved it! Really looking forward to this! I'll find time. 😂
Re: After Battlefront 2, EA Says It 'Can't Afford to Make Similar Mistakes' with Battlefield, ANTHEM
@get2sammyb Anthem does look dull as dishwater, eh. I am concerned for Bioware's future if it doesn't do well.
Re: Soapbox: You Should Play God of War III While You Wait for Kratos' Return
I'll replay them all! I don't have the remasters so will go old-school and fire up the PS2 (although it was a bit temperamental reading discs the last time I used it). God of War 2 is still my favourite. I don't think 3 had quite the same consistency but it was still very good.
@Dodoo @Toadie Ghost of Sparta was very impressive. Hard to believe it was running on a handheld at times. The PSP had a lot of great spin-offs. I enjoyed Daxter a lot, too.
Re: SEGA Teases a 'Huge' Announcement for Tomorrow
@Gremio108 Y'know I actually wouldn't say no to more Super Monkey Ball. I'd be happy with a remaster of the first two. The first was one of my first GameCube games and I was addicted to it!
Re: Report: 2K's Working on a Top-Secret BioShock Title
Oh my! Yes, I kindly would be excited. BioShock is one of Gen7's greatest franchises (the other of course is Mass Effect).
@YummyHappyPills Aww, BioShock 2 improved on the first in many areas. It did lack the wow factor, and I admit that when I first played it I was underwhelmed, but on repeat playthroughs it's really grown on me.
Re: Poll: Will You Be Buying God of War?
I love God of War so this is a very emphatic yes, I'm getting it. But... it's my birthday next month so I'm going to ask for it then. I'm still in the midst of Ni No Kuni 2 and I'm sticking to my gaming resolution to not buy a new game until I've finished what I'm playing! 😂
Re: Delightfully Drawn Indie Adventure Forgotton Anne Hops onto PS4 in May
Cool I was wondering when this would come out. I've been looking forward to it.
Re: NIS America Apologises for Comments About PlayStation
Hmm something was off about his original comment. NISA's reputation isn't at its highest among gamers recently, what with the dodgy translations. Losing publishing rights to Atlus titles in Europe has also no doubt hurt them too. I did read a while ago that the Japanese arm was facing some difficulties due to low sales of its own games.
The PS4 does have a crowded release schedule, but, like the PS2 before it, that is merely a symptom of its enormous success. As a gamer I'm not really going to bemoan that. Whilst companies like NISA will always have their (small) niche, it must be difficult to get wider recognition. Is it Sony's place to ensure that they do? They have to pick which games to support - i.e. those that they think will succeed, such as Nioh.
Re: Spyro: Reignited Trilogy Finally Announced, Glides onto PS4 in September
Looks gorgeous.
Re: Poll: Ultimate PlayStation Character Tournament: Round 2 - Matches 93-96
Bub and Bob, Sackboy, Squall and Kiryu.
I do think that Trevor is a good character - he's certainly the most interesting of the three GTA5 protagonists - I just really don't like him. Bub and Bob are cute little dinosaurs. What's not to love?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 213
Ni No Kuni 2! I'm on Chapter 5 now and enjoying it immensely. The script is hilarious! The story doesn't have the depth of the first one (at least so far) but everything else is a big improvement.
Might play odds and ends of Breath of the Wild if I get a chance!
Re: Here's Our Very First Look at Dragon Quest XI in English, Gets a Western Release Date
Wow that is a nice surprise! Can't wait!
Re: UK Sales Charts: New Releases A Way Out and Ni no Kuni II Debut in the Top Three
Impressive debut for A Way Out. I wonder how Ni No Kuni 2 compares to its predecessor in terms of raw sales, given it debuted at number one - but in a quiet January. Not surprised by Sea of Thieves as it has been heavily marketed.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 212
Ni No Kuni 2! It's gorgeous looking. Not too far in so I don't really have much to say, but I do like the battle system. It's very snappy.
In Kingdom Hearts 2 I still have the lingering will left to beat and I'm finding it rather tough. I've done everything else in the game apart from the gummi missions (I'm rubbish at them) so would like to defeat him.
Re: Poll: Ultimate PlayStation Character Tournament: Round 2 - Matches 85-88
Ellie, Bayonetta, Crash and Dante. Easy choices this week!
Re: Celebrate International Women's Day With This Free PS4 Theme
Cool theme.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 209
No gaming for me this weekend. The bus and trains were actually running today so I'm on my way to my Ma's. I forgot to pack my 3DS or Vita. I did almost finish Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix yesterday though.
Re: Poll: How Strong Do You Think the PS4's Exclusive Lineup Is in 2018?
Awesome line-up. I'm really looking forward to God of War, Ni No Kuni and Spider-Man.
Re: Detroit: Become Human Makes Difficult Decisions on 25th May
Ooh my birthday!
Re: No Way! Lara Croft Teams Up with Lucozade for 90s Nostalgia
Haha Lara really was everywhere back then. Unfortunately Lucozade tastes vile now they removed some of the glucose and added artificial sweeteners.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 208
Continuing with Breath of the Wild. It's so enormous!
On the PS3 I've got back into Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix after a long break from it (Final Fantasy XII's fault). I'm enjoying the new cutscenes and various other tweaks compared to the vanilla PS2 release. Should be finished by next week and then I'll move on to Persona 4 Arena. I'm terrible at fighters but shall have to see!
Re: Assassin's Creed Origins Curse of the Pharaohs Expansion Sounds Insane, Gets a Release Date
Wow sounds pretty great.
Re: No More Delays for Ni no Kuni II as the RPG Finally Goes Gold
Yay! I pre-ordered the special edition ages ago. Can't wait.
Re: Soapbox: Why Burnout Paradise Makes Perfect Sense as EA's First Remaster
Absolutely love the game and it has wonderful online multiplayer features. I played it on the 360 which had a far, far, far superior online infrastructure to the PS3, so this new version will certainly shine on the PS4. Unfortunately the remaster is just so overpriced. C'mon EA.
Re: Assassin's Creed Origins Edits Classroom Scenario for Inclusivity
It is only a "little thing" but If it is supposed to be a historical tool showing how life was in ancient Egypt, then altering it to suit modern sensibilities is wrong. What use is it as an educational tool otherwise? Who would be offended anyway? History cannot be changed but it can and should be learnt from. Sometimes it's ugly and repugnant to us. That's the point isn't it? It's also important to note that history is not black and white. There's always different angles and socio-economic and political contexts and the lives of normal people with normal struggles caught up in it all. I wonder how the world today will be taught in history classes 500 years from now (if the world still exists then that is!).
Unrelated to the Assassin's Creed but on topic, it is very concerning how many countries represent their history in a certain light to further particular political or nationalist ideals. We see it throughout the world. Even in this country, notice how schoolchildren are only taught the nice version of British colonialism?
Re: Poll: Ultimate PlayStation Character Tournament: Round 2 - Matches 69-72
Easy peasy. Gwendolyn, Cloud, Wheatley and Nick Valentine. Awesome characters all. Vote Valentine people!
Re: Feature: Five Years Ago Today, Sony Announced the PS4
My, that did go quick. It was a great reveal and I feel the system has so far lived up to all that hype and promise.
Re: Soapbox: I Miss the Mystery of Video Games
I was thinking about this just yesterday. Spooooky.
I loved getting my magazines each month and poring over each and every page multiple times over. They usually had tiny blurry screenshots but they were exciting anyway. The internet was in its infancy (and we didn't have it at home then anyway) so the magazines were my only source of gaming information. Of course, it meant that if I got stuck on a game I really did get stuck. Sometimes I rang those really expensive gaming hotlines to find out what to do next. 😂
Going to Electronics Boutique in the nearest town was always fun. It wasn't like GAME (as it was later rebranded) is now and had lots and lots of different types of games stocked including niche titles. Curry's always had demo kiosks for various games and I specifically remember playing Rayman on the PS1 and Sonic Jam on the Saturn. There were also lots of indie game shops about. Nowadays I do 99% of all my shopping online as it's convenient and suits my lifestyle, but it was quite fun to buy a game with only how cool the box looked to guide me. I actually only ended up ever buying one stinker and that was Gex Enter the Gecko on the N64. So I didn't do too badly! Woolworths always had good sales too. Rummaging through the bargain bin for a suprise was part of the fun.
@get2sammyb I did go to the CEX on Bull Street a few years ago. They had a great selection of PSP games. That smell is something I can't describe, and it was horrifically humid. 🤢
Re: Rumour: Spyro Remaster Roaring to PS4 Later This Year
Awesome if true. I played the first one a few years ago and thought the gameplay held up well by modern standards.
Re: The Lost Child Is a JRPG Set in Modern-Day Tokyo That's Coming West This Summer
Does sound interesting and it's made by the El Shaddai bloke so could be good.
@clvr I haven't yet played 4 or Apocalypse (both are downloaded on my 3DS) but Shin Megami Tensei 3 is so deliriously good. Hoping for a PS2 classics release on the PS4!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 206
Now I've finished Nier Automata I fancied something nice and short and less emotionally gruelling to break things up a bit so started Wario Land: The Shake Dimension on the Wii. The Wario Land games are some of my favourite 2D platformers and although this is quite different so far, it is enjoyable and I actually like the waggle elements. The cel animation is gorgeous, too.
Also continuing with Breath of the Wild and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.
Re: Kingdom Hearts III Set To Grace D23 Expo
That looks amazing. It actually gave me goosebumps. Can't wait!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 205
Focusing mainly on Breath of the Wild. Then when the Switch is charging - Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky. I'll return to Nier Automata in the week.
Re: Dragon Ball FighterZ Is the Fastest-Selling Dragon Ball Game of All Time
Another great result for a Japanese game. Gonna get this for my birthday.
I'm still reading this as Dragon Ball Fighter Zee. I can't mentally undo it.
Re: New Red Dead Redemption 2 Screenshots Look Downright Superb
Looks gorgeous!
Re: Japanese Sales Charts: Monster Hunter: World and PS4 Tear Apart the Competition
@ShogunRok I agree. Capcom wanted to grow the franchise in the West and they've massively succeeded in that regard. Replying to manu0 as just was wasn't sure how it could be seen as a disappointment in Japan.
Re: Japanese Sales Charts: Monster Hunter: World and PS4 Tear Apart the Competition
@manu0 First week sales for Monster Hunter X in Japan were 1.49 million. It's not enormously behind, especially when we don't know digital sales