S.C.G

The other thing is, if you have everything digitally, tied to your account and then one day they just decide to deactivate or delete anything then that doesn't really leave you with anything, if you have the discs, you can at least still play the games.

Well, I think it has finally happened, I've found a From Software title which I really like. On the first proper mission, the exploration element, strategic positioning and combat options really start to open up. I've just been deftly moving through the environment, stealth-killing, parrying, dodging, blocking and getting satisfaction from succeeding. Everything feels balanced, there is a certain amount of skill to it but not to an unreasonable level, this is just the start though mind. We shall see if my optimism continues but this is as good a start to my playthrough than I ever could have hoped for.

Oh shi... I just checked my e-mail and got my shipping confirmation, for real this time! Scheduled to arrive on Monday. Check your e-mail. yours will surely have shipped as well I hope.

+4 I'd buy it for the convenience and for the local co-op.

Well, I've played the opening section now, which was... impressive. What to say, without giving anything away? The combat is instinctive, a little bit of learning about parrying, guard-breaking etc but it doesn't seem too steep a learning curve. Controls are responsive, movement is fluid, jumping and hanging from ledges is done well, so no accidental button presses. It's mechanically interesting, you have a few items you can use in your inventory but you're mostly just relying on your skills. No point really saying much else, as I don't want to spoil anything story related, so I'll just say that I'm enjoying it. And that's high praise from me, seeing as I haven't yet finished a From Software title.

Great another Nintendo Direct to cover... wait wha... Playstation Direct? Oh OK, carry on then.

Same here, I was just meaning that say you have a really old PS1 disc in not so good condition, you probably wouldn't put that in a PS5. Say you had a really good condition collectable PS1 game in excellent condition, if the drive scratches old discs, you probably wouldn't put that in a PS5. So long as the new hardware won't damage the old games and plays them from original discs then I'm all for it. I'm probably overthinking it though, we'll see what happens but yes, purely disc based backwards compatibility would be amazing... ...if it's done right. Otherwise, I'll stick with original hardware but it is important to preserve these games in any way that we can.

*sigh* if this is true then... I guess I'll be buying a PS5. I'm only sighing because I really like my PS4 and I've had my launch model since... well... launch. I didn't want to buy another new console but depending on when this launches and how long my PS4 lasts, who knows. But yes, full backwards compatibility? With all Playstation systems? That would be absolutely amazing. Although... I would probably only put really good condition discs in it, also the other side of it is, it has to be able to handle all those discs well. I know with some backwards compatible systems, they handle the discs differently, just saying... you wouldn't want them scratched. Certainly not if you had a rare PS1/PS2 RPG that's hard to replace.

I forgot that I pre-ordered it and that it was coming out so soon. It should be arriving in the post, I'll be tempted to play it when it arrives but I'm still busy playing through the Devil May Cry games, who knows though. I could just play it for a little bit, if anyone here wanted to here some impressions though? (spoiler free of course) Edit - It just arrived... right this moment, ah... what to do? Well... I should install it at the very least. Annnd, it's installing and updating... to version 1.02 already, 3.8GB patch on top of the 25GB install. Also I just re-read that last bit of your post, anything significant about the game, I'll make sure I put in a spoiler box. I know pretty much next to nothing about the game as well, aside from a few trailers, I didn't play any demo or anything. Was there even a public demo? See, I genuinely don't know... all I know is that the game looks good. Also I should add, that I've never finished a From Software game to my knowledge so maybe this will be the first. And... I'm playing it, sorry, not sorry... I'm on holiday and I don't often get the chance to play a game on its launch day. The worst thing about it so far? Having to accept the Activision Software and License Service Agreement. The Best thing about it so far? The title screen and the music!

Cheers for the games, I really enjoyed playing for a little bit, it was fun. I didn't have a bad run at the start playing as Samus... Not too bad with the random fighters either, there were some good match-ups there.

Well the goodwill surrounding Apex Legends doesn't look like it's going to last much longer. Crucially though, it's OK because Respawn have said that "it's not a roadmap" so it will probably be fine.

What game was it out of interest? I really thought CEX had a policy about only taking PAL games, or at least the one I traded stuff into did.

I really hope you're right, I'd love it to be Banjo-Kazooie. As for the rest... we get three more right? After we get Joker from Persona. Well... I really can't guess, I know we've got bets on in another thread but after Joker was announced, really anything is possible within reason. Just not Steve... or Waluigi... although...

in

Personally, I hope it's Banjo-Kazooie, another Rare character (such as one of the Battletoads) or nothing. I'd rather there be no representation from Microsoft then get Steve from Minecraft. I know the game is popular but in the grand scheme of videogame history, it's not that significant. (to me anyway) I've played it, had a bit of fun with it, I can see that there's something there but... there are so many other games to be played. I guess I should take the chance to enjoy what I can of Smash online before it's ruined by a DLC character that I don't want. (see you online after Mario Kart) Nah... I really don't think it will happen, if it does then I would seriously have to consider whether I want that bit of dlc despite owning the season pass. Surely I can't be the only one who doesn't really want Minecraft in Smash? (maybe I am, perhaps it's inevitable and something I'll just have to learn to live with)

To be fair though, Conker would have quite a diverse selection of items at his disposal thanks to the "context sensitive" button. Everything from an aspirin to an arsenal of weapons. (But yeah, I suppose, no gratuitous amounts of blood in Smash so, it's a no go) Banjo-Kazooie is suddenly sounding like more of a safe bet.

I couldn't beat the Mission 7 combat adjudicator, so I just carried on in the end... damn that was an epic end to that mission. And then Mission 8 turned out to be an "Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly" scenario, I was glad to finish that one, now onto Mission 9 tomorrow as my hands need a break I reckon. So many combos but I feel like I'm getting the hang of things now, I can't believe I'm only halfway through the game though. I should make some decent progress tomorrow as I won't be able to leave the game alone now until it's finished.

Maybe... but I'm still not seeing it and I'm definitely not feeling it. Banjo-Kazooie would just fit in, plus if Microsoft are bringing more games to Switch then... Rare Replay. That has all the Banjo Kazooie games, then it will be time for the real Banjo-Threeie. OK, maybe I'm dreaming there but still, stranger things have happened.

I'm so hoping it's NOT Minecraft Steve... despite Minecraft's success, Banjo-Kazooie should take the Smash spot. I mean, just imagine the moveset for Banjo-Kazooie! Now imagine the moveset for Steve... It's just no contest.

Well, I did start playing again after 7PM tonight and I'm still playing now, although I'm still on mission 7 because I decided to go back to the start to improve my ranks and get stuff that I missed, also I got to the combat adjudicator and realised that I'm not quite good enough to get the SSS rank against it yet so... I'm currently running up and down Skull Spire decimating the statues so that I can level up Swordmaster style, as I'd been stuck on Trickster style since the start of the game and I'd just recently maxed that out, so the grind is real right now, but I'm improving so all is well. Still having fun playing the game as well, rewatching many of the cutscenes proved to be entertaining, especially after just reading the manga. - - - - - Annnd Swordmaster Lv2 get! now to try again and if I still can't beat the combat adjudicator then... grind to 99999!

Oh nice! Always good to hear about Panzer Dragoon being discussed. Let us hope that the series truly does get remade properly, it deserves it. I'd love for all of the games to be playable on modern hardware, even if it ended up being exclusive. Obviously better that it comes out for all formats if this does happen but if not... ...Xbox One would be a good fit as it already has Panzer Dragoon Orta running beautifully.

N-Europe's Roundup article of the showcase. (PR stuff plus a link to the video) A good showing, I thought.

Physical release please, just imagine the potential boxart!

*Checks e-mail* Oh shi... ...totally hasn't shipped yet. Damn, I wish... still not long now!

Mega-bump! (I'm not even sorry) I'm here to finally talk about Devil May Cry 3 and to thank @Hero-of-Time for pushing me to finally play it. I definitely get it now, playing right from the start, this game feels more like Devil May Cry... well then Devil May Cry, which is in itself great but this game is off the chain! I love everything about it, indeed it does feel like I've played it before in parts even though I know I couldn't have, at least not to the end. Something is familiar about it though, I do remember at least trying it out on my multi-region PS2 many years ago, there's a particular area I remember as well. Surely it's not possible that I just played some of it and a bit of Bloody Palace mode? I think I'm getting some memories of DMC4 and DMC3 mixed up which isn't right. Anyway... I'm up to chapter 7 now I think and I've enjoyed pretty much all of it so far, I just need to start playing the game earlier, which is happening each night now. I shall try to start at 7PM tonight and see how far I get before becoming too tired to play on, the game is also quite hard on the hands so I've been taking breaks. (not just saying that, I think I've had some kind of circulatory condition for a while now without realising, so I wear some gloves for a bit then all is well for a while) But yeah, aside from not finding as much time to play as I'd like, I'm still managing quite well and I intend to see this series playthrough until the end. As an aside, the DMC3 manga is pretty decent as well, providing even more context to the backstory. (just finished reading both volumes)