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Ben’s Week In Review: October 27

November is almost here and the next-gen console wars are gonna begin. …not sure I have the strength.

Lest we forget, PlayStation is always about the GAMES

Despite all the PS4-related news this past week, do you know which information made me smile? When I watched that new ad and saw that there were over 180 games in development for Sony's new console, and 24 of them are exclusive. Sure, the PlayStation App should come in awfully handy, all those great features enabled by system update 1.50 are probably essential for many gamers, and we now know the machine will support up to 8 players via party chat . That's all well and good, but the PlayStation brand is as respected as it is because of the games .

The selection on each console has been basically unparalleled each generation in terms of variety, innovation and originality. It's what PlayStation does . In my estimation, it has always been the hardcore gamer's console of choice ever since the original PlayStation launched. So yeah, give us all those fancy features that are all about multiplayer and the "social" aspect of gaming; I get that in this day and age, everyone loves that stuff. But without the games – the great games – to power those features, you're just left with a nifty box that nobody cares about.

I'll give Kojima the benefit of the doubt

When I heard that the new Metal Gear Solid entry was going open world, I didn't respond well. I couldn't believe that even the iconic MGS wasn't free of the lure of so-called "freedom" in a virtual open world. The linear narrative is dying right before our very eyes (of this, I'm fairly certain) and while just about all other games on earth want to go open-world, I figured the one franchise that wouldn't is the beloved MGS. This is a series that thrives on memorable plots and characters, both of which rapidly become diluted and ultimately lost when the player is given countless hours in which to roam aimlessly about. But I liked to hear that The Phantom Pain really won't be anything like Grand Theft Auto or The Elder Scrolls ; Kojima has said it will still have a sense of direction .

While we'll be able to approach missions and objectives in various ways, and that's where most of the freedom appears to lie, we won't be distracted by a hundred random, miscellaneous, mostly pointless diversions. "Oh look, let's go try to fish with Snake!" Yeah, no. Stick to the mission, give us a chance to select our approach, and leave it at that. I'm hoping that will result in another MGS with a storyline that I'll remember for years to come.

Personal gaming update

Still cranking away on GTAV and I don't think I'm close to done. I always like to do everything that's available and all these reviews have been getting in the way. Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness very nearly hooked me – as these games tend to do – but I simply didn't have the time. For those who do have the time, however, it's great fun, provided you're a hardcore fan of the niche turn-based strategy/RPG genre. My girlfriend and I are still playing Dragon's Crown and The Cave , and I've started the review process for Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate . I also have Battlefield 4 but I haven't looked at it yet.

Still not entirely sure how to approach these cross-gen games. Do I do a review of the PS3 version first and then just update that review when the PS4 version comes out? Or do I just review the best possible version, which would of course be on the PS4? Thing is, I can't possibly issue full reviews for all versions. And I don't think it's necessary, anyway, as the games are basically identical with the exception of better graphics. And I suppose the frame rate might be a touch better in the PS4 versions, but that's about it.

Any ideas?

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WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

Man, I dunno, maybe do one review of each title that covers both and only have one "official" score of the PS4 version, but mention one unofficial score for the PS3 version.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
10 years ago

Hey, if you want to do any, let me know. I'm swamped. 🙂

matt99
matt99
10 years ago

Maybe do the reviews on the current gen and then when the PS4 version comes out play it enough to get a feel of it and add an extra PS4 paragraph at the end highlighting the main differences and how they might change the score.

Or pick a section of the game to compare against the next gen version, that way you don't have to re-play a large chunk of the game. For example compare just the first sequence of Ac4, or just 1 or 2 maps of BF4 or cod. This way you don't have to spend a large chunk of time re-reviewing a game and we as readers know it's not a full analysis of how the next gen versions differ but we still get a pretty solid idea.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

I'll email you.

Teddie9
Teddie9
10 years ago

A full review of the ps3 and making a small update or notice about the performance of the ps4 version would be the simplest.

Yet I thought you got review copies from time to time – which would make the choice for you. Depends how often that happens…

PGU:

got another midterm this coming week but I have an excuse to go home at the end of it. Last time I was there I got about 3-4 hours through beyond:two souls. I feel that this one restricts your freedom and the impact of the few choices I have a little too much for a game that doesn't have much in the way of direct gameplay. It's still interesting but I'm quite disappointed – perhaps I should start to clean up my backlog.

Temjin001
Temjin001
10 years ago

honestly, ben, this is one time of a generation where everyone would be envious of your position. I say take advantage of reviewing the games on PS4 and enjoy it. It'd be much more exciting than say, playing it on the current-gen and feeling that you'd just rather see the same game but much nicer on the PS4.

I'm not worried for MGS either. It's gonna be awesome.

Yah, seems like Batman Origins is predictably serviceable to the fans. I can't say I'm dissapointed because I expected as much.

PGU:
I've been playing ME3 a lot. I get sucked into these games so much, like the whole of them. Can't say I prefer yet to ME2 but I'm enjoying myself either way.
I'm also playing DOA5 U.

smileys_007
smileys_007
10 years ago

hey ben, could you hire me as your assistant journalist? i'll be happy to review some ps3 games as a part time job.. haha lol! ^_^

Solid Fantasy
Solid Fantasy
10 years ago

MGSV will leave us baffled like any other Metal Gear has. No amount of multiplatformism can destroy a well told story.

I might be home for the PS4 launch afterall. If so I can't wait for Shadow Fall!!

PGU: Put Shadow of the Colossus on hold. Tried to get into Kingdom of Amular and couldn't. It's just too much of an action game. There's a dodge button! WTF?! Found a mod for Skyrim to help with frame rate. It stops the ram allowance from the Fall Out engine to only two gigs. I have 12gigs so there's no reason not to use them! Kill Zone mercenary is awesome! It's my go to for multi player right now. I don't completely suck at it! Normally I just run around for a few seconds and then die and help the other team score points.

kraygen
kraygen
10 years ago

Currently playing Ni No Kuni, all I can say is why aren't there more games like this. Love it.

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

Glad you're enjoying it. I liked it a lot as well!

Solid Fantasy
Solid Fantasy
10 years ago

Before I stop being so lazy and look up the review. How close to the old AAA JRPGs would you say it is? Or even Lost Odyssey?

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

Solid, it ain't turn based, it's a hybrid. Otherwise it has many things in common with the old school, like a world map!

Solid Fantasy
Solid Fantasy
10 years ago

Sounds about right. It's been so long since I had that fresh JRPG feeling. It might have to do.

xenris
xenris
10 years ago

Even though its a hybrid it still felt like there were elements of the ATB bar from say FF7 in it. The benefit of it is that you can actively dodge some attacks and attack cancel if you want.

The game itself gives that nice warm JRPG feeling, at least it did to me and my friends.

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

I enjoyed every second of it. It was just such a warm experience. Some complain it's cutsy… and they'd be right. But in this case, it somehow makes it better.

kraygen
kraygen
10 years ago

It feels totally old school. Start out walking the world map, finally get your boat to sail the seas, and then later the best form of transportation, which I won't ruin the surprise.

Alchemy, great leveling, grinding is an option, easier if you do, harder if you don't. So many great things about this game and while the battle system is a mix, it's not at all button masher. Select your character then select basic attack or magic or defense.

Just one of the best of this gen in my opinion.

Lawless SXE
Lawless SXE
10 years ago

Personal Update:
Played Gone Home on Friday night… It comes most highly recommended from me. It might not have a great deal of gameplay, but that story is incredibly emotionally powerful and made all the more so due to how intimate the game is. Definitely a personal GotY contender… Picked up Beyond yesterday, so that's my next poison.
Finished Fear and Loathing. I don't get it. Well… I do, but it's not my thing. The fact there is no clearly identifiable narrative thread, other than the drug-addled misadventures of Raoul Duke and his attorney Doctor Gonzo, didn't sit well with me. However, it has given me a bit of inspiration for a story that I wanted to write that involves a bit of bit of drug use, so that's a good thing. Moving on to Don Quixote, by Cervantes next.

PlatformGamerNZ
PlatformGamerNZ
10 years ago

yeah i'd like to see what u think of BF4 i'm getting the deluxe edition on PC this time i thought about getting it on ps4 bu then i though i'd like some thing a bit more to pay on my laptop and so i'll get with BF4 and i dus be able to run it at med to med/high reasonalby well and it comes to the pc 1st any ways so.

happy gaming =)

slow and smart
slow and smart
10 years ago

"But without the games – the great games – to power those features, you're just left with a nifty box that nobody cares about."

Yeah,bullseye…[i'l be getting a ps4 because xbox never convinced me, but i wait some time]

Games i played and finished:
-beyond 2 souls;good but i liked heavy rain even more
-limbo:Fantastic,i want more !!!


Last edited by slow and smart on 10/27/2013 10:55:06 AM

PC_Max
PC_Max
10 years ago

My thoughts are if the game is coming out on the PS4, next gen, thats where the focus should be. The devs have been saying that they need more power and better hardware. I think many would like to see the proof of it and if they indeed showing how things are better on next gen.

Later I would do the PS3 versions although I am bothered with the cross gen versions they are doing. Its going to be a bit unfair in comparing. We know there will be a difference.

Mind you, reviewing the PS3 versions first might be better… you will most definitely get an initial honest or untainted review. I mean moving from that to the PS4 you are guaranteed to see the differences dramatically and clearly. The improvements hopefully.

PS3 review up to the PS4. Move forward and not backwards. Might make sense. Up to you et al.

Keep playing!

Corvo
Corvo
10 years ago

Working on getting 100% trophies on colonial marines. GTAVO thrown into the mix is about all I've done this week. That and Naruto Storm 3. The 10$ DLC is completely worth so much more, its a shame they didn't charge more than what they did for it. I like DLC that feels like they wanted to add more to it, after the games been out. So kudos to Bandai for having decent DLC, even the dark souls DLC was worth every penny. Thats about it.

Its been hot again, why go cold and snow one week to hot and…hot the following week? The weather here is completely Bi-polar.

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