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Ben’s Week In Review: September 6

In a week that's all about MGSV, it's hard to talk about anything else. But I'll give it a shot.

Uncharted 4 has a date and now I'm happy

I'm almost never disappointed with delay announcements because, A. I just don't care that much about this industry anymore, and B. There's always plenty to play, so it's not like a delay leaves you high and dry. That being said, I admit I was a little disheartened when I heard Uncharted 4: A Thief's End wasn't coming out this year.

But as this year rolls on and 2016 starts to loom large, we can focus on next year's gems, and it's great to know that Uncharted 4 is coming out on March 18 . I still wonder about the story quality (losing your lead writer has to have some impact) but otherwise, I'm certain Naughty Dog will deliver another top-tier production. And I like the idea of single-player DLC ; not just because it's the only kind of DLC I ever bother with, but also because Left Behind for The Last Of Us was so fantastic. If it wasn't for that, I might be a little skeptical about the studio's first foray into narrative-driven expansions. Hey, no matter how talented your team is, new endeavors can be tricky.

I'm still not sure if I want any of the special editions they're prepping for Uncharted 4 . I probably don't; I really don't care about gaming collectibles and paraphernalia and all that, even if some of the extra artwork and music is cool. It's actually a good thing that we never had this ceaseless slew of special editions and collector's editions for big games back in the day, because I would've bought all of them for games like Final Fantasy and Grand Theft Auto . Saved me a lot of money and now I'm just not as interested.

Clarification concerning Until Dawn

When I said I thought this new IP could make for a great exclusive franchise for the PlayStation brand, I didn't necessarily mean a direct sequel. I'm well aware that the original title doesn't really lend itself to a sequel (although a prequel might work); my point is that this particular style of gameplay should be given a chance to grow. The Butterfly Effect concept is fantastic for interactive drama and there's plenty of room for advancement. Furthermore, as I noted in my review , there are some drawbacks that could easily be ironed out if Supermassive Games got another crack at it. As Quantic Dream simply doesn't do sequels and their new project – whatever it is – is obviously a long ways off, I keep thinking this is a golden opportunity for Supermassive and Sony. Of course, it'll depend a lot on sales; I have no idea how well Until Dawn sold.

There's just so much you can do with the ideas on display in that game. It'd be a shame if, in a world dominated by the same old open-world structure, we never got a chance to see a different style of gameplay progress. Go ahead and make a completely different adventure with a different cast if you want. Well, Hayden Panettiere can come back. And she can stay in a wet towel the entire game as far as I'm concerned.

Personal gaming update

I was going to go through Until Dawn again but really, it's all about Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain . I'm going to try to savor this one, playing here and there rather than blitzing through it. Besides, I have to get Mad Max and NHL 16 reviews done this week, so I'll be able to resist long MGSV play sessions. It is difficult to do, though; despite the lacking storyline (in comparison to previous entries), it's just so immersive and involving. It's one of those games that's exceedingly difficult to put down and on top of that, you're constantly awed by the game's overall quality. This level of accomplishment never gets old.

I'm not reviewing The Taken King expansion for Destiny , as I said before. I am interested in some other smaller games, though, like Leo's Fortune . If you say the words "handcrafted platformer," I have to at least try it.

24 Comments
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Jawknee
Jawknee
9 years ago

Kinda hard to blitz through MGS5. I'm only 15% complete and I've spent over 30 hours on it since its release. This game is huge! I've only done 10 story missions and maybe 30 side ops. I've been spending my time building mother base and gather materials. I could easily see myself putting 100+ hours into this game.

Temjin001
Temjin001
9 years ago

Yea, I'm not one to buy gussied up collector's editions when it means added toys and hard shell cases etc. These days most stuff like that seems exactly that to me.'stuff'
Stuff I've learned to just let go of. I've helped enough people move in my time to see that many people horde way too much junk for their own good. I'm not saying I don't have anything memorable to own (original Shenmue DC game!) just not much.

I'm stoked for Uncharted 4 as well. I'm also excited for the Uncharted collection coming next month.

PGU: So I'm without a TV for a while, since last Thursday and will be until next Thursday. Sadly that means I had to stop playing MGSV, abruptly, after only about 6 hours of play. I loved every minute of it while it lasted. I look forward to going back. As an alternative I turned to Bioshock on my laptop. Being my first real play of it, the experience took me an hour or so to win me over. Now I can say it's one real cool game. It's made waiting and not thinking about MGSV much easier. My Vita has also been a big partner with games like FFIV and DOA5.


Last edited by Temjin001 on 9/5/2015 11:39:33 PM

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
9 years ago

The original Bioshock? If so it took me a bit to get into it also. Today, it's one of the best games I've played. I love the final boss battle.

I'm the most excited for Uncharted 4 as I have been for a game in a long time. I'm not so excited about any single player dlc.


Last edited by bigrailer19 on 9/6/2015 12:34:11 AM

Temjin001
Temjin001
9 years ago

Yep. The original. Its so well crafted. I'm quite impressed. And to think this game is nearly 10 years old!

Bio
Bio
9 years ago

Bioshock is sooooo good.

JackieBoy
JackieBoy
9 years ago

Bioshock is one of my favorite games ever. Finished it 3 times.

Kevin555
Kevin555
9 years ago

MGSV…..phenomenal game. Taking it one slow mission task at a time and enjoying it very much.

D-Dog, without giving away too much is just amazing.

Bio
Bio
9 years ago

PGU- picked up Golden Abyss, Most Wanted, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus (what a stupid name) and God of War Collection for my Vita, which is now my primary device for gaming. Uncharted is great except for the tacked on bullshit touch controls, GoW Collection is kinda disappointing. Also, if anyone wants to get in some Borderlands 2 co op on Vita feel free to send me a request. BionicNinjas is the PSN tag.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
9 years ago

Get PSTV, play those Vita games on your TV with the controller. I just pulled my card from the vita and stuck it in the PSTV and Bob's your uncle.

Edit: crap Golden Abyss isn't functional. Lots r tho 🙂


Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 9/6/2015 3:46:39 PM

Temjin001
Temjin001
9 years ago

Sadly NGS2 Plus has major performance issues on Vita.
The original runs well though.

Temjin001
Temjin001
9 years ago

Oh but DOA5 Plus is very we done on Vita.
I also recommend WipEout.

Nerull
Nerull
9 years ago

PGU: Just finished the Gastown race in Mad Max, which so far is the only frustrating mission. I'm glad to have gotten that first boss out of the way, but the rest of the game has kept me enthralled since its launch, even if a lot of the clearing the local threat levels gets repetitious.

I need to get me that big-chief V8 because my armor is really cancelling out my acceleration even with my V6 maxed out.

On the bright side I'm just a couple levels away from reaching the top rank, Road Warrior.

I can understand people giving much more attention to the Phantom Pain, but for fans of the Mad Max universe like me the latter is still a great game that shouldn't be overlooked.


Last edited by Nerull on 9/6/2015 8:02:33 PM

Temjin001
Temjin001
5 years ago

Yep. The original. Its so well crafted. I&#39m quite impressed. And to think this game is nearly 10 years old!

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
5 years ago

The original Bioshock? If so it took me a bit to get into it also. Today, it&#39s one of the best games I&#39ve played. I love the final boss battle.

I&#39m the most excited for Uncharted 4 as I have been for a game in a long time. I&#39m not so excited about any single player dlc.

Last edited by bigrailer19 on 9/6/2015 12:34:11 AM

Jawknee
Jawknee
5 years ago

Kinda hard to blitz through MGS5. I&#39m only 15% complete and I&#39ve spent over 30 hours on it since its release. This game is huge! I&#39ve only done 10 story missions and maybe 30 side ops. I&#39ve been spending my time building mother base and gather materials. I could easily see myself putting 100+ hours into this game.

JackieBoy
JackieBoy
5 years ago

Bioshock is one of my favorite games ever. Finished it 3 times.

Kevin555
Kevin555
5 years ago

MGSV…..phenomenal game. Taking it one slow mission task at a time and enjoying it very much.

D-Dog, without giving away too much is just amazing.

Bio
Bio
5 years ago

Bioshock is sooooo good.

Bio
Bio
5 years ago

PGU- picked up Golden Abyss, Most Wanted, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus (what a stupid name) and God of War Collection for my Vita, which is now my primary device for gaming. Uncharted is great except for the tacked on bullshit touch controls, GoW Collection is kinda disappointing. Also, if anyone wants to get in some Borderlands 2 co op on Vita feel free to send me a request. BionicNinjas is the PSN tag.

Temjin001
Temjin001
5 years ago

Oh but DOA5 Plus is very we done on Vita.
I also recommend WipEout.

Temjin001
Temjin001
5 years ago

Yea, I&#39m not one to buy gussied up collector&#39s editions when it means added toys and hard shell cases etc. These days most stuff like that seems exactly that to me.&#39stuff&#39
Stuff I&#39ve learned to just let go of. I&#39ve helped enough people move in my time to see that many people horde way too much junk for their own good. I&#39m not saying I don&#39t have anything memorable to own (original Shenmue DC game!) just not much.

I&#39m stoked for Uncharted 4 as well. I&#39m also excited for the Uncharted collection coming next month.

PGU: So I&#39m without a TV for a while, since last Thursday and will be until next Thursday. Sadly that means I had to stop playing MGSV, abruptly, after only about 6 hours of play. I loved every minute of it while it lasted. I look forward to going back. As an alternative I turned to Bioshock on my laptop. Being my first real play of it, the experience took me an hour or so to win me over. Now I can say it&#39s one real cool game. It&#39s made waiting and not thinking about MGSV much easier. My Vita has also been a big partner with games like FFIV and DOA5.

Last edited by Temjin001 on 9/5/2015 11:39:33 PM

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
5 years ago

Get PSTV, play those Vita games on your TV with the controller. I just pulled my card from the vita and stuck it in the PSTV and Bob&#39s your uncle.

Edit: crap Golden Abyss isn&#39t functional. Lots r tho 🙂

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 9/6/2015 3:46:39 PM

Temjin001
Temjin001
5 years ago

Sadly NGS2 Plus has major performance issues on Vita.
The original runs well though.

Nerull
Nerull
5 years ago

PGU: Just finished the Gastown race in Mad Max, which so far is the only frustrating mission. I&#39m glad to have gotten that first boss out of the way, but the rest of the game has kept me enthralled since its launch, even if a lot of the clearing the local threat levels gets repetitious.

I need to get me that big-chief V8 because my armor is really cancelling out my acceleration even with my V6 maxed out.

On the bright side I&#39m just a couple levels away from reaching the top rank, Road Warrior.

I can understand people giving much more attention to the Phantom Pain, but for fans of the Mad Max universe like me the latter is still a great game that shouldn&#39t be overlooked.

Last edited by Nerull on 9/6/2015 8:02:33 PM