#PSVR Deals

[johannepetereric]

Today on Choosing Beggars, bro “offers” a price-fraction of a third (or less) of the original deal.

Said deal: A PS4, two controllers, a PSVR setup, and two games for $300 dollars.

[44gamez]

Best of 2023: PlayStation Horror Games

From big-name franchise revivals to small-scale indie productions, horror gaming on PlayStation was in good well being in 2023. PlayStation LifeStyle selects 14 of the 12 months’s finest horror video games on PlayStation consoles.

Resident Evil 4 Remake (Capcom)

Few remakes would include such expectations as Resident Evil 4, and but Capcom managed to exceed them. Resident Evil 4 Remake takes every part gamers cherished concerning the 2005 basic and integrates a flurry of recent touches to make it really feel like a pure evolution of the unique.

Lifeless Area (EA Motive)

Whereas Resident Evil 4’s remake reimagined the unique, EA Motive’s Lifeless Area largely caught to the script with a smattering of enhancements the place they have been wanted. The spirit of the unique is saved intact, however a PS5 sheen made each Necromorph encounter and gore-splattered final result a grisly deal with. However the true star of the brand new present is the Ishimura, which now not appears like a collection of interconnected rooms masquerading as a spaceship however extra like an precise place.

No One Lives Below the Lighthouse (Marevo Collective)

Lastly getting a console launch, Marevo Collective’s atmospheric PSX-style horror is a pleasant slow-burner that makes probably the most of its minimalist construction. The anomaly of the story retains gamers on edge, and when chase scenes kick in, the attitude shift provides one other layer to the unsettling environment.

Amnesia The Bunker (Frictional Video games)

Frictional Video games’ skill to rewrite the rulesets of its story-led horror video games is admirable and with Amnesia: The Bunker, it does its largest edit but. Amnesia: The Bunker is a self-contained sandbox set in a wartime bunker the place the participant has to seek out the means to flee while evading a lethal monstrosity. Consider it as small-scale Alien Isolation meets Immersive Sim.

The Strolling Lifeless: Saints and Sinners 2 (Skydance Interactive)

PSVR2 had loads of horror goodies in 2023. The Strolling Lifeless: Saints and Sinners 2 was my private decide from the brand-new bunch. Why? Properly, its immersive, intense gameplay interprets so a lot better to the PSVR2 than the unique sport did with PSVR. The dread of getting cornered by the undead is offset by improvised weapons. Throw in a seemingly unstoppable behemoth out for blood and Saints and Sinners 2 can have you working up a sweat.

Killer Frequency (Crew 17)

Killer Frequency stands out for me as a result of it’s clearly doing one thing fairly totally different within the horror house. Enjoying the a part of a washed-up DJ who finds themselves having to assist save locals from a returning legendary serial killer. Killer Frequency limits you to the radio station as to the extent of your assist, however inside that station is loads of exploration and alternative. Not solely can you discover issues to information potential victims away from their destiny, however you get the prospect to play as a DJ, placing on information, advertisements, and, in fact, taking calls. Killer Frequency does every part attainable to immerse you within the function.

Oxenfree II: Misplaced Indicators (Night time Faculty Studios)

Oxenfree’s dialogue system stays one of the vital refreshing and ingenious of its form, so a return to that with Oxenfree II would all the time be welcome. That system is extra refined now, nevertheless it’s Oxenfree II’s story is the place it excels. After the teen-centric story of the unique, Oxenfree II shifts issues to an grownup perspective and, in doing so, offers us a splendidly melancholy flipside to the primary sport.

Homebody (Sport Grumps)

Homebody places a contemporary spin on basic survival horror, with loads of homages to Clock Tower, particularly on present. A younger girl and her associates are caught in a time loop that retains them inside an odd outdated home. She should clear up the various puzzles of the home with a view to break the loop, however each time the loop begins, the specter of a masked killer arrives with it.

Trepang2 (Trepang Studios)

If you happen to miss the frenetic supernatural shooter motion of F.E.A.R. then Trepang2 has your early 2000s wants lined. A labor of affection that remodeled right into a full sport, Trepang2 is a beautiful reminder that shooters can merely be massive, loud, bloody slabs of nonsense. The slo-mo skill turns large-scale chaos right into a ballet of bullets and blood, however really the artwork of Trepang2 is available in chaining collectively kills at full pace, using the assorted different superpowers at your disposal.

Alan Wake 2 (Treatment Leisure)

13 years after Treatment Leisure’s Alan Wake, a sequel lastly arrived, and it’s the quintessential distillation of every part the developer has accomplished up till this level. It’s a bizarre, meta story that blends mediums in an impressively seamless manner. The shift between Alan’s and Saga’s sides of the story offers us two distinct flavors of horror that intertwine at key moments.

Keep Out of the Home (Puppet Combo)

It was fairly outstanding that Amnesia: The Bunker condensed a horror immersive sim into such a small house, however Puppet Combo’s Keep Out of the Home manages to pack that into an excellent smaller house. You must escape the home of The Butcher by using no matter yow will discover. Get caught, and it’s again in your cage. Every run offers you the chance to find extra about how the home works and the backstory behind The Butcher. After an unlucky licensing drama with Friday the thirteenth, Gun Media clearly wasn’t deterred from bringing beloved horror franchises to life in online game kind, and we must be glad as a result of it gave us The Texas Chain Noticed Bloodbath. Taking the asymmetrical multiplayer mannequin of video games like its Friday the thirteenth sport and Lifeless by Daylight, Gun, and Sumo change issues up by pitting a crew of three members of the family towards 4 unfortunate potential victims. The change makes for an intense cat-and-mouse dynamic distinct to this sport.

Lifeless Island 2 (Dambuster Studios)

Given the rocky historical past of Lifeless Island 2’s path to launch and the emergence of rival franchise Dying Gentle by unique Lifeless Island builders Techland within the years since it could have been comprehensible if Lifeless Island 2 turned out to be a little bit of a stinker. But, because of Dambuster Studios, it turned out to be not solely good, gory enjoyable however one of the best Lifeless Island sport by far. Its tongue-in-cheek humor, detailed zombie degradation system, and basic blood-splattered fight mix to make for a wonderful multiplayer hoot.

Dredge (Black Salt Video games)

Fishing has been a staple of sport actions for a while now, however few outdoors precise sims make that the premise for a whole sport. Black Salt Video games thought it was value a go, and Dredge was the unholy consequence. This open-world fishing sim has an more and more darkish undertone that faucets into the core of Lovecraftian horror. The murmured warnings to not stray too far at night time, the tousled fish you sometimes haul in, and the unusual, ambiguous manner locals speak about issues. When the horrors of the deep do lastly present themselves, your little fishing boat by no means felt extra susceptible. Source link Read the full article

[metaverse-ar-vr]

Think running VR cables from the ceiling is too much work? Check out this motorized crane. The post The PSVR 2 cable bothers you? This fan built a crazy crane to deal with it appeared first on MIXED Reality News. #AR #VR #Metaverse

[iamvoid0]

Amazon acquires Tomb Raider, and EA cancels Apex Legends Mobile, Battlefield Mobile, and Titanfall 3! Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox no-shows at E3!

🕹️ The Console War Rages On

Sony, Xbox, and Nintendo will be no-shows at E3 2023!A new report by IGN has indicated that Xbox, Sony, and Nintendo will skip the yearly show, which finally returns to an in-person event since the pandemic started. While Xbox will return to Los Angeles for its annual summer showcase, they made no indication if it will be part of the E3 floor. Sony has not been a part of E3 since 2019 due to potentially ongoing issues with the Entertainment  Software Association. Xbox, however, noted that they have a good relationship with the ESA. There are rumours which indicate that Nintendo will not have any big hitters after The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and as a result don't think the cost of an E3 booth makes economic sense. The report also notes that despite the new event organizers, ReedPop - who handles multiple other large conventions such as Star Wars Celebration, New York Comic Con, and PAX - there seems to be a lot of mismanagement of the event as a hold, with promises made with publishers last fall. Still, as of December 2022, the promised bookings have no information. (Source)

PlayStation has not cut PSVR2 production!In response to a Bloomberg report, PlayStation states that it has "not reduced PlayStation VR 2 production." According to GamesIndustry.biz, the company is "seeing enthusiasm from PlayStation fans for the upcoming launch, which will include more than 30 titles such as Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Call of the Mountain, and Resident Evil Village." The initial report indicated that Sony was significantly reducing its projections for PlayStation VR 2 and cautioned its supply chain partners that production could also decrease. According to the source, Sony has halved its original forecast for PSVR 2 shipments from two million units for the headset's launch quarter to one million. The PlayStation VR 2 release date is 22nd February. It will cost $550, and 37 titles are scheduled to be released during its launch window. (Source)

Embracer Group has leased Tomb Raider to Amazon!Amazon just acquired the 'Tomb Raider' rights from Embracer Group in a deal valued at approximately $600 million, making it Amazon's second largest commitment after purchasing the television rights for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings'. Consequently, this provides context for the cost and commitments that Embracer may be seeking. (Source)

EA cancels Apex Legends Mobile, Battlefield Mobile, and Titanfall 3!According to three individuals who know the situation, Electronic Arts Inc. has cancelled a game based on the Apex Legends and Titanfall franchises. Respawn Entertainment was developing the game for EA, which had not yet been announced publicly. Tuesday, EA, one of the largest video game publishers in the world, issued a disappointing revenue forecast for the current quarter. The company announced the cancellation of the mobile game Apex Legends and a mobile version of Battlefield, as well as the closure of the studio responsible for their development. EA also delayed Respawn's highly anticipated Star Wars Jedi: Survivor in development. According to management, EA will attempt to place the approximately fifty members of the unnamed game's development team. According to individuals who know the situation and request anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, those who cannot be placed will be given severance packages and laid off. Titanfall Legends, or TFL, was a cancelled single-player game set in the same universe as Apex Legends and Titanfall. Seasoned designer Mohammad Alavi directed it until he left the company in early 2022. EA made several hints about the game, which was not advertised, even though it was not announced. (Source)

Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp gets relisted!Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon Canada, and EB Games have relisted Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp. Initially scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch family of systems in December 2021, the collection was delayed indefinitely due to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Now that Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp has reappeared on numerous retail sites worldwide, speculation has arisen that Nintendo is prepared to commit to a release date for the compilation. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a WayForward and Nintendo collaboration. (Source)

Horizon Forbidden West gameplay leaked for its Multiplayer!Co-op gameplay footage from Guerilla's forthcoming Horizon: Forbidden West has allegedly leaked online. The video was brought to light by the game's official subreddit community and u/BirdonWheels, who claims the footage - reportedly shot in "summer 2020" - is "very old" and includes a "join-PC" and "join-PS4" option in the alpha build, indicating that the game may eventually support cross-platform connectivity. While we glimpse some combat, the video focuses primarily on the game's environments, characters, enemies, and potential skins. However, as the footage is almost three years old, a lot can change in that time, so don't be surprised if the final game looks or plays very differently from what we see in this leak. (Source)

Hi-Fi RUSH performs exceptionally well!The shadow-dropped game from Tango Gameworks during the Xbox Developer Direct showcase has found its way onto the top 10 best sellers for the week ending 29th January 2023 on SteamDB. Indicating that the game has done exceptionally well. Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm-based action game for Windows and Xbox Series X/S developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was announced on 25th January 2023 and released the following day globally. Chai is a self-proclaimed "future rock star" whose music player is accidentally implanted in his chest during experimental cybernetic surgery, allowing him to sense the world's rhythm. Chai, labelled a "defect" and hunted by the corporation that transformed him, unites with new allies to defeat the company's executives and thwart their schemes. The Black Keys and Nine Inch Nails are licensed artists featured on Hi-Fi Rush. (Source)

📈 Financing the Bits & Bytes

In its most recent financial results released on Monday, the publisher reported that it sold 29.1 million games to consumers in the nine months leading up to 31st December 2022, an increase from the 25.8 million games sold during the same period in 2021.

And with continued sales of catalogue titles and the upcoming release of Resident Evil 4 on 24th March – a week before the end of Capcom's fiscal year – the company expects to sell more than 40 million game units, which would be a record for an entire year.

Capcom anticipates that 90% (36m) of these sales will be digital downloads and only 10% (4m) will be physical, with 75% (30m) being catalogue sales and 25% (10m) being new releases (Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak and Resident Evil 4).

The company attributes its current sales figures to the release of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak and its continued pursuit of digital sales, including the sale of catalogue titles primarily comprised of Monster Hunter and Resident Evil games.

The company sold 2.75 million copies of Monster Hunter Rise, 1.5 million copies of Resident Evil 2, 1.45 million copies of Devil May Cry 5, and 1.35 million copies of Resident Evil 3 in the nine months leading up to 31st December. Each of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne and Street Fighter V has sold 750 thousand of units.

Despite massive unit sales, Capcom's sales revenue has decreased year-over-year, which the company again attributes to the release of "a new major title" in the same period of the prior year, most likely Resident Evil Village.

Net sales were 79,671 million yen for the nine months ending 31st December 2022 (down 9.6% year-over-year), operating income was 33,332 million yen (down 5.0% year-over-year), and ordinary income was 33,564 million yen (down 7.1% year-over-year).

Capcom expects these to be completed by the end of the fiscal year (31st March 2023), indicating that it has high hopes for Resident Evil 4. This would be Capcom's tenth consecutive year of increasing operating income. (Source)

According to the company's most recent financial report, 7.1 million PS5s were shipped in the three months leading up to 31st December 2022. This is nearly double the number of units sold during the same quarter last year, which was 3.9 million. According to Sony's earnings reports, the company has now shipped 32,1 million units of its latest generation console, which is in line with the 30 million lifetime sales figure disclosed at the beginning of January.

The global chip shortage significantly impacted production, making it difficult for the company to meet the demand for its new console for most of its two-year lifespan.

Isabelle Tomatis, vice president of brand, hardware, and peripherals at Sony Interactive Entertainment, stated earlier this week that PS5 consoles should now be more widely available at retailers worldwide.

Nikkei reports that Sony has increased its operating profit forecast for the end of the year from 1.16 trillion yen to 1.18 trillion yen (approximately $9.1 billion). Even though the new forecast still represents a 2 per cent year-over-year decline, a Bloomberg-quoted analyst was impressed by Sony's performance in light of the struggles of the entire technology industry.

An analyst at Morningstar Investment Service, Kazunori Ito, remarked, "Given the current global demand environment, it's astonishing that Sony's earnings are in line with expectations."

Aside from this, PlayStation Plus subscriber numbers increased marginally to 46,4 million quarter-over-quarter but were still lower than 48 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

Nevertheless, network service revenue increased by approximately 17 per cent, indicating that Sony's revamped PlayStation Plus subscription tiers are increasing average revenue per user.

VGC notes that Sony will need to continue selling PlayStation 5 consoles at a similar rate to reach its 18 million console sales target by the end of its fiscal year in 2022. This will necessitate the sale of an additional 5,2 million consoles in the quarter ending 31st March.

This objective may be attainable with the 22nd February release of the highly anticipated PSVR 2 headset and what appears to be a large-scale marketing campaign. (Source)

✨ Going to Events Spiritually

Xbox Games with Gold for February 2023 sees For the King and Guts N Goals added to the service. (Source)

PlayStation Plus members get four new games in February. Take on demonic Deadites in Evil Dead: The Game's asymmetrical multiplayer mode, grind and trick your way through the vibrant world of Radlandia in OlliOlliWorld, and live the life of a Prohibition-era gangster in Mafia: The Definitive Edition. In addition to these titles, Destiny 2: Beyond light joins the roster this month as a bonus game. From Tuesday, 7th February, through Monday, 6th March, all four titles will be accessible to PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium members. (Source)

🎮 Where's My Controller?

I have only been playing IXION for this past week. The game is addictive. I will be doing a written piece on this in the future. Most likely when I complete the game itself.

🎵 Turn it up to 11!

Since  I've been obsessed with IXION, you need to hear the metallic contemplations across the stars with Guillaume David's excellent soundtrack. The soundtrack adds to the tense contemplations you will have to make as your resources dwindle and you frantically turn off factories and mismanage your population before their inevitable revolt. (YouTube Link)

📝I don't know what a pen looks like.

I recently my new piece on Megaman 11: "Does Megaman 11 deserve to be the best-selling game in the franchise?".

Megaman 11 brought the classic blue bomber back to new heights, and with that, it took the title of best-selling classic Megaman title. Capcom had pre-emptively purchased the domains of Megaman 12, 13, 14, and 15. With the glaring success that Megaman 11 has, there is still a demand for classic Megaman. That raises a question, though, Does Megaman 11 deserve to be the best-selling game in the franchise? You can read the rest here.

I also recognize some of you may not want reviews sent to your inbox. I will provide a new newsletter specifically for Reviews & Think Pieces in the coming weeks.

This week's newsletter was a bit more intense than I usually do. This is part of my plans to expand Void0Media. You will receive a taste of the Financial section I've been working on for a while. That portion of the letter is currently in Alpha, and tracking and compiling financial reports/data can be more time-consuming than a simple news digest. Once it exits Alpha, I will place it behind a paywall, which you can access via our Patreon. This is not absolute, and I would love to hear your thoughts and feature requests for the newsletter in the comments section here.

Be sure to use the "More Like This" or the "Less Like This" buttons at the end of the newsletter to let me know your thoughts on the newsletter.

💖 Enjoy this newsletter?

Forward to a friend and let them know where they can subscribe (hint: it's here).

[dr-bara]

Aussie Deals: PSVR 2 Preorders, New Historic Low for Red Dead 2, $10 Jedi: Fallen Order and More!

https://www.ign.com/articles/aussie-deals-psvr-2-preorders-new-historic-low-for-red-dead-2-10-jedi-fallen-order-and-more?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[spidersonicbatl0]

“paying companies under the table for exclusivity deals” who fucking care! If doesn’t affect gameplay or story it not a problem (unless it a exclusive character and both consoles don’t get one them it a problem)

“denying cross play with multiplatform games” about that https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_games_that_support_cross-platform_play

“Price hiking in regions of the untied states” I live in Australia and always get my new game releases from ebgames, both new PlayStation and Xbox games have the same price. Don’t believe me? https://www.ebgames.com.au/featured/xbox-series-x

“In my eyes they are the proverbial GOP of the gaming industry” ok I don’t know what gop means give me a second *one google search later* mrs tyrranux. What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone who seen it is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no debunk, and may God have mercy on your soul.

“And that’s to say nothing of just how poorly made their consoles are” I own a ps3, ps4, psvr and ps5. The only problem with one from memory is the psvr controllers not changing on ps5.

“The ps3 in particular being worst console I have ever had put up with” did you never got it check by a console repair man. Because I never have a issue with my ps3.

One more thing, it doesn’t matter that Disney get Spider-Man films rights back from Sony. Marvel have a deal to let Spider-Man be in the mcu. Plus if Disney bought spidey films rights, they 85% percent chance that the spider verses movies will start to as bad as the the last of us pc port.

I saw you say on deviantart that the ‘marvel spider man’ series is only on PlayStation because Sony own spider man movie rights. That not truth. Marvel actually approach Microsoft to make a marvel game for Xbox! Microsoft say no, so marvel went Sony instead. It have nothing do with Sony own spiderman movie rights (MOVIE RIGHTS NOT VIDEO GAMES RIGHT) Microsoft just say no. Also if you want to play the game, just buy a ps5. They not some magical force making you not buy one

There is just not enough time in the day to properly explain why "Just buy a PS5" is the worst thing you could have said to me....

Someone who has not only been burned by Sony causing me to lose all faith in them but has continuously been appalled by the disgusting business practices they've pulled yet continued to get away with. Practices including paying companies under the table for exclusivity deals, denying cross play with multiplatform games and price hiking in regions outside of the untied states. In my eyes they are the proverbial GOP of the gaming industry.

And that's to say nothing of just how poorly made their consoles are, the PS3 in particular being worst console I have ever had to put up with. As such I have no desire to even touch that disgusting piece of shit known as the PS5 let alone play those recent Spider Man games. I wash my hands of the Playstation brand and all the shallow trend chasing bullshit it stands for.

[theplaystationbrahs]

Get In On The PlayStation VR Holiday Sale...

Get In On The PlayStation VR Holiday Sale…

Did you get someone PlayStation VR for Christmas? Maybe, it is at the top of your list? Maybe, you are wanting to add to your collection of excellent PlayStation VR games and experiences. Well, now is the time, because this Holiday Sale is pretty awesome.

There is something for everyone. But better hurry as this special only runs through December 25, 2018 at 8:00 am PT. Get ready for the next…

[gamenewsworld]

Best Black Friday VR Deals: Oculus, HTC Vive, And PSVR

Best Black Friday VR Deals: Oculus, HTC Vive, And PSVR

[ad_1]

VR has had one heck of a year, with some great game releases and even a few new headset launches, and Black Friday 2020 is a good time to jump in. The Oculus Quest 2 released just last month, while the HTC Vive Cosmos Elite launched earlier this year–and let’s not forget about the highly anticipated release of Half-Life: Alyx. Black Friday doesn’t have as many deals as the sale week had…

[hardcoregamer]

Sony Unveils Black Friday Deals for PS4, PS VR

With the holiday season hitting real soon, Sony is prepping it’s PlayStation hardware for the big sale. The PlayStation Black Friday sale kicks off November 19 and runs through November 27. During this time, you’ll be able to walk into any participating retailers and pick up a PS4 or PS VR at a really good price.

Check it!

http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2017/11/10/sony-unveils-black-friday-deals-for-ps4-ps-vr/278974/

[metaverse-ar-vr]

Think running VR cables from the ceiling is too much work? Check out this motorized crane. The post The PSVR 2 cable bothers you? This fan built a crazy crane to deal with it appeared first on MIXED Reality News. #AR #VR #Metaverse

[yeahnews]

Hitman 3 Year 2 Promises Ray Tracing And A 'Major Update' For 2022

IO Interactive announced a new roadmap for Hitman 3 Year 2 with new content coming in January 2022, including ray tracing, PC VR, and an Elusive Target Arcade. Working together with Intel, IO Interactive will also bring ray tracing to Hitman 3 sometime in 2022. PlayStation owners can already play Hitman 3 with PSVR support, but now it's also coming to VR PC in January 2022. Hitman 3 has a timed Epic Games Store exclusivity deal on PC, so it's possible that the PC VR version could come to SteamVR as one of the supported platforms. IO Interactive will reveal another major update to Hitman 3 in Spring 2022, and new maps, storylines, and modes are lined up for the next 12 months. The World of Assassination trilogy has also reached 50 million players so far, with Hitman 3 being the most successful entry in the series of all time. In IGN's Hitman 3 review, Luke Reilly said, "Rich, rewarding, and highly replayable, Hitman 3 is a superb installment of IO's idiosyncratic but much-loved stealth series.

[dianaburnwood]

I can understand the dislike of a year delay considering Hitman has timed content. The Epic Game store trips a lot of people up that said. Who cares about mouse and keyboard when PSVR gives you fucking hands jesus christ this will be all I think of for the next amount of time

“Who cares about mouse and keyboard when PSVR gives you fucking hands” adsfgshdjhsgfa THIS

Seriously tho, is there something about Epic that I don’t understand? Like, can’t any PC player buy from Epic instead of Steam? Are people prevented from playing, outside of just not liking Epic? 

If it was a PS exclusive of course Xbox fans would be mad cos they’re not going to buy a new console (and plenty of games are console exclusives). But I don’t get the big deal for PC here? 

[beefgnawpolis]

PS4 shit I’ve been playing lately

I do still need and want Episode Ardyn but I’m kind of FFXV’d out for right now, also I have this PSVR stuff that needed played with.

"Beefgnaw, does the VR make you barf, what about your glasses does it work with glasses?”

FUNNY THING ABOUT THE MOTION SICKNESS ISSUE. Games where you-the-player-avatar do not move, or don’t move much, but you’re free to turn your head and look around 360 degrees don’t bother me at all. Like, I can play Beat Saber for hours, because your avatar is standing still and the blocks are coming at you. Games where you sort of teleport from one point to the next are okay, or if you’re like... climbing a ladder or something, that doesn’t bother me. Games where you can walk but like... on rails? Mostly okay.

The problems start when you-the-player-avatar can walk around freely (looking at you, Rec Room), or if your view is on rails and you can’t look around by turning your head, or--the big one--if you-the-player-avatar are riding in a car (looking at you, Blood and Truth). That first one is an even bigger problem if the game expects you to play while standing (again, looking at you, Rec Room). If my character is walking and I’m standing still that throws all kinds of fun error messages in my brain and by “fun” I mean “not fun at all.”

(Blood and Truth has a good enough story and A++++ voice acting that I’m willing to soldier through it and also the part where you can DJ WHILE YOU’RE HAVING A SHOOTOUT WITH BAD GUYS is, by itself, worth the price of admission and possible motion sickness from the car bits.)

As for the glasses thing: not really a problem. Your mileage may vary depending on your prescription and frames but... I’m not having any trouble with it, so take that as you will.

Anyway, this weekend I finally got around to playing all the demos on the demo disc that came with my PSVR shite. There are a few gems on there, some of which I did not expect to like as much as I did...

Moss is one I started up and pretty much immediately fell in love with and ran straight to the PS Store to buy. God fuck hell yes please let me be a gentle giant helping a tiny mouse find her missing uncle for just a little while. (aside: call me an old fart but I still prefer to buy my games in a format I can hold, however this whole thing where I can feed my console without having to deal with... public places *shudder* or even putting on pants is starting to grow on me). 

Thumper: Simple controls. Very Rez-like. Didn’t give me motion sickness issues; you’re in a little beetle ship thing on a track, but there’s not a lot of shit moving around in the background so it’s not bad. Wishlisted.

Headmaster: And here’s the one I did not expect to love but could see getting super hooked on. The premise: you are a football (soccer for ‘murrcans) player whose club has sent you to a remedial heading training facility because, I guess, you suck at hitting balls with your head. You don’t need any controllers. Just the headset and camera. Things launch balls at you. You hit them with your head. That’s it. That’s the game. But it’s one of those Very British Humour Games and I legit cackled out loud multiple times. Wishlisted.

Superhot VR: Another one I did not expect to love but could see getting hooked on. Player avatar doesn’t move around, enemies come to you. Enemies only move when you move. Enemies shatter like glass when you punch, shoot, or throw things at them. Very satisfying.

I wanted to like Job Simulator. It’s one of those that makes you stand up and... no thank you. Astro Bot Rescue was cute, but not really my kind of game. The Persistence... I wanted to like it. It had kind of SOMA-esque vibes and I wanted to give it a chance, but the controls and camera are awful. Kitchen... ah. ok. it’s a Resident Evil trailer. murder zombie in my face in VR. no. no, thank you.

In the non-VR department, I played a couple of PS Plus offerings: Erica and Fall Guys.

Erica is not so much an actual game as a movie with input. A pretty well-acted and well-produced one, too. I could see paying money for it. There is an app that lets you use your phone as a controller, I played with that and have no complaints. It does have a pretty fair amount of potentially triggery content, particularly gory bits and abuse so be aware of that.

On the absolute opposite end of the spectrum, we have Fall Guys. It’s pretty much a multiplayer Wipeout-like game show, where the contestants are all little chubby bean people. You can win or buy funny costumes for your little bean person. You can sabotage your opponents by hugging them. Some of the games are obstacle races, some are survival games where you just have to not fall into the goop, there’s at least one logic game, there are some team games. You WILL come this close to qualifying for the next round and get eliminated at the last second and you WILL yell at your TV about what bullshit it is that you just barely got beaten and you will be laughing your ass off while you do it. The servers seem to be a little flaky sometimes, but that may just be due to the shitloads of new PS Plus players this month. 

And finally... while I was slam-dunking Moss into my cart yesterday I noticed that the Whole-Ass Kingdom Hearts Series Bundle was on sale for $30. Shit. 

I now own the whole-ass Kingdom Hearts series.

I have not played a Kingdom Hearts game since 1. I haven’t played that in at least 15 years. And of course y’all know KH is one of those series where missing one game is like missing one episode of LOST, you pick up the next one and WTF EVEN IS HAPPENING HERE WHERE ARE WE WHO IS THIS WHAT HAPPEN. And since, you know, Squeenixney had to spew KH games across EVERY POSSIBLE PLATFORM, some of which I did not own... yeah.

So I figured I’d better start with 1.5 and sure I remember the overarching plot and the Traverse Town music and paopu fruit and shit but as for like, how to solve any given puzzle...

It’s like playing for the first time all over again! gawd.

Anyway I have ALL THE KINGDOM HEARTS so I can finally see for myself just how far off the rails this series goes!

[ozzdog12]

2019- Top 7 (And 1)

  Another year has come to an end and thus the hotly anticipated Top 7 (And 1) from your ‘average at best’ Ozzdog12 is here for you to feast your eyes upon. 2019 was an extremely odd year for me, gaming wise. As parenthood has taken the full brunt of my time, my gaming time and the choices of what games I decided to play, have changed. I played several games this year that, under any previous year I may have stuck with longer or tried again, but as time for gaming has become more and more thin, I now have less ‘patience’ to stick with a BIG RPG (Disco Elysium, one day I’ll get to you). Now I’m going to contradict my previous sentence with this next sentence. I was unemployed for a stretch of 5 weeks and in between looking for jobs I also found myself with a decent amount of time to play some games. What I did with that time is played 2 games that ultimately made the list, for two very different reasons. I also cleared out a chunk of backlog games (Finally beating Diablo 3 for one, thank you Switch) and played several, shorter smaller games in the process. If interested in my previous Top 7 (And 1) 2017 & 2018.

And now on to the And 1 this year

Favorite game that came out in 2019 that actually came out 20+ years ago: Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening (Switch)

This one was actually a hard one to decide as Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition also released this year. AOE2 is the one game I may have put the most time into ever, cumulatively. But I’m giving the nod to Link’s Awakening simply because its BRAND NEW to me. I did not play the original release and this has been an absolute joy to play and is by far, the best Zelda available on Switch. The updated graphics are gorgeous and the art style is great. I haven’t completed the game yet, but I’m slowly chipping away at it at night. It feels and plays like a Zelda game but updated properly to a modern console to make it feel like a brand new game released in 2019 and not just a reskin/up-resed re-release. The game is also structured in a way that appeals to me more than Breath of the Wild was (see 2017 And One for reference). The world feels big, but is contained in a clever way to make it FEEL bigger than it actually is.

Number  7: Rage 2 (PS4)

Rage 2 is a very weird game. I don’t mean it’s weird in the sense that nothing clicks or that its bad. In fact, it’s a joy to play (especially is you love iD shooters). It’s weird because outside of the gameplay mechanics, it’s fairly barren (intentional or not). And I mean that in terms of both story, things to do and the world itself. Having very little to do with the previous Rage (which I really enjoyed on the 360), Rage 2 starts off quick and with a bang. You choose which version of the character you want to be, learn the mechanics and then are eventually sent to a town. There are a total of 6 ‘story’ missions that are stretched out by requiring you to complete tasks for one of the 3 town leaders who you’ve enlisted for help to take down the General. Once you do this, you fight the General and that’s kind’ve it. Now along the way, you will kill a bunch of mutants and humans alike. There are 3 factions (4 if you count the Ghosts in the DLC) that are in an ever engaging gauntlet to the death and you get to play janitor by spilling more guts and blood, but none of it really matters, the Factions I mean. There are a few Crusher Mutants (BIG MUTANTS) to also fight, but they are essentially extra heavy bullet sponges. Now, I know I haven’t really sold you on it, but here’s the thing. I REALLY enjoyed RAGE 2. It was the perfect game to play during the summer. Due to a personal situation I was dealing with (the looming unemployment) it was nice to just sit down at night, turned my brain off and just kill things. It reminded me of a simpler time in my youth playing games like Doom. Same vibe honestly. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more of a story and narrative driven player, but Rage 2 scratched a nostalgia itch for me at the perfect time. 

Number 6: Concrete Genie (PS4)

Concrete Genie is a game that is honestly out of left field for me these days. Not that I don’t like these types of games, it’s just as previous stated, time is somewhat of a precious commodity and had Concrete Genie come out in any other year, I probably would’ve skipped it entirely. However, it didn’t and I’m glad I picked this up for $20. It also scratched a nostalgia itch and reminded me very much of the PS2 era of games like Sly Cooper and Jax and Daxter. You play a kid who is bullied (something I am familiar with first hand, sadly) for being a loner and an artist. His creature drawings come to life with the help of a magic paint brush and your objective to put color back into an abandon town and bring it back to life. There is a VR component I wasn’t able to play because I don’t have a PSVR. The game is fairly simply and doesn’t deviate far from that formula. There is very little combat and just enough variety in the monster’s you can make to keep you going. It’s also fairly short. I was able to complete and collect everything in around 7-8 hours. Having a complete game in a bite size package is something I long for these days. 

Number 5: The Outer Worlds (PS4)

This game should be higher on the list but I put it here simply because while I have played it a fair amount, I haven’t played it enough to warrant it being higher. I’m maybe halfway through? I love Bethesda Fallouts (And Obsidian’s New Vegas) and this is an improved New Vegas in space with a more cheeky approach. The Outer Worlds never takes itself too seriously and revels in its sarcasm. The companions are all mostly likeable enough and each planet has felt distinctive enough to entice me to keep exploring. The mechanics are improved and the overall gameplay is better than New Vegas.  Its structured just like a Fallout game, so there is a lot of comfort there. However,  just like any open world RPG, sitting down for less than an hour and trying to accomplish anything is hard. The Outer Worlds is best played in big chunks. It’s at the top of my list to finish in 2020. 

Number 4: A Plague Tale (PS4)

A Plague Tale was THAT game that was on everyone’s ‘Hidden Gems’ list. I had seen a trailer around E3 and it intrigued me enough to check it out. I completed it over a whole weekend, a rarity. The game isn’t perfect, but everything is serviceable enough to work within the confines of what it’s trying to accomplish. It has some technical flaws and the occasional hiccup, but I’m a sucker for 3rd person action adventure games. The game is mostly centered around stealth with combat as a mostly secondary option. The game takes place in France in 1348 during the rat plague. You play as the daughter of an alchemist and your brother has been sick since birth. Once your village has been raided by the Inquisition, you are cast out to find help. The plague has taken over the majority of the country, but it isn’t until later in the game where the game takes a turn into the fantasy in a major way. You meet up with some really likeable characters with different personality traits along the way that really kept the story moving in an interesting way. The story was really grim at times, but honestly kept me hooked until the final chapter. The boss battle was extremely frustrating. With a sequel being announced, I am extremely interested in where they take the next chapter. 

Number 3: Katana ZERO (Switch)

Katana ZERO rules. There is a fine line where a game is challenging and when a game is unfair. I like a challenge, but I don’t want to work (games like Dark Souls are work). KZ is very similar in style, gameplay, tone, and even music to Hotline Miami. The difference being KZ is a side scroller instead of top down. You play a samurai in a quasi-dystopian future after a war. You are programmed killing machine…or are you? The story is fairly heavy and can bring up some tough subjects. KZ is pretty challenging, especially later in the game, but never once did I feel the game was cheap or unfair. Every time I died (MANY, MANY TIMES) it was always my fault. Either I didn’t plan my attack correctly, I hit the wrong button, took the wrong path, or didn’t time it right. The game has a nifty way of dealing with ‘deaths’ in the game using a neat rewind feature. When you complete a level, it shows you a replay in ‘real time’ giving you a nice recap of your work. Every time I completed a level, I felt a sense of accomplishment. My Switch says I put around 5 hours or more into it once I completed the final level, but it honestly felt longer than that, in a good way. KZ is an absolute blast to play and you should go play it right now!

Number 2: Gears 5 (Xbox One)

I’m a fan of the Gears of War series. The first Gears of War still being my favorite of the series. As time has passed, I’ve become less interested in the series as a whole but still interested enough to play every entry. I thought Gears 4 was the Force Awakens of the series. Essentially a retelling of the same story, with a new coat of paint and new characters with the old ones sprinkled in. Gears 4 was ultimately, fine. So I was actually excited for Gears 5 was going to go and to see how they built upon 4 with a focus on Kait instead of a Fenix. Halfway through the story, the group is divided and it starts to take a different tone. Gears 5 experiments with a first of the series, a semi-open world. I thought it broke up the monotony of wall hug, shoot, reload, repeat. I finished the story in a few days and had a good time with it, though once again, the ending being kind’ve abrupt. The series has a knack for being sort’ve slow, then suddenly turning it to 11, then ending.  I wished the campaign was longer, but it’s still solid. Gears 5 introduced a new mode called Escape, where you and two other players plant a bomb and try to escape a level with limited ammo. There is weekly a revolving door of new levels, which is nice, but each level is just reusing assets. I suspect with time and each new Operation (Season) that will be expanded. Horde mode is back and the character classes are fun. New characters have been added and will continue to be added, but they are an absolute grind to unlock (But you can always pay for them!) The reason Gears 5 is this high is mostly due to the amount of time I spent playing multiplayer. As stated, I loved the original Gears of War and put an insane amount of time into the multiplayer. That was in 2007 and the older I’ve gotten, my desire to invest into multiplayer has waned, almost completely. Once again though, right time, right place. I spent almost the entire month of October, logging on every night, completing challenging and playing online. Something I haven’t done since I was a freshman in college. I had an absolute blast. While I don’t delve into online as feverishly as I did in October, I still occasionally dabble when I get the chance.

Number 1: Mortal Kombat 11 (PS4)

As if this was going to be anything else. I’m a Mortal Kombat mark, plain and simple. I’ve loved the series my entire life. I love the lore, I love how ridiculously violent it is, how goofy and bat shit insane the story has evolved. I love it all. But its not all gore and lore, Mortal Kombat is a supreme fighting game. It’s not a nuanced as the likes of Street Fighter, but its infinitely deeper than a game like Smash Bros. Mortal Kombat is in a good sweet spot for both casuals and hardcore fighting fans. MK11 has maybe the greatest in-depth tutorial that has ever been made in any fighting game. It not only teaches you how to play, it teaches you the terminology. The story picks up right after MKX, with Raiden upset with everyone and taking matters into his own hands by torturing Shinnok. Liu Kang and Kitana rule the Netherrealm. Raiden plans an attack where he is essentially the Trojan Horse. All goes according to plan, until Kronika, The Time Keeper, decides she doesn’t like this anymore and eventually brings back some old friends to help her change time (again) and finally eliminate Raiden from existence. In doing this, Kronika has made all those mirror matches from previous games cannon. The production level and story mode in Netherealm games are on another level compared to other fighting games and they continue that trend in MK11. They implement the gear system from Injustice 2 into MK11 and its fine. The Krypt is amazing and is full of secrets. The Living Towers have returned, this time in the form of the ever changing “Towers of Time”. The roster, which is what everyone really cares about isn’t the worst but isn’t the best. None of the new characters are all that fun (Cetrion, Geras, & Kollector) and the returning roster was missing some notable characters. The DLC thus far has been fairly underwhelming compared to MKX. It was nice to see Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, & Sindel return (all 3 should’ve been in the main roster) but Terminator is lame. MKX had the likes of Tremor, Tanya, & Predator. MK11 seems to break what was a fun tradition in DLC having new, MK characters (Skarlett and Tremor, respectively). While I do think there is another set coming after Spawn, if the leak is true, then it seems underwhelming. I played MK11 pretty religiously for almost 2 months and still play at least once or twice a week. I love MK!