A bit of a break between now and Assassin's Creed Syndicate . I'll have to use the time wisely.
Yakuza 6, Gravity Rush 2, Hot Shots 4, and…PS4 price drop?
There weren't many highlights from this year's Tokyo Game Show but I liked some of what I saw, although I was sorta hoping PlatinumGames would show off any progress they'd made with that Nier sequel.
Hearing about Yakuza 6 was exciting and it's weird that I'm excited. I haven't finished a game in the series since the original (even though I've played at least a portion of every entry that came to the U.S.) and at this rate, Yakuza 6 is years away. It takes Sega forever to localize these games; for crying out loud, Yakuza 5 on PS3, which launched back in 2012 in Japan, is just now coming out in North America. It's just that these games always have surprisingly great stories and I love the combat mechanic. Guess I can be patient.
I didn't finish the original Gravity Rush , either, but it was a great Vita game and the newly announced sequel for PS4 should be awesome. Those who missed out on the first title (or don't have a Vita) should really pay attention once the news on Gravity Rush 2 starts to flow. It's a unique and captivating experience. As for Hot Shots Golf on PS4 , I'm all for it. Love me some HSG; just make sure it's a full game, Clap Hanz, with tournament or career or whatever. Lastly, the PS4 price cut for Japan isn't surprising, as the system hasn't fared as well as anticipated in that region.
But I do wonder: Why? Why exactly has it done so much better in North America and Europe? If I asked Sony, what would they say is the reason(s)?
Nice to see single-player DLC getting some traction
For the longest time, 99 percent of all downloadable content I saw was for multiplayer. Only very rarely did I see a DLC pack or expansion that was single-player-oriented, which is mostly why I never bother with extra content. But we're starting to see a lot more recently:
There's the newly revealed Bloodborne expansion , The Old Hunters, which I imagine fans of the game can't wait to try. PlayStation 4 owners will get some exclusive mission-based DLC for Assassin's Creed Syndicate right out of the gate, we're getting 10+ hours worth of content with that Hearts of Stone expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in October, and we know the upcoming Uncharted 4: A Thief's End will get single-player DLC as well . It's true that such add-on content typically costs more than most multiplayer packs, but that's because the single-player expansions require way more time and resources.
The Left Behind DLC for The Last Of Us was so good, it made me look forward to the idea of more single-player expansions. If they're done correctly, they serve the original DLC purpose: Expand upon a great experience.
Personal gaming update
Even though MGSV should be getting all of my attention, I'm still wading through some sports games. NHL 16 is done but now I've got FIFA 16 to do, which I'm not exactly relishing but I always find a way to get involved in the soccer sims…despite the fact that I absolutely can't stand watching the sport. And I have to say, I really enjoy Leo's Fortune and it comes highly recommended to anyone looking for a clean, engaging platformer with a unique twist. The combination of standard platforming gameplay and puzzles is a big draw, too. If the developers want to make another game designed specifically for consoles (and not mobile platforms, like this title), I'd be all for it. Just make it deeper and take advantage of what the PS4 can do.
Beyond that, as I said, I'm just waiting on Syndicate , which releases on October 23. I hear The Taken King for Destiny is pretty darn good but I just can't into that again. For some reason, that game totally saps my energy and interest.
I was pleased by this year's TGS. Team Ninja's Nioh easily has me most interested. Not only did it look rich with historical japanese atmosphere and awesome bosses and art design but it looks to be a combat game that really rewards technique and not so much spastic combos and button mashing.
Gravity Rush on PS4 looks great. Reports claim it plays better than on Vita.
PGU: MGSV, Destiny TTK, and FFIV.
MGSV is one incredible stealth game. I like how MGS and Splinter Cell have merged in many mechanics over the years. As Snake I can shoot out lights (if the weapon is powerful enough, the default tranq-gun won't do it) to decrease visibility. Actions like holding enemies and interrogating them and also being able to hold them as a human shield while firing is awesome too. The game makes a big deal out of sound levels, too. I could go on but I'm just real impressed on how well of a sim it feels. MGS while great, never felt as believable to me in mechanics as a quality Splinter Cell game. That's now changed. I would've liked to have seen a few more cutscenes. It was something as a pay off after making some progress in the past games. Now. Oftentimes. Finishing a mission means hopping in your helicopter and watching yourself fly away.
That's fine and all. The game doesn't need lavish cutscenes as it's aces as it is, but in staying true to it's heritage it's missing a hallmark the series is known for.
Anyway, with both Kojima exiting MGS and Konami quiting the AAA scene it's sad to see the practical end of the legendary franchise.
Now I can only hope Splinter Cell hangs in there. I thought Blacklist was excellent. I'd love to see another game from Ubi. SC is now my last hope for this type of genre.
Destiny TTK does seem to be a good improvement. I saw that Polygon upgraded the game's score from a 6 to a 7. I feel that if the game was more like the state it's in now as it was at launch a year ago it would've pulled down consistently better reviews. Anyway, very happy with gaming these days.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 9/19/2015 10:46:32 PM
Wow. So I just beat the story in The Taken King. While boss battles in FPS games aren't usually the best type of boss battles, I'm here to say in all my years of gaming that final boss battle against Oryx was probably the best I've ever played in an FPS. Very nice effort. If anyone thinks there's one better, lemme know because that is tough to beat.
Indeed. Such an excellent game. It's one of the few games where grinding for GMP is actually fun. I'm taking my sweet time with this one. I imagine I'll be playing this for a loooooong time. Especially after MGO launches.
I maganed to video record myself taking down a gunship and almost get crushed by crash. So awesome.
Don't ever listen to anything Polygon says.
That's the first rule of the internet.
Started in on Persona 4 Golden over the past week. It's basically Japanese Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so I'm digging it.
My son talked me into buying him the Vita version of Minecraft. Because apparently owning it on PC and tablet and being able to play it on his friend's 360 wasn't enough Minecraft.
P44444GGGG
Enjoy the animu-s.
Ben will you be doing a review for Pro Evolution Soccer too ? Or is that too much sports football gaming for you.
Having played both demos I normally get Fifa. This year's harder 3 of my mates have bought pes 16.
Just wanted an honest opinion of them both.
Pgu working my way through Mad Max and Metal Gear. Having completed Until Dawn and loved that.
Having problems with Metal Gear. It's Metal Gear and it's not. I guess it's being too open world that's making me not play it as much as the previous entries. I used to play a Metal Gear game until it was completed this one I don't seem as bothered by it and continue with it at a much slower pace than normal.
Last edited by tlpn99 on 9/19/2015 11:50:31 PM
I am tempted to buy that Leo game though. I love platformers.
May not get to PES.
I can't put it down. There's endless possibilities when approaching base camps and outposts. This is true stealth and what Metal Gear was meant to be.
Anyone get the Sony Gold headset? I picked up the 20th anniversary edition. They're pretty sweet. You can download a companion app from the PS store that allows you to upload audio presets for certain games. So far the Arkham Knight and The Last of Us presets seem to work best with MGS5. I highly suggest them if you're in the market for a pair of affordable head phones.
Now, time to Fulton some donkys and interrogate some Russians!
Yep, this headsets are great. I myself have Sony Wireless Pulse Elite 7.1 and they have the same app. It's a blast playing games with these as the sound is so clear and deep. I chose the above over Gold because I can also connect it to my TV/laptop and watch movies with them.
Last edited by JackieBoy on 9/20/2015 7:13:15 AM
The Gold Geadset will work with a PC too. Just have to plug in the usb stick that came with it into the PC but it won't work with the TV unless you're using the PS4 or PS3 to watch tv. So yea that is indeed a plus for the Pulse.
Nah, I think my SteelSeries wireless ones are still better.
Yeah, I'm on my second set. They are nice but VERY cheaply made. The leather on the head band will come out and the head band will develop cracks at the stress points. Sony's quality is garbage and they should feel bad about themselves and thier SMRT idea to use cheap garbage plastic. BTW Also on my 3rd controller because of the trash plastic they use for the R2 trigger… Gotta send both in to be replaced. AGAIN!
Last edited by LowKey on 9/21/2015 10:39:27 PM
I'm looking forward for 2 great games on October, one is Tales of Zestiria and the other is Assassin's Creed: Syndicate ^_^
The Gold Geadset will work with a PC too. Just have to plug in the usb stick that came with it into the PC but it won't work with the TV unless you're using the PS4 or PS3 to watch tv. So yea that is indeed a plus for the Pulse.
Ben will you be doing a review for Pro Evolution Soccer too ? Or is that too much sports football gaming for you.
Having played both demos I normally get Fifa. This year's harder 3 of my mates have bought pes 16.
Just wanted an honest opinion of them both.
Pgu working my way through Mad Max and Metal Gear. Having completed Until Dawn and loved that.
Having problems with Metal Gear. It's Metal Gear and it's not. I guess it's being too open world that's making me not play it as much as the previous entries. I used to play a Metal Gear game until it was completed this one I don't seem as bothered by it and continue with it at a much slower pace than normal.
Last edited by tlpn99 on 9/19/2015 11:50:31 PM
Started in on Persona 4 Golden over the past week. It's basically Japanese Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so I'm digging it.
My son talked me into buying him the Vita version of Minecraft. Because apparently owning it on PC and tablet and being able to play it on his friend's 360 wasn't enough Minecraft.
I am tempted to buy that Leo game though. I love platformers.
I was pleased by this year's TGS. Team Ninja's Nioh easily has me most interested. Not only did it look rich with historical japanese atmosphere and awesome bosses and art design but it looks to be a combat game that really rewards technique and not so much spastic combos and button mashing.
Gravity Rush on PS4 looks great. Reports claim it plays better than on Vita.
PGU: MGSV, Destiny TTK, and FFIV.
MGSV is one incredible stealth game. I like how MGS and Splinter Cell have merged in many mechanics over the years. As Snake I can shoot out lights (if the weapon is powerful enough, the default tranq-gun won't do it) to decrease visibility. Actions like holding enemies and interrogating them and also being able to hold them as a human shield while firing is awesome too. The game makes a big deal out of sound levels, too. I could go on but I'm just real impressed on how well of a sim it feels. MGS while great, never felt as believable to me in mechanics as a quality Splinter Cell game. That's now changed. I would've liked to have seen a few more cutscenes. It was something as a pay off after making some progress in the past games. Now. Oftentimes. Finishing a mission means hopping in your helicopter and watching yourself fly away.
That's fine and all. The game doesn't need lavish cutscenes as it's aces as it is, but in staying true to it's heritage it's missing a hallmark the series is known for.
Anyway, with both Kojima exiting MGS and Konami quiting the AAA scene it's sad to see the practical end of the legendary franchise.
Now I can only hope Splinter Cell hangs in there. I thought Blacklist was excellent. I'd love to see another game from Ubi. SC is now my last hope for this type of genre.
Destiny TTK does seem to be a good improvement. I saw that Polygon upgraded the game's score from a 6 to a 7. I feel that if the game was more like the state it's in now as it was at launch a year ago it would've pulled down consistently better reviews. Anyway, very happy with gaming these days.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 9/19/2015 10:46:32 PM
P44444GGGG
Enjoy the animu-s.
May not get to PES.
Indeed. Such an excellent game. It's one of the few games where grinding for GMP is actually fun. I'm taking my sweet time with this one. I imagine I'll be playing this for a loooooong time. Especially after MGO launches.
I maganed to video record myself taking down a gunship and almost get crushed by crash. So awesome.
Wow. So I just beat the story in The Taken King. While boss battles in FPS games aren't usually the best type of boss battles, I'm here to say in all my years of gaming that final boss battle against Oryx was probably the best I've ever played in an FPS. Very nice effort. If anyone thinks there's one better, lemme know because that is tough to beat.
Yep, this headsets are great. I myself have Sony Wireless Pulse Elite 7.1 and they have the same app. It's a blast playing games with these as the sound is so clear and deep. I chose the above over Gold because I can also connect it to my TV/laptop and watch movies with them.
Last edited by JackieBoy on 9/20/2015 7:13:15 AM
I can't put it down. There's endless possibilities when approaching base camps and outposts. This is true stealth and what Metal Gear was meant to be.
Anyone get the Sony Gold headset? I picked up the 20th anniversary edition. They're pretty sweet. You can download a companion app from the PS store that allows you to upload audio presets for certain games. So far the Arkham Knight and The Last of Us presets seem to work best with MGS5. I highly suggest them if you're in the market for a pair of affordable head phones.
Now, time to Fulton some donkys and interrogate some Russians!
Nah, I think my SteelSeries wireless ones are still better.
Don't ever listen to anything Polygon says.
That's the first rule of the internet.
I'm looking forward for 2 great games on October, one is Tales of Zestiria and the other is Assassin's Creed: Syndicate ^_^
Yeah, I'm on my second set. They are nice but VERY cheaply made. The leather on the head band will come out and the head band will develop cracks at the stress points. Sony's quality is garbage and they should feel bad about themselves and thier SMRT idea to use cheap garbage plastic. BTW Also on my 3rd controller because of the trash plastic they use for the R2 trigger… Gotta send both in to be replaced. AGAIN!
Last edited by LowKey on 9/21/2015 10:39:27 PM