Features - PlayStation LifeStyle https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/features-2/ PS5, PS4, PS Plus, and PSN News, Guides, Trophies, Reviews, and More! Wed, 19 Apr 2023 23:14:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/03/cropped-favicon.png?w=32 Features - PlayStation LifeStyle https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/features-2/ 32 32 Readers’ Opinion: Would You Buy an Xbox Series X? https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/04/19/readers-opinion-would-you-buy-an-xbox-series-x/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/04/19/readers-opinion-would-you-buy-an-xbox-series-x/#respond Wed, 19 Apr 2023 23:13:53 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=881281 Readers’ Opinion is a place to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll feature our favorite replies in the next installment. We all know that PS5 sales are way up, spurred on by Sony actually having consoles to sell following widespread stock shortages. On the other hand, the Xbox Series X hasn’t been performing […]

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Readers’ Opinion is a place to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll feature our favorite replies in the next installment.

We all know that PS5 sales are way up, spurred on by Sony actually having consoles to sell following widespread stock shortages. On the other hand, the Xbox Series X hasn’t been performing to the same standard. But that doesn’t mean that Microsoft’s console isn’t worth buying, and we’re interested to find out if you dedicated PlayStation fans are at all interested in this generation’s Xbox. Let us know and we’ll feature our favorite replies in the next Readers’ Opinion.

Our opinion

As I already own an Xbox Series X this is a bit of an irrelevant opinion, but in the bizarro world where I haven’t exhausted my disposable income on video games, the Xbox is a great proposition as a Game Pass machine.

But with that being said, Sony has quietly been making PS Plus a much better service over the past few years. There are blockbuster PS5 games like Horizon Forbidden West, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Demon’s Soul available on there, along with a ton of games from PlayStation’s extensive back catalog. This makes PS Plus a pretty competitive alternative to Game Pass, along with Sony having the better exclusives of the two.

You said…

In the last Readers’ Opinion we asked which PS5 games you were most looking forward to. Turns out you were looking forward to a lot, even if some felt that PlayStation’s 2023 line-up was a little vague.

Yowzagabowza wrote:

Yeah, sure, I’m looking forward to Spider-Man 2 but I’m not like, champing at the bit for it or anything. I pretty much know what to expect from the game already and I haven’t seen a single thing about it at all.

Wolverine will probably be good, too. Not sure what genre that game will be, linear or open world or like, “expanded linear”.

I wish we had an idea of what’s in store for the rest of this year, though. I don’t really like when games are announced two or three years out, but I also don’t like when there are no games coming at all.

Oh yeah, and Factions 2. Don’t care about that game at all : )

On social media, Twitter was mostly agreement that Bloodborne 2 was long overdue:

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Preview: ‘A Worthy Sequel’ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/04/03/star-wars-jedi-survivor-preview-a-worthy-sequel/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/04/03/star-wars-jedi-survivor-preview-a-worthy-sequel/#respond Mon, 03 Apr 2023 15:24:56 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=880412 The follow-up to 2019’s excellent Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is nearly upon us, following a brief delay to give developer Respawn Entertainment extra time to polish things up. We were invited by publisher EA to a hidden venue in Hollywood, California to get nearly four hours of hands-on time with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor […]

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The follow-up to 2019’s excellent Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is nearly upon us, following a brief delay to give developer Respawn Entertainment extra time to polish things up. We were invited by publisher EA to a hidden venue in Hollywood, California to get nearly four hours of hands-on time with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor to see what Cal Kestis and crew have been up to since their latest epic adventure, and it’s shaping up to be a worth sequel to its critically-acclaimed predecessor.

Trouble finds Cal, yet again

The portion of the game we went hands-on with began about an hour into the campaign, no doubt to avoid spoiling exactly how things all start. Cal Kestis has been on the move for around five years since the conclusion of Fallen Order, and he and his reliable and inquisitive droid companion BD-1 have crash-landed on a backwoods planet known as Koboh while attempting to visit Cal’s old friend Greez Dritus.

It doesn’t take long before the local drama finds Cal, of course – a local gang known as the Bedlam Raiders is terrorizing locals, including prospectors who go to great lengths to try and harvest the planet’s natural minerals and ancient ruins. Cal, being a Jedi, naturally wants to help, and quickly crosses paths with the gang’s leader, an imposing Gen’Dai named Rayvis. This sets up what will no doubt be a lengthy sequence of encounters and battles between the two.

While we can’t go too deep into the story here, some things have changed while others have stayed the same. Cal’s repertoire of moves has been expanded upon, as he now has five different stances. The Dual Wield stance seen in the first game has been fully realized, while he also has access to a crossguard stance as seen used by Kylo Ren. Finally, one stance even allows the use of a blaster, which, while perhaps a bit uncivilized compared to a lightsaber, does have its uses.

From Story Mode to Grandmaster

There are five levels of difficulty to choose from, which can be freely switched at any time. A new Jedi Padawan mode sits between the absolute non-challenge that is Story Mode and the more average Jedi Knight level, to give players an occasional challenge without throwing insurmountable foes at them. Certain boss fights can be particularly tough, so being able to change the difficulty on the fly will no doubt help some players who don’t want to spend the extra time repeating a fight over and over. The Souls-like meditation circles are back in Jedi: Survivor, which allow you to manage skills, change stance loadouts, fast travel to other meditation circles, and heal. That last option does completely fill up Cal’s health and force bars, along with restoring BD-1’s stimpaks for healing in the field, but it also respawns all enemies.

Combat in Jedi: Survivor is melee-focused. While Cal is a Jedi and can wield the Force with ease, ultimately his use of those powers is limited by a Force meter and is used as an assist to get the upper hand against his enemies as he slices them up with his trusty lightsaber. After our hands-on time with the game, we were treated to a live demonstration by a member of the combat design team of just what was possible with mastery of the various mechanics available to the player. Think taking out groups of Stormtroopers in one fell swoop, or juggling enemies with a combination of Force moves, and even an occasional hit from a blaster. It’ll probably take several hours for any player to rise to that level of competence, but it all looked so smoothly animated you couldn’t help but be impressed with the options on display.

Like your own personal Star Wars movie

The production values in Jedi: Survivor are world-class. Whether it’s the incredibly detailed world, characters, weapons, or ships, the whole game plays, feels, and sounds like you’ve been transported into the world of Star Wars. Cinematics are fully rendered in-engine, and feature classic wipes between cuts, and plenty of tension between enemies in true sci-fi Western form. The world feels lived-in with other beings busy doing their own thing, and of course natural predators to either avoid or fight for potential experience.

In an interview with the team, Jason Harris, Design Director for Gameplay and Combat mentioned that Disney and Lucasfilm continued giving Respawn Entertainment essentially free license to create whatever they wanted to in order to flesh out their vision. Not to say they didn’t check in, of course, just that at this point their track record has earned a certain amount of trust with the intellectual property holders. He gave special mention to the teams involved in turning concept art into fully-realized, digital versions that perfectly reflected the intentions of the designers. The careful attention given to even background objects is easy to see throughout the experience.

As for performance, while the build we played was on a beefy PC, it should roughly represent what we will see when the game launches on the PS5. Respawn is leaving the previous generation of consoles behind, something we will no doubt see more of now that supplies of the current generation are more stable. This has many benefits, chief among them being quick loading times. There is a seamless transition between the game world and entering training areas, or respawning after a death. We did notice some stuttering in some of the game’s wider areas, but perhaps this will be buffed out by the time the game launches on April 28, or at least with a patch on or around launch.

Previous experience not necessary

From what we could tell, while it’s not necessary to have played The Fallen Order before you start up Survivor, it will help because there are a lot of references to the earlier game mentioned in passing between Cal and other characters. Otherwise, though, Cal is simply trying to fix his ship, the Mantis, and along the way discovers ancient Jedi ruins and an anomalous planet called Tanalorr that seems to be the key to Cal’s journey. So, it seems the story will be able to stand on its own, while offering plenty of callbacks and hidden references to the first game, and perhaps the novel that followed, for those who enjoy that sort of thing.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor appears to continue telling Cal Kestis’s story in a most exciting fashion. Two additional fully-fleshed-out fighting stances ensure more variety in combat, and the fact that Cal retains his powers from the previous adventure means combat gets intense pretty early on. There is plenty of challenge to be found, and if this hands-on is any indication, Respawn Entertainment hasn’t fixed what isn’t broken and is seemingly giving us an improved version of what made The Fallen Order so appealing in the first place. Get ready to continue Cal Kestis’ journey when it launches on the PS5, Xbox Series, and PC platforms on April 28, 2023.

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Readers’ Opinion: What Was the Best Gaming April Fool’s Day Joke? https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/03/31/readers-opinion-what-was-the-best-gaming-april-fools-day-joke/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/03/31/readers-opinion-what-was-the-best-gaming-april-fools-day-joke/#respond Sat, 01 Apr 2023 06:54:17 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=880382 It's just a prank, bro.

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Readers’ Opinion is a place to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll feature our favorite replies in the next installment.

April Fool’s Day is upon us, which means that every piece of news we read is going to raise suspicion. We’ve already seen Sonic the Hedgehog being murdered, and that somehow wasn’t even a prank, so who knows what’s in store for us today?

There have been many, many April Fool’s Day pranks pulled in the gaming world over the years, but we want to know your favorite. Let us know in the comments and we’ll feature our favorite replies in the next Readers’ Opinion.

Our opinion

Keeping it strictly Sony, the ‘PlayStation Flow’ was worryingly realistic.

This video — which had ‘Aprils Fools Video’ in its name, somewhat spoiling the prank right out of the gate — was posted to the official PlayStation YouTube account seven years ago, and saw the company outlining a fake new product that tracked users’ swimming data and replicated it in-game.

The ‘PlayStation Flow’ is particularly interesting because we’re not far off that right now. While translating swimming data to games such as The Last of Us would be useless, smartwatches keep track of all of our exercise data, while virtual reality is more commonplace than ever. So, Sony kinda predicted the future here.

Your opinion

In the last Readers’ Opinion, we asked if you would buy an upgraded PS5 Pro.

Most of you confirmed that you would, though many also said they would wait it out.

YES! That’s the only reason I haven’t bought a PS5 yet. I’m waiting for the PS5 Pro.

– code7bfc

I simply do not believe a PS5 Pro is happening, and definitely not by next year’s end.

How many PS5 game are there so far? Three? Four? How many are slated to release before 2024? Maybe another two or three?

And so many people are just now being able to even find one, if they can afford it.

It was bad enough to have to release a console during the pandemic with all the restrictions and shortages, releasing another so soon after you sorted that out is actually pretty insulting.

And what would it even do? Don’t think it’ll do 4K/60 because it probably won’t and would be “up to developers” anyway.

– yowzagabowza

Let us know your thoughts on this Readers’ Opinion, and you might be featured next time!

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Will Left 4 Dead 3 Come to PS5? How Valve’s Hatred of the PS3 Led to an Xbox Exclusive https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/03/23/left-4-dead-3-coming-to-ps5/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/03/23/left-4-dead-3-coming-to-ps5/#respond Thu, 23 Mar 2023 18:29:31 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=879883 Could Valve's zombies finally shamble onto PlayStation?

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Now that Counter-Strike 2 has been confirmed as a real thing that’s actually happening, the Left 4 Dead 3 leaks contained within the shooter’s executables seem very legitimate. But that begs the question: if L4D3 is on its way, will it even release on PS5?

Why was Left 4 Dead an Xbox exclusive in the first place?

The original Left 4 Dead and its sequel Left 4 Dead 2 were both Xbox 360 console exclusives, skipping the PS3 entirely. However, while console exclusives are now mostly the result of either Sony or Microsoft laying down cash to secure a win for their respective hardware, the reason why L4D didn’t make its way to PlayStation systems is more divisive — Valve’s founder Gabe Newell hated the PS3.

left 4 dead 3 valve gabe newell ps5 release date
Image: Edge Magazine/Getty Images

Back in 2007, Newell made his thoughts clear on Sony’s then-current-gen hardware, branding it a “waste of everybody’s time.”

“There’s nothing there that you’re going to apply to anything else,” Newell said in an interview with Edge magazine “You’re not going to gain anything except a hatred of the architecture they’ve created. I don’t think they’re going to make money off their box. I don’t think it’s a good solution.”

Considering that Left 4 Dead was released just a year later in 2008, it’s no surprise that the series didn’t its way to the Sony console given Newell’s open disdain for Sony’s hardware. Left 4 Dead 2 was also released during the PS3’s life cycle, with the PS4 launching four years later in 2013. However, Valve did go on to still release some games for the console, with Portal 2 making its way to the hardware in 2011 followed by Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 2012 — which bizarrely worked with the ill-fated PlayStation Move motion controller.

Is Left 4 Dead 3 coming to PS5?

As Valve doesn’t have an exclusivity deal with Microsoft, and it avoided the PS3 simply because it didn’t want to develop on the hardware, a PS5 and potentially even a PS4 release for Left 4 Dead 3 seems likely.

The PS5 and PS4 are far easier to develop for than the PS3 — in fact, back in a GDC State of the Industry 2021 report, PS5 was the lead console in developer interest just behind PC. As developers now have far less trouble working with the PS5 than they did with Sony’s PS3, it’d be questionable for Valve to skip the best-selling current-gen console at this point.

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Readers’ Opinion: What Other PlayStation Series Deserves The Last of Us HBO Treatment? https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/03/06/readers-opinion-what-other-playstation-series-deserves-the-last-of-us-hbo-treatment/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/03/06/readers-opinion-what-other-playstation-series-deserves-the-last-of-us-hbo-treatment/#respond Mon, 06 Mar 2023 12:52:00 +0000 http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=878746 Readers’ Opinion is a place to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll feature our favorite replies in the next installment. HBO’s The Last of Us series has proven to be a mega-hit, breaking viewership records and becoming the most critically-acclaimed video game adaptation to date. There’s more on the way, too — a God of […]

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Readers’ Opinion is a place to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll feature our favorite replies in the next installment.

HBO’s The Last of Us series has proven to be a mega-hit, breaking viewership records and becoming the most critically-acclaimed video game adaptation to date. There’s more on the way, too — a God of War TV series is coming, as is a Horizon Netflix show. But what other PlayStation series deserve that same treatment? Let us know and we’ll feature our favorite responses in the next Readers’ Opinion.

Our opinion…

Bloodborne. Fans have wanted a Souls film or TV adaptation for a long time now, and with Sony being a FromSoftware stakeholder, there’s a possibility this could happen.

We’ve previously discussed how Elden Ring could be transformed into a movie or series in the future, but there has been no word on FromSoftware or publisher Bandai Namco actively pursuing this. Though Elden Ring is From’s latest IP, a Bloodborne TV series would be the optimal choice, leaning heavily into the horror of the PlayStation exclusive and further exploring the ancient gothic city of Yharnham.

As The Last of Us closely follows the events of the game, it’d be interesting to see a film or TV adaptation of a game where there isn’t really a direct narrative to follow. It’d certainly be a challenging adaptation, but it’s one we’d love to see.

You said…

In the last Readers’ Opinion, we asked if you cared about the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard deal. This generated a lot of discussion, particularly on Twitter, with you sharing a bunch of different opinions.

Some argued that they didn’t care about the games involved, but that they believed Microsoft shouldn’t be able to “buy” its place in the industry:

Others simply wanted to see more games reach Xbox’s Game Pass service:

And in our comments section, ThePuppetMaster is concerned that Microsoft wants a “complete monopoly” and will seek to buy other publishers:

I played and enjoyed some COD but i’m perfectly okay without it. The same can be say for other Acti-Blizzard IP’s like Tony Hawk, Diablo, Warcraft, Starcraft, Guitar Hero, Overwatch, or Spyro which i don’t give a F. Kinda sad for Crash though since the IP started and always connected with Playstation / ND. Outside those games, Sekiro is one time only deal with From Soft which i doubt they gonna make a sequel.

The thing is if this deal going through, are MS gonna stop or they will keep going and targeting other big publishers such as Capcom, SE, Sega, Bamco, etc? That’s just my only concern because it looks like MS wants a complete monopoly and no one dare to stop them outside Sony.

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Readers’ Opinion: Do You Care if the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard Deal Is Approved? https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/03/02/readers-opinion-do-you-care-if-the-microsoft-and-activision-blizzard-deal-is-approved/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/03/02/readers-opinion-do-you-care-if-the-microsoft-and-activision-blizzard-deal-is-approved/#respond Thu, 02 Mar 2023 22:48:27 +0000 http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=878364 Readers’ Opinion is a place to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll feature our favorite replies in the next installment. Microsoft’s struggle to seal its Activision Blizzard deal has been going on for over a year now, as Sony and regulators alike try to prevent the acquisition from going through. Most recently, it’s […]

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Readers’ Opinion is a place to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll feature our favorite replies in the next installment.

Microsoft’s struggle to seal its Activision Blizzard deal has been going on for over a year now, as Sony and regulators alike try to prevent the acquisition from going through. Most recently, it’s been reported that the EU won’t make Microsoft sell Call of Duty as part of the deal, as was previously rumored, and Sony has been told it needs to reveal all of its PlayStation exclusivity deals.

But do you care about the deal and its potential ramifications on the industry? Let us know in the comments below!

Our opinion…

Whatever the outcome, I just want this to end. We’ve been hearing about the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard deal on a near-weekly basis since it was announced, and all the will-they-won’t-they news has blurred into one.

Sony’s fight against the acquisition when it has been so gung-ho about its own exclusivity deals has always been a little hypocritical, but at least Sony’s influence as a publisher has largely paid off when it has come to the companies it has acquired. On the other hand, Microsoft’s first-party studios have been incredibly hit-and-miss, most notably with 343 Industries’ flubbing of Halo Infinite and The Coalition’s underwhelming Gears of War sequels.

As such, I find it difficult to be excited for anything that could possibly come out of this acquisition, save for big games like Starfield making their way to Game Pass. Microsoft doesn’t have a great track record in recent years, and the deal would see PlayStation being sidelined.

You said…

In the last Readers’ Opinion, we asked if Sony should change its divisive PlayStation State of Play events, and

Timewarp suggested a change…

Maybe what Sony needs to do is rethink what games they show off at their showcases and limit them to titles releasing alongside the exclusive they plan to make the showcase around (I.E games out in Autumn around the same time as Spider-Man 2)

They could also copy Nintendo and have an indie showcase which could give a number of their indie partners time to shine. Also I’d stop giving Warner Bros any more attention till they can pull themselves together.

WeAllFallDown pointed out how the media (hey, that’s us!) is to blame for increased expectations around these events…

Sony is always transparent with what will be shown. It’s websites like this that speculate that some major game like Metal Gear Solid is possibly going to be revealed as a surprise.

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Readers’ Opinion: Should Sony Change Its PlayStation State of Play Events? https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/02/24/readers-opinion-should-sony-change-its-playstation-state-of-play-events/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/02/24/readers-opinion-should-sony-change-its-playstation-state-of-play-events/#respond Fri, 24 Feb 2023 19:06:30 +0000 http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=878342 Readers’ Opinion is a place to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll feature our favorite replies in the next installment. The PlayStation State of Play February 2023 was broadcast by Sony yesterday, featuring a number of reveals from third-party games along with a closer look at Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. However, […]

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Readers’ Opinion is a place to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll feature our favorite replies in the next installment.

The PlayStation State of Play February 2023 was broadcast by Sony yesterday, featuring a number of reveals from third-party games along with a closer look at Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. However, many were disappointed in the show, with some calling for the format to be changed — or abandoned altogether. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments!

Our opinion

Game reveal events, in general, lack the excitement that once surrounded them. It feels like every State of Play or Nintendo Direct or E3 presentation is met with disappointment, suggesting that delivering game reveals in the form of a 30- or 60-minute video presentation isn’t cutting the mustard anymore.

Jeff Grubb has reported that Sony sees its State of Play presentation as an “obligation,” with the company allegedly showcasing games in them based on deals with their co-marketing partners. That makes sense, as often viewers are left wondering why a State of Play was even held when there was seemingly so little to show.

It’s understandable that Sony would therefore stage State of Play events specifically intended to promote certain games, and an unfortunate side-effect of that is if the games in question are underwhelming — as was the case with the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League reveal. Sony already teases or outright says what will be revealed during each event, but of course, viewers who have been weaned on massive E3 showcases will always have supremely high expectations for any reveal event.

Let us know what you think and we’ll feature our favorite responses in the next Readers’ Opinion.

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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Needs to Be More Than a Destiny Wannabe https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/02/24/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-destiny-gameplay-reveal/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/02/24/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-destiny-gameplay-reveal/#respond Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:54:32 +0000 http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=878313 Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League co-op gameplay was revealed during yesterday’s disappointing PlayStation State of Play, and viewers have found it hard to overlook the copious red flags in its presentation. Developer Rocksteady confirmed the DC action game would feature a Battle Pass and that it would be live service, meaning it will require […]

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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League co-op gameplay was revealed during yesterday’s disappointing PlayStation State of Play, and viewers have found it hard to overlook the copious red flags in its presentation.

Developer Rocksteady confirmed the DC action game would feature a Battle Pass and that it would be live service, meaning it will require an always-online internet connection in order to play. It also outlined its post-launch plans, waxing lyrical about future updates and DLC for a game that isn’t even out yet. Everything about its debut presentation pointed to what many had feared — Rocksteady is yet another studio trying to make its own Destiny.

The slice of gameplay shown was uninspiring. Harley Quinn, King Shark, Captain Boomerang, and Deadshot looked mostly indistinguishable from each other, their contrasting personalities and skillsets lost amid the frenetic gunplay. King Shark leaps through the air much the same as Harley does, each of them making much greater use of their assault rifles than their comic book powers or abilities. When Captain Boomerang is barely using a boomerang, questions should be asked.

suicide squad kill the justice league destiny 3

The reasoning behind the game’s focus on guns is obvious — they’re used for ‘Gear Score.’ Yes, if you’re a fan of constantly obtaining weapons with exciting stats such as ‘+23% Critical Hit damage’ and ‘+2% Shield regeneration on Melee Hit,’ the Suicide Squad have your back. As Rocksteady explained the Gear Score in its ‘behind the scenes’ video, it was difficult to get excited for the same loot-shooting format publishers have tried to force upon us since Destiny’s success.

It’s easy to understand why publishers are so keen on creating the next big live service game. Game development is costly and time-consuming, so games with a longer shelf life will earn more money in the long run. Destiny wasn’t the first game to achieve this, but its satisfying loop of acquiring better guns and armor to take on bigger challenges was easily implemented into a bunch of other games. It took the addictive qualities of an MMO and forced them into a genre with a broader appeal that translated better to multiple platforms, and many games have now followed suit.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League isn’t exactly hiding this influence. Its UI is cluttered with a litany of stats and numbers, a boring slew of data that tells you that the gun you’re looking at has a slightly higher fire rate than the one in your inventory, or that it deals a fraction more damage to a certain type of enemy. For a game set five years after the events of Batman: Arkham Knight, it feels worlds apart from its predecessor.

The Batman Arkham trilogy provided a perfect portrayal of its hero; a vengeful demon lurking in the shadows, terrifying his enemies with stealth, cunning, and raw strength. It came from a team who clearly had a great deal of respect for the character. On the other hand, the gameplay shown at the State of Play looks like the Suicide Squad could be ripped straight out of it, replaced with a generic team of anti-heroes, and it’d function much the same.

suicide squad kill the justice league destiny 2

Any old video game character can carry an SMG — but not many are giant humanoid sharks. Those hoping for a similar experience to Arkham, with a faithful replication of each character’s abilities, were left disappointed. Sure, character-specific abilities were highlighted, but as you watch all four members of the Squad zipping across Metropolis like they’re in Crackdown or Sunset Overdrive, it looks like the Gear is the priority and not the characters. It’s understandable that Rocksteady would want to go in a different direction with a new IP, but the gameplay reveal ticked too many of the ‘underwhelming loot shooter’ boxes we’ve seen over the years.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League won’t be our first, second, or even third rodeo with live service loot shooters. Not only have we seen more than our fair share of them, but we’ve also seen the various ways in which they fail. Games built from the ground up to be played for an extensive period of time often launch barebones, with their creators so focused on making a game that will last forever, they overlook making a game that’s fun right out of the gate. These alarm bells will ring every single time a live service game is unveiled, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s gameplay reveal didn’t do a good job of silencing them.

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Best PS5 Games (February 2023): What PlayStation 5 Game Should You Play Right Now? https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/02/17/best-ps5-games-february-2023-what-playstation-5-game-should-you-play-right-now/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/02/17/best-ps5-games-february-2023-what-playstation-5-game-should-you-play-right-now/#respond Fri, 17 Feb 2023 17:22:21 +0000 http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=878007 The PlayStation 5 has received a ton of stellar games at this point in its life cycle, but what are the best PS5 games you should play this month? Let’s take a look at the games that need to be on your radar. The best PS5 games in February 2023 Elden Ring God of War Ragnarok Spider-Man: […]

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The PlayStation 5 has received a ton of stellar games at this point in its life cycle, but what are the best PS5 games you should play this month? Let’s take a look at the games that need to be on your radar.

The best PS5 games in February 2023

  1. Elden Ring
  2. God of War Ragnarok
  3. Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  4. Demon’s Souls
  5. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
  6. Returnal
  7. Horizon Forbidden West
  8. Astro’s Playroom
  9. The Last of Us Part 1
  10. Gran Turismo 7

Elden Ring

A no-brainer of a recommendation, FromSoftware’s open-world magnum opus moved its trademark Souls gameplay into a sprawling map, filled with secrets and rife with danger. A modern classic in every sense of the word.

God of War Ragnarok

Kratos and Atreus’ tumultuous adventure continued, this time with the apocalyptic backdrop of Ragnarok. This sequel to the 2018 God of War built on everything its predecessor did so well, with impactful combat, a captivating story, and arguably the best father-son relationship in gaming.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales

best ps5 games to play february 2023 playstation 5 game spider man

A spin-off to Insomniac’s Peter Parker-focused Spider-Man game, Miles Morales placed players in the shoes of our unlikely teenage hero in what was a must-own PS5 launch game. We can’t wait to see what Insomniac has up its sleeve for the sequel.

Demon’s Souls

The Demon’s Souls remake launched alongside the PS5, and helped show off the console’s technical capabilities by providing a fully overhauled reimagining of the PS3 classic. Still hard as nails but with quality of life changes that brought it up to speed with modern releases, Elden Ring may have overtaken it as the go-to Soulslike to purchase on the PlayStation 5, but this is still a must-play.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

best ps5 games to play february 2023 playstation 5 game ratchet and clank rift apart

The platforming duo returned for another adventure, using the PS5’s power to provide multi-dimensional traversal and combat. Filled with the wacky weapons fans of the series

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Most Anticipated PS5 and PS4 Games in 2023 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/01/09/most-anticipated-ps5-ps4-games-2023/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/01/09/most-anticipated-ps5-ps4-games-2023/#respond Mon, 09 Jan 2023 15:32:21 +0000 http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=875865 The new year is looming on the horizon, and the most anticipated games on PS5 and PS4 for 2023 already have a lot to live up to. Three of the six Game of the Year nominees at TGA 2022 were PlayStation exclusives, and another two of them were available on PS5. While Nintendo and Xbox […]

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The new year is looming on the horizon, and the most anticipated games on PS5 and PS4 for 2023 already have a lot to live up to. Three of the six Game of the Year nominees at TGA 2022 were PlayStation exclusives, and another two of them were available on PS5. While Nintendo and Xbox attempt to play catch up, Sony hopes to continue the momentum with several multiplatform games as well as the launch of the PSVR 2. Here is a list of the PS5 and PS4 games that we’re most excited to play in 2023, with honorable mentions to Street Fighter 6, Diablo 4, and FF7 Rebirth (if that isn’t delayed from its “next winter” release window):

Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy Most Anticipated

Despite the controversy surrounding Harry Potter author JK Rowling, Hogwarts Legacy remained one of the five nominees for Most Anticipated Game at The Game Awards 2022 for good reason. Many Harry Potter fans have dreamt of entering Hogwarts School as a student, having the Sorting Hat put them in a House (I’m a Ravenclaw), riding a hippogriff, and going on their own magical adventure. And Hogwarts Legacy promises players to do just that.

Avalanche Software has confirmed that the PS5 and PS4 versions of the game will have a PlayStation-exclusive quest. The PS5 release date is February 10, 2023 (those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition can start the game earlier on February 7 with early access), while the PS4 release date is April 4, 2023.

Final Fantasy 16

Final Fantasy 16 Most Anticipated

As a timed PS5 exclusive for six months, Final Fantasy 16 (or Final Fantasy XVI, if you prefer) looks to be one of the most significant PS5 releases in 2023. We already know quite a lot about the game, including its release date of June 22, 2023, and the PS5 will allow the game to “flow at a breakneck pace.”

Following its predecessor, it features action-based combat in open environments, though this time around the familiar Crystals are tied to humans called Dominants who can summon their nation’s Eikon. So if you’ve ever thought about which Final Fantasy summon is the strongest, FF16 will play that concept out to its fullest extent. The Brazilian age rating description for the game also revealed that it will focus on darker themes like hate crimes, drugs, and prostitution, potentially making Final Fantasy 16 one of the most mature games in the series.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil 4 Remake Most Anticipated

It was generally understood that the Resident Evil 4 remake was where Capcom was heading ever since the developer decided to remake the classic games in the series. With both the Resident 2 and 3 remakes under its belt, Capcom has hopefully learned all it needs to know to modernize RE4, which many consider to be a masterpiece in the horror genre, with shinier graphics and tighter controls. (I’ve actually had a chance to play a PS5 demo that showed off the first 20 minutes of the game, and it already looks amazing.) This revamped version of Leon’s adventure is slated to arrive on PS5 and PS4 with a release date of March 24, 2023.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Most Anticipated

Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi Survivor has been one of the worst best-kept secrets in gaming this year. Leaks of the game’s release date were reported multiple times in 2022, from the PSN database in July and even Steam earlier in December. From the roughly four-minute trailer of the game shown at TGA 2022, we know that this sequel to Fallen Order will release on March 17, 2023.

It will continue the story of Cal Kestis and his robot buddy BD-1, feature new characters like Bode and Cere Junda, and include the ability to dual-wield lightsabers. The trailer didn’t show any blaster combat, though this has been teased in leaks of the Obi-Wan DLC. With any luck, strong sales of Star Wars Jedi Survivor will convince EA to continue publishing single-player games, or at least games that don’t require a live service.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

Armored Core 6 Most Anticipated

While Armored Core 6 was announced as a surprise at TGA 2022, it wasn’t nominated in the show’s Most Anticipated Game category. Perhaps host Geoff Keighley didn’t expect that the game was going to release in 2023 or that the reveal trailer would rack up over 4.4 million views (at the time of this writing) on Bandai Namco’s YouTube channel.

We don’t know that much about the project quite yet, apart from FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki saying that it won’t focus on “Soulsborne gameplay” and that it will have multiplayer with custom mechs. But given that Armored Core 5 was released literally a decade ago in 2012, the fact that Armored Core 6 is even in development is a minor miracle.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

We’ve pretty much heard crickets as far as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is concerned throughout the year, with the exception of Insomniac confirming that it was coming in 2023. Then, seemingly due to a writer for the game accidentally sharing this month that the game would be coming out in Fall 2023, Insomniac verified the leaked release window with a quick confirmation through an official PS Blog post.

The developer also confirmed that it will feature both Peter Parker and Miles Morales in a blockbuster action game, and we already know that Tony Todd is the voice actor behind Venom in the upcoming game. In addition to Forspoken and Horizon Call of the Mountain, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is one of the few Sony console exclusives in 2023 that we can confirm so far. That’s a lot of pressure, but if anyone can handle it, Insomniac can.

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