zupertramp

Pretty typical behavior courting the potential customers over the ones you already have but the randomness is a little strange.

Also, so they completely did away with redeeming gift cards in the Stars program? I may have to go back to physical. Sigh.

Still hoping Baldur's Gate 3 goes on sale. Failing that I guess I'd go for Diablo 4. Don't need much else. Another controller would be nice but I can get those wholesale if they ever come back in stock.

@Marquez lol sure thing bro.

@nessisonett well I guess it could do it... it just didn't until now. why does that seem worse.

@Loamy oof, I know what you mean and all but I can see your comment not going over well with everyone. Just saying.

But yeah that's kinda what put me off from the game... the story and characters were fairly corny. I should really give it more of a chance though.

@ATaco but at $160 a year? that's kinda depressing for a budget handheld.

@Marquez you just use it as normal and other person logs in with a different controller. my wife and I play nba2k together this way. so you're still using wifi but as it's all the same network it's far snappier and more responsive than any place I've tried outside my house.

hopefully that made sense.

Not on premium and don't plan to upgrade. In fact I'll probably drop Extra at the end of my current subscription.

Anyway, for me the portal has been a bit of a let down. Could be I'm too rural for this to be a viable device outside of the home. As for the most part, it works almost exclusively as a second controller now. I can't imagine my experience streaming games from a cloud would be much better.

If we're talking graphics, it all depends on art direction for me. If you're going for realism, yes I want expensive looking graphics. But realism isn't a requirement at all.

If we're talking game length, I prefer longer games for the most part but it can depend on the gaming experience provided.

Mechanics and gameplay are probably the most important though. I don't know if they need to be big budget (whatever that means in this context) but they need to be quality.

You had me at Psylocke. Though honestly not big on these types of games but maybe I'll give it a try. If they add Elektra I won't have a choice lol.

@GreatAuk I kinda love all of these lol.

@BintendoMan @Bluemoon2008 @Korgon @colonelkilgore

Hear, hear! Give all these their own category. Best DLC, Best In-Game Season, and given the proliferation of remasters/remakes, hand them their own award as well.

@Ralizah I know you know we're both kinda joking around but I will say with all seriousness, there's a difference between the people actually struggling to buy eggs and those just complaining about it. The latter would still buy a Pro. Or a new Crewmax pickup whilst simultaneously making out like gas prices are literally killing them.

So my comment was more directed at the overly dramatic folks in our great country very much acting like they have one foot in the bread line which is (part of) why we are where we are.

But that's really another conversation.

Remasters, okay but DLC and seasons? Idk, that just seems off. Definitely reflects these changing times I suppose.

That is odd considering all the complaining about barely being able to afford eggs and all.

I do wonder if the 5 Pro is lacking some of the hesitance that existed with the first mid gen refresh. Kinda seemed like a lot of people weren't sure about that in the console space first time around but perhaps have warmed up to it now.

@AaronBayne Appreciate the thorough and honest review. Think the following was a good summation for anyone looking for a TLDR version...

"at the end of the day we'd still rather be playing on the Pro than not, because while the difference can be minimal there is still a difference."

Meh, I don't see it but that's just me. I imagine more of a Naomi Scott type when I picture live action Lara. Never liked Jolie in the role, thought Vikander was better suited.

@Golem25 it's possible it didn't debut lower because it is more of a thing than you're seeing. I mean, is it star wars or marvel? No. But what is. People keep comparing it to half century old IPs and I'm not sure why.

how is that second comment even still up? blatant misinfo. they're striking over work from home and outsourcing. this is verifiable information. you can say they shouldn't be striking over that. but you can't just make up whatever you want to minimize their grievances. well, i mean, apparently you can.

@Vaako007 as regards Sony as a business, their focus has shifted considerably in the past decade. Now days a great deal of their revenue is gaming, something like a third I think. And this is the biggest chunk given they have their hands in so many pies, ie financial services, film, music, and of course electronics/hardware.

But I'm not sure if "gaming" includes PlayStation hardware sales or not. I do know they aren't the bulk of the TV, audio, and camera market anymore.

@Vaako007 idk i recall the conversations going something like "say goodbye to x and y" every time there was an acquisition. But this is a different Xbox than the one that existed at the start of this gen. For all I know they bought these to have exclusives but fell too far behind. Who knows.

Anything could change from one day to the next with Xbox but I will say it never made sense to me to spend all that money buying up studios just to narrow your customer base. In my experience, seems most companies want to sell their stuff to as many people as possible.

@Foxx_64740 they aren't bad per se but if you've played one you've played them all. It's just a matter of what skin you want on the game. And apparently that tradition still holds.

Agree with @Korgon that both have their place. It's not all that different from other forms of media. In film you have your quick, easy to watch rom-coms as well as your long fantasy/sci-fi epics. It's not really either/or. At least I hope it's not. I like getting lost in a game for weeks (or more) as well as a more abridged bit of fun I can complete over a weekend.

Feel the need to point out we went from using the word "sublime" to the word "rough" in describing this game's visuals on the standard PS5.

@tinCAT-zero that's because there really aren't many articles otherwise. we get bored okay. lol.

I'm somewhere between waiting and zero interest. Not against owning one but, like someone else mentioned, I'd need to see what new games really justify its existence. Just not that interested in improvements to games already out, as I've probably already played them.

@riceNpea commenter is making the not unreasonable assumption the CEO being so flippant about his intellectual property being a bit of a laughing stock makes it seem a little bit like he doesn't care about it. Yes, he's speaking about the financials but a poor financial return typically reflects something's overall lack of viability/popularity. His nonchalance could be read as betraying a lack of pride is all.

You could also see it as him standing by the games in spite of this cinematic setback. So there's that.

But mainly I think we're all just having a bit of fun trashing a movie whose creators made absolutely braindead decisions along the way and you probably shouldn't take it too serious.

@Max_the_German also, if I may... the PS4 Pro was $400, complete with disc drive.

Been waiting for Baldur's Gate to go on sale for a minute now. Maybe Black Friday then.

@Loamy can we trade citizenships if you feel that way lol

@LifeGirl Agreed. I'm even more sold on not buying a Pro lest I feel like a guinea pig. That's just me though; I'm cautious. So I actually very much appreciate the early adopters in this case. The more real-world info Sony can get out of the Pro in preparation for the 6 the better.

@Vaako007 @TheDudeElDuderino I don't think anyone really believes the PS5 will get left in the dust... it's more about the language used in these articles. "Literally melt your face" "A whole new game" This is hyperbole. Harmless hyperbole I suppose but still.

The Pro is doubtless more powerful but talking like it's a generational leap when it by definition isn't seems weird.

That said I always appreciate the job these guys do on this site or else it wouldn't be my go to regarding PS news.

I've seen a few on eBay here in the States for around $130 which is still too much to pay but wow, 400 quid is crazy. You'd think surely they'll replenish stock soon what with Christmas coming up.

Sounds like some of y'all are sleeping on hot wheels. I mean, don't get me wrong, the "story" is goofy as all get out but ignore that and you've got a solid arcade racer.

@LowDefAl yes I understand that but that's still re-buying the game. I wasn't speaking to the amount paid.

Edit: I'll rephrase as to avoid confusion... Who wants to spend more money when they maybe don't really need to since the original isn't that old.

I would think, but I could be wrong, having had plenty of time to mod the original might account for the remaster's tepid reception. Also who's trying to re buy a game that didn't come out that long ago on PC?

@Voltan was just in my local Walmart yesterday and there were two of them in stock. Is the scarcity really that bad? If so I'm considering grabbing them even though I'm not getting a pro.

@MrPeanutbutterz do I think the PS6 is in development? I literally acknowledged this refresh was part of that development: "And yes I get that this is technically work toward a new gen..." Sigh.

And why does it seem greedy? It's not. Sony is a non profit and just wants to help us with more options. Their benevolence is particularly off the charts this gen.

Modular configurations don't necessarily prolong game development but if we are taking that position I'm gonna need to point out that a mid-gen refresh does the same.

Basically what I get from this was they sold more PS4 Pros than they expected and so figured why stop there. Absolutely no hate or shade to anyone getting this refresh but do you honestly not feel a little milked?

@MrPeanutbutterz I think we all understand that though. I think it's just disheartening that they could have been putting all their focus on a PS6, but chose a half gen refresh instead. And yes I get that this is technically work toward a new gen machine but this feels greedier for some reason. At this point why not just make the entire console modular and any time a component is improved upon just release it at higher cost, y'know, for the enthusiasts.

@Gator_Rican nah I can see what you mean. and to add to that I sometimes just don't want to put in the effort of swinging my arms around in a game. i'm trying to chill, not exert myself. but yeah, kind of a minor quibble I suppose.

And on another probably unpopular note I wish we could get more VR experiences that aren't first person. These devs act like that's the entire scope of what one can experience in VR. Well I'm sorry but Diablo in VR, awesome. Sims in VR, awesome. Astro Bot in VR, the best! Or heck, imagine some kind of hybrid side scroller VR amalgamation. Like i don't know, experiment a little. Dare I say, be creative. Just taking the same old fps and making it VR is just not it if you ask me. Don't get me wrong, it's cool. But is that it? That's all we can do with this tech?

@Markatron84 pfft, u must not have taken your console in for regularly scheduled thermal paste checkups. How lame.

Was pretty excited about plates when the PS5 first arrived and now I couldn't be more over them. Nice work Sony!

Also what's with the know-it-alls coming out of the woodworks on this? Awesome, you knew all along. I mean nevermind they are actually the same size but whatever we're all idiots thinking Sony might throw us a bone here by just lining up clips.

I'm one of those that didn't think the first was THAT amazing and apparently picked the less popular ending. Appreciated the themes it dealt with but it was also corny af. So I'm definitely willing to give this one a chance if they took a different direction. Definitely waiting for a sale though just to be safe.

Twas unfamiliar with the word twee. Now I know.

Edit: also I know I'm using twas incorrectly here. just trying to match Sammy's energy.

@The_Wailing_Doom if all it gives out is stuff you won't use, it's hardly worth anything

@Almost_Ghostly possible it's a bug. but also possible it's been nerfed. like the "ads" thing it really doesn't take that much effort to come out and explain what's going on. One blog post and bam, clarified.

They for real went with Corolla? I suppose Corona is forever tainted but still, Corolla?

Also I like these types of games but yeah, gives off intense Disney vibes. Probably wait and see on this one.

They nerfed this and the rewards program through the CC. I guess since most people have overwhelmingly adopted digital purchases they can now turn up the squeeze. It's fine; I'm getting too old for this anyhow.