V. Amoleo

Yes we're very much going to be in the 'exclusives are king' world for a while with VR but I do hope it pushes the whole industry to keep making quality titles. I really enjoyed your write up on the Pico4, if I wasn't already in the Quest ecosystem I would have been all over it. Talking of Resident Evil, I'm still really happy with how polished the VR mods are at https://github.com/praydog/REFramework.

I got a PSVR2 and I’m a bit underwhelmed. Caveat is that I only have Horizon Call of the Mountain and Gran Turismo. And for full disclosure here is the list of VR headsets I own: HTC Vive, PSVR, Valve Index, Quest 2 and now PSVR2. The screens are nice. No screen door effect and excellent colours. I like the rubber gasket, it makes a nice seal. Overall as massive improvement over the original PSVR… but that is a very old piece of hardware (and one that didn’t really win me over at the time). Now for the reasons I’m underwhelmed: Do I feel like Horizon is a massive jump over anything I’ve played on the Quest 2? Not really, no. Visually it is of course. But not to the point where it makes the Quest 2 look outdated. And the gameplay is basically on par. Unfortunately there are no racing sims on the Quest 2 and there are none as big for PCVR, so Gran Turismo is a really nice experience. I seem to have to reset the IPD every time I play it and I think this is contributing to how queasy it’s making me feel when playing. That and the movement system in Horizon is a bit naff. Can use analogue stick or arm swinging. I’ve only ever experienced VR sickness with the original PSVR before. I’m just glad I can put the PS5 on standby. Because the PSVR2 is tethered I have to rearrange the room where the PS5 is so it’s not just plug and play for me. This applies to all tethered VR headsets. It is more plug and play than any PCVR headset which I find always takes a few goes to make it all get recognised by Steam. Weirdly I find the controls really strange. I found it a bit awkward to put the them on with the headset on. It’s difficult to tell their orientation when you can’t see them. I’m hoping a third party comes out with wrist straps so they can stay attached to your hand (like the Valve Index Controllers). It’s worth noting that, unlike the PSVR, you can not watch 3D Blu-rays on the headset. Ultimately I think the Quest 2 has spoiled me. The wireless nature of it just works for me and seems to be the biggest consideration I have for VR.

Lots of good choices there, @Jonnas

My second favourite game of all time (first is Super Metroid!) and I'm struggling to justify picking this up as I've already played it to death. I will get it at some point though. The GameCube game was already beautiful and really pushed the boundaries of the hardware. Probably only second to the Factor 5 games in terms of that. That's not me putting the remaster down because I really like the new texture work and models! Plus native widescreen! Fix the doors though please, Nintendo. Gah I need it.

The Nintendo Switch Online news has changed my buying list a bit. The addition of Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance to Nintendo Switch Online now means all the likely suspects for release on there have been drastically lowered on the priority list to pick up on the VC.

Choo chooo! I reckon Advance Wars will get a release date.

I think this is the most suitable place for this. You have less than 24 hours to pick up these games from the Xbox 360 Marketplace before they're gone. Gone Forever Digitally For This Platform https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Assassins-Creed-Brotherhood/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025553085d https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Assassins-Creed-III/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802555308ae https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Assassins-Creed-IV/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802555308c2 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/COD-Advanced-Warfare/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80241560914 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Call-of-Duty-Ghosts/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802415608fc https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/Product/Dark-Souls/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024e4d083a https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Darksiders-II/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80254510896 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Left-4-Dead/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80245410830 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Left-4-Dead-2/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802454108d4 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/Product/Prince-of-Persia/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025553080c https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/RUSE/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802555307f6 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Skate-2/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024541087f https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/The-Stick-of-Truth/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802555308c5 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/The-Orange-Box/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024541080f Gone Forever For This Platform https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Assassins-Creed-Liberation-HD/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584113fc https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Blood-of-the-Werewolf/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841142e https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Castle-Crashers/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584108b7 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Counter-Strike-GO/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841125a https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/Product/DAYTONA-USA/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410b1d https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Defense-Grid/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584108cb https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/Product/Eets-Chowdown/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410825 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/Product/Final-Fight-DblImpact/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584109dd https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Iron-Brigade/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410a95 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Jeremy-McGraths-Offroad/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584111da https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Jet-Set-Radio/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258411247 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/MONOPOLY-DEAL/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258411458 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Mutant-Blobs-Attack/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841143d https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/N/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841085c?cid=search https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Sega-Vintage-Collection-Alex-Kidd-Co/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410b70 https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/Spelunky/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584109be https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/The-Raven-Episode-1/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841140a

Isn't this one of those N64 games with a hidden one player - two controller mode which plays more like modern FPS? Yeah it is. It's a shame this can't be activated with the two Joycons.

Just a reminder that there's only two months left until the 3DS and Wii U eshops close forever. There's also only a month left to buy Fire Emblem Fates. Anybody's long lists down to a short list yet? The sales for both the EU and Japan seem to just be rotating now between the same set of games. So I think it's time to start buying.

We're definitely at the end of the Switch's life but we're still getting really solid games. Up until 2022 I was using it for playing pretty much any game in it's portable form but the Steam Deck has taken that away from it for me. But that doesn't stop it being an amazing machine on the first party output alone and it's still probably my most used gaming device. The theoretical Switch Pro wouldn't have helped with Pokemon Scarlet/Violet's performance issues. If you overclock (more accurately: remove the underclock. Which is what the rumour was) the Switch, the performance issues remain. That game's issues stem from the engine itself. This wouldn't have entirely gone away even with a much more powerful machine to brute force it. Either way I'm past wanting a Switch Pro now, that ship sailed in 2021. Do I want a Switch 2? I guess yes but it does make me sad that it'll likely be a straight forward successor rather than something game changing.

Long may it continue!

These are on sale again. Ends 30/11

I've been playing this game over the weekend and I love it. I've done three gyms, two titans and one star boss. Seems to be loads of variety of pokemon, is it the most we've ever had in a game? This has been said a lot online but the performance is janky, visuals are a step back from Sw/Sh and it doesn't feel polished at all. When I'm back in the house I'll use my old switch to play it docked and OC'd to see if it helps. Some of the gameplay seems to be a step backwards from Arceus in places e.g. why no overworld catching and the crafting is now limited to TMs. Which, in world, doesn't seem to make much sense. How do bits of Pokemon end up being a disc?

Can't believe it's been 10 years. I remember being in my first job waiting for the pre-orders to go up. Then being on here with you guys on release day while I was working as a junior dev in a tiny office waiting for the notification that it had been delivered to my parents' house, where I lived at the time! If I remember right these are the games I bought at launch: Nintendo Land (bundled), Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, New Super Mario Bros. U, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and ZombiU. I loved the Wii U but here's some of my highlights: Nintendo Land = Great party game with lots of asynchronous games. Pretty sure this came bundled with my Black Wii U. ZombiU = A game that was supposed to show us the mature third party support. That never really happened BUT I still firmly believe the Wii U is the best place to play this and it still has a great local asynchronous multiplayer. Pikmin 3 = I think it was a title update that brought in Wiimote control for this game, and it was glorious. I still prefer this to the Switch DX version. Lego City Undercover = This was a great exclusive. No longer exclusive and I think all the Wii U specific features were ported to the Switch version. Super Mario 3D World = A mario game with solid mechanics. Better on Switch now though. Splatoon = I guess this is Nintendo's take on the FPS genre and it was lots of fun. Only let down because it had no real single player story and I'm not much of an online multiplayer person. Mario Kart 8 = This was an almost perfect game. Better on Switch. Super Mario Maker = This is the sort of thing I'd wanted for years. Really enjoyed it. Very much superseded by it's sequel on Switch though. The Zelda HD Remakes = A fresh lick of paint on already excellent games. Twilight Princess HD was basically the version we would have gotten if the Wii had joined the HD generation. Miiverse = I'm not one for social media but this little Nintendo style social network was so nice. I'm guessing it was costing too much money to moderate though. Pokken Tournament = A new look at Pokemon via the fighting genre lens. Better on Switch. The Wii U times were tough but there was shining gems in there. I know some people like to write it off as a prototype Switch but the asynchronous gameplay was great... when it was used. Plus it was the first time we got to see Nintendo characters in HD. As an aside here is a list of Wii U games yet to be ported to the Switch: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Xenoblade Chronicles X NES Remix 1 & 2 Nintendo Land - Unlikely due to using Wii U's unique features. Yoshi’s Woolly World Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Paper Mario: Color Splash Wii Fit U - Unlikely, seems to have been replaced with the more game-like Ring Fit Wii Party U - Unlikely due to using Wii U's unique features. Star Fox Zero - Tough one, this uses the Wii U's unique features but... did it need to? Game & Wario - Unlikely due to using Wii U's unique features. Splatoon - Has a sequel on Switch that has everything this game has and more but is still technically a different game. Super Mario Maker - Has a sequel on Switch that has everything this game has and more but is still technically a different game.

A few more Japanese exclusives on sale on the Japanese eShop this week. Kunio-kun Nekketsu Complete: Famicom Compilation 600円 No translation patch available but some of the Famicom games should be playable without knowledge of Japanese. Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun Special 100円 No translation patch available. A remake of Nekketsu Renegade Kunio-kun. Downtown Nekketsu Jidaigeki 500円 No translation patch available. I'd say this one is pretty much unplayable without knowledge of Japanese. BlazBlue: Clone Phantasma 100円 No translation patch available. This was released in English, but only in America. BlazBlue Contiuum Shift II is also available for 100円, but had a worldwide release. Jake Hunter Rondo of Revenge 500円 No translation patch available. This is a visual novel type game and would be impossible without knowledge of Japanese. Stardust Amazoness 500円 No translation patch available. Looks like an RPG in the vein of games like Senran Kagura. I think it would need a knowledge of Japanese to play. Ends 07/11.

I get that this film probably isn’t for me, a long time Mario fan. It’s being made to bring in new fans. But seeing that trailer made me more sad than I expected. I thought I’d at least be okay with Jack Black as Bowser… but I’m not. [emoji3525]

The Japanese exclusive enhanced version of this is now on sale on the eShop too. But be aware there is no translation patch as far as I can find. Story of Seasons Twin Villages+ 1480円 Ends 19/10.

More discounts in the UK eShop worth looking at: Steamworld Dig (initially released for 3DS and then released pretty much everywhere) £1.39 Steamworld Heist (same as above) £2.19 Steamworld Dig 2 (released elsewhere first and then ported to 3DS) £2.99 Virtue's Last Reward (available elsewhere, I don't think there's any touchscreen specific features) £3.99 Harvest Moon Skytree Village (3DS exclusive, but this isn't Story of Seasons) £5.99 Harvest Moon 3D The Tale of Two Towns (An enhanced port of the DS version.  Also known as Story of Seasons Twin Villages.  An enhanced re-release was released in Japan only) £3.59 They all end 17/10 The Japanese eShop has a much better showing, here's a few Japan exclusives: Touch Detective Rising 3: Does Funghi Dream of Bananas? (Has a Switch release too) 100円 Touch Detective: Funghi's Big Breed 100円 Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village DX (Enhanced port of a PSP game, also Japan exclusive) 500円 Monster Hunter Double Cross (Enhanced version of Monster Hunter X, a further enhanced version was released for Switch globally) 500円 EX Troopers 500円 These end 26/09

Some exclusive Natsume games are on sale at the moment: https://en.psprices.com/region-gb/discounts/?platform=3DS&sort=date&page=1 A-Train and the River City games. Ends on 27/09. Probably worth mentioning that the new Theathrhythm game is unlikely to support the touchscreen because it's based on the arcade game (thanks to Glen-i for explaining this). Which means that you shouldn't scratch the DLC for the Curtain Call off your list if you particularly enjoy playing using the touchscreen.

I really hope it has touch screen as an option on the Switch.

Choo choo!

There was an update to this situation a few days ago. https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/help/gameplay/article/decommissioning-of-online-services-for-older-ubisoft-games-october-2022-update/000102396 Unfortunately I'm still yet to understand what 'activating' the DLC means. Does it mean buying it? Does it mean starting the game? Does it mean getting to a certain point in the game? Still means that it's dead if you ever lose that install I think. There's a bit more specifically about Assassin's Creed here: https://discussions.ubisoft.com/topic/168795/decommissioning-of-online-services-for-several-ac-games-october-2022?lang=en-US It still doesn't make it clear what 'activating' means though.

Usually the delisting of a product is frustrating but you can at least continue to play it if you purchased it. Thankfully, Ubisoft have found a way to make it worse! Below is a list of games that will lose features on 1st September 2022. Additionally, they were selling these on sale during the latest Steam sale so people (including me in one case!) will have bought these very recently. Ubisoft's response for Assassin's Creed 3 and Far Cry 3 is to buy the remastered version, which I think is a very weak response. I don't believe you can even buy Far Cry 3 Remastered by itself and to use the term 'remastered' is pushing the boundaries of what the word means. Assassin's Creed 3 Remastered is more of an actual remaster and it includes all the DLC and Assassin's Creed Liberation. But still, simply saying buy the newer one should not be the answer to a game I already own becoming unplayable due to DRM (and not any sort of hardware changes). Red titles become completely unplayable, amber titles lose access to all purchased DLC, green titles require a work around to play single player and all titles lose multiplayer. Game name Platform Changes to functionality Anno 2070 PC You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Assassin's Creed II PC PlayStation 3 You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Assassin's Creed 3 PC You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to downloadable content (DLC) will be unavailable. PlayStation 3 Wii U Xbox 360 You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood PC You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable. PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Assassin's Creed Liberation HD PC You will be unable to link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable. Assassin's Creed Revelations PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 You will be unable to play multiplayer or use online features. Driver San Francisco PC You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable. PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Far Cry 3 PC You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable. PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Ghost Recon Future Soldier PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 The multiplayer for the game will be unavailable. To play the solo campaign, you will have to set your console into offline mode. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands PC You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable. Rayman Legends PlayStation 3 Wii U Xbox 360 You will be unable to link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Silent Hunter 5 PC You will be unable to link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable. Space Junkies PC (HTC VIVE, Oculus) As a multiplayer only title, you will be unable to play the game going forward. Splinter Cell: Blacklist PC You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 You will be unable to link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. ZombiU Wii U You will be unable to link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features.

Considering it's taken years for EA to improve their reputation (or perhaps those around them just got worse?) being bought by Amazon could take them back to how they used to be. On the flip side, I'd love a Command & Conquer TV show. Not that I have much confidence with Amazon's Prime output.

That's awesome! I wonder if it's gonna be an Amazon exclusive over here too.